Ok you HD ABC fans. They have a crew from Andrew working at the sight to get the HD rack up and running. If they do get it working this week then you may see HD in the next TWO weeks. Other than my guess I have no idea when you will see it.

Ok you HD ABC fans. They have a crew from Andrew working at the sight to get the HD rack up and running. If they do get it working this week then you may see HD in the next TWO weeks. Other than my guess I have no idea when you will see it.

That's very promising. Thanks for the info.

hey, i'm a new user, but i found this thread through google, and thought i'd pitch in, although i don't have anything profound or interesting to say.

i am kinda pissed at ABC lately, not being able to watch lost or alias in HD... and if the season (and series!) finale of alias is not in HD, i'm going to be uber pissed. i'm not paying for this for SD, dammit!

i really hope the local stations will move to HD commercials one day. the sound level being different and the black bars on the side, not to mention horrible quality, drives me nuts.

as for the WB, i really hope it comes soon. i like supernatural, which would be cool in HD. and my girlfriend and i watch gilmore girls, and having to sit through it in SD is pretty sad, especially since comcast's analog channels look absolutely atrocious through their digital box for some reason. honestly i'd much rather watch the analog channels directly into the TV than through the cable box. the only upside is that the audio goes to my surround unit (although its not real surround).

anyways, enough complaining. but seriously, ABC and the WB need to get their stations in gear. it's pathetic. atleast NBC is on top of things (most of the time)...

Ok you HD ABC fans. They have a crew from Andrew working at the sight to get the HD rack up and running. If they do get it working this week then you may see HD in the next TWO weeks. Other than my guess I have no idea when you will see it.

Just in time for summer re-runs. Yay!

NBC has a good picture, but their continual audio dropouts and delays between the sound and picture make some of their shows, such as ER, almost unwatchable. Unfortunately, NBCs engineers don't know how to fix this problem, or even acknowledge it as a problem. Not surprisingly, it is run by Sinclair...

CBS and FOX do the best HD in town, hands down.

Neon

Ok you HD ABC fans. They have a crew from Andrew working at the sight to get the HD rack up and running. If they do get it working this week then you may see HD in the next TWO weeks. Other than my guess I have no idea when you will see it.

While they are at it please ask them to fix the audio. Their 2.0 audio bleeds heavily into the left channel and is very annoying. 5.1 would be nice as long as it passes 2.0 sources correctly also.

NBC has a good picture, but their continual audio dropouts and delays between the sound and picture make some of their shows, such as ER, almost unwatchable. Unfortunately, NBCs engineers don't know how to fix this problem, or even acknowledge it as a problem. Not surprisingly, it is run by Sinclair...

Neon

I was told by one of the local NBC engineers that they (NBC) insist on using audio equipment different than every other broadcaster even though it has this problem that they can't fix. So yes they know about it, they just don't have a clue to solve the problem and/or are not willing to pay to switch to better equipment.

Alan, are you sure you were receiving WTLH? The reason why I ask is that Birmingham's WBRC (also Fox) uses channel 50 for digital, and I believe they are running high power from Red Mountain. I'd say you'd have a better chance receiving it as tropospheric scatter from Dawson than WTLH's pea shooter down here.

Sorry for the late reply, I haven't been feeling well the last week (old injury bothering me), but to answer your question, no, I don't know that I was receiving WTLH-DT as I wasn't receiving a strong enough signal to receive PSIP information.

While my antenna was pointed toward Tallahassee, I was still picking up WTVY-DT from Dothan, as well as getting a signal on (but no picture) on Dothan's ABC affiliate also, so you would think that Birmingham wouldn't be a problem, except for the fact that even though I have picked up stations as far to the west as the Biloxi, MS/Gulfport, AL DMA, as far North as the Atlanta, GA DMA, as far South as the Savannah, GA, DMA as well as (I believe the) Charleston, SC DMA (it's been a while, but I think that's right), and as far South as the Orlando and Tampa DMAs in Florida, yet I have NEVER received one station from Birmingham.

Also, my signals on WTWC-DT were increased by a lot and I was picking up a signal in the 90s for WFSU-DT, so I believe, given my past experiences with my antenna that it was indeed WTLH-DT.

~Alan

CBS and FOX do the best HD in town, hands down.

While I don't want this to come off as a insult to WTLHFOXHD, I do mean it to come off as a compliment to the FOX network, in that the splicer technology that FOX uses for their stations makes it a lot easier for the affiliate than the rest of the networks...

Basically, the Splicer sends HD and DD5.1 (all FOX HD stations have DD5.1 thanks to the Splicer) to the stations as handled by FOX, and all the the affiliate needs to handle is inserting the local stuff... it really is a GREAT way to do things in that FOX is SOLID in their HD broadcasts!! :)

~Alan

While I don't want this to come off as a insult to WTLHFOXHD, I do mean it to come off as a compliment to the FOX network, in that the splicer technology that FOX uses for their stations makes it a lot easier for the affiliate than the rest of the networks...

Basically, the Splicer sends HD and DD5.1 (all FOX HD stations have DD5.1 thanks to the Splicer) to the stations as handled by FOX, and all the the affiliate needs to handle is inserting the local stuff... it really is a GREAT way to do things in that FOX is SOLID in their HD broadcasts!! :)

~Alan

Perhaps, but when local SD is inserted it looks like crap (actually worse than crap in some cases). FOX needs to get their local affiliates fully into digital broadcasting asap before they can start taking bows.

Perhaps, but when local SD is inserted it looks like crap (actually worse than crap in some cases). FOX needs to get their local affiliates fully into digital broadcasting asap before they can start taking bows.

Since I've never seen this, I really can't comment about WTLH-DT (though I'm proud to say that my local FOX affiliate, WFXL-DT looks just fine), but the local stuff has nothing to do with FOX and is dependent on the owners of the local station. FOX did their part, and did it well!!!

~Alan

Since I've never seen this, I really can't comment about WTLH-DT (though I'm proud to say that my local FOX affiliate, WFXL-DT looks just fine), but the local stuff has nothing to do with FOX and is dependent on the owners of the local station. FOX did their part, and did it well!!!

~Alan

Perhaps, but I judge the channels I view as a whole, not just its network part. ABC may be doing a great job nationally, but WTXL screwed the pooch when they got kicked out of their studios and were left wandering the streets. All I know is I don't get to see the best shows on TV in HD, and at FOX I have to put up poor quality viewing on everything except their prime time shows. For me, the local franchise IS the network, so they have to take the heat along with the applause.

Perhaps, but I judge the channels I view as a whole, not just its network part. ABC may be doing a great job nationally, but WTXL screwed the pooch when they got kicked out of their studios and were left wandering the streets. All I know is I don't get to see the best shows on TV in HD, and at FOX I have to put up poor quality viewing on everything except their prime time shows. For me, the local franchise IS the network, so they have to take the heat along with the applause.

Amen, dsmith901, you stated it perfectly! It is time the local stations take responsibility and clean up this mess. Viewing the Tally locals thru DirecTV is horrible as well. Taking a crappy feed and compressing it simply equals double crap. Come on Tallahassee affiliates, step up to the big leagues and quit playing minor ball!

Amen, dsmith901, you stated it perfectly! It is time the local stations take responsibility and clean up this mess. Viewing the Tally locals thru DirecTV is horrible as well. Taking a crappy feed and compressing it simply equals double crap. Come on Tallahassee affiliates, step up to the big leagues and quit playing minor ball!

We don't even know where the park is or what game we are playing. Oh I have to go the vhs vcr from Walmart we play our local programs on is flashing 12:00 and I have the service guy here to fix it.

Look changes are coming they won't be big but the signal quality will change. As for DirecTv call them the signals going into their system are good they choose to rob bandwidth on the back-haul and on the Sat.

As for DirecTv call them the signals going into their system are good they choose to rob bandwidth on the back-haul and on the Sat.

This seems to be an issue with all satellite delivered locals, as I've heard people on numerous newsgroups from all around the country talk about how bad their local channels look via satellite... that being said, the locals being delivered in my market via Dish Network look pretty good to me, and I wish that DirecTV offered the same regardless of PQ...

~Alan

We don't even know where the park is or what game we are playing. Oh I have to go the vhs vcr from Walmart we play our local programs on is flashing 12:00 and I have the service guy here to fix it.

Look changes are coming they won't be big but the signal quality will change. As for DirecTv call them the signals going into their system are good they choose to rob bandwidth on the back-haul and on the Sat.

FOXHD, if you will recall from older posts, I HAVE called DirecTV on numerous occasions regarding the poor PQ of Tallahassee locals. I believe you have posted, in the past, that you would (or did) call them also. What was the result of that contact? Have you ever looked at the quality of the locals as received thru a DirecTV receiver (especially FOX 49)? I assure you it is very poor PQ. Your post insinuates that you have done your part and to heck with what happens to the feed afterwards. Is such a feeling or attitude really fair to thousands of viewers who depend upon satellite to be able to watch LOCALS? How about the good ole "team work" approach with DirecTV and local engineers? Is that impossible to achieve? I would think that you would want your signal to be the best that it could be, whether it be analog OTA, digital OTA, cable or digital satellite. What comes across on our tv screens is representative of your station, company, network, etc. FOXHD, your posts and contributions to this forum are greatly appreciated by all those interested in Tallahassee tv, including myself. I have personally thanked you (via forum posts) on several occasions. However, the bottom line remains: Tallahassee local television is NOT up to par with neighboring cities. That is the inference I made when I refered to big leagues versus minor leagues. When positive change is achieved, I will be the first to sing the praises of those involved. We are not there yet. Just my opinions. Thanks. HAMCO

anyone having trouble watching NBC, especially during The Office, via Comcast tonight? I'm trying to determine if it was a problem with just my feed, or systemwide. Thanks.

I echo what HAMCO said. This is not a personal attack on the engineers at our
locals. We just wish something could be done about the truly horrible PQ delivered
via DirecTV. It's unfortunate, but the FOX station PQ is beyond horrible at times
(as delivered via DirecTV).

I have worked with the crew at DirecTv and Dish. They have been helpful. I do care about our signal but I will only pound my head against a wall for so long. Send your rants about locals quality to my email, word them respectful and explain your self. This will help me as I can forward them to there engineering dept. and it will allow them to ask questions of you if they want. It will also build a complaint file we can use to go to them.

Also for Fox HD over the air. It looks like the equipment will be on site in July. My guess at this time is HD by the end of July.

Have you DirecTV guys considered switching to Dish? And no, I am not a Dish salesman or customer, just curious since Dish generally seems to have a better reputation for service than DirecTV.

While I am not responsible for the engineering behind and the business decisions of DirecTV, I am the local service manager providing the installations and ongoing effort on upgrades and service calls. I am new in the position, but if there are point specific issues, I would be glad to entertain them and get them addressed.

By some stroke of luck :p I happen to get both the WTLH feed and the west coast FOX LA feed via DishNetwork.

Granted, LA is probably a little bigger market, but there is a noticeable difference between the two. Our family generally watches American Idol essentially in real time via WTLH, but I usually DVR 24 on the LA feed because it looks and sounds much better.

I'm not complaining because I know that our friend WTLHFOXHD is on our side, but rather offering a direct comparison that I'd be happy to show the powers at WTLH (unless they get my LA feed cut off :eek: . I have no idea how it compares to DirecTVs signal.

Hello,

I am new to this forum as I recently found it via google like many of you. It is nice to see there are others like me who talk HD in Tallahassee. My question to all of you is what is the current status of ABC HD in Tallahassee? What signal strength are you getting? Any suggestions on improving signal strength? I am 90 on CBS and NBC currently. My ABC is 70, but is not viewable. Thanks.

http://www.thetubetv.com/ confirms that digital music channel The Tube will be coming to Tallahassee via NBC affiliate WTWC's digital signal. This is part of a deal The Tube has with Sinclair Broadcasting, WTWC's owner, to broadcast The Tube nationwide.

Tribune Broadcasting and Raycom Media also carry or have deals to carry The Tube.

An interesting use of multicasting...now if WTWC would carry NBC Weather Plus...but you need an actual Weather Department to do that.

Summer 2006 Tallahassee-Thomasville Synopsis
WTWC-DT (Analog 40/Digital 2) -- On Air with HDTV
40.1 NBC HDTV | 40.2 NBC SDTV
WTXL-DT (Analog 27/Digital 22) -- On Air but Temporarily Low Power and SDTV
27.1 ABC HDTV (once resumed) | 27.2 ABC SDTV
WTLF-DT (No Analog/Digital 24) -- On Air with SDTV
24.1 The WB/(to be the CW?)
WFSU-DT (Analog 11/Digital 32) -- On Air with HDTV
11.1 WFSU-HD | 11.2 4FSU | 11.3 FKN | 11.4 The Florida Channel
WSWG-DT (Analog 44/Digital 43) -- On Air (with HDTV?)
44.1 UPN/To Be MyNetworkTV | 44.2 CBS (Coming Soon)
WCTV-DT (Analog 6/Digital 46) -- On Air with HDTV
6.1 CBS HDTV | 6.2 UPN/To Be MyNetworkTV
WTLH-DT (Analog 49/Digital 50) -- On Air with Low Power, HDTV via Cable
49.1 FOX | 49.2 The CW (Coming Soon?)

Also for Fox HD over the air. It looks like the equipment will be on site in July. My guess at this time is HD by the end of July.
That and full power would be excellent. :cool:

Any word on how The CW will be distributed? Will it continue on WFXU/WTLF like The WB has been or will it be on a WTLH-DT subchannel?

When will those of us in Valdosta, be able to get HDTV on air. Right now we only get WCTV/UBN. It's not fair to keep me from getting the networks HDTV from DirecTV.

Any word on how The CW will be distributed? Will it continue on WFXU/WTLF like The WB has been or will it be on a WTLH-DT subchannel?

I for one don't care as long as its HD! :) :confused:

That and full power would be excellent. :cool:

Any word on how The CW will be distributed? Will it continue on WFXU/WTLF like The WB has been or will it be on a WTLH-DT subchannel?

It has already been stated that WTLH-DT got the CW affiliation, which means that The CW will be on 49.2 (What will become of WFXU/WTLF remains to be seen).

~Alan

Anyone know what the problem is with NBC and "Will and Grace" on Comcast HD? The past couple of shows of W&G have had a horizontal frame bar very slowly moving up the screen, splitting it in half, and which is annoying to say the least. I have never seen that on any other channel or program including any other NBC HD program. Why would it just be a problem with W&G? And why can't they fix it? How about it you TV engineers?

Anyone know what the problem is with NBC and "Will and Grace" on Comcast HD? The past couple of shows of W&G have had a horizontal frame bar very slowly moving up the screen, splitting it in half, and which is annoying to say the least. I have never seen that on any other channel or program including any other NBC HD program. Why would it just be a problem with W&G? And why can't they fix it? How about it you TV engineers?

Same thing happened with My Name is Earl a few weeks ago, had to delete since it was unwatchable, but the Office was fine that night. I did not realize it was an on going problem.

Same thing happened with My Name is Earl a few weeks ago, had to delete since it was unwatchable, but the Office was fine that night. I did not realize it was an on going problem.

I don't watch "Earl" so I did not know it had the same problem. Actually I don't watch W&G much anymore either, I just wanted to see the last few series episodes. But this is really strange to me that only two (?) shows affected while the rest of the network is fine?

While I am not responsible for the engineering behind and the business decisions of DirecTV, I am the local service manager providing the installations and ongoing effort on upgrades and service calls. I am new in the position, but if there are point specific issues, I would be glad to entertain them and get them addressed.
Thanks for checking us out!
I don't know how specific I can be, other than the Tallahassee locals as delivered
via DirecTV often have horrible picture quality. and often horrible ups and downs
in audio (volume). This is especially true with Fox, where the picture often looks
muddy, and the commercial volume makes me almost leave my chair.
I know this is not an installation problem on our end, but any word you can direct
toward the folks responsible for getting our local signal to us would be great.

Off topic.....
Hey Capefish, I grew up in Cape Coral but left in 1994 to come to Tallahassee. Has a lot changed there, when I left they were only working on the mid-point bridge. Is the Cape finally a real city, does it have everything Ft Myers has or do you still have to go there for stores and malls? Curious to know what it is like there now. thanks.

Thanks for checking us out!
I don't know how specific I can be, other than the Tallahassee locals as delivered
via DirecTV often have horrible picture quality. and often horrible ups and downs
in audio (volume). This is especially true with Fox, where the picture often looks
muddy, and the commercial volume makes me almost leave my chair.
I know this is not an installation problem on our end, but any word you can direct
toward the folks responsible for getting our local signal to us would be great.

The only problem with that is that I've heard (from multiple people on many different occasions) that that is a common issue with satellite delivered locals (I can't really speak since I don't have LIL)...

~Alan

Did anyone watch the Amazing Race on comcast ch. 233 last tonight? I watched it through the DVR and at the 1:30 mark it froze on a commercial and never came back until 1:58 in. Did this happen to anyone else?

Did anyone watch the Amazing Race on comcast ch. 233 last tonight? I watched it through the DVR and at the 1:30 mark it froze on a commercial and never came back until 1:58 in. Did this happen to anyone else?

Yes. Very frustrating to have this happen during the final episode.

Yes. Very frustrating to have this happen during the final episode.

I have learned that if there is a program I really don't want to miss I and it is available in the analog part of the cable schedule I make sure to record it either on my Replay DVR or my Panny E80H. Better to see it in SD than not at all.

Off topic.....
Hey Capefish, I grew up in Cape Coral but left in 1994 to come to Tallahassee. Has a lot changed there, when I left they were only working on the mid-point bridge. Is the Cape finally a real city, does it have everything Ft Myers has or do you still have to go there for stores and malls? Curious to know what it is like there now. thanks.
Stores are being built, like a new Kohls and we now have a BJs. However the Edison Mall in Fort Myers, being renovated, and Miromar Outlets in Estero are still the big shopping spots. The Bell Tower and Gulf Coast Town Center are the second tier shopping areas still. Online shopping is popular.

Cape Coral's downtown has been rebuilt and many smaller shops have moved in. Del Prado hasn't changed too much except the Super Wal-Mart now has a Staples and Publix there.

New Publix and Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market stores are opening all over.

You should come back home for a visit. :cool: We have a new Hampton Inn near Coronado and Cape Coral Parkway.

FOX4 on Pine Island Road is going big league with a new morning news program along with the 10pm news. They are the only TV station in the Cape, but they got WFLA's old news director in there and he is renovating the set along with most of the building. Pine Island Road has also been made wider from Santa Barbara to Chiquita.

BTW, go TRITONS! ;) Mariner>Fort Myers>North Fort Myers>Cape Coral>Ida Baker (new Gulf High School in South Cape near Gulf Ele./Mid. Schools)

September 2006 Update
WSWG DT1-CBS/HD
WSWG DT2-My Network/SD

September 2006 Update
WSWG DT1-CBS/HD
WSWG DT2-My Network/SD

I just wish someone in this tv market would have the magic tv network!

Hi everyone,

I'm a new member here, its great to see this type community (I've seen lots of helpful posts for HD users in Tallhassee). I just joined the high def world this past week and I have a couple of questions about the Tallahassee Comcast HDTV.

When I hooked up my new TV (Samasung HL-R5078W), I did the prerequisite channel search in setup. Besides all the analog channels (we have Comcast analog service), it found a number of HDTV channels, including the local stations as well as some of the HDTV cable fare, including some premiums like HBO-HD, digital music and occassional OnDemand programming.

My first question is, should I be getting this stuff without a digital set top or a Comcast card? I really had no immediate plans on subscribing to the digital Comcast package yet, as I wanted to try out OTA HDTV for local programming (have a Terk HDTVO on order) . Should I block these channels on my TV to avoid any issues with Comcast, or do they even care? Is it okay to just receive the local HDTV channels as long as I block the cable networks/programming (if okay, I guess I would be eating the restocking fee for RMA'ing the Terk)? I just want to make sure the Comcast police don't drag me off kicking and screaming for digital cable theft.

Again, thanks for the Tallahssee HDTV community, I've already learned alot reading the thread, though I have about 20 or so more pages to go to finish it.

Jeff

Hi everyone,

I'm a new member here, its great to see this type community (I've seen lots of helpful posts for HD users in Tallhassee). I just joined the high def world this past week and I have a couple of questions about the Tallahassee Comcast HDTV.

When I hooked up my new TV (Samasung HL-R5078W), I did the prerequisite channel search in setup. Besides all the analog channels (we have Comcast analog service), it found a number of HDTV channels, including the local stations as well as some of the HDTV cable fare, including some premiums like HBO-HD, digital music and occassional OnDemand programming.

My first question is, should I be getting this stuff without a digital set top or a Comcast card? I really had no immediate plans on subscribing to the digital Comcast package yet, as I wanted to try out OTA HDTV for local programming (have a Terk HDTVO on order) . Should I block these channels on my TV to avoid any issues with Comcast, or do they even care? Is it okay to just receive the local HDTV channels as long as I block the cable networks/programming (if okay, I guess I would be eating the restocking fee for RMA'ing the Terk)? I just want to make sure the Comcast police don't drag me off kicking and screaming for digital cable theft.

Again, thanks for the Tallahssee HDTV community, I've already learned alot reading the thread, though I have about 20 or so more pages to go to finish it.

Jeff

No need to block any of the channels you get. The local HD channels are intended to be carried in the clear. (ABC is SD for now). I also can sometimes view OnDemand programming that other Comcast customers have ordered. Haven't seen HBO-HD using TV tuner. Are you sure it is the HD version and not HBO programming being viewed using OnDemand.

Welcome to the world of HD.

Ok you HD ABC fans. They have a crew from Andrew working at the sight to get the HD rack up and running. If they do get it working this week then you may see HD in the next TWO weeks. Other than my guess I have no idea when you will see it.

Any update on this WTLHFOXHD. Thanks

No need to block any of the channels you get. The local HD channels are intended to be carried in the clear. (ABC is SD for now). I also can sometimes view OnDemand programming that other Comcast customers have ordered. Haven't seen HBO-HD using TV tuner. Are you sure it is the HD version and not HBO programming being viewed using OnDemand.

Welcome to the world of HD.

Thanks for the info. You might be right about HBO now that I think about it. I just assumed it was HBO-HD, but it may just be the digital standard HBO.

Since its not a problem receiving the local channels, I guess that means I don't have to worry about an antenna for local HDTV. As I said, I have a Terk on order, so I suppose I could go ahead and set it up just in case I lose the cable on a "Lost" night or during a football game.

Comcast has been planning on taking HBO off the analog for sometime now. So a lot of times the tech doing the install leaves the filter off and you end up with HBO. That happen to me.

September 2006 Update
WSWG DT1-CBS/HD
WSWG DT2-My Network/SD
Does that mean WSWG's analog signal will carry CBS while MyNetworkTV goes on the digital side only like WCTV? Will WSWG-CBS Albany carry WCTV's newscasts?

I just wish someone in this tv market would have the magic tv network!
I second that request. The Devil Rays TV Network has made itself a home on WCTV-DT 6.2 and so could the Magic.

Has anyone else noticed an audio/video synchronization problem with the Tonight Show in HDTV format? I've only seen this problem with the Tonight Show, and it doesn't appear to happen on the Conan show after it. Since it doesn't happen on the other HD channel programming, I was wondering if there is something special about how the Tonight Show is broadcast.

Seems to be an intermittent problem with ch40. Last week, ER and SNL were bad. Others weren't.
Another part of the "We only do DTV 'cause the FCC says we must. We Really don't care what it looks like" thinking here in the backwoods.

Thanks PBS,

I was hoping it was something like that. I didn't want to have to start thinking about a service call to Samsung ;) .

Well, my worst fears have come true. "Alias" is ending its superb run in SD on WTXL, not to mention "Lost" closing out the season in the same sad format. I spoke with the the manager Mike Plummer last week and he could not say when HD would return, but he thought it was due any day. Maybe by the time college FB starts? Please???

WTXL HD is near Jack is sending the last of the equipment up and we are going to install it for him. May even happen this week.

Will it be full power, so those of us in Valdosta can enjoy it or just for Dumbcast, er, Comcast?

WTXL HD is near Jack is sending the last of the equipment up and we are going to install it for him. May even happen this week.

Thanks, I will look forward to enjoying their summer re-runs in HD.

BTW, any chance audio will be DD 5.1?

Thanks, I will look forward to enjoying their summer re-runs in HD.

BTW, any chance audio will be DD 5.1?

NO on full power will still be the same.

5.1 don't know I do not believe at this time. I have not seen the equipment.

NO on full power will still be the same.

5.1 don't know I do not believe at this time. I have not seen the equipment.

Thanks for the quick response. Regardless of their audio format, please have them check it to be sure it is working properly. WTXL audio has been all messed up on Comcast for weeks now, although last night the audio on "Alias" seemed to be at or close to normal for 2.0 on the digital channel, but I think it is still messed up on the analog channel.

WTXL HD is near Jack is sending the last of the equipment up and we are going to install it for him. May even happen this week.

YES! In time for the NBA Finals!! Watching basketball (and anything for that matter) not in HD is just wrong :p

YES! In time for the NBA Finals!! Watching basketball (and anything for that matter) not in HD is just masterbation :p

Say what??? Speak for yourself maybe!

i was seriously disappointed in ABC HD for not having alias in HD. why is it taking this long? seriously, what is the effing problem? they already had an HD infrastructure in place, how hard is it to replace the parts that are bad or whatever?

especially with season finales going on, that's just ridiculous. i'm guessing lost tonight will be ugly SD as well. uggh. why didn't they do it during the summer's crap programming?

and does anyone else have a gray bar on the top of the screen on NBC? its been like that for me. its the same gray bar that split the screen during earl a few weeks ago, but instead its steady and on the top of the screen. bah.

fox and cbs seem to be the only channels in town that do HD right most of the time. the only thing i don't like is the volume difference between HD and SD... and when something on fox is only SD and it reverts to SD to show it, the volume is significantly louder than the surrounding channels. and again, i'm eagerly awaiting the CW in HD.

i was seriously disappointed in ABC HD for not having alias in HD. why is it taking this long? seriously, what is the effing problem? they already had an HD infrastructure in place, how hard is it to replace the parts that are bad or whatever?

especially with season finales going on, that's just ridiculous. i'm guessing lost tonight will be ugly SD as well. uggh. why didn't they do it during the summer's crap programming?

and does anyone else have a gray bar on the top of the screen on NBC? its been like that for me. its the same gray bar that split the screen during earl a few weeks ago, but instead its steady and on the top of the screen. bah.

fox and cbs seem to be the only channels in town that do HD right most of the time. the only thing i don't like is the volume difference between HD and SD... and when something on fox is only SD and it reverts to SD to show it, the volume is significantly louder than the surrounding channels. and again, i'm eagerly awaiting the CW in HD.

Yes, those are all aggravating aspects of cable reception right now. Comcast is supposed to convert to all digital in the future but I have not been able to get a timetable. Hopefully when that happens these problems will be abated somewhat. I have not seen the rolling bar on NBC recently - thankfully the final episode of Will and Grace was free of such glitches. As for WTXL (ABC) they got kicked out of their old station a few months back and are temporarily housed at WFSU while their new station is being built - due in about a year. Supposedly they are now installing new transmitters for HD that will work in the meantime. But we have been hearing the word "soon" from them for the past two months, so don't hold your breath.

Heck, we've heard the word "soon" from DirecTV for YEARS!!!!

Heck, we've heard the word "soon" from DirecTV for YEARS!!!!

They say sometime in 2007. They still have two more birds to put up. The wait is almost over. Also DirecTV can't do anything for local HDTV untill the local Tallahassee stations get there act togather.

Well, I just don't believe it. I had to call DTV the other day and I asked about national HD feeds as well. I got the answer, "well, when the new sat is launched". WHAT???? NEW SAT?????

They just put two new ones up!!! I'm about ready to go back to Comcast here. I'm fed up with waiting and the pq sucks. I've been a DTV subscriber since 1994 and I've taken about all I'm going to take. :mad:

Well, I just don't believe it. I had to call DTV the other day and I asked about national HD feeds as well. I got the answer, "well, when the new sat is launched". WHAT???? NEW SAT?????

They just put two new ones up!!! I'm about ready to go back to Comcast here. I'm fed up with waiting and the pq sucks. I've been a DTV subscriber since 1994 and I've taken about all I'm going to take. :mad:

You may want to check with Comcast to see if they have any special unadvertised incentives for satellite customers.

Memo to WTLHFOXHD:

It's been two weeks and still no HD at WTXL. You weren't pulling our legs on that earlier post about HD about to re-start were you?

Memo to WTLHFOXHD:

It's been two weeks and still no HD at WTXL. You weren't pulling our legs on that earlier post about HD about to re-start were you?

I went out there to install the equipment that I was told would be out there. I did not find it to be so. Jack sent an email stating he would be in town today. I hope to find out where the equipment is.

Thanks for the update; is it safe to assume it looks promising ABC will be HD by June 10 (World Cup)?

I went out there to install the equipment that I was told would be out there. I did not find it to be so. Jack sent an email stating he would be in town today. I hope to find out where the equipment is.

No offense, but this kind of "Chinese fire drill" scenario is about what I have suspected all along at WTXL. That must be the worst managed TV station in the country. Thanks for your efforts - at least you showed up. As for Jack.....let's just say he has some "splainin' to do."

Any word about when Directv will add the HD Tallahassee stations?

Does Dish offer the networks in HD in Tally? Any opinions on Dish vs. DirecTV?

Directv, I know something I can't post about just yet??

Directv, I know something I can't post about just yet??

Hmmm....very cryptic.

Anyone know if Comcast in Tallahassee will make peace with FSN Florida/Sun Sports and get those channels and their HD broadcasts on Comcast in Tally?

They have made peace almost everywhere else in Florida....except in Tallahassee.

Anyone know if Comcast in Tallahassee will make peace with FSN Florida/Sun Sports and get those channels and their HD broadcasts on Comcast in Tally?

They have made peace almost everywhere else in Florida....except in Tallahassee.

You live in Cape Coral - what do you care?

You live in Cape Coral - what do you care?
I go to FSU.

I go to FSU.
Thats how I ended up up staying in Tallahassee, Cape. Thanks for the the update on the changes in Cape Coral you gave a few pages back, BTW I went to Cape High, c/o 94.

Does Dish offer the networks in HD in Tally? Any opinions on Dish vs. DirecTV?

Dish Network has stated that they don't see it as financially attractive (not the words they used, but it gets the idea across) to offer HD locals to markets outside of the Top 50. They said they don't see why they should offer it when people can pick it up just fine with an antenna. This year, at CES (Consumer Electronics Show), Dish Network announced 50 markets they plan to offer by the end of 2006... and not all those markets are in the top 50 markets (perhaps Dish Network is going by # of HD subscribers in that market), but Tallahassee, FL is not one of them (read here (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=54667) for list of cities), and Dish Network has not announced any plans to offer any more cities.

That being said, with DirecTV providing HD-LIL to almost everywhere, Dish Network will probably have no choice but to add HD-LIL in markets where DirecTV offers them, but I believe that DirecTV will be much faster in bringing them to Tallahassee than Dish Network given the fact that DirecTV has spent/will spend so much money bringing them to you, and Dish Network hasn't got the capacity at this time... and probably won't for another two years.

DirecTV however probably won't have Tallahassee, FL HD locals available until the two new satellites go up next year (one in Spring, one in Summer), so it will be a while for them too.

~Alan

Thats how I ended up up staying in Tallahassee, Cape. Thanks for the the update on the changes in Cape Coral you gave a few pages back, BTW I went to Cape High, c/o 94.
Your welcome! GO TRITONS!!!! ;)

Hi. Anyone who are watching HBO-HD, can you please give me a favor? If you turn off your HD cable box, can you access the menu and turn on closed caption and turn your cable box back on?

The reason why I ask is this:

While watching Star Wars, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, I noticed that closed caption doesn't display all the text fully. Somehow, it got cropped off and because I use closed caption and due to my hearing impairement, I can't understand spoken words fully. Closed caption does seem to be displayed fully most of the time, but sometimes the words get cut off at the beginning of a sentence. You might want to watch Star Wars until at the end of the movie.

I just thought I'd ask since it's important to for cable operators to provide good signal with closed captioning. I don't think it has nothing to do with my cable length as I'm fine with that and closed captioning does work in other channels like G4 TechTV, Spike TV, CourtTV, etc.

DirecTV however probably won't have Tallahassee, FL HD locals available until the two new satellites go up next year (one in Spring, one in Summer), so it will be a while for them too.

~Alan

Don't be so sure about that. A friend told me to upgrade to the H20 before August.
A CSR from Directv told me that I could not untill they offer the local HD stations.
But, when I called about droping the Sunday Ticket, because I could not get the Falcons in HD, because Fox 49 was showing the SD broadcast. (I was hopeing to get no blackout on the HD broadcast.) The CSR then told me I COULD upgrade to the H20 and the new dish. What would be the reason for me to upgrade now? The CSR told me to do so "that I will be ready when they do start the HD locals." BTY I told the CSR that I would not be able to pick-up Fox 49 over the air because I'm so far away. "yes you will" was the answer.

Any chance that ABC shows the NBA Finals in HD starting Thursday? When will they get with the program!! Our local market can be so frustrating!

Any chance that ABC shows the NBA Finals in HD starting Thursday? When will they get with the program!! Our local market can be so frustrating!


I totally agree. ABC horrible in Tallahassee. They are the ones with the constant stutter during college football games. Entire MNF games were not in HD at times.

Any chance that ABC shows the NBA Finals in HD starting Thursday? When will they get with the program!! Our local market can be so frustrating!

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!! :D :D :D

Seriously, that was too funny for words! You should know by now that WTXL will return to HD when they feel like it, like maybe NEVER!

Don't be so sure about that. A friend told me to upgrade to the H20 before August.
A CSR from Directv told me that I could not untill they offer the local HD stations.
But, when I called about droping the Sunday Ticket, because I could not get the Falcons in HD, because Fox 49 was showing the SD broadcast. (I was hopeing to get no blackout on the HD broadcast.) The CSR then told me I COULD upgrade to the H20 and the new dish. What would be the reason for me to upgrade now? The CSR told me to do so "that I will be ready when they do start the HD locals." BTY I told the CSR that I would not be able to pick-up Fox 49 over the air because I'm so far away. "yes you will" was the answer.

It's a wise idea to take whatever a CSR tells you with a grain of salt. DirecTV has stated that they intend to get 50-70 DMAs up by the end of the year (Tallahassee is DMA #109). While it's possible that Tallahassee could be one of those DMAs, chances aren't really good.

DirecTV is installing the new dish on any HD installs (if you got a H20 from DirecTV, the new dish is standard install). Also, if you have any HD-DNS, DirecTV has stated they intend to start switching HD-DNS customers over to MPEG-4 this Summer (starting on the West Coast, and moving to the East Coast).

EDIT: Just looked and saw that recent cities announced by DirecTV for HD-LIL include Green Bay (#69), Portland, (#74), and Reno, NV (#112).

Hey WTLH, did DirecTV ever do that HD sight survey back in February?!

~Alan

Downed TV Tower Takes Out Another


The WFLX tower in Doerun, Georgia had to come down after all the damage suffered in that military helicopter crash that killed four, but another TV tower stands only yards away, and Wednesday night the neighboring WALB tower is down and out of commission.

Demolition crews detonated 27 charges to bring down the precariously leaning WFLX tower. They hoped it would fall like a chopped tree.

The big problem was the wires for WALB and WFLX's towers criss-cross. The outcome feared most became reality.

Both towers collapsed. Now two stations have a big challenged ahead, but no injuries from the bungled demolition.

Comcast closed their ESPN2 HD deal with Disney last night. About to check my tv. Here's crossing our fingers we got it. I'll report back in a minute.

Nope :(

Well just minutes from the NBA finals and no ABC HD huh, blahh

YES! Check your guides. Channel 203 was just added to the HD lineup and says "To Be Announced."
Channel 202 is ESPNHD. This has got to be it! So excited. We are gonna have ESPN2HD for World Cup, Baseball and Football!

Ok, I just tested it. The guide is still coming up, but the channel is active. Tallahassee Comcast owners you officially have ESPN2HD on channel 203.

And yes, I am going out tonight since we still don't have ABC fixed...

YES! Check your guides. Channel 203 was just added to the HD lineup and says "To Be Announced."
Channel 202 is ESPNHD. This has got to be it! So excited. We are gonna have ESPN2HD for World Cup, Baseball and Football!
I just saw this and was going to post but you beat me too it. Finally!!! The big question is will it stick around after the World Cup.

I would be surprised to see ABC in HD this year.

What a bitter sweet night. Finally, ESPN2HD, but WTXL, come on you're better than that! My two favorite teams are in the Finals and I almost don't care since it isn't in HD. You might as well rub dirt in my eyes.

I just saw this and was going to post but you beat me too it. Finally!!! The big question is will it stick around after the World Cup.

I would be surprised to see ABC in HD this year.

I don't see it going anywhere after the World Cup, and here is my reasoning. First off this is a channel Comcast has been claiming they were trying to add since last fall. And secondly, if you remember when we got Universal-HD for the winter olympics, they replaced INHD2 with U-HD during the course of the events. When they reordered our HD channels a couple months ago and put them all together, they left a couple channels absent. i.e. Everything wasn't sequential, leading me to believe they had something they were waiting to stick in the middle.

As for ABC...I went down to the Ale House. I figured if I couldn't watch the game in HD anyway, I might as well have a pint with friends while I enjoyed it in analog. :P

I don't see it going anywhere after the World Cup, and here is my reasoning. First off this is a channel Comcast has been claiming they were trying to add since last fall. And secondly, if you remember when we got Universal-HD for the winter olympics, they replaced INHD2 with U-HD during the course of the events. When they reordered our HD channels a couple months ago and put them all together, they left a couple channels absent. i.e. Everything wasn't sequential, leading me to believe they had something they were waiting to stick in the middle.

As for ABC...I went down to the Ale House. I figured if I couldn't watch the game in HD anyway, I might as well have a pint with friends while I enjoyed it in analog. :P

U-HD did not replace INHD2 during the Olympics. It appeared on channel 206 or 208 next to TNTHD. The INHD channels were in the 170s at that time. (I think)

U-HD did not replace INHD2 during the Olympics. It appeared on channel 206 or 208 next to TNTHD. The INHD channels were in the 170s at that time. (I think)
You are right they did put UHD all by itself.

I agree Roofus there was a definate reason they reordered the HD channels and with ESPN2 right after ESPN may be agood sign we will get to keep it. Let hopes they some more new HD's they have from 209-214 available.

I thought the last update we got from the Engineering poster was that ABC might be hope within a week? I'm guessing that is no longer possible?


Neon

FSN is coming to Comcast in Tallahassee on July 31

Best thing about ESPN2HD is college FB this fall. My own preference would be to get the new CW channel in HD, if that was the option, though both would be even better. Wish the new FSN channel would be HD also - any chance?

As for WTXL you notice the local engineers here are no longer making predictions. There is a chance that they may not return to HD until their new station is completed - at least a year from now. I just wish in the meantime they could at least fix their audio.

U-HD did not replace INHD2 during the Olympics. It appeared on channel 206 or 208 next to TNTHD. The INHD channels were in the 170s at that time. (I think)

I know it's been awhile, but I thought I remembered INHD2 going off air during the Winter Olympics because of the bandwidth needed.
I wasn't implying that UHD replaced the INHD2 channel number. I thought it just went off air.

As for WTXL you notice the local engineers here are no longer making predictions. There is a chance that they may not return to HD until their new station is completed - at least a year from now.

That would just be wrong. I have not watched wtxl since they ended their HD feed and wont watch it until it returns.

I am glad I only watch Lost on WTXL so at least all the other shows I watch are in HD. Hope when they get their new studio they get their act together for those of you who watch several shows on ABC. Have they even started the new studio?

Texadillo, where did you get information about FSN coming July 31?

Best thing about ESPN2HD is college FB this fall. My own preference would be to get the new CW channel in HD, if that was the option, though both would be even better. Wish the new FSN channel would be HD also - any chance?

As for WTXL you notice the local engineers here are no longer making predictions. There is a chance that they may not return to HD until their new station is completed - at least a year from now. I just wish in the meantime they could at least fix their audio.

Just to lead you on and give an update. I went to WTXL and installed the receiver for the sd part of the HD and that is running. After finding some phone numbers and calling around it looks like I have the information for the HD hookup and if all goes well I will be out there Saturday trying to make it happen. What a long drawn out process this has been.

Hey WTLH, College Football will be HD on ABC this year. Is there any chance that WTXL will be HD full power by then??

FSN Florida and FSN-HD coming to Comcast Tallahassee: http://fsnflorida.blogspot.com/2006/06/fsn-florida-to-launch-on-comcast-cable.html

FSN Florida and FSN-HD coming to Comcast Tallahassee: http://fsnflorida.blogspot.com/2006/06/fsn-florida-to-launch-on-comcast-cable.html
It looks like it will be channel 50, so where does food network go(update:looks like it will move to 76)? The other part of the article that bothered me was thisHD channel numbers on these two Comcast systems will be announced as they are available. I hope they roll out both the HD and regular at the same time but I guess that will not happen.

I just checked comcast.com for the channel lineup and it looks like it will start 7/6/06. I did not see a space for FSNHD.

:confused: Quick question does anyone know why Disney on 136 is not broadcasting as a digital channel. What is the purpose of 2 analog Disneys chewing up bandwidth?

When FSN-HD airs a game, usually it bumps the program on InHD2. However, FSN Florida should get an established channel like it has in most other markets.

I read an article that said the preview period in early July should include both SD and HD.

Have faith, HD launches for Comcast down south here have been quick.

http://www.sunsportstv.com/hdtv_programs.jhtml?method=list

Hey WTLH, College Football will be HD on ABC this year. Is there any chance that WTXL will be HD full power by then??

No on the full power at this time there is a crew from ERI on site installing a higher gain antenna higher on the tower. This antenna will be feed with larger feed line so lower loss and with the gain of the antenna more ERP but I don't think it will work all that well.

Is anyone on here getting WTWC over the air digitally right now? For some reason on mine it is not picking anything up at all, no signal whatsoever, I dont know if its my me or its the station?

Ok, i think it was me, i tightened a connection and got it back up

WTLHFOXHD, at least it aint as bad as the situation in Albany, people have died and both towers and now down, what a mess up there.

Blah, no HD on WTCW with hockey!

No HD tonight on WCTV in prime time. No answer at the station. WAKE UP, WCTV! THROW THE HD SWITCH! Tallahassee and HD mix together like oil and water. What a sad JOKE!

Way to go WTWC. What's the point of having an HD station if you can't even see programs being broadcast in HD? That's almost more aggravating than WTXL's mess. Maybe there will be a year where I can watch every sporting event available in HD actually in HD. Man that would be sweet.

Its wierd that WTWC didn't put the hockey game in HD but they put Saturday Night Live on in HD

Just to lead you on and give an update. I went to WTXL and installed the receiver for the sd part of the HD and that is running. After finding some phone numbers and calling around it looks like I have the information for the HD hookup and if all goes well I will be out there Saturday trying to make it happen. What a long drawn out process this has been.

Thanks much - I will be looking forward to the fruits of your labors, Sisyphus, er WTLHFOXHD! Good luck!

Now about the audio......

Hamco-
What are you referring to on your 6/10 post? If your issue is Sat night prime, you posted your note prior to 8pm. CSI in syndication from 7-8p is not available in HD.

CMTally, my post is 100% correct. The prime time block on CBS is 8-11 pm EST. Neither of the first two hours crime dramas were in HD, as they should have been. The third hour of prime time was the news show 48 Hours, which is not broadcast in HD by CBS. I am well aware of the difference between local and syndicated programming broadcast in SD versus HD feeds from the networks. My post time is listed is listed as 8:25 pm with an edit at 8:51 pm. This site often lists the post times as Central Standard Time, so my actual posts were at 9:25 pm with an edit at 9:51 pm Eastern Standard Time. This was well within the 8-11 pm prime time block. Check YOUR facts before you question someone's post. The point of my post and the other above posts is to point out the poor management by WCTV and WTWC regarding their technicians passing the HD signal on to us viewers. I stand by every post I have ever made in this forum. I try to make my posts clear enough so that those interested might understand if I am stating facts or opinions. My previous post was indeed FACT. Thank you.

The point of my post and the other above posts is to point out the poor management by WCTV and WTWC regarding their technicians passing the HD signal on to us viewers. I stand by every post I have ever made in this forum.

In WCTV-DT's and WTWC-DT's defense, that's pretty much a country-wide problem (the exception being FOX affiliates since FOX's splicer does the work for them).

I've had quite a few times when WALB-DT has not turned on HD this past Fall (with "My Name Is Earl" and "Surface"), and WTVM-DT (ABC in Columbus, GA) was very bad at it on the occasions that I was able to pick it up.

That being said, even the affiliates in NY aren't immune to it. Just a couple of months ago I TiVo'ed a episode of "Desperate Housewives" via the ABC affiliate in NY (via DirecTV) and it wasn't in HD for a good chunk of it (or maybe the whole thing, I don't remember).

Also, last Summer, back when ever CBS aired a few episodes of "Veronica Mars", I tuned into the NY affiliate and noticed that VM wasn't in HD, so I tuned in to see if I could pick up WCTV-DT, and was surprised to see they were in HD. By that time, I had missed the first part, so I caught it later via the West Coast feed, but still, I was shocked to see WCTV-DT so on the ball (especially considering it wasn't even a CBS network show), when the NY affiliate was off.

~Alan

Alan: Back when the WCTV engineer used to post on this board, he said he had the process of switching to HD set up extremely simple for the technicians. All that it required was punching one button! Surely someone can be trained to perform this task. If not, then it's time for an automated setup (as you said FOX has, perhaps). Why heavily promote HD viewing, here in the 21st century, if you can't see it?

Alan: Back when the WCTV engineer used to post on this board, he said he had the process of switching to HD set up extremely simple for the technicians. All that it required was punching one button! Surely someone can be trained to perform this task. If not, then it's time for an automated setup (as you said FOX has, perhaps). Why heavily promote HD viewing, here in the 21st century, if you can't see it?

I agree!! I'm just as upset as anyone else when that happens... in fact, last month or the month before that, I was planning on watching something, and when I found out it wasn't turned on in HD, I deleted it off the TiVo, and went and watched something else. I was just simply stating that it's a nationwide problem. Once HD becomes even more mainstream (and once affiliates gets to make money on their HD feed), I suspect it will start to correct itself...

While I think that FOX had the right idea with the splicer, let's not forget that the other networks (well, with the exception of maybe the WB and UPN) were already broadcasting in HD before FOX... and the technology wasn't perfected yet (if I remember correctly from a FOX engineer that explained a lot about it). FOX also spent the money to build their infrastructure for their affiliates... and I really don't see anybody else doing that at this time since they already have a working one.

~Alan

I agree!! I'm just as upset as anyone else when that happens... in fact, last month or the month before that, I was planning on watching something, and when I found out it wasn't turned on in HD, I deleted it off the TiVo, and went and watched something else. I was just simply stating that it's a nationwide problem. Once HD becomes even more mainstream (and once affiliates gets to make money on their HD feed), I suspect it will start to correct itself...

While I think that FOX had the right idea with the splicer, let's not forget that the other networks (well, with the exception of maybe the WB and UPN) were already broadcasting in HD before FOX... and the technology wasn't perfected yet (if I remember correctly from a FOX engineer that explained a lot about it). FOX also spent the money to build their infrastructure for their affiliates... and I really don't see anybody else doing that at this time since they already have a working one.

~Alan

I think the bottom line is the stations are cheap, cheap cheap! Too cheap to install the proper equipment to do the automatic switch. I am surprised they don't save even more by replacing the lunkheads who can't push a simple button with a trained chimp! :mad:

I think the bottom line is the stations are cheap, cheap cheap! Too cheap to install the proper equipment to do the automatic switch. I am surprised they don't save even more by replacing the lunkheads who can't push a simple button with a trained chimp! :mad:

The trained chimp is on order. Seems to be a lot of call for them--they're backordered/ ;)

The trained chimp is on order. Seems to be a lot of call for them--they're backordered/ ;)

Yeah, I think those guys at FEMA have first call on trained chimps. :p :p

Speaking of trained (or maybe untrained) chimps, WTXL had another audio problem this morning on their news show, and when I called the station manager he said it was "human error" that he "thinks" has been taken care of. When I asked about the restart of HD broadcasting he told me that WTXL sends their transmission to Little Rock where it is uplinked to satellite and then sent back down to the local transmitter (!). Strange, eh. He said the local station's master control is in Little Rock, AR! He said their HD equipment was installed here but there was something that needed to be done to get Little Rock to do their thing, and he is not sure when that will happen, and that some equipment somewhere is either not installed yet or not working as needed. What a joke WTXL is!

I resubmitted my HD waiver request on 6/5/06. I cannot receive ABC, NBC or FOX using a 30 ft antenna. Funny thing is that NBC 10 out of Albany denied the request. They are only 1/4 of the capacity that they were at before their tower was taken out. NBC 40 still has not responded.

My question would be... HOW do you deny a waiver when you cannot provide the signal. I cannot even get NBC 10 even an analog signal. They even have this on their website

This is taken from their website>>
Some will need new ways to receive WALB





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June 9, 2006

Dougherty County -- Thousands of people in south Georgia still can't pick up WALB's television signal. When our tower fell Wednesday evening, many loyal viewers were left with no picture.

There are ways for some of them to receive our signal. To help with that problem, WALB installed a transmitter and temporary antenna on the Albany tower before our main tower collapsed. This covers a smaller area, about 1/4 of what the Doerun tower covered, it has helped some customers.

And now a satellite provider is stepping up to help.

Rodd Electronics is busy with their regular DISH Network installation, but that work load could soon pickup. They're receiving many calls from south Georgians who lost their local channels this week.

"All the little goodies that they give you inside, this particular dish receiver comes with two remotes," says Mike Stevens, describing one of their units. "The very first question I always get, is can I get the local channels, because most people are interested in channel 10, that's the number one question."

DISH Network does carry local channels including WALB, and now they're waiving activation fees to keep local customers connected.

Direct TV customers aren't as lucky "In talking to Direct TV, they have run out of satellite transponder space, the satellites they would bounce the local signals off of, to send it to your rooftop satellite dish," said WALB General Manager Jim Wilcox.

If you're just looking for news coverage, there are cheaper alternatives, two Albany radio stations carry WALB's entire six o'clock news broadcast. WJYZ-AM and B-100FM, WOBB.

There's also our web site which has been expanded to include more local news stories.

Most cable networks are still carrying our signal but some can't. "There are some smaller cable companies out in the area that were picking us up over the air, and we're working on solutions to get a good quality signal to them," said Wilcox.

We simply don't know how many viewers are affected. People who live within 25-miles of Albany and receive our signal with an antenna should be okay. Anyone who lives farther away likely will have trouble.

It could be six months before we have a new main tower up and running. The only drawback with a satellite system is you may be locked into a contract to receive the service.



Link... http://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?S=5011646

Speaking of trained (or maybe untrained) chimps, WTXL had another audio problem this morning on their news show, and when I called the station manager he said it was "human error" that he "thinks" has been taken care of. When I asked about the restart of HD broadcasting he told me that WTXL sends their transmission to Little Rock where it is uplinked to satellite and then sent back down to the local transmitter (!). Strange, eh. He said the local station's master control is in Little Rock, AR! He said their HD equipment was installed here but there was something that needed to be done to get Little Rock to do their thing, and he is not sure when that will happen, and that some equipment somewhere is either not installed yet or not working as needed. What a joke WTXL is!

I have refrained from answering the many complaints about WTXL hd because I don't know what to beleive :(
The audio today (I'm interested in that because it comes from our equipment) was good leaving here and bad in Little Rock.
--> WTXL has no master control of their own since Sinclair kicked them out of CH 40. They use our (WFSU) studio for their news and send it via satallite to Little Rock to a company that does master control for 60 or so stations. That operation seems to be run by untrained chimps. They then send it back via satellite to the WTXL transmitter in Metcalf.
HD (when, if ever it works) will be upconverted analog or ABC HD switched at their transmitter. All that equipment is supposed to be installed and more or less working. The latest hold up is with the switch that is supposed to allow Little Rock to change back and forth. (Do you, like me, see a possible problem there????
Of course, I have been told that this should happen "any day now" {What is the current temperature in Hell?)

I know it's been awhile, but I thought I remembered INHD2 going off air during the Winter Olympics because of the bandwidth needed.
I wasn't implying that UHD replaced the INHD2 channel number. I thought it just went off air.

I am pretty sure that INHD2 never went off the air during the Olympics. It seems that Comcast has plenty of bandwidth in Tallahassee, they just aren't adding HD stations fast enough. :)

I just noticed tonight that 40.2 now is showing The Tube rather than the SD version of WTWC. The Tube is a music video network that appears to only show videos (unlike MTV). I was out of town for a week, so I'm not sure how long it has been up.

Updated Summer 2006 Tallahassee-Thomasville Synopsis
WTWC-DT (Analog 40/Digital 2) -- On Air with HDTV
40.1 NBC HDTV | 40.2 The Tube
WTXL-DT (Analog 27/Digital 22) -- On Air but Temporarily Low Power and SDTV
27.1 ABC HDTV (once resumed) | 27.2 ABC SDTV
WTLF-DT (No Analog/Digital 24) -- On Air with SDTV
24.1 The WB/(to be the independent)
WFSU-DT (Analog 11/Digital 32) -- On Air with HDTV
11.1 WFSU-HD | 11.2 4FSU | 11.3 Create | 11.4 FKN
WSWG-DT (Analog 44/Digital 43) -- On Air (with HDTV?)
44.1 UPN/To Be CBS (Coming Soon) | 44.2 To Be MyNetworkTV (Coming Soon)
WCTV-DT (Analog 6/Digital 46) -- On Air with HDTV
6.1 CBS HDTV | 6.2 UPN/To Be MyNetworkTV
WTLH-DT (Analog 49/Digital 50) -- On Air with Low Power, HDTV via Cable
49.1 FOX | 49.2 To Be The CW

Updated Summer 2006 Tallahassee-Thomasville Synopsis

WTLF-DT (No Analog/Digital 24) -- On Air with SDTV
24.1 The WB/(to be the CW?)

WSWG-DT (Analog 44/Digital 43) -- On Air (with HDTV?)
44.1 UPN/To Be MyNetworkTV | 44.2 CBS (Coming Soon)

WTLH-DT (Analog 49/Digital 50) -- On Air with Low Power, HDTV via Cable
49.1 FOX | 49.2 The CW (Coming Soon?)

It appears that WFXU/WTLF-DT will have NO network affiliation come September since The CW will be going to 49.2 (again, this September). Unless they announce a affiliation with either a Christian or Spanish network, odds are they will become an independent.

However, since The CW granted the Tallahassee CW affiliation to WTLH-DT, and not to WFXU or WTLF-DT, you can take off the "(to be the CW?)" from the WTLF-DT synopsis.

Also, according to WTLHFOXHD, WTLH-DT is HD only on Comcast, and SDTV OTA... and WSWG-DT is SDTV only... no HD.

~Alan

Updated Summer 2006 Tallahassee-Thomasville Synopsis
(corrections in red)
WFSU-DT (Analog 11/Digital 32) -- On Air with HDTV
11.1 WFSU-HD | 11.2 4FSU | 11.3 Create | 11.4 FKN


See correction above.

I have refrained from answering the many complaints about WTXL hd because I don't know what to beleive :(
The audio today (I'm interested in that because it comes from our equipment) was good leaving here and bad in Little Rock.
--> WTXL has no master control of their own since Sinclair kicked them out of CH 40. They use our (WFSU) studio for their news and send it via satallite to Little Rock to a company that does master control for 60 or so stations. That operation seems to be run by untrained chimps. They then send it back via satellite to the WTXL transmitter in Metcalf.
HD (when, if ever it works) will be upconverted analog or ABC HD switched at their transmitter. All that equipment is supposed to be installed and more or less working. The latest hold up is with the switch that is supposed to allow Little Rock to change back and forth. (Do you, like me, see a possible problem there????
Of course, I have been told that this should happen "any day now" {What is the current temperature in Hell?)

The analog audio on Comcast channel 7 was still crapola this morning - another "human (chimp?) error" I guess. However, amazingly enough when I watched the (new) episode of "Commander in Chief" on Comcast Ch. 231 last night, lo and behold the audio was DD 5.1, at least according to my receiver display, and it sounded like it also. Strange,eh? Alas the video was still SD, but it was at least good SD. BTW, that "CIF" episode had the newly self-righteous lady Pres deciding she was not going to lower herself to actively campain for re-election, but she was going to fight to get the long dead ERA amendment passed (never mind the deadline expired 20 years ago). It was by far the worst ever episode on a show I previously enjoyed, and if it is an indication of where the show was headed then I am glad to see it was not renewed. All the references to Florida politics, Tallahassee, and a foxy female state legislator was a hoot, however.

It seems that Comcast has plenty of bandwidth in Tallahassee, they just aren't adding HD stations fast enough. :)

It seems that some Comcast subscribers in the other parts of the country are seeing MTV-HD added to their lineup.

Just thought I'd let y'all Cable-TV folks know...

~Alan

According the MDH (MTV HD) and National Geographic, their websites indicate that they will be on DirecTV soon. They do not give a date. But I am estimating before Football Season.

Thanks to Alan Gordon and PBSengineer for correcting my errors.

As for WTLHFOXHD, when can it be expected that you guys will be HD OTA in Tallahassee? Baseball's playoffs will soon be on FOX and they never miss a playoff game in HD.

WTXL-DT going back on the air with an HD signal would be nice.

Will someone put those orlando magic games that are on magic tv network on next season? Thats what i am hoping for at least. They will be a talked about team next season!

I didn't think it was possible to have DD5.1 without HDTV?

Does anyone know if WTXL's constant, undending difficulties would also include the cutting into live programming with repetitive local commericals? At the start of the NBA Final game tonight, they cut into the open to show an entire block of local commercials. How is that allowed? How are people not fired immediately for that? It's a mistake, but it's a mistake that's happened at least four times since I've been watching WTXL (since last July) and I only watch the channel for the NBA games (and there aren't that many on ABC).

Also, is it at all possible to switch to a group of local affiliates from another part of the US? I have a feeling it isn't.

Does anyone know if ABC 27 will be HD full power by Football season and has anyone ever used or heard of the Terrestrial Digital DB8 Multi-Directional HDTV Antenna.

Also, I have DirecTV and have applied several times for local waivers, does anyone know or have an inside connection to get this paassed for me.

Does anyone know if ABC 27 will be HD full power by Football season

I would not expect them to be. I suspect we may not see HD on WTXL until next year. They seem to be a poorly run station after reading all of the comments on here.

WWSB in Sarasota is pretty well run...seems like WTXL has not been able to get everything together since being tossed out the window by Sinclair.

And it continues,,,,,watching CBS last night and the show would go from SD to HD several times.
Today as in just now, the US open switched from ESPN HD to NBC and our local hasnt changed the feed yet, a call to their engineer, and he isnt around :mad:

Pardon me for complaining, 15 freakin minutes later and its on :(

As sad as it sounds it looks like WTXL will not provide full power HD this year, and ABC will have plenty of HD games. You would think ABC would come in and intervene at some point. Come on Dish get HD DNS!!

All assumptions on WSWG & WSWG-DT on previous page are close but no cigar. Hopefully official press release will be able to go out soon with all of the details. Network programming should be similar to WCTV but syndicated and sports programming will vary by market.

Question for NBA fans.....How many games are in the Orlando Magic TV Network? Are there weekend day games? Are the Magic worth a crap? I'm completely clueless about the NBA but if there's a market out there for the games, we'll look at trying to pick them up for WCTV-DT2.

All assumptions on WSWG & WSWG-DT on previous page are close but no cigar. Hopefully official press release will be able to go out soon with all of the details. Network programming should be similar to WCTV but syndicated and sports programming will vary by market.

Question for NBA fans.....How many games are in the Orlando Magic TV Network? Are there weekend day games? Are the Magic worth a crap? I'm completely clueless about the NBA but if there's a market out there for the games, we'll look at trying to pick them up for WCTV-DT2.
I hope to see something from WCTV/WSWG soon! Will WSWG be able to carry the Hawks/Thrashers while WCTV is able to carry FSU/Devil Rays/Magic games? With the towers going down up there, you guys would have an almost exclusive market when you finally launch CBS/MyNetworkTV on WSWG.

I'm a HEAT fan, but Tally is Magic territory...so you can add the package. Currently, the Magic had affiliates in Tampa, Palm Beach, and Gainesville along with the flagship in Orlando.

http://www.nba.com/media/magic/magic-TV-logo100.jpg

Orlando's WRBW and Gainesville's WYPN will be MyNetworkTV. Here were the 2005-2006 affiliate game schedules (http://www.nba.com/magic/tvradio/flagships.html). The package was a total of 35 games with Sun Sports carrying another 42 games.

So am I right in concluding that WTXL is not broadcasting World Cup or any other programming in HD? Or maybe they are and Comcast cannot pick it up and rebroadcast it over cable.

For those of you up in Tally,

Is WTWC airing tonight's Stanley Cup Final Game 6 in HD?

For those of you up in Tally,

Is WTWC airing tonight's Stanley Cup Final Game 6 in HD?

Yup they did

Yup they did
Thanks for the report.

They broke into NBA game coverage with local commercials again. The ineptitude of the people at WTXL is beyond anything I've seen in regards to television. They don't know what they're doing apparently, and they don't seem to care what kind of pathetic product their viewers have to deal with. I watch the NBA Finals every year, but I've never had to watch it in such low quality as I'm seeing it today.

Where's the HD? Where's anyone who knows what they're doing? Is the whole operation run by complete and utter idiots? When I call, nothing. I can't complain via internet, since their website is nothing but a sentence saying: "New website coming soon". Is this for real? Even the most amateur local station at least has some marginal type of website. Yes, Sinclair kicked them out, but that was months ago. In the span of four months, they should have at least fixed the noise on the SD broadcasts.

It's as if the only way I'll be able to watch a decent ABC broadcast is to move about five hours north to Atlanta.

I believe now that I was wrong about WTXL broadcasting DD 5.1 audio while their video was SD. I forgot to look at the speaker display on my H/K AVR520 where it would have shown that it was outputting just DD 2.0. Mea Culpa!!!

Now back to our regularly schedule programming: Those *^#$#!!%#! idiots at WTXL are so stupid they would have to hire trained chimps just to raise their average IQ!!!!!! Feel free to contact one of the station managers, Mike Plummer, at 850 894-6397. Mike is actually a pretty nice guy who is himself unhappy with things at the station, especially with the master control in Little Rock, Arkansas (yes, Tallahassee, we have a bunch of drooling hillbillies running our ABC affiliate). He has the name and phone number of the main manager - a lady with no sense of humor who will basically tell you to go screw yourself. So please call her if you feel like really venting.

Everybody who is just as teed off as I am for buying a HDTV to watch this years world cup and the NBA finals should contact Abc on their website at the bottom and let them know how much they are disappointing their fans here in tallahassee. Also tell them that all the bars are watching world cup on Univision where the reception is better anyway(just have to know some spanish). Im so sick of seeing all the abchd logos everywhere while im watching it on a 2000 dollar TV set in Standard stretched mode. we the people can not let this go on indefinently. I would like to see some football in hd sometime this year!

ABC is providing the HD signal to the local affiliate--the local affiliate cannot handle it right now. There is nothing more that ABC can do, other than yell at the affiliate.
But the affiliate is in a tight spot--they were evicted from their old studios by their landlord (Sinclair broadcasting).

At some point they will be up in HD again. The affiliate wants to do so, and pressure should be put on the Arkansas people right now.

To me, a bigger long-term problem is the NBC audio-sync issue. The delay between video and audio is severe, and that problem arises at NBC studios (as I understand it). But nobody at NBC seems to care.

Neon

NBC is not airing the NBA FInals and THE WORLD CUP INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL tourney. So jay lenos voice is a little off. Ill get over it. But after watching the playoffs in HD and seeing world cup soccer on espnhd and getting squat from wtxl is horrible and they should be ashamed that they cant get over their bad spot after months. Am i the only one who has reached this conclusion?

they should be ashamed that they cant get over their bad spot after months. Am i the only one who has reached this conclusion?

Not at all. The regular reception is bad itself--so bad that the only way to watch the NBA Finals on decent reception is to catch the re-air on ESPN at 3 AM. It's amazing that people can go out there and do a horrible job and still not get fired. If I'm WTXL, I tear the whole thing down and start from scratch. Find people who actually know what they're doing, on camera and off.

All assumptions on WSWG & WSWG-DT on previous page are close but no cigar. Hopefully official press release will be able to go out soon with all of the details. Network programming should be similar to WCTV but syndicated and sports programming will vary by market.

Color me curious. The affiliation press release with MyNetworkTV announced that the affiliation was for WSWG-TV and WSWG-DT (meaning that WSWG's analog signal will be with MyNetworkTV). CBS is going to WSWG-DT, and according to you a few pages back, it will be in HD, and MyNetworkTV will be SD only (same as WCTV-DT).

While, granted, WSWG's analog signal is crappy where I live, and their digital coverage will be similar to their analog (according to the FCC) signal, so the station doesn't affect me that much since WCTV-DT will have the same network programming (WCTV-DT is the strongest digital signal I can receive, with a signal around 90, so should I want to watch MyNetworkTV, I can on WCTV-DT, and I'll probably watch my CBS programming on WRBL-DT since they have DD5.1)... however, I am curious as to what would be big enough to warrant a press release?!

Is WSWG-DT going full-power (and I mean full power like WALB and WFXL in the Albany DMA)?! Is WSWG-DT gaining a CW digital affiliation also?!

~Alan

ABC is providing the HD signal to the local affiliate--the local affiliate cannot handle it right now. There is nothing more that ABC can do, other than yell at the affiliate.
But the affiliate is in a tight spot--they were evicted from their old studios by their landlord (Sinclair broadcasting).

At some point they will be up in HD again. The affiliate wants to do so, and pressure should be put on the Arkansas people right now.

To me, a bigger long-term problem is the NBC audio-sync issue. The delay between video and audio is severe, and that problem arises at NBC studios (as I understand it). But nobody at NBC seems to care.

Neon

is more than just incompetent, they are also ignorance (with exception of FOX).

They are not capable but still CONTINUE declinning local viewer to have HD feed via satellite.

I don't know about all others that were denied. For me, too bad for them, I am watching CBS & FOX shows in HD rather than theirs.

The local ABC affiliate was until recently providing an HD signal. There were no problems with it. Then, they decided to build their own studio, and their landlord took that excuse to terminate their lease and kick them out of the studio they shared with the NBC affiliate. So, they are up a creek without a paddle.

ABC Studios in NYC is still providing an HD signal for them to transmit, but because they got evicted they can't trasmit it. It is not a matter of ignorance or incompetence, but rather they don't have the studios or equipment yet. They are trying to do a workaround using the Arkansas people, but so far, that hasn't worked.

Neon

Do you work for these people because you seem to be coming up with all kinds of excuses for them. Were they sharring NBC's HiDef equipment because in the 21st century where all feed has to be digital by law then they should have ponied up and got their own. This isnt a new thing where they were blindsided as the following quote points out.
"In April 1997, the Commission established a timeline that required all television stations to broadcast in digital by certain deadlines. The digital television (DTV) construction requirements vary depending on several factors, including the size of the television market. Affiliates of the top four commercial networks in top ten markets have a deadline to construct DTV facilities prior to May 1, 1999. The deadline for all other commercial stations to construct DTV is May 1, 2002. Finally, public television stations must construct facilities by May 1, 2003. Once constructed, DTV stations must begin partial simulcasting of the analog (NTSC) channel's video content in 2003 and are scheduled to shift to full simulcasting in 2005.8 The goal of the legislature is to have this transition coincide with the purchase of high definition television (HDTV) sets. Once the goal of full transition by 2006 is reached, viewers must have purchased either digital television sets, or the converter boxes that allow analog television sets to receive the digital broadcast."
This was pushed back again because of incompetent stations that were unwilling to effect their own botttom line by giving their customers a superior product. This is greed and thats all. Why would people want to spend all that extra loot on a HiDef TV to watch their favorite shows like the Lost season finale, NBA Finals, or FIFA World Cup when they are not being shown in HiDef? Why would i buy an ethanol car when there are no ethanol fueling stations in my area? Because these things cost money and the same companies who would make money off of it dont want to spend the money on the infrastructure to create it when they are already making so much money.

WOW! The FCC does not now and probably never will require HD. They require SD, which all the stations in the market provide. (Fox is so low power you can't see it until they up the power "any day now") HD is optional. Yes, I agree that I want to see everything in HD. (NOW, not later)
CH27 has the equipment at their transmitter to receive HD from ABC and put it into their transmitter. Little Rock will switch between ABC and upconverted local (hopefully not forgetting). The problem seems to be that, as yet, the equipment is not connected/configured correctly to work. I have no idea as to when this will happen.

However, I am intelligent enough to know where the blame lies.
But if makes you feel better to yell at the ABC affiliate, so be it.

Neon

The local ABC affiliate was until recently providing an HD signal. There were no problems with it. Then, they decided to build their own studio, and their landlord took that excuse to terminate their lease and kick them out of the studio they shared with the NBC affiliate. So, they are up a creek without a paddle.

ABC Studios in NYC is still providing an HD signal for them to transmit, but because they got evicted they can't trasmit it. It is not a matter of ignorance or incompetence, but rather they don't have the studios or equipment yet. They are trying to do a workaround using the Arkansas people, but so far, that hasn't worked.

Neon

I am speaking of OTA broadcast. Looking back posts, it seems that you are a Comcast customer.

I believe that ABC affiliate was hardly ever in full-power OTA until they lost it totally.

So why did the local ABC affiliate (WTXL) not have there OWN studio? When you cut corners to make money you lose. They are the ones that have to fix the proplem. So FIX IT!!!

This is months in the making. Somebody, somewhere is sitting on their hands on this one to the detriment of the Tallahassee customers. If it isnt this affiliates fault then why dont they get on the phone and do something about it. There is a thing called the chain of command in business and if you dont get what you want from the person above you then you go above their head until you do. Complacency is what this is called. Ive had court cases taken care of faster than this. And that is the slowest beauracrcy in the world. Dont pass the buck on this one wtxl, get on the phone and do something about it. I switched from Directv to Cable so I could get these channels because where I live is to far away for the simple comfort of over the air HDTV (15 minutes from the capitol!). Youve blown your chance with the NBA Finals. Are you going to let FIFA World Cup go by as well (Thankfully tomorrows is on ESPNHD at 9:55 in the morning, watch it people, Go America!!! Beat Ghana!!! :D )

I have personally requested waivers numerous times. I have called and emailed the affifiliates. None have responded. I did get this from the FCC. I posted below.

Thank you for contacting the Federal Communications Commission.

There are different ways in which satellite subscribers can get
television broadcast channels and your ability to receive a particular
station primarily depends on several factors that are governed by
legislation passed in Congress in 1999 and 2004.

Both the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act of 1999 (SHVIA) and the
Satellite Home Viewer Extension & Reauthorization Act of 2004 (SHVERA)
affect the manner in which satellite television subscribers can receive
television broadcast signals via satellite. SHVIA permits satellite
companies to provide local broadcast TV signals to subscribers who
reside in the local TV station's market, commonly referred to as "local
into local" service. SHVIA also permits satellite companies to provide
"distant" network broadcast stations to eligible satellite subscribers.

SHVERA modifies SHVIA primarily with respect to the way in which
"distant" television station signals can be offered to satellite
television subscribers. SHVERA also expands the programming available
to subscribers by allowing satellite companies to offer certain
"significantly viewed" distant signals.

SHVERA, written by Congress and not the FCC, requires that consumers who
receive both local and distant networks choose to receive one or the
other; consumers can no longer receive both.

The eligibility of a satellite TV subscriber to receive distant (NY/LA)
networks (whether analog or HD) is governed by a federal law and the law
does not grant the FCC to exercise discretion in this area. If you
disagree with this law, you may either challenge it in court or contact
your representatives in Congress and propose that the law be amended.

In 1999, the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act (SHVIA) authorized
satellite TV companies to provide local TV stations in areas where the
company wished to do so. The SHVIA also clarified that satellite TV
subscribers were not eligible to receive distant TV networks unless the
local network affiliate did not provide an adequate over-the-air signal
to the subscriber's location. In this regard, the SHVIA stated that a
subscriber was eligible to receive distant TV networks if the local
network affiliates did not provide a Grade B or better TV signal that
the subscriber could receive when using a conventional over-the-air roof
antenna. (The subscriber's ability to subscribe to cable TV service is
not relevant). In general, subscribers are required to obtain a waiver
from the local network affiliate prior to receiving a distant network.
The waiver indicates that the local station agrees that the subscriber
cannot receive at least Grade B local signal and authorizes the
satellite company to provide a distant network signal to that
subscriber. The SHVIA does not authorize the FCC to intervene if the
local TV station denies the waiver request.

Of particular interest to you, the SHVIA did not specifically address
whether subscribers were eligible to receive waivers for the sole
purpose of receiving a distant HD signal and did not authorize the FCC
to take any action on this issue. The U.S. Copyright Office, however,
expressed the opinion that the waiver process did not apply to distant
HD signals. (The U.S. Copyright Office is authorized to enforce certain
aspects of the SHVIA). Thus, federal law does not authorize the FCC to
require that satellite TV subscribers purchase local TV signals in order
to obtain distant analog or HD network signals.

A recent federal law, however, appears to address your HD concerns. On
December 8, 2004, the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and
Reauthorization Act of 2004 ("SHVERA") was enacted as part of the
Consolidated FY 2005 Appropriations Act (P.L. 108-447). The SHVERA
modified the SHVIA and made significant reforms regarding the ability of
satellite television subscribers to receive local and distant broadcast
network programming. Among other things, the SHVERA generally
authorizes satellite television carriers to provide distant digital
broadcast network signals to subscribers if certain conditions are
satisfied. For example, pursuant to the SHVERA, a subscriber generally
is eligible to receive the digital signal of a distant network station
if: (1) the subscriber is located outside of the predicted coverage
area of the analog signal of a local station affiliated with that
network; (2) the subscriber is "unserved", i.e., cannot receive, through
the use of a conventional, stationary, outdoor roof antenna, an
over-the-air network of at least Grade B intensity as defined by the
Commission; or (3) a signal test demonstrates that the subscriber cannot
receive a local digital signal that exceeds the signal intensity
standard as defined by the Commission. It should be noted, however,
that the test procedures for digital service established by the SHVERA
do not become effective until April 30, 2006 for local stations in the
top-100 television markets, and for local stations that are not within
the top-100 television markets, the test criteria will be effective on
July 15, 2007.

Based on the above, whether a satellite company offers local TV stations
in the area and whether a subscriber purchases the local channels is not
relevant to the subscriber's eligibility to receive distant HD
programming.

After much review of the SHVERA, Commission staff has opened a
proceeding and released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). For
information concerning this proceeding please visit this website:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-256592A1.pdf.

For additional information concerning SHVIA/SHVERA and the FCC's
involvement in these Acts, please visit this website:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/policy/shvera.doc.

Thank you for your inquiry.

Brenda Althoff
Consumer Advocacy Mediation Specialist
Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau

Cape-
Thanks for the info on the Magic Network.

CM

Here is a WTXL up date. No HD at this time. The setup they have is a mess and finding someone who can tell you about the internal setting is a nightmare. All they needed was a switcher that could switch SD and HD.

They are on there new antenna @ around 1700' directional toward Tallahassee. Please check and see what type of signal you are getting.

There certainly is a boost in signal strength here from ABC, i live 17 miles from the towers, i live 10 east of monticello

Here is a WTXL up date. No HD at this time. The setup they have is a mess and finding someone who can tell you about the internal setting is a nightmare. All they needed was a switcher that could switch SD and HD.

They are on there new antenna @ around 1700' directional toward Tallahassee. Please check and see what type of signal you are getting.

Are they running at 8700 Watts like the FCC permit says?

I noticed on WTLH has put a new application in to run thier digital station at 230 KW even though there is still a construction permit to construct their tower at 1000 KW, whats going on with that?

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

There certainly is a boost in signal strength here from ABC, i live 17 miles from the towers, i live 10 east of monticello
Is anyone else seeing that ABC 27 is showing as 22.3 and 22.4. Their HD feed has no audio but standard feed has audio. It is not pulling up under 27. But rf signal is showing a channel of 22.3 and 22.4.

Also, nothing here in Valdosta on FOX.

I had to re-am slightly. Strength on ABC OTA is now about 80 on HDTIVO. It used to be about 60 with much more multipath. No picture on 27-1. Watched 27-2 for about 30 minutes without dropouts or pixalation. Looking forward to getting HD back...hopefully soon.

Is anyone else seeing that ABC 27 is showing as 22.3 and 22.4. Their HD feed has no audio but standard feed has audio. It is not pulling up under 27. But rf signal is showing a channel of 22.3 and 22.4.

Also, nothing here in Valdosta on FOX.

Nothing on Fox in Valdosta? Do you mean digital? If so we will be building out soon parts are being made and should deliver over the next month.

Are they running at 8700 Watts like the FCC permit says?

I noticed on WTLH has put a new application in to run thier digital station at 230 KW even though there is still a construction permit to construct their tower at 1000 KW, whats going on with that?

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

Don't know on the ERP as I don't really want to figure out the line loss and antenna gain. They are putting 1015watts of real rf into the line which has a lot less loss then the old and the antenna is higher gain with higher mounting on the tower.

As for FOX we are having to refile some stuff to straighten out some old paper work. We are building out with an ERP of 1000kw. Just waiting on parts.

PBSENG take a look and see if you get WTXL now. I have to move my antenna around I only get them when band is in good condition.

Also WTXL HD should be here soon I have one group of people left to talk with on setting up the Maranda Oxtel to switch. Who ever chose this setup made it hard to work on.........

Well, WTXL signal strength is a whole lot better here. BUT. no PSIP channel shows up as 22-1 & 22-2. 22-1 is upconverted analog stretched wide (I hate that) NO audio. 22-2 is as it should be -- SD. NO guide on either.
What happened to the PSIP? It was there until a couple/three weeks ago.
I am very disappointed that no one seems able to get HD on the air there.
I'm told that the current power on 22 is where it will stay. They intend to buy a new ch 27 transmitter that can be changed to digital when they have to drop the analog.

Well, WTXL signal strength is a whole lot better here. BUT. no PSIP channel shows up as 22-1 & 22-2. 22-1 is upconverted analog stretched wide (I hate that) NO audio. 22-2 is as it should be -- SD. NO guide on either.
What happened to the PSIP? It was there until a couple/three weeks ago.
I am very disappointed that no one seems able to get HD on the air there.
I'm told that the current power on 22 is where it will stay. They intend to buy a new ch 27 transmitter that can be changed to digital when they have to drop the analog.

Don't know on the PSIP as I am not going to go into that system it is a mess. The rack that all the equipment is in has no UPS so if the power blips that is it... Jack did give me the name and number of the guy who put the HD rack together so I may get some info on what to set to make it switch. Steve said they did it manually so we will have to figure out what needs to be changed in the Oxtel to make it automatic.

Oompa Loompa, You can get 27 digitally in Valdosta? I live in Adel but have not been able to get it. How long have you been able to receive it? If so what kind of antenna/receiver do you have. Also can you get WTWC? I have never been able to get it. I can get WCTV very strong and of course WSWG at about 65/100. Late at night I can get stations from everywhere for a little while.

Oompa Loompa, You can get 27 digitally in Valdosta? I live in Adel but have not been able to get it. How long have you been able to receive it? If so what kind of antenna/receiver do you have. Also can you get WTWC? I have never been able to get it. I can get WCTV very strong and of course WSWG at about 65/100. Late at night I can get stations from everywhere for a little while.

According to WTLHFOXHD, WTXL (27) moved to their new tower... just recently. After WTLHFOX mentioned this, I checked on my HD-TiVo and got a signal between 10-25, but last when I checked the signal at night, I was able to receive it (though the PSIP info was wrong and didn't map itself to the WTXL-DT information given to me by DirecTV, and the picture looked HORRIBLE on both channels). This is what happened with WCTV-DT for a while (I could receive the channel at night, but not during the day, and my reception was spotty during the Winter)... and I'm going through the same thing with the NBC affiliate in Columbus that just upped their power (which is a shame since they don't multicast, and my NBC affiliate does!).

Considering the signal I get on WTXL-DT at night, I think you should be able to receive it in Adel even stronger. Scan for DT-22 during the day, and if you don't receive it, check it again at night... just be prepared for the ugly PQ...

~Alan

According to WTLHFOXHD, WTXL (27) moved to their new tower... just recently.

~Alan


They are on the same tower just at a higher height with a better gain antenna and lower loss line. Same transmitter with same power......

Also I think this antenna is directional toward Tallahassee.

They are on the same tower just at a higher height with a better gain antenna and lower loss line. Same transmitter with same power......

Also I think this antenna is directional toward Tallahassee.

They are on there new antenna @ around 1700' directional toward Tallahassee.

You can see where I got confused.

However, while the antenna is directional toward Tallahassee (which is what you said above), I can now receive a signal on WTXL-DT 24 hours a day, and receive a picture from them at night (again, similar to the way WCTV-DT was before the last time they upped their power).

~Alan

Oompa Loompa, You can get 27 digitally in Valdosta? I live in Adel but have not been able to get it. How long have you been able to receive it? If so what kind of antenna/receiver do you have. Also can you get WTWC? I have never been able to get it. I can get WCTV very strong and of course WSWG at about 65/100. Late at night I can get stations from everywhere for a little while.


I do not get 27.1. I have noticed that 27 is using a digital channel 22.3 and 22.4 on frequency 22. The 22.3 is the digital signal. It is stretched and there is no audio. 22.3 is the analog signal. There is audio there. It is ABC 27. I am currently using a Winegard gs2200. Amplified at 30 ft high. I am waiting for my DB8 antenna to come in. I wish that WTXL would correct the 22.3 audio problem. With my HD TIVO. It does not pull the guide info either. This sucks.

Here is a WTXL up date. No HD at this time. The setup they have is a mess and finding someone who can tell you about the internal setting is a nightmare. All they needed was a switcher that could switch SD and HD.

They are on there new antenna @ around 1700' directional toward Tallahassee. Please check and see what type of signal you are getting.

Like most everything else, with trained chimps you get what you pay for.

Cape-
Thanks for the info on the Magic Network.

CM
Your welcome

WCTV is screwing up the HD switching on digital channel 46-1/6-1 again! Last night's (Tuesday) prime time HD offerings were in SD during most of the broadcasts. My wife is watching today's HD daytime soap opera, The Young and the Restless, and it is switching back and forth between SD and HD following commercial breaks. Come on WCTV and train those monkeys! Maybe a few more bananas might help. And just think, WCTV is the best of the HD lot in Tallahassee.

I have been in touch with WCTV management regarding the HD switching problem. The GM states that they are indeed concerned with this issue. He promises follow up with the technician mistakes. He also asks that anyone noticing these glitches to e-mail him with the date and time of any errors (WCTV6.com).

I have been in touch with WCTV management regarding the HD switching problem. The GM states that they are indeed concerned with this issue. He promises follow up with the technician mistakes. He also asks that anyone noticing these glitches to e-mail him with the date and time of any errors (WCTV6.com).

He wants to know which of their trained chimps has to miss a banana treat! Tell him to monitor the ^$#*&( %&# problem for himself - lazy bastard! This is one of my pet peeves - that local station managers often do not even own a digital TV, let alone have access to HD! My guess is they make more money than many of us here. They must really be cheap SOBs! Either that or they are just stupid, lazy, or both. But it's not like they work for the FBI or CIA (home of the world's best trained chimps)!


Seriously, why do they not install an automatic switch?

Seriously, why do they not install an automatic switch?

WTLHFOXHD can probably correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that may be a network decision, and not the decision of the affiliates.

FOX made the decision to go with the Splicer technology, and while I generally don't like to give FOX much credit (though I watch a lot more of their programming then I used to), they went with a technology that makes them the most reliable HD viewing (every FOX affiliate broadcasting in HD, also offers DD5.1 thanks to the Splicer).

ABC redid their HD broadcasting system last year too (from what I've read), but did not go with the splicer or a splicer-like technology (most likely cost was the big issue there), but most networks probably aren't going to bother updating their delivery system due to the large amount of money upgrading the affiliates (or the backlash from the affiliates should some of the cost fall on them).

~Alan

Despite their good HD, my main problem with FOX is that I find the video (and audio) quality of their analog programs is almost vomit-inducing. DD 5.1 on their HD is great, but have you listened to their analog audio? Sounds like bad AM radio! FOX needs to move to all-digital asap, as WTXL is doing (if we live long enough to see it).

Its been a few months since I gave OTA HDs a try, and Ive been gone long enough to want to try again. I tried several different indoor powered antenna the last go around, and Im curious about using the Terk HDTVa in the Tallahassee area.

I live off of Bannerman in Killearn Lakes, not far from Golden Eagle. Has anyone used this antenna in that area with any success? Ebay has them for $25-$30 and I figured Id give it a try if the HD locals scene has improved any lately.

Its been a few months since I gave OTA HDs a try, and Ive been gone long enough to want to try again. I tried several different indoor powered antenna the last go around, and Im curious about using the Terk HDTVa in the Tallahassee area.

I live off of Bannerman in Killearn Lakes, not far from Golden Eagle. Has anyone used this antenna in that area with any success? Ebay has them for $25-$30 and I figured Id give it a try if the HD locals scene has improved any lately.

If that MegaWave didn't work for you, I think you'll be sadly disappointed with a Terk.

Sadly, I suspected as much.

Another screw up by WCTV! No HD tonight on CSI-Miami, 10-11 pm. So much for the follow up promised by the General Manager.

Another screw up by WCTV! No HD tonight on CSI-Miami, 10-11 pm. So much for the follow up promised by the General Manager.

Keep in mind he is management, i.e. an "untrained" chimp! :D

Does anyone know of an ISF Calibrator close to us? Any experience with having your set calibrated? Thanks.

Good question; Ive often wondered the same thing. There is a person (Craig) at http://www.hometheaterspot.com/ who ventures to Tallahassee, but he's not cheap. Many of the calibration price sheets Ive seen start at $600 and quickly go north.

I did some research a while back and there was one closest in AL.
Let me get home and dig out the emails from him and post for all.
I also often see that if a group of us in the area are willing to have our sets done, someone will travel with a bit lower cost per unit.

No HD on WTWC tonight for the Office marathon.

Ommpa Loompa, after seeing your post I thought you might find this interesting reading. I received this reply several months ago from Nielsen. I had considered suing the local affiliates for waivers (as the FCC suggested to you), but decided just to wait things out. Still, I believe there is a good case for improper delegation of legislative authority to a private entity. Here was the reply:

Nielsen Media Research measures audiences for broadcast and cable television. The Nielsen Media Research local market definition, also known as a Designated Market Area (DMA), was designed for the sole purpose of measuring viewing. DMA’s were never intended to be used for the purposes that other companies are now using them.

Because we look at every county to see what over-the-air stations receive the majority of viewing, we assign counties into a DMA based on majority viewing. A DMA consists of all counties whose largest viewing share is given to stations of that same market area.

In accordance with new government regulations, satellite service providers are using our DMA designations to help them determine which local stations are most appropriate to be included in the local broadcast service. Nielsen Media Research is not actually involved in those decisions, though our information is used. Congress decided to use Nielsen Media Research DMAs to determine what local stations are carried by satellite providers, DESPITE the fact that this is not the what DMAs were ever intended to do. The U.S. government determines when and where the satellite companies may provide local service. Nielsen Media Research’s only role is to measure the TV viewing.

You may wish to contact your local congress member for more details on this ruling, or to find out how to get the local broadcast service you want. You can also check out the FCC's Web site at to read about the issues involved in this congressional decision.

More information that explains the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act of 1999 (SHVIA), can be found at this link:. This is the FCC's "Fact Sheet" on SHVIA, which includes a link to technical information regarding a qualifying “unserved household”. Here's a link to a non-FCC on-line SHVA resource shvacom

We provide DirecTV with all Zip Codes in the country that cross county lines and that cross into a different DMA and it is DirecTV's responsibility to determine where in that Zip Code the HH resides.

Thanks for your interest, and I hope this information helps.

I did some research a while back and there was one closest in AL.
Let me get home and dig out the emails from him and post for all.
I also often see that if a group of us in the area are willing to have our sets done, someone will travel with a bit lower cost per unit.

Walt Reardon
Gulf Coast Audio Video Calibration
ISF and HAA Certified
Authorized Tributaries Cables and Harmony Remote Dealer
2123 McKenzie Court
Biloxi, MS 39532-3324
Cell 228-547-1366 Work 228-385-6649
Web: http://www.CoastCal.com

Ommpa Loompa, after seeing your post I thought you might find this interesting reading. I received this reply several months ago from Nielsen. I had considered suing the local affiliates for waivers (as the FCC suggested to you), but decided just to wait things out. Still, I believe there is a good case for improper delegation of legislative authority to a private entity. Here was the reply:

Nielsen Media Research measures audiences for broadcast and cable television. The Nielsen Media Research local market definition, also known as a Designated Market Area (DMA), was designed for the sole purpose of measuring viewing. DMA’s were never intended to be used for the purposes that other companies are now using them.

Because we look at every county to see what over-the-air stations receive the majority of viewing, we assign counties into a DMA based on majority viewing. A DMA consists of all counties whose largest viewing share is given to stations of that same market area.

In accordance with new government regulations, satellite service providers are using our DMA designations to help them determine which local stations are most appropriate to be included in the local broadcast service. Nielsen Media Research is not actually involved in those decisions, though our information is used. Congress decided to use Nielsen Media Research DMAs to determine what local stations are carried by satellite providers, DESPITE the fact that this is not the what DMAs were ever intended to do. The U.S. government determines when and where the satellite companies may provide local service. Nielsen Media Research’s only role is to measure the TV viewing.

You may wish to contact your local congress member for more details on this ruling, or to find out how to get the local broadcast service you want. You can also check out the FCC's Web site at to read about the issues involved in this congressional decision.

More information that explains the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act of 1999 (SHVIA), can be found at this link:. This is the FCC's "Fact Sheet" on SHVIA, which includes a link to technical information regarding a qualifying “unserved household”. Here's a link to a non-FCC on-line SHVA resource shvacom

We provide DirecTV with all Zip Codes in the country that cross county lines and that cross into a different DMA and it is DirecTV's responsibility to determine where in that Zip Code the HH resides.

Thanks for your interest, and I hope this information helps.




Hmm.....
Very interesting. Sounds like the local affiliates do not want us to know these things. I had the One of the local engineers tell me (when I called him) that since I was 20 miles outside of their digital signal range that they would not grant me a waiver. And that they are operating at bear minimum until the FCC requires them to change. If you know that I cannot get the digital signal, then why deny the request.

Anyways, send me a PM if you want me info from me rabblerouser

OompaLoompa77

Yesterday I was able to pick up 22-3 through the directv tuner. Today, I got the new HD directv box and it did not find the 22-3 channel. It found the 27.1 with a strong signal, but no picture. Not sure what this means, if anything. I watched the world cup final on 22-3 and it looked a good bit better than the other options.

to WTLHFOXHD,

How is it coming on WTLH there? Thing going up smoothly? Hope to hear from you all from everyone on the tallahasse forum!

Don't know on the PSIP as I am not going to go into that system it is a mess. The rack that all the equipment is in has no UPS so if the power blips that is it... Jack did give me the name and number of the guy who put the HD rack together so I may get some info on what to set to make it switch. Steve said they did it manually so we will have to figure out what needs to be changed in the Oxtel to make it automatic.

WTLHFOXHD - any updates or more info on the WTXL situation? College FB season is fast approaching (not fast enough for some of us) and I really really want to watch my guys in HD when available, not to mention the new season of "Lost." Thanks to you and PBSEngineer for keeping us informed as best you can.

Fox digital is going forward. We are expecting the antenna middle of next month. Transmitter parts next week.

Jack has the guys who made the rack here. He is working on it now. You should see changes tomorrow.

Is there such a thing as a listing of who is currently transmitting and who isnt? I can get a reasonably good signal for CBS (WCTV), but nothing for ABC, NBC, or FOX.

If not a list online somewhere, anyone want to weigh in with what you're able to get?

Thanks.

Fox digital is going forward. We are expecting the antenna middle of next month. Transmitter parts next week.

Jack has the guys who made the rack here. He is working on it now. You should see changes tomorrow.

But what about WTXL (ABC)? Any news there?

Am I mistaken, or is the FOX (and sometimes CBS) affiliate the only local commercial station broadcasting HD on Comcast Tallahassee right now?

Is there such a thing as a listing of who is currently transmitting and who isnt? I can get a reasonably good signal for CBS (WCTV), but nothing for ABC, NBC, or FOX.

If not a list online somewhere, anyone want to weigh in with what you're able to get?

Thanks.


checkhd com is a website that will guesstimate what you should be able to receive. as of right now, i believe only wfsu, wctv and wtwc are broadcasting an ota hd signal. from what i understand, it's only a matter of time before wtlh joins the fun and wtxl rejoins.

in monticello i've been able to pick up some random hd signals on certain nights with an outdoor antenna on a 15 ft poll and a radio shack signal booster. i'm tempted to raise the poll a bit to see if i can pull in anything else. the gainesville pbs station (think wfsu only coming from uf) comes in every now and then on ch 32.1-32.3. and i picked up some station from either orlando or tampa one night that was an abc affiliate. it was during the time wtxl was broadcasting in hd so it really didn't matter at the time. i'd like to pick it up again now though.

But what about WTXL (ABC)? Any news there?

I was thinking that's what he was talking about when he was referring to Jack, but maybe I'm wrong...

BTW, the FOX network is now broadcasting at a higher bitrate than they used to...

~Alan

I was thinking that's what he was talking about when he was referring to Jack, but maybe I'm wrong...

BTW, the FOX network is now broadcasting at a higher bitrate than they used to...

~Alan


Yes Jack is the Cheif over WTXL. He is out of the WSWB station.

to follow up on my post from yesterday, tonight i am drawing hd signals from wuft (pbs)out of gainesville, wfts (abc) out of tampa, and walb (nbc) from albany. they go out now and then, but given my equipment and location i'm fairly pleased.

No doubt if you are getting a signal from WALB you are doing great, I live in Adel and have never gotten their signal. I did manage to get a signal from WTXL last night about 60/100 but the strangest thing, it would not lock onto a channel so I could not watch it even though I had a signal that was strong enough. It was as though the tuner saw something but didn't what it was. That has never happened before. Anyone else have this issue with WTXL?

No doubt if you are getting a signal from WALB you are doing great, I live in Adel and have never gotten their signal. I did manage to get a signal from WTXL last night about 60/100 but the strangest thing, it would not lock onto a channel so I could not watch it even though I had a signal that was strong enough. It was as though the tuner saw something but didn't what it was. That has never happened before. Anyone else have this issue with WTXL?


WTLX has the people here who built there digital rack. I think he has set or not set something in the PSIP correctly with out that info you will have signal but your receiver won't know what to do with it.

WTLH Fox HD update.

The parts to convert the TX to digital should arrive this Friday. If they do we will be working on the conversion next week. Microwave parts will be here next month along with the antenna.

So when all is done we will take the HD signal put it on fiber to go to our microwave building. Then into the microwave to Metcalf and into the TX to you. If all goes well you will see a digital signal by the end of August.

WTLH Fox HD update.

The parts to convert the TX to digital should arrive this Friday. If they do we will be working on the conversion next week. Microwave parts will be here next month along with the antenna.

So when all is done we will take the HD signal put it on fiber to go to our microwave building. Then into the microwave to Metcalf and into the TX to you. If all goes well you will see a digital signal by the end of August.

as long as i can watch the world series and bucs game in hd i'll be happy

I haven't been watching much NBC recently but are they switching their shows to HD? The last few nights Conan has not been in HD, and I was wondering if it was just this show or all shows on NBC.

I haven't been watching much NBC recently but are they switching their shows to HD? The last few nights Conan has not been in HD, and I was wondering if it was just this show or all shows on NBC.

I get the impression that for some reason stations think that re-runs or summer fill-in shows don't need to be shown in HD even if they were originally broadcast or available from the networks in HD. I have several times seen repeats of HD shows broadcast in SD. Does it cost the station more in direct costs to send a signal in HD than SD? Maybe a few dollars more in electricity or something? Beats me.

WTLHFOXHD - I am never quite sure if you are talking about WTLH or WTXL in your comments. So are you referring to WTXL being HD by end of August? Does it take that long to install and configure it? Thanks for the updates, BTW.

WTLHFOXHD - I am never quite sure if you are talking about WTLH or WTXL in your comments. So are you referring to WTXL being HD by end of August? Does it take that long to install and configure it? Thanks for the updates, BTW.

By what he said needs to be done and by the first sentence "WTLH Fox HD update" I figure he's talking about WTLH.


I noticed that on NBC the other night also. A re-run of Las Vegas. It was showing in 16x9, but SD mode. :mad:

Does it cost the station more in direct costs to send a signal in HD than SD? Maybe a few dollars more in electricity or something? Beats me.

Only the receiving equipment from the networks, but the odds are that it has more to do with the fact that the people aren't trying as hard to keep up with what is HD, and what is not.

WTLHFOXHD - I am never quite sure if you are talking about WTLH or WTXL in your comments. So are you referring to WTXL being HD by end of August? Does it take that long to install and configure it? Thanks for the updates, BTW.

He was referring to WTLH-DT.

~Alan

Ok my update is for WTLH.

Ok my update is for WTLH.

Thanks. So do you by any chance know the status of HD at WTXL?

OK guys, I have given up on 27. Those using off air point your antenna the same direction as ch11 and tune in 19. You'll get Panama City ABC (13-1 & 2) They have apparently gone up to full power. I'm told they actually do HD. (they are on Wife Swap now which is SD from net) I'll check later for CMA awards.
13-1 ABC with HD
13-2 weather radar - silent
no guide. clock is wrong

OK guys, I have given up on 27. Those using off air point your antenna the same direction as ch11 and tune in 19. You'll get Panama City ABC (13-1 & 2) They have apparently gone up to full power. I'm told they actually do HD.

After reading this late last night, I re-aimed my antenna (With the exception of WCTV-DT, my antenna needs turning to pick up Tallahassee locals, especially now that my antenna is pointed differently to receive WALB-DT and WFXL-DT) toward Tallahassee, and nothing... and I'm picking up WTWC-DT and WTXL-DT with signals in the 50s-60s, and WCTV-DT and WFSU-DT in the 90s, and a blip or two from WTLF-DT, but nothing from WMBB-DT... so I start rotating the antenna a little bit, and BOOM, WMBB-DT coming in! It started to go out at one point last night, so I rotated my antenna back to it's standard position (allowing me to pick up WALB-DT), and I was picking up the CBS affiliate from Jacksonville, WTEV-DT.

~Alan

After reading this late last night, I re-aimed my antenna (With the exception of WCTV-DT, my antenna needs turning to pick up Tallahassee locals, especially now that my antenna is pointed differently to receive WALB-DT and WFXL-DT) toward Tallahassee, and nothing... and I'm picking up WTWC-DT and WTXL-DT with signals in the 50s-60s, and WCTV-DT and WFSU-DT in the 90s, and a blip or two from WTLF-DT, but nothing from WMBB-DT... so I start rotating the antenna a little bit, and BOOM, WMBB-DT coming in! It started to go out at one point last night, so I rotated my antenna back to it's standard position (allowing me to pick up WALB-DT), and I was picking up the CBS affiliate from Jacksonville, WTEV-DT.

~Alan

Which raises the question: How much are these signals affected by weather and atmospheric conditions?

Which raises the question: How much are these signals affected by weather and atmospheric conditions?

Weather has a lot to do with the signals. When the air is colder the signal will travel further. I was picking up stations from Mobile during the cold months.

Yet when you tell the engineers of this. They seem to act like they have no clue. Typical. They cannot get their act together anyway. Excluding CBS WCTV.

OompaLoompa77

I turned my antenna as slow as possible and never got above 34 signal on my Sony XBR for channel 19.1.

I did get some errors, which means they are broadcasting a "real" signal...

Oh well, it was a nice excercise..LOL

I turned my antenna as slow as possible and never got above 34 signal on my Sony XBR for channel 19.1.

I did get some errors, which means they are broadcasting a "real" signal...

Oh well, it was a nice excercise..LOL

Did you try this last night, or today?! If you haven't, my advice to you is try it during prime-time...

~Alan

Did you try this last night, or today?! If you haven't, my advice to you is try it during prime-time...

~Alan

will try it again
though....

Which raises the question: How much are these signals affected by weather and atmospheric conditions?

A LOT!!! Temperatures for one thing make a lot of difference.

For instance, during the Winter months, I can pick up WALB-DT (my local NBC affiliate broadcasting in low power) better than I can during the Summer. This is due to changes in the Troposphere (I think I have that spelled right). For instance, during the Summer, my NBC affiliate's digital signal starts dropping dramatically once it starts getting dark. Last year, I had several instances where "Surface" was annoying due to drop outs in the picture. I also missed two episodes of "Bones" and an episode of "House" on WFXL-DT, my local FOX affiliate due to the same problem. Thankfully, this problem is something that usually only starts occuring after 10:00 P.M., so it didn't affect me too much, though I missed most of the second half of this past year's season of "Saturday Night Live", as my HD-TiVo would usually record the opening monologue, and then start breaking up, or sometimes I'd get the last, but not the first or middle. On several occasions, my HD-TiVo could only record three minutes of the 1:30 program.

The opposite can be true for farther away stations. For instance, when I first got an HD receiver, DirecTV didn't offer an ABC affiliate in HD, but I could occasionally pick up WTVM-DT (in Columbus) or WPGA-DT (in Macon) allowing me to watch more than HALF of the first seasons of "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives".

I also picked up the ABC affiliates WDHN-DT (Dothan, AL) and WSB-DT (Atlanta) on many occasions, as well as other assorted ABC affiliates.

I also picked up CBS affiliates WRBL-DT (Columbus), WTVY-DT (Dothan, AL, also owned by Gray), WTOC-DT (Savannah), and WGCL-DT (Atlanta) on several occasions... and before WCTV-DT went full-power, but after a power increase, I started picking them up at night, but not during the day. After they went full-power, I can pick them up 24/7, but with a better signal at night during the Summer, but I think I get a better signal in the daytime during the Winter months. I've also picked up a few other CBS affiliates, but not enough times to mention.

NBC stations include WTLZ-DT (Columbus), WTWC-DT (Tallahassee), WSAV-DT (Savannah), and assorted others that I haven't received enough to remember.
I haven't picked up many FOX stations. WXTX-DT (Columbus), WAGA-DT (Atlanta), and WAWS-DT (Jacksonville).
PBS affiliates include WFSU-DT (I can pick it up during most Summer nights after 10:00, sometimes before), WGIQ-DT (Louisville, AL, Columbus, GA DMA), and WPBA-DT (Atlanta). I have also picked up a few PBS affiliates from Florida, but not enough times to count.
No WB stations, but I have picked up WUPA-DT (Atlanta's UPN) on many occasions as well as WTBS-DT (Atlanta), WPXA-DT (PAX), and several other assorted religous stations.

The range of DMAs I've picked up range from Albany, Columbus, Macon, Augusta, Savannah, and Atlanta Georgia. Tallahassee, Panama City, Jacksonville, Gainesville, Orlando, and Tampa Florida. The Mobile, AL/Pensacola, FL DMA, as well as the Biloxi/Gulfport, MS DMA, as well as a DMA in South Carolina, but I forget if it's Charleston or Columbia, SC.

Rain can also complicate things. For instance, while my signal level on local channels drop whenever it rains, I don't have to worry as much about the signals dropping out on my local channels like they can do in the Summer... but my signal levels drop considerably on farther away channels like WCTV-DT, and impossible on the rest (WCTV-DT is the only digital channel I can receive reliably outside of my local DMA).

Another interesting thing is the fact that while I used to receive channels from Atlanta, WPGA-DT in Macon, and WTVM-DT in Columbus, GA, I'm no longer able to pick them up (with the exception of WTVM-DT which I did a few nights ago)... and I've noticed that Tallahassee, FL SD analog locals don't come in as well (WXTL, WTWC and WTLH are the stations I'm referring to).

~Alan

Wow, sounds like the old days of AM radio. I remember as a teenager in Tally I used to lay in bed at night and listen to music from strong stations out of Cincinnati and New Orleans. There were only a few local stations back then and they pretty much sucked.

Wow, sounds like the old days of AM radio. I remember as a teenager in Tally I used to lay in bed at night and listen to music from strong stations out of Cincinnati and New Orleans. There were only a few local stations back then and they pretty much sucked.

It's pretty cool in one, but sucky in another since it affect DVR ability. I got my HD-TiVo last August, and at first, I thought it had a broken hard drive because of the fact that I missed some shows due to hiccups. I found out last Winter, though that it was mainly due to the Troposphere.

I bought a stand-alone TiVo to allow me to record NBC and FOX SD analog channels (DirecTV doesn't provide LIL here), and the analog channels are very similar in that one day, they will look fine, but that night, they can look like CRAP!!

Mahicks, did you ever get in WMBB-DT?! I've received it every night I tried!

~Alan

I run my local OTA channels through a Dish 622 receiver. Thursday night I noticed in Dolby Digital from WTWC. Has anyone else noticed that or have they been doing it for a while? Also on my TV(A Panasonic plasma) I get about a quarter inch white line at the top of my screen on HD broadcast on WTWC. Does anybody else have this problem?

I run my local OTA channels through a Dish 622 receiver. Thursday night I noticed in Dolby Digital from WTWC. Has anyone else noticed that or have they been doing it for a while? Also on my TV(A Panasonic plasma) I get about a quarter inch white line at the top of my screen on HD broadcast on WTWC. Does anybody else have this problem?

I also run a 622 to a Hitachi RPLCD. I haven't really paid attention to the dolby digital, but I can tell you that I don't get a white line at the top of the screen on WTWC. When they remember to turn HD on, it looks pretty darn good!

I also run a 622. Does anyone get WTXL with a 622. I get a signal but it won't recognize the channel. Are you guys having the same problem.

I also run a 622. Does anyone get WTXL with a 622. I get a signal but it won't recognize the channel. Are you guys having the same problem.

I'm not a 622 owner (nor a Dish Network customer), but it's a problem with WTXL-DT's PSIP data. The channel maps itself as 22-3, instead of 27-1. Try doing a manual scan for WTXL-DT (22), and you will be able to pick it up... though you won't have any guide data, you will still be able to record by time and channel.

~Alan

I can't get WTXL on my 622 either no channel number but I can get if I hook the antenna directly to my TV on 22-3.

I can get weak, sporadic WTXL 27-1 and 27-2 on my 622. Dish provides the programming data I belive. But, it's not worth bothering until they get things straightened out.

So I was wondering if anyone here with CNS out of Thomasville knows what unencrypted QAM channels they had. I'm probably too far away from most of the stations' antennas to get very good OTA reception but if I can get a few unencryted QAM channels it might be worth it to me to get a tuner card that supports that. Any help would be appreciated

So I was wondering if anyone here with CNS out of Thomasville knows what unencrypted QAM channels they had. I'm probably too far away from most of the stations' antennas to get very good OTA reception but if I can get a few unencryted QAM channels it might be worth it to me to get a tuner card that supports that. Any help would be appreciated

I am on the phone with the head of CNS now and he tells me the only things QAM in the clear is music channel and guide.

That little line at the top is sometimes overscanned right out of the frame. I had some luck changing my 720 monitor to a 1080 setting. If you are running through D* as your tuner, try letting the D* do the scaling.

That little line at the top is sometimes overscanned right out of the frame. I had some luck changing my 720 monitor to a 1080 setting. If you are running through D* as your tuner, try letting the D* do the scaling.

Thanks for the tip. I changed the TV Type on my Dish 622 ( I have a choice 720p 1080i, 480p and 480i) when I was tuned to WTWC. The 1080i setting helped a little bit but I still had a white line at the top I changed it to 480p and it went away. So at lest I have some options I use 720p on all the rest of the channels. WTWC is the only station I have problem with.

I checked in with Mike Plummer at WTXL re their re-start of HD signals and he said they had hoped to have it working a couple of weeks ago but there is an unresolved problem getting the signal to work from Little Rock via satellite. He is not sure if the problem is the equipment or the installation. Good news is they will be using an automatic HD to SD switch. He also said they hope to be in their new studio by December, at which time they won't have to rely on Little Rock for master control.

Hi,

I am new to Tallahassee from the Atlanta area. We are hopefully getting a new flat-screen 46"-52" LCD in the next few weeks. The yellow pages have few home theater/audiovideo installers. Do you have any recommendations? We are likely interested in a wall mount with the wires fished through the walls from the nearby cabinet. Thanks!

We are also facing the choice between Dish and DirecTV HD. I have heard or read rumors of earlier conversion of local stations to HD on DirecTV, but I have no idea if there is any truth behind the rumor. We have DirecTV SD now, but we are leaning to Dish TV due to the number of current HD channels. Any thoughts and information will be appreciated.

Thanks

I know some of you probably have had problems getting you OTA digital channels especially with channel 2 WTWC NBC. I think I have finally got my OTA set up figured out pretty good. I live about 17 miles from the towers in the tallahassee market. I have really tall trees in the yard so multi-path interference can be a problem. I use zenith silver sensor hooked to a small 12 db amp i got from walmart. I also have a standard pair of rabbit ears I bought at Radio Shack and is laid on my big curtain bar with the rabbit ears laid out completely horizontally (like an antenna element). This is done to pick up WTWC-DT which is NBC HD on channel 2. Both of the antennas are then hooked to a special combiner than combines one low VHF signal and one UHF signal. I use this special combiner (which i got at Radio Shack part# 15-2586) to combine the signals from both anteannas while at the same time, filter out the signals they both pick up but aren't supposed to because I found a standard combiner will cause those signals to interfere with each other and make it impossible to pick up the channel. This is especially true with channel 2. The setup works well, I get CBS and ABC with the silver sensor (and soon FOX as well), while the rabbitt ears gets NBC. The only thing that still interferes with the low vhf station is when lightning is in the area it will momentarily mess up the signal. Other than that, it works well.

Hello, UNC; with that name I assume you wear the powder blue?

I had a man named Jim Gray do my initial pre-HD installation; good guy who did good work for me. I watched him, though, and saw how easy it really is, so when I had to run component cables through the walls when Comcast finally got HD I was able to do it, and later ran ethernet cables from my cable modem into 3 separate bedrooms. You can get a wall snake from Home Depot.

Welcome to Tallahassee.

I am new to Tallahassee from the Atlanta area. We are hopefully getting a new flat-screen 46"-52" LCD in the next few weeks. The yellow pages have few home theater/audiovideo installers. Do you have any recommendations? We are likely interested in a wall mount with the wires fished through the walls from the nearby cabinet.

Jim Gray is a good guy. Here's his webpage with his contact info and rates: http://www.jimgraydesigns.com/

Hello, UNC; with that name I assume you wear the powder blue?

I had a man named Jim Gray do my initial pre-HD installation; good guy who did good work for me. I watched him, though, and saw how easy it really is, so when I had to run component cables through the walls when Comcast finally got HD I was able to do it, and later ran ethernet cables from my cable modem into 3 separate bedrooms. You can get a wall snake from Home Depot.

Welcome to Tallahassee.

I agree - if you have reasonable DIY skills you can run AV cables. But if you need an electrical outlet added you need to have a licensed electrician do that, in which case he may give you a good deal to run the other cables at the same time. If you run speaker cables be sure they are so called "architectural grade" which means they are rated for in-wall installation and have fire-resistant casings.

Is anyone receiving Comcast (Tallahassee) digital cables with a HDTV that has a QAM tuner or cable card? If so, how many channels can you get? Does Comcast charge a monthly fee for the card?

Hello, UNC; with that name I assume you wear the powder blue?

Yes, I am totally Carolina Blue! It is good being back in the ACC.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and recommendations. My wife is encouraging me to run the cables myself.

I am hopeful that the new Sony 1080p flat-panels will be out in a week or two. I am not able to order a set without seeing it.

Seb

Well the equipment to make out transmitter digital has shown up. The only problem is the Antenna ERI is telling us there is a delay don't know it this will be the case or for how long. So FOX HD should be a month away.

Also our company just sold so stand by for updates on that.

Also our company just sold so stand by for updates on that.

I read that CP Media purchased WTLH/WTLF on a couple of articles (here's one (http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_90702.asp)), and I know that not much can be said at the moment since it's a new thing, and approval will probably be a while (my local FOX affiliate was bought in March, and still hasn't seen approval), but I noticed that WTLF-DT was listed as being sold, and that it was listed as being a (CW) affiliate. Has the CW affiliation moved from WTLH-DT2 to WTLF-DT?

~Alan

I wish WCTV would just go ahead and buy out all the TV stations around here so we can get HD. I am sick of waiting!!