Maybe if they got more email they'd give this whole mess a higher priority.

Try actually writing them a letter. The FCC requires they keep all correspondence for a year (?) for them to review. Much higher priority that way; email can evaporate.
JR

For the folks who obviously stay up later than do I, just got an email back from KOB and they are working to sort out the Today/Leno/Conan timeshifting.That month old email did not seem to have any effect.

Set the DVR to record Leno, last night. Never watch any of the late shows; but, wanted to catch Richardson in HD.

Well, I think he looked presentable - for SD. The show may have started off in HD; but, by the time our governor appeared - it was SD.It did not start out in HD. I was watching too, OTA via Ant. Ever week KOB-DTV 4-1 (26-3 for me on my Samsung ATSC tuner) present "NM GameDay" (NM High School Sports Hype) after the local news; then replay a crappy SD recording of Leno after GameDay.

It really bugs me too!

Avio

Went to the Comcast office and verified the SA Explorer 3250 outputs over either component or DVI and NO HDCP!
Thanks.

(I've searched the net far and wide but w/ little results, so I am resurrecting this old post. )

Does ABQ Comcast distribute the 3250HD with an active DVI port?

I have Comcast, SA 3250HD STB, and Samsung HCN4226W. Comcast has been ignorant about DVI. I read that the 3250HD DVI port was inactive in early versions, so I swapped out my 1-2 yr old 3250HD for another one in April 2007, but I think I got the same (or older) box. Comcast claims they have only what they get from the supplier and do not know the status of the DVI port.

I've connected the DVI port to my HDTV and I get 2 error messages from the STB: DVI/HDMI output blocked, then HDCP not supported. I know for a fact that my HDTV is HDCP compliant, so I am guessing that the port is inactive.

I'll try some other settings (like removing component connection), but it'd be nice to know if ANY of the 3250HDs in ABQ have active DVI!

Thanks!

Comcast doesnt even have active 1394 ports as they should by law.

Comcast doesnt even have active 1394 ports as they should by law.

And whatever happened to cable set top boxes being available to the consumer by law for purchase at retail? That never happened, the FCC just keeps pushing back the mandatory date for sale to the consumer. I think that idea began around 1997 and soon became obvious by 1999 that it was never going to happen. CableLabs and the industry could never came to an agreement. The FCC never imposed a standard while cable industry insisted it could come up with one on it's own. "Don't regulate us", was their cry! "We can do it ourselves." Meanwhile, the consumer is burdened with paying monthly fees for now the better part of ten years it was supposed to save. Big industry get's it's way.

Cablecard never worked out, dead on arrival. The standard never included two way communication or simple guide data. How hard is that to do? Broadcasters got it on the first go around with DTV.

What's the big difference to the consumer who wants subscription TV, both services insist on using a box, you need it with satellite from the get go, and cable requires it for their expanded lineup. What's the big benefit of one over the other? Satellite is ahead of cable when it comes to HD, and cable has a added benefit of high speed internet. But if you have the option of DSL or Cable, they both provide the same speeds, around here it's maxed out at 3MB for ether service. Unless you are a business and then DSL hit's 7MB and cable is 5MB, huh? Go across the pond, and the europeans are way ahead of us, starting out at 10MB and hitting around 25MB max service. No micky mouse speeds we Americans are dealing with.

Strange, only a few years ago europe was still mostly on dialup, and we thought we had so many high speed options. Maybe FIOS service will offer these kinds of speeds, but not in small markets, never will you see that offered in a town less then 500k population. Heck, ranchers in NM still only have dialup as an option, forget DSL, and maybe satellite delivered broadband. But it's got limits on downlink speed and allowed data limits per month. Go over that, and you start to pay out big.

Comcast doesnt even have active 1394 ports as they should by law.

Actually, I had (canceled Comcast in Jan) a box with active 1394 ports. They just decided right at the beginning of the year to 5C encrypt everything but the (digital) locals. It does not output analog (CH 0-99) channels.

I recorded from OTA, with a powered indoor ant. I have an HTPC that (last I checked) was reporting a signal strength of rougly 80% on KASA and at least 95% on all other networks. I guess there might be some kind of interference on that spectrum where I am, weird. Was fine last week.

I've been having the same issues with KASA. American Idol and 24 the past couple of weeks has been have pixelation and audio drop outs frequently on my HR10-250. I checked the signal strength a couple of days ago and it was in the 60's.

Is something going on with KASA's signal?

- Jeff

I've been having the same issues with KASA. American Idol and 24 the past couple of weeks has been have pixelation and audio drop outs frequently on my HR10-250. I checked the signal strength a couple of days ago and it was in the 60's.

Is something going on with KASA's signal?

- Jeff

I don't watch 24, but I do watch AI in HD (and MLB on FOX in HD, thanks for asking ;) and it's been fine for me -- well, a few seconds of stuttering tonight that I"ll chalk up to the downlink of the FOX HD feed rather than a HD glitch from KASA's encoder since I haven't seen that glitch before on KASA-DT.

It did have to stutter during a Ryan/Simon lovefest moment. :D

using 5th gen LG tuner in my LG CRT HD set.

I record 24 ota with a tivo3 and it was perfect for me, using a RS vu90 rooftop ant.
JR

It did have to stutter during a Ryan/Simon lovefest moment. :D

I noticed that too.

It got better as the show went on. Most of the audio drops/pixelation were at the beginning of AI. I'll have to get on the roof to see if the antenna got bumped or something.

There _might_ be some good news on the CBS HD front here. I saw an article saying LIN is trying to shop some stations, but the article wasn't specific on which stations might be up for consideration to sell, so I don't know if KRQE/KASA is involved.

On one hand, I'd think they like their duopoly here, but if they bought KASA to create more value for selling, that would make sense too.

On another local HD note, for you Leno fans, Gameday is over for the season and we should be getting Friday night Leno's in HD until August.

... On another local HD note, for you Leno fans, Gameday is over for the season and we should be getting Friday night Leno's in HD until August.Great News! Leno's back for the summer in HD. :D

Now if they could just timeshift Leno in HD when Gameday returns. :rolleyes:

Thanks. Avio

Hello Sthscan,

Do you have the link on LIN article story?

Thanks! :)

5-19-07

For the LIN story - Google is your friend:

http://www.projo.com/business/content/BZ_LINTV19_05-19-07_K65MOPT.2a7869e.html

Anyone have an idea why this bbs wouldn't let me include a tiny url - or even the preceding as one word instead of two?

For the LIN story - Google is your friend:

http://www.projo.com/business/content/BZ_LINTV19_05-19-07_K65MOPT.2a7869e.html

Anyone have an idea why this bbs wouldn't let me include a tiny url - or even the preceding as one word instead of two?I've noticed this several times. It looks like AVS Forum is programmed to deactivate Tiny URL's, probably because Admin thinks there is potential danger to direct link to a hidden website.

I was still able to figure out your Tiny URL and link to the article the way you first posted it.

Avio

Minor news update.....

KLUZ-DT will be adding LATV on their digital sub channel channel 42.2 so keep the eye out for that! :)

LATV is sort like a early days of MTV and it's broadcast in English and Spanish, so look out for some sexy babes!! :D

Here's the story from New Mexico businesses web site....

http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/stories/2007/05/21/daily1.html?f=et201&hbx=e_du

Not much else going on around here, so that's the news! :)

5-21-07

Minor news update.....

KLUZ-DT will be adding LATV on their digital sub channel channel 42.2 so keep the eye out for that! :)

LATV is sort like a early days of MTV and it's broadcast in English and Spanish, so look out for some sexy babes!! :D Great News!

A new OTA channel with new variety content! :cool:

Thanks. Avio

KLUZ-DT will be adding LATV on their digital sub channel channel 42.2 so keep the eye out for that! :)

I would have prefered America One, but good for LATV (going from a local SoCal channel to positioning themselves to a national channel).

BTW, if you want hot latinas it's mexican tv you want, not LATV. I loved the outdoor concert a couple Saturdays ago I caught on a Mexican regional tv channel with a hot latina in a short short skirt singing and acting and the the wind blowing hard at the outdoor arena. ;)

Minor news update......

For people living in Socorro areas now will get PBS HD on digial channel 46 "K46HY-D" they are running at 419 watts ERP transmitting power.

Let us know how well you are getting the signal down there! :)

Good luck on DXing!!

5-25-07

... Central New Mexico Samsung DTV owners that have responded to this PSIP / Virtual Channel Mapping problem with KOB's digital signal not mapping from 26-3 to 4-1 ... The problem just in the past 60 minutes spontaneously resolved (again). I was watching KOB's local news at 6 PM. I noticed when I returned to my set (Samsung HLT5689S) that my built-in ATSC tuner had automatically tuned to 4-1 and my TV's Channel Manager had automatically deleted 26-3 & 26-4 and had automatically added Virtual Channels 4-1 & 4-2. I get full PSIP Info on 4-1. :cool: :D :cool:

Now to see if this good change sticks or not... :rolleyes:

I'm hoping the problem is solved permanently.

Avio

Yes my HL-S5687 has finally removed 26-3/26-4 and set 4-1/4-2. I think it didn't do it until I switched channels past them so it did peek at 26- and was able to set 4- once it had the PSIP. Now why did it happen in the first place? My 622 was OK the whole time.
-Ken

Yes my HL-S5687 has finally removed 26-3/26-4 and set 4-1/4-2. I think it didn't do it until I switched channels past them so it did peek at 26- and was able to set 4- once it had the PSIP ... Ken: I'm really glad to hear that another Samsung HL-xxxxx DLP RPTV owner experienced the same switch back to 4-1/4-2 at the same time as me. :cool:

... Now why did it happen in the first place? ... That's the really good question. :p

It must be KOB's PSIP data... perhaps Samsungs have a strict interpretation of the PSIP data format rules.

Thanks for your post. Avio

It must be KOB's PSIP data... perhaps Samsungs have a strict interpretation of the PSIP data format rules.

I would personally lean toward a Samsung issue. The strictness of Samsung is probably a data parsing issue and you'll never see Samsung do an update so that leaves the responsibility on the broadcasters. Sorry I just don't trust manufactures to believe they don't have issues like this. Who knows.

Anyways, my Samsung is now showing KOB on 4-1 and 4-2.

I now see program data for KNME HD (35) in the EPG on my 622. Has this been there for a while and I just missed it somehow? Very nice to have finally!

.....G

What is nice is that Dish finally has restored guide data for 5.1 (HD) and then added 5.3 (V-me) to the 5.2 (SD). Now if they would add 9.1/2/3 (KNMD), it would be easier to set a timer. I grab the business report at 4:30 pm on 9.1 rather than wait for overnight on 5.0 aka 8816. It is a little marginal at 45 miles, Crest assumed. (Incorrect according to 2003 antennaweb map--now same line but blue=next-to-weakest vs. yellow=stongest for the rest.)
-Ken

I now see program data for KNME HD (35) in the EPG on my 622. Has this been there for a while and I just missed it somehow? Very nice to have finally!

.....G

Yes, it's been back for at least a couple of weeks now.

Lets hope it stays around for awhile this time!

I would personally lean toward a Samsung issue. The strictness of Samsung is probably a data parsing issue and you'll never see Samsung do an update so that leaves the responsibility on the broadcasters. Sorry I just don't trust manufactures to believe they don't have issues like this. Who knows.

Anyways, my Samsung is now showing KOB on 4-1 and 4-2.I called back Sean Anker, Chief Engineer, KOB TV just now and reported that NM Samsung owners, including myself, noticed that the Virtual Channel Mapping was fixed on Friday late afternoon. He said he and his staff had been "working on it" [the Samsung problem] and fixed it by substituting a "piece of equipment" into his system. He said that the equipment change was not related to PSIP. Sean said that his KOB Samsung ATSC receiver in-house showed the fix with the equipment change and showed the problem when the old equipment was put back into the chain. He still believes that Samsungs have a defect in handling PSIP data.

Avio

I admit I didn't notice this when it posted a month ago. But, anyway, for folks like me who are waiting for that new bird to go up in a couple weeks, here's a link to the projected schedule of new HD channels for DirecTV:

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=87235

The launch site blog http://www.ilslaunch.com/blog/ says launch is July. July when? Who knows?

I took the plunge and ordered Direct TV for the upcoming NFL season. I ordered the deluxe package. I'm dropping Comcast after installation. Install on 6/15. What should be my concerns about the install? What other concerns/issues do I expect? I have been watching this board for a couple of months, very informative. Thanks for any information you can give me.

1. I doubt if you can pre-arrange it [but, try] - ask the installer if he has the Slimline Dish on his truck. Better looking and higher WAF.

2. Don't accept low signal numbers. Last couple of installers I dealt with were competent; but, you never can tell. You should be getting 90's and up for all 5 lnb's AFAIC.

3. Are you in Abq or where? What do you plan on using for OTA? I use the Silver Sensor - and don't recommend the copies - you usually can find it for $25 somewhere. The D* OTA antennas - often a snap-on onto the dish - usually suck.

4. Neatness counts.

5. You should get automatic update on the software when it boots up. I don't know if they've released the new GUI to the wild, yet, or not. Post here and let me know what colors you get in the Guide, ToDo, etc..

Fantastic response EC. I purchased a Phillips Silver Sensor when I purchased my LG 42LC7D at CC. I lay it horizontal on my entertainment center, pointing ENE, unseen, with a switchbox from Walmart. Thats how I get local HD. I'm around Passeo Del Norte and Ventura, OTA works real good. I will contact D* TV for a Slimline. We will see what happens, as they advertise upcoming increase in HD channels.

madmax - click the dbstalk link in my post just above your first post. It lists the best guesstimate on what's coming up and when. Presuming that bird gets off the ground next month.

The launch site blog http://www.ilslaunch.com/blog/ says launch is July. July when? Who knows?

July 7th in Baikanour (July 6th here in the U.S., so that probably makes it an evening launch time here in NM).

I'm sure DIRECTV will have a feed of the launch on their system (or you can watch the webcast on the ILS site or watch a C or Ku-band satellite feed for better quality video than the webcast if you have a big beautiful backyard dish).

They should move it up a couple days so we can enjoy the fireworks! lol.

BA-BOOM.

Nother one bites the dust...

FWIW, it looks like Comcast will be adding A&E and National Geographic in HD on the 15th.

Also, with the migration to a new On Demand system within the next couple of weeks, they should be adding some HD on demand programming.

cbs HD on comcast yet?

cbs HD on comcast yet?

Nope. I did notice that KRQE now has Wheel of Fortune in HD finally, at least for the reruns on now. Don't know why the delay since it has been shot in hd for quite a while. Probably politics.
JR

hopefully the cable company wont wait until 2-17-2009 to finally finish adding ALL the local HD channels. Seems like every other channel is going live but that last local.

Satellite providers are just as bad although the OTA tuner in their DVRs allow me to pull in all the locals anyways.

I usually tune in to jeopardy and Wheel. somedays it is HD others its back to stretchovision.

It is really disappointing that KNME HD no longer broadcasts Soundstage with DD5.1. They did pass DD5.1 through a year ago, but have not since.


John

We had to make room for 5-3 somehow. ;)

That stinks, I hope they were just having audio problems..........

It is really disappointing that KNME HD no longer broadcasts Soundstage with DD5.1. They did pass DD5.1 through a year ago, but have not since.


John

Thank you Sean et al.

I called back Sean Anker, Chief Engineer, KOB TV just now and reported that NM Samsung owners, including myself, noticed that the Virtual Channel Mapping was fixed on Friday late afternoon. He said he and his staff had been "working on it" [the Samsung problem] and fixed it by substituting a "piece of equipment" into his system. He said that the equipment change was not related to PSIP. Sean said that his KOB Samsung ATSC receiver in-house showed the fix with the equipment change and showed the problem when the old equipment was put back into the chain. He still believes that Samsungs have a defect in handling PSIP data.

Avio

We had to make room for 5-3 somehow. ;)
That stinks, I hope they were just having audio problems..........
Too bad they did not keep all the additions on channel 9, maybe including 5.2, to keep channel 35 pure HD.
They need to boost the power on channel 9. It is marginal here in Los Alamos with dropouts on the Nightly Business Report on 9.1 at 4:30. It would help if they could get 9 in the Dish guide, too. Fishing for programs in not the way to go.
-Ken

I just watched my EyeTV recording of Soundstage from last night (Rob Thomas) and the picture just didn't look all that hot. I took a quick look at the file size for the recording. It weighed in at 5.9GB.

I compared it to an Episode of Soundstage from last years (same recording length to the minute) and it weighed in at 7.4GB.

Thats a 20% reduction in file size for the same program from last year which translates to a 20% reduction in Bit Rate by my estimation as well.

They used to be putting out pretty good Eye Candy but alas no more. :(

I just watched my EyeTV recording of Soundstage from last night (Rob Thomas) and the picture just didn't look all that hot. I took a quick look at the file size for the recording. It weighed in at 5.9GB.

I compared it to an Episode of Soundstage from last years (same recording length to the minute) and it weighed in at 7.4GB.

Thats a 20% reduction in file size for the same program from last year which translates to a 20% reduction in Bit Rate by my estimation as well.

They used to be putting out pretty good Eye Candy but alas no more. :(

You should send your findings to KNME if you think they will do something about it or if you think they're not already aware of this.

They know about it. But, complain, anyway. It's only an outsider's opinion; but, I think the outfit is divided over what they've been doing.

Yes, complain, but in writing, not email/phone. KNME used to be reference quality video, but now they are going for quantity, not quality. (Side note, this is NOT Jim Gale's fault; he's on our side).
JR

Yes write a polite snail mail letters, to KNME-DT and KNMD-DT and tell them to restore full 1080i on KNME-DT by just moving Spanish PBS sub channel to KNMD-DT digital channel 9.

At the same time also ask KNMD-DT to boost the transment power from 200 watts ERP to at least 10 to 30 KW ERP.

Not only that KNME-DT, KNMD-DT's faults for doing not the right ways also blame on KCHF-DT digital channel 10 for foot draging by not moving the digital transmitter to sandia crest so KNMD-DT can boost it's TX power so that they don't spill on each other.

I just noted that KCHF-DT is now running full power at 30 KW ERP according to FCC's database! :mad:

I thought they were supposed be at 1.7 KW ERP, in order not to spill over KNMD-DT's signal!

Are they breaking the FCC's rule?

And remember it's not Jim Gales fault it's on top boss thats make the decision on the stations itself.

The sooner the better the station clean up their acts togethers and the TV viewers will be happy with improved HDTV bit rate and improved transmitter power meaning stronger signal and easy to tune in the signal.

Still no news on KTEL-LP and others analog low power TV stations on filing to go digital any ideas on that on why haven't they done so? :rolleyes:

Now back to TV DXings!!! :D

6-16-07

Nice to see some numbers supporting a request for higher power for KNMD-DT (ch 9) and moving V-me (nationally available on Dish 94xx) from 35.3 to 9.x. There were 4 subchannels on 9 with an east and west feed of one; they dropped one. So they should have the equipment to mix 4.
-Ken

1. I doubt if you can pre-arrange it [but, try] - ask the installer if he has the Slimline Dish on his truck. Better looking and higher WAF.

2. Don't accept low signal numbers. Last couple of installers I dealt with were competent; but, you never can tell. You should be getting 90's and up for all 5 lnb's AFAIC.

3. Are you in Abq or where? What do you plan on using for OTA? I use the Silver Sensor - and don't recommend the copies - you usually can find it for $25 somewhere. The D* OTA antennas - often a snap-on onto the dish - usually suck.

4. Neatness counts.

5. You should get automatic update on the software when it boots up. I don't know if they've released the new GUI to the wild, yet, or not. Post here and let me know what colors you get in the Guide, ToDo, etc..


1) I guess when you order for the first time and request HD with HD DVR, (that is when I talked to the installer before he showed up) you get the Slimline antenna.
I don't know about upgrades, though.

2) Signal numbers where in the mid 90's on average (5 lnb's?) The installer was really good. I discussed options on the install of the antenna, and found a place in the backside of the house (house faces east).

3) I now connect the Silver sensor direct to my TV and select TV input if I want to watch local HD (like ch. 13).

4) Again, his installation of cables were to my complete satisfaction.

5) The HD DVR, model H20, was updated through the modem. The other SD satellite boxes seem to be updated via satellite, never hooked up the phone line. The GUI is dark and light blue, if that helps.

Overall, very satisfied with the install, now new customer service is not as straight forward as I would like it, but I am sure it will work itself out as they try hard. I hope this helps others.

Sounds good. You have the "new" GUI. I never think of updating via phoneline because - like ab't 30% of the folks at the D* section of dbstalk.com - I haven't any phoneline. :)

I'd nudge you about interest in the beta test group at dbstalk; but, the group is pretty much into testing the segment of the software designed for streaming photos and music to your entertainment center/TV. Which I already do via AppleTV. So, I haven't been keeping up with beta downloads.

All of those are via satellite.

It has been fun and the "group" - which varies from 400-3000 folks - had a lot of input on the new GUI, for example. Take a peek and "lurk"" if you don't feel like joining in. You will have to register and login even to lurk. It's a "closed forum".

http://www.dbstalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=82 You'll see Cutting Edge Forum down at the bottom of the table.

And welcome aboard. Sat TV is where it's at AFAIC. Another couple of weeks to the next launch, so, keep your fingers metaphorically crossed.

Wow it's been quiet in here lately. Everyone happy with their Satellite TV and Comcastic cable disservice? Any word on that new digital subchannel thats supposed to come around?

Wow it's been quiet in here lately. Everyone happy with their Satellite TV and Comcastic cable disservice? Any word on that new digital subchannel thats supposed to come around?

Yes, I've been very happy with my DVR-622, finally got the locals to be stable via OTA and Sat has been great too. No complaints here at all

Enjoy!!

Wow it's been quiet in here lately. Everyone happy with their Satellite TV and Comcastic cable disservice? Any word on that new digital subchannel thats supposed to come around?

Yes, these forums tend to stay quiet when there are little or no problems. It's when the problems abound when the forums light up. Also, it's not prime TV season in the summer.

You mean the new sub channel on KLUZ-DT for soon to be LATV or is somthing else that I never heard of.... :)

Any news on DTV user meeting last week, just wondering?

Well it's looks like a TV skip season on VHF low band ch 2 to 6 fun to TV DX this time of year!! :D

6-26-07

Yes, I've been very happy with my DVR-622, finally got the locals to be stable via OTA and Sat has been great too. No complaints here at all

Enjoy!!
can you record pbs-hd off off of program guide with an antenna or is pbs-hd on the bird. i am moving to high desert and don't want to do an ota antenna if possible as the gestapo up there have restrictions on dishes and antennas?

Jack8219,

Are you in HOA? If so yes, then you have every right to put up a antenna as per FCC rules.......

If you are in condo there are certain areas that you can put up a antenna and since I don't know much about in this area.

If you are in apartment chances, are they might have a antennna on their roof but they are pretty rare these day since they go with cable or Directv or Dish Net nowdays.

If you are in second story or higher chances are 50 to 50 with just a rabbit ear antenna you might be able to get the signal.

Where is high Desert and how far from the Sandia Crest TV towers?

Go to www.fcc.gov and find the use of antenna right uses this web site may be clultterd.

As for PBS HD in DBS there is no feeds that I know off, the only way is to get it via antenna on KNMD-DT channel 9 "Running low poer at 200 Watts ERP" and KNME-DT channel 35. "This station has HD"

Hopes thats helps.... :)

6-26-07

High desert is very close to the crest, around Academy east of Tramway. I would think something like the Silver Sensor would work fine there.

I found the informatons on TV antenna rights, just go to......http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/consumerdish.html

This will be very usefull tool to protect your right to have an TV antenna! :)

Now on High Desert and it's seems to you are too close to Sandia Crest TV towers, silver sensor antenna may work if you can see the TV towers if not the analog and digital signals may over shoot your locaton. :eek:

6-26-07

Well it's looks like a TV skip season on VHF low band ch 2 to 6 fun to TV DX this time of year!! :D

6-26-07
Six meteres is open, so I tried the TV. I see some of the classic herringbone on 4 of a DX station causing interference (none seen on 2) Unfortunately I don't have a good directional antenna I can null the crest out with. 2 and 5 look clean, so no sign of DX there.

No sign of signal on 3 and 6...those would have been my best shot.

Have you found any low band DX tations in digital (on their low band frequencies)? I know most digital is on UHF, but we do have 9 and 10 here.
When I lived in California, I was in such a signal hole, TV Dxing was easy.

73 and good DX
Tom

(Six meters is the ham radio band just below channel 2 in the RF spectrum. Normally you can only make local contacts, however when conditions are right, you can talk all around the country or even the world. This is refered to the band being "open". When this band is open, you often get TV DX (skip) and can see stations from distant locations, sometimes even overpowering the locals. This most often happens near the summer soliste.)

I am in Glenwood Hills, just a little south of High Desert. In addition, I am behind a hill so I do not have a real line-of-sight path to the crest. The Silver Sensor antenna in my bedroom works great. The aiming is not critical and I get all the major stations great (and some more I am not the least bit interested in). I do not get KNMD channel 9 or at least not most of the time. The antenna is a little hidden and hardly noticeable. It was about two weeks before my wife saw it and she sees everything!

I believe ch. 9 is vhf and is outside the bandpass of the uhf Silver Sensor.
JR

in high desert i will be in a regular house with a clear view of the crest. i can see the tram cars coming up and down. i could put up an antenna to get pbs and cbs locals but my question is. can you record off of the "guide". i do not want to look up on the internet and find programs to record for pbs-hd or cbs-hd. i have comcast now and do this with pbs-hd but of course not with cbs-hd. i don't like paying for 2 hd-dvrs also as comcrap gave us 2 hd-dvrs as part of their package. we are paying $150+ for everthing including high speed internet and this is going up!!!

maybe i can't get ota reception as being to close to the mountain!!!! this would not be good to change to dish. i had dish for years in a house 2 houses from this one we are buying but never had hd which is my main concern. address is on sunrise trail ne. so my concern is hd ota reception for pbs-hd and cbs-hd if that is my issue. thanks

Dish locals recently added 5.1 (again) to the guide for OTA. No 13.1 by satellite but great by OTA although file size is large for all MPEG-2 compared to MPEG-4 used for satellite HD locals. KNMD 9.x signals are weak compared to all others at least from 50 miles away with line of sight. Could be improved if I were not using my antenna under the deck. This gives messy signals for analog 2 4 5 shooting between houses across my canyon backyard.
-Ken

K: so i guess the answer is pbs-hd is on the "guide" and recordable direct from the guide but cbs-hd needs an antenna and can't be recorded off of anything unless somehow you set it up manually to record csi or something? thanks for your help. jack in albuq

K: oops, i misunderstood your post i think. pbs-hd requires an antenna to record off the "guide" but cbs-hd has on "guide " even with an antenna?? confused in albuq. maybe i should go again to see a demo down here to see if all this works in high desert. (tramway and academy)

K: oops, i misunderstood your post i think. pbs-hd requires an antenna to record off the "guide" but cbs-hd has on "guide " even with an antenna?? confused in albuq. maybe i should go again to see a demo down here to see if all this works in high desert. (tramway and academy)

I have Dish 942, but I assume Dish 622 guide works the same way. Both 5.1 KNME PBS-HD and 13.1 KRQE CBS-HD can to tuned OTA only--they are not available from Dish network satellite. Guide info for both is provided by Dish and program recordings can be scheduled from the guide just like the satellite programming--it works great.

Wow it's been quiet in here lately. Everyone happy with their Satellite TV and Comcastic cable disservice? Any word on that new digital subchannel thats supposed to come around?

I'm mourning potentially losing my satellite service. I moved to another apartment, the manager said 18" dish is not an issue if not permanently installed (3 other residents have 18" dishes), then the manager quits after I put down my deposit and a new manager is "thinking" about banning the 18" dishes (she can, it's public grounds that the tripods are sitting on, not tenant-controlled rent space).

so I may have to bend over and take commiecast until this lease is up in almost a year and I can find a 18" dish friendly apartment complex (and hope not as many people are looking for apartments so I can find an apartment with a south-facing view that I can control what dishes I can set out for reception).

I think I'll make next week my rebel week - call up DISH and tell them I've moved and see how the manager reacts. The manager better not deny me or I'll consider it discrimation unless she makes the other 3 dishes go away and I have to figure out how bad I want to fight it with landlord/tenant relations.

At least she can't take away my off-air HD reception!

The DirecTV Guide info works great for recording 5-1, as long as they have the correct info from KNME! Once or twice a week, they send the Guide info as being a different program from 5 - and then go and broadcast the same.

But, most of the time, it works just fine.

Is your tripod not on your patio? Where were you planning to put your dish?

A friend of mine has a Tivo 3 Hi-Def hard disk recorder with an outdoor OTA antenna. About 3 weeks ago he can no longer get the CW (channel 19.1 transmitting on frequency assignment 29). He gets all the other digital stations. I have a HTPC with outdoor OTA antenna and receive New Mexico CW channel just fine. Is anyone out there with a Tivo 3 getting the CW? My friend has reset his Tivo and rescanned with no luck. Tivo customer support has not been helpful.
Thanks,
creakndale

Does your "friend" have a digital tuner in his TV or another device? does he get it on other digital tuners?

Well, the heavy lifting went OK. DirecTV 10 is on its way to geosynchronous orbit. Few more widely separated little burns to get the critter parked and hopefully that will be over before 5 AM, tomorrow morning - Saturday, 7th.

Watched it Live from Baikonur.

Well, the heavy lifting went OK. DirecTV 10 is on its way to geosynchronous orbit. Few more widely separated little burns to get the critter parked and hopefully that will be over before 5 AM, tomorrow morning - Saturday, 7th.

Watched it Live from Baikonur.
Yeah, I posted screencaps Here (http://www.satelliteguys.us/directv-forum/100683-screencaps-d-10-launch.html) go baby go...

Checked, this morning, The critter is parked in test orbit. We should start seeing new channels in 4-6 weeks.

Checked, this morning, The critter is parked in test orbit. We should start seeing new channels in 4-6 weeks.

According to the reports D* filed with the FCC, they are expecting to be live with the new satellite around Sept 15.

Yeah. I think that's the cma date. Previous birds have starting offering content in as little as 4 weeks - and they have content waiting in the wings ready to start up.

If I was a content provider, I'd rather get up and running early as possible - get settled into folks' watching habits instead of hanging around until batches of 10 at a time come along.

hey good job. they got one up finally! Now the question is who will be the first to offer us CBS-HD. Dishnetwork? Directv? Comcast?

I wonder if new bird will allow Directv to dump HDlite and offer full bandwidth HD channels.

Well guys there is some good news about the right to get out of town local TV stations on your satellite or cable!! :)

Here's the link..... http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=90570

The proposed bill H.R. 2821 will let you get next door TV markets like Denver, El Paso and Phoenix and few other citys in AZ, CO and TX all withn in Albuqurque's DMA.

So please contact your congress critters out and sopport this bill please spread the word out to everones out here!!! :) :) :)

For the first time Albuquerque TV viewers will be able to watch local new and sports from Denver, El Paso and Phoenix.

7-7-07

Uh, a little more interesting stuff out there than CBS:

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=87235

HD-Lite is a phenomenon "enjoyed" by anyone watching a system straining to cram through more content than they are capable of carrying at full bandwidth. The worst example I've seen is ComCast version of HD. Followed pretty equally - at present - by DISH and DirecTV both.

D*10 will allow more content at greater resolution. And it's to be followed by D*11 which will add even more capacity. I imagine DISH will do the same. The worst crew in the equation is Comcast because they can increase their capacity - right now - with a much smaller investment than either of the satellite providers.

CBS? who cares? See the 2nd line - above.

Well guys there is some good news about the right to get out of town local TV stations on your satellite or cable!! :)

Here's the link..... http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=90570

The proposed bill H.R. 2821 will let you get next door TV markets like Denver, El Paso and Phoenix and few other citys in AZ, CO and TX all withn in Albuqurque's DMA.
7-7-07

Thanks for the link. Sounds worth supporting to me.

I haven't paid much attention to which new HD channels are projected for going live/when until the successful launch the other day. And Boeing has reported all the electronics are working just fine. This list is channels who have content ready to rollout on DirecTV and have only been waiting for the bandwidth in September.

Folks discussing this - say that if everything goes quicker than the usual cma dates that PR people offer up, some of these may arrive in August. FWIW:

A&E, Animal Planet, Big Ten Network, CineMax East, CineMax West, Discovery Channel (simulcast), Food Network, HBO West, HGTV, History Channel, MHD (MTV), NFL Network (Full-Time), Science Channel, Showtime West, Starz! East, Starz! West, Starz! Edge, Starz! Comedy, Starz Kids & Family, The Movie Channel, The National Geographic Channel, TBS, TLC, The Weather Channel, Versus/Golf

Well guys there is some good news about the right to get out of town local TV stations on your satellite or cable!! :)

Here's the link..... http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=90570

The proposed bill H.R. 2821 will let you get next door TV markets like Denver, El Paso and Phoenix and few other citys in AZ, CO and TX all withn in Albuqurque's DMA.

So please contact your congress critters out and sopport this bill please spread the word out to everones out here!!! :) :) :)

For the first time Albuquerque TV viewers will be able to watch local new and sports from Denver, El Paso and Phoenix.

7-7-07


I'm not sure Albuquerque viewers would have access to out of state TV.

The bill is designed to allow instate viewers who have out of state stations in their DMA to have access to in state stations (Albuquerque).

For instance, Las Cruces, Hobbs and Clovis who are in the El Paso, Midland/Odessa and Amarillo DMA's respectively would be able to receive the instate adjacent DMA TV signals (Albuquerque DMA) because it is in their state.

Viewers in the NE corner of Arizona who are in the Albuquerque DMA would be able to receive Phoenix DMA stations, and viewers in the SW corner of Colorado who are in the Albuquerque DMA could receive Denver DMA stations.

I don't recall how the DMA info is arrived at - and since I'm barbecuing some ribs, right now, I ain't gonna look - but, as I recall, whenever I look at the potential stations in my set-up, they include stations from CO and AZ which I always delete from my favorites.

There is one thread that I been watching from AVS HDTV programing, about alowing L.A. TV viewers to see WNBC for a price..... :) here's the link.....

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=862488

I just think things are just starting to lose up, and just allow TV viewers get the out of town TV market of their choosing.

It's just matter of time, maybe even sooner the better. :D

TV broadcasters are in the brave new world, that they must treat TV viewers more nicly IMHO.....

Now back to TV DXing....... :D

7-8-07

I dont trust congress to do good by me in any fashion. Look how they've mucked up the conversion so far after 10 years. Better to stress the paid providers to offer the local stations than ask washington to let the paid providers offer (for a further price) another markets channels.

Get them to give us that which we should get free with antenna via our paid service provider. We already pay for some local channels, now you are getting excited about paying for someone elses local markets? So we can watch the local consumer watchdog go after an el Paso drycleaner? exciting! hee hee.

May as well just change our service address to the market we want. Get all my greenbay packer games!

Good news for Dish customers... Charlie is stealing some of Directv's thunder... New HD (http://www.satelliteguys.us/dish-network-forum/100926-dish-network-retailer-chat-recap-july-10-2007-a.html)

This is always good news for everyone. The 2 satellite providers expanding service pushes the cable guys - and the terrestrial crowd will continue to plod along with whatever they think is reasonable market share.

I think pretty much everything listed in the Dish HD link in dfergie's Post is contained within the list I posted a couple spaces up for September 15th targets - and sooner - when the bandwidth comes online. As I noted, all the folks in that list have their content ready to roll out.

Just as an aside, I don't care enough to fact check; but, I'm not certain how Charlie could claim the most proper football [soccer] offerings, when DISH hasn't anything from Setanta. At least, Setanta doesn't list DISH as a provider at their website. Every match/tournament/series mentioned in the chat - I already have access to. Plus, the Asian Cup I've been watching since it started, this weekend.

The important bit - is getting more content available.

I'm excited for all the new HD RSNs. Although I still dont know where the other ones they added are.

Just as an aside, I don't care enough to fact check; but, I'm not certain how Charlie could claim the most proper football [soccer] offerings, when DISH hasn't anything from Setanta. At least, Setanta doesn't list DISH as a provider at their website. Every match/tournament/series mentioned in the chat - I already have access to. Plus, the Asian Cup I've been watching since it started, this weekend.

The important bit - is getting more content available.

Soccer isn't proper football. What the frak is Setanta? Who cares about frak about soccer anyways? 1% of 1 % of America? Bleh.

hee hee

If you don't understand soccer, you ain't gonna have a clue about the Setanta success story. I just wish they were a public corporation instead of privately held.

Which is why choices are all about having access to choices. :)

I love it each company is pushing the other one... and helping us in the process, now if they will just get the resolutions back up...

I think that as each outfit makes a full commitment to mpg4 it will happen. Doesn't each company have another bird or two waiting in the wings?

The rumor is around at dbstalk that D*11 may even be moved forward to Q4, this year. Probably nothing but wishful thinking, though.

I think they should, as networks start up HD simulcast channels, drop the non hd channels. Why have the SD TLC and SD Discovery Channels when people can watch Discovery Channel HD and TLCHD in letterbox?

There are SD folks that will not watch anything in letterbox ;)

"Welcome to the Future! New Widescreen Televisions on sale now at store near you."

There's still lots of people who don't have digital television sets. That isn't stopping the FCC or congress, not yet anyways, from turning off analog broadcasts in under 600 days.

Amazing! Last night's Soundstage was actually broadcast with DD5.1

I had never heard of the band before. Music was interesting. They might even be good with a different lead singer.

John

They say if it's provided to them in 5.1, they pass it along. They don't yet have their own encoder, but it is planned for the future when they get the money.
JR

They say if it's provided to them in 5.1, they pass it along. They don't yet have their own encoder, but it is planned for the future when they get the money.
JR

Okay, but KNME used to broadcast ALL of the Soundstage and Great Performances episodes with DD5.1. Then, last Fall, they suddenly stopped.

I have a recording rule set up, to record all Soundstage and Great Performances* episodes, and this is the first one in almost a year with DD5.1. Seems suspicious to me.

Glad they are passing through DD5.1, no matter what the reason is.

John

This Thursday is the dtv user group meeting at KNME. Come on down at 7PM and get some answers straight from the horse's mouth (sorry Jim Gale). :)
JR

I'm excited for all the new HD RSNs. Although I still dont know where the other ones they added are.



what's to be excited about? the HD RSN's are on only when there is HD live games to be shown (and if you are out of market, you get blacked out since DISH Network doesn't have Extra Innings).

The HD RSN's may be exciting if you have league pass or center ice, though, since I would think those HD channels would be included in your OOM NBA/NHL packages.

Has there been any word on KNME-DT restoring full 1080i yet? The picture quality/bitrate does not seem to be as high as I remember it being about a year ago. Is this just me?

Hello Tillyvick,

Lately, KNME-DT has been playing with the digital bitrates, and for some reason they send in 1080i on the weekend and stranger reason they go to 720p on the work week. :p

Ever since, they added the new Spanish PBS channel called VE-me and I think this channel should be moved to KNMD-DT channel 9 IMHO, in order to free up spaces for the digital bit rates on HD feed on KNME-DT channel 35. :)

7-25-07

It's not your imagination, they are now a fully fledged member of the "HD-Lite" club.

I emailed Jim Gale who said he would be happy to discuss things but what's there really to discuss.........

I told him their picture is just mediocre at best now and certainly nothing to show off to anyone.

Has KOAT-DT been cutting out or artifacting a lot tonight for anyone else?

I'm trying to watch NEXT BEST THING and AMERICAN INVENTOR and I keep getting a lot of "no signal" or artifacty blocks and it's starting to get annoying.

I've always had KOAT-DT solid since my move with my indoor antenna so tonight is very unusual for me and I hope it's them and not me with the issues tonight.

Sadly, it's Jim Gale's bosses who've made the decision to back off on quality at KNME. I don't think he has anything to say about it.

Sadly, it's Jim Gale's bosses who've made the decision to back off on quality at KNME. I don't think he has anything to say about it.

yes, sadly the suits win over those knowledgable in something (like the engineer who puts KNME in business by being and staying on the air).

I find it pretty sad when 3-5' satellite dishes receive PBS-HD better than the local station can provide it to their viewing audience since not everyone has access to a 3-5' dish.

Does anyone know if/when KOB will broadcast Conan O'brien in HD? And why they play an info-mercial between Leno and Conan?? I've been waiting patiently for a couple of years now.

I would've really liked to see Jessica Biel in HD the other night.

Anyone know who to write to, and if so anyone want to start a letter writing campaign?

Does anyone know why jerrich's post about who to contact at KNME for better HD was not posted on the forum?

Is the best contact email for KASY still anthony dot liparoto at newmexicoswb dot com? I ask, since they are no longer a WB/UPN network, so may have changed their domain.

FX has a new show called Damages. I have not watched it yet, but it looks promising. It is being shot in HD even though FX does not broadcast in HD.

I noticed that KASY is going to also be airing episodes of Damages, and wanted to ask them if they are actually going to broadcast the HD version.

Thanks,

John

That is really too bad about KNME, I used to really enjoy tuning into this channel for reference quality HDTV. This might be a silly question but does KNME-DT show up as channel 5-1 for everyone else in the ABQ area? If I enter channel 35 my tuner automatically redirects me to channel 5-1. The screen is labeled as KNME DT-35.

Is the best contact email for KASY still anthony dot liparoto at newmexicoswb dot com? I ask, since they are no longer a WB/UPN network, so may have changed their domain.

FX has a new show called Damages. I have not watched it yet, but it looks promising. It is being shot in HD even though FX does not broadcast in HD.

I noticed that KASY is going to also be airing episodes of Damages, and wanted to ask them if they are actually going to broadcast the HD version.

Thanks,

John

I'm not sure but I think that if it's during prime time (7:00 - 10:00pm), then it's more likely to be broadcast in HD.

Does anyone know if/when KOB will broadcast Conan O'brien in HD? And why they play an info-mercial between Leno and Conan?? I've been waiting patiently for a couple of years now.

I would've really liked to see Jessica Biel in HD the other night.

Anyone know who to write to, and if so anyone want to start a letter writing campaign?

Yeah I have also been bothered for years now that they push Conan back by 30 minutes for what is now absolutely no reason, just infomercials. At least before it was some syndicated reruns. I remember YEARS ago Conan found out that some minor market in Texas was pushing Late Nite back for some commercials or something and he went crazy making fun of the station, and saying how they are making a liar out of Jay Leno since at the end of the Tonight Show Jay always says, "and up next Conan". I believe the station eventually relented and put Conan on at the correct time.

I'm in if we can get enough people together to really have an effect. I always felt like I would be the lone crazy calling the station demanding that Conan be on at 11:35.

Is the best contact email for KASY still anthony dot liparoto at newmexicoswb dot com? I ask, since they are no longer a WB/UPN network, so may have changed their domain.

FX has a new show called Damages. I have not watched it yet, but it looks promising. It is being shot in HD even though FX does not broadcast in HD.

I noticed that KASY is going to also be airing episodes of Damages, and wanted to ask them if they are actually going to broadcast the HD version.


I'd probably leave Anthony alone until you find a source (television industry magazine news item, for instance) that states that Damages will be syndicated in HD and not just in SD.

If it airs through My Network TV in prime time, it should be in HD (since MNTV feeds affliates with both SD and HD versions of their programming). Whether or not KASY can air the HD version locally, I don't know -- I don't watch MNTV programming so I don't know if KASY has been offering MNTV programing in true HD or just stretch-o-smell-o-vision.

Does anyone know if PBS WORLD will be offered as a multicast channel locally in August (perhaps 9.4?) or is that yet another channel I'll have to watch by satellite dish?

Does anyone know why jerrich's post about who to contact at KNME for better HD was not posted on the forum?

I pulled it after noticing I goofed up the email address. Anyone wishing to voice their displeasure with KNME's hd signal can write Michael Kingan at mkingan@unm.edu, even though snail mail is better. I believe he is Jim Gales's bosses' boss.
I sent him a note requesting V-me go to 9-4 so 35-1 could go back to 1080i. Maybe if he hears from enough PBS fans, who knows? A note to PBS headquarters might be even better.
JR

Yeah I have also been bothered for years now that they push Conan back by 30 minutes for what is now absolutely no reason, just infomercials. At least before it was some syndicated reruns. I remember YEARS ago Conan found out that some minor market in Texas was pushing Late Nite back for some commercials or something and he went crazy making fun of the station, and saying how they are making a liar out of Jay Leno since at the end of the Tonight Show Jay always says, "and up next Conan". I believe the station eventually relented and put Conan on at the correct time.

I'm in if we can get enough people together to really have an effect. I always felt like I would be the lone crazy calling the station demanding that Conan be on at 11:35.

I, too, hate the 30 minute delay KOB puts on Conan. I suppose if they could do the delay and still put Conan on in HD, it wouldn't bother me too much. It comes down to $$$ like anything else. KOB can probably make more money with the current programming schedule. It's just a pity that they don't have the ability to broadcast delayed content in HD. You see the same thing with Leno on Friday nights when they do their NM Game Day program.

5-1 for me.

I was surprised to receive a thank you note from Mr. Kingan at KNME. He said he would forward my msg on to the executive commitee for use in their long range planning for the station. This would be an excellent time for all of us to speak up and see what they will do for us. Remember when they were reference quality and we used them to demo hd? Do be civil and professional however.
JR

Thanks Jerrich, for the E-mail's address on bringing some ideas for KNME-DT and KNMD-DT. :)

Now, before I send any E-mail to him.....

I like to see some of your inputs, on my ideas on channel 9's sub channels line up should be like. :)

Plan: A...

9.1 PBS East, 9.2 PBS Create, 9.3 MHz Worldview http://www.mhznetworks.org/ and 9.4 V-Me PBS Spanish channel.

Plan: B...

9.1 PBS East, 9.2 NM CSPAN local gov't channel when there is a live covereges, if there no live covereges then just go to PBS Create for the time being. 9.3 V-Me Spanish PBS channel and 9.4 MHz Worldview.

Plan: C... You guys send in your ideas here!!! :D

7-30-07

Well I just used KOB.com's "contact us" page and sent the following:

I'm wondering about the lack of an HDTV broadcast of Conan O'brien on KOB. I know that Conan has been available for over a year in HD in most markets across the country. It's recently come to my attention that the reason the show is not broadcast in HD is that your station has trouble time delaying HD programs.

Which leads me to a second question, why do you stick a 30 minute syndicated show, or an infomercial, in after Leno? I always thought this was the usual practice, but after checking listings for other areas it clearly is not (El Paso, Dallas, Phoenix, Denver for instance).

Please consider showing Conan directly after Leno, I'm sure the ratings will skyrocket if its shown at 11:35. I for one would watch the show live instead of on a DVR if it was shown directly after Leno.

Maybe if some of you post a similar message they'll listen, who knows.

On the PBS front:

I'd definantly like to see the HDTV channel back to 1080i. I wouldnt even call it HDTV quality at the moment (even compared to other 720p stations). The other thing I'd like is for them to somehow broadcast a 720x480 anamorphic channel for widescreen SDTV shows, and at a DVD like bitrate (5 or 6mbs). 4:3 letterboxed to 360 lines then zoomed on a big tv looks bad, real bad. I could care less about any of the other channels (except for their bandwidth leaches). Or perhaps upscaling widescreen shows to the hdtv channel... theres so many reruns why not preempt something. Most of the masterpiece theatre/mystery shows are shot in 720x576(PAL), so i bet an upscale to the hdtv channel could look much better than the 360 line crap we get. BTW those are pretty much the only 2 shows on PBS i really care about.

Remember though that channel 9 is VHF which I believe means its going away after the digital switchover. Also I have a hard time receiving it on my indoor Ant., while almost all other stations show at 97%+ signal quality on my TV tuner.

A concise plan: HDTV station left on 35.1. Given full bandwidth. Channel 9 moves to full power.

9.1 SD 4:3 3 or 4 mbps
9.2 SD 16:9 720x480 6 mbps.
9.3+ Leaves about 9 or 10 mbps for the smaller channels (VMe, government access whatever, where pic quality isnt of paramount concern).

Hello Lobosrul,

You said,

"Remember though that channel 9 is VHF which I believe means its going away after the digital switchover. Also I have a hard time receiving it on my indoor Ant., while almost all other stations show at 97%+ signal quality on my TV tuner."

The KNMD-DT will stay on channel 9, after the analog shut down date since it's inside the main channel core band plan going from channel 2 to 51 as based by the FCC rule.

KNME-TV will no longer use analog channel 5, and will stay on digital channel 35 since it's their new home for the time being. :)

Channel 52 up to channel 69 for TV will be gone, and reuse it for two way radio communications. :)

Now on KNMD-DT transmitter power is now running at 200 watts ERP which I think it's very lame to run at. :(

I can't get it in Four Hill areas, not till they cranked up the power then I will be able to get their signal for the first time.

They should be running at 10 to 30 KW ERP IMHO......

As for your ideas on bitrates bandwith on KNMD-DT, look like a good idea to me depending which sub channels is the most popular will get the best bandwith.

As for KNME-DT should be full bandwith for HDTV, once we start making our own local hdtv Programings when we reach the cricital point we can shut down the simacast SD subchannel on 35 and allocated 100% for HDTV at 19.3 MBs for the first time since they went on the air.

Now back to TV DXing...... :D

7-30-07

I used KNME's "Contact Us" page, too...

Hello Lobosrul,

The KNMD-DT will stay on channel 9, after the analog shut down date since it's inside the main channel core band plan going from channel 2 to 51 as based by the FCC rule.

Channel 52 up to channel 69 for TV will be gone, and reuse it for two way radio communications. :)

Now on KNMD-DT transmitter power is now running at 200 watts ERP which I think it's very lame to run at. :(

They should be running at 10 to 30 KW ERP IMHO......

which sub channels is the most popular will get the best bandwith.

As for KNME-DT should be full bandwith for HDTV, once we start making our own local hdtv Programings when we reach the cricital point we can shut down the simacast SD subchannel on 35 and allocated 100% for HDTV at 19.3 MBs for the first time since 7-30-07

Part of the problem with local PBS'es seems to be their lack of running HD fair in pattern with their regular program schedule. I think CPB (PBS parent company) does not have a full distribution system in place for local PBS stations to record and delay PBS's main program schedule. ("Schedule X" I think.) So all PBS offers is a pre-compressed HD feed locals can pass on, but can't really record from or use beyond that. Every PBS station I've seen across the country does the same thing as KNME (and KENW down here in SE NM) including large markets like Denver. A main HD feed from PBS and then a SD simulcast of their analog channel. I've never seen any PBS member station deviate from this pattern. The only station that might do this is in Washington DC, since they distribute most HD. PBS is working on getting a system out for every member station in the county, that will enable them to record and transfer shows to internal storage systems, and I'm pretty sure they are building HD into that system too. At that point, then KNME should by all means run HD as their main program feed and stop the SD simulcast. This is PBS's Achilles heel, they have member stations run whatever schedule they choose, and thus every station down to the smallest market MUST record and delay all programming..

Just a few kW of power will be enough for channel 9 DT to reach the metro. I think there is a channel 10 DT in Santa Fe that prevents 9 from going full power. 10 should move to the crest and then both 9 and 10 should be able to go full power at that point. Probably after the transition. Channel 35 for KNME is way better then going back to channel 5, just this weekend spending some time in Santa Fe I saw a really bad tropo go through the area, 2 and 4 were really hit hard, while 5 did not look great..

I saw the sketch that involved Conan riding the station airing them way late. He actually went out to the market; I think it was Dallas or Huston. He kept on going around town starting at 1130p asking if people watched his show, no one did. He ended up asking some vagrant that was in an emergency hospital waiting room, asking the guy if he watched him. By this time it was 230am, and the show was airing in the emergency rooms TV, the drunk guy said the show sucked, and Conan pointed out that it was actually himself, the guy was not phased one bit and just said he sucked too. It was a classic skit.

Channels 52-69 is going up to bid, Google just pledged 4.6billion for a portion in the 700MHz, if certain stipulations and rules are changed. Mostly to do with network neutrality, allowing wholesalers to come in and buy bandwidth. But Verizon and AT&T oppose this. Channel 55 is already QUALCOMM’s, they purchased ch. 55 several years ago, and they are now rolling out services that use ch.55. Mostly mobile TV, gee sound familiar.. There is also an attempt to try and give "white spaces" (unused TV channels 2-52) over to companies that want to put in a kind of WiFi for rural America. But this could adversely effect DTV (blue screen, "no signal") reception if done incorrectly and is backed up by Intel, Microsoft and other large computer companies. In effect giving these companies billions and billons of dollars worth of bandwidth over to them. Using cheap Consumer Electronics devices to "detect" DTV channels nearby and operate on. Two problems with this, there is no rural market big enough (population market size) to have operators setup these long range WiFi networks to pay for them. Second, the rural users these companies are "targeting" are in weak signal reception areas. If one of these devices is setup nearby and operates on an adjacent channel you are trying to pickup from more then say 50 miles, the CE WiFi device will laterally obliterate any possible reception you might have had. Since these same CE manufactures are also responsible for the DTV tuners we use in our TV's, it's no surprise that they can't handle any kind of nearby interference. This is a recipe for disaster for over the air DTV, and DTV won't win that battle. The companies that want this, are just too large for congress to ignore, even though they had mandated that 52-69 were to be auctioned off and pay to balance the budget. Intel and others found a way not to pay.. It's going to be a disaster after Feb 17 2009..

Hello Mdamberger, :)

You said,

"Channel 35 for KNME is way better then going back to channel 5, just this weekend spending some time in Santa Fe I saw a really bad tropo go through the area, 2 and 4 were really hit hard, while 5 did not look great.."

Check out channel 3 and 6 to see where they come from, TV DXing is very fun to play with!! :)

What are you are getting a E- skips instead of tropo ducting, which is rare here in New Mexico, maybe excecpt for eastern part of state like Portales gets tropo ducting.

E-skips, is the lowest layer of inosperic layer about 60 to 70 miles high up in the sky and the skip path will range from 450 to 1200+ miles or even greater if there a double skip hops! :) :eek:

As for channel 10, they have gone full power at 30 KW with total disrespet for coperation with KNMD-DT from what I check out at the FCC's website. :(

UNM are sometime clueless, about it's going on the airwaves which is sad to say at least...... :(

7-30-07

I saw the sketch that involved Conan riding the station airing them way late. He actually went out to the market; I think it was Dallas or Huston. He kept on going around town starting at 1130p asking if people watched his show, no one did. He ended up asking some vagrant that was in an emergency hospital waiting room, asking the guy if he watched him. By this time it was 230am, and the show was airing in the emergency rooms TV, the drunk guy said the show sucked, and Conan pointed out that it was actually himself, the guy was not phased one bit and just said he sucked too. It was a classic skit.


It was Houston, I was actually down near Galveston many years ago trying to watch Conan, and gave up when the Roseanne Bar talk show came on at like 1 AM! I think they didn't like the "masturbating bear" sketch :eek: I remember he had like the only advertiser for that market on the show, a furniture superstore that would cut up furniture with chain saws and stuff in his ads.

Can anyone give me a break down (or link to one) of what channels are going where after the digital switchover. I couldn't find anything specific with a google search. I always thought all of VHF and a little bit of the UHF spectrum were going to be used for new emergency radio and metro area wifi.

Lobosrul,

Here's the information on after the analog shutdown date of 2-17-09.....

Right now>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>After analog

KASA-DT 27 Stays on 27

KOB-DT 26 Stays on 26

KNME-DT 35 Stays on 35

KOAT-DT 21 Moves back to 7

KNMD-DT 9 Stays on 9

KCHF-DT 10 Stays on 10

KRQE-DT 16 Moves back to 13

KTFA-TV 14 Moves to 22 and go digital

KWBQ-DT 29 Stays on 29

KNAT-DT 24 Stays on 24

KAZQ-DT 17 Stays on 17

KLUZ-DT 42 Stays on 42

KASY-DT 45 Stays on 45

As for the rest of the Low power stations like KTEL-LP has not yet file a CP to the FCC so it's unknown as this point of time...... :eek:

Hope that's helps.... :)

7-31-07

Lobosrul,

Here's the information on after the analog shutdown date of 2-17-09.....

Right now>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>After analog

KASA-DT 27 Stays on 27

KOB-DT 26 Stays on 26

KNME-DT 35 Stays on 35

KOAT-DT 21 Moves back to 7

KNMD-DT 9 Stays on 9

KCHF-DT 10 Stays on 10

KRQE-DT 16 Moves back to 13

KTFA-TV 14 Moves to 22 and go digital

KWBQ-DT 29 Stays on 29

KNAT-DT 24 Stays on 24

KAZQ-DT 17 Stays on 17

KLUZ-DT 42 Stays on 42

KASY-DT 45 Stays on 45

As for the rest of the Low power stations like KTEL-LP has not yet file a CP to the FCC so it's unknown as this point of time...... :eek:

Hope that's helps.... :)

7-31-07

Well thats not exactly what I meant. I wanted to know which part of the UHF spectrum (for instance) was staying allocated to TV, which is going to emergency radio etc.

Its interesting to know though that KRQE-DT and KOAT-DT are moving back to their VHF channels.

Also, i got the following reply from KOB:

I have passed your comment up the ladder.

Thank you,

Sean Anker
________________________________
Sean R. Anker
Director of Engineering and Production
KOB-TV, Albuquerque, NM
anker@kob.com
(505)764-2442

Sounds like a canned reply, but at least someone got the message. Has anyone else asked about Conan?

Sorry about that Lobosrul...... :p

It's channel 52 to 69 that will be gone "700+ to 806 MHz" that will be reallocated to two way radios and some of it will be for gov't use, and some for Mobile TV and internet services. :)

Police and Fire will be the biggest users of that new band, thanks to congress critters and the FCC.

7-31-07

Latest news update......

KQDF-LD's, CP has been granted by the FCC! :)

It will be on digital channel 33 running at 15 KW ERP from Sandia Crest's antenna farm.

It, will be interesting to see how fast can they put up a digital transmitter on the air before the winter comes.... :eek:

Still no news on KTEL-LP plans for going to digital, has anyone heard anything about this?

Now back to TV DXing.... :D

8-3-07

Thought you might like this to keep eye on the proposed bill H.R. 2821's website! :)

http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_2821.html

Please tell your congress critters, to support this bill that will give next door TV markets to Albuquerque's TV viewers for the first time to access citys like Denver, Colorado Spring, El Paso and few other TV markets that is around our state. :)

Now back to TV DXing!! :D

8-6-07

Thought you might like this to keep eye on the proposed bill H.R. 2821's website! :)

http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_2821.html

Please tell your congress critters, to support this bill that will give next door TV markets to Albuquerque's TV viewers for the first time to access citys like Denver, Colorado Spring, El Paso and few other TV markets that is around our state. :)

Now back to TV DXing!! :D

8-6-07

This will not bring Denver, Colorado Springs, El Paso or other out of state markets to Albuquerque.

Look at the definition of adjacent market, especially the last two phrases. To get the stations you must be in the same state as the station.

This will help Las Cruces, Clovis, Farmington and Jal/Eunice areas who are in DMA's outside NM as they will be able to receive satellite service from an adjacent market in New Mexico (i.e, Albuqerque since the Albuquerque DMA IS NM).

But Albuquerque CANNOT receive DMA's outside the State of New Mexico with this bill.

DEFINITION FROM BILL:
(6) ADJACENT MARKET- The term `adjacent market', in the case of both commercial and noncommercial television broadcast stations, means any designated market area adjacent to, and at least partially in the same State as, the designated market area in which the station is located.

There's a interesting thread talking about H.R. 2821..... :)

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=90570

Have fun reading it!!

8-6-07

"at least partially in the same State"

When you set-up a satellite receiver and it checks your DMA here in NM, cities and towns in AZ and CO certainly are included. I always have to turn off their Guide data.

Now, I don't know if Trinidad - for example - automatically has access to Denver channels; but, if it does, than this bill should in turn allow us the same access.

Latest news from the FCC, on after analog shutdown date far Albuquerque TV market! :)

KOAT-DT will run digital on VHF channel 7 and the transment power will be at 27.6 KW ERP.

KRQE-DT will run digital on VHF channel 13 and the transment power will be at 7.03 KW ERP.

KTFQ-DT will be on digital channel 22 and run at 303 KW ERP. "Not sure if they will be on Sandia Crest or just stay at the same old location."

Now of course our local station may want to change the transment power levels to higher levels.

8-7-07

My sister and brother-in-law live in Las Vegas, NM, on a hill out near the airport. They just bought a new 40-inch Sony LCD TV, but were unable to receive any digital stations when they scanned.

They're using a large combination VHF-UHF antenna, and they get several analog channels, but, I believe, the Albuquerque stations are received via translator. Are there any digital stations transmitting in Albuquerque or Santa Fe with power high enough to reach Las Vegas? Is it worth their investment to get an XG-91 antenna?

Thanks for the info. Whatever I receive I'll pass on to them.

Larry
SF

My sister and brother-in-law live in Las Vegas, NM, on a hill out near the airport. They just bought a new 40-inch Sony LCD TV, but were unable to receive any digital stations when they scanned.

They're using a large combination VHF-UHF antenna, and they get several analog channels, but, I believe, the Albuquerque stations are received via translator. Are there any digital stations transmitting in Albuquerque or Santa Fe with power high enough to reach Las Vegas? Is it worth their investment to get an XG-91 antenna?

Thanks for the info. Whatever I receive I'll pass on to them.

Larry
SFIn addition to the direct member responses to your questions, you may wish to use the following links to AntennaWeb.org:

Enter street address & get stations, compass, miles from transmitter, etc.
http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx

FAQ:
http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/info.aspx?page=FAQ

Avio

Try www.TVFool.com also. Inputting the exact street address will give you an idea of what is potentially available.

The crest is nearly 90 miles away but there may be some possibility of reception with an XG91 and a full power preamp like the CM 7777.

Are you aware of anyone in the area that gets digital reception from the crest?

Translators will be digital but probably not HD after 2009. Might consider satellite service, both carry Albuquerque locals in HD (except CBS) I believe.

DEFINITION FROM BILL:
(6) ADJACENT MARKET- The term `adjacent market', in the case of both commercial and noncommercial television broadcast stations, means any designated market area adjacent to, and at least partially in the same State as, the designated market area in which the station is located.
I have a feeling that Questa NM can receive signals from both Albuquerque and Denver/Colorado Springs, much like San Luis, CO. Does this mean that this overlap allows for adjacent signals into either? I don't know, but you can be sure that if DirecTV (or Dish or cable) can offer them for an additional fee, they will lobby to do so.

But then we have the whole legal ambiguity of words like and and or. Sometimes they are inclusive, sometime exclusive, sometime conditional.

The 'and' above could be 2 separate ways to allow it, under either condition. Probably not the intention, knowing the FCC, but still confusing.

By breaking the statement down into parts, it could mean:

The term `adjacent market' means any designated market area adjacent to the designated market area in which the station is located.
and
The term `adjacent market' means any designated market area at least partially in the same State as the designated market area in which the station is located.


I hope that you see what I mean here.

I would love to get the Denver market programming.

LarryKenny: I live in ABQ but under a granite spur of the Sandias and have nearly zero signal being without line-of-sight. Jim Gale and KNME 5-1 have helped me obtain excellent reception inspite of this difficult geography. You could have them try an AntennasDirect XG41 as it has a smaller cross section for wind; MOST important is a good preamp and the Channel Master 7777 will NOT do it - I use the Research Communications 9260 GaAs FET preamp from England which has a noise figure of 0.4 dB versus the 7777 noise figure of 2.0 dB and is essential for channel lock with weak signals (Research Communications has posted my reception experiments and data on their website); I also use RG11 downlead which has less than half the loss per 100 ft of the standard RG6 coax cable. G. L. Dybwad, ABQ, NM

Thanks for the information. We tried antennaweb.org and they show NO digital channels for the Las Vegas address. They show lots of analog translators, that's it.

TVFool.com is a new site to me. We tried it and it came up with two digital stations:
K43FI channel 43 .16kw at 5.3 miles
K22EW channel 22 .25 kw at 23 miles

I'll have them try for those two. Neither station shows a network affiliation, and the virtual channel is the same as the transmitter, so maybe they're new and not on the air yet.

Larry
SF

I was reading Wikipedia's article on QAM Tuners (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QAM_tuner) and noticed the following External Link:

Watching cable TV subscriptions from others (http://www.slate.com/id/2167389/pagenum/all/#page_start) - a report on www.slate.com (June 2007)

This was very interesting, and fun, reading and has been discussed at least twice on AVS Forums as follows:

Watching my neighbors watch on-demand television
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=10726050&highlight=watching+my+neighbors#post10726050

Watching my neighbors VOD
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=10261535&highlight=watching+my+neighbors#post10261535

I do not presently subscribe to Comcast and get my HDTV OTA via a large roof antenna... Excellent reception for the standard local network HD broadcasts.

I'm curious, can ABQ area Comcast subscribers with a QAM Tuner confirm that "Watching your neighbors watch on-demand television" works in our area?

Would an ABQ subscriber to Comcast's "Basic Cable" package and owner of an ATSC/QAM/NTSC tuner TV be able to receive this strange oddity?

Avio

The 2007 burning is the first time in a very long time that the burning of Zozobra will be telecast over an Albuquerque station (maybe KGSW-TV being the last time??? in any case, it's been a long time ago by my recollection...)

The Burning of Zozobra on September 6th will be airing on KOB-TV's Weatherplus channel (4.2) in addition to a channel on santa fe's cable system.

http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/66339.html

Finally, a reason to watch 4-2!

I was reading Wikipedia's article on QAM Tuners (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QAM_tuner) and noticed the following External Link:

Watching cable TV subscriptions from others (http://www.slate.com/id/2167389/pagenum/all/#page_start) - a report on www.slate.com (June 2007)

This was very interesting, and fun, reading and has been discussed at least twice on AVS Forums as follows:

Watching my neighbors watch on-demand television
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=10726050&highlight=watching+my+neighbors#post10726050

Watching my neighbors VOD
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=10261535&highlight=watching+my+neighbors#post10261535

I do not presently subscribe to Comcast and get my HDTV OTA via a large roof antenna... Excellent reception for the standard local network HD broadcasts.

I'm curious, can ABQ area Comcast subscribers with a QAM Tuner confirm that "Watching your neighbors watch on-demand television" works in our area?

Would an ABQ subscriber to Comcast's "Basic Cable" package and owner of an ATSC/QAM/NTSC tuner TV be able to receive this strange oddity?

Avio

INDEED. When I lived in the Aspens Apartments up by cottonwood mall I would often be able to watch comcraps VOD channels. One of my neighbors seemed to love Showtimes skin flick selection. Even fastforwards through to the good stuff.

If you have a teenage son and want to be a god to him, get him a TV with QAM for his bedroom. For other children, be warned.

Finally, a reason to watch 4-2!

what? you're not a fan of the WeatherPlus segment "Tropical Outlook"? ;)

that's my favorite part of weatherplus - I like the tour the atlantic, pacific, and gulf with discussion of possible tropical storm/hurricane development.

I still won't mind missing WeatherPlus for a time in order to see Zozobra - I miss watching it "burn, baby, burn!".

INDEED. ...bigglare,

Thanks for confirming that "watching thy neighbors' VOD" works in the ABQ Comca$t area.

My 2 sons passed teenage over 6 years ago and my wife and I are empty nesters. I expect you're right tho, they would have liked the late night QAM VOD fastforwards.

Avio

I just found a neat website called, www.Wikipedia.org and they show our local station's history and really neat to say at least. :cool:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KASA-TV

But needs upgrading informations on some minor station's history and real ERP antenna information.

If anyone want's to do the job help yourself in! :)

As for the next door TV market, I just found a KVIH in Covis, NM feeding in from Amariilo, TX so add to the list if Albuquerque TV viewers might just get that market if the new bill passed. "H.R. 2821"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KVII-TV

Any more food for thought on this?

8-12-07

Sorry for the 2nd posts that was the same, there seems to be kind of hicups on this website. :p :o :)

8-12-07

Thanks Avio!! :)

8-12-07

Breaking news......

KWBQ-DT and KASY-DT may be put up for sale soon ACME broadcasting saying.....

Here's the link!

http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2007/08/07/daily.1/

Now I am wondering who will be the new buyer for 1 or 2 stations? :eek:

Interesting time that we live in!!! :) Hi Hi......

8-13-07

Hopefully someone who will get kasy to go HD.

[QUOTE=N5XZS]
Now I am wondering who will be the new buyer for 1 or 2 stations? :eek:

[QUOTE]

I'm hoping for Tribune Broadcasting, but I"m sure new station acquisition is the last thing on their minds as they complete a sale of the company.

Latest news from the FCC, on after analog shutdown date far Albuquerque TV market! :)

KOAT-DT will run digital on VHF channel 7 and the transment power will be at 27.6 KW ERP.

KRQE-DT will run digital on VHF channel 13 and the transment power will be at 7.03 KW ERP.

KTFQ-DT will be on digital channel 22 and run at 303 KW ERP. "Not sure if they will be on Sandia Crest or just stay at the same old location."

Now of course our local station may want to change the transment power levels to higher levels.

8-7-07

AntennaWeb.org tells me that I should be able to pick up the analog signal from KRQE using a large directional pre-amped antenna. When KRQE begins a digital broadcast on VHF 13, would I still be able to receive that signal? Right now, I cannot pick up any UHF digital signals according to antennaweb.

Does reception of an analog signal at VHF 13 translate into a usable signal for digital reception when they begin those transmissions?

I wouldn't care about this if I was able to get an HD CBS network via E*, however, that seems unlikely. Still, it is a long time until the analog->digital switchover. Looks like I'll be missing another few seasons of Broncos football on CBS in HD...

Heads up for Dishnet folks... New HD channels are up as well as External HDD is active... archiving as we speak...
9468 - VS/GF [MPEG4 HD] -
9468 - VS/GF [MPEG4 HD] -
9469 - MHD [MPEG4 HD] -
9469 - MHD [MPEG4 HD] -
9487 - DISC [MPEG4 HD] -
9487 - DISC [MPEG4 HD] -
9488 - TLC [MPEG4 HD] -
9488 - TLC [MPEG4 HD] -
9489 - ANIML [MPEG4 HD] -
9489 - ANIML [MPEG4 HD] -
9490 - SCIEN [MPEG4 HD] -
9490 - SCIEN [MPEG4 HD] -

Heads up for Dishnet folks... New HD channels are up as well as External HDD is active... archiving as we speak...
9468 - VS/GF [MPEG4 HD] -
9468 - VS/GF [MPEG4 HD] -
9469 - MHD [MPEG4 HD] -
9469 - MHD [MPEG4 HD] -
9487 - DISC [MPEG4 HD] -
9487 - DISC [MPEG4 HD] -
9488 - TLC [MPEG4 HD] -
9488 - TLC [MPEG4 HD] -
9489 - ANIML [MPEG4 HD] -
9489 - ANIML [MPEG4 HD] -
9490 - SCIEN [MPEG4 HD] -
9490 - SCIEN [MPEG4 HD] -

Today is also the release of their new VIP 722 HD-DVR (basically a 622 with a larger hard drive in a black case). A neighbor and I each ordered today with Aug 19th installations in Albuquerque. Brochure: Dish 722 (http://www.dishnetwork.com/downloads/pdf/product_brochures/722_brochure.pdf)

New HD channels and the 722 and new software L4.41 full release for 622 and 722. Groups of recordings, USB support, some Ethernet support, and probably some bug fixes.

And USB 2.0 support for external hard drive. Paid $40 for USB and signed up for a 722 to "replace" my 921 Sunday, net $100. Plan to move current recordings from 622 to 722 by disk. Transfer was faster than it said and that was faster than real time. (622 to HDD.) Play back works.

Some problem getting signal back on previous channels. Just need to change ch and come back, maybe.

-Ken

Yeah Im archiving the Star Wars Saga from HBO HD currently. 54gbs to a 150gb hard drive stuffed into a Compusa enclosure. I wonder If We can put a hub on the 622 and connect multiple drives...

Multiple drives at once not supported now... I have 12 Battlestar Galacticas to move ...

hmm my drive keeps erroring out when trying to transfer. I am curious what kind of external drive you have?

I took the drive out and put into an old external CD chassis. It seems to be transfering now. The drive appears to be an unknown partition format when trying to access from winders.

Forgive my ignorance but can anyone tell me what E* is? Thanks!

EchoStar aka Dishnetwork. AKA the Leader in HD content Available today! not just what is coming in the future.

Thanks very much for that clarification!

You're Very much welcome.

A new USB enclosure and my hard drive happily absorbed my Star Wars Saga HD from HBO. Lots of room now for new recording!

Those that use E* for EchoStar often use D* for Direct TV or DTV as less confusing. Even see C* for cable.
-Ken

Multiple drives at once not supported now... I have 12 Battlestar Galacticas to move ...

Can you use RAID for your external? Some of the Cutting Edge crew at D* have done that - though they're dumping through e-sata port.

EchoStar aka Dishnetwork. AKA the Leader in HD content Available today! not just what is coming in the future.

Say it as often as possible, right now. D10 locked stable in orbit for testing, today. 2-4 weeks to go. :)

Hey logically theres no reason that dish is going to stop adding channels. So when they launch they will just as likely show up on Dish as they are on Directv. So they will still be ahead. unless Directv has a secret hidden deal to launch EVERY hd channel possible when they finally START to add new hd. hee hee.

Dish is adding History HD on the First. We will probably even see all the HBOs in HD when those are first available. As Directv says Its all in the Future....

D* has approx. 30 HD channels in sequence for the 1st 30 days of linking - with another 40 for the 60 days following. As channels move to HD, they will make their product available to as many carriers as possible. Of course. That's good business sense.

It's just doubtful that E* has enough bucks to keep up with D* in the course of all the rollouts. They need to get at least 1 more bird up to keep up - and I understand they have it in process.

The next bird in the new D* series is set to launch Nov-Dec of this year. D11. I believe that bird + Echostar XI are both on track to go via SeaLaunch - but, I've also read that E*XI is a replacement for one of the older birds, Ku only. Birds to add HD content for E* will likely be numbered XII, XIII, etc..

Point for me is that I don't care who gets what 1st - except when there may be some longterm exclusive. I started with D* 13 years ago because one of our family sports focuses was on American football. For over a decade, D* was the sole source of NFL Sunday Ticket. I no longer subscribe to that - but, D* picked up Setanta Sports first - and that's available on Dish, this year.

I've always had good service and generally have acquired new product first in the marketplace. Dish never had more HD than D* available till they acquired Voom. I don't think I would have advised anyone to purchase Voom, anyway. :) Any of your favorite channels in that group?

Apparently, not much is certain, yet, about E XI:

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=89744

I love RAVE and Family and Kungfu. As far as not having more until....No one has more of something than someone else until they get more first....point is Dish has been adding channels while Directv has been talking about it. Directv may have been the best sat provider before HD. But they dropped the ball with HD. Personally I wish Comcrap would straighten up their act, add CBShd and I would go back to them.

From the HDTV Programming thread, Dish Confirms 2007 additions.
"Also on Aug. 15, DISH Network will add seven national HD channels to its DishHD programming package, including MHD, featuring music programming from MTV, VH1 and CMT; Golf/Versus HD; Animal Planet HD; The Science Channel HD; TLC HD; Discovery HD, and History HD, which will debut on Sept. 1. With these additions – plus more planned for mid-September – DishHD subscribers will continue to have access to the largest national HD lineup in the United States."

Dish is continuing to add channels as they launch. History is coming sept 1. The More planned for Mid-sept is interesting, thats when HBO said they were changing all their channels to HD. If thats true as new channels launch its going to be hard for Directv to find more channels to catch up to dish without going to exclusive deals screwing everyone else over in the process...

It seems to be transfering now. The drive appears to be an unknown partition format when trying to access from winders.

that is correct. DISH Network had to format the hard drive a certain way to protect content (and make sure you are not swapping drives with other DISH Network users to share content). There is supposed to be some kind of thing in the data on the hard drive that only allows spooling/watching content from the external hard drive from supported receivers tied to just your DISH Network account.

Hey logically theres no reason that dish is going to stop adding channels. So when they launch they will just as likely show up on Dish as they are on Directv.

yep, I would not expect DIRECTV to carry a lot of HD channels that DISH Network won't have (since both have mostly the same channels). The only channels I can think of right now that DISH will not have in HD that DIRECTV will are the Sunday Ticket channels and BTN HD.

DISH is getting ready to launch Echostar-11 to 110 deg W, and that should free up a satellite or two already there to move elsewhere. Bandwidth at another place by a satellite moving, combined with more efficient compression and modulation should give DISH more bandwidth to use for HD channels as the programmers roll them out.

MPG4's will make more available for everyone. The sat channels will continue to be well ahead of the cable folks. OTA will continue to live in the 1950’s. Cable HD PQ sucks and shows no inclination to improve their policy of lagging the market.

bigglare - I thought I could appreciate your enthusiasm for DISh as a recent convert; but, now you say you'd go back to cable in a flash?

Sorry, but I look at any of these choices as more than week-to-week. I went to sat tv 13 years ago because cable systems couldn't be bothered coming to my locale. DISH started a couple years later after Charlie couldn't get the partnership deal he wanted with Hughes. For all those 13 years, DISH has been behind D* in their offerings - some of them for the whole 13 years. That’s always been both a business and technology question.

The operative factor for most of that time has been number and capability of birds in the sky. Recently, E* has had greater capacity for the first time. Content providers have taken advantage of that opportunity to get their offerings on the air. With D10, that advantage disappears. D11 goes up ab't the same time as E11 - no advantage gained.

For all that it matters, flip-flopping between providers has never attracted me - the qualitative difference between the two has always been clear. But taste and availability [and maybe the lease model] makes choice - that's obviously been good enough for an audience roughly equal to 60% that of DirecTV.

I hope you continue to enjoy what you watch on DISH - for as long as you continue to subscribe.

My problem with satellite television has always been the BOX. There was one attempt an and Directv built in television years ago but that movement died. Cable companies in the past with cable ready tvs were the most friendly with just a cable from wall to tv and you have your total cable package on any tv.

To clarify, I would go back to cable if comcast started carrrying KRQE-DT and offered all and more channels than I got with Dish. Based on their performance so far Dish has been committed to HD unlike their competitors. I've even started warning my soon to be neighbors whose house is being built now to avoid the common rush to Directv and get Dish. Although my one neighbor with Directv I did offer to help pay for Sunday Ticket to come over and watch Packer games....Im guilty.

HDTV now you need a box no matter who you pay for television. But cable subs still have all the analog cable channels for tvs without boxes. With satellite you dont have that, no box, no service. I had to fight with the Dish installer when I told him I wanted HD on three TVs. He said NO NO NO NO Dishnetwork wont let you have 3 HD boxes. He could put the 622 in living room and have its SD tv2 feen analog to the second HDTV I had and then a 612 for the third HDTV. I almost told him to leave after he spent 2 hours trying to find my house when the Dish CSR that took my order wrote a totally different address down that was up in the NE heights when Im down off the 40 and 98th. I had to settle with the 612 in Master, the 622 in living room, and stay OTA for third HDTV. Since the 622 to have the same Dual tuner functionality of a cable DVR I had to use it in a single room manner so that I can record something while watching something live or record 2 shows and watch a third recorded. Something the Cable DVRs are better for.

I have 3 tvs in my house that are strictly OTA, thankfully theres only one little 13inch analog the other two are digital. But with comcast service they would all have my paid tv service.

Hmmm this explanation seems to help me understand the extreme loyalty, or just annual contract woes, that is demonstrated by people who hold out hope that directv will be an HD leader when they havent done anything but talk about HD.

I don't understand DISH's thing about the number of HD receivers. I've worked for corporations with strange quirks; but, isn't the idea to sell the service.

We're in the 4th round of testing the SWM device which fits in the feed from the HD Dish and allows distribution to several receivers. "We" being volunteer beta testers associated with the dbstalk.com forum. The whole point is to allow multiple HD feeds via a single cable to the SWM device > splitting off to 4-8 receivers, HD and SD. It even allows for legacy receivers.

I should think that DISH would eventually allow for one or another similar system. Don't they have an ethernet port on the new boxes? Though we're using it for input, not distribution, at the grassroots level.

Yeah there's Ethernet thats now working for daily updates. Still use phone line to have caller ID.

Still keeping Qworst in business, eh?

They still seem faster than Commiecrap. hee hee

Faster at what?

I was - of course - joking about the fact that I dropped my landline years ago. As long as I'm using ComCrap for broadband, it made sense to switch to VOIP. Dropping Qworst countered half my bill for broadband access.

VOIP voice quality is even better than Qworst - at least on the headset I use when I'm at the computer. The little VOIP cordless phone I use around the house or outdoors is a cheapo and the sound quality is comparable to the usual phone company stuff.

Since I switched to a pay-as-you-go cellphone, my whole telecom bill is about a 3rd of what it used to be. Leaves more money for important stuff - like that next HDTV. : ]

I had to fight with the Dish installer when I told him I wanted HD on three TVs. He said NO NO NO NO Dishnetwork wont let you have 3 HD boxes. He could put the 622 in living room and have its SD tv2 feen analog to the second HDTV I had and then a 612 for the third HDTV.

We sell both Dish & DIRECTV. Dish customers can get DishHD on 3 TV's. Example: we give new customers a free lease upgrade to a 722 (HD on first set, SD on second) and two 211 HD single tuner receivers. In this example it would be a maximum 4-tuners leased restriction; not an HD tuner restriction. You can still purchase and own additional SD or HD tuners.

Some CSR's and installers are misinforming customers which is a pet peave for us. That's why we only use DNSC installers and their very best DNSC subs like Todd Meredith, owner and an installer of Superior Satellite. He's no longer in business because he's in pilot training in Farmington. For those that know him I talked to him yesterday and he said he started his classes Friday and everthing's going well. He'll be sorely missed.:(

Funny it was an installer from Superior that I fought with over it. HD DVR in Living room and two HD receivers in two other rooms. Comcrap had no problems with that for me I could have gotten an HDdvr for every room with cable. Which is my pet peave with satellite. Which is why if cable ever straightened up and offered more than dish I would go back.

So I found out that the big Colorado State Vs. Colorado University will be televised on Fox Sports on Sept 1st. Cool I thought. So I have the top 100 package and no Fox sports. I looked on Dish's website and found that it says Fox sports is available to Top 100 users and it's on channel 414 (I think) Anyways I go to that channel and it's not even there in the guide. If I go to that channel directly it says it's not paid for. Ok, do I just order Fox sports? Can I get it just for the day like PPV??

thanks

Whether you wait for the SWM or use one of the multiswitches currently available, you can have as many receivers, HD or SD, DVR or not, as you wish to with DirecTV.

Just looking through the signatures of a couple of the guys in the dbstalk forum, there are several with 8 receivers and I know that Earl Bonovich has run as many as 12.

Bigglare- I'm surprised. But then again IMO there are a few rookies in every company that talk out of their hat. We always dealt with the sub owners and requested their best installers by name. Todd would normally do our installs since he's the best.

So I found out that the big Colorado State Vs. Colorado University will be televised on Fox Sports on Sept 1st. Cool I thought. So I have the top 100 package and no Fox sports. I looked on Dish's website and found that it says Fox sports is available to Top 100 users and it's on channel 414 (I think) Anyways I go to that channel and it's not even there in the guide. If I go to that channel directly it says it's not paid for. Ok, do I just order Fox sports? Can I get it just for the day like PPV??

thanks

Fox Sports is on the AT100+ package. The plus is the Fox sports RSN's.

So I found out that the big Colorado State Vs. Colorado University will be televised on Fox Sports on Sept 1st.

that doesn't say much:

1) is it FSN PPV that the game is on?
2) is it on FSN on a national basis or FSN Rocky Mountain?

ASSuming FSN Rocky Mountain (and your zip code proves that your local RSN is FSN Rocky Mountain), you'll need to subscribe to the AT100 PLUS package. IIRC, it's $10 more per month just to add your local RSN (if you are in the FSN RM zip code for your local RSN, you should get Altitude Sports and Entertainment as well - my friend in Edgewood qualifies for FSN RM and AS&E as his local RSN on DISH Network).

If it's on FSN nationally, you'll still need the AT100 PLUS and most if not all FSN-licensed RSNs should have the game at some point during the day (if not live, on tape delay later in the day).

If it's on FSN PPV, you'll have to hope DISH Network offers that game on PPV and that the rules and regulations allow you to subscribe to that event.

Thanks, I will look at that. I believe it is on FSN RM and not PPV

Still no news on The Mountain Sports channel, to be on Directv or Dish for the Lobos game covereges and it's only on Comcrap!!:mad:

It will be second seasons for no lobos games on local OTA TV stations, which is a shame IMHO for those people don't get cable and for some don't want to go to staduem or some old timer and disabled can't afford to get the pay TV services.

All we can do is keep sending E-mails to Directv and Dish and your local TV station to carry the Lobos game back on TV.

Thank you for your time reading this!!:)

8-21-07

Well if the games arent going to be in HD I personally would rather go to the game in person than watch it in analog cable or satellite.

Hi Gay - Where did you find the Research Communications 9260 GaAs FET preamp for sale?

.....G

Anyone else in the area lose their Dish reception tonight around 10pm? I was just curious, anyone still on cable here? Has comc--t added any new hd lately?

Still no news on The Mountain Sports channel, to be on Directv or Dish for the Lobos game covereges and it's only on Comcrap!!:mad:

Don't hold your breath waiting for the Mtn. to appear on DBS or you'll turn blue and die.

You'll be waiting at least 5 more seasons (unless comcast/cstv and the MWC have extended their initial agreement).

Comcast has no need to negotiate with DBS providers - if DBS ever carried The Mtn., people would be fleeing Comcast for DBS systems and you know Comcast would rather keep those people captive by keeping the channel Comcast "exclusive".

You can also blame the MWC - they chose money over fans in crafting the deal with Comcast/CSTV. It certainly doesn't surprise me the lobos athletic dept. is in the red - the TV deal has alienated a lot of fans I know who don't want to pony up twice as much for Comcast to get The Mtn. than they do to get a package of channels from DISH Network.

I wonder when the Mtn. is adding HD - similar-channel Big Ten Network is having it right out of the gate in about 8 days.

Anyone else in the area lose their Dish reception tonight around 10pm? I was just curious, anyone still on cable here? Has comc--t added any new hd lately?

Yes, something was up. I kept getting the old "satellite not found" message but then I used the DVR to watch a pre-recorded program. By the time that was over, the 622 was back up.

There was a huge honking thunderstorm sitting right on top of the Cheyenne, WY uplink facility.

Anyone else in the area lose their Dish reception tonight around 10pm? I was just curious, anyone still on cable here? Has comc--t added any new hd lately?

cool thanks for the info. My wife was getting upset mumbling something about going back to cable. I just laughed at her and told her that that was just jibberjabber.

Well I upgraded to Top 100+ and now have locals and FSN RM. Was very surprised to see that FSRM is an HD Channel!!! I can only hope that the CSU Vs. CU would be in HD.

How much HD content to the show on this channel??

Thanks

Since its only been added to the HD package for the last 2 months we don't have any data for Fall Football in HD. The only thing I have seen on it has been Rockies baseball. If it says FSN (in the guide) the channel is not broadcasting anything. If it has something else listed (such as Rockies vs Giants) then its broadcasting during that time. Be nice to see some WAC games this Fall in HD.

Well I upgraded to Top 100+ and now have locals and FSN RM. Was very surprised to see that FSRM is an HD Channel!!! I can only hope that the CSU Vs. CU would be in HD.

How much HD content to the show on this channel??

Thanks

Well I upgraded to Top 100+ and now have locals and FSN RM. Was very surprised to see that FSRM is an HD Channel!!! I can only hope that the CSU Vs. CU would be in HD.

How much HD content to the show on this channel??

Thanks

I would imagine not much content - Rockies baseball and national FSN games that are produced in HD.

Last year, it seems like not many regional FSN games were in HD (they were mostly nationally televised FSN games - I watched a lot of those PAC-10 HD contests).

Looking at a HD sports on tv listing, it appears CSU/CU is a national FSN telecast and it is marked as being in HD, so you should be able to watch your game in HD with the proper equipment (HD-capable receiver with the HD package and a dish pointing to the satellite where FSN-RM HD is located).

Fox sports Rocky Mountain HD schedule.

http://msn.foxsports.com/name/HD#FSRocky

Minor news update.....

According to Nelson, the Albuquerque TV market DMA has moved up to top 44 in the country up from 45.:)

Not much else going on here.....:)

That's the news!!

8-29-07

Fox sports Rocky Mountain HD schedule.

http://msn.foxsports.com/name/HD#FSRocky

Although I can't imagine any DirecTV subscriber has managed to miss getting one of the 17 different communications they're using to nudge everyone in preparation for the new HD channels, one more nudge can't do any harm.

D* subscribers should turn to channel 499 to see if their receiver is set up for the new channels. Most NM installers appear to have been conscientious; but, if you're missing the B-Band Converters, you ain't going to receive anything from D10.

If they're not hooked up or hooked up incorrectly, you'll get a slide on the screen telling you to call DirecTV - otherwise you'll get a "searching for satellite" message. Folks presume that will go away when broadcasting to subscribers starts.

On a collateral note: I've seen screenshots from those who have Engineering Test access to the final tests in progress for D10 and they're running 80 new HD channels through the bird.

Don't get your shorts too bunched up! That includes 18 flavors of the Fox regional sports channels. Still, I'm trying to keep the hard drive tidied up on my HR20. My habit is to keep pretty current watching what we have stored. I really don't want to add a RAID array to my living room entertainment corner. :)

If you're not keeping up with the gossip, September is Intro Month - anywhere from early till the end of the month - when the Emmys are handed out. D* has an announcement party scheduled for the latter.

Looking at a HD sports on tv listing, it appears CSU/CU is a national FSN telecast and it is marked as being in HD, so you should be able to watch your game in HD with the proper equipment (HD-capable receiver with the HD package and a dish pointing to the satellite where FSN-RM HD is located).

My earlier note verifies all the FSN regionals as being listed as HD-capable. Remember, that still requires Fox actually sending out the content in HD. They may end up being as lame as ESPN, that way.

Looking at a HD sports on tv listing, it appears CSU/CU is a national FSN telecast and it is marked as being in HD, so you should be able to watch your game in HD with the proper equipment (HD-capable receiver with the HD package and a dish pointing to the satellite where FSN-RM HD is located).

WOW I hope this will happen!!! Will be the first time in the past 3 years I've been able to watch it at home and not have to go some where to see it!

DishBill: $60 something
Cold beer and hot seat: Free
CSU/CU Football in HD: Priceless

Not that I want to sound like a disgruntled E* fanboy. But Most places are referring to the 80 new channels on D* as simply MPEG-4. I havent seen anything yet that says all 80 are HD. But we'll see.

I saw a plug that NM Game Day (NM High School sports hype) returns on Friday at 10:30 p.m. on Ch. 4.

Leno fans (like me) can expect to see the return of Standard Definition Time Shifted Leno at about 10:50 unless 4 heard our pleas for HD recording.

Avio

I hope they dont give us leno in SD. Or I'll be sticking with Letterman on our wonderful KRQE!

Anyone getting better than 1280x1080i mpg4 from DISH - HD satellite feed?

Hi Ed - Yup. Though the Voom Channels are 1280x1080i, the other 1920x1080i MPEG4 Channels are converted to 1440x1080i. Bitrates vary. More info here. (http://www.dishchannelchart.com/)

Well, here's hoping we all start getting full HD, 1980x1080i. DISH has their next bird going up same time as D11 - as far as I hear - Nov/Dec. The sat geeks in our crew figure D* are capable of "back to what used to be normal" with D10. Enough transponder space for full bore with 160 HD channels minimum.

We'll know within the next four weeks.

Found the [truly beyond me] .pdf from Boeing that describes D10 - and following birds. Looks like there will be 32 transponders at any one time dedicated to national HD telecasts - separate from 55 dedicated to the spot beam locals.

If the info from the engineering types in dbstalk.com is correct - and they've been on the button, so far - this means that 4 HD streams per transponder would provide full HD quality. What D* and E* have been offering has been more like 6 HD streams per transponder to give us quantity rather than quality.

No doubt the same sort of potential will be available with E*'s launch, this winter [and D12].

This is why I'm optimistic. The amount of available content really doesn't exceed capacity once the new birds are up and functioning. Not that corporate whizbangs can't figure out some innovative way to screw up after all. :)

Edit - forget my attempt to note the number of HD channels per transponder. My gearhead buds have launched off into another discussion well beyond my technical competency - or interest - in the topic. By the time they sort it out, we'll probably know just by turning on the telly what's actually happening. :)

My earlier note verifies all the FSN regionals as being listed as HD-capable. Remember, that still requires Fox actually sending out the content in HD. They may end up being as lame as ESPN, that way.

All FSN regionals channels on Echostar, cable operators (and soon more FSNs on DIRECTV than just a couple a night) are active when there is HD programming to air. None of the FSN regionals are coming out of the NOCs as a fulltime 24/7 channel yet, but I expect at some point soon that will change with Echostar/DIRECTV having the bandwidth to carry them fulltime and you'll see some FSN programming in HD (when produced in HD) and other programming in 4:3 with black side bars, just like our local channels.

Well, here's hoping we all start getting full HD, 1980x1080i.

That should be the next generation of satellite transmission that will probably get us to full HD resolution. The current generation of modulation/compression (8PSK with H.264 compression rather than the typical QPSK with MPEG-2 compression) is putting about twice or three times as many HD feeds on a transponder, albeit in HD-lite resolution. Given the current satellite transmission capabilities, I think having those 4 extra HD channels makes up for having them done in HD-lite.

Just wanted to pop back in and state that I am very impressed with the high level of knowledge and comraderie exhibited by the ABQ group. I certainly am lost when it comes to a fair amount of the tech info, but the discussions have helped answer some questions about local services and future developments.

Thanks,

Lee

I forgot to mention..... FWIW Comcast added Food Network and HGTV in HD earlier this week.

And for bigglare, still no CBS.

D* subscribers who want to join the army of folks driving themselves crazy - checking on minute aspects of the coming additions [:)] should go to their setup menu to the portion for checking satellite signal strength.

After you cycle through to 103(a), use your remote to nudge one more + and you'll now see 103(b) for the first time - with 16 transponders available. Don't get too excited because they're still showing 0's. The software switch to send content from those transponders to our receivers still hasn't been actuated.

Just something else to drive you wiggy over the weekend.

That should be the next generation of satellite transmission that will probably get us to full HD resolution. The current generation of modulation/compression (8PSK with H.264 compression rather than the typical QPSK with MPEG-2 compression) is putting about twice or three times as many HD feeds on a transponder, albeit in HD-lite resolution. Given the current satellite transmission capabilities, I think having those 4 extra HD channels makes up for having them done in HD-lite.

H.264 doesn't have to be HD-lite, though. One of the reasons my next HD set will be 1080p is that I'm already downloading 1080p content via broadband. 1080p may not be imminent from usual sources; but, some of the folks aiming for IPTV are starting to provide that level of content.

Of course, without a big enough internet pipe into the house, it's only something I setup iTunes to download automatically - and forget about it till I want to watch.

10 minute show = 45mb, typically.

I forgot to mention..... FWIW Comcast added Food Network and HGTV in HD earlier this week.

And for bigglare, still no CBS.


Thanks. Last week, during UNMs first week of classes Comcast was out trying to con students into getting service in the dorms. I asked if they had CBS yet. Their sales guy there actually had to pick up the channel lineup like he didnt know what CBS was. He eventually found it, but not in HD I asked. No They havent come to us to carry it yet. To which I responded, Isn't true though that they have and Comcast just refuses to pay the digital broadcast carriage fees? And thus comcast subscribers loose out on NCAA basketball, PGA, US Open Tennis, and most of all NFL? The only response was from two students who asked What? No Football on CBS?

I laughed and walked off. But its nice to see that comcast added a couple more channels that have been around a while.

hey anyone hear anything on if and when KASY-50 will step up with some HD?

hey anyone hear anything on if and when KASY-50 will step up with some HD?

I would say don't expect miracles. They apparently can't deliver MNTV in HD, and they certainly didn't deliver the Cowboys and Raiders preseason games in HD (even though those two were available to KASY and other team network affiliates in HD if they wanted to air the games in HD rather than take the SD affiliate feed).

Needless to say, I watched my preseason NFL football in HD by large dish satellite (Patriots, Cowboys, Raiders and NY Giants were most of the HD telecasts I caught that were not the preseason national telecasts).

H.264 doesn't have to be HD-lite, though.

that's not the issue. The issue is the limiting factor - bandwidth. You only have so much bandwidth available per satellite transponder (or per off-air channel if you want to talk terrestrial). Rabbit-ear signal maximum bandwidth is 19.xxx mbps.

HD-lite is used to provide more HD channels (H.264 helps over MPEG-2 compression, but you still are quite limited since you have to fit the HD channels within the bandwidth a transponder allows).

I don't have Ka-band reception equipment, so I don't know what bandwidth DIRECTV has for each transponder. I have to look up in my record what DISH network has available in both QPSK and 8PSK modes since my notes are not nearby right now. I saw a programmer to cable/dbs headend distribution DVB-S2 feed a few days ago and found it was about 60 mbps total.

DVB-S2 may be one of the ways to try to deliver full HD resolution video by satellite if the DVB-S2 bandwidth of about 60 mbps per transponder is more than what DISH or DIRECTV can deliver per transponder under their best current compression/modulation schemes.

FWIW, I tried to tally up what Comcast seems to have as HDTV. I found these:

210 KOAHD
211 KOBHD
213 KASHD
214 CWHD
215 MYTHD
217 FODHD
220 KNMHD
221 A&EHD
222 HGTHD
223 NGHD
225 DSCHD
226 MOJO
227 MHD
228 HBOHD
233 MAXHD
238 SHOHD
248 STZHD
249 TNTHD
251 VSHD
252 ESPHD
253 ESP2HD
254 HDPPV
258 FSNHD

They also have some pay and free HD movies on their On Demand service and a few of the premium channels have some HD movies. CBS On Demand also has some episodes of CSI available in HD.

Errors in this info are likely my own as I am just a customer.

Dave.

Wow 23! but still not that ONE with NFL, NCAA, PGA, Tennis, and other great HD shows, We call it KRQE-DT or CBS-HD.

I have to admit I'm impressed they are adding new stuff. They are almost close to giving Dish a run for its HD money. But it seems like we will have to write and convince KRQE to turn off their analog early and force comcast's hand or wait 532 days until the deadline.

FWIW, I tried to tally up what Comcast seems to have as HDTV. I found these:

210 KOAHD
211 KOBHD
213 KASHD
214 CWHD
215 MYTHD
217 FODHD
220 KNMHD
221 A&EHD
222 HGTHD
223 NGHD
225 DSCHD
226 MOJO
227 MHD
228 HBOHD
233 MAXHD
238 SHOHD
248 STZHD
249 TNTHD
251 VSHD
252 ESPHD
253 ESP2HD
254 HDPPV
258 FSNHD

They also have some pay and free HD movies on their On Demand service and a few of the premium channels have some HD movies. CBS On Demand also has some episodes of CSI available in HD.

Errors in this info are likely my own as I am just a customer.

Dave.

Lets tally this up:

23 total channels
6 channels available OTA (and one isn't even HD).
4 premium channels that you must pay extra for.
1 sports channel (FSNHD) with the occasional spot feed of Colorado Rockies games, I guess, I've never seen one.
1 PPV
1 channel that virtually never (A&E) broadcasts in HD.

So we're left with 10 channels in the HD package that you cant get for free, that are at all worthwhile... and I'm being generous by leaving MHD, MOJO and TNT-HD(except for the NBA) as worthwhile.

From sthscan:

"I don't have Ka-band reception equipment, so I don't know what bandwidth DIRECTV has for each transponder. I have to look up in my record what DISH network has available in both QPSK and 8PSK modes since my notes are not nearby right now. I saw a programmer to cable/dbs headend distribution DVB-S2 feed a few days ago and found it was about 60 mbps total.

DVB-S2 may be one of the ways to try to deliver full HD resolution video by satellite if the DVB-S2 bandwidth of about 60 mbps per transponder is more than what DISH or DIRECTV can deliver per transponder under their best current compression/modulation schemes."

I don't pretend to understand the technispeak, here; but, here's what some of the folks over in the dbstalk forum have to say on the topic:

"DirecTV has ~500MHz usable CONUS spectrum on D10 and another 500MHz usable on D11. D10 will use 14 CONUS transponders @ 36MHz each. Each transponder would provide ~61Mbps with DVB-S2 using 8PSK @ 3/4 FEC.

Ten channels per transponder would work out to ~6Mbps each. Current MPEG-4 feeds of CBS and NBC -- downconverted from 1920x1080 to 1440x1080, but which most agree look quite good -- are >10Mbps. The ABC and FOX 720p feeds run less.

If DirecTV actually uplinks all 85 channels posted by Bschneider to D10, that would translate to six channels per transponder @ ~10Mbps each, which is probably close to the maximum they can uplink while maintaining quality comparable to the MPEG-4 locals."

And --

"D* uses a system of variable bitrates per channel (your Mbps numbers), so that when one channel's MPEG-4 images have little or no motion, bitrate capacity on that channel can be dynamically transferred to another channel that has active motion action and then switched back again to the first channel when it needs that bit rate capacity back for motion scenes. An example would be a talking head with fixed studio background on a talk or news show would need a lower MPEG-4 bitrate than an action NFL game with pans and zooms for equal HD quality.

Is this true? If so, they can maintain very high quality on all channels within the total available capacity and still get more channels than if each were allocated a fixed specific bitrate per channel."

2 other folks having this conversation.

What we expect from D10 is 70 HD channels minimum. D11 is launched Nov-Dec with similar capacity.

I think Directv will beat the pants out of Dish and Comcrap in terms of number of HD channels if they play their card right.:)

Anyhoo, I just E-mailed to KASY-DT asking why are they not carrying navite MY TV Network's feed in HD.

Also, do you have a HD satellite reciever and any plan for digital sub channels like RTN or American One Network?:rolleyes::D

They are very good chances they will just snub us, and that would be a shame IMHO, but we shall see what happens next.

Now back to TV DXing!!:D

9-4-07

I think Directv will beat the pants out of Dish and Comcrap in terms of number of HD channels if they play their card right.:)


That depends on if dish doesnt plan to ever add the soon to be, but not yet launched channels that D* has only to date announced. lol

CNN claims to have launched but no one is carrying atm. TBS claimed to have launched and no one is carrying. History Channel is supposed to be available now and should be on Dish tomorrow according to last reported claims.

Aside from a few sports channels, most of what Directv is planning to add sometime in the future will show up on Dish as well.

Personally I don't understand why carriers still carry SD versions of channels that they have in HD that are simulcast. Why have TLC, Discovery, TNT, HBO and such when the HD is the exact same. Simply drop the SD channel and only carry the HD. Require customers to get HD receivers or cable boxes that will display these hd channels in 480i/p which most tvs should handle.

I just want someone to offer an HD only package. I dont want any SD channels, which I do not watch. Just give me the HD and only the HD.

History Channel HD went live this afternoon on Dish.

Fox News Channel HD will be on DIRECTV soon.

Details (http://www.tvpredictions.com/foxhd083007.htm)

Sounds good. Who knows how far off it will be or who else will carry it by the time it launches. Directv is just aggreeing to carry anything it can in order to keep its hype up. DirectV also announced it will be carrying an HD test pattern channel featuring 24/7 test patterns in its hopes to reach 100 channels. Also announced today was the HD Yulelog fireplace channel.

I think Directv will beat the pants out of Dish and Comcrap in terms of number of HD channels if they play their card right.:)


nope, DIRECTV won't beat the pants off DISH Network. DISH has some sats coming up to increase their bandwidth and DIRECTV and DISH have the vast majority of the same programming contracts so DIRECTV and DISH should have pretty much the same HD offerings. The big HD offering I can think that DIRECTV will have that DISH won't -- at least initially but probably never -- is Big 10 network and YES Network (FWTW).

edwardacampbell: good to see confirmation that DIRECTV is runnnig DVB-S2 with approx 61 mbps per transponder. 10mbps for a H.264 HD-lite channel seems right from the few H.264 HD transmissions I've noticed on the programmer to cable/dbs distribution end of things. And, yes, they do use dynamic bandwidth - on a transport stream analyzer, you can see the video streams increase and decrease in bitrate as the bandwidth is allocated where needed for motion or where not needed as much for more static moments in a video scene. some of the bandwidth is wasted due to the dynamic allocation thing (I believe the industry calls it "stuffing bytes" - it's a buffer that keeps the datarates of all the video, audio, digital format (i.e. DVB, ATSC, DVB-S2, etc.) definition info streams, and other miscellaneous datastreams from exceeding the total datarate of the digital signal). So 6 HD-lite H.264 streams running around 10 mbps with a little bit of stuffing bytes room per transponder using DVB-S2 makes sense.

I'm still looking to get a DIRECTV Ka-band dish/lnb cheap to do transport stream analysis, but I'm sure my wait will be long as it seems DIRECTV users are gobbling up those dishes to receive DIRECTV 10 with -- or I'm just looking the wrong place by hanging out on a certain auction site hoping to pick one up cheap.

jdmart:

FNC HD is news to me... it's probably a couple months off as 1) I didn't see it in the HD channel scan I just completed with my large backyard dish looking for the distribution feeds of programmers to cable headends and DBS uplinks, and 2) FNC is changing their distribution format to cable headends and DBS uplinks within the next couple months, so it would make sense to not only convert the delivery format of the SD to cable/dbs, but add their HD feed to the distribution chain to headends at the same time.

What are the prospects for FNC HD on Dish?

What are the prospects for FNC HD on Dish?

Just speculating...I think the odds are good because of the competition. However, FNC HD probably won't be cheap for Dish since FNC is still consistenly beating all of the cable news competition in the Nielsen ratings. So there could be some serious negotiating.

Nielsen Cable News Ratings (http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/ratings/the_scoreboard_friday_august_31__66278.asp#more)

Personally I don't understand why carriers still carry SD versions of channels that they have in HD that are simulcast. Why have TLC, Discovery, TNT, HBO and such when the HD is the exact same. Simply drop the SD channel and only carry the HD. Require customers to get HD receivers or cable boxes that will display these hd channels in 480i/p which most tvs should handle.

I just want someone to offer an HD only package. I dont want any SD channels, which I do not watch. Just give me the HD and only the HD.

If I'm not mistaken, the SD feed is not exactly the same as the HD. In many cases they are actually showing the "Full Screen" version of the movie at the same time as the "Widescreen Version" on the respective feeds. In the same vein if you by a full screen DVD it is acually a "pan-and-scan" edit where some techies pick out what they consider the most useful part of each scene to include. Personally I've gotten so addicted to HD that is hard to watch stuff that isn't.

:)

Dave.

Yup, the wife even noticed it a couple of nights ago. We were watching the Tim Janis Coastal America and the wife (who is not an HDTV fanatic) said "that looks really bad".

I had my best "Dwight Schrute" grin on in an instant! :o

Believe it or not, Comcast is claiming their hd picture is superior to sat's; even have an independent test to convince us. You will have to fill in a small form, but click this link to see their claims: http://www.comcast.com/hdchallenge/?CMP=KNC-1TO1Q3GOOGLE38
JR

If I'm not mistaken, the SD feed is not exactly the same as the HD. In many cases they are actually showing the "Full Screen" version of the movie at the same time as the "Widescreen Version" on the respective feeds. In the same vein if you by a full screen DVD it is acually a "pan-and-scan" edit where some techies pick out what they consider the most useful part of each scene to include. Personally I've gotten so addicted to HD that is hard to watch stuff that isn't.

:)

Dave.

And Grass is a different color from the sky hopefully, unless we suddenly have bigger issues. Watching boston legal in SD vs HD is still Boston legal. But all those pathetic non-hd housholds, 10 years after the start of the transition, can now expirience television thats like watching a DVD. They can get the DVD expirience just by watching their favorite TV show. Get crisp widescreen video, dolby 5.1 surround sound (where available) for all your favorite shows.

Its like when you buy a DVD that has the full screen and widescreen versions of the same movie on opposite sides of the disc. Lately studios are using a double sided single layer disc so you only get a low bitrate version of the movie on either side. Sure you could put a high bitrate version on a 2 disc DVD-9 set but they do the doublesided DVD-5.

If cable and Satellite providers dropped the SD channel and just carry the Widescreen HD version, they can save money in carriage fees (with negotiations) and offer the channel in its best possible quality, and have room for more channels.

Why should we have the SD TLC or Discovery or History, when the same program is on the HD channel? Pay TV is becoming Bloat TV. Paying for channels we never watch.

It still comes down to bandwidth.

D10 adds a ton of bandwidth for D*. They're insane if they don't offer available HD channels in their full capability when it lights up for consumers. That's within next week or so.

E* next bird [I believe] is to launch same time as D11 = Nov-Dec. Until then, E* can't provide anything other than HD-lite. Same as D* until D10 is online.

Add: Chuckling over anticipation! The tech thread where it's just folks like sthscan discussing the GSO of D10 - just passed 200,000 pageviews.

E* next bird [I believe] is to launch same time as D11 = Nov-Dec. Until then, E* can't provide anything other than HD-lite. Same as D* until D10 is online.


I think everything will be in HD-lite for a while on both providers and even cable (since you are going to have all sorts of programmers launching HD feeds of their SD services, not just the big corporate pay-tv services). If you were going to tell me only the 100 most watched cable services would launch HD feeds, then it would make things more likely to go full HD at some point in the near future.

moonhawk:

as for FNC HD on DISH, very likely (since FNC SD is on DISH, chances are great that DISH can negotiate carriage of FNC HD, or the recent DISH contract with FNC may have included a clause that gives DISH license to carry the HD feed when made available).

Yup, the wife even noticed it a couple of nights ago. We were watching the Tim Janis Coastal America and the wife (who is not an HDTV fanatic) said "that looks really bad".


I'm not too convinced it's KNME's fault (the station's reworking of the PBS-HD distribution feed to transmit on 5-1).

Even on satellite, some shows on PBS-HD look great and some shows look cruddy (one vivid one I can think of was a show that had a pan of a mountain scene, and the scrubbrush in th foreground was jaggedy and jerky during the pan). That kind of moment makes me think the show in question wasn't shot in HD but just in SD widescreen or else the video transfer to "HD" was crummy. Shows that I believe are truly shot in HD look awesome on PBS-HD satellite and 5.1 terrestrial.

"If you were going to tell me only the 100 most watched cable services would launch HD feeds, then it would make things more likely to go full HD at some point in the near future. - sthscan"

From what is mentioned online by various providers, I don't think more than 70-80 content providers are ready for the fall-winter season. That's why I think all the sat subscribers will end up with full HD - by January for E*, in a week or two for D*.

The "problems" at KNME, I believe, lie pretty much at the feet of management not engineering. Earlier on, this year, a few of us rec'd emails back from staff confirming that position. They may not be allowed to respond so publicly nowadays.

I'm not too convinced it's KNME's fault (the station's reworking of the PBS-HD distribution feed to transmit on 5-1).

Even on satellite, some shows on PBS-HD look great and some shows look cruddy (one vivid one I can think of was a show that had a pan of a mountain scene, and the scrubbrush in th foreground was jaggedy and jerky during the pan). That kind of moment makes me think the show in question wasn't shot in HD but just in SD widescreen or else the video transfer to "HD" was crummy. Shows that I believe are truly shot in HD look awesome on PBS-HD satellite and 5.1 terrestrial.

I think the problem is two fold. One its lack of bandwidth, but also some programs seem to be upscaled from standard def. I say this because even back in the 1080i days some shows on KNME looked night and day better than others.

well, DISH network are now "racists" in a sense.

Adding Big Ten Network (SD on 439 and HD on 9467!) while not having the mtn. We're going to get price increases in 2008 for DISH Network service and we in non-big 10 states lose BTN in January unless we move to a Big 10 state. So I'm going to be paying for BTN but not receiving it, so they better have the mtn. or make larger price increases for people in Big 10 states than they do in non-big 10 states.

We're getting Big ten? sweet. Not that I watch it but it does take one more away from Directv. Besides does MTN even have HD service?

And take out that Racist BS there's nothing racist or "racist" about it. MTN just smaller station, smaller market, and less demand, and isnt in HD, just Business. Sorry about being such a moronist, just irks me when people throw the racist card around, you might as well cry wolf.

http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/08/31/directv-hr21-pro-gets-leaked/
reading over at engadget from Cedia, the new DVR from D doesn't have OTA tuners. The end of CBS HD for Directv subs if this keeps up. Unless of course they step up and buy the rights from lin.

D* started broadcasting Big 10, last week. Haven't watched it, either; but, I imagine it will stay SD till they light up D10.

HR21 Pro - which is aimed at the tiniest demographic of HD subscribers btw - is like most HD receivers and DVR's that will be coming down the pike. Why put OTA reception into your sat receiver when all new HDTV's are required to have OTA receivers?

Just checked with folks beta-testing the H21 [non-DVR-model, non-Pro model] and reminded my poor brain that D* is switching over the "SWM" diplexing module on feeds from the dish. That will include OTA is the general opinion. Don't know. I haven't been doing any of the latest hardware betas.

All D* systems will be based on one cable coming to each receiver in your home. That one cable will carry everything for all services.

Sort of like Dish is doing already?

I remember my biggest complaint with comcast is when I wanted to watch CBS or CW I had to go watch through the TVs tuner rather than through the $85 a month cable service I was paying for. And if I wanted to record from those channels I had to kiss the HD goodbye. With the OTA built into the satellite receiver I have all the locals available to watch and record using the DVR either from satellite or the OTA tuner. Which is a big plus in my book.

Except comparatively unlimited number of receivers. The current test SWM allows for 8 receivers. Current models all the way back to legacy SD.

Both D* and E* members at dbstalk often prefer the OTA receivers built-in to their HD sets - broader access to better signals. And that fits what a TV set manufacturer would have to build-in.