Excellent news! Now I need to figure out a way to get WJFW without moving any of my existing antennas!

Bill

Is KTTC currently broadcasting digital on channel 50 or analog on 67 from the W67CH tower?

I have a digital-only tuner so I'm not sure if I can't pick it up or if it's still analog (or both).

tvfool.com says both KTTC 10, and W67CH 50 are both grey-area for my location meaning that they will take extreme measures to pick up. I've always picked up KTTC 10, but now that it's digital it's been pretty unreliable reception.

The only way to know for sure is to dig into the menus and find the RF channel it's being received on. If W67CH, I'd like to know so I can post about it on Tech 55901.

Is KTTC currently broadcasting digital on channel 50 or analog on 67 from the W67CH tower?

I have a digital-only tuner so I'm not sure if I can't pick it up or if it's still analog (or both).

tvfool.com says both KTTC 10, and W67CH 50 are both grey-area for my location meaning that they will take extreme measures to pick up. I've always picked up KTTC 10, but now that it's digital it's been pretty unreliable reception.

KTTC-DT-50 is not going to be on the air for a few months, their DT-50 antenna is getting installed on the WXOW tower (one would assume at the same time as WXOW-DT-48's antenna install) KTTC-TV-67 will be on the air until the DT comes online W67CH tower (from what I have read on KTTC's website.)

KTTC-DT-50 is not going to be on the air for a few months, their DT-50 antenna is getting installed on the WXOW tower (one would assume at the same time as WXOW-DT-48's antenna install) KTTC-TV-67 will be on the air until the DT comes online W67CH tower (from what I have read on KTTC's website.)

Thanks for the info.

What is WXOW-DT-48 going to be?

Thanks for the info.

What is WXOW-DT-48 going to be?

The WXOW-DT-14 antenna is current mounted under the WXOW-TV-19 antenna (the top mounted antenna), will be taken down and a new antenna for channel 48 will be top mounted on the tower running 371kW!

Speaking of the WXOW tower:
http://s151.photobucket.com/albums/s129/gjvrieze/TV%20Transmitters%20WI/?action=view&current=WXOW.jpg

I can't comment on WEUX-DT, but WLAX-DT runs HD on 25.1 and an SD simulcast on 25.2. What you are seeing on your cable is most likely their HD feed being run by fiber to the cable company and may not be what they are pushing out over the air. I believe WFXS has had HD for a while now, but didn't have the capabilities to broadcast it OTA until they flash-cut, however their fiber feed to the cable providers allowed them the cable providers to carry it in HD. I can't imagine the same is going on with WEUX-DT, but I may be wrong as I can only receive WLAX-DT.
The FOX HD station in Eau Claire on cable is actually the WLAX signal from LaCrosse which does put out an HD signal. WEUX 48 does NOT do HD over the air.
Yes, I believe (looking back in time on this thread) that WLAX-HD is what has been carried on EC Charter cable for over a year. Gotcha, I guess I didn't realize that b/c at news time they must cut away to Local EC's bastard news program. Thanks for the replies, cleared up one mystery as to that.

Disappointing that the FCC has at this point denied the additional power upgrade for WEAUTV 13. Missing the UHF.

Nm

Not seeing much activity here lately...is that good news or bad news?!? Either everyone has given up on DTV, or most folks are OK with it. Hmmm...

Anyway, just a heads-up that WPT will be shutting down their analog transmitters for good on Sunday. In this market, WHRM/Wausau, WHWC/Menomonie, and WHLA/LaCrosse will all be pulling the big switch Sunday night. Of course, analog at WLEF/Park Falls is already shut down.

Ustabe

Does anyone know of any way to actually contact someone from Charter, in the Rhinelander area, that actually knows anything? I can only get a hold of tech support people from India who are no help at all.

For about 6 weeks Charter's feed of WYOW 34 from Eagle River (the rebroadcast of WAOW 9 ABC from Wausau) has been experiencing many problems similar an antenna being at low signal strength. Compression macroblocks appearing on screen, clicking noises when the artifacts appear, video stuttering, and several times we've watched it the channel has completely gone out for 15 minutes, with maybe 1 messed-up frame appearing every couple minutes. This happens on both analog and digital cable at the same times, and I've talked to other people in the Rhinelander area who experience the exact same problems at the exact same times in the show, only on this channel.

I talked to the engineer from WAOW and he said that Charter receives this channel for rebroadcasting with an antenna, so the problem would be explained if the antenna is not aligned correctly or there is some other issue with the receiving equipment. I can't believe that Charter doesn't know about this, as it has been going on for about 6 weeks, but maybe no one else can get in touch with someone from Charter who knows anything either! Thanks.

Does anyone know of any way to actually contact someone from Charter, in the Rhinelander area, that actually knows anything? I can only get a hold of tech support people from India who are no help at all.

For about 6 weeks Charter's feed of WYOW 34 from Eagle River (the rebroadcast of WAOW 9 ABC from Wausau) has been experiencing many problems similar an antenna being at low signal strength. Compression macroblocks appearing on screen, clicking noises when the artifacts appear, video stuttering, and several times we've watched it the channel has completely gone out for 15 minutes, with maybe 1 messed-up frame appearing every couple minutes. This happens on both analog and digital cable at the same times, and I've talked to other people in the Rhinelander area who experience the exact same problems at the exact same times in the show, only on this channel.

I talked to the engineer from WAOW and he said that Charter receives this channel for rebroadcasting with an antenna, so the problem would be explained if the antenna is not aligned correctly or there is some other issue with the receiving equipment. I can't believe that Charter doesn't know about this, as it has been going on for about 6 weeks, but maybe no one else can get in touch with someone from Charter who knows anything either! Thanks.

Try this (http://www.crunchgear.com/2007/10/19/granny-smashes-comcast-equipment-with-claw-hammer/) :cool:

Does anyone know of any way to actually contact someone from Charter, in the Rhinelander area, that actually knows anything? I can only get a hold of tech support people from India who are no help at all.

For about 6 weeks Charter's feed of WYOW 34 from Eagle River (the rebroadcast of WAOW 9 ABC from Wausau) has been experiencing many problems similar an antenna being at low signal strength. Compression macroblocks appearing on screen, clicking noises when the artifacts appear, video stuttering, and several times we've watched it the channel has completely gone out for 15 minutes, with maybe 1 messed-up frame appearing every couple minutes. This happens on both analog and digital cable at the same times, and I've talked to other people in the Rhinelander area who experience the exact same problems at the exact same times in the show, only on this channel.

I talked to the engineer from WAOW and he said that Charter receives this channel for rebroadcasting with an antenna, so the problem would be explained if the antenna is not aligned correctly or there is some other issue with the receiving equipment. I can't believe that Charter doesn't know about this, as it has been going on for about 6 weeks, but maybe no one else can get in touch with someone from Charter who knows anything either! Thanks.


Over in the Moxi thread there's someone named "Umatter2Charter". You might try contacting him via this site or his stated email address: Umatter2Charter@chartercom.com

Over in the Moxi thread there's someone named "Umatter2Charter". You might try contacting him via this site or his stated email address: Umatter2Charter@chartercom.com

Thanks a lot for the info!

Not seeing much activity here lately...is that good news or bad news?!? Either everyone has given up on DTV, or most folks are OK with it. Hmmm...

Anyway, just a heads-up that WPT will be shutting down their analog transmitters for good on Sunday. In this market, WHRM/Wausau, WHWC/Menomonie, and WHLA/LaCrosse will all be pulling the big switch Sunday night. Of course, analog at WLEF/Park Falls is already shut down.

Ustabe

I have given up on it, I lost WKBT and WEUX is still not broadcasting in HD. Not sure what there situation is. I am sure they have good excuses, but it seems like we have been waiting a long time since Mark said we were close.

Anyways, I dont the see the status of those 2 channels changing for me, so I have given up and am waiting patiently for Dish to uplink and activate the lacrosse HD locals.

Yup, the stations that went digital and VHF-hi are underpowered. It sucks that good stations go away because of the digital switch. For me it's WKBT channel 8 and WEAU channel 13.

It looks like WFXS 55-2 is showing up with outdoor type programming on the Titan TV guide. I cross referenced the shows and it looks like they are going to add Untamed Sports Tv to the line up.

http://www.untamedsportstv.com

Great news!

I have no problem with WKBT but WEAU is hit or miss. I've seen between 10 and 80% signal strength. I don't know the brand of my outdoor antenna (came with the house) but it has two driven elements, a reflector and ~6 directors. It is pointing at least roughly the correct direction.

Sometimes it is hust fine, sometimes I get nothing, and sometimes I get bordeline jaggie/blockie reception.

Brian

Are there any antenna installers in the area? I have a friend from Friendship, WI that is looking for an installer. Any leads to give her?

Are you talking a tower or just a roof top?

I'm not totally sure. She started this thread: http://www.highdefforum.com/local-hdtv-info-reception/92759-need-antenna-installer-central-wi.html

I'm not totally sure. She started this thread: http://www.highdefforum.com/local-hdtv-info-reception/92759-need-antenna-installer-central-wi.html

It is on a utility pole, so closer to tower work...

I think she is not in the best place to pick up either Wausau or Madison. My father in law is about 20 miles north and can get Wausau better than Madison, but he has a good line of site without many hills. She might want to look at calling a cell phone tower service guys. I found one guy a few years back who would climb the tower at our old house, but in never worked out. They do travel around so its a crap shoot trying to find one though.

Okay, I'll pass your suggestion along to her. Is there anyone that does a roof install? It may be possible to install on the roof...

Has anyone checked out WFXS Fox 55 today? Check out the new 55.2! :)

Has anyone checked out WFXS Fox 55 today? Check out the new 55.2! :)

Do tell! In the past it was either channel 9 or the same SD feed.

Extreme Sports Network...hunting and fishing!

Extreme Sports Network...hunting and fishing!

* Untamed Sports TV (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Untamed_Sports_TV)

:)

- Trip

Thanks Trip! THAT is what I meant! It looks like something like the old Outdoor Life cable channel.

Bill

If anyone is ever in the local EC/Altoona Charter office will you please get the local phone number.

Secondly, is anyone that is getting Charter HD using there "New" box? (actually about 1.5 years since they changed or started using them)?
I'd like to get the Make and Model of it and can't get that information off the 1-888 clowns in any department. [No I bite my tongue and don't actually call them clowns].

I'm having some issues with either the old box or the TV itself. It's connected (BOX) DVI - to HDMI (TV) cable - and when I change from HD Channels to SD channels quite often I'll get left with Green / Purple only colors. If I go back to a HD channel everything is fine until I'd switch back to a SD Ch. As a work around I flip the Input to something else and then back to tuner; it ALWAYS clears up or if I shut the TV (Plasma) off - next time it's fine.

I'm in trouble shooting mode. I am going to try Component cables to see if the problem continues there as well. But I was wondering if the (newer) HD boxes from Charter have HDMI ports and a Firewire port. Wondering if my TV which in the past has disliked the DVI to HDMI crossover and seems to classify it as Component in some menues.

Basically if I can find the Make/model I can hopefully look it up online. Hoping it's not the TV!

If anyone is ever in the local EC/Altoona Charter office will you please get the local phone number.

Secondly, is anyone that is getting Charter HD using there "New" box? (actually about 1.5 years since they changed or started using them)?
I'd like to get the Make and Model of it and can't get that information off the 1-888 clowns in any department. [No I bite my tongue and don't actually call them clowns].

I'm having some issues with either the old box or the TV itself. It's connected (BOX) DVI - to HDMI (TV) cable - and when I change from HD Channels to SD channels quite often I'll get left with Green / Purple only colors. If I go back to a HD channel everything is fine until I'd switch back to a SD Ch. As a work around I flip the Input to something else and then back to tuner; it ALWAYS clears up or if I shut the TV (Plasma) off - next time it's fine.

I'm in trouble shooting mode. I am going to try Component cables to see if the problem continues there as well. But I was wondering if the (newer) HD boxes from Charter have HDMI ports and a Firewire port. Wondering if my TV which in the past has disliked the DVI to HDMI crossover and seems to classify it as Component in some menues.

Basically if I can find the Make/model I can hopefully look it up online. Hoping it's not the TV!

I have a recently new Charter HD STB here in Rochester. It is a DCH-6200 with HDMI and firewire (History and USA HD among others) The firewire is active, but a lot of my favorite channels are 5c'ed. if you are interested in a HTPC using the STB, bare in mind, to change channels, you have to add "-f" to the channel change command. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask!

Hi, a bit of news I just noticed,

KQEG-CA channel 23 (analog) in La Crosse was FamilyNet this morning as usual, but tonight they are broadcasting the ION network!

Anyone here in the know about what they're up to at KQEG? Kind of interesting!

They were recently sold to the owner of the LPTV station in Tomah, which was rumored to carry ION, so maybe that has something to do with it. ION is really only on the air from 2-10p (paid programming at other times), so maybe they will mix FamilyNet and ION.

Incidentally, I checked for the LPTV station in Tomah on a recent trip through the area and couldn't pick it up within their theoretical coverage area.

I have been emailing back and forth with an engineer at WXOW and he says that WXOW is going to be ready to move to RF channel 48 at 9AM June 12th. The new transmitter is running into a dummy load, for stress testing and the "new" antenna will be showing up on the top of the WXOW tower soon:)

He said that he expects the new signal to match that of WHLA-DT, so for people like (in Rochester), it is the addition of another source of ABC and CW. (I personally like having multiple markets!)
Should make it an easier grab for those of you in Toma and the East side of La Crosse!

Dish Network uplink reports are showing our La Crosse stations. It's gonna be any day now folks!

Dish Network uplink reports are showing our La Crosse stations. It's gonna be any day now folks!

I am assuming you mean the HD uplink as the SD has been
uplinked and on for quite awhile now.

Dish Network uplink reports are showing our La Crosse stations. It's gonna be any day now folks!

I saw that myself,

I cant wait. I am still waiting for FOXHD, but the real annoyance has been losing WKTB HD since the transistion. We watched a lot of programs on that channel.

.......the real annoyance has been losing WKTB HD since the transistion.......
Any chance they'll be boosting the power a bit on June 12??

Any chance they'll be boosting the power a bit on June 12??

No filling yet about a power increase. More power is going to make it more reliable, but I doubt that will help those of you who currently do not get. Anyone inside of 60 miles not getting WKBT currently, needs a good VHF-HI antenna and they would be all set. I have done an install at 50miles out in a 200ft valley and had very good success with the Winegard YA-1713.

Dish Network uplink reports are showing our La Crosse stations. It's gonna be any day now folks!


According the Charley Chat on Dishnetwork this will be available on July 1st.

"Note to Self" Throw antenna in Garbage on July 2nd.



Murphys Law will indicate that WEUX will be going HD June 30th, you wait and see.

"Note to Self" Throw antenna in Garbage on July 2nd.


Where's your garbage? I could always use extra antennas... :)

The WXOW-DT-14 antenna is current mounted under the WXOW-TV-19 antenna (the top mounted antenna), will be taken down and a new antenna for channel 48 will be top mounted on the tower running 371kW!

Speaking of the WXOW tower:
http://s151.photobucket.com/albums/s129/gjvrieze/TV%20Transmitters%20WI/?action=view&current=WXOW.jpg

What transmitter is WXOW using? Just wondering if the Atlas that I installed is going to be used? Or the Diamond?

I remember the problems that I had with the Atlas when it was installed.

What transmitter is WXOW using? Just wondering if the Atlas that I installed is going to be used? Or the Diamond?

I remember the problems that I had with the Atlas when it was installed.

I shot a message off to Dan at WXOW. Will let you know what I hear back. I do know that he said they have a new xmtr for RF-48 and that it has been running into a dummy load for a while now. I think that cabinets from the DT-14 xmtr are going up to WQOW to join their DT-15 xmtr after the shutdown, so they can boast power up...

What transmitter is WXOW using? Just wondering if the Atlas that I installed is going to be used? Or the Diamond?

I remember the problems that I had with the Atlas when it was installed.
Here is a response...

WXOW will be using the Harris Atlas for digital on channel 48. Steve Finton from Harris did the Atlas conversion from Analog to Digital. So far, it has been heating up the dummy load with few issues.
Our Diamond transmitter will become parts for another station.

Here is a response...

Thanks for the info. Nice to know that transmitter is still working.

I believe that there was a severe winter snowstorm that happened while we were installing that transmitter. Not the best weather when we were up there the first time.

Eric

Digital transition is just about here.. The only station left in analog in my area is WBIJ-TV Crandon. My question is what is the latest on this station? I checked tonight and it looks like Family Net is still running. Are they going to stay on with analog service until the deal with WAOW is complete? or Shut down? The FCC website doesn't list any specifics. It is obmitted from the lists of stations required to shut down, but I did find they notified the FCC the analog shut down will take place as scheduled.

Also, my parents have Dish Network. WTPX is now showing up in the line up BUT its not an over the air broadcast. It is a rebroadcast of the national Ion feed. I can tell because there is no ID and sloppy Dish Network commerical inserts in the programming...The Dish Network inserts are a complete simulcast of the National Ion Feed. Is there any hope the station can someday be on the air at full power? The station can't be running more than a few watts. You really need to be a direct line of sight.. Practically SEE the tower to get a fraction of a signal.

I did hear rumors Ion filed bankruptcy.. with 16 hours of informercials, you would think they could make a profit.. LOL

WTPX-DT is on the air at 50 kW, which is plenty of power, but is extremely directional toward Wausau. If you're not on that path, you're very power-limited. WTPX-DT is for sale, though, assuming someone wants to buy it.

WBIJ hasn't filed anything lately, so it's impossible to know what's going on with it, so this one should have been on the FCC list but isn't. (That FCC list was so full of mistakes...)

- Trip

The signal doesn't get anywhere near Wausau. People with high gain 60 foot towers in Wausau aimed at the WTPX tower can't get a channel lock.. The signal stops about 6 miles from Wausau.. The station has a coverage of probably 5 miles. My parents have a 80 foot tower in Antigo (the city of license) but can't pick it up. It doesn't appear to broadcasting anywhere near the power they are suppose to.. The station is acting like a 10 or 20 watt station,. but not 50 K. Its possible people with a visual on the tower from south of Merrill and along highway 64 might be able to see the station. No its not getting into Wausau at all.

The signal doesn't get anywhere near Wausau. People with high gain 60 foot towers in Wausau aimed at the WTPX tower can't get a channel lock.. The signal stops about 6 miles from Wausau.. The station has a coverage of probably 5 miles. My parents have a 80 foot tower in Antigo (the city of license) but can't pick it up. It doesn't appear to broadcasting anywhere near the power they are suppose to.. The station is acting like a 10 or 20 watt station,. but not 50 K. Its possible people with a visual on the tower from south of Merrill and along highway 64 might be able to see the station. No its not getting into Wausau at all.

My best friend and I did testing and got the data that is on Rabbitears for your market. And WTPX-DT was within 3dB as strong as WFXS-DT. We were in Wausau at Mt. Rib and could barely see the tower at 15 miles and got a good lock on it... (actually right under the Mt. Rib tower, so those stations were hitting the antenna with huge signals, and no direct LOS to WFXS-DT with the trees blocking LOS plus an old 5th gen computer tuner, no pre-amp) If I had a spectrum analyzer, I would love to have looked at the signal and seen what it looked like, maybe it needs to tuned properly... Yes we were 400ft up, but even still, the signal was super strong, so I doubt it would completely drop going down into the valley.
50kW direction, is pretty weak in areas that do not get 50kW ERP in that direction, so I suppose there are people who cannot get it, but I really find it hard to believe that people in Wausau with direct LOS to the tower, cannot get it with good signal strength...

Well, WXOW-DT-48 just went on the air! (getting pretty good signal on my place in Rochester)

Well, WXOW-DT-48 just went on the air! (getting pretty good signal on my place in Rochester)

Can I get some new TSReader data on it? :D

- Trip

Can I get some new TSReader data on it? :D

- Trip

Soon, my dad is taking up my only tuner for LAX watching WLAX, so when I get home, I will boot him over to KXLT and get some data!

Soon, my dad is taking up my only tuner for LAX watching WLAX, so when I get home, I will boot him over to KXLT and get some data!

Awesome, thanks. :D

- Trip

Thanks for the info.. It seems you have better luck than I have finding that signal.. LOL

But have you tried the signal in downtown Wausau? I didn't try anything on Rib Mountain.. But if you are getting a signal with the millions of watts of RF on that mountain I should get something in Downtown Wausau.. :confused:

My best friend and I did testing and got the data that is on Rabbitears for your market. And WTPX-DT was within 3dB as strong as WFXS-DT. We were in Wausau at Mt. Rib and could barely see the tower at 15 miles and got a good lock on it... (actually right under the Mt. Rib tower, so those stations were hitting the antenna with huge signals, and no direct LOS to WFXS-DT with the trees blocking LOS plus an old 5th gen computer tuner, no pre-amp) If I had a spectrum analyzer, I would love to have looked at the signal and seen what it looked like, maybe it needs to tuned properly... Yes we were 400ft up, but even still, the signal was super strong, so I doubt it would completely drop going down into the valley.
50kW direction, is pretty weak in areas that do not get 50kW ERP in that direction, so I suppose there are people who cannot get it, but I really find it hard to believe that people in Wausau with direct LOS to the tower, cannot get it with good signal strength...

WLAX-DT appears to be offline or at low power. Can anyone in LAX or near the tower site, confirm that it is online or offline?

Thanks for the info.. It seems you have better luck than I have finding that signal.. LOL

But have you tried the signal in downtown Wausau? I didn't try anything on Rib Mountain.. But if you are getting a signal with the millions of watts of RF on that mountain I should get something in Downtown Wausau.. :confused:

Anywhere tvfool shows LOS, should get it, no problem. Outside of that, I don't know why it is getting everyone fits. Trip was wondering, if maybe their signal was not tuned correctly, making RF strong, but the quality very poor, which would make it a hard lock...

Possibly but thanks for the input.. :)

If anyone is interested WBIJ (the only analog station left on the air in the Wausau market) Appeared off the air at 5:30 this afternoon.. They were back on when I checked about 8 PM.. but was off again at 10:30.. I just checked at 11:50 PM and they are off. I think the station may now have officially pulled the plug.

It is gone, rescan to receive WXOW-DT-48!

WLAX-DT appears to be offline or at low power. Can anyone in LAX or near the tower site, confirm that it is online or offline?

I live in Holmen and I can't get WLAX-DT this morning either.

I live in Holmen and I can't get WLAX-DT this morning either.

I think they are at really power, by the fact that tons of people are not on here asking, so it must up enough to hit the cable headends...

Why is it that WXOW which I live like 2 miles from and can recieve with safety pin is improving its signal but WEAU which I only get sporadically isn't?

(not really a question - just complaining)

Brian
(yes, I do have VHF rooftop antennna)

Why is it that WXOW which I live like 2 miles from and can recieve with safety pin is improving its signal but WEAU which I only get sporadically isn't?

(not really a question - just complaining)

Brian
(yes, I do have VHF rooftop antennna)

WEAU should install a translator at the WXOW site for the LAX area, WEAU is a tough signal to get in the city, from all the reports that I have read.. I really good VHF-HI and pre-amp will usually get it, but most people do not have the right setup to start with...

WEAU should install a translator at the WXOW site for the LAX area, WEAU is a tough signal to get in the city, from all the reports that I have read.. I really good VHF-HI and pre-amp will usually get it, but most people do not have the right setup to start with...

I have a small Terk hdtva antenna in my house in Holmen and get WEAU in at about 80% signal. I just must be very lucky.

You are right, WEAU should install a translator in La Crosse, and WKBT should install one in Eau Claire, but neither has applied for one.

However, KTTC has a construction permit to convert is low-power channel 67 translator from La Crescent to a 15kW digital signal, which should cover La Crosse adequately. (The Winona translator will also go to 15kW DTV.) KTTC is co-owned with WXOW. I'm surprised WEAU is letting them get away with it.

Just re-scanned on my Dish VIP722, I'm only getting WXOW-48 at the moment. WLAX and WHLA are gone.

WXOW-48 is coming in @ 81% which is about 20% more then WXOW-14.

Just re-scanned on my Dish VIP722, I'm only getting WXOW-48 at the moment. WLAX and WHLA are gone.

WXOW-48 is coming in @ 81% which is about 20% more then WXOW-14.

I am still getting WHLA, but it is pretty weak... WLAX has not graced my tuner in almost 24 hours... I wish that I knew what happened.......

I have a small Terk hdtva antenna in my house in Holmen and get WEAU in at about 80% signal. I just must be very lucky.

I think part of the problem is the bluffs just north of La Crescent partially block the signal. For me sometimes WEAU comes in at ~80% and sometimes it is below 50%.

Brian

All of the doomsday talk from the media is such a load of crap! The Wausau sations that I can receive all switched early and the Green Bay stations have been set for a long time EXCEPT for Fox 11, which was dropping UHF 51 and returning to their analog channel 11. To show how well this has gone, there has not been one single post on the Green Bay HDTV thread on here on AVS. All day I have been checking in and I have seen the activity for those of you in the LaCrosse area, but really not a whole lot of negatives.

WSAW (physical channel 7) asked for and was granted over 4 times the signal that they were originally alloted. WAOW (physical channel 9) asked for and was granted just under double their alloted power. Perhaps WEAU and WKBT will follow and raise their power more than the few kilowatts they asked for originally.

In Green Bay, a UHF station nearly doubled their power while the powerful NBC station has asked to raise their antenna height. In time, I figure things will get straightened out. The wheels are already in motion or have occurred in many instances.

Smile! We are digital!

Bill

I am still getting WHLA, but it is pretty weak... WLAX has not graced my tuner in almost 24 hours... I wish that I knew what happened.......

Tried again this evening and got WHLA in at around 70%. WXOW-48 is now at a whopping 100% :eek: Still no WLAX, my dad who lives south of Rockland can't pick it up either.

I was looking at the FCC website and noticed that it looked like
their power increase was approved. I called and talked to
Ron Weidemier (sp) their engineer. He said they had boosted
thier power to 29 (sorry did not get exact number)
something, and that is the highest power that
the FCC allows for their antenna height.
Increased power Friday night.
So I swung my antenna back to the direcition
I used to have it to get WEAU, and at least right now
I am getting a 40 to 50 percent signal on the Channel
Master receiver I have. My 2 year old Samsung
HDTV would still not find it with a new scan.

So the power increase has helped some.

WLAX-DT appears to be offline or at low power. Can anyone in LAX or near the tower site, confirm that it is online or offline?

A wee bit late to reply, but here within the City I did catch the other day where WLAX was running a text scroll saying that were broadcasting at low power due to some kind of equipment failure. So whatever happened, they knew about it, and they ended up getting it fixed pretty quickly.

So I spent the weekend hearing all media outlets tell me that the digital transition is complete, because apparently all major media are unaware of the existence of low power television stations. And the fact that there's no deadline for low power TV to go digital (yet).

Here in La Crosse we still have:

- KQEG-CA analog channel 23 FamilyNet/ION. Anyone know if they intend to go digital some day?

- W67CH analog channel 67 KTTC/NBC Rochester. Now that the new WXOW is online, can we expect the flash changeover from W67CH to W50DR-D soon? (please??)

I thought we would also still have W44BF analog channel 44 TBN, but that channel's been dark for several weeks now. Maybe something broke and they won't bother fixing it, since they do seem to have plans to take that channel over to digital with W26DI-D some day? Anyone know? Or can anyone actually see channel 44 still?

- W67CH analog channel 67 KTTC/NBC Rochester. Now that the new WXOW is online, can we expect the flash changeover from W67CH to W50DR-D soon? (please??)

My contact over at WXOW said that he expects to see KTTC move W67CH to digital and move to the WXOW tower before the end of summer. I have the chief engineer at KTTC as a contact too, so I will fire off an email and see what the plans are. At 15kW from the WXOW tower, KTTC should have a nice signal in La Crosse.. Many may find that a VHF antenna aimed to WKBT/WEAU and a UHF antenna to WLAX/WHLA/WXOW/KTTC will work nicely!

If La Crosse gets a translator for KTTC, why don't we up in Eau Claire get one for WKBT or WCCO? :confused: I bet most of the people with antennas up here either don't get CBS anymore or never got it to begin with.

If La Crosse gets a translator for KTTC, why don't we up in Eau Claire get one for WKBT or WCCO? :confused: I bet most of the people with antennas up here either don't get CBS anymore or never got it to begin with.

KTTC is hoping to have W67CH flashed to digital before the end of August. The parts have been ordered and they will get it installed as soon as they can.

Just reporting some observations since adding a new antenna for Ch 8.1/2 and Ch. 13.1/2:

Had problems receiving WLAX yesterday morning and it didn't return until about 6PM.

WEAU seems spotty. Had a pretty decent picture Saturday night, but I have not been able to receive a lock since. I have to aim my antenna in between that station and WKBT, but even when directly pointed at WEAU's antenna, the signal only improved a few percentage points compared to where I have it now.

Oh and I did some adjusting to the antenna giving me WLAX/WXOW/WHLA and able to receive a strong 100% lock on 19.1/2 and 31.1/2/3. 25.1/2 is in the high 70s I believe... when they aren't having the issues noted above.

And just as an aside, went to my grandparents' on Father's Day and helped them with rescanning their converter box. Fun times! :D

Just reporting some observations since adding a new antenna for Ch 8.1/2 and Ch. 13.1/2:

Had problems receiving WLAX yesterday morning and it didn't return until about 6PM.

WEAU seems spotty. Had a pretty decent picture Saturday night, but I have not been able to receive a lock since. I have to aim my antenna in between that station and WKBT, but even when directly pointed at WEAU's antenna, the signal only improved a few percentage points compared to where I have it now.

Oh and I did some adjusting to the antenna giving me WLAX/WXOW/WHLA and able to receive a strong 100% lock on 19.1/2 and 31.1/2/3. 25.1/2 is in the high 70s I believe... when they aren't having the issues noted above.

And just as an aside, went to my grandparents' on Father's Day and helped them with rescanning their converter box. Fun times! :D

WLAX is removing their analog tower the past week or so, they may be at low power again to deal with climbers in the strong radiation zone.
WEUX is completely off the air at the moment, I see on their website, that part of the transmitter went bad late Monday morning.

WLAX-DT appears to be offline or at low power. Can anyone in LAX or near the tower site, confirm that it is online or offline?

Sorry to keep you guys in the dark for these couple of weeks...

On the infamous day of "The Great "O" Re-schedule" - we lost a little tiny fan (5VDC, about 60mm. x 60mm. x 15mm.) that kept an $8K tube cool...no one locally had the thing, so we had to wait 'til Saturday to get it...in the mean time, we we're on the little unit (2.46kW ERP) and standby antenna...and we were right in the middle of removing the old antenna from the top of the old tower...so working in the building, underneath a ton of dangling metal, wasn't a too smart thing to do...

But, following the antenna's landing, we were able to get back in the building and complete the repair...we had the full-powered WLAX DT back up and running about 1150 Saturday, the 13th...

Now, as some folks are aware, WLAX is removing its old tower ... so occasionally, we have to reduce the power of WLAX DT to keep from toasting the tower crew while they're up in the RF Beam from the new tower's antenna...and at the same time, we were also moving the two microwave dishes from the old tower over to the new tower...

The microwave antenna moves couldn't be done last fall due to weather constraints and man-power issues the tower crew was having...so we decided to move the stuff off the old tower this spring...at this time, we have about 240' of the old tower left and hopefully, by Monday/Tuesday, the old tower will be nothing more than a memory...

...and HD will eventually be coming to Chippewa Falls/Eau Claire...stay tuned...

... I thought we would also still have W44BF analog channel 44 TBN, but that channel's been dark for several weeks now. Maybe something broke and they won't bother fixing it, since they do seem to have plans to take that channel over to digital with W26DI-D some day? Anyone know? Or can anyone actually see channel 44 still?

Sorry to let you folks know, but W44BF/Ch. 44 TBN is no more...

TBN pulled its share of the funding for any low-powered TVs out in the hinterlands...they are, now, only funding Full-powered operations...so the owner of 44 had no choice but to pull the plug.

WLAX is removing their analog tower the past week or so, they may be at low power again to deal with climbs in the strong radiation zone.

We're pretty much done with lowering the power...all the work in the "RF Zone" was completed about a week ago...

WEUX is completely off the air at the moment, I see on their website, that part of the transmitter went bad late Monday morning.

A tiny transistor (SSSMD = SuperSmall Surface Mounted Device) went bad, taking out 5 $85.00 fuses (those were available locally, the transistor wasn't), so the order went out and we were promised a plane-load of parts by 3PM Tuesday afternoon...by 4PM, no parts came off the airplane...now the hunt was on...eventually, another plane showed up with...you guessed it...the parts, at 9PM...after the travel from MSP, the transmitter was back on the air about 1:16AM Wednesday morning...fun and games in Cellphone-free Wisconsin... :D :rolleyes:

Sorry to keep you guys in the dark for these couple of weeks...

On the infamous day of "The Great "O" Re-schedule" - we lost a little tiny fan (5VDC, about 60mm. x 60mm. x 15mm.) that kept an $8K tube cool...no one locally had the thing, so we had to wait 'til Saturday to get it...in the mean time, we we're on the little unit (2.46kW ERP) and standby antenna...and we were right in the middle of removing the old antenna from the top of the old tower...so working in the building, underneath a ton of dangling metal, wasn't a too smart thing to do...

But, following the antenna's landing, we were able to get back in the building and complete the repair...we had the full-powered WLAX DT back up and running about 1150 Saturday, the 13th...

Now, as some folks are aware, WLAX is removing its old tower ... so occasionally, we have to reduce the power of WLAX DT to keep from toasting the tower crew while they're up in the RF Beam from the new tower's antenna...and at the same time, we were also moving the two microwave dishes from the old tower over to the new tower...

The microwave antenna moves couldn't be done last fall due to weather constraints and man-power issues the tower crew was having...so we decided to move the stuff off the old tower this spring...at this time, we have about 240' of the old tower left and hopefully, by Monday/Tuesday, the old tower will be nothing more than a memory...

...and HD will eventually be coming to Chippewa Falls/Eau Claire...stay tuned...

Mark, thanks for posting this info!

Which microwave dishes needed to be moved? (I am guessing the links over to WEUX??)

Mark, thanks for posting this info! ... Which microwave dishes needed to be moved? (I am guessing the links over to WEUX??)

The first dish was the one feeding up to WEUX - that's a 2GHz. setup...it's the first of 3 hops on 2GHz. to get the signal to the Colfax site...it's actually the 2nd hop overall...

The 2nd dish to get moved over to the new tower was the 7GHz. dish that brings both the WLAX & WEUX signals up to the La Crescent site from the Studios...the WLAX signal terminates at the La Crescent site, whereas the WEUX signal is fed straight into the 2GHz. gear and is then sent on its way North...

Now, for something completely different...

Last night, WEUX DT got knocked off the air...again...due to the little storms that came through around dinner time...once I got to the site, a few breakers needed to be reset, but a wiring problem in the RF Switch cropped up and it took until 2330.00 last night to located, fix and then bring the transmitter back on line and up to full power...

Gremlins bite... :mad:

The first dish was the one feeding up to WEUX - that's a 2GHz. setup...it's the first of 3 hops on 2GHz. to get the signal to the Colfax site...it's actually the 2nd hop overall...

The 2nd dish to get moved over to the new tower was the 7GHz. dish that brings both the WLAX & WEUX signals up to the La Crescent site from the Studios...the WLAX signal terminates at the La Crescent site, whereas the WEUX signal is fed straight into the 2GHz. gear and is then sent on its way North...

Now, for something completely different...

Last night, WEUX DT got knocked off the air...again...due to the little storms that came through around dinner time...once I got to the site, a few breakers needed to be reset, but a wiring problem in the RF Switch cropped up and it took until 2330.00 last night to located, fix and then bring the transmitter back on line and up to full power...

Gremlins bite... :mad:

Does the signal from the WLAX site get beamed straight to the WEUX tower, or is there another site in between? (I was always curious about the links in the Eau Claire/La Crosse market, as it is not real common to have multiple full power transmitters for the same station in an area like this)

Does the signal from the WLAX site get beamed straight to the WEUX tower, or is there another site in between? (I was always curious about the links in the Eau Claire/La Crosse market, as it is not real common to have multiple full power transmitters for the same station in an area like this)

WLAX DT's signal (25.1/25.2) goes from as far north as the upper edge of Trempealeau County to as far south as into Iowa (Allamakee/Winneshieck (sp?)) and Grant county and as far east as Jackson's/Monroe's eastern edges and as far west as Fillmore...

The microwave signal for WEUX DT is started at the studio on its own 7GHz radio link up to La Crescent, then the A/V is passed directly to the 1st of 3 2GHz. microwaves and sent 1st to Whitehall, where the A/V is demod'd, remod'd and sent on a shorter hop to Strum, where again, it's demod'd and remod'd for the 3rd and final 2Ghz. hop up to Colfax where the Full-powered Xmtr. is located...a total of over 90.529 miles of microwaving going on...hot, buttered popcorn not included...some batteries are, though! ;) :D :cool:

But hopefully, by this fall (before football I hope!) these radios will be retired and we'll have a new, fresh set of better, cleaner radios, with better audio and video being delivered - I waiting on the HD gear and the 7GHz. radio at this time...once it arrives, there will be certain interuptions in our programming up in the Chippewa Falls/Eau Claire area...but I hope to keep it to a minimum...and we might be able to have spares!!! What a novel concept! Replacement parts and whatnot...

What will they think of next? :confused: ;) :D

BTW, the microwave path for the ABC stations is a bit more complicated and bi-directional...you don't even want to know how that one was planned out...another company did it and it took about 16 separate radio links to do it...all from La Crescent, up to Colfax, into Eau Claire and back...

Ouch!

WLAX DT's signal (25.1/25.2) goes from as far north as the upper edge of Trempealeau County to as far south as into Iowa (Allamakee/Winneshieck (sp?)) and Grant county and as far east as Jackson's/Monroe's eastern edges and as far west as Fillmore...

The microwave signal for WEUX DT is started at the studio on its own 7GHz radio link up to La Crescent, then the A/V is passed directly to the 1st of 3 2GHz. microwaves and sent 1st to Whitehall, where the A/V is demod'd, remod'd and sent on a shorter hop to Strum, where again, it's demod'd and remod'd for the 3rd and final 2Ghz. hop up to Colfax where the Full-powered Xmtr. is located...a total of over 90.529 miles of microwaving going on...hot, buttered popcorn not included...some batteries are, though! ;) :D :cool:

But hopefully, by this fall (before football I hope!) these radios will be retired and we'll have a new, fresh set of better, cleaner radios, with better audio and video being delivered - I waiting on the HD gear and the 7GHz. radio at this time...once it arrives, there will be certain interuptions in our programming up in the Chippewa Falls/Eau Claire area...but I hope to keep it to a minimum...and we might be able to have spares!!! What a novel concept! Replacement parts and whatnot...

What will they think of next? :confused: ;) :D

BTW, the microwave path for the ABC stations is a bit more complicated and bi-directional...you don't even want to know how that one was planned out...another company did it and it took about 16 separate radio links to do it...all from La Crescent, up to Colfax, into Eau Claire and back...

Ouch!

I was ambiguous with my question, but you answered anyway, thanks! (I was asking about the microwave links, whereas the broadcast radiation data, I have right in front of me for all US TV/FM stations, thanks to TVfool..)


Also, another question for ya: how does the news sharing work with WEAU, do they just pick you up OTA and rebroadcast your news programing, or do you have microwave links to their studio as well?

I recieved a twitter message back from Dish and it sounds like the Lacrosse/Eau Claire HD local activation is still on track. Hopefully all goes well.

They are online according to the uplink report on satelliteguys.us.:)

They are online according to the uplink report on satelliteguys.us.:)

Yep and looking awesome. I see no difference in the quality compared to OTA. I am very satisfied.

They are online according to the uplink report on satelliteguys.us.:)

Wow, they are finally in the 100+ markets, this good news, when they finally have all the market's locals in HD, it will be a good thing:)

Wow, they are finally in the 100+ markets, this good news, when they finally have all the market's locals in HD, it will be a good thing:)

I am not sure of what number they are on, but I am pretty sure they have went out of order a little bit. I hear from guys at other forums that are still waiting and belong to bigger DMA's than ours.

Got a Postcard from CHARTER - EAU that states they will be adding the following
HD channels on AUgust 8th:

USA, HGTV, FOOD and MLB

I'm having some issues with either the old box or the TV itself. It's connected (BOX) DVI - to HDMI (TV) cable - and when I change from HD Channels to SD channels quite often I'll get left with Green / Purple only colors. If I go back to a HD channel everything is fine until I'd switch back to a SD Ch. As a work around I flip the Input to something else and then back to tuner; it ALWAYS clears up or if I shut the TV (Plasma) off - next time it's fine.

I'm in trouble shooting mode. I am going to try Component cables to see if the problem continues there as well. But I was wondering if the (newer) HD boxes from Charter have HDMI ports and a Firewire port. Wondering if my TV which in the past has disliked the DVI to HDMI crossover and seems to classify it as Component in some menues.
Basically if I can find the Make/model I can hopefully look it up online. Hoping it's not the TV!
I have a recently new Charter HD STB here in Rochester. It is a DCH-6200 with HDMI and firewire (History and USA HD among others) The firewire is active, but a lot of my favorite channels are 5c'ed. if you are interested in a HTPC using the STB, bare in mind, to change channels, you have to add "-f" to the channel change command. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask!Hey, thanks for the information. I wanted to wait until I got over there (took a while but finally got there) and I got the new box. Mine was DCH-3200... Old one was DCT-6200 I wonder if they have two models or if you just transposed the 6 & 3? The new box seems to have cleared up all the issues I was getting from the old box (either via Component or DVI Out of the Box into HDMI on the TV).

What OS & programs are you using for FireWireSTB? I got started "trying" to do this a few months back (but I wanted to use Windows), I got completely overwhelmed with compilers for the software etc...
I can and do use Linux, but i'm a lite user. I know Myth TV is well liked but i'm still more comfortable in Windows hell I need to commit more time to get off this terrible addiction/affliction.

Got a Postcard from CHARTER - EAU that states they will be adding the following
HD channels on AUgust 8th:
USA, HGTV, FOOD and MLB Yeah, I thought that was well PRETTY DISAPPOINTING! :mad:

This morning W67CH in La Crosse has a most curious problem. There is as much signal as usual, but the picture consists of a completely frozen mess of pixels (this is an analog channel), and the sound consists of a repeating clicking noise. Along the bottom a few words are legible which suggest the picture was in the middle of an infomercial at the time of freezing up. The channel was fine last night.

The first thing I did was rescan for the digital replacement for channel 67, but no dice so far. :)

This morning W67CH in La Crosse has a most curious problem. There is as much signal as usual, but the picture consists of a completely frozen mess of pixels (this is an analog channel), and the sound consists of a repeating clicking noise. Along the bottom a few words are legible which suggest the picture was in the middle of an infomercial at the time of freezing up. The channel was fine last night.

The first thing I did was rescan for the digital replacement for channel 67, but no dice so far. :)

The OTA receiver that picks up KTTC is prolly not working.

The digital will not be online until sometime in August.

W67CH is back in business. Must've been a pretty easy fix!

W67CH is back in business. Must've been a pretty easy fix!

More then likely there is a monitor for W67CH that is watched, prolly not as closely watched as a stations' main feed, but even still, a few hours of downtime is not too bad for a translator. I have a feeling (but could be wrong) that WXOW monitors W67CH.

... Also, another question for ya: how does the news sharing work with WEAU, do they just pick you up OTA and rebroadcast your news programing, or do you have microwave links to their studio as well?

We have a "bureau" in our offices in La Crosse...Ray Ogren is the "local" guy...he gets his marching orders from the News Director up at WEAU, goes out and does the story(ies), then comes back and TPFs the stuff to a server that all the Gray Broadcast Entities (about 39 of them or so) can get into, then WEAU pulls out what they need, puts together the "NEWS AT 9" show, sends it out, raw, on their "13.2" right at 2100.00 (± 1 second). We use an LG-4200A demod, pull it in and then we turn around and put it right back out on our air (or store it in our spot-player 'til we're able to close out the previous programming and time-shift the news to then start at that particular time) after we tag it according to what needs tagging.

WEAU also has access to our FOX iPump News Server (Stories (from FOX) stored on a separate server at our facility.) to add to their production of our news...

About 99% of the time, we're actually live with their studios in Eau Claire and running right along side with them...we "SKYPE" the director's cues into our Master Control and CG and ID our product when called for...we roll the commercials when cued, too...just as if they were in the next room.

Now you all know the "deep dark secret" of why you see our "news" on 13.2 at 2100 each night... ;) :cool:

What is the latest update on Fox HD in Eau Claire OTA ?

What is the latest update on Fox HD in Eau Claire OTA ?

Here is a quote from Mark over at WLAX (WEUX):

The microwave signal for WEUX DT is started at the studio on its own 7GHz radio link up to La Crescent, then the A/V is passed directly to the 1st of 3 2GHz. microwaves and sent 1st to Whitehall, where the A/V is demod'd, remod'd and sent on a shorter hop to Strum, where again, it's demod'd and remod'd for the 3rd and final 2Ghz. hop up to Colfax where the Full-powered Xmtr. is located...a total of over 90.529 miles of microwaving going on...hot, buttered popcorn not included...some batteries are, though! ;) :D :cool:

But hopefully, by this fall (before football I hope!) these radios will be retired and we'll have a new, fresh set of better, cleaner radios, with better audio and video being delivered - I waiting on the HD gear and the 7GHz. radio at this time...once it arrives, there will be certain interuptions in our programming up in the Chippewa Falls/Eau Claire area...but I hope to keep it to a minimum...and we might be able to have spares!!! What a novel concept! Replacement parts and whatnot...

Because of the hops with their signal to WEUX, I would expect it would take a good crew a few days to do all the work at the sites involved. Hopefully Mark will catch this post and reply with a better time frame (and maybe knows dates for a tower crew if the actually microwave dishes have to be switched and radio replacement)

Friday NFL game (Wittenberg channel 55) was full of hiccups both audio and video in the first half.
Was it just me or did others have the same problem?

What game was on Friday? I have had problems with my Fox signal sitting at 85-89% and still getting a few video problems and audio drop outs. The Packer game on Saturday with channel 9 was 100% perfect. I sure hope Fox can do the same thing this year.

I see Dish Network now has WQOW TV 18 as a local
station for the Eau Claire La Crosse area. It appears
to only be a standard definition signal at this point.
I noticed as well this morning that their over the
air signal is having intermittent drop out and other
weird problems. I wonder if this has something to
do with them uplinking their signal to dish network?

I see Dish Network now has WQOW TV 18 as a local
station for the Eau Claire La Crosse area. It appears
to only be a standard definition signal at this point.
I noticed as well this morning that their over the
air signal is having intermittent drop out and other
weird problems. I wonder if this has something to
do with them uplinking their signal to dish network?

The OTA dropouts should have nothing to do with Dish grabbing the signal. Dish and DirecTV's uplink site is in the middle of the markets and they grab the locals OTA with commercial grade antennas and whatnot....

That I realize. I just thought it was an unusual coincidence
that the night they begin picking up WQOW's Signal that
the OTA signal has problems. Thought maybe WQOW changed
something to affect the signal. It was very weird. It would
switch for like 1 second to an almost analog fuzzy signal then
would revert back.

That I realize. I just thought it was an unusual coincidence
that the night they begin picking up WQOW's Signal that
the OTA signal has problems. Thought maybe WQOW changed
something to affect the signal. It was very weird. It would
switch for like 1 second to an almost analog fuzzy signal then
would revert back.

The OTA would get fuzzy? When exactly was this? (I have a good contact at WXOW, so I can find out what was up with WQOW!)

I can't believe how long this is taking. Football starts in a few more weeks and still not a peep out of WEUX regarding OTA FOX HD in Eau Claire. Please update us!!

The OTA would get fuzzy? When exactly was this? (I have a good contact at WXOW, so I can find out what was up with WQOW!)

Actually I've noticed that for quite some time.
As long as I've had my HD receiver, and I noticed it again during the game.

It happens, right at an "edit". A change from one shot to the next.
Particularly, if the next shot is bright and highly detailed.

During the game, it was noticeable when they cut to a wide shot.
I think it's always there, but just more noticeable on some shots.

My conclusion,(best guess).... compression artifacts.
WXOW needs to "dial up it up", a bit.

My conclusion,(best guess).... compression artifacts.
WXOW needs to "dial up it up", a bit.

This is often an artifact of low bitrates and/or older encoders. KTTC, Rochester's NBC station is notorious for this kind of thing (they are using a circa 2001 encoder). A scene change will result in a 1+ second blurry period that is pretty easy to see on our standard def TVs.

This is often an artifact of low bitrates and/or older encoders. KTTC, Rochester's NBC station is notorious for this kind of thing (they are using a circa 2001 encoder). A scene change will result in a 1+ second blurry period that is pretty easy to see on our standard def TVs.

Ah man, Matt beat me to replying. (I was out on a service call) I think he is right about what you seeing.

I have not watched WXOW much, simply because I only got them for about 1 month before moving out of Rochester, and I have yet to get an antenna aimed to LAX from Kasson, MN yet. (I have gotten WLAX, WHLA, and WXOW off of the side of my Twin Cities aimed antennas quite a few times though, so signal is pretty strong over here!)

When watching HD transmission that includes your local logo (WFXS), Why would you break in with SD transmission with your local logo and the time and temperature?
It sure ruins the HD experience and doesn't make any sense.

Answer: Robert Raff <rraff@wfxs.com>
Thousands of people love that stuff. It is a throw back to many years ago when all stations did it every 15 minutes, but many, many viewers still want that on the screen and many advertisers want it to reach those viewers. When we have tried to stop or when we have had equipment problems we get so many complaints about it being missing.

So in other words they do not have the updated equipment to place the logo and temp on the HD stream and it needs to drop down to SD to do this function?

So in other words they do not have the updated equipment to place the logo and temp on the HD stream and it needs to drop down to SD to do this function?

The logo should be able to be applied on the fly with the FOX hardware, but the temps and any other info would require other re-encoding to be done to the video. (unless they put them in the logo space, which I do not know if FOX allows) Not sure how a station would even do the temps on FOX, as I have never seen it done on a FOX affiliate. The bug actually gets inserted in the final encoded video right from FOX, there is a small area where the logo goes that gets re-encoded at the station, the rest of the video does NOT get touched. (this solution is pretty decent compared to many stations using old encoders and trying to run subs) The PDF with the specs on the logo from FOX HQ was on AVS a while back, but I cannot recall where I found it at this point (must have been nearly 2 years ago that I remember it)

Nobody posted that WFXS Fox 55 in Wausau began broadcasting RTN today on channel 55-3, so let me break the ice!

Bill

Is that RTV? The retro TV channel? The web site looks cool if i can watch A-Team 24/7! How bad is 55-1 going to look for compressed HD now?

55-1 will look the same. The Fox splicer shapes all other content on the channel such that during network programming, Fox network content looks the same pretty much everywhere in the US.

- Trip

What is the latest update on Fox HD in Eau Claire OTA ?

Hi folks! It's been awhile... :rolleyes:

As you may have been able to tell...some work is progressing on 48.1 this past week... :cool:

I'm hoping by tomorrow I'll be able to give you folks the GOOD NEWS (*wink*wink*knudge*knudge*)...yep, that news... ;)

Stay tuned... :eek:

There will be a "few" more "slight outages" during today and hopefully, all the "funky video" will be no more... :o

I'll chat with you all later! :D

Gotta' run...

:D :D :D :D :D :D

Hi folks! It's been awhile... :rolleyes:

As you may have been able to tell...some work is progressing on 48.1 this past week... :cool:

I'm hoping by tomorrow I'll be able to give you folks the GOOD NEWS (*wink*wink*knudge*knudge*)...yep, that news... ;)

Stay tuned... :eek:

There will be a "few" more "slight outages" during today and hopefully, all the "funky video" will be no more... :o

I'll chat with you all later! :D

Gotta' run...

:D :D :D :D :D :D

Good news, good luck and thanks for updating everyone!

It's done!

As of 1408.56 this afternoon...WEUX DT is now HD/720p on 48.1 (49.1 for you purists...) and SD/480i (49.2) on 48.2.

You'll have everything in HD and in case "something" should happen to the (GOD FORBID!) the HD encoder (like what happened about a month or so back) on 25.1...you can still watch the ".2" channel and still get a picture...it'll be in SD, but it's better than the "BSoD" (Blue Screen of Death).

For those of you who have been tried to your patience end, thank you for hangin' in there...

And, for those of you who've been bustin' my chops...go watch HD...it's here...finally.

Enjoy those Packers/Vikings or whatever we're running...I'll be doing my best to be sure it stays on the air...whatever it is...

:D

Thanks! Mark, This is great news. I've been depending on the twin cities for Packer HD and that's only a few games during the season. Now finally all the Packers Fox games will be in HD. Gotta love this. Chad

Thanks Mark for all of your hard work. Hopefully the equipment won't have any
hiccups and we will be good to go for a long time.

Nobody posted that WFXS Fox 55 in Wausau began broadcasting RTN today on channel 55-3, so let me break the ice!

Bill


http://northpine.com/broadcast/index.html

WISCONSIN:
WFXS (Wittenberg-Wausau) has added Retro TV Network (RTV) on channel 55.3. The station continues to carry FOX on 55.1 and Untamed Sports TV on 55.2. (9/11/2009)

http://northpine.com/broadcast/index.html

It's done!

As of 1408.56 this afternoon...WEUX DT is now HD/720p on 48.1 (49.1 for you purists...) and SD/480i (49.2) on 48.2.

You'll have everything in HD and in case "something" should happen to the (GOD FORBID!) the HD encoder (like what happened about a month or so back) on 25.1...you can still watch the ".2" channel and still get a picture...it'll be in SD, but it's better than the "BSoD" (Blue Screen of Death).

For those of you who have been tried to your patience end, thank you for hangin' in there...

And, for those of you who've been bustin' my chops...go watch HD...it's here...finally.

Enjoy those Packers/Vikings or whatever we're running...I'll be doing my best to be sure it stays on the air...whatever it is...

:D
Mark,

On behalf of all Football fans in the EC area who were stuck watching Packers games in SD the past couple of years, THANK YOU! Just in the nick of time for the start of the NFL regular season!

Anyone watching Fox (House) tonight? The show is broadcast in HD but Fox here in La Crosse doesn't appear to be broadcasting it in HD. Not sure why. I'm on DirecTV but I also have the OTA signal and neither is HD.

The Fox HD signal is looking good in Eau Claire. I am on the North
side of Eau Claire with a Dish Network VIP 722 receiving a steady
signal strength of 75.

I have also noticed this A.M. that WQOW TV-18 ABC out of Eau
Claire does not broadcast the HD signal of Good Morning America.
Anyone know what is up with that?

Mark,

On behalf of all Football fans in the EC area who were stuck watching Packers games in SD the past couple of years, THANK YOU! Just in the nick of time for the start of the NFL regular season!


+1!

When I heard the news that you guys went HD, I swung my Channel Master around and am pulling in 48.1 perfectly. No more missed football games. I'm in New Richmond and very happy with my "new" WI Fox channel!

Here is some info for the La Crescent KTTC translator. I recieved this message today (Oct 8)

We will start installing the broadcast antenna early next week, perform
some testing and hopefully start broadcasting a digital channel 50
signal by the end of the week. Stay tuned to WXOW or KTTC analog channel
67 in the La Crosse area as we will be promoting the start date for this
channel.

Thank You,
Tim Morgan, KTTC-KXLT-NTTC Director of Engineering

Forgive me if this subject has been discussed before, but can someone please explain why Mediacom still does not carry FOX, ABC, IA and WI PBS in HD yet?

I am a Mediacom cable subscriber (I live in the Prairie du Chien valley, so no antenna will work). I understand that the subscribers in Marquette and McGregor, IA DO have FOX, IA PBS, etc.....we are probably paying the same rate but still have to watch the Packers in SD. I get the standard "it may be available soon" from Mediacom...they have been saying that for 3 years now.

I also know some folks in the Viroqua Mediacom area and they are in the same situation.

Is there a technical reason?

Thanks.

m and n: Just out of curiosity, go to TVFool.com and post your results (we'll see if reception is possible).

Here are my results from TVfool:

//www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d03fbe4db476ff4

Please add http: to the above as the Forum would not allow me to post URL's...

Um..... yeah. You are most definitely in a valley (I'd peruse satellite or digital cable).

For what it's worth, WPT is available off-air in Prairie du Chein via the Bloomington translator. Can't help you out with the other stations, but I've checked WPT reception in several places along HWY 35 right in town, and had solid reception with a simple 4 bay bowtie antenna @ 15'.

Ustabe

At 2:10PM today, W50DR went on the air, from an antenna that is about 606 meters above sea level. Side mounted, the antenna is on the Wisconsin-side leg of the WXOW tower.
I am getting traces of it in Kasson, MN and it is at 15kW ERP, so it should get out well with decent LOS.
Rescan to get channels 10.1, 10.2

Awesome. Since I can almost see the WXOW tower from my house I'm hoping for good reception.

Brian

Awesome. Since I can almost see the WXOW tower from my house I'm hoping for good reception.

Brian

Please do report back!

I was watching KTTC news at noon today via W67CH, when they explained that W50DR has come online. HOORAY!! I rescanned immediately, and yes there it is! 10.1 is the HD KTTC/NBC signal, and 10.2 is CW (redundant with WXOW's 19.2).

Sunday Night Football will be a treat this week!

I'm a bit surprised that W67CH is still online today alongside W50DR, I assume W67CH will disappear shortly?

W50DR is coming in at 90-95%.
I can even get in on my office TV (inside antenna)

Brian

W50DR is coming in at 90-95%.
I can even get in on my office TV (inside antenna)

Brian

Cool!

WFXS (Wittenberg-Wausau) has added Retro TV Network (RTV) on channel 55.3. The station continues to carry FOX on 55.1 and Untamed Sports TV on 55.2. (9/11/2009)

I really wish one of the La Crosse stations would pick up Retro TV as a subchannel. I really don't see the point of KTTC and WXOW both broadcasting the CW and WLAX just rebroadcasting it's HD channel in SD.

KTTC and WXOW are in different markets.

- Trip

I really wish one of the La Crosse stations would pick up Retro TV as a subchannel. I really don't see the point of KTTC and WXOW both broadcasting the CW and WLAX just rebroadcasting it's HD channel in SD.

As Trip said, WXOW carries CW for LAX and KTTC for the Rochester/Austin/Mason City market. The LAX translator (W50DR) for KTTC, just picks up KTTC-DT-10 OTA and effectively repeats it, so they have no way of controlling the programing on it independently...)

That said, WLAX would be a great place to put it, other then the fact that many cable head-ends probably use 25.2 for the SD feed to their clients...

As Trip said, WXOW carries CW for LAX and KTTC for the Rochester/Austin/Mason City market. The LAX translator (W50DR) for KTTC, just picks up KTTC-DT-10 OTA and effectively repeats it, so they have no way of controlling the programing on it independently...)

That said, WLAX would be a great place to put it, other then the fact that many cable head-ends probably use 25.2 for the SD feed to their clients...

That's true, but now that the W50DR repeater is operational to carry CW for the La Crosse market, you would think that there would be little incentive for WXOW to carry it anymore. After all, WXOW is listed as one of the RetroTV affiliates:

http://www.myretrotv.com/affiliates.html

Also, what prevents one of these stations from carrying 2 sub channels like WPT does?

Anyway, I just read about W50DR coming online today and I was surprised to find that I get very good reception (despite what TVFool led me to expect). I guess I get to try to sell the VHF antenna I bought for KTTC now.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d507ca15a380e7e

That's true, but now that the W50DR repeater is operational to carry CW for the La Crosse market, you would think that there would be little incentive for WXOW to carry it anymore.

You have to think big picture here. W50DR is designed to cover the immediate LaCrosse, WI area, whereas WXOW is designed to cover the entire market area. There's a big difference. I'd also think that WXOW's CW is picked up by local analog cable, etc.. (Signal Hill CW [10.2] is on analog cable here in Rochester). Most people are probably going to watch their local network affiliate unless they have reason to do otherwise (picture quality, programming) so I don't know that 19.2 is going to loose a lot of viewers as 10.2 becomes available to the LaCrosse audience.

You have to think big picture here. W50DR is designed to cover the immediate LaCrosse, WI area, whereas WXOW is designed to cover the entire market area.

Yeah, but W50DR is a lot different than W67CH used to be in terms of coverage. It's more than just the immediate La Crosse, WI area now.

Before:

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=TX145104.html

After:

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=LD1256301.html

I see your point though. It's not the entire coverage area, but it's pretty significant coverage.

Wow... that is quite a difference in coverage.

I guess my point is, cable/satellite carriage and people watching the locals rather than translators is probably more of a factor than actual OTA coverage.

Now that I'm getting W50DR so well, I'm wondering if I'll even be able to get KQEG once it goes digital.

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=72207

Does anyone know when that's scheduled to happen?

Also keep in mind that W50DR is a translator. It exists primarily to fill in the hole for NBC programming left by WEAU being so far away. The cheapest way to operate it, considering it cannot be carried by local cable and is thus feeding only OTA viewers, is to feed the exact same signal that KTTC feeds. Doing anything to modify that signal requires a whole extra set of gear.

- Trip

Wow... that is quite a difference in coverage.

I guess my point is, cable/satellite carriage and people watching the locals rather than translators is probably more of a factor than actual OTA coverage.

Yeah, I often forget that WEAU is the "local" NBC affiliate for cable/satellite here. It seems so strange to have a local channel from Eau Claire when it's so far away and KTTC is what's broadcast OTA.

Yeah, I often forget that WEAU is the "local" NBC affiliate for cable/satellite here. It seems so strange to have a local channel from Eau Claire when it's so far away and KTTC is what's broadcast OTA.

Remember that well the WEAU tower favors the Eau Claire side of the market, it is in between LAX and Eau Claire. It is not impossible for MOST people to receive it in either city. But in La Crosse it takes a pretty decent VHF-HI antenna/amp...

I'm confused about the call letters for KTTC's digital translator in La Crosse. The channel reports itself as W50DR, but isn't this it's entry in the FCC database, still listed as W67CH? http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=W67CH

I also noticed that the TitanTV web site didn't know about W50DR, but did list a W67CH-D.

I'm confused about the call letters for KTTC's digital translator in La Crosse. The channel reports itself as W50DR, but isn't this it's entry in the FCC database, still listed as W67CH? http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=W67CH

I also noticed that the TitanTV web site didn't know about W50DR, but did list a W67CH-D.

It will take a while for the FCC database to get updated. I do not know how long, but I am guessing that Trip will be along any second with a better estimate....

As to TitanTV, lots of emails is usually what it takes...

Once the license is granted.

- Trip

Now that I'm getting W50DR so well, I'm wondering if I'll even be able to get KQEG once it goes digital.

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=72207

Does anyone know when that's scheduled to happen?

FWIW, I sent KQEG an email and they got back to me. As of right now, it sounds like their transition to digital hasn't gotten any farther then getting the FCC permit which looks like it is only a couple of months old. I'm really hoping that they move ahead with it soon. Like with W50DR, it looks like they will be significantly increasing their broadcast range. I'm looking forward to Reno911! syndication and midnight movies if I can manage to receive it.

OK, I talked with Mediacom yesterday and they still have no idea when they will transmit FOX 25/48 in HD on their system and I am ready to experiment with a long-range UHF antenna with preamp and see if I can receive the signal off the air here in Prairie du Chien.

Before I do that, I'd like to ask a basic question to confirm: FOX 25/48 does transmit their signal (specifically the Packers) in HD over the air, correct?

Thanks in advance to your responses....

OK, I talked with Mediacom yesterday and they still have no idea when they will transmit FOX 25/48 in HD on their system and I am ready to experiment with a long-range UHF antenna with preamp and see if I can receive the signal off the air here in Prairie du Chien.

Before I do that, I'd like to ask a basic question to confirm: FOX 25/48 does transmit their signal (specifically the Packers) in HD over the air, correct?

Thanks in advance to your responses....

Yes, WLAX does transmit the NFL in HD and does favor Packers games over Vikings games in the same time slot *shakes fist*.

I worry that you may have a really hard time getting WLAX down in the valley there. Thankfully, you probably have a long shot over the river valley before hitting the Iowa bluffs though. You might want to drive around town looking for any newer-looking fringe antennas on people's roofs to get an idea of what others might be using.

Edit: Actually, tvfool.com seems to think that you should not have too hard of a time getting WLAX with a good antenna and booster.

Best antenna for WLAX and WHLA is the Winegard HD-8800. It has more gain in the lower UHF channels (especially at RF-17) then the 91XG. It will be a bit (2-4dB) weaker at WXOW (RF-48) but if WLAX is what you are after, you will want every bit of gain on RF-17 that you can get. That the Winegard HD-8800 is....

I'll second the HD-8800. Just get that antenna mounted as high as possible down in the valley.

Would a corner reflector style of antenna work better than a bowtie?

Would a corner reflector style of antenna work better than a bowtie?

It depends on how it was engineered. The Winegard HD-8800 is the best signal consumer antenna for UHF channels below RF-30. I like the Antenna Direct 91XG better for channels above RF-35.

I live in Kasson, MN and get WHLA, WXOW, and WLAX off a 91XG with CM7777 pre-amp very well day and night, but I up high in the air. For the Twin Cities, I switched out a 91XG for a HD-8800 and the lower UHF channels improved a bit while KSTC-DT-45 went down a bit...

W67CH, the analog KTTC translator station in La Crosse, is off the air as of tonight, Wed. November 4 2009. It was still on the air as of this morning.

Anyone happen to be able to confirm that this is the permanent end of W67CH, having been replaced with digital translator station W50DR?

Otherwise I'll just keep checking channel 67 for a while in case it reappears. :)

WAOW-DT has applied for a power increase from 31.6 kW to 63.2 kW.

I have accomplished my goal...I have Fox in HD off the air in the valley here in Prairie du Chien. Thanks to the data on tvfool.com, I felt I had a chance to obtain a signal, so I bought an Antennacraft MXU59 and 28db preamp from my local Radio Shack and installed it in my attic. On a cheap RCA digital converter in the attic I was able to obtain a 47% signal, so I wired it the rest of the way to the Sony and I have been enjoying the Packers in HD even though they currently stink.

I am not able to receive WXOW at all...probably due to the higher UHF channel and the fact that I'm looking through my roof. I realize that a big snowfall would most likely kill the WLAX signal, but I am willing to face the music, and if Mediacom ever decides to transmit Fox in HD, I'll just sell the antenna and preamp at a garage sale and still claim victory!

For those South of La Crosse, the Iowa Public Television repeater in Lansing, IA is now up broadcasting KYIN from Mason City on channel 38. I don't know how
long it has been up, but it just came up when I did a rescan.

Here's the coverage map:

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=LD1298190.html

This is huge coverage expansion from the previous analog channel 41 from this tower. I wasn't even expecting to receive it, so it was a pleasant surprise.

For those South of La Crosse, the Iowa Public Television repeater in Lansing, IA is now up broadcasting KYIN from Mason City on channel 38. I don't know how
long it has been up, but it just came up when I did a rescan.

This is huge coverage expansion from the previous analog channel 41 from this tower. I wasn't even expecting to receive it, so it was a pleasant surprise.

Here on the northside of La Crosse WHLA is my strongest station, often coming in at 100% power.

Here on the northside of La Crosse WHLA is my strongest station, often coming in at 100% power.

WHLA comes in great for me too and yeah, IPTV has roughly the same PBS programming that WPT does, but they do have quite a few programs that WPT doesn't so it's nice to have options if you can recieve it. The Red Dwarf and Red Green re-runs sold me. Also, unlike the other networks, PBS doesn't seem to dictate a schedule so there's almost always different programming on IPTV and WPT at any given time.

Here are the Eau Claire HD locals carried on Charter digital cable if you have a cable box:
600 WHWC-DT - PBS
605 WEUX-DT - FOX (note - this is really WLAX-DT, since it's in HD)
606 WEAU-DT - NBC
608 WKBT-DT - CBS
618 WQOW-DT - ABC
I recently hooked up a TV with a QAM tuner, and I was able to recieve 600, 606, 608 and 618 all in HD. But 605 (WLAX) is missing. And since that's the channel with approximately 12 Packers games per year (more if they make the playoffs) that might be a problem if we get a second HD set and don't want to rent a second HD cable box.
Has anyone in the Eau Claire area gotten FOX HD over QAM without a box from Charter?
P.S. Clear QAM channels also include the music channels (audio only), the public access channels from various cities in the area, and the WPT subchannels (Wisconsin Channel and Create.)

Here are the Eau Claire HD locals carried on Charter digital cable if you have a cable box:
600 WHWC-DT - PBS
605 WEUX-DT - FOX (note - this is really WLAX-DT, since it's in HD)
606 WEAU-DT - NBC
608 WKBT-DT - CBS
618 WQOW-DT - ABC
I recently hooked up a TV with a QAM tuner, and I was able to recieve 600, 606, 608 and 618 all in HD. But 605 (WLAX) is missing. And since that's the channel with approximately 12 Packers games per year (more if they make the playoffs) that might be a problem if we get a second HD set and don't want to rent a second HD cable box.
Has anyone in the Eau Claire area gotten FOX HD over QAM without a box from Charter?
P.S. Clear QAM channels also include the music channels (audio only), the public access channels from various cities in the area, and the WPT subchannels (Wisconsin Channel and Create.)

Yes
102-1 on a Vizio. coming in tonight
25-1 on a Panny, not coming in tonight, has in the past

For those South of La Crosse, the Iowa Public Television repeater in Lansing, IA is now up broadcasting KYIN from Mason City on channel 38. I don't know how
long it has been up, but it just came up when I did a rescan.

Here's the coverage map:

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=LD1298190.html

This is huge coverage expansion from the previous analog channel 41 from this tower. I wasn't even expecting to receive it, so it was a pleasant surprise.

Neat info!

Here on the La Crosse south side with my little indoor antenna, I can't pull it in, though if I point the antenna in the right direction it does pause on ch 38 for quite a while before ultimately not grabbing it. Something new to shoot for!

I need all your help...any idea why I wouldn't be able to get WEAU 13.1 when I live right in Eau Claire?!?!? I have satellite, so it isn't a problem, but it just bugs me. I have the OTA tuner box that I use with the satellite and can get WQOW 18.1 and FOX 48.1 perfectly. Very strange to me. I would like to get 13.2 24/7 weather.

Are you using an indoor antenna or a rooftop antenna? WEAU transmits digitally on channel 13 (VHF High), and VHF High DTV stations have been notoriously hard to receive with indoor antennas. It doesn't help that WEAU's transmitter is about 30 miles out of town, near Fairchild.

Just inside...I'm just surprised that they would expect people right in the city that don't have cable/sat to have to put an outdoor one up just to watch tv from that close...amazing. I take it that ABC and FOX transmit differently then? They pull in up to 100% with no problem at all. Thanks for your input.

Just inside...I'm just surprised that they would expect people right in the city that don't have cable/sat to have to put an outdoor one up just to watch tv from that close...amazing. I take it that ABC and FOX transmit differently then? They pull in up to 100% with no problem at all. Thanks for your input.

Yes, 18s transmitter is right in town and 48s is out towards Elk Mound.

Just inside...I'm just surprised that they would expect people right in the city that don't have cable/sat to have to put an outdoor one up just to watch tv from that close...amazing. I take it that ABC and FOX transmit differently then? They pull in up to 100% with no problem at all. Thanks for your input.

As Jon Ellis said, DTV on VHF has been a bit of a mismatch from the analog days. VHF channels (2 through 13) have a HUGE range compared to the higher UHF range. That' s why VHF towers are typically located a long distance from the host city. Channel 10 in Rochester is in Blue Earth, Channel 8 in La Crosse is in Galesville, and Channel 13 is in Fairchild, but they have a an enormous coverage area compared to the UHF channels for those cities. The digital conversion seems to have caused a lot of trouble for people with indoor antennas in these areas. However, on the whole the range is still great if you have a good antenna. For example, I am able to receive channel 10 perfectly at over 60 miles away in a valley and channel 13 occasionally at 80 miles. I'm sure you could pick up 13 fine with an improved antenna if it's worth it to you.

Hey Itsamilky:

If you're using rabbit ears for channel 13, shorten each rod to ~13", lay the rods out flat (horizontal and in the same axis) and broadside to the E/W. It would also help to put the antenna in an East-facing window as high as possible. Unless you're in the third ward, you should get 13. You should still get ch 18, and probably ch 48. Hopefully you're also getting 28 ;>)

Good luck!!

Ustabe

Thanks. We just got a Vizio too and 102-1 is FOX.

The FCC approved the sale of WBIJ to WAOW/WYOW today.

- Trip

I just noticed that TitanTV now thinks there's a WXOW-DT3 19.3, This TV. It's not actually on the air as of now, but I'm guessing it'll be added soon...?

WXOW 19.3 is now on the air as of today, carrying This TV.

WXOW 19.3 is now on the air as of today, carrying This TV.

Thanks for the heads up, I wouldn't have noticed.

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

That's an interesting choice. I was counting on WXOW picking up RTN instead though since they're listed as the RTN affiliate in the La Crosse market. Oh well, I'll take it.

This TV is better than RTN in my opinion. RTN is available on fox 55 as 55.3 in Wausau. WAOW in Wausau carries This TV. My family enjoys This TV much more. While ther are good shows on RTN, This TV has a lot of obscure movies with big names as well as a few bigger classics sprinkled here and there. Many of the obscure movies are quite good, while the big movies are classics, such as John Wayne in The Alamo and Clint Eastwood in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

Just my opinion.

Bill

I am only using a converter, so I don't have a display of the bit rate of 19-3. But it isn't high as I noticed quite a bit of pixelation during a movie with very rapid scene changes.

I am only using a converter, so I don't have a display of the bit rate of 19-3. But it isn't high as I noticed quite a bit of pixelation during a movie with very rapid scene changes.

Might have just been a bad encoding job or transmission errors. The stream appears to be the same rate as all of the other sub-channels I get:

19.1: MPEG2 1280x720 (aspect 3) 59.940 fps 12900.0 kbps (1612.5 kbyte/s)
19.2: MPEG2 704x480 (aspect 2) 29.970 fps 2592.0 kbps (324.0 kbyte/s)
19.3: MPEG2 704x480 (aspect 2) 29.970 fps 2592.0 kbps (324.0 kbyte/s)

I used to own the cable company Charter now operates here. But I haven't had cable tv since roughly 1993. I just lit up WXOW-19.3 digital myself tonight (Fri, 2/5/10). I've been receiving digital channels from rabbit ears here on a hill poised next to I-90 on Sparta's south side near its Country Kitchen. I live at Apple Blossom Apartments. I mostly collect films on DVD and only watch network newscasts off the local stations here. I watch the films on an Epson projector for old school NTSC signal, but will eventually get a high def projector. I planted a beige dish-like radio shack omnidirectional UHF-vhf antenna in a utility closet where all rg-59 ends of my apartment's antenna system converge. There are four outlets, one in each of four rooms including two bedrooms, the kitchen and living room. Lately I'm getting everything but Eau Claire NBC 13 on the Radio Shack Omni, which, incidentally, has a pre-amp that plugs in. In the experimental days of digital, the antenna hung from a light bulb fixture in that closet and I turned it to maximize what minimal digital signal I could find. Most of you probably know that the FCC's digital experiment has failed and the agency is likely to be allowing new translators to reach the people 'lost in transition.' I haven't heard anything about it yet, but translators are the natural solution to the problem unless something new develops. Anyway, I am the third single floor apartment in a stack of six arranged north to south. 19, 25 and 31 are due west of me in Minnesota, three transmitters all grouped together, and it sounds like KTTC with a translator off the Fox 25 tower. My family owns an FM over Winona (WFBZ 105.5) with a translator on 25's tower too, transmitter insider the building. Its pretty crowded over there. Channel 8's vhf tower is north somewhere near Holmen and on the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi. 13's tower is in Fairchild and the hardest of all for me to get. I get it off an $8 pair of rabbit ears from Wally World in my bedroom which is the northernmost of the 2 bedrooms I have. Its perfect all the time and the ears are right on top of the set, which is convenient. But I can't get 13 NBC anywhere else in this building except there that I know of. I use VCRs to tape the network news and any off air programs I'm interested in, from those ears and from the Omni in the closet. I watch close to nothing live, all tape and DVD. Occasionally I watch Netflix or Hula or something straight off the Net to my laptop, s-video out to the projector. I watch some occasional **********s that way too. I once made a VHS copy of a CBS Evening News broadcast I had missed right off the net just to see how good the quality is. It's not quite as good from CBS's website as it is off air here. There's an RCA (just a name these days, owned by Thompson Europe now I think) adjustable vhf-uhf with pre-amp laying over my cupboards in the kitchen, with which I feed ABC 19 to a small set in the kitchen with., yes, a vcr right beneath it. I can't even remember how many digital converters I have, but I'm using just five, and actively looking at tape from just three normally. A little $45 sansonic model converter I bought at Target in Atlanta is the best of them. The folks watching cable don't know that their normal vhf pics don't come near the clarity of what is available converted into digital NTSC pictures coming right off the air. In Atlanta I got 28 digital channels off the air with that $8 set of rabbit ears. I have a number of 25 and 32 inch old school NTSC TV sets that I paid nothing for to watch most TV because it strikes me the the HDTV sets are mostly too small for the price, producing not really that much more picture. My projector cost $600 and projects a larger than hdtv picture on my off-white wall that is completely satisfactory. I can buy a High Def for $1,200 and probably eventually will. I bought one of those 32 inch sets in Atlanta for $20 from a company that conducted satellite business TV conferences to save the expense of travelling for corporate employees. The company had switched to Hi Def. There are still five sets available there. You can probably get a practically new 25 to 32 inch here too with an ad on Craigslist anywhere.

I've figured out what Dave Magnum is likely to do with channel 23 in La Crosse, channel 50 in Tomah and a low power UHF in Eau Claire. He bought La Crosse 23 in early 2009 after owning and experimenting with channel 50 in Tomah for a few years. He clearly plans to launch all three of his TV stations, probably with the same 24 hour network - ION right now in Tomah- and get all three of them onto Charter Cable which mostly follows the outlines of the La Crosse-Eau Claire TV market Charter mostly dominates. That will put him in the unique position of having an 'indy' channel in the air and on cable, a market niche that he can sell advertising with. I know Dave because he and my family are radio competitors in Monroe and La Crosse county. He's got two FMs and an AM and so do we. Interestingly, there is the prospect now of there being more competition in the TV business than there is in radio in this area. Add up all the digital TV channels now operating or planned, all the cable channels and the satellite channels too. TV is becoming so splintered, the advertising communities for each little channel base are shrinking. Magnum will be compelled to go Hi Def with his little low powers eventually too. But TV is splintering into so many small components, with cable having to share now with satellite, that TV advertising is bound to cost less than it does now eventually. There are going to be a lot of new business models growing out of that. Of course radio will have its own digital revolution within the next few years too. There's digital on the air everywhere. If you get a receiver you can get it all now. But there will eventually be internet radio you can pick up while moving in your car too. So who knows what that will eventually look like.

Looks like WQOW lit up "This TV" on 18-3 late last week. I wonder how long it will take before the PSIP program guide info is available for the new channel?

Looks like WQOW lit up "This TV" on 18-3 late last week. I wonder how long it will take before the PSIP program guide info is available for the new channel?

Thanks for the heads up. I wasn't aware of the new channel. I did a rescan and now pick it up.

Find your Perfect BOOM! at
boomfinder.com (http://www.boomfinder.com)

A little tip for any NPR fans. On Charter cable in Eau Claire and La Crosse, Winona's public access channel is digital channel 987. The audio feed is KZSE-FM from Rochester -- the news/talk channel (http://minnesota.publicradio.org/radio/services/nis/schedule/) of Minnesota Public Radio.

Anyone know what happened to FOX HD QAM channel? It isn't in the 102's anymore for me. Eau Claire Charter.

Anyone know what happened to FOX HD QAM channel? It isn't in the 102's anymore for me. Eau Claire Charter.

I don't know about Eau Claire, but they have recently moved the QAM channel locations here in the LA Crosse area as well for HD channels... here are the locations here in La Crosse... hopefully it is helpful to you in Eau Claire...

77-2 WKBT- CBS
77-3 WXOW- ABC
78-1 WEAU- NBC
79-5 WLAX- Fox
79-8 WHLA- PBS

here are some highlights for SD channels I found when I rescanned...

17-2 WCCO- CBS- Twin Cities
17-3 KMSP- Fox- Twin Cities
17-4 KTTC- NBC- Rochester

77-4 THIS (WXOW-DT3)
78-4 24/7 Weather (WEAU-DT2)
79-4 WIS Channel (WHLA-DT2)
79-6 Create/ PBS Kids (WHLA-DT3)
80-4 through 80-51 Music Choice
106-4 ion (not KQEG, but full network schedule)

Thanks for the lead on the 70's range... I found our FOX HD at 77.1. All our others are still in the 600's as before.

Thanks again.

Oh my, just noticed your first post was to try and help me out. Wow. I think they'll like you here!

This is probably old news.. WMOW Crandon is now on the air rebroadcasting WAOW.. Except the CW is on the main carrier on Channel 4.1.. WAOW is on 4.2.. This TV is on 4.3.. (the actual digital channel is 12)

I haven't played around with it to see if 4.1 is the CW network in 1080 HD..

The signal overlaps greatly with Channel 34 Eagle River.. So it might sound silly to see both stations almost sharing the same coverage.. BUT... Since the CW network is the primary channel on 4.1. I believe WAOW could now file Must Carry and force Dish Network, Directv, and other smaller cable systems in the Wausau market to air the WAOW's feed of the CW Network..

Wow, I just DXed this Friday morning from 213 miles away.
Friday I had all (afaik) the W*OW stations: WAOW, WKOW, WMOW, WQOW, WXOW, and WYOW.

This is probably old news.. WMOW Crandon is now on the air rebroadcasting WAOW.. Except the CW is on the main carrier on Channel 4.1.. WAOW is on 4.2.. This TV is on 4.3.. (the actual digital channel is 12)

I haven't played around with it to see if 4.1 is the CW network in 1080 HD..

The signal overlaps greatly with Channel 34 Eagle River.. So it might sound silly to see both stations almost sharing the same coverage.. BUT... Since the CW network is the primary channel on 4.1. I believe WAOW could now file Must Carry and force Dish Network, Directv, and other smaller cable systems in the Wausau market to air the WAOW's feed of the CW Network..

So the past few months, my local over the air HD channels are telling me signal strength not strong enough anymore. So I am not able to get any HD channels from any of my Samsung 22" flat panels. Don't use roof top antenna, just the built in attenna on the tv. I do have Charter cable but a Charter cable box is not plugged into these tv's. Any ideas? I used to get all the channels just fine (in the upper 100's).

I'd be watching Wimbledon on W50DR right now, except that W50DR is down. There's plenty of signal strength, but no data on that signal.

UPDATE so I thought to rescan. What that did was lose my 10.1 and 10.2 mappings. Instead, I can manually punch in 50 or 50.1 or 50.2, they all revert to "50" with plenty of signal strength, but no data.

I don't know of any new tvs with a built in antenna. Do you mean that you use the built in QAM digital cable tuner to get the local over the air channels from Clear QAM? If so, check out this post (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=18668699#post18668699). You should just have to rescan your tvs to get the latest QAM lineup.

If you actually are using an antenna to get them over the air, you most likely need to get a better antenna set up. Without more details it would be difficult to know what to suggest.

So the past few months, my local over the air HD channels are telling me signal strength not strong enough anymore. So I am not able to get any HD channels from any of my Samsung 22" flat panels. Don't use roof top antenna, just the built in attenna on the tv. I do have Charter cable but a Charter cable box is not plugged into these tv's. Any ideas? I used to get all the channels just fine (in the upper 100's).

W50DR came back online at 12:33 pm.

I don't know of any new tvs with a built in antenna. Do you mean that you use the built in QAM digital cable tuner to get the local over the air channels from Clear QAM? If so, check out this post (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=18668699#post18668699). You should just have to rescan your tvs to get the latest QAM lineup.

If you actually are using an antenna to get them over the air, you most likely need to get a better antenna set up. Without more details it would be difficult to know what to suggest.

My bad, that is what I meant. I have re-scanned several times but I'll try again and check out the link. Thx.

My bad, that is what I meant. I have re-scanned several times but I'll try again and check out the link. Thx.

So I re-scanned my tv (Samsung 460 LCD), upgraded the firmware on the tv, tried the new channels (70 range), but it still says scrambled or weak signal. Bummer. I live on the northside of Onalaska. It sucks because I used to be get all the local channels previously in HD when they were were in the 100+ range.

So I re-scanned my tv (Samsung 460 LCD), upgraded the firmware on the tv, tried the new channels (70 range), but it still says scrambled or weak signal. Bummer. I live on the northside of Onalaska. It sucks because I used to be get all the local channels previously in HD when they were were in the 100+ range.

Charter has recently reassigned the QAM locations for local HD channels in La Crosse (and I suspect that they may be shuffled again JUL 28 when they make some minor tweaks to the line-up).

La Crosse area HD channels as I've picked them up...

79-1 WKBT CBS
79-3 WXOW ABC
81.1 WHLA PBS
81.4 WLAX Fox
82.1 WEAU NBC

highlights of SD digital QAM channels...

79.5 this
80.5-80.50 Music Choice
81.2 Wisconsin Channel
81.3 Create
82.2 24/7 Weather
85.4 ion network feed (not KQEG)
86.11 TV Guide Channel
95.1- 95.14 community access channels

Sometime today (Thursday July 8th, 2010) Charter in Eau Claire changed, remapped, or possibly just encrypted/"scrambled" their Clear QAM HD channels. - Everything was working fine in E.C. yesterday.

I noticed something was wrong when Windows Media Center wasn't correctly recording the Clear QAM HD channels I had programed at 7;00PM namely Fox 25/48 and Weau on another system. According to Windows Media Center the channels were now scrambled. I went to my HDTV to double check what was going on and only the Clear QAM Standard Definition (80's) were coming in. No more 600's or Community channels were coming in and no music channels either (again this is over Clear QAM only - the Analog channels are still working fine AND they (of course) still come in just fine in you have a rental box from charter digital cable STB I tested that too.
I am giving them until tomorrow, then I'm calling to find out what they are doing?

What's stranger is that my HDTV deleted the channels after a few seconds, I believe this is a response (to as Windows reported it ) the channels encryption has been turned on, normally if my HDTV doesn't find the channel it doesn't do an automatic disable like this. It only does that for encrypted / locked channels. Whether this is an accident, or because they are ONCE AGAIN REMAPPING THE CHANNEL Line up I don't know but it's FRUSTRATING and i'm :mad: there was no warning of this.

Charter has recently reassigned the QAM locations for local HD channels in La Crosse (and I suspect that they may be shuffled again JUL 28 when they make some minor tweaks to the line-up).

La Crosse area HD channels as I've picked them up...

79-1 WKBT CBS
79-3 WXOW ABC
81.1 WHLA PBS
81.4 WLAX Fox
82.1 WEAU NBC

highlights of SD digital QAM channels...

79.5 this
80.5-80.50 Music Choice
81.2 Wisconsin Channel
81.3 Create
82.2 24/7 Weather
85.4 ion network feed (not KQEG)
86.11 TV Guide Channel
95.1- 95.14 community access channels

Thank you! These work great!

Sometime today (Thursday July 8th, 2010) Charter in Eau Claire changed, remapped, or possibly just encrypted/"scrambled" their Clear QAM HD channels. - Everything was working fine in E.C. yesterday.

I noticed something was wrong when Windows Media Center wasn't correctly recording the Clear QAM HD channels I had programed at 7;00PM namely Fox 25/48 and Weau on another system. According to Windows Media Center the channels were now scrambled. I went to my HDTV to double check what was going on and only the Clear QAM Standard Definition (80's) were coming in. No more 600's or Community channels were coming in and no music channels either (again this is over Clear QAM only - the Analog channels are still working fine AND they (of course) still come in just fine in you have a rental box from charter digital cable STB I tested that too.
I am giving them until tomorrow, then I'm calling to find out what they are doing?

What's stranger is that my HDTV deleted the channels after a few seconds, I believe this is a response (to as Windows reported it ) the channels encryption has been turned on, normally if my HDTV doesn't find the channel it doesn't do an automatic disable like this. It only does that for encrypted / locked channels. Whether this is an accident, or because they are ONCE AGAIN REMAPPING THE CHANNEL Line up I don't know but it's FRUSTRATING and i'm :mad: there was no warning of this.

The channels were in deed re-mapped the Clear QAM line up (AGAIN) all except the music channels and KMSP ch 9 out of the Twin cities which remain the same; as was the case in LAX - except the line up is of course different. We now have the network [THIS] and we have lost at this time. However, it took a few days before they were (done) and not all the channels are posting all the time - the 24/7 weather and NBC TV 13 HD channel seem to be the most cantankerous.

I can't really understand WHY? they did this remapping. I mean the Clear QAM Main ch lineup no longer mirrors what the STB gives ? Are they planning to remap the HD Network channels down into the 80-90 channels? on the STB
Why other than to Frack around with the Clear QAM users was this re-mapping necessary or done I wonder? --> I am aware they are adding or changing some channels in a few weeks so why change Clear QAM now & not the STB?

EAU CLAIRE, WI Charter Clear QAM lineup to the best of what I have so far.
=========================================================

19.3 FOX KMSP CH 9 (SD/HD) TwinCities (MN)
78.6 Lifetime (SD) * This is NEW to our Clear QAM lineup
79.1 CBS WKBT CH 8 (HD) LaCrosse, WI
79.3 ABC WQOW CH 18 (HD)
79.5 THIS Lacrosse EC ?? * This is NEW to our Clear QAM Lineup
81.1 NBC WEAU CH 13 (HD) [Having Issues]?
81.2 NBC 24/7 Weather - [Having issues]?
81.4 PBS - WHWC - WIS
81.5 PBS - WHWC - CREATE
82.1 FOX WEUX TV 48 (HD)
83.1 PBS - WHWC - WPT - CH 28 (HD) Menomonie, WI
83.8 PBS - KTCA - TPT CH 2 (Twin Cities, MN)
83.9 My Network TV
83.12 CW - WQOW CH 15(cable) * New to our Clear QAM lineup
86.1 C-Span (1)
86.4 C-Span (2)
86.6 WGN - Chicago CH 22 (Cable) - This was added last time along with ION
86.9 C-Span (3)
86.10 WISC EYE - Statewide public / Govt. Channel
86.11 TV Guide (Not like the Old TV guide Ch. they show movies and TV too)
98.13 Chippewa Valley Ch 96 Public Access (SD)
98.14 Chippewa Valley Ch 97 Public Access (SD)

No ION ( so far anyway) * Unless maybe i'm having some interference or other issue since they switched channels... could be I'm just not able to receive it but, to have found all the others, I think not. Anyone in E.C. find it ?


Public Access stations outside of the E.C. Area
98.7 Winona, MN Public Access
98.8 Onalaska, WI Public Access
98.9 UW-La Crosse Channel
98.10 Stockton, MN Public Access
98.11 Stanley, WI Public Access
98.12 Rice Lake, WI Public Access


[I]These are the Standard Def. Digitals of the networks
81.3 PBS - WHWC - WPT Ch 28 (SD) Menomonie, WI
83.2 Fox WEUX TV 48 (SD)
83.4 ABC WQOW TV 18 (SD)
83.6 NBC WEAU TV 13 (SD)
83.7 CBS WKBT TV 8 (SD)


Digital Music
80.05 - 80.50 Digital Music Clear QAM 64


Infomercials
78.12 Charter Main Street Advertisement (SD)
77.12 Infomercial
84.12 Infomercial
86.2 Shop NBC Infomercial
86.5 HSN
86.8 QVC
86.12 Infomercial
98.14 - Color bars ??? 24/7 ???


Religious
18.3 (Religious - Network - the one with the Crest in the lower right corner) - Also on Ch 107.3
86.3 EWTN - Religious
107.7 Dayst*r

This message is to keep this thread alive.

I'll second that. Keeping it alive.

I panicked a bit when I couldn't get Sunday Night Football. Channel 10 is now really channel 10 instead of channel 50 from WXOW's tower.

It shows up on RF Channel 10 or is it that the remap shows up as 10.1?

I wouldn't think that they would retransmit on RF Ch 10 via a translator, so if you are picking up RF 10, I would think you are actually getting it from Grand Meadow.

I love to be the bearer of bad news but for those of you on Charter, expect another $1.01 charge plus tax on your bill for "BROADCAST TV SURCHARGE"

"The Broadcast TV Surcharge is a pass through reflecting charges assessed to Charter by the owners of local broadcast, or local “network-affiliated,” TV stations. While broadcast stations distribute their signals over the air using free spectrum granted to them by the federal government, they charge Charter significant amounts to carry their TV signals. These signals were historically made available to Charter at no cost, or low cost. However, the prices now demanded by broadcast stations have necessitated that we pass these costs on to customers."

If only they could cut down on all the junk email they send to me about Charter phone, they could skip the price increases.

It shows up on RF Channel 10 or is it that the remap shows up as 10.1?

I wouldn't think that they would retransmit on RF Ch 10 via a translator, so if you are picking up RF 10, I would think you are actually getting it from Grand Meadow.

Wow, you're right. I just checked again and it is 10 from Grand Meadow I'm getting. My antenna is still pointing due north at La Crosse, and Grand Meadow is 50 miles away due west. Up until this week I was getting channel 50 just fine, but now it won't lock. I left it tuned to 50 for a few minutes and I do see a blip of signal every now and then, so I guess it is still there. Very strange.

11/24/2010 @ 8:00 p.m. - Are WFSX and WTPX down or could it just be issues on my end. Just checking.

Fox 55 is down for my OTA too.

It's back. I just picked up a Winegard sensar and had set it up on the railing of my deck to see how it worked and lost wfxs soon after - had me worried (the one I have on my camper worked quite well so I thought I'd give it a shot at the house). The good news is that I picked up WTPX (ION Network) with the new set up. Haven't been able to pick that one up since the DVT transition.

Does anyone normally pick Ch 46 - wtpx near Wausau? After loosing it with Fox 55 last night (which is back now) it never came back. Doesn't show up when I rescan yet if i enter 46.1 manually it shows the same signal strength as it had before loosing it yesterday - just no picture. Wondering if anyone is having similar issues.

CPR to this thread

Visiting my parents in northern Wisconsin today, and a commercial came on WAOW noting that the newscasts were switching to HD "soon".

Link to article: http://www.waow.com/Global/story.asp?S=14244167

Impressive for such a small DMA, eh?

Stay tuned for updates...WEAU DT-13 (NBC) lost its 1,998 foot tower Tuesday evening due to the severe icing and weather that's hit the area.

Station staff was notified by the County Sheriff's Office after one of their own patrol vehicles came upon the tower resting across the county road.

Station staff will be able to determine fully the extent of the damages once the weather clears, daylight is fully available and that it's safe to operate in the immediate vicinity.

In the meantime, other local broadcasters are offering assistance to WEAU where possible and available.

Hopefully, there will be an OTA signal available for NBC-viewing before this weekend.

According to WEAU, their signal is back up on WQOW-18.3. The signal has also been restored to cable and satellite. WEAU is also on 50.1 in La Crosse displacing KTTC-Rochester, thanks to WXOW.

According to WEAU, their signal is back up on WQOW-18.3. The signal has also been restored to cable and satellite. WEAU is also on 50.1 in La Crosse displacing KTTC-Rochester, thanks to WXOW.

Signal is currently 480i

Signal is currently 480i

This would make sense, as it's a subchannel on 18.3 and 50.1 is most likely jut retransmitting 18.3.

WEAU.com says it's on 25.2 (WLAX) in La Crosse. The Leader-Telegram, however, confirms the 50.1 placement. Is it on both?

WEAU's website says it will be on 25-2 starting tomorrow.

- Trip

WEAU's website says it will be on 25-2 starting tomorrow.


Good! I hope they leave it there. 25-2 has always been just a duplicate of 25-1 in lower definition anyway. It would be great to just run WEAU on it indefinitely for those of us around La Crosse who haven't been able to pick up channel 13 since they went digital.

Sorry for asking such a basic question...

I have been happily watching KTTC from Onalaska (just north of La Crosse) on my Windows 7 media PC for a while now. Yesterday I stopped receiving KTTC. I checked my Sony DVR and I am still getting KTTC on that. When I check the signal strength on my PC it is still reporting a strong signal for 10.1 (KTTC). It has 2 sources listed; 10.1 and 50.1. One of them is called Low Power and the other is called KTTC-DT.

Does anyone have any idea why I can get it on my Sony DVR, but my Windows 7 PC lost it? Any ideas on how to fix it?

Thanks

They had put WEAU on W50DR-D a day or two ago, and that probably caused issues with your Windows 7 PC. I'm not sure what to recommend as far as getting it back as I have no experience with that software.

- Trip

Sorry for asking such a basic question...

I have been happily watching KTTC from Onalaska (just north of La Crosse) on my Windows 7 media PC for a while now. Yesterday I stopped receiving KTTC. I checked my Sony DVR and I am still getting KTTC on that. When I check the signal strength on my PC it is still reporting a strong signal for 10.1 (KTTC). It has 2 sources listed; 10.1 and 50.1. One of them is called Low Power and the other is called KTTC-DT.

Does anyone have any idea why I can get it on my Sony DVR, but my Windows 7 PC lost it? Any ideas on how to fix it?

Thanks

I am getting KTTC on channel 50.3 and the CW channel on 50.4 now in Holmen. Whatever they did it is all messed up.

Thanks for the replies. I will see if I can get my PC set up again!

This would make sense, as it's a subchannel on 18.3 and 50.1 is most likely jut retransmitting 18.3.

And now it is back to 1080. Glad they got the 1080 back so soon.

Yesterday afternoon, about 1645.45, WLAX SD (25.2) started re-transmitting WEAU's 13.1...

Yes, it's SD for the time being...but you folks south of Holmen should be getting a decent, usable, viewable signal.

I wouldn't mind getting some feedback as to how it's doing out there.

And please, let the folks up at WEAU know what it looks like and sounds like too...with the tower on the ground and them not expecting to be back up and 100% before 6 months...that's something every engineer just dreads in their lifetimes. I'm sure I can speak for EVERYONE in the engineering community that we are ever so thankful NOBODY WAS HURT OR INJURED during this incident. We have heard that there was a neighbor that believes he did hear the tower falling and hitting the ground, but I don't remember who mentioned it. Whatever it sounded like...it had to be one of those sounds that you don't quite know how to describe, but you know you don't want to ever hear it again...sorta' like a tornado.

Hang in there folks...I'm sure before the summer/fall/winter is over, there will be some other "horse-trading" to keep things interesting these coming months.

Just out of curiosity, how are you picking up the WEAU feed?

- Trip

Something is goofy with my PC. I have an HDHomeRun tuner. When I use its software, I can view KTTC. I can't view it through Windows Media Center. It gets a 'No signal' error. I have rescanned for the channels, but no luck. This all started when KTTC briefly was moved to another channel and won't work no that it was moved back.

Any ideas?

On another note, it looks like WJFW will be adding Antenna TV in July.

- Trip

Finally got mine to work. Channel 10.1 (NBC) has 2 sources listed for it. I disabled one of the sources and it started working.

Flipping through the channels tonight and 55-2 WFXS has been switched from Untamed Sports to MeTV!!! This is great if you like classic TV!

Caught MeTV on 55.2 as well - around 8:00 saw the end of Bob Newhart. Excellent! Now I can't wait for WJFW to start AntennaTV in July on 12.2. Nothing against Universal Sports - I just enjoy the old re-runs myself.

Wow, I almost wish I lived in Wausau! You may be the only market in the country getting all thee classic TV subchannels!

Wow, I almost wish I lived in Wausau! You may be the only market in the country getting all thee classic TV subchannels!

Chicago is the king of classic TV subchannels. MeTV, MeToo, This, and Antenna TV all originate from Chicago broadcasters (Weigel and Tribune). RTV was recently added on the weakling WPVN, but it doesn't cover the whole market.
For that authentic nostaligia feeling, Weigel also simulcasts MeTV and MeToo in analog on 23 & 48.

WSAW just opened their 6 PM news in HD...the first in the Wausau area! Green Bay does not even have local HD yet!

Charter added a bunch of new HD channels yesterday.

Spike/FX/CNBC/MSNBC/FNC/HALL/OXY

Finally Spike and FX..........

Charter added a bunch of new HD channels yesterday.
Spike/FX/CNBC/MSNBC/FNC/HALL/OXY

Finally Spike and FX..........I wish they'd add a few more to their Clear QAM offerings.
I'm spending a few days up outside of the twin cities and they have some crazy music video channel and a few extra HD Un-encrypted channels then I get in Western WI. :(

I wish they'd add a few more to their Clear QAM offerings.
I'm spending a few days up outside of the twin cities and they have some crazy music video channel and a few extra HD Un-encrypted channels then I get in Western WI. :(


You can bet they will NOT be adding any channels that are Un-encrypted....


More new HD channels added last night, CMT/VH1/MTV/E/BET/FUSE/STYLE

Getting real close to not need to watch any of the sd versions of the channels.

Hello,

I am moving from just North of Chicago to Marshfield, WI and was curious what my options are for HDTV?

Seems that "charter" is the local cable TV provider. Where I am located I have been just using an OTA antenna to get both Milwaukee and Chicago stations.

Can someone give me a breakdown of the pro's and con's of charter cable service in Wisconsin versus OTA?

Plus, how easy or hard is it to integrate charter cable TV into an HTPC system (Windows 7 Media Center)?

Thanks - Bob

Bob,
As a Marshfield resident, right now NBC programs will not come OTA as the local station's antenna is off-line so you would have to go cable for that otherwise you could get all other Wausau stations OTA.

Doug Newman

Charter is pretty good as cable companies go. They have great internet service for the price.

At least on the systems around here, the bandpass filter used on internet-only service allows all of Charter's Clear QAM channels to pass through. This includes all your locals (in HD) as well as the C-SPANS, religious channels, music choice and some other stuff.

Well, when WEAU is rebuilt, it will operate not on channel 13, but on channel 38, if a petition recently filed with the FCC is approved.

- Trip

Sounds like WJFW's switch from Universal Sports to Antenna TV is being bumped up a bit - Monday May 23rd appears to be the new date. For what it's worth, the TitanTV guide link in their website reflects the new programming already.

http://www.weau.com/tower/headlines/WEAU_Recovers_from_Tower_Collapse_from_BRIAN_GALANTE_1217232 09.html

I don't live in the area but for those of you that do, how is the picture quality on 18 now then both 18.1 and 18.3 are running HD-720p & 1080i?

Also on WEAU.com there's a video posted that says they hope to have the new tower completed in 18 months or less, and to have 13.1 on the air by the second week of June.

It looks like WKBT in La Crosse is broadcasting their news in HD. Not sure how long that has been going on, but just noticed it. It looks like they're the first local news station to go to HD news.

Thread CPR! ;)

TV 13 moving back to 13.1 OTA on August 1st (if they haven't already)!!! They are going to be broadcasting from the E.C. Tower on hastings way. I didn't catch what the channel will be in LAX... if it's changing or not. I thought it was 25 something (IDK if they were on the WEUX 25/48 tower down there in LAX or what) as they were on WQOW 18/19 up in E.C.
---------------------
...on my Windows 7 media PC for a while now. When I check the signal strength on my PC it is still reporting a strong signal for 10.1 (KTTC). It has 2 sources listed; 10.1 and 50.1. but my Windows 7 PC lost it? Any ideas on how to fix it?
Thanks
-I have rescanned for the channels, but no luck.
-Finally got mine to work. Channel 10.1 (NBC) has 2 sources listed for it. I disabled one of the sources and it started working.
Interesting problem. I have been using Vista MC (w/ the FIJI TV media pack ~> so it's almost W7) and Windows 7 MC for several years now. I live in the E.C. area so the Ch. #'s you sited don't have context or meaning to me (but I gather they are O.T.A.) since you mentioned "strong signal" although they also report a signal strength for cable too (which is what I have) - through Charter.

Using Vist MC years back titan TV was getting information from charter and would automatically input the listings for about 18 of the Clear QAM HD & SD digital channels. However, in the past year plus (since I've moved onto W7 the first day it was out) ~ charter sends only (1) Clear QAM listing to Titan TV. So I have to now go in and map all the other 70+ TV and music channels manual, it's a P.I.T.A. but thankfully they have stopped switching up the Clear QAM lineup every few months making the task far less frequent.

But I've never come across the problem of two sources for the same channel (that I didn't manually go in and re-map myself). So i'm curious what happened and what the second source was listed as if you remember?

You can bet they will NOT be adding any channels that are Un-encrypted....
More new HD channels added last night, CMT/VH1/MTV/E/BET/FUSE/STYLE
Getting real close to not need to watch any of the sd versions of the channels.Well you never know what the Clear QAM lineup will be. For a while I was getting WCCO 4, KTSP 5, KARE 11, and a few other Minnesota stations as well as our locals. And every so often a channel gets added like ION, WGN, TV Guide (plays mostly TV and movies), we still have KMSP 9 and WUCW 23 from the Cities too. It all depends on the market you live in (no two cable districts even w/i the same company are the same...).

The one complaint to the otherwise good news (always see glass half full & half empty) is that it marks the march towards the eventual elimination of their Analog service (service w/o a box or cable card). I'm gearing up myself to buy either the Silicon Dust prime or the Ceton Cable card system for my PC soon (haven't made up my mind which is the best for my needs) factoring in the savings in rental costs if the unit lives for ~32 - 38 months it pays for itself.

Hello,
I am moving from just North of Chicago to Marshfield, WI and was curious what my options are for HDTV?
Seems that "charter" is the local cable TV provider. Where I am located I have been just using an OTA antenna to get both Milwaukee and Chicago stations.
Can someone give me a breakdown of the pro's and con's of charter cable service in Wisconsin versus OTA?
Plus, how easy or hard is it to integrate charter cable TV into an HTPC system (Windows 7 Media Center)?
Thanks - BobIt will be quite a change from what you are used to getting OTA but AFAICT you should be able to get your "major networks" OTA.
Charter - While constantly rated the worst cable co nationwide, has given us excellent service for a long time. BUT they are expensive. No competiton in my area to the West of where you are planning to move. I heard from a relative in Appleton that AT&T U-verse has moved in there so that's a nice step (hopefully it will make it's way over to Eau Claire, before I die!!! :mad:

TV - Expensive. And within the last year they have finally begun to add / play catch up to satellite with the # of ch.s they offer in HD. They seem to add more ever so often, but for a while it was a TRICKLE here & there.


The internet service (I live in the country and am at the very edge of the area they service so super lucky to have it and for a while the cost through a work deal was quite reasonable $19.99 a month. They ended that and now our choices (with a bundle are $19.99 for 1Mbps, or $29.99 for 12Mbps, $39.99 for 18Mbps. They puposely are setting the "Lite tier" so low that for movie watchers/steaming content you almost have to go up... VUDU HD puts you in the 6-9Mbps category - So anyway charter is being douche' and they know that it's clever marketing; most people will get signed up for at least the second tier even if they are just basic internet users and 1Mbps would suit them very well.

Phone - which we also have bundled w/ them has & continues to be cheaper than the previous phone service. It's been crystal clear and zero problems. The phone modem is mounted in a tough spot, so I unplug TV & modem cables and unplug everything else but I can't get to it and it's weathered some bad storms including one that fried the splitter at our cable junction box (burnt out an HDMI on a TV I wasn't home to unplug) and took out [like a leap from] hitting various neighbors randomly at the service box on the road or at the house or frying their Cable boxes inside etc... but the phone system with-stood it all (no UPS on that either).

Price is the only thing I'm grumpy about. Quality of signal and internet has been wonderful. If there was a second cable competition (Fios or U-verse) and if it drove prices down a little I would be even happier. Also enough with there 2 year contracts!! :(

Charter is pretty good as cable companies go. They have great internet service for the price.
At least on the systems around here, the bandpass filter used on internet-only service allows all of Charter's Clear QAM channels to pass through. This includes all your locals (in HD) as well as the C-SPANS, religious channels, music choice and some other stuff.Agree, it would be nice to have either the $19.99 plan raised to 5 Mbps or add in another plan for say $24.99 for 6 Mbps though. $120 extra every year adds up.

Well, when WEAU is rebuilt, it will operate not on channel 13, but on channel 38, if a petition recently filed with the FCC is approved.
- TripWas there ever a chance they could have switched over to UHF Digital. If ever there was a chance to get a do over this would be it. I supposed the equipment to broadcast was still working though... I was SO disappointed when the VHF digital distance traveled turned out to be far less than UHF digital.

Was there ever a chance they could have switched over to UHF Digital. If ever there was a chance to get a do over this would be it. I supposed the equipment to broadcast was still working though... I was SO disappointed when the VHF digital distance traveled turned out to be far less than UHF digital.

I'm curious if WEAU's plans are to rebuild the tower to it's original height? Wikipedia says it was the tallest structure in Wisconsin, be a shame to have to put up something smaller in it's place.

I believe WEAU's tower will be back up and running by sometime this fall. As far as I know, they are rebuilding to the same height. It also appears the temporary transmitter they are running right now on actual channel 13 in Eau Claire will still be on the air as a translator after the new tower is functional. . (pending FCC approval).

Here's the latest I could find about WEAU...
WISCONSIN:
The FCC has moved quickly to approve a proposal from WEAU-TV (Eau Claire) to change its digital channel from 13 to 38. The station's tower near Fairchild collapsed in March, and WEAU proposed moving to UHF as part of the reconstruction because viewers had reported reception problems since WEAU moved digital broadcasts from channel 39 to 13 in 2009. WEAU must still apply for and receive a construction permit for the channel 38 facility. The FCC had already approved a 15kW translator for WEAU on channel 25 in Eau Claire and special temporary authority to broadcast on channel 13 from Eau Claire until the new tower is built. WEAU's NBC lineup has been seen on subchannels of other stations in the area, as well as cable and satellite, since the collapse. (7/24/2011)

WEAU started broadcasting the local news in HD last night

WEAU started broadcasting the local news in HD last night

Are the newscasts on WLAX/WEUX also now in HD?