Heh heh... Funny!

They should just buy a low-end DTV and forget about the converter boxes! :) (I know--I know... Some OTA TV watchers cannot afford it...) :p

It would seem most of the calls we are getting, the viewer thinks you just put the box on top of tv (make no connections) or they hook it up and still change the channel on the tv.
reminded me of this
http://www.hulu.com/watch/36608/talkshow-with-spike-feresten-cable-psa
:D

im not sure if anyone can help me but i live in tallahassee and have comcast digital. I recently got a hauppague 1800 dual clear qam tuner, but it wont pick up any channels in the clear. Ive tried reinstalling software, but can't get it to work. Im pretty sure that I should be getting these channels from comcast. Does anyone know if i can call comcast an inquire about it, or does comcast scramble everything in the tallahassee area?

thanks

im not sure if anyone can help me but i live in tallahassee and have comcast digital. I recently got a hauppague 1800 dual clear qam tuner, but it wont pick up any channels in the clear. Ive tried reinstalling software, but can't get it to work. Im pretty sure that I should be getting these channels from comcast. Does anyone know if i can call comcast an inquire about it, or does comcast scramble everything in the tallahassee area?

thanks
The locals are in the clear. I'm a Directv subscriber so I'm going from memory here, but I think the HD locals should be up around 85-1, 85-2, etc. If the problem is with your card, you may want to check with the home theater pc section of this forum. I'd guess you're pretty tech savy or you wouldn't be using a HDTV PC tuner card & I don't want to insult you, but did you install the cable to the third input down from the top of the card?

im not sure if anyone can help me but i live in tallahassee and have comcast digital. I recently got a hauppague 1800 dual clear qam tuner, but it wont pick up any channels in the clear. Ive tried reinstalling software, but can't get it to work. Im pretty sure that I should be getting these channels from comcast. Does anyone know if i can call comcast an inquire about it, or does comcast scramble everything in the tallahassee area?

thanks

Comcast does broadcast local network channels in the clear via QAM. Unless things have changed recently, Windows Media Center does not support QAM via cable unless you have a tuner issued by the cable company. There is an upgrade coming, but there was talk that is would only be available via new OEM installations and not available via windows update. There is a plug in available for the 1800 tuner to allow viewing via QAM. Plug in
(http://thedigitallifestyle.com/cs/blogs/ian/archive/2008/05/15/hauppauge-releases-qam-plug-in-for-vista-media-center.aspx)

If us engineers have anything to do with it, WTXL will be keeping our Feb 17 date. However, it should be noted that the President of The United States has more power than we do when it comes to screwing things up and causing more confusion. The only way we can make Digital at full power is to get rid of Analog completely. So a delay in turning the analog off means we will still be at low power digital.

Thanks Trip, I couldn't have said it better myself. As for an answer with less numbers; If you can get WCTV's digital now, you will be able to get our digital after Feb 17 (provided Obama doesn't screw with our plan) as we are both transmitting in the same area with roughly the same power.

Hey WTXL, if the DTV delay passes to June and it appears it will the bill allows local stations to go ahead and switch on the Feb. 17th date. Will you guys go ahead and switch. Please I want to see ABC in Hi'Def.

DISCLAIMER: The opinions in this post do not necessarily reflect that of the station I work for. This is MY opinion as an OTA TV viewer that does not and will not pay for subscription service:

So, we sit and wait in limbo-land a while longer...
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/26/senate-unanimously-votes-push-digital-tv-transition (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/26/senate-unanimously-votes-push-digital-tv-transition/)

What really gets me is the last line of the article:
"But Rockefeller managed to ease some of these concerns by allowing broadcast stations to make the switch from analog to digital signals sooner than the June deadline if they choose and by permitting public safety agencies to take over vacant spectrum that has been promised to them as soon as it becomes available."

Well, Fox 49 has already stated what they thought about delaying the transition.. and I applaud them for doing so. Basically what the government is doing is spreading the transition out over several months instead of one convenient night when everyone could get up the next morning to full power digital TV.. I only hope consumers mostly bought the converter boxes with analog pass through, they are gonna need it for several more months than anticipated!!

I'm sorry to the dozens upon dozens of people whom I promised would get Digital WTXL on Feb 17... including my own mother. There is a chance that the decision-makers for WTXL will take advantage of the fact that we can still end our analog early. I will let you know as soon as I do, and rest assured I will be pushing for us to keep the original date.

After reading that article (above link) I felt the need to write a comment, but when I read the existing comments, this one pretty much sums up how I feel:

by freezimmerman Virginia [Jan 27, 2009 12:41:58 AM]
I must be missing something here. When did television become an inalienable human right? Is it just me or is this another example of our government not only condoning but promoting and enabling a false sense of entitlement within an already spoiled society? This is EXACTLY what's wrong with this administration, run by a real-life Ellsworth Toohey, straight from the pages of The Fountainhead. It is actions like this that say to America, "That's okay. Don't strive to better yourself. Don't save money to make responsible and practical purchases for yourself and your family. We'll take care of that for you. You just sit there and cry for Lady Liberty's teet in your mouth and we'll tell the entrepreneurs how much milk to produce for the sucklers." So during this economic crisis, when businesses are closing their doors and laying off workers left and right, our government is going to force these companies throw off their highly complex plans to migrate from analog to digital signals by four months at a cost of tens of millions of dollars, in essence punishing them for working diligently and sticking to a highly complex, multi-faceted transition plan? For what? So that Miss Sophie sitting in Ballsville can watch her Judge Judy?? THIS COUNTRY HAS GONE INSANE!

[...] this one pretty much sums up how I feel:

by freezimmerman Virginia [Jan 27, 2009 12:41:58 AM]
I must be missing something here. When did television become an inalienable human right?<snip>
*yawn*
*cough*Overblown response*cough*

No matter how bads things get, you can always rely on politicians to screw things up even more!

Alan, thanks for your patience with my ranting. I just want to point out that you are not a typical HDTV customer, even compared to most other AVS members here. You have found a viewing venue that works well enough for you 99% of the time, but for the rest of the world, and especially those like me using Comcast Tallahassee, the HD world is just not as rosy. Anyway, thanks for your knowledgeable and patient responses. You are a great asset to this particular forum.

Thanks! I try... :)

WTLH is answering the phones. As I am getting the calls. And spending about 15 mins per helping them hook up the converter box.

If you're not too busy answering phones, maybe you could answer a question I posed a page or two back... which is: Has WTLH upped their power yet (like you were referring to a few pages back), or is WTLH waiting to do that later this year?!

*yawn*
*cough*Overblown response*cough*

Bit too "overly dramatic" for my tastes as well. HOWEVER, I do agree with several points the "drama queen" (and I'm referring to freezimmerman", not jrcstudios) made.

1. TV is not an inalienable right. It is a luxury, not a necessity. I felt this way ever since the coupon program was being talked about. I am aware of the importance of "emergency" information provided to us by the local stations, but I do believe that there are options (like weather radio) that can be used in situations like these... and are most likely better options since they will work even if the power goes off.

2. Jerking around the broadcasters. Let me get this STRAIGHT, I have NO LOVE for "network" broadcasters. I firmly believe that if I want to have NY or LA versions of the networks, or even Tallahassee, FL networks via DirecTV, I should be able to regardless of what the nearest affiliates have to say about that (heck, I can receive three of the five Tallahassee, FL HD networks via an antenna... so I should be able to get them via DirecTV as well). I also don't like the fact that I've had a lot of affiliates not respond to an E-Mail (or call) when I'm only trying to view their signal (since they won't let me have another), or in some cases (ignore them like one affiliate does to someone I know)... which leads me to say kudos to WTLHFOXHD, jrcstudios, and PBSEngineer for their involvement with people here.

However, the affiliates have been doing their part in this whole transition pretty good, and I do feel this isn't fair to them.

THAT BEING SAID... ... this bill running through the Senate isn't too bad. It only extends the deadline four months, which is better than the year delay I was expecting, and it allows the stations the ability to shut off analog early.

The transition deal has been a mess... but I've always disagreed with the prediction that the digital transition would be delayed (numerous people like that "idiot" Swanni has said it would be delayed), and I still believe that it will be a mess in June... regardless of how well it worked in some places (LINK (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0WTTkj3zn9JGj0BtA_QtDMD;_ylu=X3oDMTBjb3ZrYjNkBHBvcwM0B HNlYwNzcg--/SIG=147gs867u/EXP=1233199223/**http%3a//www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/hawaii%2520shows%2520how%2520to%2520catch%2520digital%2520wa ve_1092869))... yet June would be a good date for some of the US which have been feeling the effects of snow and ice, and will most likely be next month as well. It sure would make doing antenna adjustments for the TV viewer easier, as well as transmitter tower work easier for some of the people doing that sort of thing.

Still, I'm hoping that at least the majority of stations will choose to go ahead and switch.

~Alan

1. TV is not an inalienable right. It is a luxury, not a necessity.

Who exactly doubts this? The imaginary Aunt Tillie who watches "Judge [x]"? There are lots of things that aren't "inalienable rights" but we still involve ourselves in and are willing to discuss with passion.

I'll agree with the "luxury" however asserting this point here at AVS is just preaching to the choir.


THAT BEING SAID... ... this bill running through the Senate isn't too bad. It only extends the deadline four months, which is better than the year delay I was expecting, and it allows the stations the ability to shut off analog early.

BTW, the bill did not pass in the House today.

Who exactly doubts this? The imaginary Aunt Tillie who watches "Judge [x]"? There are lots of things that aren't "inalienable rights" but we still involve ourselves in and are willing to discuss with passion.

I'll agree with the "luxury" however asserting this point here at AVS is just preaching to the choir.

I think you misunderstood my point. I was simply pointing out that I agree with that one point... and that I felt it was silly the way some people (both politicians and organizations) over the last several years have treated it in regards to the coupon program and other things about the transition... when it truly is a "luxury". I am not against the coupon program... and I know people who have needed it, and am glad for it to be there for them. I simply disagree with how "serious" it is sometimes taken.

BTW, the bill did not pass in the House today.

Yeah, I know. I'm not quite sure what it means though... as some people have indicated that they may try again next week. Hopefully, the date will still stand and they at least manage to fund the coupon program again.

Either way, it may be a moot point. Over 500 stations have announced their intentions to the FCC to go analog dark next month (WCTV-TV is one of them), so a delay may not matter.

~Alan

I was off the mark, Alan. Thank you for the perspective.

Thanks! I try... :)



If you're not too busy answering phones, maybe you could answer a question I posed a page or two back... which is: Has WTLH upped their power yet (like you were referring to a few pages back), or is WTLH waiting to do that later this year?!



~Alan

We have not added any more power at this time. An app has been submitted and accepted for filing. So now we have to wait for the FCC to grant the app then we can add more power to the DT signal.

WTXL on DirecTV in HD - Any update? I understand it is out of the local affiliates hands but just curious if there has been any progress?

A friend invited us to watch the Super Bowl on his new plasma, but he has no HD signal yet. Is WTWC's digital signal still on VHF 2? I have a small outdoor UHF antenna to set up his OTA reception, but it did not work on WTWC when I tried it before, so I had to go to a larger combination antenna at my home. He lives in Eastern Leon about 10 miles from the Metcalf transmitter, so an indoor antenna might even work. Thanks, Svenfran

They'll be moving to UHF at transition time. I would say February 17, but WTWC is one of the Sinclair stations which has not filed with the FCC to say they'll be transitioning to digital-only regardless of Congressional action, so I can't really say that. Since the House is still trying to pass that delay bill, who knows.

- Trip

A friend invited us to watch the Super Bowl on his new plasma, but he has no HD signal yet. Is WTWC's digital signal still on VHF 2? I have a small outdoor UHF antenna to set up his OTA reception, but it did not work on WTWC when I tried it before, so I had to go to a larger combination antenna at my home. He lives in Eastern Leon about 10 miles from the Metcalf transmitter, so an indoor antenna might even work. Thanks, Svenfran

It's still VHF 2. I live 22 miles away on the east side and can get it with an indoor antenna.

I'm telling you guys- get the little gray oval from radio shack for $79. It will bring in NBC like a charm. It does have to be outside and pointed the right direction though. I am near bradfordville and centerville and get all major networks hd- I don't count PBS
If you are just watching the game- get the shacks 5 foot pole and a spool of cable. I have had mine mounted in the center of a picnic table on the deck for a while because I still need it for ABC

Hmm..no one in the Tally area can pick up WALB's UHF signal on channel 17?

WTXL on DirecTV in HD - Any update? I understand it is out of the local affiliates hands but just curious if there has been any progress?

Seriously!

Hey! I have search this thread to no avail. Can someone recommend an OTA antenna that will work reliably to receive the Tallahassee locals? Price is a concern, so I don't want anything to outrageous. Antenna web recommends a small multi-direction, but I have a feeling that it won't cover it with the distance being around 45 miles. Thanks in advance!!

Can someone recommend an OTA antenna that will work reliably to receive the Tallahassee locals?
I use a 4-bay bowtie pointed towards Metcalf, GA.

Whenever the digital transition ends, Tally locals from your view would be:

WCTV CBS on 46
WTLH FOX on 50
WTXL ABC on 27
WTWC NBC on 40

Although WCTV and WTLH are currently at their post-transition frequencies. Those four stations' transmitters will be near each other so that if an antenna is aimed towards Metcalf the stations can be picked up.

Getting PBS is an issue: WABW is on ch. 5 and will be on channel 6 after the transition so that requires a VHF outdoor antenna pointed towards Pelham, GA. WFSU is too far away to receive without rigging up a very good and probably pricey antenna system.

Forget about WXGA-DT since that would require aiming an antenna east, away from the Tally local stations.

WFSU is too far away to receive without rigging up a very good and probably pricey antenna system.


Not true. We are 20 miles west of town (Bloxum cutoff on rt20). There is good coverage of most all of Tallahassee, though there are a few holes up in Killarn. I have my antenna (I live out by Lake Jackson) pointed due west and I get all the locals off the back end and WFSU off the front; sometimes Panama City.

A rotor would help, then you could aim north and get WALB, too.

Not true. We are 20 miles west of town (Bloxum cutoff on rt20). There is good coverage of most all of Tallahassee, though there are a few holes up in Killarn. I have my antenna (I live out by Lake Jackson) pointed due west and I get all the locals off the back end and WFSU off the front; sometimes Panama City.

The signal is supposed to reach Valdosta, GA (re: gagamma)? Really?

The signal is supposed to reach Valdosta, GA (re: gagamma)? Really?

Oops, my brainfart. He mentioned Tallahassee locals and I did not even see that he was in Valdosta. Our map shows sporadic coverage up around Five Points, but nowhere else and that would take a good antenna.

Sorry, my reply was meant for around Tallahassee. (it's been a long week so far):(

Oops, my brainfart. He mentioned Tallahassee locals and I did not even see that he was in Valdosta. Our map shows sporadic coverage up around Five Points, but nowhere else and that would take a good antenna.

I have picked WFSU sparingly in the past via the wonders of late-night Tropo. Nice to watch the rare widescreen PBS programming.

Sorry, my reply was meant for around Tallahassee. (it's been a long week so far):(
Hang in there; this transition has gotta end sometime. Thank you for your contributions here.

Tallahasse HD locals Will Be on Dish February 25th.

Yes, I just hope they put up the locals on 61.5, I have that dish. Has anyone gotten an HD dish from Dish Network recently I am wondering what dish they are putting up?
Also the DTV delay has been passed does anyone know what WTXL is going to do???

We have not added any more power at this time. An app has been submitted and accepted for filing. So now we have to wait for the FCC to grant the app then we can add more power to the DT signal.

Thanks! I knew I didn't see any difference in signal reception.

Yes, I just hope they put up the locals on 61.5, I have that dish. Has anyone gotten an HD dish from Dish Network recently I am wondering what dish they are putting up?

Tallahassee HD-LIL will be going to the 129 degree location (Albany, GA HD-LIL will be there as well... hurry up DirecTV!!).

Also the DTV delay has been passed does anyone know what WTXL is going to do???

The FCC website has no mention of WTXL shutting down this month. I would expect some mass filing done over the next few days by stations wanting to shut down this month, so it could still happen, but just in case, I'd be hoping for Dish Network to have an agreement with WTXL on launch day if I were you!

~Alan

WTXL should be coming soon. It's co-owned with WWSB and WAAY, both of which have filed, so I'm not sure why they'd be keeping the analog going even though their sisters aren't...

- Trip

Tallahasse HD locals Will Be on Dish February 25th.

Wow! Are you serious! I guess you and I are the only DISH customers on this board,lol. Where did you find this info because I have called Dish numerous times and the CSR's couldnt give me any solid info on this.....

There was a Dish Retailer Chat today you can see the summary on satelliteguys.us.

Wow! Are you serious! I guess you and I are the only DISH customers on this board,lol. Where did you find this info because I have called Dish numerous times and the CSR's couldnt give me any solid info on this.....If D* doesn't get WTXL (ABC27) soon, there may be alot more Dish customers (of course that's assuming Dish gets WTXL . . . . :rolleyes:)

WTXL will shut-off analog on February 17. Thanks, jrc!

Now with Sinclair, owner of WTWC NBC, announcing that some of their stations will end analog on the 17th this could mean if WTWC follows suit:

The Tallahassee TV market will be all digital* come February 17th!

*Unless the Powers-That-Be at WFSU have other plans

EDIT: Here's WTXL's notice on their application:


PURSUANT TO THE FLEXIBILITY ADOPTED IN THE COMMISSION'S REPORT AND ORDER IN ITS THIRD PERIODIC REVIEW OF THE COMMISSION'S RULES AND POLICIES AFFECTING THE CONVERSION TO DIGITAL TELEVISION (THE'THIRD PERIODIC REVIEW'), WTXL-TV LICENSE LLC, LICENSEE OF TELEVISION STATION WTXL-TV, NOTIFIES THE COMMISSION OF ITS INTENTION TO TERMINATE ANALOG SERVICE ON FEBRUARY 17, 2009. THEREAFER, LICENSEE WILL OPERATE ONLY ITS AUTHORIZED FINAL POST-TRANSITION DIGITAL FACILITY, WTXL-DT.

WTXL-TV FIRMLY BELIEVES THAT COMPLETING ITS TRANSITION TO DIGITAL ONLY BROADCASTING ON FEBRUARY 17, 2009, WILL CONTRIBUTE TO TRANSITIONING THE LOCAL VIEWING PUBLIC TO DIGITAL TELEVISION IN ADVANCE OF THE 2009 HURRICANE SEASON.

More info (http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101293371&formid=910&fac_num=41065)

WTWC is not among the Sinclair stations that have filed to kill analog. Sinclair has filed some and not filed others. Some of them make sense, others confuse me.

- Trip

WTWC is not among the Sinclair stations that have filed to kill analog. Sinclair has filed some and not filed others. Some of them make sense, others confuse me.

- Trip
Yes, Sinclair's initial announcement is vague. There are zero interference issues that I know of with WTWC. However, I'm optimistic that WTWC will make the filing.

Yes, Sinclair's initial announcement is vague. There are zero interference issues that I know of with WTWC. However, I'm optimistic that WTWC will make the filing.

Not to rain on your parade, but... http://digitalvideoreport.blogspot.com/2009/02/sinclair-sticks-to-feb-17-analog-cutoff.html

I'm really not sure why they only want to do 39 of the 58 stations. There must be a reason that I can't figure out.

But, then again, maybe given that all their competition in Tallahassee will be digital-only, they won't feel a need to keep it on. We shall see.

- Trip

I'm really not sure why they only want to do 39 of the 58 stations. There must be a reason that I can't figure out.

But, then again, maybe given that all their competition in Tallahassee will be digital-only, they won't feel a need to keep it on. We shall see.

- Trip
Okay, I've misread. I will wait for the inevitable (hopefully soon).

WTXL will shut-off analog on February 17.

More info (http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101293371&formid=910&fac_num=41065)

Thanks Clarence!! That was to be my fist search of the morning to make sure that it got filed so I could post it. You beat me to it!

There was a Dish Retailer Chat today you can see the summary on satelliteguys.us.

Thanks Trek2000! As you can see, i just joined the board, but have been reading it for months now for all of my HDTV solutions here in Tally!

Quick question for the board. i live here on the south side of town, near CCSE and Crawfordville. I currently use an indoor RCS antenna and can only pick up CBS, UPN, PBS, AND FOX, and the 2 main ones hovering around 70-75%. Any ideas to improve while not spending too much? Thanx in advance for ANY help.

WCTV will also shut-off analog on February 17. Nick Walker on the noon news.
Does anyone know at what time the shut-off will happen?

WCTV will also shut-off analog on February 17. Nick Walker on the noon news.
Does anyone know at what time the shut-off will happen?
WCTV made the filing (http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101290195&formid=910&fac_num=31590) a few weeks ago.

What time? It wouldn't be a stretch to say Midnight, as that was the original time on the 17th.

Hey Alan I am hearing that stations my have to remain on their temp digital channels until June even if they cut off analog. Maybe even won't be able to crank up their transimitters full power digital until then. Do you know anything about this?

Hey Alan I am hearing that stations my have to remain on their temp digital channels until June even if they cut off analog. Maybe even won't be able to crank up their transimitters full power digital until then. Do you know anything about this?
I'm not Alan G. but I can tell you on February 17th WCTV and WTXL will no longer have analog in addition to the now digital-only WTLH. WTXL-DT will become AFAIK full power and the signal can then reach into some of the Albany market.

As far the new rules (http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-09-6A1.pdf) regarding the delayed date, it's being discussed in another thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=15745772#post15745772).

Hey Alan I am hearing that stations my have to remain on their temp digital channels until June even if they cut off analog. Maybe even won't be able to crank up their transimitters full power digital until then. Do you know anything about this?


Read THIS (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=15745342&postcount=2200). It should help!

~Alan

Hi, I'm new to the forum.

I pick up the following channels OTA using a DB2 antenna:

6.1
6.2
27
27.1
27.2
40
49.1
49.2


I see in the above posts that WTWC already broadcasts in digital? I can only pick up the analog channel... and it looks pretty bad. I am guessing that after the transition, I'll lose the NBC station. Does anyone know if there are any plans to strengthen the signal when they go digital-only? The rest of the stations come in fine.

The DB2 is a UHF antenna, and WTWC-DT is on channel 2, a low-VHF channel. They will move the digital signal up to channel 40 (on UHF) after the transition, so don't worry about it too much. 27-1 is currently much weaker than WTWC-DT will be when they move to 40, so that you get 27-1 is a good sign.

- Trip

The DB2 is a UHF antenna, and WTWC-DT is on channel 2, a low-VHF channel. They will move the digital signal up to channel 40 (on UHF) after the transition, so don't worry about it too much.

- Trip

That's good to know. Thanks for the quick reply. :)

The White House wants your opinion on The DTV Delay ACT Bill
President Obama wants to hear what the public has to say, you can comment here

http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing_room/dtv_delay_act/

And they got 500 characters from me.

I think the extension is a done deal, and don't be surprised if it gets extended again!

I received the following response to my email:

Mr. Foltz: We’re in discussions with the station owners. We hope to come to an agreement soon. But I have no ETA at this point. Thanks. Robert

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

From: Scott Foltz [mailto:sfoltz@ohfc.com]
Sent: Monday, February 09, 2009 8:31 AM
To: Mercer, Robert G
Subject: DIRECTV Delivers Local HD Programming To Customers in the Tallahassee, Fla. DMA

Dear Mr. Mercer:

I am sure you are busy, but if you could take the time to reply it would very much be appreciated. I have been enjoying most of the” locals” in high def. Are there any plans to carry Tallahassee’s WTXL/ABC in high definition?

This station is very important to us living in the “Seminole Nation” i.e., home of Florida State University. Almost all FSU and Atlantic Coast Conference sports are carried on our ABC affiliate. I can not imagine that there are technical issues holding up the carrying of the channel so I must assumed its contractual.

Sincerely,

Scott W. Foltz
Oertel, Fernandez, Cole & Bryant, P.A.
301 South Bronough Street, Suite 500
Tallahassee, FL 32301
phone: 850-521-0700
fax: 850-521-0720
cell: 850-544-1112



So no real new information aside from D* is still trying to get the rights.

So no real new information aside from D* is still trying to get the rights.

WTXL-DT is still uplinked to the satellite (along with WFSU-DT).

Dish Network has WCTV-DT, WTXL-DT, WTWC-DT, and WTLH-DT uplinked as well.... though again, there's no telling what will be available come launch day.

However, good news for DirecTV subscribers with receivers with built-in OTA tuners, or those of you with an AM21 add-on OTA tuner:

Stations wanting to shut down analog this month are having to refile, and I'm helping Trip In VA with his list of stations re-filing with the FCC to shut down this month regardless of the delay, and while WCTV has not refiled yet, WTXL has refiled once again to shut down this month.

~Alan

Actually, WCTV filed on 1/15 to shut down "on or after February 16, 2009" - they are saying 2/17 at 9 am on air.
Our lawyer is supposed to file our request "before close of business, today" to shut down on 2/17.
Any word on what WTWC-40 will do?

Actually, WCTV filed on 1/15 to shut down "on or after February 16, 2009" - they are saying 2/17 at 9 am on air.
Our lawyer is supposed to file our request "before close of business, today" to shut down on 2/17.
Any word on what WTWC-40 will do?

Before the FCC reset the rules on us, WTWC was one of the Sinclair stations that had not filed. I had expected them to be on the list, since the DT-02 signal is practically useless.

So, who knows?

- Trip

Actually, WCTV filed on 1/15 to shut down "on or after February 16, 2009" - they are saying 2/17 at 9 am on air.

Yes, but the FCC is making stations that have previously filed to shut down, refile again (by today if they intend on shutting down this month). Some stations that have previously filed to shut down this month, are now choosing to stay on. WTXL has refiled, but I have seen no refiling for WCTV AT THIS TIME.

Good news regarding them saying it on the air though. I was curious if they would still shut down since I read an article on Macon.com stating that WABW would be the only GPB station shutting down analog this month (with the others shutting down in June). I assumed (we know what that does!) that it was dependent on WCTV shutting down analog instead of WABW staying on their current digital signal, BUT WABW has yet to have a filing listed on the FCC... so nothing to really go by.

Our lawyer is supposed to file our request "before close of business, today" to shut down on 2/17.

Congratulations! Still a shame I won't be able to view your station... :(

Any word on what WTWC-40 will do?

Not at this time!

~Alan

Ah, but one of the things in the DTV delay bill is that stations electing to turn off their analog stations early must still wait to 6/12 to change to their post-transition DTV allotment --IOW, WTWC-DT is ch 2 until 6/12 unless they can get a STA. (same for WTXL changing to 27 for the DT)

Don't you just love our Washington brain trust?

Ah, but one of the things in the DTV delay bill is that stations electing to turn off their analog stations early must still wait to 6/12 to change to their post-transition DTV allotment --IOW, WTWC-DT is ch 2 until 6/12 unless they can get a STA. (same for WTXL changing to 27 for the DT)

Don't you just love our Washington brain trust?

Many STAs showed up this morning, too. Here's WTXL's: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1294198&Service=DS&Form_id=911&Facility_id=41065

- Trip

Just stumbled across this forum. Bit the bullet last week when buying a new tv and signed up for Directv as well. HHGregg had a great deal going. They are coming tomorrow to install Directv and I was curious if there was anything specific I should be on the lookout for or any questions to ask. I've read mentions of different models of HD DVR's with OTAs and without OTAs. Do they have a selection to choose from when they come to install or do they just give me whatever they have? This will be a 4 room install, requested 2 HD DVR's and 2 regular receivers.

What is the easiest way to make sure I'm still able to receive ABC in HD, as well as WCTV2, since I see Directv doesn't have those listed in Tallahassee yet.

Thanks in advance.

PBSengineer:

I've always wondered why WFSU is located where it is and not co-located with the other Tallahassee stations. Can you provide any insight? It seems like it's inconvenient for people to have to spin the antenna to get PBS while the rest of the signals (except WTLF, which is repeated on WTLH-DT 49-2) come from a single location.

- Trip

WCTV, WFSU, and WTXL are now all listed on the FCC website as shutting down this month. There was no filing by WTWC.

GPB (Georgia Public Broadcasting) will be going analog silent this month as well... so for those of you in South Georgia, you should hopefully have better luck picking up WABW soon.

~Alan

PBSengineer:

I've always wondered why WFSU is located where it is and not co-located with the other Tallahassee stations. Can you provide any insight? It seems like it's inconvenient for people to have to spin the antenna to get PBS while the rest of the signals (except WTLF, which is repeated on WTLH-DT 49-2) come from a single location.

- Trip

Basically, we are part of state government and we get a cheap lease from the federal government. We did look into leasing tower space in Metcaf, but it would be too expensive and we really wanted to own our tower - less hassle.

I have found that if you aim at us, you can get everybody else off the back of the antenna. And really, we are in the right spot - everyone else is in the wrong spot.

WCTV, WFSU, and WTXL are now all listed on the FCC website as shutting down this month. There was no filing by WTWC.

GPB (Georgia Public Broadcasting) will be going analog silent this month as well... so for those of you in South Georgia, you should hopefully have better luck picking up WABW soon.

~Alan

But then did Georgia apply for a STA so that they can go up with full power on 6?

But then did Georgia apply for a STA so that they can go up with full power on 6?

They applied to go up to 5.2 kW under STA.

And thanks for the insight. :)

- Trip

They applied to go up to 5.2 kW under STA.

And thanks for the insight. :)

- Trip

Yep, I see that. For everyone elsehttp://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getattachment_exh.cgi?exhibit_id=728677

I have found that if you aim at us, you can get everybody else off the back of the antenna. And really, we are in the right spot - everyone else is in the wrong spot.

Using what (type, brand) antenna? Or does it matter?

BTW, I now have coupons for a digital converter box. Any recommendations on which one works best in this area? I would prefer one with S-video output but those are rare and higher priced.

BTW, I now have coupons for a digital converter box. Any recommendations on which one works best in this area? I would prefer one with S-video output but those are rare and higher priced.
I currently have an Antec but haven't tested it. AVS has a running poll here: What CECB is the best? And worst. Vote here. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1029256)

PBSEngineer, your "right spot" is curious because I live east of Thomasville; wouldn't your TX location cut off the eastern portion of the market (http://research.backchannelmedia.com/images/dma/region/full/dma_530.png)?

BTW, I now have coupons for a digital converter box. Any recommendations on which one works best in this area? I would prefer one with S-video output but those are rare and higher priced.

I got the Zenith last year. It gets good reception... and I'm very happy with it. The only issue I have with it is the program guide only goes out an hour and a half. It does not have an S-Video output.

If I had things to do over again, I might try the Channel Master. I like the brand, it has S-Video, and SolidSignal.com (http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=CM-7000&xzoom=Large#xview) has it for cheaper than what the Zenith cost me.

~Alan

Install went smoothly. They arrived at 8:30 and were done by 10:30. Everything works great and looks great. I'd heard the HD quality was less than Comcast, but if anything, the picture looks better.

My question is, what kind of antenna should I get to receive ABC HD and also to pick up WCTV2? The HD DVR is a H20-100

Using what (type, brand) antenna? Or does it matter?

BTW, I now have coupons for a digital converter box. Any recommendations on which one works best in this area? I would prefer one with S-video output but those are rare and higher priced.

We tested several different types and like the Zenith the best for both user-friendliness and reception. It remembers view settings (letterbox, zoom, etc) per channel instead of one for all, plus it locks onto the signal faster than some do. Both a major plus for channel flippers IMO. We got ours from HHGregg.

--John

We tested several different types and like the Zenith the best for both user-friendliness and reception. It remembers view settings (letterbox, zoom, etc) per channel instead of one for all, plus it locks onto the signal faster than some do. Both a major plus for channel flippers IMO. We got ours from HHGregg.

Out of curiosity, did you try the Channel Master, or was it before it came out?

Glad to see I did good with the Zenith though...

Also, what are WTXL's plans for the 17th now? Time? Etc?

~Alan

My question is, what kind of antenna should I get to receive ABC HD and also to pick up WCTV2? The HD DVR is a H20-100

Where are you located?
A UHF will get you both of those. Depending on where you are, you may have to wait until the 17th to get ABC, as it is low power right now.

Out of curiosity, did you try the Channel Master, or was it before it came out?

Glad to see I did good with the Zenith though...

Also, what are WTXL's plans for the 17th now? Time? Etc?

~Alan

The channel master is one that I did not like for various reasons, two that I remember are that the screen size settings take global effect instead of per channel, and the closed caption has to be turned back on every time you change channels. However, the reception was as good as the Zenith, and it does offer the lowest cost I have seen for a box with S-video out.

If having an s-vid jack outweigh those hangups for you, I'll trade for another Zenith!

WTXL will shut off analog shortly before midnight on the 16th and hopefully be up full power digital before 5am. Our low power digital will remain up for some of that time.

--John

Where are you located?
A UHF will get you both of those. Depending on where you are, you may have to wait until the 17th to get ABC, as it is low power right now.

Killearn, right on the golf course.

If having an s-vid jack outweigh those hangups for you, I'll trade for another Zenith!

I got the Zenith mainly on a lark... as my TV didn't have an OTA tuner, and I wanted access to PSIP information which I couldn't get with my DirecTV receiver or my TiVo Series 3... and was planning on keeping it in my bedroom.

Since that time, however, I have purchased a Sony LCD with an OTA tuner inside it, so I do have access to some PSIP information even if I don't have a guide that relies on it thanks to it's reliance on TV Guide On-Screen service... which isn't available in my area (UGH!). I have since decided to sell the TV in the bedroom since I really don't watch it... and eventually upgrade to an LCD late this year.... so I'll probably either sell the Zenith, or give it to a relative for their TV... unless they choose to get an AM21 (add-on OTA tuner) for their DirecTV receiver.

WTXL will shut off analog shortly before midnight on the 16th and hopefully be up full power digital before 5am. Our low power digital will remain up for some of that time.

GREAT! I'm looking forward to seeing what difference it will make here. This is the only part of the year when WTXL's reception is "spotty" for me during primetime.

HOWEVER, I'm hoping you will do me (and other DirecTV viewers) a FAVOR and make sure that Tribune Media Services is aware that WTXL's digital channel will be on channel 27 on the morning of the 17th... or else we won't be able to view/DVR programs on WTXL-DT (TiVo HD users, and I believe Dish Network users will have the same issue).

Though not as important, you could also inform them of WTXL ceasing analog... as I still have WTLH's analog channel in my TiVo guide. Also, programs on WTXL-DT2 have a HD tag on them... which can be annoying at times. NEITHER OF THESE TWO THINGS HOWEVER ARE AS IMPORTANT AS THE FAVOR ASKED ABOVE... which I BEG of you to see what you can do for us.

Thanks!
~Alan

WTXL will shut off analog shortly before midnight on the 16th and hopefully be up full power digital before 5am. Our low power digital will remain up for some of that time.

--John
Pardon my ignorance, but what will this mean for DirecTV subscribers, as far as programming on channel 27 is concerned? Will OTA reception still be required to view HD content on channel 27.1 on 2/17/09, or will this transition to digital enable us to view HD programming on channel 27? After reading through all the WTXL-related posts, I'm pretty sure this has nothing to do with the HD-LIL issue but I don't understand it all well enough to be certain (I know just enough to misinform others. :D )

Pardon my ignorance, but what will this mean for DirecTV subscribers, as far as programming on channel 27 is concerned? Will OTA reception still be required to view HD content on channel 27.1 on 2/17/09, or will this transition to digital enable us to view HD programming on channel 27? After reading through all the WTXL-related posts, I'm pretty sure this has nothing to do with the HD-LIL issue but I don't understand it all well enough to be certain (I know just enough to misinform others. :D ) This has nothing to do with D* carrying WTXL. Its a "contract" issue between D* and the station owner(s).

This has nothing to do with D* carrying WTXL. Its a "contract" issue between D* and the station owner(s).

And just who are the station owner(s) ? And why are the ONLY major network not on DirecTV?

???/$$$

Translation: I don't know who the owners are (but its easy to find out)/if its "contractual" issues, its usually money.

The FCC released a list of denied requests for stations wanting to terminate analog, and.... (((drumroll)))...

Ground Control to Major Tom,

TALLAHASSEE, FL is GOOD TO GO!!!

Since Tallahassee, FL will have one analog station for a while (WTWC), they apparently didn't see the need to deny any of the other requests... at least that's what I got out of it.

Note that WABW is also apparently a go for those of you in South Georgia.

~Alan

Does anyone know if WTWC-DT will up their power on the 17th of February? I can get WTWC-DT's digital signal with my antenna in certain places. Like close the the ceiling. I can pull in WALB-DT better than WTWC-DT. Does anyone know about WTWC changing to channel 40 on the 17th of February. Any input will be greatly appreciated. My antenna is a Terk HDTVa amplified antenna. Will I be able to pick up WABW-DT if they go up to 5.2kw?

Does anyone know if WTWC-DT will up their power on the 17th of February?
No, they will not as they didn't file to shut down analog on the 17th by last Monday.

WALB also didn't file so they will stick around on UHF channel 17 after the 17th.

According to the FCC listing WABW will be 10.5 kW on channel 6 on the 17th.

According to the FCC listing WABW will be 10.5 kW on channel 6 on the 17th.

They've filed an STA to operate at 5.2 kW.

- Trip

...HOWEVER, I'm hoping you will do me (and other DirecTV viewers) a FAVOR and make sure that Tribune Media Services is aware that WTXL's digital channel will be on channel 27 on the morning of the 17th... or else we won't be able to view/DVR programs on WTXL-DT (TiVo HD users, and I believe Dish Network users will have the same issue).~Alan

Everybody both cable and satellite that we can think of has been informed, (and if they have done their homework, they would know already)
so hopefully the interruption will be slight. I feel for the poor cable providers that have to send engineers to multiple reception head ends in the early morning. I have no doubt that there will be some locations that don't get their early morning programming because of that. Let us know, I will be monitoring this forum in the early morning, hoping for good signal reports from the folks that have not been able to get us.

To PBSengineer:
I have a question about WFSU's strange real->virtual channel mapping. What is the reason for it? Why not to use straightforward 32.1 -> 11.1, 32.2 -> 11.2 and so on as everybody else does? WFSU weird scheme leads to 2 annoyances (at least for me):

1) After a channel scan, empty subchannels 32.1 and 32.2 show up. They are alive, they are in the channel list, but they broadcast nothing. What's the purpose of these 2 empty subchannels apart of just confusing 99% of the viewers?

2) This is specific to how one of my TV (Sharp LCD) treats 11.3 and 11.4 which, as you know, are on air only during the day. If I turn to channel 11 in the evening (when they are off) then stupid Sharp software erases 11.3 and 11.4 from everywhere in its memory (channel list, favorite buttons on the remote, etc.). Next morning, when 11.3 and 11.4 are back on the air, even directly punching "11.3" on the remote does not bring them on. The only way to get them back is to do a complete channel scan again. I realize that this is more of a Sharp software bug. But getting them to release a sofware upgrade for their TV is next to impossible. Would it be possible for WFSU to treat 11.3 and 11.4 during off-air times the same way as you treat 32.1 and 32.2 now? I.e., keep them in the valid subchannel list as "no broadcast now" instead of just removing and invalidating them.

Sorry if these questions were already answered in this thread before and I just missed the answer. Thanks.

I can't speak for PBSengineer, he'll have a better answer than I do, but a lot of PBS stations broadcast a data service called "UpdateTV" which on some devices displays as two blank subchannels. It's supposed to not show up at all, but some devices that do not implement standards properly will display them. I don't know if that's what you're seeing on 32.1 and 32.2 or not, just the first thought to pop into my head.

- Trip

You'd have to ask the FCC why 11 instead of 32.
32-3 = 11-1, etc. Because.
When you tune to 32, the TV should display 11 if our PSIP is working and mostly it does. The mpeg program is 3 because 1 & 2 are reserved; hence 32-3 is the mpeg PMT mapping. The TVCT table should remap it to 11-1. You shouldn't see 32 on your TV. You might have to tune to 32 to find it, but it should be immediately remapped.
11-8 & 11-9 are, as Trip in VA pointed out, a Sony thing to allow for remotely updating the firmware in Sony TVs (and others if they go for the technology (i.e. pay Sony)) Technically, they are not in the TVCT channel map so you shouldn't see them. When 11-3 & 11-4 go away at 6 pm, there is an inactivity flag set in the PSIP that also says when they will return.
Having said all that, it seems that each and every TV looks at the digital signal differently -- that's what makes answering the phone such fun.

You'd have to ask the FCC why 11 instead of 32.

I've had their reasoning explained to me multiple times, and I still think it's stupid.

Of course, there's always WSST-DT who either is not aware of the FCC rule, or simply doesn't care. The operate their digital channel on either 51-1 (they broadcast digitally on 51), or 51-55 (or is that 55-51). Of course, what sucks is that because they map their channel that way, it's not viewable on DirecTV receivers with OTA tuners. You can receive it on TiVo-HD/TiVo Series 3 unless you scan for it manually, but you can't use NBR (Name-Based-Recording).

~Alan

Everybody both cable and satellite that we can think of has been informed, (and if they have done their homework, they would know already)

I'm extremely cynical when it comes to stations updating their programming information with Tribune due to prior experiences, and this is no exception, but I'm going to take your word for it. :)

Let us know, I will be monitoring this forum in the early morning, hoping for good signal reports from the folks that have not been able to get us.

I have the Columbus, GA DMA set up as my SECONDARY LOCAL MARKET on my DirecTV HD-DVR, so I'm hoping those of you in the Tallahassee, FL DMA who are DirecTV subscribers with a OTA tuner in your HD-DVR (either internally, or with an AM21) will check and see if WTXL-DT is viewable in the morning (after they have switched to broadcasting on 27). I'll check and see what my TiVo Series 3 (which also gets guide information from Tribune) says.

My power inserter to my (outdoor) antenna apparently went bad (my fault), and I have ordered another, but it will probably take a few days to get here (especially since today's a holiday). Still, I'll check and see if I can pick you up with a Zenith Silver Sensor (indoor antenna).

~Alan

11-8 & 11-9 are, as Trip in VA pointed out, a Sony thing to allow for remotely updating the firmware in Sony TVs (and others if they go for the technology (i.e. pay Sony)) Technically, they are not in the TVCT channel map so you shouldn't see them.

Did Sony buy UpdateLogic? That'd be interesting; I hadn't heard that.

When 11-3 & 11-4 go away at 6 pm, there is an inactivity flag set in the PSIP that also says when they will return.
Having said all that, it seems that each and every TV looks at the digital signal differently -- that's what makes answering the phone such fun.

A lot of TVs have trouble with setups like that. UNC used to split time like it sounds like you are and they trickled a highly compressed video/audio on the subchannels that they flipped on and off because attempting to make them go away entirely would make them impossible to scan in properly. Now they just stream an HD and two SDs 24/7 because it was too much trouble.

I've had their reasoning explained to me multiple times, and I still think it's stupid.

Channel mapping eliminates confusion for most viewers. Some like us have a hard time with it, but the vast majority find it easier.

Of course, there's always WSST-DT who either is not aware of the FCC rule, or simply doesn't care. The operate their digital channel on either 51-1 (they broadcast digitally on 51), or 51-55 (or is that 55-51). Of course, what sucks is that because they map their channel that way, it's not viewable on DirecTV receivers with OTA tuners. You can receive it on TiVo-HD/TiVo Series 3 unless you scan for it manually, but you can't use NBR (Name-Based-Recording).

~Alan

Some stations have waivers of the mapping rules. I doubt WSST is one of them.

- Trip

Alan, I'm slightly confused. I can provide you with a post but what am I looking for? I have OTA and get the channel on 27-1 right now. Are saying it will now come in as 27? What will happen to 27 on D* as we know it today?

What you're seeing as 27-1 now is actually transmitted at low power on channel 22. Tomorrow, the station will shut down the analog 27 transmitter and digital 22 transmitter, then fire up the full-powered digital transmitter on channel 27. It will still appear as 27-1.

- Trip

What will D* be transmitting on 27? Today it is the analog broadcast right?

That I don't know, you'll have to wait for someone else to chime in. I imagine DirecTV is picking up the digital on 27-1 and center cutting it, and will just change the channel on their receiver remotely once the conversion takes place.

- Trip

Thanks for the insight Trip. You're posts are valued by many.

Hopefully someone can answer that one.

Alan, I'm slightly confused. I can provide you with a post but what am I looking for? I have OTA and get the channel on 27-1 right now. Are saying it will now come in as 27? What will happen to 27 on D* as we know it today?

When you use a digital TV converter, it scans for channels and displays the information EXACTLY like the station is sending said information. OTA tuners in digital TVs (HDTVs, etc...) work the same way.

When using OTA with DirecTV HD-DVRs, it relies on guide data from Tribune Media Services (TiVo uses the same guide information, and I believe Dish Network does as well). If Tribune Media Services are aware of the switchover tomorrow, there should be no issue... as when you tune to 27-1, WTXL-DT will come in same as it ever did. HOWEVER, if Tribune Media Services is NOT aware of the switch-over tomorrow, tuning to 27-1 will simply give you a message that it is searching for satellite signal since it will still be searching for WTXL-DT on channel 22 instead of 27.

~Alan

What will D* be transmitting on 27? Today it is the analog broadcast right?

DirecTV has been using the digital versions for months now (as has Dish) ... at least according to a list.

DirecTV is aware of the switch-over tomorrow. There might be a brief hiccup, but I wouldn't be too concerned.

~Alan

WTXL-TV (analog 27) is now dark!

Pretty cool really. I turned it on, and at exactly 12:00 A.M., the picture just disappeared. :)

~Alan

WTXL-TV (analog 27) is now dark!

Pretty cool really. I turned it on, and at exactly 12:00 A.M., the picture just disappeared. :)

~Alan

Yup, I did that!!;) History... I'm a bit sad.

Analog is DEAD, digital is up full power.
Signal reports please!!! Hello Valdosta?!?

Don't forget to rescan, as was stated earlier, our old signal was on RF 22, and is now on RF 27

I'm going to sleep. Lots of phone calls to answer tomorrow!!
--John

Yup, I did that!!;) Analog is DEAD, digital is up full power.
Signal reports please!!! Hello Valdosta?!?

Don't forget to rescan, as was stated earlier, our old signal was on RF 22, and is now on RF 27

I'm getting your signal now! It should be very strong as it picked up very quickly.

Note: I'm sadder that I can't listen to WCTV anymore over the radio, but I'll recover.

Other note: I'm also picking up WFSU temporarily at the moment.

Godspeed to jrc, WTLHFOXHD, PBSengineer, and the WCTV folks for the rest of the week!

Yup, I did that!!;) History... I'm a bit sad.

Analog is DEAD, digital is up full power.
Signal reports please!!! Hello Valdosta?!?

Don't forget to rescan, as was stated earlier, our old signal was on RF 22, and is now on RF 27

I'm going to sleep. Lots of phone calls to answer tomorrow!!
--John

Yes I am in Lake Park. Siginal Strength 76-80.

I have a DirecTV H20-600 with OTA. Had to run a channel scan first then BINGO!

27-1 is offline (searching for signal) right now through my D* receiver and 27 is still broadcasting low-def.

DirecTV has been using the digital versions for months now (as has Dish) ... at least according to a list.

DirecTV is aware of the switch-over tomorrow. There might be a brief hiccup, but I wouldn't be too concerned.

~Alan

Alan, thanks for all the info. So digital broadcast is different than their HD broadcast right? This morning I set my D* receiver to native display mode and it was sending 480i sd signal to my television, must've been still digital but not HD. Hopefully, DirecTV will turn on the HD broadcast soon.

Yup, I did that!!;) History... I'm a bit sad.

Analog is DEAD, digital is up full power.
Signal reports please!!! Hello Valdosta?!?

Don't forget to rescan, as was stated earlier, our old signal was on RF 22, and is now on RF 27

I'm going to sleep. Lots of phone calls to answer tomorrow!!
--John

Well thanks ABC,finally------------your OTA digital signal arrived at my adobe in Valdosta. Now anyone know where the H--- is PBS? ;)

Yup, I did that!!;) History... I'm a bit sad.

Analog is DEAD, digital is up full power.
Signal reports please!!! Hello Valdosta?!?

Don't forget to rescan, as was stated earlier, our old signal was on RF 22, and is now on RF 27

I'm going to sleep. Lots of phone calls to answer tomorrow!!
--John

Probably back up now. 27 digital was on at 5:15 and looked great. Signal at my house was 85 compared to 6-1 at 88 and 22 yesterday at 68.
HOWEVER, at about 6:15 this am, it went to hell and still seems to be off air. Bummer. Temporary setback, I'm sure.

Report from the hinterlands this death day for analog.
New scan on my TiVo finds 27-1 on 27 with good signal. 13 in PC has gone back to 13 for digital and looks good.
My new TV scans and also finds 4-1 in Dothan (ch 36) pretty good - better if I use the rotor. TiVo could not find 36 at all.
No channel info for these on TiVo.

Well thanks ABC,finally------------your OTA digital signal arrived at my adobe in Valdosta. Now anyone know where the H--- is PBS? ;)

PBS is 20 miles west of Tallahassee and does not reach Valdosta and yes we are at full power. Maybe you can get WABW in Pelham tomorrow when they change to ch 6

DirecTV has been using the digital versions for months now (as has Dish) ... at least according to a list.

DirecTV is aware of the switch-over tomorrow. There might be a brief hiccup, but I wouldn't be too concerned.

~Alan

I have been through this before. When Comcast adds HD programming, I used to have to send a message on the TiVo web site to get the changes made (I waited once and after a month, no change had been made) I even tried to warn them of changes that were coming, but they ignored that.
I find today, that there is no place on the TiVo website to allow the query. Just assumes that I have the wrong cable system/tier and I need to change that--like they can never make a mistake.
It may be years now before they find a changed lineup.
(today, my TiVo found in a scan that 13 in pc and 27 had moved and it found the new channels, BUT it has no program information for that. Sigh)

PBS is 20 miles west of Tallahassee and does not reach Valdosta and yes we are at full power. Maybe you can get WABW in Pelham tomorrow when they change to ch 6
Strangely enough I've been watching WFSU this morning possibly via tropo.

I hope you didn't miss Mr. Moody's wink :)

27-1 is offline (searching for signal) right now through my D* receiver and 27 is still broadcasting low-def.

As jrcstudios said in his post, if you rescan for the OTA channels, you should be able to receive 27-1 again. Between 6:30 and 7:00 this morning, I turned to 27-1 and had a black screen. I then rescanned, then tried the station again, and was able to receive the signal.

Also - jrcstudios - just curious here, I found a minute and a half video on the transition with Lauren Dorsett in it on the WTXL website. Are you the engineer featured in that?

As I've heard it, DirecTV receivers are unable to rescan. They are dependent upon DirecTV updating guide data in order to tune local stations.

- Trip

Also - jrcstudios - just curious here, I found a minute and a half video on the transition with Lauren Dorsett in it on the WTXL website. Are you the engineer featured in that?

Nope- That was Jamie, our IT guy. none of us transmitter types were around when they wanted to do the interview.

Did you see the 1 second shot of the old TV I restored form the 60's? Obviously, they could not get it to tune (you have to 'futz with those old ones when they first come on!) I brought it in so they would hopefully use it in a way to say "No TV is too old to work with a converter box" Oh well...

One thing I forgot to do when I had all the set top boxes was to write down the exact key presses for doing a re-scan. I know what it is for the Zenith, but if anyone has a different STB and wouldn't mind posting the key-presses to make it scan, it would help us as we take hundreds of calls today from folks who don't know how to work menus (like my mom who was my first call!)...

for example, on the zenith, you press:
"MENU", "RIGHT ARROW", "RIGHT ARROW".

As I've heard it, DirecTV receivers are unable to rescan. They are dependent upon DirecTV updating guide data in order to tune local stations.

- Trip

My rescan was done through an HR21 with an AM21 unit connected rather than through the TV's digital tuner, so I imagine the guide data is OK.

I did mine through the "Antenna Setup" area, so it may not actually be showing as a "rescan."

Yup, I did that!!;) History... I'm a bit sad.

I didn't have a chance to watch when WTLH-TV went dark... so it was cool to see it. :)

Analog is DEAD, digital is up full power.
Signal reports please!!! Hello Valdosta?!?

I could receive it this morning via my indoor Silver Sensor antenna... though I'm not entirely sure it wasn't because of the Troposphere given my reception of WFSU-DT and WTVY-DT last night... and the fact that after a minute or two, I had to point the antenna in a different direction to pick it up. Of course, it could actually be causing my reception issues, and it may be stable here. I'll continue checking over the next couple of days (and hopefully it won't be long til I receive my replacement part for my outdoor antenna).

~Alan

Alan, thanks for all the info. So digital broadcast is different than their HD broadcast right? This morning I set my D* receiver to native display mode and it was sending 480i sd signal to my television, must've been still digital but not HD. Hopefully, DirecTV will turn on the HD broadcast soon.

Correct! DirecTV has been using WTXL-DT's (as well as WCTV-DT, WFSU-DT, WTWC-DT, and WTLH-DT's) signal for their SD-LIL for months now. Dish Network as well...

All they do is downconvert the signal and center-cut (aka, zoom in on the center, thereby cropping the sides off) for their SD-LIL. Totally unrelated to their HD-LIL.

The issue I was referring to earlier was in regards to WTXL-DT's OTA signal being viewed on a DirecTV HD-DVR.

~Alan

I have been through this before. When Comcast adds HD programming, I used to have to send a message on the TiVo web site to get the changes made (I waited once and after a month, no change had been made) I even tried to warn them of changes that were coming, but they ignored that.
I find today, that there is no place on the TiVo website to allow the query.

Deadgummit! You're right! :mad: I was just about to report some issues to them tomorrow. :(

Now I'll have to contact WALB (for starters) and try to explain to them about Tribune Media Services... which is always a pain.... and odds are they simply won't reply to my E-Mail...

Hopefully, us TiVo Series 3 users can sweet-talk jrcstudios into contacting Tribune for us so we can use our Season Passes. ;)

~Alan

As I've heard it, DirecTV receivers are unable to rescan. They are dependent upon DirecTV updating guide data in order to tune local stations.

DirecTV HD receivers can do manual scans... and receive channels without program information.

DirecTV HD-DVRs cannot do manual scans AT ALL. They rely solely on data from Tribune Media Services.

As jrcstudios said in his post, if you rescan for the OTA channels, you should be able to receive 27-1 again. Between 6:30 and 7:00 this morning, I turned to 27-1 and had a black screen. I then rescanned, then tried the station again, and was able to receive the signal.

My rescan was done through an HR21 with an AM21 unit connected rather than through the TV's digital tuner, so I imagine the guide data is OK.

I did mine through the "Antenna Setup" area, so it may not actually be showing as a "rescan."

Welcome to Bizarro World! DirecTV uses Tribune Media Services for their guide data, so if you're able to get WTXL-DT, Tribune Media Services must have their guide data right... which means that TiVo must be a little behind in their guide data... as I forced a TiVo call this morning to receive their LATEST data and it still list WTXL-DT on DT22.

Is WTXL-DT coming in fine for you Dish Network viewers?

~Alan

Thanks, PBSengineer, for your answer.

When you tune to 32, the TV should display 11 if our PSIP is working and mostly it does. The mpeg program is 3 because 1 & 2 are reserved; hence 32-3 is the mpeg PMT mapping. The TVCT table should remap it to 11-1. You shouldn't see 32 on your TV. You might have to tune to 32 to find it, but it should be immediately remapped.

PSIP is working, and it does remap 32-3 into 11-1 and so on. The puzzling thing is that 2 out of my 3 TVs also find 32-1 and 32-2 *IN ADDITION* to 11-1,2,3,4 after a channel scan. They are not remapped into anything and displayed as 32-1,2. I have to go into a channel edit menu and manually remove them from the list in order to skip them while channel flipping. No big deal but I'm just curious why I'm seeing this only with WFSU. If reserving 1&2 and starting with 3 for mpeg PMT mapping as you wrote is standard (aren't all DTV=mpeg?) then why is it that my TVs don't find empty 50-1,2 in addition to virtual 49-x, or empty 46-1,2 in addition to 6-x, or empty 2-1,2 in addition to 40-x? But they do find empty 32-1,2 in addition to virtual 11-x. So, something is different with your subchannel/remapping scheme comparing with other stations. Trip had a guess that these are update service subchannels. Perhaps, some non-Sony TVs (like mine) don't know what to do with them and consider them to be valid channels (albeit empty). But if these updates channels are 32-8,9 then it is still unclear why such TVs will "remap" them into 32-1,2 instead of leaving them at 32-8,9. By the way, 32-1,2 do not have any PSIP labels for them. I guess that's why WFSU is not getting any calls from other people who also find them - I bet, 99% of them simply don't have any idea about a link between unlabeled channels 32-1,2 and "channel 11" WFSU.


When 11-3 & 11-4 go away at 6 pm, there is an inactivity flag set in the PSIP that also says when they will return.
Having said all that, it seems that each and every TV looks at the digital signal differently -- that's what makes answering the phone such fun.
Yep, only one out of my 3 TVs has this strange memory loss, forgetting about 11-3,4 the moment it doesn't find them among 11-x subchannels. Trip is saying this is not uncommon for many TVs. I wonder if setting an inactivity flag is the best solution taking into account that it is ignored by some TV manufactures. Well, I'm not an expert and don't know what's involved in, for example, showing a static picture "Broadcast will resume at 6am" instead. Just to let you know that, with the way it is now, some people with some TV models (like my wife who likes to watch 11-3 while cooking in the kitchen) have to suffer daily through a 5-minute channel rescan just to get back 11-3.

On a side note, 27-1 reception in Killearn is great today even with an unamplified anthenna. Finally, I can get rid of a 20dB amplifier which was there just to pull this station in the past.

Some TVs will take channels that aren't mapped, like 32-8 and 32-9, and stick them on -1 and -2. I've seen that happen multiple times.

- Trip

If reserving 1&2 and starting with 3 for mpeg PMT mapping as you wrote is standard (aren't all DTV=mpeg?) then why is it that my TVs don't find empty 50-1,2 in addition to virtual 49-x, or empty 46-1,2 in addition to 6-x, or empty 2-1,2 in addition to 40-x? But they do find empty 32-1,2 in addition to virtual 11-x. So, something is different with your subchannel/remapping scheme comparing with other stations.

For the record, my TiVo has in the past found 22-3 and 22-4 (not sure about any more) when scanning. The 22-3 and 22-4 were (most likely) coming from WTXL-DT. I also have a few other stations I can view that does the same.

I always just kind of ignored it since I use a Favorites List, and rarely watch Live TV on that TiVo anyway.

~Alan

ABCHD, yeah coming in Adel baby. Around a 70 compared to WCTV's mid 80s but I will take it, it seems to be stable. I have Dish Network two 622 DVRs both showing correct data for 27-1 and 27-2. Hopefully will get WABW in a couple of months for PBS, when they go full power and then just have to wait for June for WTWC but still can get NBC on WALB. So life is good. Lost in HD tomorrow!!!

ABCHD, yeah coming in Adel baby. Around a 70 compared to WCTV's mid 80s but I will take it, it seems to be stable. I have Dish Network two 622 DVRs both showing correct data for 27-1 and 27-2.

Alright! Great news! It appears that WTXL-DT is coming in fine for both satellite companies (some stations in other DMAs have been lucky, others not so much).

Hopefully, TiVo will have the updated information shortly....

and then just have to wait for June for WTWC but still can get NBC on WALB.

You are aware that Tallahassee, FL HD-LIL is expected to be launched on Dish Network next Wednesday, right? There's no indication that WTWC-DT will be available, but it'll probably be.

I know you're in Adel, and SHOULD be getting Albany LIL instead of Tallahassee LIL, but Albany, GA HD-LIL will be available from Dish Network next month.

~Alan

Yes, I am aware but have a 61.5 dish now and the HD locals for both will on 129 so I will have to wait for Albany HDs to get turned on and request a new dish.

Yes, I am aware but have a 61.5 dish now and the HD locals for both will on 129 so I will have to wait for Albany HDs to get turned on and request a new dish.

Aah!

If I lived nearby, I'd offer to re-aim the 61.5° dish to 129° for you in the meantime... but still, March isn't far away...

~Alan

I have hr20-700s and an hr20-100 and searching for signal on all units. After resetting ota it is still doing it. Same problem with WCTV-6. Fox and NBC affiliates are working fine.

You are aware that Tallahassee, FL HD-LIL is expected to be launched on Dish Network next Wednesday, right? There's no indication that WTWC-DT will be available, but it'll probably be.

I know you're in Adel, and SHOULD be getting Albany LIL instead of Tallahassee LIL, but Albany, GA HD-LIL will be available from Dish Network next month.

~Alan[/QUOTE]


Ok alan, you seem to be the go to guy. Or anyone who can help....

I Have DISH in live in south Tallahassee. I was using an RCa indoor antenna for some HD locals( picking up CBS @ 70-75, FOX 70-75 PBS in 80's and UPN). Today i re-scanned my DiSH receiver to see if my antenna could pick up anything else and I was able to get ABC at around 70-73. My question is, should I not be able to get digital/HD programming thru my DISH preset channels and not JUST thru my OTA reception? I know DISH is set to add HD-LIL next week but what did Feb 17th mean for me otherwise? any clarifications would be much appreciated !

My question is, should I not be able to get digital/HD programming thru my DISH preset channels and not JUST thru my OTA reception?

I'm not quite sure I understand what you mean here, so could you elaborate further?

I know DISH is set to add HD-LIL next week but what did Feb 17th mean for me otherwise? any clarifications would be much appreciated !

Other than a better signal for WTXL-DT, nothing really.

~Alan

is it possible i would have to re-aim my antenna? I just can't figure this out. I have reset, rescan, RBR on the receivers and I'm getting absolutely nothing. I was getting 90s on 27-1 before today.

is anyone using HR20-100 & HR20-700 to successfully receive 27-1 OTA and 6-1 OTA? again, 40-1 NBC and 49-1 FOX are working flawlessly. Luckily I have a waiver for ABC and receive the east coast HD feed for my main shows but this is annoying.

is it possible i would have to re-aim my antenna? I just can't figure this out. I have reset, rescan, RBR on the receivers and I'm getting absolutely nothing. I was getting 90s on 27-1 before today.

is anyone using HR20-100 & HR20-700 to successfully receive 27-1 OTA and 6-1 OTA? again, 40-1 NBC and 49-1 FOX are working flawlessly. Luckily I have a waiver for ABC and receive the east coast HD feed for my main shows but this is annoying.

On my Dish VIP 622 I rescanned OTAs and 27-1 and 2 did not come in at first. I had to the tuner and manually delete the old 27s out and then rescan and it worked.

[QUOTE=Alan Gordon;15847096]I'm not quite sure I understand what you mean here, so could you elaborate further?


Im sorry for the confusion. What I am trying to ask is whether I should or should not be getting ABC shows in HD (for instance, HOMELAND SECURITY at 8pm) on my standard DISH Channel 27? It is coming thru in HD on 27-1 (thru OTA) but not on 27-00 ( which is thru DISH's satellite).

Im sorry for the confusion. What I am trying to ask is whether I should or should not be getting ABC shows in HD (for instance, HOMELAND SECURITY at 8pm) on my standard DISH Channel 27? It is coming thru in HD on 27-1 (thru OTA) but not on 27-00 ( which is thru DISH's satellite).

You should not be getting ABC shows in HD through Dish (at this time)... only SD.

~Alan

On my Dish VIP 622 I rescanned OTAs and 27-1 and 2 did not come in at first. I had to the tuner and manually delete the old 27s out and then rescan and it worked.

Darn! I have tried everything. I used the "RESET OFF-AIR Settings" and then redid the "Initial Setup" and nothing seems to be working.

I feel if I call D* they won't have a clue.

is it possible i would have to re-aim my antenna? I just can't figure this out. I have reset, rescan, RBR on the receivers and I'm getting absolutely nothing. I was getting 90s on 27-1 before today.

Do you have a tuner on your TV you can check to make sure you're still receiving the channel?

Luckily I have a waiver for ABC and receive the east coast HD feed for my main shows but this is annoying.

Since you use 396 for your main shows, I'm assuming all your ABC Series Links are for 390? If so, read further! Do you have any Series Links for the OTA channels? If not, this won't be an issue. If so, it might be too much trouble, and I wouldn't try this if I couldn't verify I wasn't having issues with my signal. However, if you're able to check the signal on a TV tuner, you could try this:

Redo antenna setup. Enter my zip code for instance, 39842 (or 31742) and set up the Albany, GA DMA. After that's done, redo antenna setup again enter your own zip code to set up the Tallahassee, FL DMA again.

I would not try this if I had a lot of Series Links set up for the local OTA channels, and I certainly wouldn't try this unless I was sure I was receiving WTXL-DT elsewhere (TV tuner).

~Alan

Thanks for the clarification Alan !

Thanks for the suggestions Alan.

Do you have a tuner on your TV you can check to make sure you're still receiving the channel?

Yes, I tested this and it did work for 27-1 and 6-1. I plugged the output from the distribution block directly into the TV instead of the receiver and it located a ton of digital channels including 27-1.



Since you use 390 for your main shows, I'm assuming all your ABC Series Links are for 390? If so, read further! Do you have any Series Links for the OTA channels? If not, this won't be an issue. If so, it might be too much trouble, and I wouldn't try this if I couldn't verify I wasn't having issues with my signal. However, if you're able to check the signal on a TV tuner, you could try this:

I use 86 for main ABC-HD viewing. All series links use this as opposed to OTA.


Redo antenna setup. Enter my zip code for instance, 39842 (or 31742) and set up the Albany, GA DMA. After that's done, redo antenna setup again enter your own zip code to set up the Tallahassee, FL DMA again.

I would not try this if I had a lot of Series Links set up for the local OTA channels, and I certainly wouldn't try this unless I was sure I was receiving WTXL-DT elsewhere (TV tuner).

~Alan

I will try this. Didn't think about entering a different DMA. Will report back on how this works.

I use 86 for main ABC-HD viewing. All series links use this as opposed to OTA.

BTW, I meant to say 396 earlier instead of 390 (390 = CBS, 396 = ABC).

I'd advise you to move your series links over to 396 as it's MPEG4 and 86 is still MPEG2. 396 looks a little better (86 isn't as compressed as some of the other MPEG2 HD channels), takes up less space on the DVR, and 86 should be going away in the next few months.

I will try this. Didn't think about entering a different DMA. Will report back on how this works.

I'm just thinking maybe it might delete any OTA data memorized and overwrite them... allowing you to start fresh (though the reset you mentioned earlier should do the same thing).

~Alan

BTW, I meant to say 396 earlier instead of 390 (390 = CBS, 396 = ABC).

I'd advise you to move your series links over to 396 as it's MPEG4 and 86 is still MPEG2. 396 looks a little better (86 isn't as compressed as some of the other MPEG2 HD channels), takes up less space on the DVR, and 86 should be going away in the next few months.

Understood, didn't even realize 396 was existing at this point.



I'm just thinking maybe it might delete any OTA data memorized and overwrite them... allowing you to start fresh (though the reset you mentioned earlier should do the same thing).
~Alan

BAM! Worked! Your are the man. Thanks Alan for the help. Maybe I can buy you beer sometime.:D

Now I'll have to contact WALB (for starters) and try to explain to them about Tribune Media Services... which is always a pain.... and odds are they simply won't reply to my E-Mail...

Have you tried emailing Mr. Bill Gilbride (billg#walb,com) about that? He is courteous and always replies to my inquiries.

Substitue: Comma for Period, Pound for At

Well, it's the 17th - did the switchover go okay for all stations doing it Tuesday? Are they up to full power on digital now? Is it safe to go in the water?

Well, it's the 17th - did the switchover go okay for all stations doing it Tuesday? Are they up to full power on digital now? Is it safe to go in the water?
WTXL should be available to most people in this market; it is here in VLD.

No sharks here :)

Does anyone have any updates on when WTXL will be joining HD-LIL on DTV?

27.1 has no audio. It says to switch to 27.2 but I can't seem to pick that up. LOST is on tonight and it'll really suck if I can't watch it. 27 seems to be down as well on Directv.

WTXL 27.1 is not coming in on my 622 OTA. It comes in on my TV tuner but with no sound. 27.2 comes in on both with sound.

27.1 has no audio. It says to switch to 27.2 but I can't seem to pick that up. LOST is on tonight and it'll really suck if I can't watch it. 27 seems to be down as well on Directv.

Our encoder crashed... absolutely nothing to do with the digital transition... just a horrible ironic time for it to act up.
AAAAHHHHHGGG!!!!!

it should be back on dish and direct....

It's back on Dish channel 27, but NOTHING OTA at 27-1 even though signal shows over 80 for me (which is normal), just a black screen, and no signal on 27-2 (each through a 622)

Our encoder crashed... absolutely nothing to do with the digital transition... just a horrible ironic time for it to act up.
AAAAHHHHHGGG!!!!!

it should be back on dish and direct....


Still nothing on 27 on Directv. Just the no need to call us screen, 27.1 just video, no audio and can't get 27.2 at all.

Should I reset my system or anything?

Still nothing on 27 on Directv. Just the no need to call us screen, 27.1 just video, no audio and can't get 27.2 at all.

Should I reset my system or anything?

I'm not sure why 27.2 is not coming in... I've got it here... Try a re-scan, though if that works, you will likely have to re-scan again tomorrow when we fix it for real..

--John (clocking 15 hours for the day and counting)

I'm not sure why 27.2 is not coming in... I've got it here... Try a re-scan, though if that works, you will likely have to re-scan again tomorrow when we fix it for real..

--John (clocking 15 hours for the day and counting)

No ABC HD on Comcast channel 431, but the SD works on channel 7. I don't know if that is useful information.

27 is now up and working. Still no audio on 27.1 for me.

re-scanned my 622 and now get 27-2 OTA but not HD 27-1 OTA

re-scanned my 622 and now get 27-2 OTA but not HD 27-1 OTA

yea, Dave is still fighting it. He has chicken in one hand (supper) and a phone on his shoulder and is typing away furiously screaming expletives...

He should have gone home along time ago.

Thanks Dave and John for your efforts!

I do get video and sound (even HD) through 27-1. This is in my Windows Vista Media Center.

What's weird is that when I do an antenna scan, the signal strength for 27-1 shows up as 1/6 while 27-2 shows up as 6/6 even though I get 27-1 just fine!

I get about 9 channels (even if I get 10, I took out WTXL-SD, as I don't think it makes any sense getting that channel through my HDTV):

WCTV-DT
WCTV-DT2
WFSU-DT
WFSU-DT2
WFSU-DT3
WFSU-DT4
WTXL-DT
WTLH-DT
WTLH-CW

But if only I can get WTLF CW and take out WTLH-CW, but I don't find any shows that interest me, except Cops (1 AM), which is only in SD, so that's no big deal. WTLF is 6 miles away from me and I live across from Tallahassee Community College, so I have my Channel Master 4221 facing NE to ABC, WCTV, and FOX.

I'm not sure why 27.2 is not coming in... I've got it here... Try a re-scan, though if that works, you will likely have to re-scan again tomorrow when we fix it for real..

--John (clocking 15 hours for the day and counting)

Try to type in 27.2

You may have to go to channel edit to turn it on. I had to do that with my DirecTV H20-600.

Thanks WTXL for ruining my favorite TV night. No HD LOST on Comcast tonight. Guess you guys were not ready for prime time after all. Two years of broadcasting digital and you still can't do it right. Comcast did have ABC on its analog channel 7, but the audio was all screwed up. Like I said - thanks.... a lot!

27.1 is working fine now. I did have to watch LOST in SD, but no problems with audio at all. It worked fine, just wasn't in HD goodness. Hopefully whatever the problem was is fixed now.

Thanks WTXL for ruining my favorite TV night. No HD LOST on Comcast tonight. Guess you guys were not ready for prime time after all. Two years of broadcasting digital and you still can't do it right. Comcast did have ABC on its analog channel 7, but the audio was all screwed up. Like I said - thanks.... a lot!

I hear ya, Lost is the one show I look foward to, and now I have to watch it tomorrow online. :(

I hear ya, Lost is the one show I look foward to, and now I have to watch it tomorrow online. :(

If you're not in a hurry, you can always try watching it on WTXL-DT next Wednesday night (February 25th) at 8:00 P.M.

~Alan

Last night I was looking forward to watching Lost in HD for the first time and alas the sound crapped out. This morning I am receiving no digital channels through my Direct AM21. Are they off the air? I did a reset of the antenna and the channels are listed but it just keeps searching for a signal with no luck. Even WTCV 6-1 is not coming in and I have gotten that for a long time. Any idea's are appreciated! :confused:

27-1 audio sounds pretty well synced up again. Still no 27-2 available, either in the guide or through direct channel entry (searching for signal). Using a DirecTV HR20-700.

If you're not in a hurry, you can always try watching it on WTXL-DT next Wednesday night (February 25th) at 8:00 P.M.

~Alan

No I think I would go crazy if I had to wait, luckily I can watch it on ABC.com. This is my only must watch TV show.

I am now getting 27-1 over both my TV tuners (sound and picture) but can not get it on either of my Dish 622 OTA tuners. The 27-2 signal will pickup on my 622.

None of my OTA channels are coming in now....I have Direct AM21 and was receiving everything perfectly until this morning...PLEASE HELP! Direct told me the equipment is not covered in the protection plan and my other tv with an internal tuner receives these channels without problem.

Channel mapping eliminates confusion for most viewers. Some like us have a hard time with it, but the vast majority find it easier.

Everyone I've spoken to (ages ranging from 50s-80s) about that issue have said they find it more confusing. I'm a firm believer that people are easily confused, but I think that rule takes it a little far!

BAM! Worked! Your are the man. Thanks Alan for the help. Maybe I can buy you beer sometime.:D

Not really a beer drinker, but I'll keep it in mind that Jay Waller owes me a Root Beer, Sprite, or Dr. Pepper sometime! ;)

No I think I would go crazy if I had to wait, luckily I can watch it on ABC.com. This is my only must watch TV show.

To me, HD is worth the wait, but either way, I wanted you to know.

~Alan

OK...

I said the other day that my antenna was having issues... which was polite for saying I dropped my power inserter for my Channel Master 7777 Pre-Amp, and it quit a few days later. Of course, what I didn't know before I ordered a replacement for $30 (which came in via FedEx today) was that I would be able to get it working again today for some strange reason. However, now I know what WTXL-DT's switch means to me:

Tuesday and yesterday, I used my Zenith Silver Sensor (indoor antenna) to see what if I could get WTXL-DT with it. I could pick it up in one room with my TiVo Series 3 if I manually scanned for WTXL-DT (meaning no guide data), but the signal ranged from weak to erratic.

Today, I got my Channel Master 4228 hooked up again to my HR20-700 (DirecTV HD-DVR), Sony KDL-46W4100 LCD, TiVo Series 3 (HD-DVR), and HR10-250 (DirecTV HD-TiVo).

The LCD picks it up flawlessly, but has no signal meter.
The TiVo Series 3 requires a manual scan as even the data today states that WTXL-DT is on DT22 instead of DT27.... which means no guide data, but a signal of 80 (the signal could be better, but my antenna is aimed for optimum reception of other channels).
The HR20-700 does not get ANY signal from WTXL-DT at ALL! No matter how many times I redo the antenna setup, WTXL-DT is not receivable via my HR20-700.
The HR10-250 can manually scan for WTXL-DT without guide data, but the WTXL-DT with guide data is trying to receive WTXL-DT on DT22 instead of DT27.

DBSTalk.com has a page set up for people having issues with channels that moved to their post-transition channels this week:

Digital TV Transition for DIRECTV receivers - Issues Only (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=152685)

I started to post earlier, but it appears the list is for DirecTV to know who to contact (WTXL) to get them to contact Tribune, so I'd rather cut out the middlemen (DBSTalk.com and DirecTV) and say pretty-please to jrcstudios to contact:

Eamon Foster (518-792-9914 x2281) with Tribune Media Services

He's the guy for WTXL-DT to contact to get the channel issues with DirecTV, Dish Network and TiVo straightened out, but it only works if the station calls him, so nobody else needs to contact him.

P.S., jrcstudios, while you're on the phone with him, you can tell them that 27.2 is SD-only as the programs on it are listed as HD as well, and it can get kind of confusing for people. :)

~Alan

OK...



I started to post earlier, but it appears the list is for DirecTV to know who to contact (WTXL) to get them to contact Tribune, so I'd rather cut out the middlemen (DBSTalk.com and DirecTV) and say pretty-please to jrcstudios to contact:

Eamon Foster (518-792-9914 x2281) with Tribune Media Services

He's the guy for WTXL-DT to contact to get the channel issues with DirecTV, Dish Network and TiVo straightened out, but it only works if the station calls him, so nobody else needs to contact him.


~Alan

I just got off the phone with TiVo (I should say 3 calls...they made me wait 24 hours and then call back...as if the problem would magically fix itself) and they told me it could be up to 7 more days for the problem to be fixed. They say they are making a request to Tribune on my behalf.

Probably wouldn't hurt if jrcstudios called this guy as well. :)

I just got off the phone with TiVo (I should say 3 calls...they made me wait 24 hours and then call back...as if the problem would magically fix itself) and they told me it could be up to 7 more days for the problem to be fixed. They say they are making a request to Tribune on my behalf.

Probably wouldn't hurt if jrcstudios called this guy as well. :)

Yeah, TiVo contacts Tribune, Tribune contacts WTXL to verify information, Tribune corrects metadata, the metadata is then sent out to TiVo, DirecTV, etc. I've had some instances where it took a LOT longer than 7 days.

On the other hand, I got WTLHFOXHD a couple of years back (thanks again, BTW) to contact Tribune Media Services for me (or got someone else at WTLH to) so I could set-up recordings on WTLH-DT2, and the information was added the next day, or the day after.

Good to know that the problem has been reported to Tribune Media Services though...

~Alan

Everyone I've spoken to (ages ranging from 50s-80s) about that issue have said they find it more confusing. I'm a firm believer that people are easily confused, but I think that rule takes it a little far!

I don't see how. In your area, the extent of the explanation is "all the Tallahassee stations will be on UHF, and all the Albany stations will be on VHF."

When I'm talking to people, I never mention channel numbers except the mapped channels. The only reference I'll make is "this is a UHF station" or "this is a VHF station."

- Trip

jrcstudios, I have re-scanned and still do not get 27-1 HD via OTA on my Dish 622 although the meter shows a strong signal (just a blank screen with no sound); I do get 27-2 fine. Any word/thoughts? I can't check tv tuner; not digital.

I am having a similar problem here; 27.1 is now coming in fine through my Panasonic DVD recorder, but there is no picture or sound on that channel through my Zenith DTT901, even after a rescan.

Anyone having issues recording 27.1? I can watch it live, no problem, the moment I try to record it, it captures nothing. It says it is recorded, but nothing will play. If I pause it and then press play, I get nothing as well.

jrcstudios, I have re-scanned and still do not get 27-1 HD via OTA on my Dish 622 although the meter shows a strong signal (just a blank screen with no sound); I do get 27-2 fine. Any word/thoughts? I can't check tv tuner; not digital.

It is the same way on my 622. I have scanned and deleted several times but still no luck. I can pick it up on my Panasonic and Sharp TV tuners.

Now that primetime has ended, 27.1 can now be recorded and paused again. What is going on at WTXL? Last night no HD, tonight unable to record HD. I sure hope these issues get resolved soon.

This morning I was receiving 27-1 OTA through my 622. Thanks for your work!

It's nice to have it back and to be able to record.

Now getting 27.1 through the Zenith box.:)

I returned to town after the semi-digital transition and had no surprises. I am totally unable to pick up up WABW, Georgia Public Television. I tried turning the antenna towards Pelham to no avail. I haven't been able to pick up WABL out of Albany yet, but it has been unstable in the Centerville area. I haven't been able to pick up any transient signals from Panama City, Dothan, or Columbus since the transition.

Tuesday and yesterday, ...
...
P.S., jrcstudios, while you're on the phone with him, you can tell them that 27.2 is SD-only as the programs on it are listed as HD as well, and it can get kind of confusing for people. :)

~Alan

Alan, now that we have the new equipment installed, give me an update on your findings... Do I still need to contact Eamon Foster? I have been in contact directly with the locals receive department, and all should be well now..

As far as the "HD" listings go for 27.2, keep in mind that 27.2 is an exact copy of 27.1, just in SD, so a separate program guide does not exist that I know of.. I will verify this to make sure. 27.2 will be "something else" in the near future...

Thanks WTXL for ruining my favorite TV night. No HD LOST on Comcast tonight. Guess you guys were not ready for prime time after all. Two years of broadcasting digital and you still can't do it right. Comcast did have ABC on its analog channel 7, but the audio was all screwed up. Like I said - thanks.... a lot!

Thanks for posting, dsmith, I win my bet!!! :p

(and I was proud of my super-ghetto duct tape and bailing wire trick that got something as opposed of nothing for Comcast channel 7... even if the audio did sound like it was going through a tin can... maybe it was! ... If viewers only knew. I could have just left 7 froze on those Ritz crackers, you know)


jrcstudios, I have re-scanned and still do not get 27-1 HD via OTA on my Dish 622 although the meter shows a strong signal (just a blank screen with no sound); I do get 27-2 fine. Any word/thoughts? I can't check tv tuner; not digital.

Anyone having issues recording 27.1? I can watch it live, no problem, the moment I try to record it, it captures nothing. It says it is recorded, but nothing will play. If I pause it and then press play, I get nothing as well.


See post 3896.. Our old encoder crashed, but the good news is that as of 2am Friday morning, we have a new (and up to date) encoder installed.

Yep, a team of three worked all night on it. Thanks to David Campman (AKA Little Dave) for his extra effort.

Anyone having issues before then, including audio, unstable (or no) picture, or any other strange problems, should see what happens now. The new equipment made a lot of little pesky problems that have plagued us go away, (Its about time!)

Those monitoring, pay close attention to sound and lip-sync issues on 27.1
Let me know of any problems you see from this point on...

....ANY MORE B*TCHING AND WERE GOING BACK TO ANALOG!!! :eek:

with love,
--JRC

Thanks, John, for all your hard work. I have not noticed any sound issues on 27.1 since it came back. I hope it will stay that way March 9 when Dancing with the Stars comes back...Belinda Carlisle, one of my all-time favorite singers, is competing this time around, and I would love to see her nail a cha-cha.;)

Alan, now that we have the new equipment installed, give me an update on your findings... Do I still need to contact Eamon Foster? I have been in contact directly with the locals receive department, and all should be well now..

YES!! Though seanatki has contacted TiVo, who will contact Tribune, who will contact WTXL, you can speed the process up!

As for the locals receive department, it has nothing to do with LIL (I live in the Albany, GA DMA and do not receive LIL), but rather for those of us who view WTXL-DT OTA.

When DirecTV first started putting out HD receivers, they didn't offer any LIL, so they put a off-air antenna input into the HD receivers so you could view your local channels in HD via your STB (Set-Top Box). Instead of relying on the PSIP data sent out via affiliates for program information, DirecTV uses information from Tribune Media Services (who does all their guide data). They also had a manual scan function, but it wouldn't display the PSIP data (with the exception of one Samsung unit), so you basically had no information WHATSOEVER. DirecTV's first HD-DVR (HR10-250) worked the same way, though the lack of data for programming sucks whenever you're trying to set up Season Passes for shows.

Cut to now, after DirecTV has brought all their STB programming in-house (ala Dish Network) and it gets more complicated:

HD STBs: Some older HD receivers have internal OTA tuners. Newer HD receivers do not... but you can purchase an add-on OTA tuner that connects via USB. You can manually scan with these models, but you have no guide data for any of the manually scanned channels... just the ones Tribune has guide data for.

HD-DVRs: Some olders HD-DVRs have internal OTA tuners. Newer HD-DVRs do not... but you can purchase an add-on OTA tuner that connects via USB. You CANNOT manually scan with these models... as they are SOLELY dependent on guide data for local channels via Tribune.

TiVo Series 3 and TiVo HD which are not affiliated with DirecTV, but are for OTA and cable use only, both have internal analog and digital tuners in them. You can manually scan for channels, but you have no guide data unless Tribune has the guide data (TiVo also uses Tribune Media Services for their guide data).

Some DirecTV users here have stated that they can receive WTXL-DT (though one or two have had issues getting it to work) OTA via their DirecTV HD-DVR/HD receiver just fine. HOWEVER, I'm still having issues:

DirecTV HR10-250: This receiver is still trying to pick up WTXL-DT (and WTXL-DT2) on DT22. I have verified that!

DirecTV HR20-700: It doesn't allow you to see what channel it's trying to pick up, but I get a 0% signal on WTXL-DT (and WTXL-DT2). I unplug the cable from the HD-DVR and plug it into my TV, and I get a GREAT signal.

TiVo Series 3: This HD-DVR is still trying to pick up WTXL-DT (and WTXL-DT2) on 22 I have verified that. Click on the link below and you can see yourself:

http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt221/AlanGordon/th_102_1186.jpg (http://s614.photobucket.com/albums/tt221/AlanGordon/?action=view&current=102_1186.jpg)

Tribune Media Services NEEDS to know that WTXL has shut down it's analog signal, and is now broadcasting digitally from RF channel 27 instead of 22. I've read that he's that the guy to call is Eamon Foster at the number I provided previously.

As far as the "HD" listings go for 27.2, keep in mind that 27.2 is an exact copy of 27.1, just in SD, so a separate program guide does not exist that I know of.. I will verify this to make sure. 27.2 will be "something else" in the near future...

Tribune Media Services offers a program guide for 27.2 (27-2 on DirecTV HD-DVRs, TiVo Series 3, and TiVo HD) which is listed as WTXL-DT2. The programming information is exactly the same as WTXL-DT... which is the problem... as, take "Lost" for instance. "Lost" is listed as being in HD on WTXL-DT2... when obviously it's not. Click below to see what I mean:

http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt221/AlanGordon/th_102_1192.jpg (http://s614.photobucket.com/albums/tt221/AlanGordon/?action=view&current=102_1192.jpg)

The above picture is a picture I took of the Program Guide on my DirecTV HR20-700 HD-DVR. Note that WTWC-DT2 also lists "Life" as being in HD when only WTWC-DT is in HD. WFSU has HD tags listed on both 11-1 and 11-3... and WCTV and WSWG have HD tags listed on some programming on 6-2 and 44-2 respectively. WTLH-DT2 and WTLF-DT used to have the same issue, but either WTLHFOXHD contacted Tribune and had it corrected after I brought it up on here, or it was corrected by whomever is in charge of this stuff at WTLH.

http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt221/AlanGordon/th_102_1185.jpg (http://s614.photobucket.com/albums/tt221/AlanGordon/?action=view&current=102_1185.jpg)

The above photo is a picture I took of the Program Guide on my TiVo Series 3 HD-DVR. Since it also has an analog tuner in it, note that it also has guide information for WTXL-TV (analog 27).... in which Tribune needs to be informed is no more (unless people continue b*tching). Maybe one day it will become apparent that WCTV, WFSU, and WTLH is digital only and their analog channels will be deleted.

I know that this whole deal with Tribune Media might get annoying to stations, but I always appreciate it when stations keep the Tribune Media Services guide information up to date for those of us who depend on it. Since WTXL-DT2 won't be an SD-simulcast much longer, it's not really that important for you to get them to correct the HD tags on it since I'll be asking you to contact Tribune again once the programming on WTXL-DT2 changes, but PLEASE contact them about WTXL-TV shutting off analog, and switching their digital signal to RF 22.

Since WTXL-DT is the only source in Tallahassee for HD news (at this time), I'd probably let them know that all your newscasts are HD so that they will apply HD tags to them as well to get peoples' attention, but that's just me, and is your call!

P.S.: What did you win in the bet, and who was the "fool" that took it? ;)

~Alan

YES!! Though seanatki has contacted TiVo, who will contact Tribune, who will contact WTXL, you can speed the process up! ~Alan

Alan, thanks for the detailed information. Since I'm not a DirecTV person, I had no idea it worked this way. The fact that they use Tribune for program guide and lay it over top of local reception is a good idea, if it works! I am not surprised that they haven't updated the info, I imagine there are a lot of channels across the US that simply got forgotten..

I'll make the call first thing Monday morning...

Watch us re-configure the transmitter in high-speed (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Joz-ljL_oLE)

27.1 has been working very well on this end, starting with the local news at 11 on Thursday night. No problems at all last night or today, with the basketball game. Everything can be recorded and paused, no issues.

Watch us re-configure the transmitter in high-speed (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Joz-ljL_oLE)

That video is great! :D

- Trip

Alan, thanks for the detailed information. Since I'm not a DirecTV person, I had no idea it worked this way.

TiVo and Dish Network also use Tribune guide data for OTA channels (and the rest of their guide data).... though both use the OTA guide data differently from DirecTV.

DirecTV: When setting up your OTA tuner, you punch in your Zip Code, and it ask you if (in my case) the locals for Albany, GA are correct. Then it gives me the option of setting up a SECONDARY DMA. I usually keep it on Columbus, GA, but with the transition, I was curious to see if I could get WTXL-DT on it, so I set it for Tallahassee, FL. That gives me guide information for all the local channels in the Albany and Tallahassee, FL DMAs.

TiVo: TiVo simply asks for your Zip Code and puts together an OTA channel lineup that is dependent upon your location. For instance, I get a channel lineup that includes locals in Albany, GA, Columbus, GA, Tallahassee, FL, Macon, GA, Dothan, AL, and Panama City, FL.

Dish Network: I don't exactly know how Dish Network is set up. I know they didn't use to provide guide data for sub-channels, but I hear they do now. I heard sometime ago that they only provided guide data for the channels they provided via SD-LIL. They may have changed that, but I believe that is still correct... which is fine for places like Tallahassee, FL where Dish Network provides a full set of networks via SD-LIL, but for places like Albany which rely on out of market channels, I imagine it can get annoying.

The fact that they use Tribune for program guide and lay it over top of local reception is a good idea, if it works!

It works very well most of the time... and allows companies to have a 14 (well, almost) day program guide for their DVRs... for instance, I'm fixing to set up a Season Pass for "Castle" on WTXL-DT. If I had to rely on PSIP data, I doubt I'd be able to do so this quick.

However, it's totally dependent upon information being correct from affiliates... which can be problematic:

WACS (the Georgia Public Broadcasting channel nearest to me) added two sub-channels last year. Both started out being a SD simulcast of the main (HD) channel, but one was later switched over to a education type channel. I contacted TiVo about it back when they had a page up to submit incorrect data, and they contacted Tribune who contact GPB for me. A month or so later, I called TiVo to see why the guide information for that channel had not been added... so the guy on the phone looked it up and stated that GPB told Tribune that the sub-channel was still in "testing". A few weeks ago, guide information for that channel (25-3) popped up... meaning that it took almost six months of "testing" the channel from the time I started receiving it before I got guide data for it. They started broadcasting PBS Kids on 25-2 a month or two after they started the first sub-channel... and it still doesn't have guide data.

WSST is a station I mentioned a page or two back. I get guide data on it from Tribune.... I get a strong signal from the channel, but because they map their PSIP data to 51.1 instead of 55.1 like they're supposed to, you can't view it on DirecTV HD-DVRs, and you can only view it on my TiVo Series 3 by manually scanning... which leaves off guide data.

WFXL used to broadcast "The Tube" on their sub-channel sometime ago... until Raycom got rid of the channel.... yet Tribune kept the program information for "The Tube", and WFXL failed to mention that they were getting rid of their sub-channel altogether anyway.

I am not surprised that they haven't updated the info, I imagine there are a lot of channels across the US that simply got forgotten..

DBSTalk.com has a thread on their site asking people to inform them of post-transition issues with DirecTV that have come up because of Tribune's OTA data. There are QUITE a few stations having issues... and I imagine we'll be seeing even more during the next few months.

I wish I knew why WTXL-DT is working on some people's boxes when it's apparent that Tribune still has bad information.

I'll make the call first thing Monday morning...

THANKS!! :)

~Alan

I only have three points about the Tallahassee DTV transition.

1. WTWC being on 2 makes it almost impossible to get for some. I was trying to help a friend get WTWC but no set of rabbit ears, outdoor, or amplified antennas seemed to want to work. Waiting for the move back to 40 is the only option left.
2. WFSU is really hard to get as well compared to WCTV/WTLH/WTXL. It doesn't help that he is in East Tallahassee.
3. WABW's switch has left Comcast without GPB and Comcast just placed a notice on Channel 98 telling customers to contact WABW.

For me personally, the switch went smoothly as I get all the local stations digitally using my rabbit ears. Thank god for living on the top of a hill.

I should contact WABW to see what is up there. Anybody know if they have someone on these forums?

jrc, WTXL's signal was in a funk this last week but when I returned home the signal was safe and strong (woohoo, rugby!).

I also would like to humbly submit a "oh, snap!" to you and your replies. :)

I've always wondered if anyone in Tally area can get WALB-DT on channel 17?

I get WALB-DT every so often at night using my rabbit ears. Last night I did, tonight I can only get analog 10.

...I've always wondered if anyone in Tally area can get WALB-DT on channel 17?

I get WALB-DT about 50% of the time in NE Tallahassee. It is the only semi-reliable distant digital signal that I can receive. Panama City, Gainesville, Dothan, Macon, Columbus are received very infrequently. I have considered getting a larger, better antenna, but I would have to put it in the attic.

My biggest concern at the moment is with PBS. WFSU's location makes reception a problem at my location. My signal frequently breaks-up. GPB (WABW) is totally missing. I am hoping that this will change when they go to full power (in March?).

Tallahassee is a nice place to live. I love the ability to get into country surroundings. A few more bike lanes and paths/pedways would make it even better. There are some excellent restaurants. Traffic is only a problem during a very limited rush hour. The problem is that Tallahassee is not close to anything. Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, and Atlanta are distant. This affects the ability to receive digital channels. I have picked up analog signals from all of those cities (except Orlando).

I do not understand a few things about television in Tallahassee. Why does Channel 27 broadcast identical SD programming on 27.2? Why doesn't Channel 40 have any news programming? The weather being delivered by staff in Baltimore makes little sense.

I do not understand a few things about television in Tallahassee. Why does Channel 27 broadcast identical SD programming on 27.2? Why doesn't Channel 40 have any news programming? The weather being delivered by staff in Baltimore makes little sense.
jrc stated that 27.2 will be something else soon (was WTLH SD always a placeholder or a feed to give to cable/sat companies?).

Don't know why WTWC lacks a news department but I have known two occasions WTWC 40 attempted one and their newscasts weren't that great. Nowadays they would compete with WCTV's established newscast, WTLH's kewl HD, and indirectly WTLH's early newscast. In south GA they would also be competing with WALB.

... I have considered getting a larger, better antenna, but I would have to put it in the attic.

Why in the attic? Don't tell me this is another one of Tallahassee's neighborhood rules. You have a Federal right to an antenna!

FCC Satellite and Antenna Regulations-the OTARD Rule (http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/article/Association/FCC_Satellite_Antenna_Regulations)

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/consumerdish.html

I think they look nice...
http://pro.corbis.com/images/AX933691.jpg?size=67&uid={981606F2-E40C-430D-816F-65C74964D399}

JCRstudios, thanks for getting things fixed overnight. Glad I could help you win the bet, but you know what they say about squeaky wheels..... I was very upset because I figured what happened last Wednesday was a personal vendetta against me! LOL! It wasn't, was it? :o

I'll make the call first thing Monday morning...

How'd things go?! :)

I was very upset because I figured what happened last Wednesday was a personal vendetta against me! LOL! It wasn't, was it? :o

Wait until THIS Wednesday night! ;)

~Alan

Am i the only one ANXIOUSLY counting down until Feb 25th, when DISH provides HD-LIL in Tally?

I am also looking forward to HD locals on Dish even though I can pick all of them up OTA. It may be awhile before I can pick them up on Dish. I understand that they will be on satellite 129 so I will have to get a new dish installed if this is true.

I am also looking forward to HD locals on Dish even though I can pick all of them up OTA. It may be awhile before I can pick them up on Dish. I understand that they will be on satellite 129 so I will have to get a new dish installed if this is true.

i have 2 dishes at my home? Does that mean i shouldnt have any issues? is there some other way to check?

I also have two dishes. I am sure most everyone in the Tallahassee area with HD on Dish does. One is pointed at satellites 110 and 119 and the other at 61.5 where most of the HD is. I am not certain that the locals will be on sat 129 but that is what I have been seeing. I guess we will have to wait until Wednesday to know for sure.

Don't forget to let us know which stations you get. Us DirecTV customers are still waiting on WFSU-DT and WTXL-DT to be added to our LILs. Some may also be hoping for WTLF (the CW) and the MyNetwork affiliate to be added.

But we are thankful for what we have. :)

i have 2 dishes at my home? Does that mean i shouldnt have any issues? is there some other way to check?

It is my understanding you need a Dish 1000.2 to get all three sats in the west (110/119/129). So, if you have 2 Dish 500 dishes (one at 61.5 and the other at 110/119) you will need to either replace the Dish 500 or swing the dish pointed at 61.5 around to get 129. It also my understanding that most, but not all, of what is on 61.5 is on 129. For me there are some programs on 61.5 which are not on 129 so I have to swap out my dish for a new 1000.2. I haven't called Dish, yet, to see how to do that, though.

Wait until THIS Wednesday night! ;)

~Alan

Please don't even joke about it! :eek:

That was a joke, right? :o

It is my understanding you need a Dish 1000.2 to get all three sats in the west (110/119/129). So, if you have 2 Dish 500 dishes (one at 61.5 and the other at 110/119) you will need to either replace the Dish 500 or swing the dish pointed at 61.5 around to get 129. It also my understanding that most, but not all, of what is on 61.5 is on 129. For me there are some programs on 61.5 which are not on 129 so I have to swap out my dish for a new 1000.2. I haven't called Dish, yet, to see how to do that, though.


Well I just called Dish, or Embarq or WHOEVER decided to answer the phone:mad: and was told the classic customer service answer......" Im not sure sir......" Anyways, the rep indicated the system does not say what satellite it will show up so he advised me to take a wait and see approach....

Well I just called Dish, or Embarq or WHOEVER decided to answer the phone:mad: and was told the classic customer service answer......" Im not sure sir......" Anyways, the rep indicated the system does not say what satellite it will show up so he advised me to take a wait and see approach....

The Tallahassee, FL HD-LIL is currently uplinked to the new spot-beam satellite at 129°.

Generally speaking, you can find this information on the internet LONG before CSRs at the companies know about it.

~Alan

Please don't even joke about it! :eek:

That was a joke, right? :o

We'll see tomorrow night! ;)

Ooohhh, it's going to be a good one tomorrow night! :D

~Alan

Don't forget to let us know which stations you get. Us DirecTV customers are still waiting on WFSU-DT and WTXL-DT to be added to our LILs.

Dish Network currently has WCTV-DT, WTXL-DT, WTWC-DT, and WTLH-DT uplinked. Nobody will know what will be available until tomorrow of course, since the channels being uplinked are not indicative of what is eventually offered.... but rather what Dish Network WANTS to offer.

Please note that outside of AK and HI, Dish Network does not offer PBS in HD.

DirecTV still has WTXL-DT and WFSU-DT uplinked, so it's only a matter of time until they offer it.

Some may also be hoping for WTLF (the CW) and the MyNetwork affiliate to be added.

It's my understanding that both DirecTV and Dish Network carry WTLF-DT in the SD-LIL packages? Since WTLF-DT does not broadcast in HD, there's really nothing else they can do with it right now.

As for the MyNetworkTV affiliation on WCTV-DT2, Gray could always try to get DirecTV and Dish to carry WCTV-DT2 the next time negotiations come around. DirecTV carries MyNetworkTV from WTVY-DT2 (owned by Gray) in the SD-LIL for Dothan, AL.

But we are thankful for what we have. :)

Dish Networks transmits NBC and CBS stations in every market at a reduced resolution (1440x1080). If you watch a lot of NBC and CBS, you can be even more thankful! ;)

If you watch PBS, be thankful you may get it "soon!"

~Alan

The Tallahassee, FL HD-LIL is currently uplinked to the new spot-beam satellite at 129°.

Generally speaking, you can find this information on the internet LONG before CSRs at the companies know about it.

~Alan

Thanks for the info Alan. I currently dont have access to that satellite with my dishes :(

What should be my next step? Do I contact Dish to request another dish?

Thanks for the info Alan. I currently dont have access to that satellite with my dishes :(

What should be my next step? Do I contact Dish to request another dish?

Once Dish Network adds the HD-LIL tomorrow, you should be able to call them and tell them how you want the HD-LIL... and they should be able to upgrade you. I'm assuming they will be aware of it when you tell them you want the HD-LIL, but they might not.

I'd advise waiting until the afternoon to call though, so as to give the CSRs time to be aware of the new HD-LIL launches. I'd also advise waiting until Tallahassee, FL HD-LIL has been verified as being available on Dish Network... either from this thread here, DBSTalk.com, or SatelliteGuys.us.

If you're technically minded enough, you can re-position your second dish, the one pointed at 61.5°, over to 129° so you can watch them in the meantime, but if you're not technically minded enough to do so, you're obviously not wanting to do this. It's possible Dish Network (or the installer) might want to cop out and just do that anyway to save time and their supply of DISH 1000.2 dishes.

~Alan

Once Dish Network adds the HD-LIL tomorrow, you should be able to call them and tell them how you want the HD-LIL... and they should be able to upgrade you. I'm assuming they will be aware of it when you tell them you want the HD-LIL, but they might not.

I'd advise waiting until the afternoon to call though, so as to give the CSRs time to be aware of the new HD-LIL launches. I'd also advise waiting until Tallahassee, FL HD-LIL has been verified as being available on Dish Network... either from this thread here, DBSTalk.com, or SatelliteGuys.us.

If you're technically minded enough, you can re-position your second dish, the one pointed at 61.5°, over to 129° so you can watch them in the meantime, but if you're not technically minded enough to do so, you're obviously not wanting to do this. It's possible Dish Network (or the installer) might want to cop out and just do that anyway to save time and their supply of DISH 1000.2 dishes.

~Alan

Ok, how would i go about re-positioning it?

Ok, how would i go about re-positioning it?

If I was at your house, I could show you how to do it, and heck, do it in about 15 minutes... but my memory of Dish Network equipment is such that I can't tell you by memory.

Basically, you point the 61.5° (your second) dish to 129°, you peak the signal, and then you go inside and change a setting on the receiver. I think you may only have to go in the menu and tell it to "CHECK SWITCH," but it's been a while since I helped aim one of the Dish Network dishes, so I'd have to have it in front of me.

If you're afraid of messing anything up, I'd just wait, and hopefully, you will get a head's up on people calling Dish Network tomorrow, and they can come on out shortly.

~Alan

If I was at your house, I could show you how to do it, and heck, do it in about 15 minutes... but my memory of Dish Network equipment is such that I can't tell you by memory.

Basically, you point the 61.5° (your second) dish to 129°, you peak the signal, and then you go inside and change a setting on the receiver. I think you may only have to go in the menu and tell it to "CHECK SWITCH," but it's been a while since I helped aim one of the Dish Network dishes, so I'd have to have it in front of me.

If you're afraid of messing anything up, I'd just wait, and hopefully, you will get a head's up on people calling Dish Network tomorrow, and they can come on out shortly.

~Alan

I was playing with this earlier. you have a great memory! Thats exactly what you would need to do but I guess my question was really in what direction do I know where to point the Dish? But hey, i will wait until tomorrow and see what happens.... Boy this DTV conversion and Dish's outstanding cust service has been quite amusing....

Just wanted to let you all know that my TiVo HD is now showing the guide data for the proper 27.1. For you other TiVo owners, I had to run the guided channel setup again to get it to work correctly. When in the channel list, press enter (not select) to run the setup.

Hopefully this means all Tribune-reliant devices will now work correctly.

I was playing with this earlier. you have a great memory! Thats exactly what you would need to do but I guess my question was really in what direction do I know where to point the Dish?

Your main dish, the DISH500, is pointed at satellites at the 110° and 119° orbital locations. If your DISH300 dish pointed at the 61.5° orbital location is near your DISH500 dish, it needs to be moved more in the direction of that dish and beyond. Standing BEHIND the dish and moving it, it needs to be moved LEFT.

Once you get it pointed in the same direction as the DISH500, you can begin getting it into place. If there is someone else in your household who can help, you can SLOWLY turn the dish while they're inside viewing the signal meter for 129°, and can tell you when you've reached it. Once you've reached it, they can help you peak your signal. If no one is available to help you, but the dish is near a window or a door NEAR a TV where you can view the signal meter, you can turn the volume up where you can hear the sound of the signal meter... and aim it, then peak it until you get the best signal. I've done both over the years for DirecTV and Dish Network systems, and it's fairly easy if your patient and not intimidated by this sort of thing.

But hey, i will wait until tomorrow and see what happens.... Boy this DTV conversion and Dish's outstanding cust service has been quite amusing....

I can't tell you how many minutes I've lost over the years TRYING to explain to a CSR (or the like) stuff that they themselves should know... though I did get the amusement of hearing them explain to me how/why I was wrong! ;)

~Alan

Just wanted to let you all know that my TiVo HD is now showing the guide data for the proper 27.1. For you other TiVo owners, I had to run the guided channel setup again to get it to work correctly. When in the channel list, press enter (not select) to run the setup.

Hopefully this means all Tribune-reliant devices will now work correctly.

GREAT NEWS!! I can't wait to get off work (for many reasons) and check at home!

Did you try FORCING a daily call before running guided channel setup again? I tried one this morning and it was STILL trying to receive WTXL-DT on DT22, but the information could have been updated since this morning.

~Alan

This is probably the wrong place to ask, but is there any reason why WCTV doesn't show Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy in HD, or why WTWC doesn't show Entertainment Tonight and The Insider in HD?

This is probably the wrong place to ask, but is there any reason why WCTV doesn't show Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy in HD, or why WTWC doesn't show Entertainment Tonight and The Insider in HD?

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

The ability to offer syndicated programming in HD means that stations HAVE to buy the equipment to do so.... which isn't cheap.

Now that some stations are no longer paying for the costs associated with running a SECOND transmitter, I'm REALLY hoping that the stations can invest that money back into other parts of their business... like HD syndication, HD news, and of course, Dolby Digital 5.1 for WCTV/WSWG.

~Alan

Your main dish, the DISH500, is pointed at satellites at the 110° and 119° orbital locations. If your DISH300 dish pointed at the 61.5° orbital location is near your DISH500 dish, it needs to be moved more in the direction of that dish and beyond. Standing BEHIND the dish and moving it, it needs to be moved LEFT.

Once you get it pointed in the same direction as the DISH500, you can begin getting it into place. If there is someone else in your household who can help, you can SLOWLY turn the dish while they're inside viewing the signal meter for 129°, and can tell you when you've reached it. Once you've reached it, they can help you peak your signal. If no one is available to help you, but the dish is near a window or a door NEAR a TV where you can view the signal meter, you can turn the volume up where you can hear the sound of the signal meter... and aim it, then peak it until you get the best signal. I've done both over the years for DirecTV and Dish Network systems, and it's fairly easy if your patient and not intimidated by this sort of thing.



I can't tell you how many minutes I've lost over the years TRYING to explain to a CSR (or the like) stuff that they themselves should know... though I did get the amusement of hearing them explain to me how/why I was wrong! ;)

~Alan


Thanks Alan! This seems simple enough. My dishes are almost side by side so I can definitely try this when I get off today. I will give DISH's cust service another try and see what they have to say 1st. I will be darned though if I am gonna pay for $60-100 service call for someone to come and change out my dish for something they should have been prepared to offer me anyway :mad:1 All over their site, the go on and on about when HD-LIL becomes available in your area there would not be any additional fees for them....well, isn't funny they make no mention of the fact that the dishes on your home( which by the way they just added the HD dish in DECEMBER) won't be sufficient.....

BTW, I think this site is a godsend for those of us who have been looking for months for local Hd info!

Did you try FORCING a daily call before running guided channel setup again?



Yes, I did force a call, and that is when I noticed that 27.1 was completely gone from my guide. Running the guided setup at that point brought it back with guide information.

Does anyone who has DISH been able to check to see if they are receiving HD-LIL? i have called and checked with Embarq/DISH who have confirmed they are supposed to be active. i believe channels 5660-5663 was what i was told but no such luck at my house.

Does anyone who has DISH been able to check to see if they are receiving HD-LIL? i have called and checked with Embarq/DISH who have confirmed they are supposed to be active. i believe channels 5660-5663 was what i was told but no such luck at my house.

5260 - 27 - WTXL-DT
5261 - 6 - WCTV-DT
5262 - 40 - WTWC-DT
5263 - 49 - WTLH-DT

Transponder #14 on 129°

The 526x channels are the actual channel numbers, but I believe Dish may be mapping them to the OTA channel numbers. NOTE that you will NOT get these channels unless you have a dish pointed at 129°.

~Alan

I will be darned though if I am gonna pay for $60-100 service call for someone to come and change out my dish for something they should have been prepared to offer me anyway

Dish has to have it in their computers that you're eligible for a free dish. They are incredibly SLOW about it, AND the fact that you're going through a middleman (Embarq) makes it slower.

~Alan

Just wanted to let you all know that my TiVo HD is now showing the guide data for the proper 27.1. For you other TiVo owners, I had to run the guided channel setup again to get it to work correctly. When in the channel list, press enter (not select) to run the setup.

Hopefully this means all Tribune-reliant devices will now work correctly.

Yes, I did force a call, and that is when I noticed that 27.1 was completely gone from my guide. Running the guided setup at that point brought it back with guide information.

I got home LATE last night from work.

I went to my DirecTV HR10-250 (HD-TiVo), and it was trying to view WTXL-DT on DT27 instead of DT22 like the day before.

I went to my DirecTV HR20-700 (HD-DVR), and it was still getting a 0% reading on WTXL-DT. I ran the antenna setup again, and BOOM, WTXL-DT is now coming in on the HR20 (note that previous attempts to redo antenna setup failed to receive WTXL-DT).

I then went and forced a call on my TiVo Series 3. Still DT22! I ran guided setup again, still DT22. I changed the way I did guided setup, still DT22. I entered a Tallahassee, FL zip code, BOOM, DT27! I then re-ran guided setup, this time entering my OWN zip code, and it remained.

I don't know if it was jrcstudios, or you own call to TiVo that got this working, but THANKS to you both! :)

~Alan

Crossing fingers that 27.1 has no issues tonight during Lost

Dish has to have it in their computers that you're eligible for a free dish. They are incredibly SLOW about it, AND the fact that you're going through a middleman (Embarq) makes it slower.

~Alan

Funny, I called and of course they have to install another dish. They will be out between8-12 tomorrow....of COURSE, they tried to say there was nothing they could do about the $60 service fee and could not waive it. Once I requested to disconnect my service ......POOOF!Service fee gone. Lets see how it turns out tomorrow on "Days of Our DISH".......

Why is WTXLHD on Dish and not on DirecTV? Can someone say pay-o-la?

Why is WTXLHD on Dish and not on DirecTV? Can someone say pay-o-la?

There are stations in LIL markets (SD & HD) where Dish comes to an agreement fast... and DirecTV doesn't. There are stations in LIL markets (SD & HD) where DirecTV comes to an agreement fast, and Dish does not.

Network affiliates want money in exchange for carrying their signal. Usually, this is a certain amount per subscriber. Unfortunately, with satellite, this can be a considerable hardship.

Years ago, local channels on DBS (DirecTV, Dish Network) outside of only the top few markets were considered impossible... and especially in as many markets as they do now. The reason is that satellite companies only have so much bandwidth at a given orbital location... and they would have to have a dozen or so orbital locations to get every DMA, but they later started using a technology called "spot-beams" for local channels which allows them to re-use discreet frequencies in multiple locations.

DirecTV has over 7 spot-beam satellites they have sent into orbit which has cost them BILLIONS! Dish Network as well! Not counting the price tag of the satellites (both constructing, insuring, launching), they have to pay fees to the government for using these satellites/locations. They then have to pay fees to LEASE (or in some cases, lay NEW) fiber to send the local signals from their origin point to a uplink center which they then have to equip, employ, and run to get the signal UP to the satellites so that it will transmit back down. They also have to pay for encoders (running in the thousands of dollars) to encode the signal... SD encoders aren't SO terrible, but HD encoders are EXPENSIVE.

All this and DirecTV charges $3.00(?) and Dish Network $5.99(?) for SD locals, and HD-LIL is free if you subscribe to their HD packages?

In smaller markets, it's been theorized that the satcos make nothing on LIL, and actually LOSE money in some of the smaller markets! The reason they do so, is to remain competitive with cablecos and to seem enticing to people who can't get cable.

WTXL-DT and WFSU-DT are already uplinked via DirecTV. All they need is an agreement to offer it! Maybe it won't be long now...

~Alan

5260 - 27 - WTXL-DT
~Alan

Well that's good to see... Sorry DirecTV subscribers!
(if I could push the button I would...)

I don't know if it was jrcstudios, or you own call to TiVo that got this working, but THANKS to you both! :)
~Alan

I left two voicemails with Tribune, neither of which were returned. I was getting ready to call again...

JRCstudios, was it my imagination or was LOST last night looking better video-wise on Comcast Ch 431 than before? Did the new equipment (encoder?) do anything to improve HD video on Comcast?

I left two voicemails with Tribune, neither of which were returned. I was getting ready to call again...

Mr. Foster's name was given on DBSTalk.com as someone at Tribune who has been VERY helpful at getting the data corrected. It's possible with so many stations switching over this month that he was inundated with calls.

The analog signal is still listed on my TiVo Series 3, as well as some of the other things I mentioned... but I'll wait on asking you to do anything about them until WTXL-DT2 has changed programming. Then I guess the MAIN number for Tribune would probably be the best bet (unless you tried that too!).

Thanks for your help! :)

~Alan

I got an install for Locals today. Although I am looking at 110,119 and 129 with my new setup, I still kept my 61.5 dish. That is the only one Sun Sports HD an FSN Florida HD is on. I could already get locals OTA but it is nice to be able to record more than one local at a time.

I got an install for Locals today. Although I am looking at 110,119 and 129 with my new setup, I still kept my 61.5 dish. That is the only one Sun Sports HD an FSN Florida HD is on. I could already get locals OTA but it is nice to be able to record more than one local at a time.

I also got my install done today after a call yesterday...after much griping from me I was able to avoid the $60 service fee. Trek, was your service tech as unprepared for the 1000.2 Dish installation as mine? He claims the dishes were just sent in overnight and they received a 30 minute crash course on installing them just this morning. Needless to say he arrived at 8:30 and was there until 12:30 !he ran into major issues trying to peak my signal( I live in SW Tally inside of CC). He even mistakenly removed my 61.5 dish even after i repeatedly advised against this and had to of course go back and re-install it,lol....

He got to my place about 10:30 and did not leave until 3:00. He got a good signal on mine. I mentioned to him about Fox and Sun. He called Dish to confirm. He said they where not given real clear instructions about these installs but he seemed to know what he was doing.

JRCstudios, was it my imagination or was LOST last night looking better video-wise on Comcast Ch 431 than before? Did the new equipment (encoder?) do anything to improve HD video on Comcast?

I dropped Comcast recently for Directv and I thought the HD feed last night, OTA, was the best I've seen from ABC, ever. It was nice to have Lost back in HD and with no issues. Maybe it's just a better signal across the board.

I dropped Comcast recently for Directv and I thought the HD feed last night, OTA, was the best I've seen from ABC, ever. It was nice to have Lost back in HD and with no issues. Maybe it's just a better signal across the board.

So you noticed an improvement also, eh? Looks like that foul-up last week was a blessing in disguise? Now if we can get someone to sabotage the WTLH CW transmitter maybe they will do something similar with that long time grunge channel. Actually, CW video on Comcast has been looking a little better lately, but the audio continues to be an ongoing mess.

[QUOTE=jrcstudios;15890375]Why in the attic? Don't tell me this is another one of Tallahassee's neighborhood rules. You have a Federal right to an antenna!

Although I know the rules allow antennas despite HOA's, it is a matter of picking your battles. I will check the reception in the attic.

I do have a round amplified Radioshack antenna that I hook up to see what I can get. WFSU is the biggest disappointment. It seems that their antenna should be more central to the market. Having the antenna on the west side of the county makes little sense with Panama City's signal. I have my fingers crossed for WABW's full-power signal.

If I am unable to receive a stable digital signal in NE Tallahassee, I would guess that Jefferson County has even worse reception. They are also too far from Gainesville. Perhaps a repeater is needed in this area (if they still have digital repeaters).

My wife fears that I will pursue my rights. ;-)

Thanks!

27.2 will be "something else" in the near future...

jrcstudios,

Any hints as to what or when to expect this "something else" on 27.2?

I can get all the Tallahassee locals on my TERK HD A indoor antenna. I live in Cairo Ga and also have got Panama City Fl & Dothan Al some. I have Dishnetwork HD and can get them through my Receiver Also with my Terk HD A indoor antenna.
Marty

I can get all the Tallahassee locals on my TERK HD A indoor antenna. I live in Cairo Ga and also have got Panama City Fl & Dothan Al some. I have Dishnetwork HD and can get them through my Receiver Also with my Terk HD A indoor antenna.
Marty

Look at who finally posted. :eek: :D

He got to my place about 10:30 and did not leave until 3:00. He got a good signal on mine. I mentioned to him about Fox and Sun. He called Dish to confirm. He said they where not given real clear instructions about these installs but he seemed to know what he was doing.

I called Dish Tuesday afternoon and had a pleasant conversation with the CSR. She indicated there was the $60 fee, but after I told her I was a good customer and never used Dishmover or any other freebie she waived the fee. No hassles whatsoever. She scheduled me for yesterday afternoon.
The installer called my wife a little after noon, said he had 3 ahead of us so if she needed to go anywhere she had time, that he should be there about 5. He showed up about 5:30, was done at 8:15. Great guy, very expert. He, too, called Dish tech people about Sun and Fox sports and was surprised they both weren't also on 129.

Overall, very good service from them for me. (of course, OTA still looks a little better, but now I can record local HDs while watching another local HD)

Anybody know why the audio on FOX on DirecTV is hosed up? It's out of sync and sounds terrible. No issues on the Comcast FOX QAM channel so it appears to be a DirecTV issue.

WTLH
So when will WTLH up the digital power and signal ref to the cp they applied for

Forgive my ignorance, but why can't WTLH show the ACC tournament games from raycom in high definition?

Forgive my ignorance, but why can't WTLH show the ACC tournament games from raycom in high definition?
Don't have the equipment necessary to do so.

So, are there any plans to get this necessary equipment? If so, when?

So, are there any plans to get this necessary equipment? If so, when?
Whenever fellow member WTLHFOXHD has anything to share with us about it.

Or unless a wealthy benefactor comes along; it takes money, as stations are in business, to bring the equipment in.

Is there a consensus on which (if any) indoor antennas are good at picking up local OTA broadcasts in Tallahassee? Got a Channelmaster CM7000 and want to try it out. I live just north of the Parkway and west of Capital Circle. Can I expect to get anything using a small indoor antenna? Or will a big ugly outdoor antenna be needed?

Is there a consensus on which (if any) indoor antennas are good at picking up local OTA broadcasts in Tallahassee? Got a Channelmaster CM7000 and want to try it out. I live just north of the Parkway and west of Capital Circle. Can I expect to get anything using a small indoor antenna? Or will a big ugly outdoor antenna be needed?
If you're not concerned about VHF then have you considered a 2-bay or 4-bay (if you have enough vertical room) bowtie UHF antenna indoors?

I'm currently using a CM4221 indoors tilted back and aimed as close to Metcalf as possible and I get strong reception of WCTV, WTXL, and WTLH and I'm 45+ miles away.

Previously I used an antenna similar to the CM4220 (http://www.solidsignal.tv/prod_display.asp?PROD=CM4220). These bowtie antennas are not even 2 feet wide but you'd need a lamppost to post them on.

So it's bad enough that Terminator and Dollhouse were pre-empted by basketball, but now they are on and not in HD. What is up with that? Awful.

So it's bad enough that Terminator and Dollhouse were pre-empted by basketball, but now they are on and not in HD. What is up with that? Awful.
Read my response in post #3994 (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16009553#post16009553). In this case it's "storage of HD programs" but I don't know if it's possible to do so from the FOX network splicer.

Also, those who can pick up WFXL on OTA channel 12 or via QAM in some cities got regular HD programming.