I am set for a D* install tomorrow morning, with the following specs:

CHOICE XTRA + HDDVR
MLB Extra Innings

My zip is 87104.

My question: which actual DirecTV satellites will I need LOS for? Does anyone know which D* birds serve the ABQ area?

Hello SKITLqr,

The Directv's, satellites are located at......

99*W KU and KA band MPEG-2 on KU and MPEG-4 on KA bands, please remember that MPEG-4 can be added on KU band in the future as the MPEG-2 will be phased out to free up the space.:)

101*W Main bird KU, MPEG-2

103*W KA, MPEG-4

110*W KU, MPEG-2

119*W KU, MPEG-2

If you plan to add a overseas channels that satellite is located at 72*W, it will required a 2nd satellite dish in order to get this channels.

Hope that's helps.....:)

4-10-09

Don't forget to watch the analog shutdown of KNAT-TV tomorrow at between 6:01 PM til 11:59 PM!!:)

I know this is not much to watch this all awfull shows, on KNAT-TV till they shut of the analog signal.......:p

4-14-09

There is a little error on my part about KNAT-TV analog shutdown date it should say beetween 4-16-09 till 6-12-09 at 6:01 PM to 11:59 PM.

Here's the link......:)

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101301465&formid=910&fac_num=993

Not much else going on here in this Albuquerque TV market......

Our local stations, is just too lazy to start a HD local news or even add any new subchannels and even the lowpower stations not getting on the air in digital and that's why news update is so slow.

News is too slow for my taste, anyway to say at least....:p

4-15-09

Did you see...Kimmel in HD last night! Now only Craig Ferguson and Carson Daly are the last of the late-night holdouts.

Don't know if this has been pointed out or not, but I noticed that KOB now has an HD breaking-news crawl. Saw it while watching the Today Show this morning...

Finally!

Hopefully, they will do something similar with the (useless) lottery interruptions.

Kimmel in HD on KOAT? It is hard to believe since they can't present Ellen, Ophray, ET, etc. in HD, thus you never know what they can or can't present in HD anymore.

I believe this is because Kimmel is not syndicated, but rather an ABC show that is sent to each affiliate in 720p. The problem with syndication for KOAT apparently is that most of the shows come in 1080i and they don't have the equipment to bring that down to 720p. I was surprised about Kimmel though since they delay both Nightline and Kimmel, I didn't think they would have the storage space to record the HD feed for both of them. I know KOB can only record 1 hour of HD, so on friday nights they record Leno in HD but Late Nite is in SD.

I caught Kimmel last night and it was in HD. Now if KOAT could only upgrade their equipment so we can see the syndicated shows (Ellen, Ophray, ET, etc.) in HD. It can be done but it is a factor of money. I think we deserve it here in Albuquerque.

You may have noted that KNAT-TV's analog signal is off the air for good since Thursday......:)

This is first time that metro areas TV station to do so.

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101309537&formid=387&fac_num=993

Also, I just noted that KTVS-LP channel 36 also went off the air but no digital flash cut yet or they are having techs, problems.

So I will keep the eye on that, KTVS-LD will run at 15 KW ERP.....:D

That's the news!!

4-18-09

News update.....

For those of you folks, want to see the FCC Commissioner Adelstein's meeting it will be held on wed, the 22nd and Thursday on 23rd of this month.

Here's the link, for more informations.......

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-290225A1.pdf

If anyones goes to the meeting please let me know how well the meeting went.:)

Just post your report on my thread thanks!!

4-20-09

so what's the deal?

we keep hearing reports ABQ is one of the least prepared markets for the digital transition, yet the tv footage of the Wednesday meeting only seemed to show about 10-15 people attended. I haven't seen a report about Thursday's meeting to see if any more showed up or if turnout was just as pathetic.

It is to the beaureaucrats advantage to make things look as bleak as possible no matter what the issue - JOB SECURITY!



EDIT: Boy did I ever kill this thread!

No you didnt kill it. It just that it's been all quiet on the HD front these last couple weeks.

I keep wondering, when they trot out these figures, if they are taking into account the people in the viewing area who get their signal over low power translators. Most of these translators are not switching to digital. If none of your local translators are switching to digital, why waste money on a converter box?

Anyone else having issues getting TVGOS programming data? I used to get it with my DTVPal DVR, but stopped receiving it about a month or two back. I still get PSIP program data fine, but I miss being able to look more than 12 hours out. I wasn't sure if it was my box or an issue with the signal in our market. Any thoughts? Is KNME the source of TVGOS data in ABQ?

Most of these translators are not switching to digital. If none of your local translators are switching to digital, why waste money on a converter box?

One of these years, the FCC will set a deadline for translators to convert to digital.

With a coupon and a free box available, why not obtain one now and stash it away so if you don't upgrade to a HDTV set or get cable/satellite by then, you have a box ready to go?

News update.....

For those of you folks, want to see the FCC Commissioner Adelstein's meeting it will be held on wed, the 22nd and Thursday on 23rd of this month.

Here's the link, for more informations.......

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-290225A1.pdf

If anyones goes to the meeting please let me know how well the meeting went.http://www.*****************/trafficreport/img/3721/k08t1221bbuq/gdsmile.gif

Just post your report on my thread thanks!!

4-20-09

Thanks for the info, I really want to have an update too.
If only I could come.

Anyone else having issues getting TVGOS programming data? I used to get it with my DTVPal DVR, but stopped receiving it about a month or two back. I still get PSIP program data fine, but I miss being able to look more than 12 hours out. I wasn't sure if it was my box or an issue with the signal in our market. Any thoughts? Is KNME the source of TVGOS data in ABQ?

Data has been a problem for several months, but my Sony HD DVR usually manages to pick up info often enough to function okay. I do believe that KNME channel 5 is the local analog provider--it passes a VBI test on my Sony and no other channel does. I get very poor reception of their analog channel 5 up here in Santa Fe, so I thought that was the reason I have frequent errors in my 8 day listings. Daily updates usually correct errors by the time the Sony needs the info to do a recording.

This place is pretty dead as of late!

Anyone know what's up with KOB? Was breaking up last night and this AM totally off air, both DTV as well as Analog!

Also what's up with KNME, their signal used to be fine, but has been weak and breaking up for the last several weeks.


Seems like were only a few weeks away from Analog shut off and everbody's transmission equipment is breaking down.........

Don't see any problem with either station, A or D this morning at Candelaria/Chelwood area. Is your antenna ok?
JR

Went home for lunch and checked.

My 4228 is still there and pointed towards the Crest. KOB-DT was back up, didn't check the Analog version. 5-1 was still dead (this is on my 19" Samsung in the kitchen). I can pull 5-1 in on my 722 with a weak but fluctuating signal (55-65%) so i know its on but seems the signal has weakened in the past month or so from what it was....

KOB Analog had a Blue Screen with just there logo but nothing else this AM around 6:00AM.

Thought I'd post this in case anyone missed it.

3.1 Mil Households Still Unready for DTV
By Vlada Gelman

The number of TV households completely unready for the digital transition decreased to 3.1 million, according to Nielsen.

The number represents 2.7% of TV households, down from 2.9% at the time of Nielsen’s last report two weeks ago, which stated that 3.3 million households were unready.

For TVWeek’s comprehensive coverage of the digital television transition, visit the DTV Switch Navigator page.

The other statistics released by Nielsen were in line with the previous report. Although they’ve made improvements, African-Americans, Hispanics and those under age 35 are still the least ready groups, at 5.4%, 4.7% and 5%, respectively.

Additionally, Albuquerque-Santa Fe, N.M., remains the least ready market with 8.40% of households completely unready.

We're 3 times more unready than the national average. All I can do is shake my head and laugh. June 12th is going to be a disaster here.

They may be getting ready to shut off analog, so you might see some digital testings on channel 7, 13 and 22 till the shutdown date.:)

Also, you might get new digital low power stations going on the air.......

I just noted that KFAC-LP channel 39 was off the air for a week and may flash cut to digital anytime soon....

I hope they add Retro TV Network, and fews other if they add new sub channels!!!:D

5-27-09

I question how they came to those numbers. Considering that a large part of the state is covered by analog translators, there could be a large area where converter boxes aren't necessary yet.

- Trip

i just visited with jim gill at knme and he says there is no hd signal carried by direct tv. has something to do with "carriage" but d* carries hd on all of the major locals 2-4-7-13. why is this? i came over from comcast and they carried a "national feed" of pbs in hd and it was great. do any other provider (dish or comcast) carry an hd feed of knme? knme is a free service so i can't figure out why d* does not carry hd?

Breaking news!!!

Albuquerque's very first digital low power station, is on the air testing on digital channel 39.1 since they flash cut from analog, the call letter is KFAC-LD even though they are showing the KTEL-LP 47.1 ID's......

The signal was pretty strong around 80's % percent on my signal meter.

I E-mailed to RTN "Retro TV Network" and they responed back RTN will be in Albuquerque's TV market in a week or two at the most!!:D

5-29-09

i just visited with jim gill at knme and he says there is no hd signal carried by direct tv. has something to do with "carriage" but d* carries hd on all of the major locals 2-4-7-13. why is this? i came over from comcast and they carried a "national feed" of pbs in hd and it was great. do any other provider (dish or comcast) carry an hd feed of knme?

Directv is starting to carry PBS HD local stations around the country and they haven't gotten to Albuquerque's DMA yet. The "carriage" might mean KNME and Directv have to come to a retransmission agreemen to carry KNME-DT on DIRECTV in the Albuquerque locals package.

DISH doesn't carry any PBS HD stations for whatever reason, but has been adding CW stations in HD here and there (not in ABQ DMA, yet).

I'm surprised Comcast got to carry the PBS HD National feed, rather than have to agree to carry KNME-DT since we have a PBS station in our DMA.

If you are properly situated, you can put up an off-air antenna and receive KNME-DT and KNMD-DT and a few digital multicast stations that you would not get on satellite or cable (and in better quality than you would find on cable or satellite, too! - if they were carried)

scan: jim said i could get ota and i have rabbit ears but i like to record the shows and watch later without commercials. since knme does not have commercials perhaps i can get used to this. i hope D* starts to carry knme-hd. their should be no "carriage" rules or payments as pbs is a free station so i don't see why D* does not carry knme-hd?

Has anyones, try to pull in the new digital power station KFAC-LD digital channel 39.1?

This station, is now testing by rebroadcasting of KTEL-LP analog channel 47 on KFAC-LD's channel after testing is done it will become a RTN affiliate station.:)

Right now, they are running at 8.4 KW ERP from Sandia Crest Mountain.

Good luck on getting the station!!!

I got at 80% on the my receiver's signal strenth meter!! Not bad for low power station!!:)

6-1-09

8.4KW is not bad. We had local analogs broadcasting digital at 0.95kw for a year until new 1000kw transmitters were installed.

I am 6.5 miles from these transmitters and I had to use a 4228 to barely pull them in. Added a Winegard HDP-269 pre-amp to get stability.

With a decent antenna 8.4kw should be easy LOS.

No luck with KFAC-LD here in the Jemez Mountains, about 4 miles west of the KCHF transmitter site. They do tickle the signal strength meter on my Zenith DTT901 box, but it can't get a lock. Time to get a bigger antenna!

Their antenna pattern is directional to the southwest from the Crest, so not much signal coming my way. Their analog signal was a difficult catch, it was very weak, plus adjacent channel interference from K38IM which is strong here.

Paul

I just noted that KAZQ-DT, is now testing a new added subchannel with a typo channel number showing as 33.4 "It must be 32.4" simulcasting God-TV from 32.2.....

As for KFAC-LD, I am still waiting to see RTN to pop up anyday now.:)

6-2-09

As for KFAC-LD, I am still waiting to see RTN to pop up anyday now.:)6-2-09

speaking of that, can anyone in the Edgewood area receive KFAC? I asked someone out there he reported back to me he can't. Anyone else not able to receive it or do I have to go over to his house and check his setup?

Just make sure that you punch in KFAC-LD's channel 39.1, regardless of remapping KTEL-LP to so called channel 47.1....:D

I may have to check on the FCC's website, to see KFAC-LD antenna's beam pattern are like.

6-2-09

I may have to check on the FCC's website, to see KFAC-LD antenna's beam pattern are like.

6-2-09

thanks for the heads up. I didn't realize that info was on there.

it bites to be in bernalillo and points north or in the east mountains.

I'll have to send my friend the GIF of the coverage area along with the news he'll have to continue watching RTN direct from satellite and can't have it at the convenience of his HD set.

BTW, do you think I should add print-screen graphics from the FCC site on my HDTV page or would it make things way too busy? I need to update it anyway with this kfac-ld entry and verify what the other regulars are up to at this point.

One more update before cutover should make for good historical info.

sthscan,

Yes, go ahead update your website by putting the link's to the FCC's website on KFAC-LD's information!:)

I forgot what is your website address's name, haven't been there awhile....:o

6-3-09

Did you see the HD wings on KRQE's 10pm news?!

Did you see the HD wings on KRQE's 10pm news?!

I saw your message in time to check, because I normally only watch KRQE's replay.

annoying blue bars on the sides, but the sports ticker went all the way across the screen, so I think something is getting hotter there at the station.

I'll check later to see if the replay is similar or if they need their knowledgable people around at 10pm to give the newscast some wings. ;)

sthscan,

Yes, go ahead update your website by putting the link's to the FCC's website on KFAC-LD's information!:)

I forgot what is your website address's name, haven't been there awhile....:o

6-3-09

even better idea - links to the FCC site rather than screen-cap the maps and host them no my page/site.
Certainly will be nicer if coverage changes with license changes.

I forget what my website's address is, too. :D I just know where the HTML files/images are kept. GOOG is your friend as my website is result #1 when you do "Albuquerque HDTV". This forum is result #2. :p

Well boys and girls, four days left to go for the analog shutdown date!!:D

Are you guys, getting excited or not?!!

Anyway still waiting for RTN to pop up, on KFAC-LD real digital channel 39.1 "Remapped to ch. 47.1 KTEL-DT"

I noted that channel 36 KTVS-LP, is off the air and probably will flash cut to digital pretty soon.....

You might want to stay up late, for any digital tests on VHF channels 7 and 13 and if you do get a VHF digital signal, please do report here!!:)

6-8-09

Are you guys, getting excited or not?!!

You might want to stay up late, for any digital tests on VHF channels 7 and 13 and if you do get a VHF digital signal, please do report here!!:)


i'm getting excited - to hear the complaints from those that didn't upgrade, or to see if KRQE will keep me or lose me as a viewer. I hope KRQE on digital 13 will be more reliable than they have been on digital 16. My dad even complained the other night that at his house channel 16 is artifacty sometimes instead of solid and reliable like the other stations using his attic antenna. I told him just hold on and see if the move to 13 helps KRQE reception.

I"ll be on the lookout for signal tests on 7 and 13 since I"m up in the wee hours of the night working or winding down and going to bed.

Can somebody tell me which stations are changing their channel numbers so that I can manually add them? I had heard that one station was going from UHF to VHF but can't remember which one? A list of all the digital stations in our area along with the numbers would be great.

KRQE is moving to 13 VHF and KOAT is moving to 7 VHF.

Such a dumb move since NM is such a sparsely populated state IMHO. Would have been better to stick with a nice directional UHF signal.

Can somebody tell me which stations are changing their channel numbers so that I can manually add them? I had heard that one station was going from UHF to VHF but can't remember which one? A list of all the digital stations in our area along with the numbers would be great.

So, UHF is more directional than VHF?

UHF sends out a more directional signal that is easier to lock onto and peak than VHF. VHF is more of a broad multidirectional signal and is also more prone to signal interference from buildings and terrain. No one knows what it will be like to try and lock onto a digital VHF signal since no one is broadcasting one in this area till 6/13.

I am hoping I can pickup 7 and 13 without incident up here on the hill.

So, UHF is more directional than VHF?

Thanks :)

I'm a little concerned also.

I live on the back side of the Crest, not too far from the towers, but some of them are at least partially blocked.

We'll see. At least I'll get the signal from dish, but the OTA signal is a little cleaner, and I like having the option. The Dish DVR does one OTA and two sat channels, so it's nice to have the option when recording two or more shows at the same time..

I have the same setup as you. I like the "uncompressed" signal that you get via OTA instead of the compressed to fit the available bandwidth we get from Dish. Also at times we have multiple timers going that take up both SAT receivers so the only way to watch another program live is with the 3rd OTA receiver. Nice setup and hoping it all still works this coming Saturday.

KRQE is moving to 13 VHF and KOAT is moving to 7 VHF.

Such a dumb move since NM is such a sparsely populated state IMHO. Would have been better to stick with a nice directional UHF signal.

Thanks, so it looks like I will only need to re-do those two stations.

No one knows what it will be like to try and lock onto a digital VHF signal since no one is broadcasting one in this area till 6/13.

Isn't KNMD digital VHF?

Isn't KNMD digital VHF?

Yes, it is, though it's at quite a low power level.

KCHF-DT 11-1 is also on VHF, but it comes from a different transmitter site.

- Trip

Yes, KNMD-DT channel 9.1 runs at 300 watts ERP!!:eek: At the same time KCHF-DT runs at 30 KW ERP, at different TX location just south of los Alamos.

IMHO, KCHF-DT should move to Sandia Crest, so that KNMD-DT can crank up their tx power up to at least 10 to 30 KW ERP.:D

6-10-09

IMHO, KCHF-DT should move to Sandia Crest, so that KNMD-DT can crank up their tx power up to at least 10 to 30 KW ERP.:D
6-10-09

do you have any idea why location affects power? With digital carriers defined and fairly self-contained to a certain amount of spectrum, I don't see why that is a concern unless the FCC fears tuners can be poor and lock onto the stronger carrier often rather than the desired one, or if things go screwy and one of the digital signals spills over into the adjacent channel bandwidth.

btw, no channel 7 or 13 testing spotted yet. Either they are doing it really quick rather than a 1/2 or 1 hour at a time or my hunch is they won't have to test. They probably have enough confidence in the encoder/transmitter setup to just change a few settings such as frequency and maybe power output and go live on their new channel on the morning of the 12th.

do you have any idea why location affects power? With digital carriers defined and fairly self-contained to a certain amount of spectrum, I don't see why that is a concern unless the FCC fears tuners can be poor and lock onto the stronger carrier often rather than the desired one, or if things go screwy and one of the digital signals spills over into the adjacent channel bandwidth.

I think I'd have to get a plot from a spectrum analyzer; I saw a first-hand example of why the adjacent channel rules exist just yesterday.

I'm literally not even sure how to describe it. I don't want to call it spill-over but that's probably the best word I can think of. If I end up on Poor Mountain on Friday, I'll try to hook up the analyzer and get a capture of some signals demonstrating the issue.

- Trip

It appears KOAT and KOB tied for the first channels to pull their analog - both at 4:30am (KOAT totally gone, KOB just doing a loop of digital transition information).

It's 4:45am now and I can't lock KOAT - not sure if it's because they haven't put up their digital signal yet or if my silver sensor UHF antenna is too poor to work on channel 7 and I need to get a VHF/UHF combo. Channel 7 analog when it was still around didn't look too snowy and bad, fwiw.

KASA/KRQE supposed to go at 5am. who knows about the acme stations.

kasa went at 5am, krqe went about 5:01am.

KOAT digital is up now (silver sensor works!), KRQE digital not locking for me on channel 13 so they probably aren't up with their digital signal there yet (5:15am as I type this).

EDIT: 6:25am now. both acmes are running digital transition video loops (reguarly programming officially gone, probably at 6am is my guess), KNME still has regular programming on 5.0.

KRQE is moving to 13 VHF and KOAT is moving to 7 VHF.

...

I manually deleted KOAT this morning and then added it back at 7 VHF. KRQE is still working at the old channel number so didn't manually re-do it. I called KRQE and the lady told me they're not changing channels but I'm not sure she knows because it wasn't engineering. Anyone know if 13 has done the switchover yet?

It seems KRQE just made the switch. I deleted the old station and re-added 13 VHF and it worked. The signal seems to be higher at 85% up from 75%.

I'mgetting 2, 4, and 13, but not 7. Guess I'll try scanning after work, but it may be my antenna.

At least I can get 7 through the sat signal.

KOAT-DT's, was very hot pegging at almost 90% with my silver sensor antenna!! Also KRQE-DT, was coming in at 80 to 85 percent....:)

Not bad at it all....

The Spanish and church stations, are still running in analog but will shut down in sometime in the afternoon or nighttime.

As for low power stations it's up to them to go digital or not at this time.

Let's hope we get extra new sub channels!!:D

6-12-09

Just did a scan--everything working now. KOAT at about 75-76%, but looks fine.

Local stations are doing a crawl for the walk-in DTV centers. Seems odd to me, how are the folks who don't have digital supposed to see them. :)

KCHF-TV and KTFQ-TV are the last full time programing station, to go off the air later tonight.:)

KTFQ-DT is now on the air on digital channel 22.1 "Remapped to 14.1"

I am still waiting, for KFAC-LD to start carrying RTN "Retro TV Network" what taking them so long?:(

As for the last full and low power stations still on the are listed here.....

KOB-TV ch. 4, KQDF-LP ch. 25, KYNM-LP ch.30, K38FI-LP ch. 38, KTEL-LP ch. 47 and KFTA-LP ch. 48

6-12-09

As for the last full and low power stations still on the are listed here.....

KOB-TV ch. 4, KQDF-LP ch. 25, KYNM-LP ch.30, K38FI-LP ch. 38, KTEL-LP ch. 47 and KFTA-LP ch. 48

6-12-09

you're missing KWBQ-TV 19 and KASY-TV 50 - they are still running the digital transition info/help loop.

sthscan,

You are right on KWBQ-TV and KASY-TV, I guess I have a brain fart.....:p:D

Can't wait for any TV DXings on VHF-low band!!!:)

6-12-09

now that we have reached a milestone in the history of television, how long do you think it will be before we have another digital transitional period? I"m guessing 10 years.
I'll explain why in a day or two.

KCHF was the last full power analog holdout in this market. 11:59:58 they turned it off.

No announcement...nothing just regular programming then gone.

All who went to the NAB meeting at KNME yesterday watched the goodbye, see you on digital blurb they put out just before the cutoff at noon. They had an analog monitor set up and everyone cheered and clapped when it went to snow. The food was catered by Rudy's; condolences to all who missed it. The door prizes were neat also; I won a pack of dual layer dvds.
JR

I am getting both 7 & 13 at 100! I have never gotten either at 100%. In fact, the primary stations (2, 4, 7, 13, 19) are all really solid. I'm getting a little more strength on all those. I'll double-check on 5 and 50 when I get home. I didn't really check the others. I know I did get 47, but not 9.

I have an Echostar TR-40 digital converter box on my old tv in the guest room, and I set it up a month ago, everything was fine. When I rescanned yesterday KOAT-DT and KRQE-DT's channel numbers went from 7-1 to 70-1 and from 13-1 to 71-1. Now the guide info won't populate because of the weird channel numbers. The odd part is going through the channels using the channel up button on the remote takes me from 5-2 right to 70-1 where it should be if the right channel number was there, same for KRQE. I know both of these channels moved their frequencies after the transition, but I don't get this weird channel numbers. Anyone know why this is happening? I rescanned 3 times since yesterday.

Well the transition didn't exactly go smoothly for me. I have a Terk indoor powered antenna feeding 2 PCI ATSC cards (one hauppauge, the other ATI). After seeing that KOAT-DT and KRQE-DT switched to VHF I extended the long telescoping VHF antennas out. I pleasantly found out that KNMD now has an HD channel. Bizarrely it seemed that I could get the VHF channels sometimes, and at other times the UHF. But whichever channels I got had nearly 100% signal strength. It took me several hours to figure out what was going on.

It seems the Hauppauge TV tuner is just too sensitive. With the VHF antennas extended it could pickup all the VHF stations but none of the UHF. The ATI tuner could pickup everything fine. Without the VHF antenna the Hauppage card had no problems, but the ATI card couldn't get any of the VHF stations. Everything seems to work fine now with the antennas just slightly extended.

To give you some idea of how sensitive this tuner is, I was getting 11.1 KCHF-DT, a religious channel from Santa Fe, with an indoor tuner near Montgomery and Eubank.

Hope this helps anyone with similar weird problems. I guess there is such a thing as a signal that is too strong.

Lot of activity at Radio Shack today. I got the impression a lot of folks were there because their TVs didn't work for some mysterious reason. :rolleyes:

I have an Echostar TR-40 digital converter box on my old tv in the guest room, and I set it up a month ago, everything was fine. When I rescanned yesterday KOAT-DT and KRQE-DT's channel numbers went from 7-1 to 70-1 and from 13-1 to 71-1. Now the guide info won't populate because of the weird channel numbers. Anyone know why this is happening? I rescanned 3 times since yesterday.


Anyone have a Dishnetwor 622 or 722? I also have a Echostar problem down in SE NM. None of the network stations info pops up on the guide. I would almost expect this for some of the religious channels. However KRPV out of Midland. Odessa shows all their programming, however KBIM (CBS), KOBR (NBC), KRWB (CW), and KENW (PBS) just show "Digital Service" in the guide... This is totally impractical for recordings if you want to use the local signal instead, less compression artifacts etc.. They are listed in four hour blocks or more. I had emailed Dish network several months ago about this when only KENW (they have three sub-channels) and KBIM, and KOBR showed this on their local low power digital signals. Now that they all are full power and I can even pick up KOAT's signal out of Artesia I still don't get guide info.

Is PSIP not a requirement of ATSC digital receivers? Why would integrated satellite receivers with ATSC tuners built in not have PSIP also? In addition to this KRWB (CW) has no audio, but a 100% signal, pegging the meter. Everyone else is in the 80's. I get audio on KRWB on my TV's built in digital tuner. Anyone else have missing audio with their 622's?

You would think that Dish network would have this all worked out by now, they've had plenty of time on their hands, including delays.

Thanks for listening, I hope there is a solution. I'm going to fire off another email to their tech dept., see what their excuse is now..

South of Carlsbad, I hooked up my 20+ year old VHF Antenna with a amp to both my Dish and Directv Dvrs... I get KBIM in HD with around 100 on both, KTEL comes in aroun 90, was unable to get KOBR (its on this morning but will likely fade) KOCT will not show a signal... in my camper I get KOCT & KTEL but no KBIM the camper is parked within 20' of my antenna for the house...

Anyone happen to have a an DirecTV HD Tivo (HR-10)?

After I rescanned on Friday, it now shows two 7-1 entries for KOAT. One says KOATDT (I believe that was the existing channel), the other KOAT-DT (note the "dash").

I have both enabled in my guide, and both appear to display KOAT, but the new one has no guide data as yet.

Is it possible that they are running on both UHF and VHF for now?

Brian

KOAT-DT is on VHF digital channel 7 for now, since digital channel 21 is off the air.:)

Reception, on VHF Hi was much better than expected for 7 and 13....:cool:

6-14-08

Any of our news stations go HD? Watching Local news in HD here in Milwaukee is great. even remote cameras are HD.

Any of our news stations go HD? Watching Local news in HD here in Milwaukee is great. even remote cameras are HD.

KRQE has been telling me for two years now that they're the first local station to go HD but it still hasn't happened. Last time I asked the KRQE Manager, he basically told me that it was because of the bad economy that they haven't gone HD yet.

Any of our news stations go HD? Watching Local news in HD here in Milwaukee is great. even remote cameras are HD.

I thought KRQE was getting ready to - they had blue wings for a while on their newscasts, but they haven't gone that route yet. It would have been awesome if they had gone HD newscasts on the same day analog was shut off. The blue wings have been gone lately and since they know how to add wings, they should make them useful with info until they are ready to go with HD newscasts.

Are you sure the milwaukee remote cameras are in HD? I bet they are using the trick: capture in 16:9 SD, resize to 4:3 SD for the link to the studio, then back to 16:9 SD at the studio. I am seeing lots of news feeds on the satellites using the trick so they can probably fool the idiots who think widescreen=HD (or in my case, I think it would look nicer to have everything in widescreen, even if not 100% widescreen HD so you don't have the use the wings often for 4:3 SD material).

I don't know why the stations here don't use the trick so it's all 100% widescreen SD until they get their HD chains up and running.

I think it's a race now to be first in HD - KOB studio shots look sharper lately, so I bet they are following KRQE and KOAT that I theorize is using HD cameras to capture studio images and then downres'ing to 4:3 for the rest of the chain.

As for KRQE not being there now due to the economy, you'd think they should be. They have economies of scale since they produce newscasts for 2 stations in town and not just one.

It's pretty sad a podunk station in Vermont has HD newscasts and I believe a Grand Junction station does, too.

So anyone out there have any luck pulling in KRQE or KOAT with a UHF only antenna?

Also anyone else with E* 722/622 boxes notice that we now have BRRRRPPP every minute or so on the Dish supplied KRQE and KOAT stations. They both drop and and freeze momentarily on their new VHF signals supplied via Dish whereas before the switch they were rock solid and stable. I sure hope they can tweak this out soon.

I get both with what I'm pretty sure is a uhf antenna. Haven't watched any programming though, so can't comment on viewing quality.

I have a 722, that's the OTA tuner I'm using.

...so I bet they are following KRQE and KOAT that I theorize is using HD cameras to capture studio images and then downres'ing to 4:3 for the rest of the chain.

My theory is just the opposite: they are still using the 4:3 stuff and just upconverting everything to digital to make it look better.

So anyone out there have any luck pulling in KRQE or KOAT with a UHF only antenna?

KRQE and KOAT are both now on VHF...so no you would have no luck with a UHF only antenna.

My theory is just the opposite: they are still using the 4:3 stuff and just upconverting everything to digital to make it look better.



This makes sense to me. :)

Especially given the cost of HD broadcast equipment and todays economy.

KRQE and KOAT are both now on VHF...so no you would have no luck with a UHF only antenna.

It will work provided you have enough signal. It just won't work well. If you have enough signal a random piece of wire in the coax jack will work but you better have an unobstructed line of sight.

The wonderful thing about digital is that if it works (works is defined as enough signal to NOT have dropouts) you are golden. No need to try harder. It seems that with analog there was always room for just a bit more improvement.

Also anyone else with E* 722/622 boxes notice that we now have BRRRRPPP every minute or so on the Dish supplied KRQE and KOAT stations.

I use offair for KOAT and KRQE. KOAT does have a momentary glitch every few minutes, while KRQE is fine, leading me to believe KOAT issues is not just dish's fault.

ok just realized 7-1 and 13-1 OTA on my dish ViP622 were gone, realized it was because of the switch, did a rescan, KRQE came back, but KOAT is dead. Anyone else having a problem with KOAT tonight?

It's working for me as of 0020AM

ok just realized 7-1 and 13-1 OTA on my dish ViP622 were gone, realized it was because of the switch, did a rescan, KRQE came back, but KOAT is dead. Anyone else having a problem with KOAT tonight?

I had a similar problem with 7 and 13 on some of my equipment, so I rescanned. When that didn't fix the problem, I deleted the problem channels, then adding them back. My 722 is picking up all the local digital channels now (except for the ones I intentionally deleted). :)

I had a similar problem with 7 and 13 on some of my equipment, so I rescanned. When that didn't fix the problem, I deleted the problem channels, then adding them back. My 722 is picking up all the local digital channels now (except for the ones I intentionally deleted). :)

Thanks, I didn't think I would have to delete the channel and THEN rescan, but doing that DID work with my 622. Problem is my signal, which used to be very good, 80s is now at about 64 signal strength. Oh well.

Now I have to figure out why my TR-40 CRA digital converter box has renamed KOAT 070-01 and KRQE 071-01.

Thanks, I didn't think I would have to delete the channel and THEN rescan, but doing that DID work with my 622. Problem is my signal, which used to be very good, 80s is now at about 64 signal strength. Oh well.



Glad that helped. I'm getting signal strength of 100 on KOAT and 96 on KRQE on my 722 from Santa Fe. I upgraded a few months ago from a UHF only outdoor antenna to one that also gets the upper VHF range, when I found out those two stations would be switching their digital channels to the upper VHF range. Looks like you should shop for a better antenna. I am using a Antennas Direct C4 ClearStream4 outdoor digital HDTV antenna bought from SolidSignal.Com. I like that it is relatively small and doesn't have long VHF elements like other antennas.

Those wishing for a power boost from KNMD in Santa Fe, those wishes might just come true. KNMD has petitioned the FCC to relocate from channel 9 to channel 8. I have yet to see any paperwork, just the channel number.

- Trip

I took advantage yesterday of the cooler weather and cloud cover to switch out my UHF only preamp with a Winegard 8275 UHF/VHF preamp. This was attached to a Channel Master CM-4228 UHF only antenna mounted on a 15 foot mast on the side of the house. I am now able to pull in ALL VHF signals with a UHF only antenna. KOAT, KRQE as well as KNME-DT 9. No breakups, solid lock, Ch7 & Ch13 are pegged at 85-95% and Ch9 is pegged at only 65% but seems to hold just fine. Hopefully if Ch9 increases power or moves to Ch8 it will move up a notch or two. I have the signal split to 4 parts of the house as well once its inside!

Anyways I am VERY happy to be able to hold on to my CM4228 and not need a new antenna. This ones just getting broken in! :p

That's a very good news, for KNMD-DT moving to channel 8 and crank up TX power around 30 KW ERP if approved by the FCC!!

6-18-09

I don't know how high they want to go in power since I can't seem to locate any paperwork for it.

- Trip

Found it. 5.14 kW on channel 8 is what they are asking for. 8.52 kW is what they want, and plan to apply for once channel 8 is approved.

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6520222530

- Trip

Hey all, I just want to say thanks.

Now that we're on the other side of the transition I want to acknowledge the role you guys played in getting us here. The problems and insights you had were always informative.

And I think I can speak for the guys at the other stations when I say that your calls or e-mails may not have always been welcome ;-) but the input you provided really did help advance DTV in this state.

It's been a long road. Thanks. And I know you'll keep pushing.

Just let us catch our breath for a minute, OK? :-D

Sean @ KOB

P.S.: N5XZS, did you see any of the killer propagation Friday morning? We had reports of rescans that pulled in stations 300-400 miles away, with one viewer getting a Florida station.

HD News, HD News, HD News! :D

If Las Cruces/El Paso can pull it off........

Hey all, I just want to say thanks.

Now that we're on the other side of the transition I want to acknowledge the role you guys played in getting us here. The problems and insights you had were always informative.

And I think I can speak for the guys at the other stations when I say that your calls or e-mails may not have always been welcome ;-) but the input you provided really did help advance DTV in this state.

It's been a long road. Thanks. And I know you'll keep pushing.

Just let us catch our breath for a minute, OK? :-D

Sean @ KOB

P.S.: N5XZS, did you see any of the killer propagation Friday morning? We had reports of rescans that pulled in stations 300-400 miles away, with one viewer getting a Florida station.

That's a very good news, for KNMD-DT moving to channel 8 and crank up TX power around 30 KW ERP if approved by the FCC!!

6-18-09

Can someone please tell me what's so great about channel 9 (KNMD)?

Hello SeanA,

No, I missed the E-skips on Friday, and I am hoping the TV skips season would get better.:D

Sean, any plan for local news in HD this year or is going to be next year?

Thanks for your hard work on getting the KOB-DT digital transition a smooth sailing!!:)

6-18-09

Lujan,

Many reason, why many TV viewer like have a 2nd PBS HD station and more channels to watch.

KNMD-DT channel 9, "Soon to be channel 8?" Carry 9.1 PBS World HD and 9.2 PBS Create a 24/7 about home cooking and home tools project. "SD 480i"

If the FCC approves KNMD-DT's request for a channel changes and TX power upgrade to 5.140 KW ERP and it should be pretty easy to switch over fairly quickly!!:)

6-18-09

When I use a TIVO-HD to scan the channels or Comcast Santa Fe, I see
KOAT-DT, KNME-DT, KQRE-DT etc at 7-1, 5-1, ani 13.3.

However KOB-DT doesn't show up anyplace, any ideas?

Soundstage!

For some reason 5-1 no longer shows it anymore.......

Can someone please tell me what's so great about channel 9 (KNMD)?

Soundstage!

For some reason 5-1 no longer shows it anymore.......

Now that's a good reason, IMHO.:)

Soundstage!

For some reason 5-1 no longer shows it anymore.......

I have been seeing it on 9-1 (I think).

But it has not looked very good. And IIRC, there were at least a couple episodes that were letterboxed into a 4:3 window in a 16:9 frame. Shades of non-anamorphic DVD's.

Boo. Hiss!

Brian

Just let us catch our breath for a minute, OK? :-D



Congrats on surviving the NBC whammy, too! NBC changing satellite distribution format in the same time frame as you were getting ready to pull the analog. You and your KOAT/KRQE counterparts should have a celebratory beer because ABC and CBS pulled that stunt on their affiliates, too!

I'll let you have a breather before I bug you about Fallon and Universal Sports. :D

Little off topic.....

I just heard FCC has granted a power upgrade making KRKE-AM on 1600 KHz, a 2nd 50 KW station in Albuquerque radio market!:)

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101315736&formid=301&fac_num=65257

It will be only running, in daytime hours for 50 KW and nighttime hours running at 175 watts!:eek:

Now back on topic.....:D

I am going to E-mail, to KOAT-DT and KASA-DT to see they have anay plans to add new subchannels since they got plenty of room since they use 720p mode.

6-22-09

I am going to E-mail, to KOAT-DT and KASA-DT to see they have anay plans to add new subchannels since they got plenty of room since they use 720p mode.

6-22-09

GAH. Don't do that at least not to KOAT. They have IMO the best looking HD picture here, probably because they use just about all of their frequency for the main channel.

I believe Fox uses a different system than the other majors. Each affiliate gets an MPEG-2 stream at about 13 Mbps, which they aren't allowed to compress. But what they do with the other remaining ~6Mbps is their business.

Yeah stop with all the bandwidth-robbing subchannels. please. Just because you can doesn't mean you should. No one watches them anyway. Hopefully they will all just wither away on the vine for want of viewers/sponsors.

I'll add: I was actually thinking about getting a mass email campaign together to let KRQE and KOAT know that we appreciate the video quality due to them sticking to just one main channel.

I'll add: I was actually thinking about getting a mass email campaign together to let KRQE and KOAT know that we appreciate the video quality due to them sticking to just one main channel.

Yeah stop with all the bandwidth-robbing subchannels. please. Just because you can doesn't mean you should. No one watches them anyway. Hopefully they will all just wither away on the vine for want of viewers/sponsors.

I agree, I never watch the subchannels (-2, -3, etc.). In fact, I remove them after scanning.

That's very true, but don't you think 720p's bitrate needs to be that high since it's progressive scan don't seem much the differences between low end of 11 MBs to 17 MBs bit rates?

Beside interlace scans, is much more venerable to added subchannels don't you think?:)

As for the programmings taste for the subchannels here in Albuquerque's TV market is pretty poor IMHO, except for few good ones PBS subchannels and the KOB-DT' weather channel.:)

I know there are TV veiwers here in Albuquerque's TV market want to get RTN, This-TV, .2 Network, American one Network and few others.

I also forgot one other station also have 720p is KASY-DT!:o

Anyway, I noted that last night there was a weak E-skips on channel 2 but sadly it did not last very long since is amost midnight.

6-23-09

I was hoping direct tv would add knme-hd but not now. knme says anyone could add the hd feeds so why are providers not carrying hd pbs?

That's very true, but don't you think 720p's bitrate needs to be that high since it's progressive scan don't seem much the differences between low end of 11 MBs to 17 MBs bit rates?

Beside interlace scans, is much more venerable to added subchannels don't you think?:)

As for the programmings taste for the subchannels here in Albuquerque's TV market is pretty poor IMHO, except for few good ones PBS subchannels and the KOB-DT' weather channel.:)

I know there are TV veiwers here in Albuquerque's TV market want to get RTN, This-TV, .2 Network, American one Network and few others.

I also forgot one other station also have 720p is KASY-DT!:o

Anyway, I noted that last night there was a weak E-skips on channel 2 but sadly it did not last very long since is amost midnight.

6-23-09

Yes, 720p needs less bitrate than 1080i, but 11Mbps is certainly too low. I remember, maybe a year ago, that it seemed KOAT upped their bitrate and I saw a dramatic increase in picture quality.

KASY can launch 6 sub-channels for all I care... except during Dallas Cowboys pre-season games, thats the only time I ever watch that channel.

What would it cost for another transmitter to be put up on Sandia Peak? Surely some of those antenna have some room left on them. A full 6Mhz frequency could pretty easily support 4 480i channels.

Lobosrul,

Those transmitter, can go any where between $ 5K to $ 1,000+K depending on how much transmit power that you want.

Not only that you must add the extra cost of lots of other stuffs, like studio to link microwave gear and of course the FCC licensing fees.:eek:

Best to hire someones, that's do kind of FCC paperwork.

Yes there are plenty of empty channels like channel 11, 16, 21, 23, 32, 41 and 50 and maybe more!:)

6-23-09

Anyone else having issues with KOAT? sine the conversion the signal quality is horrible either OTA or even on Dishnetwork Lots of breakups and pixalation..

I checked 7-1 on Comcast just now and it looks fine here.
JR

Shame Shame Albuquerque...

I just read that a TV station in Burlington, Vermont (which is 93rd in the top 100 TV markets) went high-def where Albuquerque (which is 44th in the top TV markets) has NOT ONE. I feel like we are in a third world country sometimes. I guess I should be happy we at least now have the info crawls in HD for our locals stations.

http://www.stationindex.com/tv/tv-markets

Anyone else having issues with KOAT? sine the conversion the signal quality is horrible either OTA or even on Dishnetwork Lots of breakups and pixalation..

Yes, I've noticed the same since the conversion and was thinking of emailing the chief engineer at KOAT. If more people do it, they may do something about it. I have a Dish 622 receiver.

Anyone else having issues with KOAT? sine the conversion the signal quality is horrible either OTA or even on Dishnetwork Lots of breakups and pixalation..

We have been seeing occasional bits of pixilation and audio drop outs. Were they one of the stations to go VHF from UHF?

My attic antenna is a CM UHF model (4221, I think), so I assume that was the cause, but I guess not. I am pretty close to the crest (Academy/Tramway) and never had problem before.

Brian

Yes KOAT-HD moved back to channel 7 (VHF). I haven't noticed any problems with KOAT since sorting out my VHF receiving problem. Then again if its really sporadic maybe I just never saw it. I've watched very little on ABC this summer.

Does anyone have proper EPG data for KNME 35-1 HD on their Dish receiver? My ViP 722 has no program data for that channel. All the rest of the ABQ local OTA channels are fine, including the KNME ATSC SD subchannels.

By adding a Clearstream C-5 VHF element to my DB-8 UHF Bowtie and using a low loss UHF/VHF signal combiner at the mast I am now getting all the ABQ stations perfectly locked at 80% - 100% signal strength here in Espanola. No RF preamp needed :)

.....G

guru: do you get hd on dish for knme? direct tv does not carry this. let me know so i can complain. thanks

Does anyone have proper EPG data for KNME 35-1 HD on their Dish receiver? My ViP 722 has no program data for that channel. All the rest of the AGQ local OTA channels are fine, including the KNME ATSC SD subchannels.

.....G

My 722 is getting guide data for KNME 005-01 (broadcast on physical channel 35) just fine.

I use a rooftop antenna. The EPG data for KNME-HD is merged into the Dish EPG.

I was hoping direct tv would add knme-hd but not now. knme says anyone could add the hd feeds so why are providers not carrying hd pbs?

I imagine Directv is working on launching smaller DMAs and HDs for reasonable DMAs before doing PBS HD additions. I don't recall seeing a new PBS HD addition for awhile now.

Weird. I see guide data only in the leftmost column on 035-1 and 005-1. All the other columns say "no info available." When I move ahead in the guide it's still only the leftmost column that has data. I think I'll remove all the OTA channels and then re-add them and see what happens.

I tried to add 9.1 yesterday on my 622 but got no signal. Does anyone know what the digital channel number is for 9.1? I am only adding it because I heard they are broadcasting "Soundstage" there.

Okay, 'twas a corrupted dB on the 722. Deleted all OTA channels and saved. Rescanned OTAs and saved. Forced EPG update with a Check Switch and now all is well. 35-1 is gone from the guide and is correctly remapped to 005-1. All EPG data is populated and correct.

.....G

guru: this is a shame as knme-hd would be a big plus for direct tv. even comcast carried the "national fed" of pbs! i can't believe it is bandwith issue with some of the lame stations carried by direct tv in hd. i will call, write and bug direct tv until we get knme-hd!! thanks jack

The FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making regarding the move of KNMD from 9 to 8. There's now a comment period open for 30 days. Assuming no objections, the FCC will then approve it.

- Trip

So last week(ish) 13 added then removed their HD wings. Now tonight I see KOAT is using some. Theirs, however, look really good! It even looks like it may be animated. Whoo, one more step in the market towards glorious HD!

I was in Houston last week and EVERY station was airing news in HD. And I saw a lot of HD syndie shows too. Someday we'll get more than Doc Phil, Wheel/Jeop, Desperate Housewives and American Chopper. )Huh, didnt realize we actually had 5 shows.) Am I missing any more?

I tried to add 9.1 yesterday on my 622 but got no signal. Does anyone know what the digital channel number is for 9.1? I am only adding it because I heard they are broadcasting "Soundstage" there.

I guess since no one replied that 9.1 is on digital channel 9 and that the signal is just not strong enough for me to get because it's from Santa Fe.

If they move to ch8 and boost power, you should be good to go, if you have a vhf ant.
JR

If they move to ch8 and boost power, you should be good to go, if you have a vhf ant.
JR

Sounds good, thanks jerrich!

I guess since no one replied that 9.1 is on digital channel 9 and that the signal is just not strong enough for me to get because it's from Santa Fe.

I'm in Santa Fe and I can't get it with my current outdoor antenna. According to websites I've seen, it is broadcast from the antenna farm on Sandia mountain. It is low power so that is why it is difficult to receive.

I'm in Santa Fe and I can't get it with my current outdoor antenna. According to websites I've seen, it is broadcast from the antenna farm on Sandia mountain. It is low power so that is why it is difficult to receive.

those coverage maps on the FCC website are a joke! It says you should be able to get KNMD in Santa Fe, but you are proof of not being able to. It says I shoudl be able to get KCHF (if I even cared) here in Albuquerque but I can't becuase there is the north end of the sandias in the way.

The FCC should sue and get a full refund to that company that produced the coverage maps for them because they aren't reality, they are sprinked with fairy dust.

dfergie or anybody in SE NM.

Are KOCT, KOBR or KBIM are they full power, broadcasting HD OTA yet, or are they just running 480p?

I live in Lubbock and would like to try to pick up KOBR with my Funke PSP-1922, maybe KBIM tropo.

While I agree that the FCC coverage maps are a joke, I have received KNMD in both Santa Fe and the White Rock area with just a simple dipole. The key was that the antenna was outdoors, literally line of sight to the Crest, and I used a sensitive tuner, the Zenith DTT901.

I can receive KNMD DT9 just fine at my home in the Jemez, 40 miles from the Crest and just 4 miles from the KCHF DT10 tower. This is with an outdoor antenna. Neither transmitter is LOS from my home because of many trees, but I don't believe that there is any geology in either path.

My mother-in-law was interested in getting KNMD but lives in the Pojoaque Valley (between Santa Fe and Espanola), 52 miles from the Crest and a 2 edge path. Her existing outdoor antenna showed just a hint of a signal on the DTT901, nowhere near enough to get a lock.

Always up for a reception challenge, I built a 12 element single channel yagi for KNMD and added a CM7777 preamp. Reception is just good enough to get a lock. But not bad for a station 52 miles away running just 200 watts ERP. A db or two less and it wouldn't be watchable.

Hopefully KNMD will be able to move to channel 8 with increased power and all these reception issues will go away.

Trip or anyones, know what the FCC's proposed rule making number are on the FCC's website on KNMD-DT asking for moving to channel 8?

Thanks!!:)

6-29-09

Trip or anyones, know what the FCC's proposed rule making number are on the FCC's website on KNMD-DT asking for moving to channel 8?

Thanks!!:)

6-29-09

The relevant numbers are RM-11542 and the Docket number is 09-110.

- Trip

Thanks Trip,

It's looks like it's too early, for anyones has yet to file a comments on the FCC's website.:)

Here's the link and just type 09-110....

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/comsrch_v2.cgi

That way you guys can check it out from day to day!!:D

6-29-09

Well boys and girls,

It's end of era, for the last full power analog station in NM went off the air today is KOB-TV channel 4......

KOB-TV 1948 to 2009, boy it must been a long ride for those folks working for KOB-TV.

Not sure time they went off the air, and did they show some history tape of KOB-TV's timeline or not?

But at the bright side more room for TV DXing!!:D

6-30-09

Did you guys, see the TV skips tonight?:)

I found one lonely analog nightnight station, on channel 3 I think is coming from Northeast!!:)

The signal is somewhat poor, at around P 3.5 out of P5 with some color locking in and some sounds audio carrier, the E-skips last from 8 pm till around after 8:30 PM.

Sadly, no luck on IDing the unkown station from some where in N.E. areas in midwest or back east.:(

Still no luck on digital signal skips yet but will keep trying.

If you have a TV skip reports, then post it here please!!:)

7-1-09

I saw some Es for just a few minutes last night around 5 pm on ch 2. A bit of a puzzle as the heading was SSE, but the programing was all in English. A cartoon and some PSAs.

I've seen stations from Mexico on channels 2 and 3 quite a few times since the analog shutdown. With KOB now off, that will open up another channel for DXing.

I think we have lost track of the problem of channel 9, IIRC. Channel 11 was broadcasting digital on 10. The problem is that they are located far from the Crest and thus the signals path lengths can vary with atmospherics. Their power was low and because of the separation adjacent channels have interference (beating) when operated at comparable powers. The solutions are:
Move ch 10 to 11.
Move ch 9 to 8 and raise its power--hard to challenge ch 7.
Move ch 10 or 11 to the Crest.

You can have a string of adjacent digital channels but only if the are co-located and powers are like. This is all my misunderstanding.
-Ken

There is one problem though, by moving the digital signal to channel 11 is the FM station's signal spill over on channel 11 thanks to 2nd harmonic.

Causing the set top boxs or Digital TV's receivers to work harder to lock it in the KCHF-DT' signal.

In that case you need a very good FM trap!:D

7-5-09

Don't know about the rest of you, but KBIM HD looks good here south of Carlsbad... KOBR is SD when it comes in KOCT is HD when it comes in (I can get in my camper from it's antenna)

Fred Jerina, if you're logged on, I saw your pictures on KRQE last night.
JR

jerrich, thanks. I just found out this morning it was on the air. Hope you liked it.

Fjerina,

I missed the KRQE-DT's newscast, and what story is about maybe starting a new HD local newscast?:D

BTW,
TV skips was back again last night around 9PM mostly channel 2, 3 and 4 the propigation is still very poor compared 2 nights before....

Maybe tonight it might get better....:)

7-6-09

just noticed today that KOAT is using the wings during newscasts to display some purrdy round blue things. Great, well how's about some HD newscasts?

http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2009/07/09/daily.11/

- Trip

About a week ago, I sent an email to KWBQ asking if they were going to dedicate more bandwidth now that the digital transition is done. Larry Oliver (Larry <dot> Oliver at newmexicoscw <dot> tv), got back with me, and saidWe actually use all of our available bandwidth for our over the air HD broadcasts
I found that statement odd, and sent another email to him:

I am hoping you can explain the math to me?

ATSC allows for up to 19.2Mbit/s, but I realize that it is very rare
to use all of that for a single stream.

If I record an hour off of KWBQ, the file size ends up being around 5.6 gigabytes.
If I record an hour off of KRQE, the file size ends up being almost 7.1 gigabytes.
If I record an hour off of KOB, the file size ends up being around 7.6 gigabytes.

So, KWBQ is not using near as much bandwidth as either of the other
major 1080i stations in town. In the comparison to KRQE, you are
using a full 25% less bandwidth than they are.


I am actually far more concerned with how many fields you are sending
out. In an hour long show, there should be 216,000 fields at 60
fields per second. Both KOB and KRQE have 216,000 fields per hour,
but KWBQ only has around 196,000. I am really wondering if the extra
judder I see on KBWQ is because of those missing fields.

I have actually heard of a "compression" technique that some stations
employ to reduce their bandwidth -- they drop every Nth field. They
would do this to squeeze more sub-channels in. KWBQ used to have
several sub-channels, right? Any chance you used to use that
compression technique and forgot to turn it off?

Thank you for your time.

He has not responded to that email yet.

Anyone see anything wrong with my logic?


John

http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2009/07/09/daily.11/

- Trip

Ugh. I hope it uses no more than 4mbps. I hope I don't sound racist, but I really think we have enough spanish-language channels over the air here already. Theres V-me, Telefutura, Univision, Telemundo and LA-TV.

Loboruls,

You forgots, there's 2 other Spanish stations!!:)

One is analog, low power station KQDF-LP on channel 25 called Aztec TV Network and KNAT-DT 23.4 is a TBN Spanish Network.

As for KOAT-DT, I was hoping they would carry THIS-TV Network......

But the good news is KFAC-LD on channel 39.1 remapped to KTEL-DT 47.1 will be carrying RTN "Retro TV Network any day now!!:D

Can't wait to see Airwolf soon!!!

7-09-09

But the good news is KFAC-LD on channel 39.1 remapped to KTEL-DT 47.1 will be carrying RTN "Retro TV Network any day now!!:D


yeah, yeah, yeah.... ;)

I keep checking/rescanning, no Retro tv added.

BTW, it's "RTV" now. How you get "RTV" out of "Retro Television Network", I dunno.... might as well just change the channel formal name to "Retro Television" to make the RTV initials make sense.

I I just saw that Best Buy is now offering a portable HD radio for under $50. thats cheap enough for me to impulse buy one just to see what HD radio is truly like. Anyone have HD radio yet? What sort of selection is available here in The Qbuergue? I see on HDradio.com its mostly citadel radio stations. There is supposedly a Christian Rock channel on KBZU 96.3 listed as coming soon, but its always been coming soon, is this here yet or is 88.3 the only option yet?

I have had HD radio from some time now ('06 or 07) and it is only the Clear channel stations that are on. None of the Citadel ones. They have been "coming soon" since I first installed mine in the car.

There is a bit more dynamic range in the sound quality. You can tell when the receiver goes from analog to digital. But that's about it. The stations all have secondary channels, dot-2's if you will, that program a different version of the music on the main channel. On 94.7, the Hd-2 channel is classic/oldies rock. On 95.1 it's more hip-hop than their HD-1. The same with country station. And I think that KUNM is also digital.

The best feature is the Song/Artist info you get. But most newer car radios read RDS and it offers the same info.

My tuner does not offer the iTunes taggin feature though, so I am curious how well that works.

my .02

The stations all have secondary channels, dot-2's if you will, that program a different version of the music on the main channel. On 94.7, the Hd-2 channel is classic/oldies rock. On 95.1 it's more hip-hop than their HD-1. The same with country station. And I think that KUNM is also digital.


KUNM (and the other educ station KANW) do not have HD-2 or HD-3's, they just have their main station in digital that sounds slightly better than the FM. I don't know why HD sounds clearer than analog FM unless analog FM is not close to CD quality or unless HD is 5.1 audio instead of L-R 2 channel.

What is impressive is the AM HD Radio station KRZY. I don't care for spanish music, but the music sounds normal AM telephone-like quality in analog but in HD mode is pretty clean and increased dynamic range. I wish the Sports Animal or KKOB would be in HD radio format so I could listen to games and talk shows in higher fidelity and feel like I'm sitting in the studio or the ballpark broadcast booth.

I just took the HD radio plunge. I've been waiting for a HD tuner to go sub $50 before picking one up and on the Fourth of July, there was a deal for a HD radio and car install kit for $35 delivered so I went for it. the radio came a couple of days ago and I've been playing with it from a hobbyist point of view until my favorite stations go HD.

I don't know what the deal with Citadel is - maybe with the cost of the gear they are getting cold feet about going HD Radio. It certainly can't be equipment shortages because I'm not seeing what demand would cause that.

Here's the list of HD radio stations that I can recieve with my Sony HD radio!:)

1240 KHz KALY-AM Disney radio

1450 KHz KRZY-AM Spanish

89.1 KANW-FM APS owned station, no subchannel.

89.9 KUNM-FM NPR, no subchannel

94.1 KZZR-FM Rock music, .2 Heavy Metal

95.1 KSYU-FM Blues music, .2 Rap Music

100.3 KPEK-FM Moderm AC music, .2 The Music summit

104.1 KTEG-FM Aternative music, .2 Radio/Radio "That's a weard way of naming the subchannel!"

104.7 KABQ-FM Smoth Jazz, .2 Classic Aternative

107.9 KBQI-FM Country music, .2 Mother Trucker music

I found the website, but may not be up to date......

http://www.hdradio.com/find_an_hd_digital_radio_station.php

There will be some more new HD radio stations here in the Albuquerque's radio market.:)

7-13-09

Thanks guys. It sounds like HD radio is still not worth it even at $49 bucks or $29 with reward zone coupons. Just not enough out there. Perhaps a BluRay player now that the Insignia one was dropped to $99 to match the memorex at Walmart. I think $79 is a nice price to get a bluray player.

BluRay player now that the Insignia one was dropped to $99 to match the memorex at Walmart. I think $79 is a nice price to get a bluray player.

Is that the bare-bone bluray player or does it include features like interactivity?

I think I should go price bluray burners and see if it make sense now to buy an inexpensive player and see what burners cost. I have almost 500mb of HD material on a hard drive waiting to burn to bluray when the cost of burners and players become enticing to me.

yeah. Play Pause Forward Reverse and a bunch others, But the key is it plays movies. thats enough for me.

Breaking news.......

KTVS-LP has gone digital, on channel 36.1 running at 15 KW ERP and my Insignia STB showing at 80 % signal strength.:)

The call letter is now KTVS-LD.

This is the 2nd digital low power stations to go on the air, since KFAC-LD went on the air few weeks ago.....

KFAC-LD is still testing, and relaying KTEL-LP and re-branding as the station's ID calling itself KTEL-DT 47.1 which should be id's as KFAC-LD 39.1, anyway this station will be a RTN "Retro TV Network" which should be on anytime soon!!:D

At the same time KAZQ-DT has shut down 32.3 that was carrying KTVS-LP, in the meantime not sure what they will do to the 2nd subchannel.

Also keep the eye on KQDF-LP channel 25, which has been off the air for a few days may go flash cut to digital anytime soon.

Hoping they will move to the Sandia Crest, and go on the air in digital and run at 15 KW ERP for soon to be KQDF-LD.

7-14-09

Perhaps a BluRay player now that the Insignia one was dropped to $99 to match the memorex at Walmart. I think $79 is a nice price to get a bluray player.

Yes that's a bargain entry price to blu. For anyone interested in going upscale, the Oppo BH83 universal player is now selling to the public at $500. It will be interesting to see how it compares to the $2500-3500 players from Denon and Pioneer.
JR

Can get all the OTA channels I used to get, except KOAT-DT and KRQE-DT. I use a roof-mounted antenna feeding a Media Center PC. Any ideas?

I remember a couple of years ago, I had to "trick" the Media Center application into tuning a different channel for each of those two stations... perhaps that must be re-accomplished? If so, I cannot remember the steps.

Can get all the OTA channels I used to get, except KOAT-DT and KRQE-DT. I use a roof-mounted antenna feeding a Media Center PC. Any ideas?

I remember a couple of years ago, I had to "trick" the Media Center application into tuning a different channel for each of those two stations... perhaps that must be re-accomplished? If so, I cannot remember the steps.

You have a VHF antenna, right? Those are the two stations which moved from UHF to VHF during the cut-over. KOAT was UHF 21, and is now VHF 7. KRQE was UHF 16 and is now VHF 13.

If you do have a VHF antenna, then is is probably just a matter if re-scanning so your system can find them in their new locations.

John

No, my "HD" antenna is 14+, or UHF. Guess I won't watch ABC or CBS unless they restore UHF signal...

IAM4UK,

It's shouldn't be that hard to get VHF channels, by just buying a new antenna and I get channel 7, 9, 10 and 13 very well with just a indoor antenna Terk TV 50 and the signal strenth are in the 80's.:)

7-15-09

No, my "HD" antenna is 14+, or UHF. Guess I won't watch ABC or CBS unless they restore UHF signal...

Yeah, personally I think it was stupid for them not to stick with their UHF assignments. A lot of people bought "HDTV" antennas which are just UHF, and now are stuck with having to buy a new one.

At least you don't need a "full" VHF antenna. You just need what is called a Hi-VHF (or high VHF). The Hi-VHF antennas are a little cheaper, and much smaller than a full VHF. Something like the Winegard HD7694P (VHF, UHF) would work:

http://www.winegard.com/offair/zone3.php

Or the Channel Master CM-2018

http://www.channelmaster.com/product-overview.php?proID=32&catID=33


John

TV skips alert!!! Go check it out!! go to channel 2 to 6 and try ether analog or digital modes.:D

No id's yet, but if I do I will report any station's call letter...

7-15-09

Can get all the OTA channels I used to get, except KOAT-DT and KRQE-DT. I use a roof-mounted antenna feeding a Media Center PC. Any ideas?

I remember a couple of years ago, I had to "trick" the Media Center application into tuning a different channel for each of those two stations... perhaps that must be re-accomplished? If so, I cannot remember the steps.

I had that problem too and I have an antenna that gets upper VHF. The problem on my computer is that it retained the old channel assignments when I used the setup function to scan digital channels.

The solution was to delete those channels from a file on my computer. On my Vista computer the file is: C:\Users\All Users\Microsoft\eHome\EPG\prefs\atscchannels.xml. I renamed the file atscchannels1.xml, opened the file, copied the contents into notepad to edit out those channels, then saved the results as file name atscchannels.xml in the same location where the original file was located. I then went into Media Center setup to add those channels back and that fixed my problem.

Note: I orginally tried to just rename the file, then run TV setup in Media Center again. It didn't work. Media Center somehow recreated the file with the old channel assignments.

Thanks, Rob. I got a nice reply from KOAT to my online message asking if they were forever abandoning their UHF bandwidth (they are, and apparently that bandwidth for their HDTV signal had only been a temporary assignment during the DT + analog days). I re-scanned several times in Vista Media Center, and can again receive KOAT-DT and KRQE-DT via my Winegard Square Shooter antenna.

Meanwhile, I had ordered a SiliconDust HD HomeRun as a workaround (I can get "Clear QAM" from Comcast this way, and the HDHR tricks Vista Media Center into allowing it. Win7MC apparently does not need to be tricked.) The upside will be that I will have three tuners for capturing and recording network HDTV on my HTPC.

Also keep the eye on KQDF-LP channel 25, which has been off the air for a few days may go flash cut to digital anytime soon.


hmmm, every time I've checked since your post, channel 25 has been in analog. I haven't seen it off the air or flash-cut to digital.

I can verify channel 36 is digital now, per your original posting. I had to call my sis to tell her to add channel 36 to her digital converter setup since that is one of her favorite stations.

KOB-DT having audio issues with the Jimmy Fallon show now - like no audio!

I have CC turned on so I can keep up until the figure out their fubar.

KOB should just air fallon at 11:35pm because their night crew probably can't even tape delay a single show right (audio tonight, usually missing the opening theme other nights, usually lots of starts and stops and other playback issues other nights, etc). Take it right off sat at 11:35pm and make it easy. The housewives can watch their Access in the afternoon on KOB when its first aired.

Speaking of CC on our local news is horrible, they scrow up too fast and they do and in a interview tape shots or a live shots CC only on the show Question part but they do not answer part on CC!!:(

Why can't they hire's full time realtime captioners, and they should know this is a big TV market right now since we are at top # 44 in the country?

As you know I am hard of hearing for all of my life and also many other too as well should have not to put up with that sloppy cc scripts from 4 local news stations.....

Anyhoo......

As for KQDF-LP, I thought they went off the air by going to flash cut to digital, but I was wrong on that and they went back up on the air in analog.

It may be maybe a tech problems on their part.:)

7-23-09

I wonder, after seeing the promo for Season 9 (yeah Ninth season) of smallville, if we could get KWBQ to get off their ass and get their 5.1 Audio going.

I wonder, after seeing the promo for Season 9 (yeah Ninth season) of smallville, if we could get KWBQ to get off their ass and get their 5.1 Audio going.

If you want to ask them, and don't have it: Larry <dot> Oliver <at> newmexicoscw <dot> tv


John

yeah sent him a link. also looking for my Phone number for Stan Gill from when he personally called me a few years ago. Maybe he will read this and can call me again. I dropped a line from their Contact Us page.

I certainly am getting tired of the "soon" response for 5.1. I heard KNAT is planning to add 5.1 soon too. I wonder who will get there first. Maybe Telemundo?

I placed this post in the Samsung HLR thread:

************************
"Model: HLR5678

My TV Guide on Screen is no longer filling in. All channels are showing "No Listing".

Things were working fine until just a few days ago. I believe the information was coming on a subcarrier to PBS Analog Channel 5 over the air.

I have an outside antenna connected to the "over the air" input and Comcast cable (no settop box) connected to the other RF input.

I have set the zip code to 00000 as some have suggested and unplugged the set for about 30 minutes. When I powered back up and went into the Guide it prompted me for the information: Zip Code, Over the Air Input & Cable input. I waited the usual overnight period for the guide information to populate, but no joy?

I have rescanned the channels and they are showing up in the Guide.

Where has the TVGOS information been moved to? and why does it no longer appear? If it's been moved to a digital channel perhaps this Samsung's RVGOS will no longer work?

My wife really likes the TVGOS because it's the slickest way to switch between over the air signals and cable signals.

Anyone have any ideas?"
***********************************


I got the following response from a knowledgeable "wbertram"

**********************
"The HL-Rxxx8 series TVs will not receive TVGOS from digital channels. TVGOS will only work if your cable company puts the TVGOS data on an analog channel.

Some have done this, some will not. You will have to talk to your cable company."

************************

We really like and use the onscreen TV Guide.

Do any of you have a friendly contact with local Comcast? or does anyone know if Comcast plans on passing the TVGOS signal through to us?

Perhaps I need to ping on Samsung to get us a firmware update that pulls the info from OTA HD???


Thanks,
Geo.

It seems like KOAT is finally able to display shows such as Oprah and ET in HD. It only took about 11 months but it's finally happened. They tell me they will be doing more and more.

Yep,

Saw that starting yesterday, about time!

Now can we have some local HD news........

It seems like KOAT is finally able to display shows such as Oprah and ET in HD. It only took about 11 months but it's finally happened. They tell me they will be doing more and more.

that would depend on the syndicators how much more KOAT can do in HD with regards to syndication programming. I haven't seen the HD info for the 2009-2010 season that starts in September, so I don't know if the number of syndies in HD will dramatically jump or if just a few more will be added in HD for the upcoming season.

that would depend on the syndicators how much more KOAT can do in HD with regards to syndication programming. I haven't seen the HD info for the 2009-2010 season that starts in September, so I don't know if the number of syndies in HD will dramatically jump or if just a few more will be added in HD for the upcoming season.

I think the engineer I spoke to was referring to shows already filmed in HD such as "Regis and Kelly". They got the necessary equipment in order to convert 1080i to 720p.

Good news for KNMD-DT!!:) FCC has approved KNMD-DT's plan to change channel to 8 and upgrade the TX power.

Here's the link....

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-1757A1.pdf

Next step is to file a CP permit to the FCC for the change.

Not much else going on here, so back to TV DXing!!:D

8-6-09

Update news on K38IM-LP,

K38IM-LP "3ABN" has filed to FCC, for moving to channel 31 and flash cut to digital and run at 7.660 KW ERP

Here's the link to the FCC's database website.....

https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101326460&formid=346&fac_num=40743

That's the news!!

8-8-09

I am so glad KOAT got the necessary equipment to allow the HD syndicated shows to be shown in HD. I thought this would never come. I saw ET last night and now watching Kelly and Regis in HD. Looks good.

Okay, 'twas a corrupted dB on the 722. Deleted all OTA channels and saved. Rescanned OTAs and saved. Forced EPG update with a Check Switch and now all is well. 35-1 is gone from the guide and is correctly remapped to 005-1. All EPG data is populated and correct.

.....G

I'm not currently gettin guide data on my 722 for channel 9. Did this procedure fix that problem for you? I talked to Dish and they told me that the guide data wasn't available for the local market for this channel. Thanks.

I just noted that KOAT-DT, is now testing a new subchannel on 7.2 with color bars......

It will be a fulltime Spanish channel called Estrella-TV.

As for KFAC-LD channel 39.1 remapped as KTEL-DT ch. 47.1, is still foot dragging on carrying RTN "Retro TV Network"......:(

That's the news update!!:)

8-13-09

Hmmm... I never added channel 9.1 KMND just 5.1 KNME. My 722 died last night :-( so dish is sending me a replacement. When it arrives, I'll try adding 9.1. Perhaps another forum member is receiving it and can reply in the meantime. Are they still in 720p?

.....G

KNMD-DT, is sending in 1080i format....... Hoply soon they will move to channel 8 and crank up TX power.:)

8-13-09

Big middle finger to KASY for not showing the Cowboys game to fans in Central New Mexico in HD (and in some stupid letterbox format that made the picture seem like a postage stamp).

Thankfully I watched the game in HD on my big backyard dish and I know that local sponsors won't be getting my eyeballs for the final 3 exhibition games since I"ll be watching it in HD.

BTW, not an embarassment to lose to the Raiders in preseason. Had this been regular season, it would be.

Yeah, I don't understand what KASY's deal was last night. They had the games in HD last year. At least next Friday the Cowboys are on FOX. And about the game, the Cowboys first team O was only out there for two series, and they scored one TD. Our top two corners were out, and at least one of Oaklands TD's came against our 2nd unit D with their 1st unit O out there.

I just noted that KOAT-DT, is now testing a new subchannel on 7.2 with color bars......

It will be a fulltime Spanish channel called Estrella-TV.

As for KFAC-LD channel 39.1 remapped as KTEL-DT ch. 47.1, is still foot dragging on carrying RTN "Retro TV Network"......:(

That's the news update!!:)

8-13-09

They also have the left and right bars on their local news on 7.1 as well. It just fills the 16X9 screen but is not in HD.

At least next Friday the Cowboys are on FOX. And about the game, the Cowboys first team O was only out there for two series, and they scored one TD.

I assume one of the FOX games is next week when the Cowboys play their first preseason game in their new stadium. FOX is a good thing because you know the game will be in HD.

I feel for Broncos fans tonight - the game is being offered to the Broncos TV network in SD and HD, and KWBQ only took the SD feed.

Too bad KASA, KOB, KOAT or KRQE really can't preempt network programming to show the regional local-interest team telecasts in HD when we are stuck with SD from ACME.


As for preseason, it's hard to take any result seriously since the full timers are only playing for no more than a half and usually just a quarter.

Any rumors lately about our local station going HD for their news shows???

NFL Network shows the game to be on at 5pm Sunday....

NFL Network shows the game to be on at 5pm Sunday....

Thats a replay.

Thats a replay.

At least it's in HD. :D

The NFL did a great job with this preseason - they got the preseason individual team rightsholders to produce every game in HD and NFL Network will show in HD each preseason game - some live and most tape-delayed.

(and in some stupid letterbox format that made the picture seem like a postage stamp).

My understanding is that this is the coming thing, like it or not. I think it is bw related. :(
JR

KASY-DT, has been the sloppiest station that I ever known but then again they have not train their crew well.:p

Let's hopes, they get it right 2nd time around when the next Cowboy's game comes in:)

Now back to TV DXing!!:D

8-16-09

At least it's in HD. :D

The NFL did a great job with this preseason - they got the preseason individual team rightsholders to produce every game in HD and NFL Network will show in HD each preseason game - some live and most tape-delayed.Yeah thats what I meant... I didn't watch nor do not know the score and will watch ... plus that channel is not available here in HD...

My understanding is that this is the coming thing, like it or not. I think it is bw related. :(
JR

I don't think it's much bandwidth related as it is aspect-related. I'm sure now that the transition is over, more programs will be shot for "widescreen" than for "shoot widescreen but protect the 4:3 area".

What KASY did was showed 4:3 letterbox, so you have the additional top/bottom bars so the video is widescreen and then since it was 4:3, you have the pillars on the sides also.

If I had to watch the game on KASY, I would have used my zoom button on my TV to make the pic larger, albeit not as crisp. Thankfully I have a big backyard dish and could watch the HD feed directly from the Silverstar Network. Albuquerque advertisers didn't get my eyeballs, but I saw a lot of Dallas-area ads during the game.

KNME is starting to do it also. Arghh.
JR

KASY didn't make a choice to show the game in 4:3 letterboxed to 16:9. The "SilverStar Network" sent out an HD feed, and a letterboxed SD feed. Why KASY chose the SD feed... I don't know.

This is actually a good thing when it becomes common, because it means the HD shot isn't being protected for 4:3.

The really funny looking thing during the broadcast were the 4:3 commercials. They were 4:3 inside 16:9 inside the 4:3 that KASY was broadcasting inside a 16:9 TV. TRIPLE black borders!

Sthscan, it seems like whenever KASY picks up the game they play the Dallas area ads as well anyway.

Due to a job transfer for my fiance we are relocating to Roswell,NM

What OTA options are available for that area?
Using tvfool.com doesn't show much.:(
Would local channels (major networks) only be available over satellite and/or cable there? And are any of them in HD?

Welcome to the wild, wild West Slapshot!

I see the following at http://www.antennaweb.org

uhf K15FT-D 15.1 FOX SANTA FE, NM 163°
uhf K31GS-D 31.1 PBS PORTALES, NM 164°
uhf KRPV-DT 28.1 IND ROSWELL, NM 163°
vhf K13RK-D 13.1 ABC ALBUQUERQUE, NM 164°
vhf KOBR-DT 8.1 NBC ALBUQUERQUE, NM 99°
vhf KBIM-DT 10.1 CBS ALBUQUERQUE, NM 126°
uhf KRWB-DT 21.1 CW ROSWELL, NM 156°

So a high-gain non-directional VHF/UHF antenna should get them. And yes, you can also get the local networks in HD over DishNetwork or DirectTV. I'm 60 miles north of ABQ and I use a DB8 antenna for UHF and a C5 antenna for VHF http://www.antennasdirect.com both mounted on the same mast.

Due to a job transfer for my fiance we are relocating to Roswell,NM

What OTA options are available for that area?
Using tvfool.com doesn't show much.:(
Would local channels (major networks) only be available over satellite and/or cable there? And are any of them in HD?I live about 80 miles south of Roswell and get CBS in HD and sometimes ABC but these are from local translators, from Satellite, Dish offers the big 4 in HD (Directv does also, but the spotbeam doesn't reach where I am, it might reach down to Roswell) The NBC affiliate is labeled as HD but maybe the local translator does not pass it through... be forewarned all the Networks come from Albuquerque so we are stuck with crawls if there is any bad weather in the state...

n5xzs: when will direct tv broadcast knme in hd? even comcrap had the pbs national feed in hd.

Jack8219,

It's just matter of time, when they can find some room to uplink KNME-DT or KNMD-DT on a current satellite.

Plan, 2 is just wait for a new satellite go up in the fall winter time frame.

That's far know I about it......:)

8-17-09

Due to a job transfer for my fiance we are relocating to Roswell,NM

What OTA options are available for that area?
Using tvfool.com doesn't show much.:(
Would local channels (major networks) only be available over satellite and/or cable there? And are any of them in HD?

You will need an outdoor antenna to get HD versions of ABC, CBS and NBC (if they do HD). 8.1, 10.1 and 6.1 towers are all over 40 miles away from Roswell. Other DTV sources are translators and much less likely to offer HD. As dfergie said ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX are available on Dish and Direct in HD out of Albuquerque since the Albuquerque DMA unfortunately covers nearly the entire state.

There never has been a guide for channel 9. I suppose we are luck to get separate ones for 5.1 and 5.2 although they now have the same programming. 19.1 guide just seems to be for 8814 and maybe they are now using 8816 for 5.1 and 5.2.
-Ken

I live about 80 miles south of Roswell and get CBS in HD and sometimes ABC but these are from local translators, from Satellite, Dish offers the big 4 in HD (Directv does also, but the spotbeam doesn't reach where I am, it might reach down to Roswell) The NBC affiliate is labeled as HD but maybe the local translator does not pass it through... be forewarned all the Networks come from Albuquerque so we are stuck with crawls if there is any bad weather in the state...

I think they do get NBC HD as I remember visiting in early June and seeing the Stanley Cup playoffs in HD on NBC.
At least I hope!

Is there often bad weather in NM? Hmmm,may have to rethink this move!:rolleyes:

Welcome to the wild, wild West Slapshot!

I see the following at http://www.antennaweb.org

uhf K15FT-D 15.1 FOX SANTA FE, NM 163°
uhf K31GS-D 31.1 PBS PORTALES, NM 164°
uhf KRPV-DT 28.1 IND ROSWELL, NM 163°
vhf K13RK-D 13.1 ABC ALBUQUERQUE, NM 164°
vhf KOBR-DT 8.1 NBC ALBUQUERQUE, NM 99°
vhf KBIM-DT 10.1 CBS ALBUQUERQUE, NM 126°
uhf KRWB-DT 21.1 CW ROSWELL, NM 156°

So a high-gain non-directional VHF/UHF antenna should get them. And yes, you can also get the local networks in HD over DishNetwork or DirectTV. I'm 60 miles north of ABQ and I use a DB8 antenna for UHF and a C5 antenna for VHF http://www.antennasdirect.com both mounted on the same mast.

Santa Fe and Albuquerque are almost 200 miles away.
You think that's possible? Or would I be getting them from a repeater/translator.
How high would I have to mount it you think?

I think they do get NBC HD as I remember visiting in early June and seeing the Stanley Cup playoffs in HD on NBC.
At least I hope!

Is there often bad weather in NM? Hmmm,may have to rethink this move!:rolleyes:Roswell might but we don't... I get it from Dish though... just the typical summer thunder storms. much warmer here in the winter than Illinois ;)

n5xzs: when will direct tv broadcast knme in hd? even comcrap had the pbs national feed in hd.

you can put up about a 36" dish with a true FTA HD receiver and get PBS National HD East and PBS National HD Pacific and some public television syndicator feeds in HD, so if you are tired of waiting for DIRECTV (and hopefully DISH in the future if they can work out the same kind of deal), then there is the option that costs you just the hardware and no PBS programming fee other than what you might feel like pledging if you enjoy the HD programming enough to do so.

sthscan: it is just not worth me putting any money in any hardware to get knme-hd. i will just have to wait until direct tv finds some band width (which seems they could find some to air pbs locals in hd). thanks but maybe in the winter it will be in hd? jack

Is there often bad weather in NM? Hmmm,may have to rethink this move!:rolleyes:Heres a summary of the Roswell weather for the year... http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=Roswell%20nm&day=19&year=2009&month=8&graphspan=year

Is there often bad weather in NM? Hmmm,may have to rethink this move!:rolleyes:

Some parts of the state can get pretty severe winter storms. But the point he was making is the Albuquerque stations break HD if there is anything more than a sprinkle ANYWHERE in the entire state and a few counties in Colorado and 1 in Arizona. And if there are school closures... lol forget about HD for the night. While we get nowhere near the amount of snow as IL were also nowhere near as well equipped for it. I've seen I-40 closed from Arizona to Texas, except a few miles in ABQ.

Some parts of the state can get pretty severe winter storms. But the point he was making is the Albuquerque stations break HD if there is anything more than a sprinkle ANYWHERE in the entire state and a few counties in Colorado and 1 in Arizona. And if there are school closures... lol forget about HD for the night. While we get nowhere near the amount of snow as IL were also nowhere near as well equipped for it. I've seen I-40 closed from Arizona to Texas, except a few miles in ABQ.

Well FWIW I will be 200 miles south of there,so perhaps a little less snow than even Albuquerque.
Will not miss the IL winters though!

Roswell might 1 or 2 snowfalls a winter, but it usually melts in a day or two. nothing sticks for very long.

Winter temperatures are usually in the 20's overnight and 40's or 50's daytime.

More news updates on KFAC-LD,

KFAC-LD, will change their call letter sometime in mid September to a new call letter KRTN-LD and add RTN's programmings on channel 39.1.:)

Not much else going on at this time.......

8-23-09

I live about 10 miles north of Jemez Springs near the Junction of Hwy 126 & Hwy 4. We're at 7800 ft. and for the past 2 years we've had Dish TV, which I consider a big waste of money.

We have an HD TV and would like to take advantage of OTA stations from Albuquerque and Santa Fe if possible.

Just wondering if there is anyone in a similar situation who could provide me with some info?

I've read through a lot of antenna info and reviews but I would like a local perspective if possible.

Thanks.

Look at www.TVFool.com and click on the "START MAPS" in the right column. Enter your Zip code or even your exact address if possible, then when the map pops up change it to satellite, find your house and look at the table below the map to see what the estimated reception is.

From the culdesac just off Obsidian Rd, it looks like KCHF-DT and KOAT-DT might be possible, maybe KRQE-DT, but most others are more difficult. Those 3 are VHF, UHF reception at that spot is at or below -14.7 noise margin and reception is doubtful.

Howdy Bill - I'm 60 miles north of ABQ and I use a DB8 antenna for UHF and a C5 antenna for VHF both from http://www.antennasdirect.com and both mounted on the same mast. These are the best UHF and VHF antennas I've ever used. No preamp is necessary.

.....G

More news update.....:)

KOB-DT and KRQE-DT, has filed to to the FCC for flash cut to digital on all of their analog relay stations all over the state of New Mexico.

Here's PDF link.....

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-293037A1.pdf

It's a big list so take your time reading it!!:D

That's the news!!

8-27-09

More news update.....:)

KOB-DT and KRQE-DT, has filed to to the FCC for flash cut to digital ...

8-27-09

What does this mean? "...flash cut to digital...".

Hello Lujan,

It's means analog relay stations, must shut down analog signal and go to digital signal on their real channel number.

Same thing here too in Albuquerque, when KFAC-LP "remapped to KTEL-DT 47.1" channel 39.1 has to flash cut to digital and they are still testing till mid September when they changes the call letter to KRTN-LD.

Hope that's help.:)

8-28-09

Hello Lujan,

It's means analog relay stations, must shut down analog signal and go to digital signal on their real channel number.

Same thing here too in Albuquerque, when KFAC-LP "remapped to KTEL-DT 47.1" channel 39.1 has to flash cut to digital and they are still testing till mid September when they changes the call letter to KRTN-LD.

Hope that's help.:)

8-28-09

Thanks!

Did anyones, pick up a TV skips late afternoon yesterday? I was getting CBUT-TV CBC from Vancouver, BC, Canada on channel 2!!:cool:

This station was running at 100 KW ERP.

The picture quality and sound was fading in and out and at some time I got a color locked in from time to time.

The video signal strength was P 3.5 out of P-5 "Perfect picture" not bad at it all for TV DXer like me!!:D

TV skips, today might pop up again sometime late afternoon and early evenings so keep the eye out for it and if you do, please report this on my thred!:)

9-1-09

As I was watching some fireworks over the city right now, I turned on my TV and DTV box which was in the window. I discovered 7.2 Estrella TV notice for a launch on the 14th. Oh God What is KOAT doing? They can barely manage one DTV channel, now they are going to leech away for some new channel?

Warning to tennis fans out there. The Directv GUIDE claims that KRQE is going to show the Jerry Lewis Telethon on Monday (September 7th) instead of the U.S. Open!

I am assuming that the guide data is wrong, since I cannot believe KRQE would be so stupid as to pre-empt the U.S. Open with programming they are also showing on their sister channel -- KASA is also showing the Jerry Lewis Telethon.

The U.S. Open starts at 9am Mountain time on CBS.

If KRQE does pre-empt the U.S. Open for the telethon, I will be making a very angry telephone call.


John

now they are going to leech away for some new channel?

How's your Spanish? :)
JR

Warning to tennis fans out there. The Directv GUIDE claims that KRQE is going to show the Jerry Lewis Telethon on Monday (September 7th) instead of the U.S. Open!

I am assuming that the guide data is wrong, since I cannot believe KRQE would be so stupid as to pre-empt the U.S. Open with programming they are also showing on their sister channel -- KASA is also showing the Jerry Lewis Telethon.

The U.S. Open starts at 9am Mountain time on CBS.


Well, they are showing tennis --- On KASA. They are showing the telethon on KRQE.

So, KASA FOX 2, has a CBS symbol in the corner.

I wonder why they decided to mess with it like that.


John

KRQE-DT, has been doing this craps for years by dumping the tennis covereges for the Jerry Lewis telethon.

But at least there is good news is being on KASA-DT, but only in 720p format it would be nice if they can send in 1080i format.....:)

As for KOAT-DT, I wish they would send in THIS-TV instead of Spanish programings, oh well you can't wish for everything that you wants.:D

9-7-09

Good news for KWBQ-DT tv fans, tomorow Directv will bring KWBQ-DT in HD to the rest of the state!!:)

That's the news!!:D

9-8-09

KQDF-LP, has filed to FCC for STA due to transmitter failure and it may take awhile to get back on the air.

KQDF-LP "Spanish" is a analog station on channel 25, they also plan to flash cut to digital at sometime in the future.

That's the News!!:)

9-8-09

Good news for KWBQ-DT tv fans, tomorow Directv will bring KWBQ-DT in HD to the rest of the state!!:)



and complaints that KNME-HD is still not carried on DIRECTV will begin in 3...2...1.... ! ;)

KOAT- I don't know what the story with estrella TV is - the channel has launched a few weeks ago and is on 2 different sats (one on c-band, one on ku-band) so it shouldn't be hard to put on their 7.2 channel unless they are waiting on a downlink dish to arrive and get installed to be used to take the feed.

KRQE- i figure US Open coverage will be back on their channel in a few years when Lewis passes. He's looking more and more frail with each year. I think it would be fun if KRQE put the US open tape-delayed monday action on TV tuesday morning at 1:35a after the 13 News 10pm replay. ;)

Estrella TV launches on September 14. Right now, the satellite is feeding a demo loop, from what I'm told.

- Trip

Right now Estrella TV, is showing the program's schedule text 24/7 till 9-14-09 on KOAT-DT ch. 7.2 and they just added music sound.

9-8-09

Good news for KWBQ-DT tv fans, tomorow Directv will bring KWBQ-DT in HD to the rest of the state!!:)


one final thought I've had on the issue. I wish DIRECTV and DISH would realize how rural our state is and make an effort to carry all the majors in HD on satellite (yes, even as poorly run as the Acme stations are, have even CW and MNTV in HD by satellite in addition to ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and local PBS). That would benefit those guys on the chile farms and livestock ranches and wind farms and so on that should be able to enjoy the major U.S. networks in HD when available and most likely live outside of urban terrestrial transmitter coverage areas to get their HD programming.

sthscan - Luckily, KASA FOX 2 carried the US Open CBS network feed in HD live all day on Monday. It was a great day of play!

Stupid KASA. I'm watching the Giants-Redskins game and they break HD in order to run a crawl of their translators (as if anybody really cares). The crawl has been gone for about 20 minutes now, but they still haven't switched back to HD. I'm so angry! When are our local stations going to join the 21st century? :mad:

Stupid KASA. I'm watching the Giants-Redskins game and they break HD in order to run a crawl of their translators (as if anybody really cares). The crawl has been gone for about 20 minutes now, but they still haven't switched back to HD. I'm so angry! When are our local stations going to join the 21st century? :mad:

Yeah, my sentiments exactly. And why exactly do they feel the need to do this? I've never seen any other channel do it. Anyone know an email address that we can complain to? Maybe if a bunch of us write angry letters someone will listen. And why does FOX still even send an SD feed out for the affiliates?

Yeah, my sentiments exactly. And why exactly do they feel the need to do this? I've never seen any other channel do it. Anyone know an email address that we can complain to? Maybe if a bunch of us write angry letters someone will listen. And why does FOX still even send an SD feed out for the affiliates? Do what? The translator crawl or forget to switch back to the network feed? KRQE does the crawl too, but in HD. I think it's part of their FCC mandated hourly station ID.

Do what? The translator crawl or forget to switch back to the network feed? KRQE does the crawl too, but in HD. I think it's part of their FCC mandated hourly station ID.

The crawl, I don't think I've ever noticed CBS doing it, then again my team is usually on FOX. Never seen it on ABC or NBC either. I still don't see how its important information though. I'm positive that no station does it hourly.

Well the FCC cares. The ID is a requirement.

Title 47
CHAPTER I
SUBCHAPTER C
PART 74
Subpart G

Sec. 74.783 Station identification.

(a)
Each low power TV and TV translator station not originating local programming as defined by Sec. 74.701(h) operating over 0.001 kw peak visual power (0.002 kw when using circularly polarized antennas) must transmit its station identification as follows:

(1)
By transmitting the call sign in International Morse Code at least once each hour. This transmission may be accomplished by means of an automatic device as required by Sec. 74.750(c)(7). Call sign transmission shall be made at a code speed not in excess of 20 words per minute; or
(2)
By arranging for the primary station, whose signal is being rebroadcast, to identify the translator station by transmitting an easily readable visual presentation or a clearly understandable aural presentation of the translator station's call letters and location. Two such identifications shall be made between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. each broadcast day at approximately one hour intervals during each time period. Television stations which do not begin their broadcast day before 9 a.m. shall make these identifications in the hours closest to these time periods at the specified intervals.

... and yet I'm still at a loss as to what that accomplishes. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you need a frequency, not call sings to tune in. Isn't this information something thats freely available online anyways?

Yes there is public informations, from the FCC's website and here's the link....:)


http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/tvq.html


9-14-09

For TV DX alert!!! Go to analog channel 2 right now!! I maybe getting Mexico or Central America!:cool:

9-14-09