Thank you for your reply and ideas. This part stood out immediately...

I had trouble getting some channels through a single wood studded wall and a tree near Montgomery and Eubank.

I immediately thought, Lobosrul is *much* closer to the mountains than I am and if a simple wall and a tree cause trouble, large granite buildlings will be a big problem for me... I may go ahead and try it anyhow, just for the heck of it -- after all, it might work and I like experimenting (a serious pre-amp, huh?) if I'm not stuck with unusable equipment -- and report here what I find. If I knew any of my neighbors, getting a coalition together might be fun, but they can come and go so fast, and even management has about a 3-year turn over, that I don't want to invest a lot of time in that. We'll see... maybe others will have some ideas, too.

It's finally arrived, BR players mfgd after 2010 will have the analog outputs down-converted to SD. The HDMI will remain ok. Better get a BR player now if you have an older display. If this isn't bad enough, after 12-31-2013, no licensed player will pass any decrypted signal to analog outputs, HD OR SD !!
Check the June HT magazine, pg.14 for more info.
JR

It's finally arrived, BR players mfgd after 2010 will have the analog outputs down-converted to SD. The HDMI will remain ok.
JR

I thought this was normal for the CE world. for example, my upscaling DVD player will only upscale and output in HD resolution over HDMI only. analog outputs will only output up to 480p.

I don't understand why BR won't put out SD in analog in players made after 2013 just to keep supporting people who are watching BR disks on an old analog tv set.

I think you are right for upconversion, but my Hoppo does 1080i just fine over component output. It also does high rez audio over the analog outputs.
JR

I did finally have them install 2 cable cards in my hd tivo so it would match the channel line up in the SA, which already had cc's installed. They enable the digital channels above 100, including all the pay premium and vod stuff. The tivo was cable sd and ota from a roof antenna before. You won't need the cc's to get the guide though.
JR

I finally got through the problems with signal strength and originally thought it was the TiVo but it turned out to be Comcast. I got the Triple play so I now have internet, phone and TV through Comcast for $99.00 for a year. It is much cheaper than all of them separately. One question, does anyone know why Comcast doesn't have Comedy Central HD yet? I had gotten used to watching "The Daily Show" in HD and now I'll have to watch it in SD again.

I finally got through the problems with signal strength and originally thought it was the TiVo but it turned out to be Comcast. I got the Triple play so I now have internet, phone and TV through Comcast for $99.00 for a year. It is much cheaper than all of them separately. One question, does anyone know why Comcast doesn't have Comedy Central HD yet? I had gotten used to watching "The Daily Show" in HD and now I'll have to watch it in SD again.

Almost certainly, just lack of capacity. I see on the channel chart that its available in some Comcast areas. I heard a rumor that Comcast will be going all digital in ABQ this summer. So except it then.

It's finally arrived, BR players mfgd after 2010 will have the analog outputs down-converted to SD....

What does "BR" stand for? -- wait! "Blu-Ray"? If so, I don't have one now, don't plan to get one or a HD tv, so...

On May 11 I went to Radio Shack for a converter box and Walmart for an antenna, set it all up to test at home (I live in the southwest area of Downton Abq) and I seem to be able to get most every local broadcast okay :) There is some trouble with channel 50, but I may be able to work around that when I set it all up for good on 5/31, the day I call Comcast to say "end your service to my home". I also got Qwest broadband through my ISP so expect to watch the occasional cable broadcast that way. I'll be saving some $$, enough to pay for the box and the antenna pretty quickly.

On June 1st I'll have more time to read and catch up on a zillion DVDs...

I got the Triple play so I now have internet, phone and TV through Comcast for $99.00 for a year. ... One question, does anyone know why Comcast doesn't have Comedy Central HD yet?

Got suckered into their triple play promotion, huh? Just wait until the promo price ends!

As for no Comedy Central HD, it's probably because they want you to watch it on one of their trillions of VOD choices. :D They don't need no stinkin' linear HD channels like what most people would enjoy having.

Got suckered into their triple play promotion, huh? Just wait until the promo price ends!

As for no Comedy Central HD, it's probably because they want you to watch it on one of their trillions of VOD choices. :D They don't need no stinkin' linear HD channels like what most people would enjoy having.

I was having so many problems with Dish that it was a no brainer for me. The promo increases by $15.00 for months 13 - 24 and then ends at an increase of another $15.00 for a total of $130.00 after month 24. If there is a better deal at that time, I will move on.

You got a good deal imo. My triple play runs well over $200/month, but I have virtually everything they offer.
JR

On May 11 I went to Radio Shack for a converter box and Walmart for an antenna, set it all up to test at home (I live in the southwest area of Downton Abq) and I seem to be able to get most every local broadcast okay :) There is some trouble with channel 50, but I may be able to work around that when I set it all up for good on 5/31, the day I call Comcast to say "end your service to my home". I also got Qwest broadband through my ISP so expect to watch the occasional cable broadcast that way. I'll be saving some $$, enough to pay for the box and the antenna pretty quickly.

On June 1st I'll have more time to read and catch up on a zillion DVDs...


When you comcast, do it right. Pull their grey box off the side of YOUR house and pull the gable up to the box on the street. Take the corpse to their Customer Service desk and drop it off. It's incredible the look of utter confusion when they see you drag it in the office.

"Sir, you cant leave that here"
"It say's Comcast on it, it must be yours"
"Did you take that off your house"
"I didnt give anyone permission to put it there, I don't want people putting stuff on my house without my permission. Have a nice day"

I just switched from Dish to Comcast. Can someone who is with Comcast tell me when the first new episodes appears for "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart"? Is it at midnight on channel 48?

Yes. Midnight. Channel 48.

Yes. Midnight. Channel 48.

Thanks hideftv! I'm going to miss the show in high def because dish had it in high def but comcast doesn't.

That's a fun idea for what to do with a comcast box, except I live in an apartment and a missing box (or cables)... well, given the quality of the broadcast, missing parts might not be noticed.

A friend intended to end the service (she's a poor student) but they are keeping her since they dropped their charge to $29.95. She had the same service as I do so she was paying ~$65.00 a month. I know she's paying a special price for, what, six months? But that's still $10 more/month than it's worth to me, and besides I understand Comcast around here (Abq) is going to make everybody take a set-top box (even though free) in June, so I might as well go to OTA and find cable shows I really want to see via the net or Netflix. I just saw that Adult Swim dumps programs as flv files in my internet cache so I can download and grab 'em out of there :)

K43HW-LP, has filed to the FCC for a STA in order to shut off the analog's transmitter on June 1st.

https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101369429&formid=910&fac_num=32280

Also KYNM-LD, has some delay prblems for channel 51's antenna.

https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101370033&formid=337&fac_num=168093

That's the news!!:D

5-30-10

There is a hot TV skips rolling in here!!

Ch. 2 I am getting a station from Winnapig!! Not sure which TV network ether Globo-TV or CITY-TV and on Ch. 3 there a station from Regnia, SK a CBC network!!:):cool:

Ch. 4 I have yet to id unkown station.

Don't know how long the TV skips, will last tonight, so try to DX while you can!

6-2-10

Woo Hoo!!

I got my first digital TV skips was from KNOP-DT ch. 2 North Platte, NE!!

This station is running only at 16 KW ERP, not bad for a DX catch!:D

6-2-10

The TV skips has gone crazy went high as ch. 6, and maybe into FM broast band 88.1 MHz and up.....:cool:

Too many CBC canadian stations showing hockey right now.:p

6-2-10

There is now an iPhone app for avs! Check it out if you have an iDohicky

There is now an iPhone app for avs! Check it out if you have an iDohicky

iDohicky :D

On May 11 I went to Radio Shack for a converter box and Walmart for an antenna, set it all up to test at home (I live in the southwest area of Downton Abq) and I seem to be able to get most every local broadcast okay :) There is some trouble with channel 50, but I may be able to work around that when I set it all up for good on 5/31, the day I call Comcast to say "end your service to my home". I also got Qwest broadband through my ISP so expect to watch the occasional cable broadcast that way. I'll be saving some $$, enough to pay for the box and the antenna pretty quickly.



I also live near downtown by 8th and coal in an apartment also. Before I had Comcast turned on, I used an antenna, and had mixed results depending on the station. I used a combination of rabbit ear (VHF) antenna and bow tie (UHF) antenna. No amp, that would just cause problems. The high power UHF stations seemed to have the best results. But if I optimized for the VHF antenna placement (7 & 13) I often lost KNME and one of the Acme stations or both. Generally KASA and KASY came in the best, since they are among the most powerful on UHF. However, my window faces south and can't see the Crest, so most of my signal has to pass through stucco and wood construction etc...

In some way's I wish larger apartment complexes would provide a master antenna if you are not connected to the cable system. You often don't have access to an outside area, so a good antenna just can't be used. Otherwise OTA would work great. But I suspect that the cable system would claim exclusive access to the in house cable wiring. Even though they may not have actually run the lines when construction happened.

I had Dish and OTA previously before I moved; that was a great combination and DVR. Comcast’s scientific Atlanta duel tuner DVR really does not seem to have the capability that Dish networks had, you can record one event, and watch another, but it does not have two channels of DVR, that you could swap between like on the Dish 622.. Really disappointing, and the graphical user interface looks something from the 90's, when I worked for Cablevision back then. Very sad. The On Demand feature is neat, but it's not responsive, and slow to start. On the DVR, I keep getting half a second of digital noise when I go from fast forward to play, you get a blurp of digital noise in the sound. It's very irritating and bad for a stereo systems speakers. why can't they mute the output for half a second to prevent this? I never had this issue on the optical output of the Dish 622 DVR..

I also agree that the number of HD channels Comcast has available is disappointing coming from Dish where just about every network that I watched on a regular basis had an HD equivalent. Even some networks like HDNEt I don't have anymore with Comcast.

Just saw an ad on KOAT News that they are going widescreen soon (I guess that means HD). So I guess it may look like KOAT or KRQE are competing to be the first to go HD for their news. Anyone want to guess who will be the first and when???

If they are saying they are going "wide screen" and not saying they are going HD or high definition, then I am guessing that they are just going to be changing their filming to 16x9 but still be 480p. Most people see wide screen and think it means HD. Look at the number of people who have HD tvs but are not watching anything in HD but think they are.

I am hoping it is widescreen in HD. I would likely watch the channel that does the widescreen in HD for news and skip on the others that present their news in lesser quality. Hey, local news, are you listenning.

I am hoping it is widescreen in HD. I would likely watch the channel that does the widescreen in HD for news and skip on the others that present their news in lesser quality. Hey, local news, are you listenning.

No, they never listen. I sent an email to KOAT about 3 weeks ago after their announcement of the new helicopter asking them why they could afford that and not the local news and HD and they never responded.

I remember MotorWeek on KNME used to be in WS, but not HD. It looked decent, but still no cigar.
JR

I am hoping it is widescreen in HD. I would likely watch the channel that does the widescreen in HD for news and skip on the others that present their news in lesser quality. Hey, local news, are you listenning.

No, they never listen. I sent an email to KOAT about 3 weeks ago after their announcement of the new helicopter asking them why they could afford that and not the local news and HD and they never responded.

The trifecta of replies:

Lujan, I am not sure if that's a new news heli or just a new paint job. I'm guessing new paint job and maybe upgraded electronics to handle the new digital microwave system our local stations have been converting to in the Sprint-Nextel relocation project.

Jerrich and his comments about motorweek - is FOX still doing widescreen SD for MLB and NFL and primetime dramas/reality or are they actually doing true HD widescreen now? I seem to recall when they first launched sports and drama programs like 24 into widescreen format, it was SD widescreen and not HD widescreen.

fjerina and widescreen news HD - it certainly wouldn't surprise me if it was news in widescreen SD. So many satellite remote shots are in widescreen SD now (watch the sat feed on a 4:3 set and you'll see the "talent" is squeezed into a taller version of what they should be - set your sat receiver to 16:9 aspect and they look normal). Many network feed clips are also in 16:9 - watch KOB when they show a streetball or MLB highlight clip in the sportscast that they got from their NBC news clip service and you'll see the aspect is all screwed up - you have squeezed ballplayers pitching/hitting/fielding the ball or a squeezed kobe bryant hitting a shot.

I would understand that the field shots would be in SD but I am hoping that the studio shots will be in HD widescreen. I sent an email to KOAT asking them to clarify. We'll see.

I would imagine that if they meant HD, they'd say HD and promote the heck out of it.

- Trip

I just got this reply from Teri Hernandez at KOAT...

"SD...we don't have the new cameras just yet."

Darn, wish it was HD. I could just do a zoom on my HDTV and fill the screen for the same effect. Maybe KRQE will be HD when they start-up.

I would understand that the field shots would be in SD but I am hoping that the studio shots will be in HD widescreen. I sent an email to KOAT asking them to clarify. We'll see.

I just got an email from Gary Williams, Chief Engineer as follows:

"Good Morning lujan, wow it is interesting that folks actually keep emails from me as far back as 2008, but I’m glad your staying in touch, always enjoy talking to our viewers. As for HD/SD widescreen I am going to have to take the 5th for right now, we are holding out making any statement until we launch our new look. Our promotion and news folks are handling our roll out. I will be happy to answer your question after we take the new product to air. But either way I think a viewer you, with an eye for detail, you will be happy with the result."

This sounds to me like it's going to be in HD, what do you think?

The Hearst that's own KOAT-DT, made their news posted on broadcastengineering.com and here's the link!:)

They plans to add 29 more TV markets, and that's I hope they added to Albuquerque's TV market to putting up real local HD news!

http://broadcastengineering.com/eng/hearst-drives-next-gen-news-acquisition-effort-prohd-camcorders-20100609/index.html

That's the breaking news!!

6-10-10

I would understand that the field shots would be in SD but I am hoping that the studio shots will be in HD widescreen. I sent an email to KOAT asking them to clarify. We'll see.

I would be happy with widescreen SD for field shots (just to avoid the curtains on 4:3 material) but I don't see any reason it can't be done in HD in the new digital microwave channel since there are satellite news feeds using 6 MHz or less of spectrum.

For KRQE, my money would be placed on them being true HD. The set looks to have some very "3D" elements based on some of the construction shots aired on the KRQE news - lots of elements that seem to have a range of closeness/farness from the main set desk that would look awesome in HD as providing some depth to the background behind the anchors. I also have felt for a long time now that KRQE/KASA have the best looking local news studio video of any of the local stations, so it wouldn't surprise me if the studio cameras have been shooting in HD and they are downres'ing it to SD in the control room. I wonder if the set change also includes control room changes to make the whole chain HD capable rather than just some components of the chain.

I don't watch KOAT since they eliminated the news replay I used to watch so I don't have any clue what this talk about a new look is about. I did watch the 6pm news the other day since KOB had hockey and I saw they had a new set but you'd think they'd roll out HD news in conjunction with their new set instead of waiting however long it's been since they did their new set design.

Widescreen SD on the 5:00 broadcast...

Checked it out on the 10 pm news. Looks really bad. Looks like a wanna-be HD station. Please KOAT buy those studio HD cameras and get them working ASAP. Think I will switch back to KRQE for my news.

If they can shoot a tv series like House with a Canon dslr, why can't they drop in to Costco and buy a HD camcorder for 3 or 4 hundred and use it for local news? Politics?
JR

They need to spend thousands of $$$ of HD cameras with special len filters to remove all the wrinkles from the newscasters.

They need to spend thousands of $$$ of HD cameras with special len filters to remove all the wrinkles from the newscasters.

Nah. They just need to increase the makeup budget a few hundred dollars a week.

It will be very interesting to see which local station is the first with HD cameras in the studio for their news. Any guesses?

Have flipped it over to KOAT to see their new "widescreen" news.......

Looks like total and complete SHAT. What is it going to take to get a local broadcast news in HD in this friggin state.....

And El Paso doesn't count, that's Texas!

I just got an email from Gary Williams, Chief Engineer as follows:

"... But either way I think a viewer you, with an eye for detail, you will be happy with the result."

...

I don't know how Gary Williams can say I would be happy with the result when it's only SD. I'll be happy when it's HD. I know Gary reads this forum but don't think my posting will do any good but at least I get to vent.

It will be very interesting to see which local station is the first with HD cameras in the studio for their news. Any guesses?

I would guess KASA/KRQE has been using studio HD cameras for a year or more now. Best looking studio video of at least KOB/KRQE/KASA (I don't watch KOAT enough to notice quality, and especially now that things have changed with them).

Looks like KRQE may be going HD within the next month (or so). They have started a "See the Future HD Contest". I hope they are the first to go HD. The widescreen SD that KOAT pawns off on us does not cut it.

Looks like KRQE may be going HD within the next month (or so). They have started a "See the Future HD Contest". I hope they are the first to go HD. The widescreen SD that KOAT pawns off on us does not cut it.

Too bad, of the three local stations, this is the one I watch the least. Not a big fan of Dick Knifing and think he should retire already. If they had another anchor, I would watch.

Not too sure how good either Dick or Dianne will look in 1080i but I want to put my viewership behind a station that actually invest in the community and stays current with technology. I sent a scathing email to the news director at KOAT something along the lines of "you gotta be kidding me....." It's 2010 folks get on board or get left behind.

Not too sure how good either Dick or Dianne will look in 1080i but I want to put my viewership behind a station that actually invest in the community and stays current with technology. I sent a scathing email to the news director at KOAT something along the lines of "you gotta be kidding me....." It's 2010 folks get on board or get left behind.

I have to agree, I would probably watch the one that's in HD.

The widescreen SD on KOAT cracks me up. I think they feel the people of NM have such poor vision that they will think they are watching HD. Nice try KOAT but no dice.

Has anyone else noticed that the video that is shot out in the field looks sharper than the video from the studio camera's?

It's like they have better/newer camera's out in the field than they do in the studio or something. It's weird but I have noticed it several times now thinking to myself how the field shot doesn't look all that bad and then they switch back to studio shot and its a horrible grainy mess. :confused:

[QUOTE=ibglowin;18824448]Has anyone else noticed that the video that is shot out in the field looks sharper than the video from the studio camera's?

It's like they have better/newer camera's out in the field than they do in the studio or something. It's weird but I have noticed it several times now thinking to myself how the field shot doesn't look all that bad and then they switch back to studio shot and its a horrible grainy mess. :confused:[/QUO

I agree with you completely. I have been noticing exactly the same thing here in Ruidoso.

The widescreen SD on KOAT cracks me up. I think they feel the people of NM have such poor vision that they will think they are watching HD. Nice try KOAT but no dice.

you know that only .5% of the tv viewers care about video quality. That's why DBS and cable get away with such poor video/high compression.

As for KOAT (ibglowin), the field video is mixed to me. Some of it looks great, some of it looks as bad as the studio video. I don't know what the deal is unless not all field cameras are the same quality (some may be their older cameras and the video package is upconverted to widescreen after editing).

KRQE - yes, they'll have to be the first HD newscast. They are already touting "HD News" in their promotions for their July contest that include sneak peaks of their HD future. I don't know if that means they'll play some clips in HD during their newscasts or if they'll just be showing off a lot more pictures/video of their new set being built.

Kwbq will probably surprise us all

No more 5-1 and Silver Sensor in the living room. DirecTV is carrying the HD feed from KNME.

I noticed the quality differences with KOAT's newscast recently since Im tuning into Big Bother over on Showtime at 10pm. I really dont see why people are watching local news anymore.

I noticed the quality differences with KOAT's newscast recently since Im tuning into Big Bother over on Showtime at 10pm. I really dont see why people are watching local news anymore.

I only tune to local news in the morning while I'm getting ready for work. Other than that, I only watch the national news on NBC. Have you also noticed that ET on KOAT has been in SD for a couple of weeks now? When I called to asked, they said they were having server issues but I guess no one knows how to fix them?

Its been more like months. Anything that has to be recorded and re-aired has been in SD for a longtime now. Ellen, Oprah, ET etc.......

Nice work KOAT! Always on the cutting edge of technology........

Aside from KWBQ losing their 5.1 audio for Smallville, KOAT has been the worst in terms of quality of any of the networks here in albaqwuirky. Its not surprising to hear them say they don't know how to do something.

They learned how to do Wide Screen. How far behind the curve is that?
JR

I must agree, KOAT is the worst. My wife always asks me why it switches from HD to SD. She also yells at them when their warnings go up and the whole picture shits the bed. She thinks it's my fault "Honey, what did you do". :lol:

I must agree, KOAT is the worst. My wife always asks me why it switches from HD to SD. She also yells at them when their warnings go up and the whole picture shits the bed. She thinks it's my fault "Honey, what did you do". :lol:

I don't think I saw that happen this past TV season, before that yeah it was very annoying. There were however a couple of times that KOB dropped HD during Chuck which pissed me off to no end. It seemed like their recording from NBC was messed up somehow. Also, KASA dropped HD coverage during at least one Dallas Cowboys game and at least a few parts of a Fringe episode or two. You guys are acting like KOAT is the only station in town with technical problems, thats far from the truth. Although since they've been running that Estrella TV subchannel their bitrate has dropped down to about 12 Mbps making them the worst as far as picture quality of the majors.

Also, KASA dropped HD coverage during at least one Dallas Cowboys game and at least a few parts of a Fringe episode or two. You guys are acting like KOAT is the only station in town with technical problems, thats far from the truth.

The Dallas game break up and Fringe problems were apparently related to an encoding problem at the FOX L.A. uplink. Several other affiliates had the same issue at the same time. I believe FOX network has cleared this up, as now every affiliate has been upgraded to a newer generation IRD specifically customized for them by Motorola. However at the time, maybe only a 3rd of affiliates had the newer IRD at the time, and FOX had delays getting them out. They stopped installing them during the NFL season. Opting to wait tell afterwards. The system has more redundancy then the old downlink, but they still hamstring affiliates by not providing a separate output so affiliates could actually do HD crawls... But still have to revert to SD just to do this, even if they can do an HD crawl with their equipment. Very odd of FOX to disable this feature of the IRD. But I get a feeling that none of the Owned and Operated FOX affiliates have this problem. I mean, NY or L.A. not being able to do an HD crawl during network programming? Really? They would get calls and complaints in those large markets surely.

I am very excited about KRQE (CBS) going HI-DEF for their local news. From what I have seen in their video clips on their new control room and news set, this will be a first class high-def presentation of our local news that this city deserves. My congrats to KRQE for being the first in high-def local news for Albuquerque. (Sorry KOAT, your widescreen standard def. just does not cut it!)

Note: the first high-def telecast is set for August 9. Be there Albuquerque HD enthusiasts.

I am very excited about KRQE (CBS) going HI-DEF for their local news. From what I have seen in their video clips on their new control room and news set, this will be a first class high-def presentation of our local news that this city deserves. My congrats to KRQE for being the first in high-def local news for Albuquerque. (Sorry KOAT, your widescreen standard def. just does not cut it!)

Note: the first high-def telecast is set for August 9. Be there Albuquerque HD enthusiasts.

I guess I'll be switching from KOAT to KRQE on 8/9. The only thing is that they have to be different at 1/2 hour earlier but I suppose all I have to do is record it.

I watch KRQE from 4 - 5 when around then swap to KOB after Katie for Brian & the evening news so this won't change my habits... (only time I watch KOAT is Sunday mornings for news)

August 9th is the date for the HD local news on KRQE. Yeah. Finally ABQ is joining other cities around the country in going HD. Bet KOAT and KOB are not liking this. Hey guys, get your ass in gear.

Learned at the DTV meeting that there is software for HD stations that smooths out ONLY flesh tones, so the newscasters don't look so old. Har har. Look for it.
JR

You bet I will be viewing more at KRQE-DT for their local news in HD!!

Can't wait to see it!!:)

8-3-10

Just wanted you ABQ people to know that Redbox is renting Blu-Ray discs for $1.50 at their kiosks. Unfortunately you have to go to each kiosk to see what selection they have (there is a Blu-Ray button you can push for that) and cannot reserve on-line. I rented "The Book of Eli" the other day and it was great.

I will be catching the KRQE morning local news (5-7 am) on Monday for their premier of their new HD set and broadcast. Albuquerque is coming of age.

I will be catching the KRQE morning local news (5-7 am) on Monday for their premier of their new HD set and broadcast. Albuquerque is coming of age.

Are you sure the people who know what they are doing are awake at that hour? :D It wouldn't surprise me if the HD didn't come along until the evening newscasts.

I'll be watching, because I'm up at that hour of the morning.

---

another reply to fjerina - $1.50 blu-ray rentals. A good motivation for me to buy a cheap blu-ray player. Why should redbox rip me off $1.50 for a dvd rental when I can rent blu-ray for the same price?

I will try to wake up early, to watch the very first local HD news in Albuquerque!!:D:)

8-8-10

I will try to wake up early, to watch the very first local HD news in Albuquerque!!:D:)

8-8-10

Did they already go HD?

The news this evening looked like it....they were even framing 4:3 content with side wings.

Brian

The 5:30 news was in HD! I bet they did it early as a test run. It looked good.

Fox news @ 9 is also in HD. I saw some "growing pains", but still cool. And the wings on their 4:3 stuff has little HD's floating around. hehe

I saw the 5:30 pm news in HD and it looked really good. Way to go KRQE !!!

They got some fine tuning to do, but the HD's video looks great amost like a backhaul feeds on FTA KU band satellite.

Keep up the good work, on KASA-DT and KRQE-DT!:)

8-8-10

I will try to wake up early, to watch the very first local HD news in Albuquerque!!:D:)

8-8-10

you can sleep in, the HD has commenced!

lots of problems as others have mentioned - lots of wrong/missing lower thirds, lots of black dead air when there should be a smooth transition from anchor to a video clip.

fairly good start and of course it'll become second nature to the control room staff on how to work the graphics/file servers as the hours of HD local news go on.

Are you sure the people who know what they are doing are awake at that hour? :D

And there were people who knew what they were doing, albeit with a lot of blunders. The control room staff just needs time to work out the issues and get it to be second nature on how to work things.

the CBS news service clips look horrible stretched out to widescreen mode - too bad KRQE can't keep those in 4:3 with pillars.

the funny moment was an over-the-shoulder graphic exploding onto the screen right over Mike Powers face in the camera angle. Someone didn't tell the studio cameraguy on that story to put Mike's head to the right so the graphic would be positioned right. ;)

Pillars of motion arcs and color streaks missed here, pillars of motion arcs and color streaks missed there, so some of the 4:3 local clips had black pillars.

Deanna looks very bad but it's not wrinkle related. I don't know if the makeup for HDTV is so different that it's not flattering to her.

so weird to see so much wasted space behind motor-mouth weathergal. Maybe they should put up a weather info pillar behind her to make use of that space and tell her to take a chill pill and slow down a little. No need to ramble fast through the weather, IMHO.

I do like the fixed overhead cam of the studio, looking down on the set and studio cameras.

I think I'll aircheck the 5:30pm newscast because it's fun to see the minor issues. It won't be very long before it all goes smoothly and without hitches.

I thought it looked great this morning but I'm not just staring at the screen as I'm getting ready for work. I am going to send a letter to the chief of engineering congratulating them for being the first even though it did take 3 years from when he first told me they would.

The 10pm news Sunday night had what looked like an "HD" logo in the lower left area of the 4:3 part of the image, but the "H" was covered by the station logo, so all I could see was the "D" peeking out from behind.

It came and went really quickly, so I had to play it back a few times via my Tivo to make sure I was not hallucinating. :-)

Brian

...Someone didn't tell the studio cameraguy on that story to put Mike's head to the right so the graphic would be positioned right. ;)

...I do like the fixed overhead cam of the studio, looking down on the set and studio cameras....



I saw that wide shot at noon and the only guy on the floor was a stage director. I'm pretty sure they are using robo-cameras. So whoever programmed (is running) them must've just ran the wrong sequence.

I saw that wide shot at noon and the only guy on the floor was a stage director. I'm pretty sure they are using robo-cameras. So whoever programmed (is running) them must've just ran the wrong sequence.

You mean they paid so much for the HD camera's that they had to let go of the camera operators? :D

Wow! We've finally joined the 21st century. I posted some pics of a few KRQE broadcasts here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=19026165#post19026165

I'm actually impressed on the quality.

Funny, I never saw any article in the ABQ Journal about this event of KRQE being the first station in NM presenting local news in HD. Maybe the ABQ Journal is in bed with KOAT or KOB and doesn't want to embarrass them.

Funny, I never saw any article in the ABQ Journal about this event of KRQE being the first station in NM presenting local news in HD. Maybe the ABQ Journal is in bed with KOAT or KOB and doesn't want to embarrass them.

No what's funny is that the demo that still reads the newspaper watches standard def on their fancy new HDTV's but don't realize it isn't actually HD. :D

...oh yeah and they couldn't care less.

You mean they paid so much for the HD camera's that they had to let go of the camera operators? :D

I wouldn't feel sorry for the camera operators. The union probably has in their contracts that the camera operators have to operate the joysticks, making them nothing more than overpaid gamers.

the cameras look like they have a gear box or something on the back in order to point the camera and zoom the camera. Judging by the movement of the cameras I've seen a few times, it's probably joystick controlled since the motion isn't exactly very smooth.

There appear to be 5 HD studio cameras - 3 floor cams concentrating on the anchor desk (center two shot, anchor left, and anchor right), one floor cam for the weather greenscreen and one overhead cam. There might even be a floating camera for when a reporter does a live shot from the studio/newsroom -- or the weather one might be used for that.

There appear to be 2 people instead of one behind the scenes in the studio - one is probably the floor director and the other is probably a guy who moves the weather greenscreen camera between the weather area and other parts of the studio/newsroom where reporter liveshots happen near an HD monitor.

the newscasts are fun to watch with all the technical glitches as the control room staff continue the learning curve.

I feel for you once again, Cowboys and Broncos fans who watch the preseason games on off-air tv.

too bad ACME can't figure out how to route the HD feed from the teams to over-the-air. Despite the play of the Cowboys tonight, the game looks great in HD, and I can't wait to see Tebow in HD on Sunday.

Game replays today on NFL Network, I caught a little of it in SD last night...

Albuquerque Journal finally has article about KRQE going HD with their local news:

http://www.abqjournal.com/paperboy/text/news/metro/1522569metro08-15-10.htm

I don't know if this link is for paper subscribers only or if there is a way you can gain access to this article for free (last I heard, one could watch a 30 sec ad to get access, but that may be gone now)

I saw the article also. Glad they finally acknowledged this event although I don't think they really wanted to publicize the fact since the Journal has a very close connection with KOAT.

KRQE going HD was noted nationally...

http://www.tvpredictions.com/localhd081610.htm

Is anyone experiencing any problems with KNMD DT OTA (9-1, 9-2, etc)? I have not been able to get any reception on these channels only the last few weeks.

I know they are changing from 9 to ch8. I'm just not sure when it's supposed to happen though. (And it may be that the main KNME-5 is the one switching from 35 to 8). All I really know is that they are changing from chX to ch8 at some point.

KNME-35 is staying put. It is KNMD-9 that is moving to 8 at some point.

- Trip

I saw the article also. Glad they finally acknowledged this event although I don't think they really wanted to publicize the fact since the Journal has a very close connection with KOAT.

The Journal did things as best as they could. ;) They buried the story on page 6 or whatever of that section instead of on the front page of the section or maybe page 2 of the section.

zooeyglass - no problems with KNMD 9 so I can't help you there.

The Journal did things as best as they could. ;) They buried the story on page 6 or whatever of that section instead of on the front page of the section or maybe page 2 of the section.

zooeyglass - no problems with KNMD 9 so I can't help you there.

Thank you. I guess it must be on my end but I am not sure why? I have not moved my antenna and every other OTA comes in great, getting 80-100% signal. But absolutely none on 9-1 and 9-2.

Anyone else notice that their was no signal this morning on 13.1. I tried for about half and hour (between 5:00 and 5:30am) and nothing on 13.1.

13.1 is fine as of 6:00 am

Breaking news!!!

KNMD-DT has moved to channel 8 right now, they are testing at full power.:)

My Sony TV' built in digital tuner reading at 93% signal strength level.

Not bad for 5.14 KW ERP's signal.

8-24-10

Breaking news!!!

KNMD-DT has moved to channel 8 right now, they are testing at full power.:)

My Sony TV' built in digital tuner reading at 93% signal strength level.

Not bad for 5.14 KW ERP's signal.

8-24-10

Thanks for the info, N5XZS. I just tried it and am able to tune 9.1 and 9.2 from physical channel 8 with 98 signal strength up here in Santa Fe:). Physical channel 9 did not provided enough signal strength to tune in these channels where I live.

Breaking news!!!

KNMD-DT has moved to channel 8 right now, they are testing at full power.:)

My Sony TV' built in digital tuner reading at 93% signal strength level.

Not bad for 5.14 KW ERP's signal.

8-24-10

Yeah I noticed this as well and I am am getting great signal on both subchannels. Now I just need to wait until Tivo adds/updates its lineup to show guide data for them.

Wonder if KOB is upgrading, this morning they were in "temporary studio"...

Wonder if KOB is upgrading, this morning they were in "temporary studio"...

the Journal did say they were supposed to go widescreen in October or November....so they are probably reworking the studio to get ready for widescreen with an easy HD upgrade as station budget/desires permit.

I think it would be cool in a new set to have a 60" HD screen behind the main anchors showing downtown Albuquerque/Sandias. Have a HD camera on the roof of studio tied to that HD monitor so the visual is like looking at the city through a window. No more of these fake cityscapes -- though KOB had a difused video monitor wall in their previous studio visual.

Wonder if KOB is upgrading, this morning they were in "temporary studio"...

Yes, KOB is in the process of upgrading its newscasts to 16:9 widescreen SD at this time. It also plans to upgrade to full HD sometime next year.

I think one of the stations should move into one of the storefronts downtown and put their news set right there with a window onto the street.

I will be moving to Albuquerque. Is there an easy place to find a list of local HD channels? Going through 237 pages can be painful.
Thanks in advance.

I will be moving to Albuquerque. Is there an easy place to find a list of local HD channels? Going through 237 pages can be painful.
Thanks in advance.

Why don't you try tvguide.com?

I will be moving to Albuquerque. Is there an easy place to find a list of local HD channels? Going through 237 pages can be painful.
Thanks in advance.

Are you referring to OTA? My website's Albuquerque listing is a bit of a mess (I plan to clean it up soon) but it should be helpful:

http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?mktid=53

- Trip

Hello ALV,

Welcome to Albuquerque's TV market!!

Here's our local stations listings

KASA-DT, FOX ch. 2.1 "Real RF ch. 27" "720p, HD"

KOB-DT, NBC ch. 4.1 and 4.2 wx SD, "Real RF ch. 27" "1080i, HD"

KMNE-DT, PBS ch. 5.1 and 5.2 Spanish programmings SD, "Real RF ch. 35" "1080i HD"

KOAT-DT, ABC, Real RF ch. 7.1 and 7.2 Spanish programmings SD "720p HD"

KNMD-DT, PBS, ch.9.1 and 9.2 PBS Create SD, Real RF ch. 8

KRQE-DT, CBS, Real RF ch. 13 "1080i HD

KTFQ-DT, Telefutura, ch. 14.1 "Real RF ch. 22" "1080i HD

KWBQ-DT, CW, ch. 19.1 "Real RF ch. 29" "1080i HD

KLUZ-DT, Univision, ch. 41.1 and 41.2 LATV Spanish SD "Real RF ch. 42" "1080i HD"

KASY-DT, MY TV, part Ind, ch. 50.1 "Real RF ch. 45" "720p HD"

There are too many stations to be listed here....... Some in analog and digital signals with too many sub channels all in 480i SD.

This TV market is in top # 44 in the country.:)

Hopes that's helps out for you!!!:)

8-29-10

I noticed tonight that Dishnetwork is now carrying 41.1 KLUZ's HD feed. It seems Univision rates higher with dish than CW.

N5XZS and trip in Va - Thanks, that is what I was looking for.

I think one of the stations should move into one of the storefronts downtown and put their news set right there with a window onto the street.

yes, that would be interesting. Homeless pushing their shopping cart full of belongings past the studio window, a thief snatching purses or hot-wiring cars parked at the parking meter outside the studio window, or for the 10pm news, early plastered college-aged gals or guys staggering past the studio window to wherever for the rest of the night. :D

I think in the "reality" show Making News Texas Style, the station had their studios - or at least a satellite studio - in a shopping mall.


re:blgglare post re:kluz hd on DISH - if CW had the world cup (or actually anything in HD other than network programming - hint, hint, ACME) then CW would probably be in HD on DISH Network, too. DISH added a boatload of Univision HD locals just prior to the world cup, presumably so people could watch the univision world cup action in HD. It should be interesting to see if the move continues to be permanent or if DISH will get around to removing them now that the world cup is over.

yes, that would be interesting. Homeless pushing their shopping cart full of belongings past the studio window, a thief snatching purses or hot-wiring cars parked at the parking meter outside the studio window, or for the 10pm news, early plastered college-aged gals or guys staggering past the studio window to wherever for the rest of the night.

I think that's a great idea and a guaranteed ratings booster ! :) :)
JR

Some of the locals in San Diego had their news rooms streetside like that. I thought it was neat that you could watch from the sidewalk.

Growing up in Wisconsin, each of the locals in Milwaukee would move their newscasts to the Statefair grounds during the fair each year. That was cool seeing the news filmed live outdoors each day.

Growing up in Wisconsin, each of the locals in Milwaukee would move their newscasts to the Statefair grounds during the fair each year. That was cool seeing the news filmed live outdoors each day.

KOB used to that until the last 5 or 10 years. It was the highlight of my fair visit to go watch the 6pm newscast in person.

KOAT (I think) also used to take the sat truck in a summer sweeps event and go around the state with one anchor delivering some stories out in the field and the other anchor delivering some stories from the main studio.

With the 2-3 cam production quality of a remote sat truck and the internet connectivity by satellite when in rural areas - great for delivering up-to-the-minute newscast scripts, I'm surprised local stations don't do more summer sweep stunts by going around the state to various places.

Breaking news!!

I just scan in a brand new LD digital station, on real RF channel 51.1 KYNM-LD.

The analog station KYNM-LP is on channel 30.

This station will relay KCHF-DT ch. 11.1 RF ch. 10.1 from Santa Fe, right now they are testing with blank screen with some closed captoning dropouts.

The signal strenth is okay at 78%.

This station run at 15 KW ERP on ch. 51.1

9-6-10

Thanks for the heads up. The signal is at about 75% here in the Jemez Mtns. Much better than their very snowy analog (about P2) signal on channel 30. Not that I need the new channel, living just 4 miles from the KCHF-DT channel 10 tower. Never watch it anyway.

So I'm watching Nikita over on KWBQ right now. The sound seems a little out of sync. Not sure if it's from watching it on pc while I'm recording it. Anyone else watching?

I haven't been able to get an OTA signal on KRQE for about a week now and I've called and left a message with the station. I've tried on two different tuners. Anyone else having problems with KRQE?

I haven't been able to get an OTA signal on KRQE for about a week now and I've called and left a message with the station. I've tried on two different tuners. Anyone else having problems with KRQE?

No problems here.

No problemo; check your antenna.
JR

No problemo; check your antenna.
JR

If it was the antenna then you would think I wouldn't get any other station as well. Also, my antenna is omni-directional meaning I could turn it 180 degrees and still get at least some of the stations. In fact, I tried it when I first got it. There has been some change with the tower over the summer I suspect that makes the signal hard to get in Four Hills.

If it was the antenna then you would think I wouldn't get any other station as well. Also, my antenna is omni-directional meaning I could turn it 180 degrees and still get at least some of the stations. In fact, I tried it when I first got it. There has been some change with the tower over the summer I suspect that makes the signal hard to get in Four Hills.

I am in the Four Hills area as well and have no trouble at all. Signal strength in the 90s.

I am in the Four Hills area as well and have no trouble at all. Signal strength in the 90s.

Well then, who knows what it is? Time for a new antenna?

Don't forget to check you cabling from antenna to TV. That's the one thing most people neglect to inspect. Your antenna could be fine, but with some cable damage... And what about the arms on the antenna? Or the connections on the antenna itself?

Pre-amp possibly die?

Don't forget to check you cabling from antenna to TV. That's the one thing most people neglect to inspect. Your antenna could be fine, but with some cable damage... And what about the arms on the antenna? Or the connections on the antenna itself?

It's only with KRQE though. I'll check the antenna outside today but wouldn't all the channels be affected?

If one of the arms on the antenna is bent/broken that could affect just 1 channel. Each arm picks up a different wavelength.

If one of the arms on the antenna is bent/broken that could affect just 1 channel. Each arm picks up a different wavelength.

There are no arms, it looks like a breifcase or small suitcase. Picture attached.

It may be location, which is harder to pin down. You may have to walk it around while someone watches 13 for you.
JR

It may be location, which is harder to pin down. You may have to walk it around while someone watches 13 for you.
JR

Yes, I could do that but it's been on the same location for 5 or 6 years. Nothing has changed on my end and I got 13.1 for all of those years. Now I don't get the station and other people are still getting the station near the same area as me and the station says they haven't changed anything either. Fortunately, I can still get it on Comcast cable channel 212.

KOB has set up a new webcam to allow you to look in on the progress of the new set construction. Apparently it updates about every 10 minutes and the set is scheduled to be unveiled Sept 26th after Sunday Night Football (and we can hope widescreen starts then, also).

http://www.kob.com/article/stories/s1741945.shtml

Poking around the interface, I found an image that seems to explain to me how the green screen is done. It looked like fabric attached to a wood frame, which would explain one way to get the color consistent enough to chromakey to (I thought they would just paint a wall green'ish, but I can see how there may be too many slightly different hues of green over the span of the wall for the chromakey to work well).

I assume the new set will be enabled for HD local news presentation.

I assume the new set will be enabled for HD local news presentation.

not at first, but eventually according to someone who posted here a page or two back.

BTW, I think KOB is getting a new logo based on the on-air promo for the new set.

It may be location, which is harder to pin down. You may have to walk it around while someone watches 13 for you.
JR

I'm also now having problems with 7 and 13. Do you think it could be a UHF/VHF issue. Didn't 7 and 13 both change to VHF? This antenna I think might be UHF only. I'm going to see if I can dig up the original antenna documentation to see for sure. If so, anyone have a recommendation for a good antenna? I'm in Four Hills so pretty close to the towers.

not at first, but eventually according to someone who posted here a page or two back.

BTW, I think KOB is getting a new logo based on the on-air promo for the new set.

I saw that. Looks like a red circle with the 4 inside. And they said Sun would be the start.

Lujan, yes 7 & 13 are both VHF, while everyone else is on UHF.

KNMD 9-1 and KCHF 11-1 are also on VHF.

- Trip

I'm also now having problems with 7 and 13. Do you think it could be a UHF/VHF issue. Didn't 7 and 13 both change to VHF? This antenna I think might be UHF only. I'm going to see if I can dig up the original antenna documentation to see for sure. If so, anyone have a recommendation for a good antenna? I'm in Four Hills so pretty close to the towers.

I went to antennaweb.org and typed in my location (my full address) and got the attached results. Anyone in my area (Four Hills) with an antenna that's working and where did you get it?

The chief engineer at KNME, Jim Gale, tests antennas and stays current on the best ones. I'll drop him an email if you like for a recommendation.
JR

The chief engineer at KNME, Jim Gale, tests antennas and stays current on the best ones. I'll drop him an email if you like for a recommendation.
JR

Thanks JR!

I sent him a request. I hope he's not too busy to reply.
JR

Don't know whether this would apply, but a respected engineer Charlie Rhoades has a paper that dealt with interference to over the air digital reception on the high band VHF from high powered fm stations. Here is the link to that paper for you tech minded folks.
http://www.tvfmtranslators.com/PastPapers/2009/CharlesRhodesNTA2009FMixtoTV.pdf

Looks like KOB went early. And not just windscreen. Looks HD!

Looks like a mix on 4. Some cameras HD but most SD.

I caught it right before the weather tonight, what little I watched at 110" at 1080p looked like widescreen SD, I watch KOB pretty much exclusivly unless Judge Judy is on in the afternoon, then it's KRQE...

I sent him a request. I hope he's not too busy to reply.
JR

Thanks for sending the request but no response, so I guess he's too busy. For now, I'm using an indoor antenna that seems to be working at the moment for KRQE and KOAT.

Looks good during the news breaks on the Today show...

I think KOB-DT's HD newscast, looks better than KRQE IMHO!:)

Anyway theres a little news update.....

FCC has approved K38IM-LP ch. 38 "3ABN", for a CP by going flash cut to digital on RF channel 14 and will run at 7.66 KW ERP.

I don't know they will get on the air before the winter sets in, or wait till next year so we will see whats happens next.

9-27-10

One benefit, (for those that watch it)the Insider is HD...

One benefit, (for those that watch it)the Insider is HD...

Judge Judy isn't. I don't know what the deal is since AFAIK Judge Judy has a HD feed.

Overall, things are nice here in Albuquerque - all main newscasts are at least in widescreen now and many syndies are slowly but surely being aired in HD.

Albuquerque is getting a new multicast service. LIN is adding TheCoolTV (a music service) to Albuquerque among other markets with LIN stations.

The release I saw didn't mention which LIN property here is getting the multicast channel. I myself hope KASA because you could add TheCoolTV to KASA without as much potential picture degradation as if it was done on the KRQE signal.

Another LIN press release - looks like they will handle all the admin and technical stuff for ACME, so maybe you guys can actually get NFL preseason football in HD next season off the air! :D

It does bother me one organization is hired to handle admin, engineering, sales for 4 stations in our market, so I wonder when the FCC say enough is enough control of two media groups operating under the resources of one as far as being monopolistic. If you are a business owner in town, imagine your choices of negotiating an ad airing on the big 6 being limited to just the 3 (KOB, KOAT, and the acme/lin group) whereas earlier in the year it was 5.

press release follows:

LIN Media and ACME Communications Announce Shared Services Arrangement in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe, Dayton and Green Bay-Appleton Markets

PROVIDENCE, R.I., Jun 04, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --LIN TV Corp. ("LIN Media"; NYSE: TVL), a local television and multimedia company, today announced that the Company and ACME Communications, Inc. have entered into shared services and related agreements for ACME's television stations KWBQ-TV and KASY-TV in Albuquerque-Santa Fe, NM; WBDT-TV in Dayton, OH; and WIWB-TV in Green Bay-Appleton, WI.

Under the terms of the agreements, LIN Media will provide technical, engineering, promotional, administrative and other operational support services from its stations KRQE-TV and KASA-TV in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe market, WDTN-TV in the Dayton market, and WLUK-TV in the Green Bay-Appleton market. In addition, LIN Media will provide advertising sales services under a joint sales agreement for the ACME stations in the Dayton and Green Bay-Appleton markets. The agreements are expected to provide operating synergies and expense savings to both parties in each of the markets.

In making the announcement, Vincent L. Sadusky, President and Chief Executive Officer of LIN Media, said, "This arrangement leverages LIN Media's core strengths in operating leading local multimedia platforms and allows both parties to enjoy the benefits of greater economies of scale."

Doug Gealy, President and Chief Operating Officer of ACME Television added, "We are delighted to have in place an arrangement that further strengthens our stations and will allow them to better serve their communities."

Safe Harbor

This press release includes statements that constitute "forward-looking statements," including statements regarding our future plans and strategies, growth opportunities, and our future prospects. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties, including, among other factors, general economic conditions, demand for advertising, risks associated with the integration of acquired businesses, competition for audience and programming, government regulations and new technologies, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that could contribute to such differences include the risks detailed in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. By making these forward-looking statements, we undertake no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this press release.

About LIN Media

LIN Media, along with its subsidiaries, is a local multimedia company that owns and/or operates 28 network-affiliated broadcast television stations and interactive television station and niche web sites in 17 U.S. markets. LIN Media's online advertising business, RMM, leverages unique technology, new product innovation and customized interactive and mobile advertising solutions to deliver measurable results to local, regional and national clients.

LIN TV Corp. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "TVL". Financial information about the company is available at www.linmedia.com.

About ACME Communications, Inc.

ACME Communications, Inc. owns and operates six television stations serving markets covering 2.2% of the nation's television households. The Company's stations are: KWBQ-TV and KASY-TV, Albuquerque-Santa Fe, NM; WBXX-TV, Knoxville, TN; WBDT-TV, Dayton, OH; WIWB-TV, Green Bay-Appleton, WI and WBUW-TV, Madison, WI. All of the Company's stations, except KASY-TV, a MyNetworkTV affiliate, are affiliates of The CW Network. The Company also produces The Daily Buzz, a nationally syndicated morning news program which airs on 161 television stations across the country. The Company's shares are traded over-the-counter under the symbol: ACME.PK.

SOURCE: LIN TV Corp.

LIN TV Corp.
Courtney Guertin, 401-457-9501
Corporate Communications Manager
courtney.guertin@linmedia.com

Looks like KOB went early. And not just windscreen. Looks HD!

Looks pretty good, but probably not HD. If it were HD, I'm sure they would be tagging it "KOB Eyewitness News 4 in HD". I don't see any HD tagging anywhere like you'd expect from a newscast that is in HD and not just widescreen.

The lack of a lot of on-air flubs makes me think the core of the newscast production in the control room hasn't changed - I bet it's using scalers or studio camera outputs to turn 16:9 HD studio camera output to 4:3 SD for processing in the existing core -- and then back to 16:9 widescreen for the lower thirds/graphics insertion on the way to the master control and transmitter.

I do wish they'd change two things - the big "4" and "KOB" on the cityscene bugs me when you have the individual anchors in the frame. It's fine when you use the two-shot. They should have just used the text ribbon at the bottom of the cityscape to read "KOB Eyewitness News 4" and left it at that, and let the shiny "4"'s speak for themselves at the flank video monitors of the main set desk.

I also wish they change the lower third template - between line one and two of the lower third is a split. I have no problems with the red/pink gradient but it bugs me to have that occasional white piece slide along the lower third in a choppy/artifacty/sparkly/distracting way. Red/pink should have been enough as it fills the gap in a non-distracting way.

^ I was wondering why they haven't promoted their shows as HD at all. Also, I was checking out the analog ch4 on Comcast and the shows are widescreen instead of 4:3. If they are gonna do that they should move their bugs out to the edge of the screen and use "the whole space". It's really bugging me how far the bug sits in the middle of the screen.

Edit: I hadn't watched the analog ch4 since sunday (who does really?) but looking right now at noon it appears they are doing 4:3 and not widescreen.

Edit: I hadn't watched the analog ch4 since sunday (who does really?) but looking right now at noon it appears they are doing 4:3 and not widescreen.

Looks like Comcast does what DISH Network does - trims the "pillar" areas to make a 4:3 image (rather than letterbox or an in-between zoom level).

KOB is definitely still doing widescreen newscasts so anything but that from your provider is their doing and not KOB's unless your provider's tuner uses the auto aspect feature and KOB is sending the wrong aspect ratio info at times for the tuner to follow.

Here's more informations, from the Broadcasting&Cable's website about Lin's broadcast rights to carry The CoolTV.

Here's the link!!:)

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/457743-LIN_Stations_Get_CoolTV.php

Man it's been too long, since The Tube TV went off the air on KASA-DT.

9-29-10

Looks like Comcast does what DISH Network does - trims the "pillar" areas to make a 4:3 image (rather than letterbox or an in-between zoom level).

KOB is definitely still doing widescreen newscasts so anything but that from your provider is their doing and not KOB's unless your provider's tuner uses the auto aspect feature and KOB is sending the wrong aspect ratio info at times for the tuner to follow.

Comcast doesn't do that to the analog FoxNews channel (34), so I don't know why they would do it to KOB. Or if they could even get away with it. I know if I wanted to put out my product as widescreen for the analog and digital tiers and the cable operator cut&zoomed it full I would be irate.

KOB looks much better than KOAT but its not HD. Maybe just the difference between 1080i and 720p. KRQE still looks way better than any of them hands down IMHO.

KRQE still looks way better than any of them hands down IMHO.



That may be true, but I still don't want to watch them. Just not a fan of 13.

KOB looks much better than KOAT but its not HD. Maybe just the difference between 1080i and 720p. KRQE still looks way better than any of them hands down IMHO.

I should hope KRQE looks best of the three! Comparing them to KOAT/KOB is like apples and oranges.

BTW, KOB is airing their balloon fiesta ascensions in widescreen this year! No more pillars!

Comcast doesn't do that to the analog FoxNews channel (34), so I don't know why they would do it to KOB. Or if they could even get away with it. I know if I wanted to put out my product as widescreen for the analog and digital tiers and the cable operator cut&zoomed it full I would be irate.

1) FOX News might have it in their contract that they are to be letterboxed on Comcast, or the sat receiver that tunes the FOX News HD signal with a special second output for analog might automatically output it in letterbox and not be changeable by Comcast through the receiver's configuration menu.

2) I doubt most programmers (exception being those who might have aspect ratio language in their contracts) are irate how their signal is displayed in a 4:3 aspect ratio. As long as they get carriage and get paid, I don't think it matters for most programmers if the pay tv provider clips the wings or shows it in letterbox on their systems.

Man it's been too long, since The Tube TV went off the air on KASA-DT.

9-29-10

Does that make me an old fart that I remember "The Box" on analog UHF channel 56. ;)

I can't wait to see how CoolTV is - I am pretty sure it's server-based because I haven't seen a distribution feed on backyard dish satellites and I wonder with so many music types out there if the service is going to air music that is fairly evenly distributed or if it will learn heavier on R&B and Mexican/Latino.

It is server-based and fed on the Internet. I am not 100% sure about the music but my impression is that it's more Rock-focused. I could be wrong on that.

- Trip

Someone on this forum stated that Comcast was going "all digital" this summer and now it's fall and I'm still waiting for "The Daily Show" in HD from Comcast. Anyone have any new information?

1) FOX News might have it in their contract that they are to be letterboxed on Comcast, or the sat receiver that tunes the FOX News HD signal with a special second output for analog might automatically output it in letterbox and not be changeable by Comcast through the receiver's configuration menu.

2) I doubt most programmers (exception being those who might have aspect ratio language in their contracts) are irate how their signal is displayed in a 4:3 aspect ratio. As long as they get carriage and get paid, I don't think it matters for most programmers if the pay tv provider clips the wings or shows it in letterbox on their systems.

1) I'm guessing that Fox news does have it in their contracts. And it's most likely just one output from the receiver and Comcasts' equipment chain spits out the HD and down-rez'd SD signal... But that's neither here nor there.

2) Agreed. But if a broadcaster did want their SD output in widescreen, to actually use all the available screen space instead of the 4:3 safe title area, Comcast or any provider shouldn't take it upon themselves to zoom&crop it. I would bet the locals send both HD and some down converted SD version to the providers thus dictating exactly how they want their signals to look.

Someone on this forum stated that Comcast was going "all digital" this summer and now it's fall and I'm still waiting for "The Daily Show" in HD from Comcast. Anyone have any new information?

I just got a mailer from Comcast stating it's gonna be soon and any TVs that use just the basic cable channels are going to need a "special" digital converter in order to keep watching those basic cable channels. IIRC they will give you 2 boxes free and then charge you $1.99/month for any extras beyond the two. You do have to contact them to get your boxes though.

And I am still waiting for Comedy Central HD too. C'mon Comcast!

I just got a mailer from Comcast stating it's gonna be soon and any TVs that use just the basic cable channels are going to need a "special" digital converter in order to keep watching those basic cable channels. IIRC they will give you 2 boxes free and then charge you $1.99/month for any extras beyond the two. You do have to contact them to get your boxes though.

And I am still waiting for Comedy Central HD too. C'mon Comcast!

Thanks for the info but "soon" is a relative term.

Someone on this forum stated that Comcast was going "all digital" this summer and now it's fall and I'm still waiting for "The Daily Show" in HD from Comcast. Anyone have any new information?


Depending on where you live, November or December.

Someone on this forum stated that Comcast was going "all digital" this summer and now it's fall and I'm still waiting for "The Daily Show" in HD from Comcast. Anyone have any new information?

Digital does not necessarily mean HD.

Digital does not necessarily mean HD.

I'm aware of that but the chances are higher that we'll get the HD versions of the shows if available.

I'm aware of that but the chances are higher that we'll get the HD versions of the shows if available.

It should mean that they add many more HD channels. Each QAM channel (38 Mbps or so) should be able to handle 7 or 8 SD channels. If the 60 or so analog channels are moved over that should free up at least 50 QAM channels for HD.

Digital does not necessarily mean HD.

Correct. Comcast has already been simulcasting the digital versions of the analog channels.

As I stated previously they will be adding HD channels mid November through December depending on location.

And I am still waiting for Comedy Central HD too. C'mon Comcast!

It's not on Comcast VOD? :rolleyes: Comcrapstic!!!!

Amazing how Comcast positions themselves that they don't need linear HD channels because they have VOD and then they don't carry some of the HD content in their VOD that is most commonly found carried as linear HD channels on non-comcast systems and DBS throughout America.

I'll have to check if Comedy Central onDemand is in HD.

I think KOB-DT's HD newscast, looks better than KRQE IMHO!:)

Anyway theres a little news update.....

FCC has approved K38IM-LP ch. 38 "3ABN", for a CP by going flash cut to digital on RF channel 14 and will run at 7.66 KW ERP.
9-27-10

This is kind of funny because apparently years and years ago the original channel 14 on the crest moved because the two way low power users were complaining of interference to their equipment from the old high power channel 14. Sort of debatable whether it was on the side of the two way users or the original channel 14 that caused the problems, in terms of filtering from both ends.

But the two way users got what they wanted in the end, no channel 14 near their input to interfere with them. Now this channel 38 has a "flash cut" sort of, that goes from 38->14, huh? Why change channels on a flash cut, when you already have a 38 antenna? Strange. Plus, there is another application for channel 14 over by Santa Fe.

The chief engineer at KNME, Jim Gale, tests antennas and stays current on the best ones. I'll drop him an email if you like for a recommendation.
JR

Hi jerrich, I'm guessing that Jim Gale never responded to your request about antennas because it's now been about 2 weeks. Should I call him?

Yes, it wouldn't hurt. I don't know if he got my email or not. Sorry for not getting back to you.
JR

Are KNMD's 9.1 and 9.2 out of Santa Fe? I finally figured out a position for my little indoor antenna that picks up every other station well enough, then I read here about 9.1 and 9.2. I'm able to get them -- but only with extreme pixelation and a bad picture & sound all around. If moving my antenna is all I need to do to get a good picture should either channel have something I need to see... that's not much effort assuming I can reposition it to that just-right location for all the other stations. I realize I could simply try it, but I don't want to mess up a set up that currently works for everything else.

DebbyS,

KNMD-DT ch. 9.1 RF ch. 8, is transmitting from Sandia Crest and also running at 5.140 KW ERP.

Make sure your antenna handle VHF and UHF freqs, band and aimed at the Sandia Creast mountain.:)

Now for the for rest of you guys reading the post, there is one minor news......:D

KLUZ-DT has added a second digital sub channel, ch. 41.3 Home Shopping Channel.

The analog low station KTFA-LP is still on the air on RF ch. 48.

Still waiting for Cool-TV and RTV, to go on the air sometime sooner the better.

10-13-10

Little off topic, thought you mike like this shortwave video via DRM test.....:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGMiRRUgvcM

Have fun watching it!!:cool:

10-14-10

Comcast put a legal notice in the JOURNAL on Friday (Oct 15) about channel lineup changes. Why, I don't know unless it's a requirement of their no-competition franchise agreement with City of Albuq.

They are adding a slew of HD channels, including Comedy Central HD that has been discussed here recently. They are also adding a bunch of spanish-language SD channels and even FSN RM SD (so that may signal FSN Arizona SD gets its own full-time channel rather than sharing Arizona and RM). The FSN RM addition alone should be worth a $10/month bill increase. :D

Nov 16th effective date for the city, Nov. 18th for the east mountain areas, Dec 16th for some areas north and south of ABQ (i.e. city of bernalillo, belen, bosque farms, los lunas)

Breaking News,

KENW-DT ch. 3.1 and .2 From Portales, NM is now on Directv here in Albuquerque's metro areas!!:)

The station is owned by Eastern New Mexico UNV, they do have local grown local news from Eastern part of our state which is nice to have.

10-16-10

KASA-DT is now carrying a new subchannel called COOLTV on ch. 2.2.

COOLTV is a music video channel, just like the old The Tube!!:):cool:

Enjoy the new channel!

10-26-10

KASA-DT is now carrying a new subchannel called COOLTV on ch. 2.2.

COOLTV is a music video channel, just like the old The Tube!!:):cool:



It's a part-time music channel - runs infomercials (at least between 4-6 am when I checked).

they seem to run enough ads that I don't see why they can't be 24/7 music rather than maybe 21/7 music.

"Cool" hows the quality compared to JCTV on 23.3?

I think CoolTV's has much better picture quality, than the TBN's subchannel JCTV, IMHO and besides I don't care for any of TBN's programing which is mind numbing IMHO.:p

Now back to TV DXing!!:D

11-5-10

I got a list of channel changes (added, moved, etc.) today but still didn't see Comedy Central channel in HD?

Ch 848. All the new HD's are in the 800+ range.

Ch 848. All the new HD's are in the 800+ range.

Thanks, I missed it because it's titled "CCHD" and I was looking for "Comed" as it was on the SD station. It seems the Daily Show is now to air at 9:00 pm instead of 12:00 am, huh?

Yep. Comedy Central HD is now the east feed, while the SD version is the west. South Park @ 8p!

No new channels on Comcast in Albuquerque.

No new channels on Comcast in Albuquerque.

I'm in the NE heights and I have all the new channels. Not sure if they are rolling it out in different parts of the city at different times, though that seems unlikely. They are doing different areas of the state at different times.

Yep. Comedy Central HD is now the east feed, while the SD version is the west. South Park @ 8p!

I love it because that's what I was used to with Dish Network and now I have it with Comcast.

Be aware KOAT may be pulled from DirecTV on January 1st, 2011.

KOAT (and other Hearst stations) and DirecTV are working on a carriage renewal and if no deal is reached, Hearst may request DirecTV pull their channels from the satcaster on January 1st rather than keep them on the service while negotiations continue.

Of course, KOAT can be received with an off-air antenna or on other satellite and cable operators.

I was shooked to see on This TV's website, saying they are now on KOB-DT's sub channel 4.2 and bumping the weather channel to 4.3!:eek:

I am not sure they are on the air right now but I will check it out....

Here's the link from This TV's web site.....

http://newmexico.thistv.com/

12-12-10

Arghhhhhhh! I've lost my TV Guide On Screen, AGAIN!

Last Tuesday Comcrap started the move to encrypting most of the analog channels that were in the Extended Basic Lineup (<=no longer available). I can't believe the extent they went to to prevent HD from getting through to my TVs with Clear QAM built in. The DTAs, nor the Cisco set top box will pass through the network stations that are there on the cable in clear QAM. Not even when powered off will that Cisco box do a pass through. The documentation says that the Tv/VCR button will do a pass through. NOT TRUE!

I've been using a DTVpal to get the data for TV Guide on Screen from over the air Channel 5.1, KNME. Has anyone else noticed that this seemed to have happened simultaneously with the Comcast analog scrambling maneuver?

Comcast is coming this afternoon to swap that stupid Cisco set top box for a cable card for my Samsung. Hopefully I'll be able to rescan and see the clear QAMs along with the scrambled analog tier.

Can someone in the Albuquerque area using the TV Guide On Screen feature tell me what the "HOST" channel is?

I've got my DTVpal set to over the air KNME 5.1 and it worked for a couple of years until two weeks ago.

I found a posting (somewhere?) that says that KOB is carrying the guide information?

I guess I can try setting the pal to 4.1 and see if the guide updates overnight?

Thanks.

I was shooked to see on This TV's website, saying they are now on KOB-DT's sub channel 4.2 and bumping the weather channel to 4.3!:eek:

I am not sure they are on the air right now but I will check it out....
12-12-10

I did a rescan on my TV and if I did it right, 4.2 is still the weather channel. No 4.3 active.

Weather channel is nice in that they are playing christmas music (instrumentals).

I think when all is said and done, we probably all will wish KOB would have Antenna TV rather than THIS TV.

I'm definitely not looking forward to another SD subchannel because SNF already has been degraded a little bit with the addition of the weather channel and football needs as much datarate as you can feed to it because of all the motion during the actual plays.

EDIT: Wow, I decided to go to kob.com and look at the schedules. I don't see THIS TV mentioned, but I did find this interesting schedule item for 4.2 starting on Christmas Eve:

NBC Plus: The team breaks down the latest news from the area, the United States and around the world, including exclusive coverage and special interviews.

---

Certainly isn't THIS TV, but I wonder if NBC is starting up a digital mulitcast channel for their affiliates on Christmas Eve that will have news from NBC News and re-airs of some of the interviews and segments they have done recently and allows for KOB to slip in local news/weather/sports segments.

I guess the digital/HD age still has a ways to go as when I got up this morning to watch the KRQE local news, it wasn't on. Instead they had "The Early Show". I called and they said that one of their systems is down and they're working on it. This never happened with the old analog/SD broadcasts.

Maybe the KOB-DT, will cram in 2 different ways.:p

1. KOB-DT main HD ch. 4.1 THISTV ch. 4.2 NBC Prime News ch 4.3 and the local Weather ch. 4.4

2. KOB-DT main HD ch. 4.1 THISTV ch. 4.2 and NBBC Prime News ch 4.3 no local weather.

Maybe KOAT-DT, will create their local weather channel on ch. 7.3!!:)

We will see what's happens next!:D

12-16-10

I guess the digital/HD age still has a ways to go as when I got up this morning to watch the KRQE local news, it wasn't on. Instead they had "The Early Show". I called and they said that one of their systems is down and they're working on it.

Probably the automated news setup. It took a dump recently (sometime within the last 2 weeks) on the 10pm news and the front half or so of the newscast was frontloaded with commercials or the weather segment and the back half had the news/sports when they got the system working.

Time to teach people contingency plans on how to manually run a switcher and how to play out files from another computer to on-the-air because it appears their automated setup isn't reliable.

Maybe the KOB-DT, will cram in 2 different ways.:p

1. KOB-DT main HD ch. 4.1 THISTV ch. 4.2 NBC Prime News ch 4.3 and the local Weather ch. 4.4

2. KOB-DT main HD ch. 4.1 THISTV ch. 4.2 and NBBC Prime News ch 4.3 no local weather.

Maybe KOAT-DT, will create their local weather channel on ch. 7.3!!:)

We will see what's happens next!:D

12-16-10

I'm hoping it's KOB 4.1 and NBC PLUS/Universal Sports timeshare on 4.2 and that THIS TV is an accident. After weatherplus/Local weather channel, I think weather only channels are overrated. I have the internet for quick access to free NWS radar images/loops and I haven't found myself often having to use 4.2 for radar because of my internet availability.

I hope KOAT adds 7.3 and makes it ABC News Now (it'd be much easier to tune/watch by punching in 7.3 on my remote than having to move a satellite dish over to it when I'm bored and looking for something to watch).

No OTA station is carrying ABC NewsNow nor has one in the last five years and I'm reasonably sure it's no longer available for that purpose.

Hubbard does not own any Universal Sports affiliates but does own a This TV affiliate, so I think This TV is more likely.

And there is also no "NBC News" station forthcoming; if there was, there would have been some type of announcement and it would likely be in almost direct competition with MSNBC. "NBC Plus" was the name given to the rebranded NBC WeatherPlus in the NBC O&O markets until the "Nonstop" channels were launched.

- Trip

Multi-casting degrades the quality of the primary channel, and is therefore something to be stopped.

+1 !! I agree.
Jr

Did you know that KOAT-DT is one of 4 Hearst stations do not carry AccuWeather sub channel instead, they decided to carrying the Spanish sub channel instead.:(

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Local_AccuWeather_Channel

12-19-10

Did you know that KOAT-DT is one of 4 Hearst stations do not carry AccuWeather sub channel instead, they decided to carrying the Spanish sub channel instead.:(

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Local_AccuWeather_Channel

12-19-10

WTAE Pittsburgh used to carry an AccuWeather subchannel, but dropped AccuWeather in favor of This TV almost two years ago...

And another Hearst station, WISN-DT Milwaukee, never had a subchannel thus far...

Hearst and DirecTV have hammered out a retrans deal - KOAT won't be going dark on DirecTV on Jan 1st.

It's too bad - I was hoping for at least a day outage so you could see all those people whining about losing KOAT when it's as simple in a lot of areas of the state to just use an antenna to get it back. ;)

Hearst and DirecTV have hammered out a retrans deal - KOAT won't be going dark on DirecTV on Jan 1st.

It's too bad - I was hoping for at least a day outage so you could see all those people whining about losing KOAT when it's as simple in a lot of areas of the state to just use an antenna to get it back. ;)


Grinch wannabe? :D

OTA with an outdoor ant. gives the best picture quality anyway. That's how my tivo gets all the locals.
JR

Still no show for THIS-TV or NBC Plus.....:confused:

KOB-DT still showing the our local weather channel at this time.

Take a look at KOB-DT's ch. 4.2 schedule listing.

http://www.kob.com/article/stories/s53524.shtml?cat=530

Not much else going on, so that's means back to TV DXing!!:D

1-4-11

I caught a promo spot on KOB's weather channel yesterday for This TV. Supposed to start on 7 Feb. No indication of whether it will replace the weather channel or be a new sub-channel.

I caught a promo spot on KOB's weather channel yesterday for This TV. Supposed to start on 7 Feb. No indication of whether it will replace the weather channel or be a new sub-channel.

Banner ads on KOB.COM state the same thing. The link on the banner ad goes to the THIS TV webpage created for KOB, so no further info either on if it's going to be 4.2 or 4.3 or whatever and if Local Weather Channel goes away or changes to another multicast channel position.

Minor news update,

KYNM-LD RF ch. 51 has remapped, to ch. 30.1 and the analog ch. 30 is back on the air.

Not only that KYNM-LD and LP, has dropped KCHF-DT and replaced something called My Family TV network.

The picture's quality, is somewhat okay to say at least.:p

As for KOB-DT's weather channel, I try to E-mailing them but no respond back yet so far and same goes for KOAT-DT to see if they can add local weather channel on ch. 7.3......

2-1-11

I caught a promo spot on KOB's weather channel yesterday for This TV. Supposed to start on 7 Feb. No indication of whether it will replace the weather channel or be a new sub-channel.

Hey, congratulations on getting This TV as well; it's one of my all-time favorite channels on antenna! This TV plays some classic shows (Highway Patrol, Sea Hunt, Patty Duke, and Mister Ed, but you'll need to get up really early for these shows), MGM library titles (Turner titles excluded), and surprisingly, old DiC cartoons (like Inspector Gadget)! While not all the movies on This TV are the best, I still enjoy watching them, because This TV (like many other subchannels) reminds me of 80s/90s cable TV, but it's free!

I hear that Denver is getting This TV on KWGN (yes, that's KWGN) 2-2. See my reply in the "Denver, CO - OTA" forum; it's similar to what I wrote here.

And have fun with your new channel!

Did you know that KOAT-DT is one of 4 Hearst stations do not carry AccuWeather sub channel instead, they decided to carrying the Spanish sub channel instead.:(

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Local_AccuWeather_Channel

12-19-10

I know that the post is like 6 weeks old, but let me say something here:

Too bad you're fussing about not having AccuWeather; I live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area (#5 DMA) and I wish we had AccuWeather on one of our local stations! My family still has cable and is sick of that "storm story" garbage the "Weather" Channel plays! As for me, I prefer today's antenna over today's cable (although the 70s-early 2000s cable was so much better), and like what antenna offers!

As for the AccuWeather-Spanish-Hearst fiasco, the ABC station in West Palm Beach, Florida, had their AW replaced with Estrella TV (that's the Spanish station Hearst has in four markets including your KOAT station). WKCF (sister to WESH) in Orlando has Estrella as well but not as an AccuWeather replacement. Where I live, Estrella is the primary channel, not a subchannel!

KOB posted an article on their website Wednesday with further info about THIS TV.

http://www.kob.com/article/stories/s1954487.shtml

In summary, it will appear on the -2 channel of KOB, KOBR, KOBF in place of Local Weather Channel and KOB is advising those that still want the content of the Local Weather Channel to log onto KOB.COM for that.

As for LWC or Accuweather, I'm fine not having them anymore starting next week. I find I get the best bang for my weather needs with the free info from the NWS (NWS unadulterated radar pages combined with the Albuquerque NWS office page for forecasts, warnings, local observations and water vapor sat images).

I wonder if the movies will be aired in HD?

I wonder if the movies will be aired in HD?

This TV is SD.

- Trip

This TV is SD.

- Trip

Since it's on a digital station 4-2, isn't it possible to broadcast in HD? Or is all the bandwidth dedicated to 4-1, therefore all of the programming in 4-2 has to be in SD?

Some stations do dual HD, but the results are mixed. Most people think it looks terrible (I'm one of them). http://www.rabbitears.info/oddsandends.php?request=dualhd

But it's irrelevant in this case, since This TV is not available in HD.

- Trip

I don't watch anything in SD anymore (I even watch the local news on 13.1 because it's the only HD local news) so I won't be watching 4.2.

Since it's on a digital station 4-2, isn't it possible to broadcast in HD? Or is all the bandwidth dedicated to 4-1, therefore all of the programming in 4-2 has to be in SD?

It's the possibility of multiple HD streams that makes me wish H264 was added into the spec (or at least have TV's easily upgradable to add that codec in case the spec is revised in order to keep from having to buy new TV's).

4-5 sweet streams of HD could fit in a terrestrial TV signal using H264. MPEG2 is just too much of a bandwidth hog for trying to squeeze more than 1 HD stream in a single terrestrial digital channel.

EDIT: Yes, THIS TV is not available in HD, but I bet it might be if the spec was changed to H264 to allow for multiple good HD channels in one terrestrial signal. As it stands now, THIS, ME, Antenna, COOLTV, TUFF, RTV are primarily meant to be secondary channels and thus will stay in SD-resolution for the forseeable future. Only RTV has one "HD" channel that I am aware of and that is probably because some mom and pop station is using it for their HD channel as a primary RTV affiliate, not because they are trying to squeeze two HD channels into one terrestrial mux.

It's the possibility of multiple HD streams that makes me wish H264 was added into the spec (or at least have TV's easily upgradable to add that codec in case the spec is revised in order to keep from having to buy new TV's).

4-5 sweet streams of HD could fit in a terrestrial TV signal using H264. MPEG2 is just too much of a bandwidth hog for trying to squeeze more than 1 HD stream in a single terrestrial digital channel.

EDIT: Yes, THIS TV is not available in HD, but I bet it might be if the spec was changed to H264 to allow for multiple good HD channels in one terrestrial signal. As it stands now, THIS, ME, Antenna, COOLTV, TUFF, RTV are primarily meant to be secondary channels and thus will stay in SD-resolution for the forseeable future. Only RTV has one "HD" channel that I am aware of and that is probably because some mom and pop station is using it for their HD channel as a primary RTV affiliate, not because they are trying to squeeze two HD channels into one terrestrial mux.

Be careful what you wish for. 4 streams per ATSC channel would be about 5mbps per stream. Dish Network sends out channels at about 5mbps h.264 and their picture quality is complete garbage. Its so bad I'm cancelling my service in a few months when my contract expires. I barely even watch TV on Dish except for live sports (which are complete garbage picture quality wise), and a bit of news. TV shows I wait for BD or DVD.

To me, 19mbps barely cuts it for one 1080i channel with MPEG-2 encoding, and could probably support 2 channels with h.264 at acceptable picture quality.

Also, the ATSC spec actually already has been revised to support h.264. However, existing TV tuners won't support it. More than just a few years ago, the processing power necessary to decode h.264 would've been very cost prohibitive, thats why MPEG-2 remained the standard so long (or one reason). Also, I believe, few if any cable boxes out there support h.264. So a move from MPEG-2 to h.264 as the code would require most, if not all, over the air viewers to acquire a box, AND all cable companies to replace their existing rental boxes with new ones. It ain't happening any time soon.

It's a shame, we lost our local weather channel!:( KOB-DT should have moved the local weather channel to ch. 4.3 IMHO....

I am sure most of TV viewers, don't want to walk back and forth from TV to go online on the computer to check on local weather !!:p

2-7-11

I don't know if it's just my situation but starting yesterday (2/7/11), I can't get 13.1 on my TV connected to Comcast cable directly. I have no cable box on this TV and I tried re-scanning the stations and still no 13.1. I'm getting it fine on my TiVo box connected to Comcast just not on the TV connected directly to the cable. Anyone know if they may have changed something?

Don't you need cable cards to get the comcast channels now that they went all digital?
JR

Don't you need cable cards to get the comcast channels now that they went all digital?
JR

Yes, according to Comcast, I need some cable boxes even though all of the TVs connected directly to cable have digital tuners. It doesn't make sense to me but I ordered 3 of those boxes (they say about the size of your hand) that I will connect to the cable and TV to see if 13.1 comes back. They say there is no charge for these boxes.

You do NOT need a set top box to receive FOX, ABC, NBC, or CBS in High Def. These stations are on the cable in what's known as "Clear QAM" (not scrambled). You will no doubt be totally disappointed with the free set top box and DTAs (Digital Terminal Adapters) that Comcast is giving to subscribers of BASIC and Extended Basic Services.

The free stuff they are giving away simply gives you the old analog 2 through 75, now scrambled, in Standard Definition on a channel 3 or 4 output from the boxes. NO COMPONENT or COMPOSITE VIDEO out.

My gripe is that their boxes do not have a bypass mode so that my digital-ready tv can scan the clear QAM stations. Fortunately, my Samsung also has an over-the-air tuner so that's what I use for HD. The digital tv in the master bedroom is going to be stuck with a lousy SD signal stretched to fill up a 16x9 screen. Yuk!

Just for grins the other day, I connected an old analog tv set to the cable to see what was left of analog signals. The only thing remaining was a color-bar pattern on Channels 3 and 75!!! Zero, zip, nada left of analog signals!

Also gone is the really nifty tv guide on screen (TVGOS). Comcast was letting this through on KNME's old Channel 5 SD. Alas, it's gone and they don't plan on putting TVGOS on their cable anywhere. A technician flatly told me on the phone, "Why should they do that when they provide an interactive tv guide!" What's puzzling to me is why advertisers would continue to pay Rovi (<=company that now owns TVGOS) and hence PBS to carry ads that no one can longer see??? Those small, unobtrusive ads is what pays for the TVGOS service.

I'm drafting yet another letter to the FCC for all the good it will do. The digital transition was not supposed to result in higher cable tv charges, but if you want HD you will have to subscribe to a higher tier ($) and have equipment rental fees to boot! Time to look at Dish or Direct I suppose.

As for CBS 13.1 coming and going. This is another problem that has been going on ever since the 1st round of the digital transition. Apparently, in two different markets, Albuquerque and Portland, there has been an ongoing battle between Comcast and CBS over the carrying of CBS's signal (over $).

Now that Comcast has purchased NBC (Channel 4/4.1) does anyone think this will ever be resolved? :-(

As far as 13.1 disappearing, the same thing happens to me every so often on one of my digital-tuner TV's. It doesn't do it to other channels I watch, just 13.1. I rescan and 13 locks again. My theory is that Comcast does something on purpose to frustrate us and make us get another cable box to squeeze a little more $$ from us. They don't like customers with 1 box when they should have 2 or 3. They don't like that I have "their" cable plugged into my TV and getting HD channels (granted, locals only) free. "HD isn't free. You need us to get your local channels."

... I rescan and 13 locks again. ..."

I did try re-scanning the channels and 13.1 still did not show up.

Those little free black boxes will block all HD channels. You may need their hd dvr.
JR

Those little free black boxes will block all HD channels. You may need their hd dvr.
JR

Even the free ones such as 2.1, 4.1, 7.1, 13.1 and 19.1?

Even the free ones such as 2.1, 4.1, 7.1, 13.1 and 19.1?

Yup, they're digital to analog converters. I installed a couple for my parents. My Dad was absolutely furious to learn they'd need an HD box on all 3 of their HDTV's to get HD channels.

Yep. Those little black boxes suck. They give you only the analog cable channels and do not pass thru any HD channels. It's for people that still have 4:3 TVs and never had/wanted a cable box.

That sucks about 13.1 not showing up on a rescan. It's always worked for me.

Yup, they're digital to analog converters. I installed a couple for my parents. My Dad was absolutely furious to learn they'd need an HD box on all 3 of their HDTV's to get HD channels.

If this is true, I'm going to switch to OTA and not have Comcast cable on the spare TV's.

Yep. Those little black boxes suck. They give you only the analog cable channels and do not pass thru any HD channels. It's for people that still have 4:3 TVs and never had/wanted a cable box.

That sucks about 13.1 not showing up on a rescan. It's always worked for me.

I just found out something interesting this morning as I got up earlier than usual and had some extra time. I was just channel surfing and found KRQE digital 13.1 located on 19.3. Again, this is Comcast cable connected directly to TVs with a digital tuner so I'm not using any cable boxes at all. I will just put the boxes that Comcast is sending to me in a closet and not use them at all if these boxes change the digital HD stations to SD analog. As long as I know where to find KRQE, I'm a satisfied camper.

Not unusual, US Cable in Carlsbad has KBIM 10.1 ( KRQE satellite in Roswell on channel 77.13, I believe.

Cable systems reassign digital OTA channels to various QAM virtual channels, you can never be sure where they will show up.

Most cable systems carry locals in HD unscrambled, they may be required to.

Which PBS station does Direct TV carry in Albuquerque, local or Portales?

Looks like KRQE and Dish aren't getting along now. 13 may be gone on Mar4.

Which PBS station does Direct TV carry in Albuquerque, local or Portales?
Both of them (KNME and KENW). They do not carry KNMD.

Looks like KRQE and Dish aren't getting along now. 13 may be gone on Mar4.

Is it CBS, or Fox?

I just saw on Fox news at 9 the station manager discussing the issue,so I assumed the beef was with Fox, but now I realize that Fox --KASA-- carries KRQE news. Or do they both have the same parent company?

And will our Dish DVRs still pass through and record the OTA version of the disputed channel(s)?

It's both (KRQE and KASA) since LIN owns both of them. It's one of those things where you need to take a sledgehammer to the FCC rulemakers' heads - 1) they allow multiple station ownership in a market so in a market like ours, one can become too powerful by owning more than 1 station, and 2) there is no retrans arbitration that I know of - yet - so if DISH and LIN can't get an agreement hammered out by March 4th, DISH subs lose and there is no cooling off period or arbitration to ensure that LIN isn't asking for $1,000,000 per sub for the stations and DISH isn't caving in because it's a ridiculous demand that is keeping an agreement from being struck when the actual fair value of the stations may be $0.25 or $0.50/station/sub/month.

Thankfully not much FOX or CBS stuff I record off DISH Network as it's done by my PC/ATSC tuner for quality reasons so if I lose those two on my DISH sub March 4th, no biggie.

We as HDTV enthusiasts need to try to figure out how to get the word out that they are available by antenna in many areas. It always amazes me the stupidity of a lot of people who live in an area covered by the off-air transmissions and think they can only get network programming by cable or satellite and if it gets dropped from their service, it's change their service provider to restore the network programming rather than just put up rabbit ears during the dispute.

Thanks for the info.

I'm still wondering if the OTA will work with my Dish DVR so I can record. If they both go off the air, that will suck during NFL season. At least there's some time before then.

I'm still wondering if the OTA will work with my Dish DVR so I can record.

I wouldn't know. My 625 doesn't have a built-in ATSC tuner (I use my PC as a recording/viewing machine with an ATSC device I have hooked up to it).

I'll have to see if I can record and playback the KRQE GM's message about LIN broadcasting and DISH Network. The thing that makes me most sick is that he hopes that KRQE/KASA are a valuable part of a pay tv package for its viewers. If I were on a ranch or the indian reservations outside of getting an off-air signal from the crest or from a translator, it probably would be valuable to get my network programming. Living in the footprint of the crest transmission, it's not so much valuable to me. I have pay tv subscription for the national cable channels that I enjoy.

I was looking at my DISH network programming guide and noticed KENW is in the guide - at least SD, I haven't researched to see if HD is also included. I went to the KENW channel on my 625 and got a black screen.

Are we (Albuquerque'ans) blacked out from KENW in order to protect KNME or are we supposed to be able to also view KENW since we are in the same DMA?

Thanks for the info.

I'm still wondering if the OTA will work with my Dish DVR so I can record. If they both go off the air, that will suck during NFL season. At least there's some time before then.

I haven't been with Dish now for almost a year and glad I switched to Comcast because of all the problems Dish has with CBS/Fox. I remember that OTA worked great with my 722 Dish DVR and I could record the OTA stations fine. In fact, they looked better because they weren't so compressed as the satellite versions.

On DirecTV both (KENW and KNME) are HD. Neither one is blacked out for me. Interestingly they don't carry KNMD, which also comes from Sandia Crest.