Albuquerque, NM - HDTV [Text View] - Page 18

bigglare

01-30-07, 09:48 AM

if you're dealing with digital signals of 10110010010010001110 does it matter if you're using $50 monster cable or $5 Recoton? 10110010010010001110 is still 10110010010010001110 whether its clear or fuzzy. Your decoder will likely still understand 10110010010010001110 to be hot sexy Number Six in Battlestar Galactica on Universal HD.

But then thats my expirience. Sales reps always seem to be happy to sell you the expensive brand cables with lots of mark up on them over the El-Cheapo brand with almost no markup. I had a salesmen once tell me while searching for an optical audio cable not to buy the elcheapo brand because it will pick up all the interference from albuquerque. What interference are you getting off Fiber Optic wrapped in black plastic buried in an entertainment center. Oh wait, thats what their sales trainer told them.

Thats like the Cable Guy who tells you HDTV is only available from cable with a box. You cant get it with rabbit ears.

I always like to eavesdrop on sales pitches at bb or walmart when someone looks like they are about to buy an Analog TV and try and point them away. They look at me like a deer in headlights when I mention the digital transition. But I just can't stand seeing someone buy analog equipment this close to the end of the line for analog hardware.

spawnman

01-30-07, 11:18 AM

I totally agree with the sales people pushing high dollar accessories as it's something you have to have. Saw the same tactics with computers. Was with a computer newb awhile back and the sales person at office depot was practically forcing her into purchasing the Gold parallel cable instead of the normal printer cable. Saved her $15.

Not to mention how much you can save on accessories just by purchasing them online later and not at the store

bigglare

01-30-07, 01:12 PM

10110010010010001110
10110010010010001110

does a decoder see any difference between these digital bit strings? no. so buy the $6 recoton not the $40 monster.

Alimentall

01-30-07, 04:13 PM

To take advantage of the highest-end HDTVs, you'll need a high-definition DVD player, like the one included with the Sony Playstation 3. Cost: About $750.[/quote]

Or rabbit ears!

You'll definitely need a good surround sound system, which will add another $600 to $800.

Oh, great. Tons of money for a surge protector and cables, but only $600-$800 for a "good" surround sound system? :rolleyes:

You'll need an HDMI cable to carry the hi-def picture and quality audio cables for the surround sound. Add $150.

Or <$30 if it doesn't say "Monster Cable".

You'll need a bigger entertainment center: $300. And a high-end power strip: between $225 and $500.

Yay, buy a cheap HTIB and protect it with a $500 surge protector!!!

All told, once you get it properly outfitted your reasonably priced $6,000 TV could end up setting you back closer to $10,000.

Or you could get a 123" screen, a DLP projector, a receiver, a DVD, and *good* speakers.

But your only other option, salespeople say, is compromise.

Or skip the chain store!!!

"You'd be surprised how many people will drop $2,000 for a TV and then ask for the cheapest cables we have," Rasch said. "The rule is, your system's only going to be as good as the weakest link. If you buy crappy cables, you're going to end up with a crappy picture."

The weakest link apparently being the sales guy who sold it to you.

BGLeduc

01-30-07, 05:16 PM

An interesting article about CBS and CableCos.

http://www.tvpredictions.com/franks012907.htm

Brian

bigglare

01-30-07, 05:28 PM

Consequently, local stations in Providence, St. Louis and several other cities have withheld their high-def channels from TV providers, meaning perhaps millions of HDTV owners can not see one or more local HD channels.

I like in that article the last paragraph fails to clarify that HDTV owners can not see one or more local HD channels via Cable or Satellite. Any HDTV owner can use a pair of rabbit ears and get any local available channels. Mind you this excludes the millions of gullible unsuspecting HD Monitor owners dupped into buying a screen with out a digital tuner by their local retailer.

years ago ABC and Timewarner in LA had a similar disaggreement and pulled ABC from cable for a couple days. News reports claimed millions without ABC. But they weren't without They just needed to switch to antenna for ABC.

edwardacampbell

01-31-07, 01:30 AM

Running around like a maniac, today -- and geek stuff, tonight -- but, noticed that 4-2 the NBC 24/7 weather channel is coming in rock solid up here.

dgpruitt

01-31-07, 02:45 PM

Any HDTV owner can use a pair of rabbit ears and get any local available channels.

Many people do not get OTA signals... I suppose I could erect a 40' tower in my backyard and then I might pick something up. That's too much work, and it's ugly.

bigglare

01-31-07, 03:38 PM

Key word, AVAILABLE. If you live in an area that physically can't get an OTA signal you would be forced into a paid subscriber. Since you would be paying THEM for service, but not getting the SERVICE you need you have to get on THEM to provide the service. Complaining that KRQE isnt giving their signal to comcast since comcast wont pay is the wrong answer. We dont pay KRQE for any service. We pay cable and satellite services.

Then I guess thats one of those hostages to satellite and Cable customers I will continue to champion.

Is it Ford's fault if you cant afford their cars? Or is it you're fault for not having a better job? Or your Employer for not paying you enough? Should Automakers give everyone a free car? Nope.

bigglare

02-01-07, 01:06 AM

With the big weekend coming up anyone want to take bets? Bets on whether or not commiecast will sign a deal with KRQE for their High Def feed finally? Or how about KWBQ or KASY being turned back on again?

vtjman

02-01-07, 02:10 AM

If anything they might get a one time deal to carry KRQE-DT on SuperBowl Sunday, and then turn it off after that.

KWBQ and KASY, I don't know that we will see either of those channels anytime soon. Commiecast is too busy adding worthless channels in HD like Vs. and FSNet.

spawnman

02-01-07, 09:29 AM

How about just carrying the SuperBowl in 5.1 surround!!

bigglare

02-01-07, 02:06 PM

Its a shame Commiecast had proven they can carry KASY and KWBQ back in Dec. They tested them for a weekend. Then what we get is VS and FSN-HD.

12 days until house is ready to close! then anytime after that the first annual "Bigglare gets his house and stops bitching about Commiecast Day" will be celebrated!

corrwin

02-01-07, 08:04 PM

Hi, I'm new to the forum and found it to look into 5.1 on KRQE for the Super Bowl. Found my answer, thanks much to all. Will have to do with 2.0, will try PLII from my receiver.

Just moved here last Feb., past E* customer and divvied up for D* here since I needed my NFL. I get HD locals OTA with rabbit ears from RR with a few drop-outs, rarely on KRQE, will be putting up an antenna on the roof soon.

Glad to be on the forum.

corrwin

jerrich

02-02-07, 11:32 AM

Welcome, always good to have a new member. Another good site is HometheaterSpot.com who I do some writing for.
JR

BGLeduc

02-02-07, 11:41 AM

I note in the morning paper that there has yet to be a deal with KRQE and Comcast, but supposedly negotiations continue.

Amazing how much pressure having the single most watched sporting event being on this weekend can put on a situation!

I have no dog in this fight, but good luck to those of you w/o OTA capability. It would suck to have to watch the game in SD.

Brian

reklund

02-02-07, 12:05 PM

edwardacampbell

02-02-07, 12:22 PM

Welcome aboard, Ryan. Where do you live [antenna question]?

BGLeduc

02-02-07, 12:25 PM

I'm new here, and joined specifically because of the lack of CBS in HD over my Comcast signal. With "continuing negotiations" being all that is said, it looks unlikely that I'll get the game in HD for my Superbowl party on Sunday.

That said, is the cheap $25 OTA antenna going to give me a decent signal to get the game?

Ryan

It all depends on your location, and how much house the signal has to pass through. I have a bud in Tanoan who has a clear view of the crest from his front yard, but his OTA box is in the back of the house, and he has some issues getting his Silver Sensor pointed right to get a decent signal lock.

I am just west of Academy and Tramway, and have to use a CM4221 in my attic to get anything. Again, my OTA tuner is in the back of mny house.

Brian

reklund

02-02-07, 12:36 PM

Thanks guys! I'm in the NE heights- Tramway and Copper area. I picked up a cheap antenna the other day and just hooked it up for a trial run, since I'm home sick today anyway.

It seems to be working decently, if I get the rabbit ears pointed just right. In all reality, I'll only use the antenna on Sunday for the game, and hope that Comcast and CBS work their little tiff out by next season...

I had to dig out the original remote that came with my HP Plasma to get to the antenn scan feature, as I couldn't figure out how to do it with my Harmony...

Ryan

bigglare

02-02-07, 01:12 PM

I currently, for the next two weeks anyways :-), in the apartments behind Pitre over on the west side. I have another apartment building between my windows and the crest. but all I have is a pair of rabbit ears, the simple \/ type no loop or amp, in each of the windows where I have a Digital tuner and get all my locals.

The antenna you need really depends on your location. Most retailers offer full refund so start small and work your way up. The nice thing is practically everything, and at least all the networks are all on the crest so easy to point the antenna, just might be hard getting signal.

But welcome to the club.

moonhawk

02-02-07, 01:45 PM

try to find a "directional" antenna as opposed to a wide angle one...

IAM4UK

02-02-07, 02:15 PM

I've tried various antennae, and the best by far for me has been the Square Shooter by Winegard. It's currently on my roof, and I can't remember any signal problems on any local (I live on the far NW side near Rio Rancho). It also worked fairly reliably inside my living room.
Given the choice of OTA or cable or satellite for locals, I always choose OTA. KRQE is still worthless, but that's another story...

reklund

02-02-07, 02:36 PM

So without starting a discusson on why CBS sucks, what do they have to gain by charging Comcast for a signal that they brodcast OTA for free?

Ryan

bigglare

02-02-07, 03:43 PM

Part of comcast's price gouging profits from offering the HD channel which they otherwise wouldnt pay for. If you want hd from comcast, while you can use qam, they will tell you need a box and digital cable. $6 for the box $59.99 for the digital cable. thats $66 a month to give you somthing they themselves get for free.

See. There's folks like me who are otherwise happy with the selection of hd channels Commiecast offers. Asside from the missing Locals. Who wants to be forced to pay all this extra equipment for television service and still need to use Antennas. Satellite service makes it clear that locals are via antenna, their boxes have antenna inputs and OTA tuner. So having satellite and OTA works flawlessly. A cable box only works with cable, so the missing locals you get with an antenna can not be recorded on the box we pay $85 a month for.

Cable companies like commie cast can attract subscribers by offering the local hd, since you naturally dont need a box for all the televisions in your house just the ones you want all the HD from. So they make a nice profit with locals they get free otherwise. Congress worked with local affiliates to allow them to charge the cable companies to recoup some of the profits cable cos make from their hd signals. I'm surprised that CBS stations are the only ones doing this.

Since CableOne in Rio Rancho is paying the carriage fee, LIN would be wrong to lift the fee for Commiecast. Since Cable One is a much smaller corporation than Commiecast, it would stand to reason that the carriage fee isn't that bad.

Since I know at this point if they just add CBS and KEEP CW and Mynetwork live on cable, I would be more than happy with them finally and keep them when I move. And Im sure many people would either stay with cable as well or get cable to begin with I can only blame commiecast for not stepping up to the plate.

bigglare

02-02-07, 06:54 PM

QUICK QUICK QUICK!

If you have Commiecast, turn on 214 and 215. CWHD and MyNetworkHD is back. I guess this is their attempt to stay off all the CBS-HD cancellations this weekend.

reklund

02-02-07, 08:34 PM

Wow- I just ran in here to post that the CW and MNTHD channels are back- but you beat me to it.

I agree that I'm happy with the Comcast selection of HD channels, but don't want to have to hook up a stupid antenna when I'm paying a premium every month for a cable box. I love the DVR and the menu features of my Comcast box- and their internet service rocks. I know CBS wants a fee for carrying their HD feed, but I suspect they're asking Comcast to pay a higher fee. Comcast is a much larger company than CableOne, so I'd bet CBS wants a larger fee...

It's silly that for the $125 or so a month I pay Comcast for TV/internet that I can't get the local CBS HD feed... and its stupid that CBS wants to charge a cable company for something that they provide for free OTA. I'd be much more likely to watch CBS if they were on Comcast. I'll make an exception and hook up an antenna for the game this weekend, but I won't leave it out just to watch CBS the rest of the year.

Ryan

bigglare

02-03-07, 12:11 AM

mdamberger

02-03-07, 05:16 AM

Im a big CBS watcher. Now the antenna is even more frustrating if kwbq and kasy stay on cable this time around. I wouldnt think they would charge cable 1 a higher rate than cable one. its probably a per subscriber thing like ESPN of 1 or 2 bucks per.

And you can bet it’s a whole lot less then 2 bucks per sub the locals are asking for in these fights. While a good chunk of your cable or satellite bill is paying for all those ESPN feeds, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN Classic, etc...More on the scale of $10 per sub, and everyone who get's standard tier cable has to pay for all those ESPN channels no matter how much or little they watch of each. While ESPN has fixed rate hikes every year built into those contracts. That's why your cable bill goes up a dollar or more every year, CNN isn't charging any more then last year, (FNC probably can charge more then CNN now) and E! is just happy to be carried on a good many standard tier cable systems, maybe charging 10 cents per sub, but their programming costs are so small compared to ESPN.

You can guarantee that the next round of contract renewals with major cable Co.s with ESPN will include even higher rate hikes, due to MNF. If it's not already begun this year, it won't be long before you get that letter from the Cable Co. explaining their costs have gone up again, and they tried to keep costs under control. But what's out of control are programmers like ESPN who can leverage their popularity to demand more and more. It's a sweet deal they've got going, charge the subscriber more every year, and get to run advertising in popular sporting events that attract the right kind of demographic advertisers are looking for, who are willing to pay them big bucks to get played. Two revenue streams that just keep going up and up. A good chunk of your annual rate hike is due to heavy weights like ESPN and other sports upstart networks trying to get onto as many cable and satellite services as possible. Sports costs are just so high, mostly licensing. 1.1B will be paid by ESPN annually to the NFL just for MNF. Staggering.

How do you compete with that as a network or local station with only one revenue stream, while the competition in some sorts is getting it both ways. Who knew MNF would abandon broadcast for subscription only distribution. Its best rating on cable drew 16M viewers, (fantastic for cable, #1 in most cases) while on ABC it also was getting marginal (broadcast universe) ratings of 16M average viewers across the country where ABC stations have virtually 100% penetration OTA or on cable and most local into local satellite. Amazing, they made the gamble that it would pay off, and it reached the same number of viewers by the end of the season as it had on ABC. But ABC was losing viewers every year, and the trend was not slowing down. Plus you’re hitting a demographic you know. That’s been well researched, and extremely desirable for Madison Avenue ad agencies.

Congress did give broadcaster the right to negotiate carriage fees or whatever compensation they can work out. They also gave them must-carry privileges to demand to be carried by cable and I believe satellite services too. But only in their area of dominance or significantly viewed service. That normally is also their DMA, but can also extend outside of their official coverage area to include the significantly viewed status. Determined by ratings, and several ratings cycles that prove it’s not a fluke they are being watched. Places like Bakersfield CA. who also can see the L.A. stations that get a lot of viewing. Must-carry tend to be low power TV stations and a large number of religious stations and some PBS stations too? But this may not always be the case with public stations.. I’d love to know of any PBS stations who thought their programming should be worth paying for by the cable co.’s. Ultimately having subscribers help pay for PBS programming. But surely they would continue to have beg-a-thons.

I highly doubt that there will be an agreement made regarding carrying the super bowl, even for just the time it's being broadcast. The people who negotiate this are more then likely sitting back this weekend watching the game, not even thinking about work.

lujan

02-03-07, 11:11 AM

I hope that any pending legislation requiring satelllite and cable companies to carry cafeteria-type programming so that we can pick and choose which stations we want to watch gets passed and soon. I shutter to think how much more I'm paying for sports programming that I never ever watch. The closest to any sports that I watch is the summer olympics every four years.

sthscan

02-03-07, 04:37 PM

Another Comcast/KRQE article, this time from a Santa Fe perspective...

http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/56362.html

sthscan

02-03-07, 04:40 PM

It seems to be working decently, if I get the rabbit ears pointed just right. In all reality, I'll only use the antenna on Sunday for the game, and hope that Comcast and CBS work their little tiff out by next season...

You should see if you can integrate your antenna into your setup (to tune cable and off-air sources as seamlessly as possible). After all, commiecast doesn't carry on their service every off-air digital channel in town.

bigglare

02-04-07, 12:03 AM

Don't forget CBS is still the home of March Madness and the Final four. Which comcast subscribers will be cheated out of again this year. But comcast is trying in good faith. Sort of like this is how I imagine.

RING RING

KRQE: "LIN Broadcasting, Parents of KRQE CBS and KASA Fox. How may I help you."

Comcast "Can we carry your HD signal for Free?"

KRQE "Oh its you. Has it been a week already? No, since we are charging cable one it wouldnt be fair to give it to you for free. But it is only small fee per sub."

Comcast "Forget it! F U KRQE! Why should we pay for something our wonderfully faithfully paying subscribers could get for free with an antenna if they weren't paying us an enormously high monthly rate?"

KRQE: "Talk to you next week?"

Comcast: "Yah sure, yah betcha. We gotta look like we are trying. In good faith mind you. wink wink. HAR HAR HAR."

As for the major off air ones, CBS is the last remaining network for Commiecast not to carry. Although Telemundo and Univision arent HD yet. but neither is KASY and they got picked up finally.

Ever wonder why Telemundo and Univision havent gone HD yet? If I was hispanic I would be screaming foul. Are they racially profiling? Hispanics dont make enough to afford HD so they arent broadcasting it? What is the reason behind that you think?

KKlare

02-04-07, 02:02 AM

After 9, I did a power cord reboot, and at least "Heroes" recorded in full.
Heroes can be seen delayed a few days on Sci-Fi, just as others are on Universal-HD or Bravo although the delay may be months there. ABC is showing some of its Thursday shows again on Friday night. I know my Thursday schedule has reached saturation especially as I prepare for a trip and have to switch to SD to not overload the 25 hours with HD on my Dish 622. Too much space is for not-yet-archived Northern Exposures. DVDs of HD shows through S-video (boo) come out about like commercial DVDs except for the darn pop-up ads.
-Ken

edwardacampbell

02-04-07, 12:06 PM

Just an idle observation -- according to Super Bowl cake sales at the South End Albertsons, here -- folks seem to be favoring the Bears over the Colts about 3:1...

For what it's worth. :)

N5XZS

02-04-07, 12:52 PM

Well I am all set for the superbowl and I do have a back up channel in case KRQE-DT has some transmission problems by going to KCBS-DT on Directv.

I am rooting for the DA Bears!! :D

Have fun!!

2-4-07

reklund

02-04-07, 06:00 PM

What a terrible pain in the neck. My silly indoor OTA antenna, which caught CBS without problem the other day, simply refuses to pick it up today, when I want to watch the damn game.

50' of coax, a brick, an extension cord, and a ladder later, I've got it picking up the signal. I had to run a friggin cable out the back door, onto the roof in order to pick up the signal. Had to run power up there too for the antenna, and held the whole mess down with a brick and a sandbag. Hopefully the wind doesn't kick up... I hate CBS.

GO COLTS!

Ryan

bigglare

02-04-07, 06:33 PM

Thank you Commicast for the Superbowl in HD.

Congratulations Cable One subscribers and OTA viewers. ENJOY

GO BEARS!!!

Dream1

02-04-07, 07:17 PM

I've lost OTA in Rio Rancho!!!!! What the hell is going on?

sthscan

02-04-07, 08:06 PM

I've lost OTA in Rio Rancho!!!!! What the hell is going on?

the hamsters are hungry or are dying - feed them KRQE! The final 2 mins and the stupid banter of the NFL Today cast has been dropout city here in the heights.

was rock solid since 4pm until about the 2 min warning of first half.

GarAlb

02-04-07, 08:13 PM

Getting a strong signal here on the Westside (Near Unser/McMahon) :confused:

bigglare

02-05-07, 01:30 AM

Bah Go home Bears. You must have comcast as sponsors. lol. Bunch of losers.

But it was a beautiful looking broadcast. The game was fun to watch too. Now March Madness and the Masters coming up on CBS.

Dream1

02-05-07, 09:31 AM

Getting a strong signal here on the Westside (Near Unser/McMahon) :confused:

Yup, it ended up being a splitter I had in the system. The signal was not strong enought to run both displays. Had to settle for SD on the 50" Plasma and HD on the 92" in the HT.

bigglare

02-05-07, 09:38 AM

Yup, it ended up being a splitter I had in the system. The signal was not strong enought to run both displays. Had to settle for SD on the 50" Plasma and HD on the 92" in the HT.

Oh sure rub it in. hee hee. 92" must be nice.

FuturePerfect

02-05-07, 06:00 PM

I don't have time to read all posts, but this sounds newsy:

Looks like we should be lucky that LIN Television's argument with Comcast is only about not providing the KRQE HD feed and that LIN is still "negotiating" with Comcast and continuing to provide non-HDTV standard definition KRQE over Comcast.

In some areas of the country, station conglomerates have actually cut off local signals from cable companies--including regular non-HDTV--in order to force cable companies to pay. And most of these (generally small) cable companies have paid.

But not Comcast. Now the big station conglomerate cut-off leader--the right-wing Sinclair Broadcasting--is threatening to cut off Comcast (no New Mexico Sinclair stations).

It will be interesting to see what happens here in New Mexico with KRQE and Comcast.

Cable rates are expected to rise, naturally, as the cable companies pay for these feeds. Let's hope the government forces a la carte pricing...someday...soon.

This is a summary of an article in today's Wall Street Journal. The actual article has more statistics and more juicy details.

Unfortunately it is only available to subscribers, since The Wall Street Journal is a pay-only site. If you are a subscriber (or know someone who is), this is a front-page article today Feb 5 2007. I can't list the URL becaue the Forum says I can't do that until I make 5 posts.

vtjman

02-05-07, 06:18 PM

Actually I think I would rather LIN did cut off KRQE SD from comcast here, because then maybe there would be enough pressure from non-HD customers to finally get this resolved. It seems like us HD subscribers are like second class customers, we are, and we will be until there are more HD subscribers than non HD subscribers.

And yes I know that if they did cut KRQE SD and Comcast finally settled, that we would have higher rates, well no matter what we are going to have higher rates, it is out of control.

Cable deregulation was one of the worst things to happen for us consumers, consumers who are pretty much stuck with our cable company b/c we want good broadband and don't want to pay an exhorbinant $60 to have broadband without crappy comcast cable.

bigglare

02-05-07, 07:10 PM

And Commiecast Pulled Cwhd And Mythd Again.

Update.

Just got off the phone with a Comcrap rep. Those were part of a "Free Preview" of what you could get (without Comcrap). There's no word on when those will show up again.

vtjman

02-05-07, 07:44 PM

OH that is R-I-D-iculous! Are they insane?! Yeah dangle in front of us what we SHOULD be getting for our $10 HDTV tier and then remove it not once, but TWICE. Yeah that is the way to placate us. What a bunch of a**holes! If any comcrap rep is reading this go F*** yourself!

reklund

02-06-07, 12:00 AM

vtjman

02-06-07, 12:59 AM

Exactly Ryan, hands tied, and it obviously makes me mad. Sorry everyone for my previous post, I have just had it with this cable company. They have us by the you know whats, and there is nothing we can do about it.

bigglare

02-06-07, 01:11 AM

There is something we can do about it.

Personally I connected my TV the simple rabbit ears, the \/ type not amp, thats sitting in my office window which serves my Vista box with fusionExpress. I got all the channels perfectly clear. I would personally cancel now that our house is under a week left of construction. But my wife wants the DVR still.

I would love a tivo but not at 800 and not with another 20dollars a month for OTA. I have to wait and see how things are at new house. But I did cancel every possible extra I had with comcrap short of losing dvr functions.

MMcKaibab

02-06-07, 06:23 AM

lujan

02-06-07, 09:06 AM

It does suck those extra channels have been pulled. I think its a shame that for what we pay, Comcast offers such limited HD service. I'm almost tempted to try a dish, but as it was stated, don't want to give up my cable modem...

sitting with my hands tied,
Ryan

Why would you have to give up your cable modem? I have internet service only with Comcast and satellite TV with Dish. Why can't you have both?

vtjman

02-06-07, 09:13 AM

Because without having Comcast cable, their highspeed internet service is $60 instead of $43, which some of us find atrocious.

spawnman

02-06-07, 09:38 AM

Because without having Comcast cable, their highspeed internet service is $60 instead of $43, which some of us find atrocious.

DSL and Dish, a match made in heaven :)

ibglowin

02-06-07, 09:45 AM

Yes, its atrocious but I have E* and Comcrap for Internet and pay the $60 a month for 4MB service here in Los Alamos. I would much rather ditch them as a TV provider (which they suck big time for) and use them for what they seem to do well these days ands that's data movement.

And FWIW, you can supposedly get Qwest DSL up to the same speed as Comcast for less money and pay the same price for life if you want to switch. You can also pick your ISP as well these days. MSN sucks but Qwest.net is/was actually pretty good. I am about ready to give them another try. I switched years ago as I wanted more the 640K and they couldn't provide that at the time.

Because without having Comcast cable, their highspeed internet service is $60 instead of $43, which some of us find atrocious.

GarAlb

02-06-07, 09:47 AM

Yup, it ended up being a splitter I had in the system. The signal was not strong enought to run both displays. Had to settle for SD on the 50" Plasma and HD on the 92" in the HT.

I wish I had your issue :D

IAM4UK

02-06-07, 09:59 AM

Regarding "pulling" SD locals: Soon, the analog feeds will be gone, and that bandwidth no longer available to the affiliates. (Not soon enough, but the day is coming.)

Regarding cable modem and DSL: Qwest offers some areas up to 7Mbps download via their DSL service, and their price is currently lower than Comcast, even for cable TV subscribers. You may have an option to dump Comcast completely, without giving up quality interenet connection. (I don't have DSL; I have Comcast. However, some of you sound like you might like this other option...)

bigglare

02-06-07, 10:17 AM

At my new house qwest offers a full 7 mbs for only 39.99 a month. Thats 6bucks cheaper than commiecast with tv bundle. If they are going to do this on again off again trial with local hd channels they wont ever come to new house. I will likely go with dish once I get settled. Shame dish will only allow 2 HD boxes total since I now have 4 HDTVs.

edwardacampbell

02-06-07, 11:48 AM

Because without having Comcast cable, their highspeed internet service is $60 instead of $43, which some of us find atrocious.

No. First year, you can weasel $45 or so, if you have them leave the basic cable hookup to your house in place.

After a year they jack you back up to their "standard" highway robbery -- which still comes out to around $54 [incl. tax and other ripoffs] for basic cable and internet broadband.

Still cheaper than broadband alone -- and it makes their number of TV hookups look not quite as lame.

I check every now and then with Qworst for DSL; but, they haven't offered me more than 1.25mbps and I average 5+mbps with the cable thugs.

N5XZS

02-06-07, 12:15 PM

Minor news update on HD radio.......

KUNM-FM has filed to the FCC for a HD digital transmission and not sure when they go on the air in digital at this time.... :)

After hearing what other said about Comcast was doing with KWBQ-DT and KASY-DT's signal, I was apalled by what have they done! :mad:

As for Comcast they may have broke the FCC's rules on keeping the local channels IN THE CLEAR 256 QAM transmissions, but instead Comcast has chosen to scramble the KWBQ-DT "CW" and KASY-DT "MYTV" by choosing this dumb method may have gotten them for the worst sadly to say. :(

I think everyones should go for the OTA and the satellite this is the way to go IMHO and hell with Comcast Commie!!

Anyway party on!!!

2-6-07

vtjman

02-06-07, 02:34 PM

...FWIW, you can supposedly get Qwest DSL up to the same speed as Comcast for less money and pay the same price for life if you want to switch...

I have Qwest DSL here at my office, and let me just say that it is nowhere near the reliability of connection or sheer download speed of my comcast highspeed connection at my house. I have to reboot the Qwest DSL modem on a near weekly basis and deal with full connection loss (not modem issue) every few months. I would just as well pay the extra $3 for comcast highspeed then pay $3 less for shoddy DSL service.

lujan

02-06-07, 02:41 PM

Because without having Comcast cable, their highspeed internet service is $60 instead of $43, which some of us find atrocious.

I wouldn't quibble about the extra $17.00 because I also get the basic TV stuff for two of my SD TVs that I can use as a backup in case the satellite goes down or is covered with snow, etc.

Alimentall

02-06-07, 03:14 PM

Comcast "Forget it! F U KRQE! Why should we pay for something our wonderfully faithfully paying subscribers could get for free with an antenna if they weren't paying us an enormously high monthly rate?"

As I understand it, KRQE is exploiting a loophole or two in the law, but either way, having Comcast carrying HD is a win-win for both companies. KRQE gets more HD viewers and hence, advertising revenue. Comcast gets a full line up. If the legalities were fair, then Comcast would be allowed to pipe in CBS from out of state. But they can't. In this instance, KRQE is protected, but Comcast isn't and KRQE can extort Comcast. IMO, the culprit is KRQE. Fortunately, I don't care because their programming stinks. I don't think there's a show I'd watch. I hope Comcast holds and and prevails. In the end, I think people will gravitate towards HD programming and away from KRQE until they give in because they're losing viewership.

What I hate about this mess is that channel 13 is *supposedly* owned by *us*. Not KRQE. But they get to use it as they see fit, profit from it and prevent fair usage of it. If they charge Comcast, then they're really charging the end user. So much for "free TV". Companies that own TV or radio stations really are just about the lowest form of life.

IAM4UK

02-06-07, 04:44 PM

Local affiliates, like KRQE, stand in the way of quality and accessibility for some network offerings. I wish we had the option of subscribing to the network feed.

Alimentall

02-06-07, 04:51 PM

I think the FCC needs to change the rules such that satellite or cable *must* carry local affiliates in HD *unless* the local affiliate doesn't make their feed available in which case they may elect any other feed in order to satisfy their customers. Simple change to the law, it would solve a lot of problems including those where people have to get wavers in order to receive what they couldn't otherwise get.

edwardacampbell

02-06-07, 05:36 PM

Companies that own TV or radio stations really are just about the lowest form of life.

Please, don't skip over the Telcos!

bigglare

02-06-07, 06:16 PM

Sniff sniff. Man do I smell a lefty liberal.

Any private company can charge for its product. KRQE is allowed by law to ask for a carriage fee for their HD signal. Cable and satellite providers can choose not to carry it if they don't want to pay for it. We dont have to buy a Ford if the price isnt what we like. We shouldnt attack ford for high prices because we can buy a cheaper chevy.

Cable companies are unique in that they are a sanctioned monopoly in most cases. There's only one cable company serving a neighborhood. Satellite may not always work due to facing of house or apartment which will hinder OTA use. Comcast has every right to say no thanks. We as subscribers have a right to demand and request better service since we pay for it. Thankfully for KRQE advertising revenue is based on national ratings, and since there is still an analog channel that is required must carry they arent losing any significant viewers.

Comcast will eventually lose the fight. KRQE could turn off their analog signal early, since as of jan 1 07 stations are allowed to stop voluntarily, and then comcast would have to carry the digital channel and also pay the carriage fee. Otherwise come 741 days on feb 17th 2009 they will have to carry cbs-hd.

Stations are private companies that are not *supposedly* owned by *us*. They have a license by the FCC to use the spectrum for broadcasts as they see fit within the letter of the law. I've never known anyone to get a bill from a local broadcast television station for viewing. KRQE will always be free with antenna to JQ Public. We pay for cable or satellite to get rid of antenna and a bigger selection of channels. But if cable offers less than what you get with antenna and you're paying for it, by all means complain until the cable provider offers full service. If they wont dump them and get satellite.

Stop blaming the station that broadcasts for free to the mass public, but charges the cable provider who in turns charges you for what you would get for free but then offers less than you would get for free.

Breath!

Alimentall

02-06-07, 06:22 PM

Sniff sniff. Man do I smell a lefty liberal.

?????? Um, no, more like a libertarian/constitutionalist that has forgotten more than 99.9% of people know about communications law. Unfortunately, I've probably forgotten too much. In any case, there *is* a pact that broadcasters are supposed to work within the confines of the public good. All this infighting and turf struggles wouldn't even happen if the FCC did its job and controlled this stuff. KRQE would probably be begging to keep its license right now.

Speaking of "sniff, sniff", you're the one that keeps whining about comcast! A real "right wing conservative" wouldn't complain, he'd switch services! As for me, I just don't watch KRQE so I don't much care.

reklund

02-06-07, 09:00 PM

I sent a nastygram to KRQE and this was the response I got- thought y'all might be interested.

Ryan

You hit the nail on the head. We'd like to be getting something from Comcast to compensate for what they are getting for free, and charging you and all their customers for.

Comcast has been charging customers for years for our "free" signal, yet they don't seem to feel it has any value to us. Broadcasters all over the country are in fights with cable systems and satellite providers over this issue.

Cable and Satellite have been charging customers for our signals (and constantly raising rates), yet they don't want to compensate TV stations for our programming and investment in digital signals. Yet, they are willing to charge you more for those signals, even when they downgrade the quality by compressing the picture quality.

I do not know where you live, but in the Albuquerque area (as far as the local broadcast signals go, which with the antennas on the crest can be 100 miles or more), all that is needed to get an HD signal is a simple UHF antenna. I use a set of rabbit ears I found in the garage. They are about 20 years old, hide behind my new 56" Samsung, and give me a much better picture on the local channels than I was getting from my DirecTV box, or cable before that.

Fred Woskoff

Alimentall

02-06-07, 09:12 PM

One could argue that KRQE should be paying Comcast for carrying their signal to homes that might not get the signal otherwise! Comcast is helping to deliver their signal.

Cable companies make their money mainly from subscriptions and supplying more programming and providing an infrastructure, broadcasters make their money exclusively from advertising *but* they're supposed to provide *free* content. If they begin to charge Comcast for the signal, they are no longer providing free, advertising subsidized content.

Moreover, the system is supposed to be self-regulating because another company could come in and say "hey, we'll upgrade the HD system, provide more quality, provide more services and provide the signal to Comcast for free to serve more people" and the FCC should say "okay, you're in, they're out". But they don't do that anymore. Shameful. What did all these companies do with all their profits from the last election cycle?

Neither is right, both are greedy, but really, to charge the cable company because they have a monopoly? If this is the case, then Comcast should open it up to *bids* and get CBS from the affiliate that charges the least!!!!!

Ryan, ask Fred if it would be okay with him if Comcast imports a CBS signal from out of state? Or if they want to compete with another affiliate who is willing to sell the signal for less? Oh, really? Not so much, huh? They want to use their protected local monopoly to strong arm cable for a previously untapped source of revenue. THAT is my big beef. I'd take a free feed from CO. Screw'em.

bigglare

02-07-07, 01:13 AM

One could argue that KRQE should be paying Comcast for carrying their signal to homes that might not get the signal otherwise! Comcast is helping to deliver their signal.

I get all my HD delivered to a pair of rabbit ears in the windows of my apartment. Next week when my house is finished it will be on the back of the house looking at the crest. No help from comcast needed now or later.

Cable companies make their money mainly from subscriptions and supplying more programming and providing an infrastructure, broadcasters make their money exclusively from advertising *but* they're supposed to provide *free* content. If they begin to charge Comcast for the signal, they are no longer providing free, advertising subsidized content.

If we were talking DVDs or CDs comcast would be shut down for piracy for reselling someone elses content without paying royalties. Thats how they make money. Steal a local stations HD signal off the air, wrap it up in their nice pretty black coax and then sell it to the residents who would otherwise get it free.

Moreover, the system is supposed to be self-regulating because another company could come in and say "hey, we'll upgrade the HD system, provide more quality, provide more services and provide the signal to Comcast for free to serve more people" and the FCC should say "okay, you're in, they're out". But they don't do that anymore. Shameful. What did all these companies do with all their profits from the last election cycle?

KRQE may loose its broadcast license but they would still be the CBS affiliate unless CBS themselved pulled that. But since most stations holding out for carriage fees seem to be CBS affiliates who are exercising their right to compensation granted by the body that gave the FCC its power, Congress, nothing will change, just cbs' call sign.

As for profits, I think Hilary Clinton took them to establish a national strategic broadcast reserve. :-)

Neither is right, both are greedy, but really, to charge the cable company because they have a monopoly? If this is the case, then Comcast should open it up to *bids* and get CBS from the affiliate that charges the least!!!!!

Both greedy? One sinks money into developing its DTV resources, Another just steals it from the airwaves and then sells it to the next guy and doesnt want to pay the originator. Part of a broadcast license and affiliation comes protection from having your potential viewing audience userped by other stations.

Ryan, ask Fred if it would be okay with him if Comcast imports a CBS signal from out of state? Or if they want to compete with another affiliate who is willing to sell the signal for less? Oh, really? Not so much, huh? They want to use their protected local monopoly to strong arm cable for a previously untapped source of revenue. THAT is my big beef. I'd take a free feed from CO. Screw'em.

They can't import from out of state or market, congress said so. If you want a free feed from CO you either need a 200 foot tower (gross guess) or move your house. But long as you want them to give you a CO feed, just change your service address with D* or E* to a CO address. I know friends who do that to get their Green Bay stations to ensure all the Packer games when they live in San Diego.

IAM4UK

02-07-07, 10:02 AM

My problems with KRQE are not that they want Comcast to pay them extra for the digital signal, so much as they have the exclusive right to provide certain content, but no requirement to do so.

I use an OTA antenna for local HD. That explains the first part of my statement. As for the second...

I love college basketball, and if you check my AVS Forum moniker, you can guess that my team is the Kentucky Wildcats (I was born and raised in Kentucky). I have subscribed to the pay-per-view NCAA basketball programming for several years to get such out-of-market hoops action. However, my team is among the most popular in the country, and therefore appears on CBS Sports nationwide coverage many times each season. Because we have a CBS affiliate here (KRQE), my pay-per-view coverage of any CBS Sports signal* can be blacked out; that is, KRQE has the exclusive right to provide that content, even if the viewer is willing to pay to get it another way (and has paid). But KRQE has no responsibility to show CBS Sports content, and frequently pre-empts same for educational programming and infomercials.

Therefore, KRQE is a hindrance to my ability to get certain CBS programming. They are legally protected in this, but it's absolutely wrong.

* You may be saying, "Hey, that's an ESPN package (Full Court)." True; however, CBS has provided regional coverage to subscribers--that is blacked out here because KRQE won't allow it to be unblocked. I've requested they change this--CBS is willing to help, but unable; KRQE is unwilling.

fjerina

02-07-07, 01:29 PM

Was there a KNME Digital TV User's Group meeting in January???

sthscan

02-07-07, 06:21 PM

I just got my HD plasma last week and, because the local installer for D* is so incompetent, set up an antenna to get OTA HD. All the local channels EXCEPT KOB-DT came up crystal clear and we had a great time watching the Super Bowl in HD. But we get absolutely NOTHING when trying to get KOB-DT on 4-1. Is there something special one has to do to pull this in or is KOB just totally mucked up?

I wouldn't call it incompetance, I would call it doing you a favor. You will get more Albuquerque HD channels with DIRECTV and an off-air antenna than you would with DIRECTV with a satellite dish.

as for KOB-DT, since we (as a forum) don't know your city (or closeby major cross streets if it's Albuquerque), someone can't report how well they are receiving KOB-DT from your area.

sthscan

02-07-07, 06:34 PM

You hit the nail on the head. We'd like to be getting something from Comcast to compensate for what they are getting for free, and charging you and all their customers for.

Comcast has been charging customers for years for our "free" signal, yet they don't seem to feel it has any value to us.
(...)
Fred Woskoff

I feel Comcast should charge a little bit for HD locals (a couple cents per sub just to pay for the maintenance of receiving and rebroadcasting the HD feed). The last time I looked, electricity, the HD off-air receiver and antenna, and the encoder to digitize it into 16QAM over coax is not free.

I don't feel any local stations should be paid for their signal -- it's off-air for free, it should be given to cable for free and limit the cable system to charging for the HD signal to recoup just the costs of operation/maintenance of getting the signal to homes.

No profit is to be made from the HD local signal on cable since it's normally free by other means.

Jim5506

02-07-07, 07:33 PM

Let's see, I spend several millions of dollars unnecessarily upgrading, actually replacing, all my equipment at my TV station because of a government mandate, and I can't charge a cable company or a satellite company for my new HD signal, just because.

Bovine Scatology.

The cable and sat companies can have a 480p feed of my signal but the HD is my Cadillac, you want it you pay buddy.

bigglare

02-07-07, 08:00 PM

Im a Cable company. I want more subscribers, I advertise I carry the local channels in HD. I advertise I have more local HD than satellite and no need for antenna.

When Joe Schmoe calls to order I have my reps inform him he needs to have a set top box along with the HDTV package at 6 dollars each. This is $12 on top of the roughly $50 I charge him for basic cable. Now Im renting a box and extra package to provide something I get for free. Sure there might be ESPN or Discovery HD to offset the 6 bucks I charge for the HD package.

If Mr. Schmoe wants to get an HD-DVR, HOT DOGGIE. Now I charge him another 10 bucks for the DVR fee even though its also his STB. Then I require he has a digital cable package and get another $59 bucks for that.

Now Im making aboug $85 a month off him and I dont have to pass anything new that Im not already passing on the cable for my entire network already. And aside from a few cable HD networks that are maybe eating 10 bucks of that for carriage fees, I get all my locals free which I can turn around and sell to Mr Schmoe and not have to pay anything myself for those which is why Mr. Schmoe came to me in the first place.

Cha-Ching!

MMcKaibab

02-08-07, 01:22 AM

I wouldn't call it incompetance, I would call it doing you a favor. You will get more Albuquerque HD channels with DIRECTV and an off-air antenna than you would with DIRECTV with a satellite dish.

as for KOB-DT, since we (as a forum) don't know your city (or closeby major cross streets if it's Albuquerque), someone can't report how well they are receiving KOB-DT from your area.

I'm in Albuquerque with nearest cross streets being Ventura and San Francisco. We've got a clear view to the towers on the peak.

ibglowin

02-08-07, 08:58 AM

Anyone else notice we lost the guide data yesterday on KNME 5-1 on the 622 et, al?

creakndale

02-08-07, 09:21 PM

I'm in Albuquerque with nearest cross streets being Ventura and San Francisco. We've got a clear view to the towers on the peak.

Two weeks ago, I took my Silver Sensor clone antenna over to a friend's house who lives 1 mile N-NE of you. One of his second floor windows has a direct view of the Crest towers. We set the Silver Sensor on a table and ran 80' of coax to his TV on the 1st floor. He rescanned OTA signals and received all local stations including KOB-DT. That particular evening (8-10pm) both FOX and NBC were not transmitting HD but were transmitting SD digital. His TV didn't have a signal strength meter so I can't say if there was signal fluctuation or not but the TV wasn't having any problem locking onto it.

jsocks

02-08-07, 09:25 PM

I'm in Albuquerque with nearest cross streets being Ventura and San Francisco. We've got a clear view to the towers on the peak.

Same neighborhood. I’ve been trying to get KOBDT consistently for over a year. I’ve mixed antennae type and location, receivers, and amplifiers with no success. All other Alb stations work with no difficulty. Every once in a while I get a strong signal but there doesn’t seem to be any reason why as I haven’t changed anything. I’m convinced that it’s KOBDT and that I have to be patient until they fix they’re problems. Once they’re forced to digital and recognize that a large percentage of the community doesn’t receive their signal then will they fix their broadcast signal.

bigglare

02-08-07, 10:34 PM

It's KRQE's fault not kkob.

Earlr

02-09-07, 08:08 AM

Has Anyone heard when D will activate HD locals. Just moved hear from Wi and miss hd locals

IAM4UK

02-09-07, 09:51 AM

Has Anyone heard when D will activate HD locals. Just moved hear from Wi and miss hd locals
Albuquerque is listed in the DirecTV website as being among the next group of HD LiL markets, so it should be after the next satellite launch. However, OTA is the best way to get HD locals.

bigglare

02-09-07, 12:08 PM

That is after the next satellite where there arent any "anomolies" during said launch.

BGLeduc

02-09-07, 06:41 PM

Hope this is kosher for the forum....

I have a Radio Shack VU-90XR antenna for sale. A link to the RS listing can be found here:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103085&cp=&sr=1&origkw=antennas&kw=antennas&parentPage=search

This was used for a short while in my attic, before being replaced with a Channel Master 4221. The reason I swapped it was that I was trying to get KOB before they upgraded their transmitter. Even the CM did not work, but since it was bought mail order, I opted to keep it and just set the RS antenna aside.

It has never been outdoors, and right now is sitting on the floor in my garage, waiting for someone fed up with Comcast to come and buy it :)

$25 takes it.

Brian
bleduc@comcast.net

jerrich

02-10-07, 11:40 AM

That's a good buy, I use one too. The wind and snow sort of bent mine up but I straightened it back up now. I get all locals just fine with it aimed at the Crest.
JR

fjerina

02-11-07, 11:13 AM

Wonder why there is no program guide info for KNME on my Dish 622 PVR?

N5XZS

02-11-07, 11:36 AM

Minor news update.....

KNMD-DT will be adding a new 4th sub channel Called V-me pronounced "Veh-meh" http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/stories/2007/02/05/daily16.html?b=1170651600^1414243.

The new channel will launch on March the 5th, the first all Spanish PBS channel to be on KNMD-DT digital channel 9.

It will be in 480i format for this new channel.

Just be aware this station is still running low power at 200 watts ERP on the Sandia Crest at this time.

Happy TV Dxing!! :)

2-11-07

dfergie

02-11-07, 11:39 AM

They removed guide data last week digiblurs uplink report at Sat Guys and JohnH's at Dbstalk give a more in depth answer... my take is they had corrupt data so pulled it all off...

Viking 29

02-11-07, 10:27 PM

Ok, does anybody have the scoop on whether or not we will be seeing directv local hd channels anytime soon? First it was June, then it was August, then it was November, then it was December, then it was end of January and now it is supposedly middle of february. Why would directv keep giving dates as such and consistently not be able to meet their own deadlines? I'm confused..For the record I live in Alamogordo and refuse to construct an oil derrick with an antenna on top of my house to get the channels over the air. The nearest tower is over 100 miles(El Paso).

Viking 29

02-11-07, 10:42 PM

bigglare

02-12-07, 01:25 AM

Probably D* like Commiecast doesnt want to pay KRQE's Carriage fee for HD. Thus they are withholding all local HD until they can get it.

Aleast you only have to wait about 738 days. Click to the link to know when they will Definately have the HD local. hee hee

ibglowin

02-12-07, 09:00 AM

I don't see D* adding ABQ locals until they get another Sat up and running this Summer. It has nothing to do with retrans agreement and everything to do with the fact that they have NO extra bandwidth for anymore HD locals until then. KRQE won't effect that actual start date if they are still playing hardball. D* will just light up all the rest of the channels without them (like E* has done). It will be interesting to see if they do pony up the $$$ to carry the signal.

Well, I just got off the phone with D* and now the date has been pushed back to mid April. WTF?!!???!! This is getting ridiculous. I guess I just don't understand how Dish Network can carry the HD locals but D* can't seem to get a deal done. What a drag this whole battle is becoming.

jpoet

02-12-07, 12:33 PM

Well, I just got off the phone with D* and now the date has been pushed back to mid April. WTF?!!???!! This is getting ridiculous. I guess I just don't understand how Dish Network can carry the HD locals but D* can't seem to get a deal done. What a drag this whole battle is becoming.

A friend of mine was supposed to have D* installed yesterday (Sunday), and the installers confirmed that they are currently being told April for ABQ HD locals.

John

PS. They did not actually end up installing D* for him. It was pretty obvious the installer did not feel like doing the job, and made excuses until they finally left.

Kevin R

02-12-07, 09:10 PM

That's a good buy, I use one too. The wind and snow sort of bent mine up but I straightened it back up now. I get all locals just fine with it aimed at the Crest.
JR

Roger that. Same one I got on my roof right now. Yeah my relatives give me hell for it but where were they when the SB was on? :D

sthscan

02-12-07, 11:33 PM

(...)running this Summer. It has nothing to do with retrans agreement and everything to do with the fact that they have NO extra bandwidth for anymore HD locals until then. (...)

What is DIRECTV doing with the 2 Spaceway sats and their multiple frequency reuse spotbeams? It seems like a no-brainer they could have spotbeamed HD locals into 20-40 cities by now rather than them complaining about bandwidth problems.

spawnman

02-13-07, 09:33 AM

Anyone else seeing issues with receiving KOB 4.1 OTA with a VIP622? Seeing the same breakups like a week or so ago. Difference this time is that the same antenna lead is split to the 622 and to the TV and on the TV watching KOB it's fine. Is the tuner in the 622 of lesser power/quality than whats in my Samsung HPS5053?

ibglowin

02-13-07, 09:43 AM

Yea,

It's been back for a few days now. Even worse is that the MPEG4 version from Dish has been having audio sync problems as of late.

Wish they would get their problems fixed soon whatever they are.

Anyone else seeing issues with receiving KOB 4.1 OTA with a VIP622? Seeing the same breakups like a week or so ago. Difference this time is that the same antenna lead is split to the 622 and to the TV and on the TV watching KOB it's fine. Is the tuner in the 622 of lesser power/quality than whats in my Samsung HPS5053?

spawnman

02-13-07, 09:58 AM

Cool, glad to know it's not just me. Anyways do you have a feeling as for the quality of the OTA tuner in the 622 vs the tuner in my TV? Can there be a difference?

Yea,

It's been back for a few days now. Even worse is that the MPEG4 version from Dish has been having audio sync problems as of late.

Wish they would get their problems fixed soon whatever they are.

ibglowin

02-13-07, 10:12 AM

Definitely something with the 622. Not saying its inferior really but I have a boat load of HDTV tuners (last count 7) in my house and the only ones that have the stttuuutttterrring problems with KOB are the 622's. They all seem to have the 3 second total drop outs every now and then however.

jerrich

02-13-07, 11:21 AM

They all seem to have the 3 second total drop outs every now and then however.

I bet that's the station. I get them too, KOB only, on my Tivo3 and SA8300.
JR

ibglowin

02-13-07, 11:35 AM

From what I understand KOB is running on "begged/borrowed/stolen" equipment on loan from NBC while their main IIRC unit is out for repairs.

Backups anybody, backups.....

Bueller...... Bueller........

bigglare

02-13-07, 01:27 PM

Hoorah! Everyone's favorite holiday is almost here.

I know I can call Dishnetwork directly for service, but there are also local dealers in town that sell Dishnetwork and installation. What would people recommend? Direct from E* or call a local. Is there a local that somone would recommend?

mdamberger

02-13-07, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by ibglowin
(...)running this Summer. It has nothing to do with retrans agreement and everything to do with the fact that they have NO extra bandwidth for anymore HD locals until then. (...)

What is DIRECTV doing with the 2 Spaceway sats and their multiple frequency reuse spotbeams? It seems like a no-brainer they could have spotbeamed HD locals into 20-40 cities by now rather than them complaining about bandwidth problems.

For the immediate future here are the HD plans of DirecTV and Dishnetwork. As you may remember Sea Launch had an explosion on the platform this year of the vehicle. Not good. "DirecTV said the first of its planned satellite launches-a ground-based launch-will be sufficient to carry out its HD expansion plans for this year. The second satellite, which was supposed to be through Sea Launch, will likely be delayed.

Rival Echostar is also scheduled to launch a satellite on the Odyssey platform, according to a Sea Launch press release from last year.

sthscan

02-13-07, 10:48 PM

I bet that's the station. I get them too, KOB only, on my Tivo3 and SA8300.
JR

I continue to get them also (two different HD tuner boxes in the house connected to different outdoor antennas).

I got 4-5 dropouts during the half-hour trying to watch the LOBOS COACHES show the other night. Ticked me off almost enough to email KOB's GM and ask when the problem _really_ would get fixed rather than just the standard "we're looking at... or we're fixing it" from their engineer. It has been happening with KOB's signal for a long time, then seemed fixed for a month or so, and then begun again in October/November of last year.

bigglare

02-14-07, 08:55 AM

Looks like Comcast is up their old tricks again. They are making it snow to try and mess with OTA and satellite TV service. If youre native new mexican do not sacrafice your small children. There is no snow god. Just go out and shovel your walks.

Serious side. Dish coming on the 24th to install!!! NO MORE COMMIECAST!!!!!

spawnman

02-14-07, 09:45 AM

Looks like KOB has it fixed again. Was able to watch it with none of the breakups. Still getting the 3 second complete dropout everyonce in awhile. But at least it's watchable again

ibglowin

02-14-07, 09:49 AM

The stuttering on 4-1 seemed to be fixed last night but the 3 second dropouts were horrible. Watching Leno was a joke on 4-1. Was happening every 60 seconds or so. Switching to the Dish delivered MPEG4 was watchable but the audio sync was like 2 seconds behind. :(
Looks like KOB has it fixed again. Was able to watch it with none of the breakups. Still getting the 3 second complete dropout everyonce in awhile. But at least it's watchable again

bigglare

02-14-07, 10:12 PM

As I was watching Boston legal from tuesday night on my comcast DVR, everytime KOAT went to SD for a commercial or brought up the scroll at bottom of screen then failed to go back to HD afterwards, I couldnt help but think no wonder they dont ask for a carriage fee.

During the episode every commercial break the engineer is slow switching back to the HD feed. This happens a lot during Boston Legal and Lost. Sometimes the audio is lost entirely or just the surround channels are present. During this episode during a key speech by Denny Crane, William Shatner's character, the audio was gone through the entire speech.

Sometimes KASA fox loses their Digital channel for days at a time. KKOB seems to have various problems with their signal. KWBQ seems to have audio problems too during their shows if they can get HD at all. KASY is playing it safe by not even bothering with HD.

KRQE on the many nights that I watch via an antenna never has any problems that I can recall during a broadcast. They seem to be the only local HD channel that seems to get it right. Sure their stretching of the news is annoying, but they do everything else right. Why shouldnt they be REWARDED for doing a great job by getting paid for their HD signals? Maybe if the other stations asked for carriage fees they could get some decent equipment.

Thats it, just my two cents worth of observation, in light of growing complains against stations who arent playing fair by asking for carriage fees. The FCC shouldnt get involved. Congress gave stations the right to ask for compensation, they deserve the right. Afterall a signal may not be on cable or satellite but its most likely there for free if we want it. Local broadcasters who put their own money into better equipment should be entitled to a cut of the profits made by cable and satellite for using a signal they would otherwise get to exploit for free.

Thanks. What do you think?

edwardacampbell

02-15-07, 12:57 AM

Just to expand the portion of D*'s conference call that dealt with the Sea Launch failure [of another company's satellite launch]:

"Our first satellite is going up on a Proton satellite. That launch is on plan. That satellite will really give us the capacity that we plan to have for 2007 for this second half HD launch, essentially getting us wide local HD, and around 100 channels of HD....

We don't know on the second satellite, we don't know the launch timing of it. Sea Launch seems to be encouraged that the damage to the platform is limited, and there may be little or no delays to the planned launches for those satellites. That satellite is really giving us capacity for the next phase of growth, so it wouldn't affect our '07 plans."

Launch gossip for DirecTV 10 still looks mid-April to mid-June from Baikonur.

lujan

02-15-07, 08:53 AM

...

KRQE on the many nights that I watch via an antenna never has any problems that I can recall during a broadcast. They seem to be the only local HD channel that seems to get it right. Sure their stretching of the news is annoying, but they do everything else right. ...

...

Thanks. What do you think?

I have more problems with KRQE than with any other station. I have blackouts and pixillation at least once a month for a few days. I don't think they should be rewarded when I can't get in a good signal and I live in Albuquerque. "Jerico", "Criminal Minds" and "CSI NY" was unwatchable last night.

bigglare

02-15-07, 09:36 AM

I didnt have any problems during jericho.

edwardacampbell

02-15-07, 10:39 AM

I recorded Criminal Minds and CSI-NY in HD-OTA, last night, and both were spot on.

lobosrul

02-15-07, 11:10 AM

Heres my local station "issues" list, ranking the stations from best to worst:

1) KRQE. Best looking picture. Primetime programming almost always in HD. No 5.1 sound, doesnt broadcast Jeopardy in HD. Strange upscaling of SD shows.
2) KASA. Best 720p picture. Non-animated primetime programming almost always in HD. Has to switch to 480i to display their giant logo, and during NFL games they switch to 480i to show their translator list (WTF is up with that?).
3) KOAT. Broadcasts at only 13.3mbps. Commercials are broadcast at 480i, and sometimes they are late switching back to 720p. This causes sound issues (like Boston legal the other night).
4) KNME. Always broadcasts in HD. Doesnt broadcast at full bandwidth (due to SD channel). Picture quality varies widely depending on show. Tons of repeats.
5) KOB. Sometimes very blocky picture, especially during football. Lots of primetime shows arent even shown in HD. Friday Night Lights is "gutterboxed", Studio 60 looks worse than DVD quality. I still havent seen Conan O'brien in HD on KOB, and I know NBC shoots it in Hi-def.

I dont watch the other channels enough to rate them, however I've caught Smallville in HD a couple of times, and it looked good.

Its actually pretty sad that KRQE is the best, even with their issues.

edwardacampbell

02-15-07, 11:29 AM

lobosrul

02-15-07, 12:08 PM

lobosrul [where? :)]

Does your receiver allow the option of "Native On"? It's something I didn't use until just last week -- and discovered that not only did it increase the PQ of satellite feeds SD -- it bettered the quality of local digital SD, especially KOB.

Might try it if it's an option.

Well the lobos (mens team) rule no one at the moment :(

My primary receiver at the moment is a digital PC capture card. Its decoded with Nvidia Purevideo, which (apparently) is the best out there.

Edit: I can, with my PVR software, de-stretch/zoom channels. For instance when My50TV was doing "stretchy vision" I simply set the width to 75%.

jerrich

02-15-07, 12:17 PM

Lujan, your problem sounds like location. Have you tried moving your antenna or using something else? Maybe a rotator? Jim Gale is impressed with the Philips ant. that Walmart sells and they have a good return policy if you aren't happy with it. My Ch. 13-1 is rock solid at my location (approx. Chelwood and Candelaria), but no 5.1 still irks me.
JR

bigglare

02-19-07, 01:10 PM

Wow its been quiet around here this weekend. Only a few more days until "Big Glare gets his Dish and stops complaining about CommieCast" Day. Saturday is the day!!!! Hooorah!

jpoet

02-19-07, 08:48 PM

I am still considering going to satellite. D* or E* is still up in the air.

I suddenly realized, that I don't really have a good place to mount the dish. My house is on a North/South axis (roof slops East/West) with a chimney half way along the back, and a swamp cooler almost dead center. There is a big, tall tree in my southern neighbors yard, at the East-most edge of the property. There is a pretty good sized cherry tree on the south-side of my house, and 3/4 towards the back.

I am concerned that there is not enough distance between the trees to get all the satellites. I guess I need to do some measuring, and do some math.

Anyone what azimuth the east-most and west-most satellites are at, from an Albuquerque prospective?

Directv's website says that I will need:

Elevation: 48.9
Azimuth: 159.1

But that is just the center-alignment, right?

Thanks,

John

bigglare

02-19-07, 11:52 PM

I considered Directv at first, considering their HD-Lite reprocessing, lack of HD channels currently, I went with Dish. Dish right now has 31 HD channels. They have added new ones as they come along so I see little reason why they would stop in the coming months. After buying out Voom, Dish has the capacity to handle current HD growth. Directv just has their "Divx" promise, of "Just wait until next year when we can then hopefully show you what we may have been able to provide to you providing we are able to establish the needed bandwidth to live up to our promises for more HD in the future". Dish has HD now, the most ever, and only $20 bucks more than their basic package.

Take a second look at Dish. They have today what Directv is eluding to having in the future. And Dish DVR can use USB HDDs for extra storage according to reports.

TroutRunner

02-20-07, 06:31 AM

bigglare

02-20-07, 09:14 AM

I think that they do. Would be the only thing they offer. Don't expect working 1394 ports, they only have to be there, not functional. But you don't want Commiecast. Get a dish. But you should call Commiecast make sure they offer HDMI and that it is operational first.

Keep in mind Commiecast does NOT offer CBS CW in HD or KASY-DT. Thats three broadcast networks out of seven that commiecast does not provide.

On a side note, another great night of CBS-HD. Thanks KRQE.

IAM4UK

02-20-07, 01:18 PM

Hello,

Does comcast offer an HD box that has HDMI?

Also, I've been looking into a new receiver and I heard that some STB's will block because they think the receiver is a recorder or something like that. Do the local ABQ comcast boxes have this issue with the HD boxes?

Thanks,

TR
Yes, the Scientific Atlanta 8300 is an HD receiver and DVR available in Albuquerque with Comcast. It has HDMI out, as well as 1394. However, the 1394 port cannot be used to send the DVR content or encoded HD content to a PC. I think the port can be used for a dedicated (and properly formatted) external-SATA drive to increase storage.

You've surely read that using Comcast for HD locals is not the best option, as they don't have all the stations. If you want to record in HD from locals, the very best option is an HTPC with an OTA receiver (like ATI HDTV Wonder, for one example). Of course, that solution doesn't provide HD cable recording or HD satellite recording. Everything's a trade-off, and there is no all-in-one solution.

TroutRunner

02-20-07, 04:15 PM

Thanks guys,

I knew I would get some commiecast response. For now I'll stick with what it is. I don't watch much CBS. I'm moving up to plasma, surround sound and the works form a tiny tv, tv speakers, and cheapo DVD.

This forum is awesome and I can spend hours just reading old posts.

Anyone know if using the hdmi with the 8300 through a receiver would cause a problem?

TR

edwardacampbell

02-20-07, 05:20 PM

Take a second look at Dish. They have today what Directv is eluding to having in the future. And Dish DVR can use USB HDDs for extra storage according to reports.

Although I'm not using it, yet -- some of my buds with the D* HR20-700 are using the Serial-ATA port and running multiple Terabyte RAID arrays for additional storage.

http://www.satelliteonthenet.co.uk/launch.html

We're about 3 months from the next D* launch which is designed for 70-100 add'l HD channels, this year. Most of whom have already signed on. Just waiting for the critter to make a safe launch.

jerrich

02-21-07, 10:27 AM

Everything's a trade-off, and there is no all-in-one solution.

That's true however my SA8300 + Tivo 3 handles everything available pretty well.
JR

lujan

02-21-07, 08:33 PM

Anyone else noticing the dropouts on 4.1 OTA again?

sthscan

02-22-07, 12:09 AM

Anyone else noticing the dropouts on 4.1 OTA again?

again? they have never gone away. I get about 1-2 per hour on average.

the big, recent dropout loser has been KASA - severe dropouts last night (Tues) for a minute or two each (and weird that they happened during commercial breaks of American Idol with the "no signal" returning to signal just in time to not miss any AI programming).

spawnman

02-22-07, 09:23 AM

Anyone else noticing the dropouts on 4.1 OTA again?

Seeing the dropouts still plus the unwatchable breakups when viewing OTA via my 622. Can only watch it through the TV's tuner

bigglare

02-22-07, 09:46 AM

No but alot of evidence of a sleeping engineer at KOAT last night during lost. There were a few points where the HD was late coming back from commercial.

vtjman

02-23-07, 02:04 PM

Ok I am thinking about jumping commiecast for satellite. No believe it or not its not because of the chain they have been jerking us around with, the lack of KRQE or anything else we have mentioned in this forum. There's one thing that brought this on, as ridiculous as it may sound, when the Sopranos comes back April 8th I want to be able to watch it live -in HD- with the rest of the country at 9PM ET. Problem is comcast only has the pacific coast feed of HBO HD. So I have been doing some research on dish.

First, do any of you who have dish or have had dish, have any recommendations for local installers, who may have better deals than I can get through the dish site?

Second I think in earlier posts some people mentioned that they kept concast (yes coNcast, new moniker) for broadband. Is there any way to get them to not charge $60 if I drop cable with them? Does anyone know if I keep basic cable 2-15 or whatever, if they still charge the higher fee for internet? I think you need basic PLUS or higher to get the "discounted" internet fee.

Also as far as installation, how clean do the installers do it? I was hoping to have the dish installed, the wires come in through a vent possibly on the roof and then fished through an interior wall. Do they do this or do they just throw the cable down the side of the house and drill straight through an exterior wall to the inside?

And lastly has anyone recently signed up with dish and got the $200 mail in rebate? If so how long did it take for the monthly rebate to appear on your bill?

Monger

02-23-07, 02:17 PM

The internet is cheaper if you have limited basic. It ends up being about 5 dollars cheaper altogether. The good thing about keeping limited basic even if you don't use it is that you keep 6 mbps vs only 4 if its internet only, plus its a couple dollars cheaper.

lujan

02-23-07, 02:17 PM

I use Superior Satellite. They do a great job although the owner keeps complaining when the time takes longer than E* estimates because E* will only pay them for the time that they give them.

I have Comiecast for internet but I get charged $60.00 per month with basic cable or limited basic. I think the charge is still around $48.00 without the TV so it's not that big a deal for me.

They only do the basic stuff with wiring because of the limited time the E* gives them to complete the job. You will probably have to do the wiring yourself or hire someone else to do it if you want it done on the interior walls.

I got the $100 rebate but it took about 3 months before it first appeared on my bill and it's done at $10.00 per month for 10 months.

ibglowin

02-23-07, 05:16 PM

When I cancelled Comcrap years ago they never came out to disconnect me. I still have analog extended basic with HBO and Skinimax. Then years later when I dumped my 256K Qwest DSL and ordered Comcrap Internet they still had me in the system and somehow only charged me the $48 subscriber rate. I didn't complain.

I know its hard to believe anything like that could happen to such a well "oiled" machine.......

edwardacampbell

02-24-07, 09:00 AM

If any folks on the geek side of things would like a peek at what is now going to be called SWM -- single wire multiswitch -- from DirecTV, here's the link.

No, we've not yet gotten Earl to use his spell-checker.

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=78249

Read it all the way to Earl's last post. This system is NOT yet shipping. But, it's going to solve some problems when it does.

edwardacampbell

02-24-07, 06:20 PM

Wow its been quiet around here this weekend. Only a few more days until "Big Glare gets his Dish and stops complaining about CommieCast" Day. Saturday is the day!!!! Hooorah!

So -- did you get installed or what?

jpoet

02-24-07, 07:59 PM

I found this interesting:

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=63277

Technique can be used to position your satellite dish using the sun - for either Directv or Echostar.

John

dfergie

02-25-07, 07:11 PM

KASA went to SD to flash the logo with 20 laps left... Still SD, Damn you KASA and LIN Bozos!

bigglare

02-25-07, 09:42 PM

So -- did you get installed or what?

YES!!!

Although it wasnt without some frustration. Mostly due to Dish's CSRs not being very knowledgeable in installations or forthcoming on their rules. When i called to arrange installation I asked for an HD-DVR 622 for the living room 65inch, a normal HD receiver for the 21inch screen in my office and a standard def DVR for the master. Their CSR said that was all fine. But when the installer showed showed up, after calling from a completely different house on the ne side where the address on his work order sent him. He explained that DISH didnt allow 5 "tuners", two in the 622 one in the HD receiver, and two more in the standard DVR. So I was left with just the 622 servicing the master and the living room, and the hd receiver for my office.

I think if I didnt hate comcast so much I would have ran him off. But now at least I am up and running with DISH and COMMMIECAST FREE!!!!

adamsbj

02-26-07, 03:15 PM

Its bound to happen at least once every half hour with HD Locals on my ViP622 HD DVR with Dish Network... The image turns to pixels of green and doesn't come back to normal for approx 30 seconds. The audio continues normally. Does anyone else experience this problem? Dish CS had no idea what was causing it.

My HD signal strength is only around 60. SD strength is over 100.

Brian

guruka

02-26-07, 03:29 PM

Yes, I see this as well. It doesn't happen on the OTA version of the same channel, so I think it's a problem with Dish's MPEG4 encoding. Try recording both the Dish version of the channel and the OTA channel and compare them. I see it especially on KOAT which is a 720p signal.

.....G

adamsbj

02-26-07, 03:59 PM

Guruka -
Glad to hear it is not my hardware. How easy does the 622 handle OTA HD and what is the interaction with the DVR? I have not yet set it up. Do the channels appear in the guide like they do now??

Can you recommend any good indoor antennas? I live in SE ABQ.

Brian

edwardacampbell

02-26-07, 04:47 PM

I'm 47 miles away -- with terrific LOS -- and I use a Zenith/LG Silver Sensor I bought for $25. It sits on top of my HD DVR. I do not recommend the copies. I run 90-100 for most OTA telecasts.

jerrich

02-26-07, 06:27 PM

You could also try the powered Philips that Walmart sells and return it if it does not cut it. Be sure to try it horizontal though.
JR

caf6916

02-26-07, 11:18 PM

OK..I have been bouncing this around in the Vizio thread, but it appears this is a Comcast issue, so...here goes:

I have a Comcast issued SA 8300

Issue #1 :mad: - After I moved to an HDMI cable (from my SA 8300 to the TV), I noticed that when switching from HD to SD channels, the picture shifts to the left and gets fuzzy. THe only way to correct it is to flip through the HDMI inputs or turn the TV off and then on. I flipped over to OTA and tried to switch from HD to SD. Guess what, no issue.

Issue #2 :( - No Optical Digital Audio when running off Commiecast SA 8300 through HDMI. When I flip to OTA, I get a digital feed for every channel.

Anyone have any ideas or is this typical commiecast/SA 8300 issues?

guruka

02-26-07, 11:22 PM

Brian - Yes, the Silver Sensor should work fine for you (accept no imitations.) I'm over 60 miles north of ABQ and I get all the ABQ locals perfectly OTA. If you subscribe to SD locals from Dish, then you will get the OTA station EPG data and it will integrate just fine. You will get trick play and all DVR functions on the OTA stations.

......G

edwardacampbell

02-27-07, 08:53 AM

caf6916 -- I have no personal experience w/Comcast product; but -- you should know that the HDMI protocol exists esentially to "protect" content for the MPAA, etc.. It's advertised as simplifying connections to a single cable from TV receivers to TV sets -- that's one part of how the development of the tech started out.

The premise of managing content to only allow "approved" content through to your set has opened a Pandora's box of problems with compatibility from set to set. The various AV forums have discussions dedicated to the topic under HDMI. Everyone seems to leave it up to the manufacturers of the set-top boxes and their media clients.

N5XZS

02-27-07, 06:16 PM

I was little suprised when my Directv H20 reciever was telling me there is a new KNME-DT subchannel 5.3 with saying "sign off"! :eek:

Are they testing for the new PBS Spanish channel that will go on the air in March 1st!

I wonder that will hurt the HDTV picture quality, and I think the new PBS Spanish would be better off on KNMD-DT channel 9 IMHO.

Has anyone seen the new subchannel on your OTA reciever?

If so what is showing on your screen? As for me, I see was a black screen.

2-27-07

edwardacampbell

02-27-07, 06:40 PM

Just checked. My HR20 also sees KNME-DT subchannel 5.3, banner label SIGN OFF.

Only a black screen > signal strength with my wonderful Silver Sensor = 100

lujan

02-27-07, 07:55 PM

Anyone else noticing the dropouts on 4.1 OTA again?

Same question. It has not changed for me in over a week. Anyone else?

lujan

02-27-07, 07:55 PM

Anyone else noticing the dropouts on 4.1 OTA again?

Same question. It has not changed for me in over a week. Anyone else? I use the E* 622 receiver.

Monger

02-27-07, 09:35 PM

I have two 8300s, same setup, and have no such issues. Check all of the settings and maybe try swapping out the box just to narrow things down?

creakndale

02-27-07, 10:19 PM

Lujan,
I recorded Heroes and there were at least 2 dropouts of ~1 second duration (capturing OTA with an HDTV Wonder in a HTPC). About a month ago KOB replaced a piece of gear which made the dropout problem worse, IMO.

dfergie

02-27-07, 10:47 PM

bigglare

02-28-07, 01:24 AM

http://www.lintv.com/index.php?option=com_contact&task=view&contact_id=1&Itemid=3&mosmsg=Thank+you+for+your+e-mail LIN e-mail address, ask why no Krqe HD on E* and why they are holding up the D* HD locals...

Because those companies are too cheap to pay for something its subscribers get for free through the OTA tuner on their boxes. It is so frakken nice to have CBS-HD and CW-HD in the guide to record and watch with ease.

Thank you E*

spawnman

02-28-07, 09:23 AM

Same question. It has not changed for me in over a week. Anyone else? I use the E* 622 receiver.

Seeing the same on my 622 also. I did email Sean last week about it but have not heard anything back.

lujan

02-28-07, 09:56 AM

Seeing the same on my 622 also. I did email Sean last week about it but have not heard anything back.

I'm glad I'm not the only one. It seems like it's only affecting the 622's?

jerrich

02-28-07, 11:24 AM

Nope, I see KOB's dropouts on my 8300 from ComC and my Tivo 3 OTA. Anyone emailing LIN, gripe about Jeopardy/Wheel also not shown in HD.
JR

ibglowin

02-28-07, 11:35 AM

Their new engineering overhaul was suppsed to be finished by now.

Think we'll see the evening news in HD? :cool:

Nope, I see KOB's dropouts on my 8300 from ComC and my Tivo 3 OTA. Anyone emailing LIN, gripe about Jeopardy/Wheel also not shown in HD.
JR

vtjman

02-28-07, 01:18 PM

bigglare, what company did you go with to install dish for you? And were you happy with the job they did?

lujan

02-28-07, 03:13 PM

Their new engineering overhaul was suppsed to be finished by now.

Think we'll see the evening news in HD? :cool:

I've already asked this question from KOB, KRQE and KOAT and the answer was not anytime soon for both KOB and KOAT. KRQE is in the process of re-vamping everything to digital (HD) and should be the first ones to broadcast the local news and possibly other local broadcasts in HD.

N5XZS

02-28-07, 06:16 PM

KNME-DT is now testing channel 5.3 in Color Bar with no sound. How many of you guy are getting the signal?

Soon to be PBS Spanish channel on 5.3 or navite channel 35.3.

Now back to TV DXing!! :D

2-28-07

sthscan

02-28-07, 09:41 PM

KNME-DT is now testing channel 5.3 in Color Bar with no sound. How many of you guy are getting the signal?

Soon to be PBS Spanish channel on 5.3 or navite channel 35.3.

I'm getting 35-3 great on the LG CRT (Tramway/Comanche). What a surprise today when I accidentally stumbled upon the channel while tuning something else.

My money is on the PBS spanish channel (and especially since 9-4 isn't active as I type this).

It would seem to make sense to put it on 9-4 since 9-4 was used when PBS YOU existed, but there is more than adequate bandwidth for HD on 35, IMHO.

sthscan

03-01-07, 04:53 AM

My money is on the PBS spanish channel (and especially since 9-4 isn't active as I type this).

It would seem to make sense to put it on 9-4 since 9-4 was used when PBS YOU existed, but there is more than adequate bandwidth for HD on 35, IMHO.

ok, it's confirmed 5-3 will be "v-me" (the service ID says so as I sit here and look at the digital channel 35 transport stream.).

As of right now, PBS-HD has gone from about 14.5 Mbps (my last webpage update screenshot) to 13.15 Mbps currently (with v-me as a color bar). When v-me launches, I expect the PBS-HD to go down to about 12 Mbps, still very good for HD purposes.

as soon as I put my publication to bed in a few days, I should go update my webpage with the new HD changes and new screengrabs - v-me and weatherplus being the biggies...

jerrich

03-01-07, 10:07 AM

When v-me launches, I expect the PBS-HD to go down to about 12 Mbps, still very good for HD purposes.

Maybe very good, but certainly not excellent like they used to be. I could see the quality drop when they added 5.2. Grr.
JR

ibglowin

03-01-07, 10:37 AM

I couldn't agree more. I saw a noticible drop in PQ when they added 5.2. Very unhappy to see them steal some more bandwidth away from 5.1.

I remember a long time ago in a galaxy far far away when they just ran the demo loop.

Man that was some fantastic HDTV. The Over Italy loop was just amazing to watch.

Maybe very good, but certainly not excellent like they used to be. I could see the quality drop when they added 5.2. Grr.
JR

bigglare

03-01-07, 07:19 PM

You know who seems to have added CW and MYNetwork again today. Perhaps being Mar 1 this isnt a "free preview" weekend as they explain the previous times. Well Too Bad, So Sad, I already got my dish. Maybe in 18 months if you manage to add CBS-HD or enough other HD to give up dish otherwise Im Cable free.

I hope those of you still with you know who enjoy the new additions.

sthscan

03-02-07, 03:52 AM

Maybe very good, but certainly not excellent like they used to be. I could see the quality drop when they added 5.2. Grr.
JR

you need to spend some time watching 8-9 Mbps HD to truly enjoy HD at 12 Mbps or better. ;)

I personally don't think it's PBS-HD's lower bandwidth that is the issue. I'm inclined to think a lot of the "HD" programming on that channel wasn't shot in HD and is just material that was shot in widescreen. Some of thse programs like Nature and NOVA, i'm very unimpressed with and don't ever remember being wow-ed in HD. I wish PBS would run the HD versions again of flying over Italy or Greece because they've looked the most impressive of any HD program I've ever watched on PBS-HD.

some night, I should go do a comparision (PBS-HD off the big dish vs. KNME-DT 5-1's PBS-HD rebroadcast, noting bandwidth used and how I feel about the video quality) and that could give a better idea about the bandwidth issue.

adb

03-02-07, 07:46 AM

you need to spend some time watching 8-9 Mbps HD to truly enjoy HD at 12 Mbps or better. ;)

some night, I should go do a comparision (PBS-HD off the big dish vs. KNME-DT 5-1's PBS-HD rebroadcast, noting bandwidth used and how I feel about the video quality) and that could give a better idea about the bandwidth issue.

Great idea.

guruka

03-02-07, 09:50 AM

...<snip>... I wish PBS would run the HD versions again of flying over Italy or Greece because they've looked the most impressive of any HD program I've ever watched on PBS-HD. Those flyovers are still being broadcast in HD on Voom's Equator channel which Dish carries and I love to enjoy along with 'Smart Travels' which was also shot in 1080i HD video.

.....G

RBFC

03-03-07, 10:04 AM

Agreed about the fly-over shows in HD on PBS! My first exposure to HD was the documentary about praying mantises on DiscoveryHD. I sat up until 1AM watching it in utter amazement.

Sad to see some of that wow-factor being peeled away by greed.....

Lee

edwardacampbell

03-03-07, 12:22 PM

Although I also begrudge the loss of any bandwidth at KNME -- they are in fact a non-profit; so, there's not much chance for greed to have a part in their decision.

Their mandate is to provide content to the whole community and they will very likely be the sole source for Spanish-language content in HD for a long while to come.

guruka

03-03-07, 08:34 PM

Yeeeaaah!!! the praying mantises! I kept those guys on the hard drive for months. :D

.....G

edwardacampbell

03-03-07, 11:46 PM

btw -- in the nature genre, just after midnight, Monday night, DirecTV is starting National Geographic HD -- channel 77. Or so it appears.
-----
Update: now, they're calling it a sneak peek. I thought it was way too soon for content providers to have new HD product ready. We're still expecting the new bird to be up and on stream mid-June/July > new content will be for the "new season" whatever that means nowadays. Probably September/October.

I only hope that some content available from Europe -- like F1 -- will come directly onstream via Speed as soon as the transponders are warm. :)

sthscan

03-04-07, 02:34 AM

Their mandate is to provide content to the whole community and they will very likely be the sole source for Spanish-language content in HD for a long while to come.

???

V-ME is in SD, not HD, so it won't be spanish-language content in HD resolution. If you are talking about a 480i signal sent over the terrestrial digital airwaves, KLUZ is also in Spanish.

edwardacampbell

03-04-07, 01:16 PM

Is PBS content provided in Spanish through any other source? I suppose other than alternate language choices on the original telecasts?

N5XZS

03-04-07, 02:00 PM

They may be in 2nd Close Captionings or second Audio Dubbing on SAP in Spanish.

Not all programings are in Spanish due to cost of translating to most English TV broadcasters.

But I do wish KLUZ-DT and KTEL-LP would send in 2nd Closed Captionings and SAP dubbing in English! :rolleyes:

Also would cost some money to Spanish TV broadcasters. :)

3-4-07

rrmills

03-05-07, 11:04 AM

Is KASA-DT down? I can't get it this morning, and it doesn't seem to be coming through my Dish like normal either. The SD version on Dish seems to be alright, but the HD version is just a black screen, and a local channel scan can't find 2.1. Is anyone else seeing this?

bigglare

03-05-07, 12:08 PM

Another example of the fine FREE HD distribution to pay services?

bigglare

03-05-07, 12:20 PM

bigglare, what company did you go with to install dish for you? And were you happy with the job they did?

Sorry limited Internet access at the house. no computers there an all. Well DSL installed saturday. My HDTV being delivered by movers today. No more using my desktop monitor to watch Dish. Looking forward to how Scifi channel looks on dish compared to you know who.

Speaking of You know who. I have my DVR and cable modem in a big Hefty bag to drop off after classes today. HOORAH :)

As far as who installed. I got a number from PNM's All Connect, throuh DishPronto.com I beleive. The actual installer came from Superior satellite off of Coors and Montano. My originally planned dish location wasn't adequate so the installer had to go up to the main roof with dish. he ran the wires tight along the eaves so you can see them and down right along corner of the house to where I had a prewire box. You cant even tell there's wires until youre really close to house. I was impressed with the job he did.

My only complaint in process is that Dish apparently wont let you have 3 hd boxes according to the installer. So The HD in master got the SD feed off the channel 2 line from the 622 in family room. And my office 21inch widescreen monitor got the standard HD receiver.

You know who would give me an HD box for every TV I wanted one for. It's a shame DISH is stingy with their receivers.

spawnman

03-06-07, 09:17 AM

Well it happened:
USDTV ceasing operations
Bizjournals.com - Charlotte,NC,USA
USDTV is shutting down its digital television service, after a four-year-long attempt to build a competitor to cable TV. The Salt Lake City-based company ...

http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/stories/2007/03/05/daily8.html?jst=b_ln_hl

edwardacampbell

03-06-07, 09:22 AM

Overdue!

N5XZS

03-06-07, 04:56 PM

Yahoo!! Thanks goodnes that now we can free up the bandwith for HDTV or free sub channels,and no more pay channels and that way it shoud be in the public airwaves IMHO!! :)

Now I wonder KOAT-DT, KWBQ-DT, KAZQ-DT, KLUZ-DT and KASY-DT what to do with their bandwith being freed up? :D :eek:

Now back to TV DXing! :D

3-6-07

bigglare

03-06-07, 11:40 PM

KASY HIGH DEFINITION. Maybe some equipment to show the full HD remastered trek on weekends.

fjerina

03-07-07, 10:13 AM

I am SO GLAD that USDTV has come to an end. TV station's bandwidth SHOULD be used by the TV station itself and use enough bandwidth for their high-def channel for the best possible picture. I guess all those USDTV subscribers here in ABQ can now use their receivers to receive local OTA digital channels. I hope our local stations that how leased some of their bandwidth to USDTV will use the bandwidth to increase the bandwidth of their high-def subchannel. Ding Dong the Witch is Dead !!!

sthscan

03-07-07, 04:07 PM

Now I wonder KOAT-DT, KWBQ-DT, KAZQ-DT, KLUZ-DT and KASY-DT what to do with their bandwith being freed up? :D :eek:

I'm hoping responsible multi-casting. 12 Mbps HD for their main signal and then one or two 2.5-3.0 Mbps SD extras (ABC News Now, America One, Tube, the corny Blackbelt channel, etc).

jpoet

03-07-07, 11:40 PM

KOB did not broadcast Crossing Jordan in HD tonight. Are they having equipment problems?

John

sthscan

03-08-07, 12:54 AM

KOB did not broadcast Crossing Jordan in HD tonight. Are they having equipment problems?

John

I would imagine it's due to the Powerball drawing.

sthscan

03-08-07, 01:00 AM

I personally don't think it's PBS-HD's lower bandwidth that is the issue. I'm inclined to think a lot of the "HD" programming on that channel wasn't shot in HD and is just material that was shot in widescreen.

I have a different opinion tonight. I think it's due to KNME's PBS-HD distribution being in *gasp* 720i!

Not only does KNME decrease the bandwidth from the sat feed, they lower the resolution, too!

I'll still do my temporal check (PBS-HD on satellite at 17.5 Mbps/1080i vs. KNME's PBS-HD rebroadcast at 11.8 Mbps/720i) and report back to this group when I find something on PBS-HD that should make it easier to do a temporal check.

N5XZS

03-08-07, 11:15 AM

Sthscan, one little error there is no such thing called 720i it really called 720p and besides 720i is not on ATSC specs, paper. :)

I was disapointment in KNME-DT's dumb move to put a Spanish channel on channel 35 instead of KNMD-DT's channel 9, IMHO it much better place to put the Spanish channel. :(

And the other thing is why they have not upgrade the TX power for channel 9 it's so long over due?! :eek:

3-8-07

jpoet

03-08-07, 01:10 PM

I would imagine it's due to the Powerball drawing.

If it happens again next week, I will be watching something else.

John

sthscan

03-08-07, 03:48 PM

Sthscan, one little error there is no such thing called 720i it really called 720p and besides 720i is not on ATSC specs, paper. :)

the transport stream program is reporting 720i. Every other 720 signal in town is being reported as 720p.

BTW, anyone not getting KASY-DT? I haven't had signal since I started updating the Albuquerque digital stations page last night (and none of the 3 TV's in the house can tune the signal either). They are either on very low power or are currently off the air, I would think.

Late Edit: I also see a signal on my spec analyzer that appears to be channel 55 (719 MHz) but I'm unable to get a lock on it. I don't recall a channel being scheduled to use 55 for digital....

N5XZS

03-08-07, 06:07 PM

I wonder it must be a new digital service for mobile TV services?

What is your spec analyzer showing? What is 8VSB or COFDEM or other kind of waveform?

I am seeing something on my analog TV's tuner on channel 56 with some digital splatter spillover on K56FB-LP's signal,then I try to lock in the digital channel 55 but no luck ether.

As for so called 720i this is very strange for KNME-DT, to use non stander video format but my digital receiver don't seems to mind it this oddball video format. :)

Well it's going to be a interesting time to what's there! :eek: :D

Now back to TV DXing!! :D

3-8-07

mdamberger

03-09-07, 04:08 AM

I wonder it must be a new digital service for mobile TV services?

3-8-07

I think your spot on. It's probably QUALCOMM MediaFLO for portable devices, such as cell phones with video. They can put multiple channels of content on that single channel 55. BTW, Qualcomm bought channel 55 across the nation as part of a spectrum auction. One of the firsts to be done. Since the digital transition has begun. Per congresses brilliant idea of getting billions from selling the spectrum to companies (who can afford it?), who in turn will use the spectrum to sell services to the public. So really, it's a kind of voluntary tax of the average American who buy's these services.

But at least this kind of use of the spectrum is authorized and regulated, as not every channel 55 in the US has vacated those channels. Some lucky big market stations are getting their DTV facilities paid for by Qualcomm so they may use 55 right away. While smaller market 55's will never see this done, since Qualcomm won't move into small markets tell much later. By that time, those stations should not be using 55 digital much less analog 55.

Per my comment of Qualcomm being regulated by the FCC to use channel 55. There is a bill being put forth that would allow unlicensed devices onto "unused" channels of the spectrum under the banner of what's good for America and apple pie is more wireless access points spread out all over the place and mostly for "rural" users. But the reality is, this is a means to use the spectrum for free (unlike Qualcomm’s billions spent to get it) and for companies like Microsoft, Intel and others to get these devices sold and out there. The problem is, your neighbor could get one of these devices and completely wipe out your DTV reception, and there is nothing you could do about it. Since it's unlicensed and so long as they use the approved appliances (not going over 2.5watts ERP etc..) they have free roam of the spectrum.

Multiply this by hundreds within a metropolitan area and it's likely that you are going to be subject to interference. The makers and those supporting this bill say they will have a database to look up local stations in your zip code, and the device will first check the channel before transmitting to see if that channel is clear. Problem is, what if you’re trying to pick up a weak signal from far out. Then suddenly your neighbor’s transmitter keys on that very channel. Since it's not a "local" channel in his zip code, and because his little antenna can't detect such a DTV signal inside, while your roof top antenna has no problem picking it up. Then get's blasted by this channel, even if they are on an adjacent channel or up to three channels away you are still going to have a problem. This is a bad idea and it's going to kill DTV reception, particularly for our viewers beyond the metro area and those picking up a lower power translator in another part of the state.

Here is a link to an article about this, much more neutral on the issue.
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20061013-7979.html

Here is another one pro “white spaces” as the idea is called. I’m almost sure this is by one of those pseudo grass roots groups created by the white spaces alliance of manufactures.
http://freepress.net/spectrum/=whitespaces

One of the main issues is, these devices will have little filtering, and small form factor transmitters and receivers like a DTV tuner just don’t have the selectivity to eliminate interference. While this article calls on the merits of new technologies to eliminate these potential problems, along with transmission efficiencies. But you can’t shrink filters down to the size of a credit card or even into a DTV set top box that can cut the interference out. Just as to why the FM band only has odd numbered channels, and no even channels next to them. Ever heard of 107.2MHz? This is because your car tuner would never be able to have the selectivity to just tune in 107.1MHz, and not hear 107.2MHz. Thus you build into the spectrum planning to reduce or eliminate these possible problems. Now the white space users want to fill in those channels with lots and lots of noise that you won’t be able to filter out.

Write to your congressman to vote this idea down, I think this effects those in the west a lot more with such far reaching areas and weak signal reception being common.

sthscan

03-09-07, 04:27 AM

What is your spec analyzer showing? What is 8VSB or COFDEM or other kind of waveform?

As for so called 720i this is very strange for KNME-DT, to use non stander video format but my digital receiver don't seems to mind it this oddball video format. :)

720i - it appears some gear uses it (but you are correct in that I found a couple sources through Google that say it's not an official spec thing). Do you know what manufacturer and model number KNME is using for their channel 35 digital transmission? I'd like to go try to find a sell sheet and see if 720i is a legit mode for that particular encoder or if my TS program may have a software bug in identifying the video interlace/progressive type.

I can't tell anything about the channel 55 modulation from my spec analyzer. I just see signals and try signals with whatever receivers I have to try to get a signal lock (DVB-S, DVB-S2, Digicipher, 8VSB, QAM, Wegener MPEG1, CLI Spectrumsaver, Turbo (FEC type) 8PSK, Turbo (FEC type) QPSK, or Turbo (FEC type) 16QAM). I think I'll try locking that channel 55 puppy with the various modes I have (already tried 8VSB with no luck) and see if it happens to be lockable. I just have to figure out a way to get a symbol rate to try since it's not a signal in the 950-1450 block where I have the tools to try to find a symbol rate of a signal.

to mdamberger... Do you think this signal be a sample of DVB-H or are they using some other standard? I have heard about DVB-H a little bit and wasn't sure if we had any live DVB-H transmissions in this town yet.

mdamberger

03-09-07, 10:49 AM

.to mdamberger... Do you think this signal be a sample of DVB-H or are they using some other standard? I have heard about DVB-H a little bit and wasn't sure if we had any live DVB-H transmissions in this town yet.

Yes, it's similar to DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcast Handheld). But since Qualcomm owns the frequency they can pretty much use any type of modulation within the 6MHz. Qualcomm has come up with a variation of DVB-H that requires no royalties paid to the developers of DVB. They claim that their modulation scheme works better in the US market with the varied terrain and urban markets they plan on going into. I believe they plan on not using as many transmitter sites as DVB-H would require, with the majority of markets getting a single transmitter site. Similar in arrangement as current broadcasters use. In most cases co-located with broadcast facilities, antenna farms etc.. That way they can reach nearly as far out as you would expect a broadcaster would, and be able to hit the majority of your subscribers. From what I understand they have already struck a few deals with some of the cable channels, like FNC. While other cable channels will do a custom channel for Qualcomm that is geared with the small screen in mind. I’m sure that even if the developer of your TS reader software had the correct modulation available, that it won’t be able to read any of the packets. It’s likely they are mostly encrypted, and unless Qualcomm publishes what they are using. It’s going to be hard to find out what exactly is on that stream. This is almost certainly Qualcomm, with channel 55 being used for the first time.

BGLeduc

03-09-07, 11:18 PM

Have I been asleep at the switch? Is this a newsflash????

KRQE appears to be in 5.1 this evening.

My wife HDTivo's a bunch of the CBS Prime Time shows, and for the first time, it appears that KRQE is broadcasting DD in 5.1.

She recorded "Ghost Whisperer", which plays back in 5.1, and as I type, she is watching "Number3", also in 5.1.

FTR, I always found their 2CH broadcast to decode well with Pro Logic II, but it is nice to be getting the real deal.

Brian

PS: Comcast subscribers....sorry!:)

eman6880

03-09-07, 11:46 PM

Gotta be new cause i havent noticed either. Wasnt in 5.1 durring shows I watched monday. Just flipped over and sure sounds great, way to go KRQE.

BGLeduc

03-09-07, 11:48 PM

Gotta be new cause i havent noticed either. Just flipped over and sure sounds great, way to go KRQE.

I sent Frank Lilley and e-mail to ask about it....

Glad someone else has confirmed...I would have realy felt like a dork if there was something funky with my rig! :)

BGL

guruka

03-09-07, 11:50 PM

Yup. Confirmed. Looks like they finally got their 5.1 audio working as of this evening. Kudos to KRQE!

......G

RBFC

03-10-07, 12:15 AM

Actually, KRQE broadcast in 5.1 on Thursday night too! I did a double take at my readout and saw "Dolby Digital". Finally!

Lee

Alimentall

03-10-07, 12:49 AM

FWIW, I was having trouble with my Silver Sensor at the store, no matter what I did, it would cut in and out regularly. I switched to a Terrestrial Digital model and it solved it. Pretty impressive.

ibglowin

03-10-07, 10:00 AM

KRQE has the sharpest PQ in town. I was watching their 10PM news on Thursday night and had to take a double look many times as I kept saying to myself that it looked like it was in HD. Sharp as a tack. KOAT on the other hand is just a blurry mess in comparision. KOB is somewhere in between the two.

Good to hear the 5.1 is working as well!

jerrich

03-10-07, 11:22 AM

BGLeduc

03-10-07, 12:03 PM

From Frank Lilley:

Brian,

You have good ears. We switched over to our new Broadcast
Operations Center Wednesday morning and 5.1 is part of the new facility.
We are working out the bugs now but you should see an improvement in
quality and cleaner switcher.

Franklin Lilley
Director of Engineering
KRQE/KBIM/KREZ/KASA

Great news!

Brian

jpoet

03-10-07, 02:24 PM

Congrats to KRQE, finally. I will check this out tonight for sure. Now if they would do Jeopardy/Wheel in hd, they would be up to speed.
Jim Gale's email said he was going to discuss (3/15) KNME's dwindling bandwidth issues due to 5.3 (and I thought 5.2 was bad enough.) I sent a letter to their programmer about it.
JR

Could the "dwindling bandwidth" be the reason KNME has not broadcast anything in DD5.1 in a while? Even shows they used to have in DD5.1, have only been in DD2.0 (like soundstage) for months.

John

jerrich

03-11-07, 10:10 AM

If you can make it, come to the meeting on the 15th. It's at KNME on university at 7pm; always room for one more.
JR

lujan

03-11-07, 12:42 PM

Well KOB (NBC) never fails to disappoint. I recorded "The Italian Job" last night on my E* 622 because the receiver guide as well as TitanTV said that the movie would be in HD. I started to watch it about an hour and a half after it started to record it and noticed that it was in SD rather than HD despite all of the guides showing "HD". I recorded it from the satellite local station (6326) because I have not been able to get the local OTA (4.1) for about a month or more now. I kept getting times where the picture would just go black for a second or two and this happened several times during the movie. The worst part was at about 10-15 minutes before the end of the movie, the bad pixillation issues started where the video was so distorted you could not tell what was happening. This happened for the remainder of the movie. The audio was fine though. E* has been talking for about a year now that they're going to fix these issues but they are still happening. This is rediculous and we shouldn't have to keep on putting up with this.

BGLeduc

03-11-07, 09:49 PM

What's up with Fox?

Their OTA signal went T.U. toward the end of the NASCAR race. Have not checked to see if it is back on....had to watch the end of race in SD....THE HORROR!

Brian

dfergie

03-12-07, 12:01 AM

Last week they (KASA) went SD with about 17 laps left on the E* Feed and stayed that way...

sthscan

03-12-07, 12:17 AM

KRQE has the sharpest PQ in town.

I have to concur about sister station KASA's late news (but it seems like it's been longer than just going back to Wednesday).

I have been trying to figure out if they had their new broadcast center up and running before Wednesday (using HD cameras in the news studio for sharper SD pics when downres'ed) or if it's just their colorful graphics package that makes the images look cleaner than the digital transmission newscast versions of KOAT or KOB.

just because it looks clean and crisp doesn't make me want to watch KRQE news (i watch KASA because sometimes I'm too lazy at 9pm to tune somewhere else after watching FOX's 8pm hour programming).

lujan

03-12-07, 08:51 AM

...

just because it looks clean and crisp doesn't make me want to watch KRQE news (i watch KASA because sometimes I'm too lazy at 9pm to tune somewhere else after watching FOX's 8pm hour programming).

Sorry that tuning to a different station is such a big chore for you... :rolleyes:

lobosrul

03-12-07, 10:54 AM

lujan: I have had no reception issues with KOB. However, I agree their lack of HD is horrendeous. Not getting Conan O'brien in HD makes me angry. They play commercial/teasers for it in HD!! Oh and Firday Night Lights is almost never HD.

BGLeduc: It went dead for me too.

spawnman

03-12-07, 11:17 AM

So the main problem I'm having with KOB is only visable when watching OTA through my VIP622. I've switched to watching KOB via my internal TV tuner and bypassing the 622 until it gets fixed. I'm not sure if it is a problem with E* or KOB. Shortly after getting the 622 KOB worked just fine, but for the past, (seems like a month), it's unwatchable. Don't watch KASA so can comment on that one. Did not notice KRQE was in 5.1! That is great news! Can't wait for CSI!!

ibglowin

03-12-07, 11:21 AM

I was hoping to grab a copy as well on my EyeTV 500 so I could compare to my copy on Blue Ray, so such luck. I wonder if someone just forgot to "flip the switch" and nobody called in to complain? We were out and about that evening or I would have called for sure.

At least we can count on KOAT on Saturday's for an OTA HD movie. Got the 6th Sense on Saturday night. Next Saturday lookslike its Legally Blonde 2.

Well KOB (NBC) never fails to disappoint. I recorded "The Italian Job" last night on my E* 622 because the receiver guide as well as TitanTV said that the movie would be in HD. I started to watch it about an hour and a half after it started to record it and noticed that it was in SD rather than HD despite all of the guides showing "HD". I recorded it from the satellite local station (6326) because I have not been able to get the local OTA (4.1) for about a month or more now. I kept getting times where the picture would just go black for a second or two and this happened several times during the movie. The worst part was at about 10-15 minutes before the end of the movie, the bad pixillation issues started where the video was so distorted you could not tell what was happening. This happened for the remainder of the movie. The audio was fine though. E* has been talking for about a year now that they're going to fix these issues but they are still happening. This is rediculous and we shouldn't have to keep on putting up with this.

eman6880

03-12-07, 04:10 PM

I don't have issues with KOB signal wise... but they do fall asleep at the switch quite a bit. I wonder if the problems with Conan at night is when they turn off HD after Leno for the half hour of Just shoot me (why do we have a sitcom re-run in there anyway) and nobody remembers to flip it back. But Lujan I don't think it was E* problem on Saturday just a poor job by KOB.

sthscan

03-12-07, 05:48 PM

Sorry that tuning to a different station is such a big chore for you... :rolleyes:

how do you think KRQE is the #1 news at 10pm in this market? :D :D :D

If KOB had a 9pm news, tuning wouldn't be such a chore.

ibglowin

03-12-07, 07:40 PM

Watching KOB 4-1 right now on my 622 with no breakups or machine gun stuttering!
Looks like they got something fixed. (crosses fingers)

lujan

03-12-07, 08:55 PM

Me too, but I'm not holding my breadth. We've had too many problems with KOB for me to have any confidence that it will remain ok.

ibglowin

03-12-07, 09:25 PM

Knew it couldn't last long.........

Now breaking up worse than ever before not only on 4-1 but the Sat versions (4-0) as well.

RBFC

03-12-07, 10:16 PM

Both 4.1 and Fox had major problems tonight.

During "House", Fox began injecting short bits of regular commercials, jumping back to the program.

On 4.1, "Deal or No Deal" kept cutting out severely.

We can always hope....

Lee

Kevin R

03-12-07, 11:02 PM

Man I'm really disapointed with the KNME downgrading. My tv won't output 720p (early adopter) and the picture now looks terrible. Even my wife notices it which is something that speaks volumes.

That said, is what I'm reading true? That KRQE is broadcasting the news in HD? Or is it going to be awhile?

edwardacampbell

03-12-07, 11:36 PM

Just confirming from the D* OTA Front that KOB has been alternating between mediocre and non-existent.

As an aside, had a chat with a D* connection who "hoped" to have Abq Sat MPG4 HD locals -- next month -- but [and this was the interesting part] he said the ongoing problem with CBS Locals ain't just Abq and a few markets. He said it's probably 55% of all CBS Locals. They're the foot-draggers.

And he wouldn't give more than a 50-50 chance for those MPG4's, next month.

If anyone watched the Nat Geographic HD sneak peek, the next couple of sneak peeks will be A&E HD and HGTV HD -- he thinks. They'll be prepping all the new channels over the spring/summer for next season release.

Kevin R

03-13-07, 12:19 AM

As an aside, had a chat with a D* connection who "hoped" to have Abq Sat MPG4 HD locals -- next month -- but [and this was the interesting part] he said the ongoing problem with CBS Locals ain't just Abq and a few markets. He said it's probably 55% of all CBS Locals. They're the foot-draggers.

And he wouldn't give more than a 50-50 chance for those MPG4's, next month.

If anyone watched the Nat Geographic HD sneak peek, the next couple of sneak peeks will be A&E HD and HGTV HD -- he thinks. They'll be prepping all the new channels over the spring/summer for next season release.

That'd be interesting. I could add it to my qwest package and just use my Sony DVR for ota's.

spawnman

03-13-07, 09:55 AM

Agree, 4.1 Looked great on the VIP622 last night for a couple of hours, then all hell broke loose. Couldn't even watch it on the Samsung tuner, had to watch deal or no deal analog style! Wife not happy :( Kinda looked like something blew up that caused it to go bad again, cause it really was bad!! Got a little bit better latter on. Haven't checked this morning.

Point is we know they can fix it. It's not a problem with my equipment.

bigglare

03-13-07, 09:05 PM

Alimentall

03-13-07, 09:08 PM

The local CBS is at fault. Satellite companies are doing them a favor too, buy delivering their signal to their customers and offering them more ad revenue. CBS wants to be carried, not for free, but be paid for the pleasure and then what will they do? Charge more for advertising rates. Getting thei r money coming *and* going. Broadcast stations have a *duty* to the public to make their signal as available as possible. They don't "own" their signal, the people do. They're hypocrites and really pushing the letter of the law. Congress needs to smack them down hard.

bigglare

03-14-07, 01:27 AM

Gongress gave them the RIGHT to charge for carriage of the content they own which is transmitted FREELY to ALL citizens within their broadcast radius. Their duty is to make a profit for their shareholders. They purchased the license to broadcast on their frequencies that are controlled by the FCC for the US Government. Which in turn says broadcasters must only follow FCC regulations and the law. They dont have a duty if you would to provide you with an enjoyable educational life enriching kum-bi-ya expirience. They dont have to let anyone exploit their content without any compensation CONGRESS said so. Maybe we should post what the FCC license reqires of a television broadcaster, I bet it doesnt say they have to give their content away for free to cable or satellite services.

The FCC should get on Cable and Satellite providers to stop HURTING the consumer by refusing to carry network programming. As far as broadcasters are concerned they are doing everything that they have a "Duty" to perform. Broadcast to their viewing audience and not show what the FCC deems "offensive". So we're stuck with Dancing with the Stars and Ghost Whisperer (Well those pathetic fools who live in the boonies away from the civilized world, or what passes for it in New Mexico are lucky there, count your blessing no CBS HD on satellite)

The world isnt fair. Stop expecting someone to give their product away for free over a sense of DUTY to the people. This isnt CHINA or the USSR, just good old fashion capitalistic US of A.