Whether the image is HD or SD, the transmitted resolution will stay the same. Instead, the SD signal will be scaled up, and bars will be placed on the sides. But the image format stays the same.

Of course, this is what the stations choose to do. They could actually change resolutions if they wanted. I've heard the biggest reason they don't do this is because most TVs would take from several to several 10s of seconds to change modes.

Xesdeeni

Mine does. If I am watching 11-1, etc., and the program is in HD it fills the screen with full detail. I have my Samsung STB 'locked' on 1080i output, regardless of the source resolution. If an SD commercial comes on my Samsung STB still outputs 1080i but the image drops back to 4:3 with black bars (or gray bars if I am watching channel 80, CBS east).

hey guys,

maybe you can help me. i'm in lewisville right off corporate and 121. i have the terk tv 55 ( the small curvy one ) mounted on my roof and i'm picking up every channel crystal clear except for ABC

i'm thinking about switching antennas. what ones do you recommend that are about the same price or lower that are better?

thanks in advance

anybody watching the mavs vs houston rockets game in HD tonite ?

my audio sync is off a bit via directv,,, i've turned the set top box off and back on but is still out of sync

thanks

karl

Originally posted by birdog
hey guys,

maybe you can help me. i'm in lewisville right off corporate and 121. i have the terk tv 55 ( the small curvy one ) mounted on my roof and i'm picking up every channel crystal clear except for ABC

i'm thinking about switching antennas. what ones do you recommend that are about the same price or lower that are better?

thanks in advance

All DFW OTA HD channels are UHF except ABC which is VHF. You may want to keep your Terk TV 55 UHF antenna up and by a dedicated VHF antenna for ABC and combine the two with a UHF/VHF combiner.

I use a DB8 bow-tie antenna (from annetannasdirect.com) with a Channel Master pre-amp in my attic. I live in a low lying area of McKinney and get all UHF and able to pick-up ABC. Every once in a while on ABC I see some digital artifacts.

Note: I was only able to pick up ABC after adding the Channel Master pre-amp so another option is to pick up a pre-amp and see if that helps.
_______
rkhobbit

Originally posted by kmeisenbach
anybody watching the mavs vs houston rockets game in HD tonite ?

my audio sync is off a bit via directv,,, i've turned the set top box off and back on but is still out of sync

thanks

karl

Karl:

I have that same problem every single time the Mavs are televised on HDNET or the Channel 96 or 97 on Directv. I wish you guys could get it fixed. I very rarely have the problem on any other channel or event.....

Couple of NEWBIE questions regarding DFW OTA channels:

- Does ABC 8.1 HD stop broadcasting sometime after 10 or 10:30 or do they reduce their transmission power after 10-ish?

- Is it typical to see some digital artifacts (once every 5-10 minutes) on ABC 8.1 HD? I'm thinking maybe I'm overdriving my tuner and may need to add a 10db antenuator. Manual says my LG LST-3510A tuner is a high gain receiver and I may need to add an antenuator.

- PBS 13.1 HD is very erratic. Sometimes I get a very good HD signal for 1 show, but on the very next show I'll get all kinds of pixelation and digital artifacts as if my signal is not all together there. Is this typical for PBS?

I live in McKinney and am using an antenna in my attic so I realize I may have soime limitations due to my set up.

_______
rkhobbit

I've been having problems on PBS recently also. If I watch the signal strength on my HD Tivo it is about 88 but drops down to 65 or 71 periodically like there is some kind of interference.

I stay in Las Colians, Irving in a south facing apartment on the third floor. I purchased a samsung SIR T451 hd reciever and the terk TV 55. They cant even smell the signal. Absolutely nothing. I tried to place the terk in the balcony to no avail. Need some help urgent, as I want to watch NFL this weekend. Any suggestions are welcome.


Thanks,

Bkuru.

What is the multicast status of the Big 4 networks in Dallas? We have a thread going in the Programming forum trying to pick the best market for OTA HD. The latest criteria we're using to narrow down the Top 10 is multicasting. For now, we're allowing a weather radar channel for 1080i networks (CBS, NBC) and we're allowing a weather radar and 1 SD channel for 720p networks (ABC, FOX). How does Dallas stack up?

Panther.
Is it in HDTV PROGRAMMING? Make it a sticky.

Anyhow:

FOX
KDFW-DT: 720p No multicasting. However the lowest bitrate in D/FW

NBC
KXAS-DT: 1080i Weather radar on 5-2 Just started in Dec.

ABC
WFAA-DT: 1080i(only 1080i ABC station in the country) ABC News NOW on 8-2

CBS
KTVT-DT: 1080i No multicasting The VERY best in Dallas

UPN
KTXA-DT: 1080i Weather radar on 21-2

WB
KDAF-DT: 1080i Simulcasting (SAP??) on 33-2

PBS
KERA-DT: 1080i No multicasting

http://www.widemovies.com/dfwbitrate.html

That ABC muddies things up - generally the consensus was that a single SD sub-channel will ruin a 1080i broadcast (especially motion heavy like NFL). Whether that holds true for a 720p upconvert, I'm not so sure.

Have you noticed motion artifacts in MNF?

Lets put it this way, some weeks it was unwatchable.

Check out cheezmo's site. He updates it constantly.

I'll eliminate Dallas from the top then. Charlotte's CBS has an SD sub-channel that has absolutely ruined NFL broadcasts. I understand they have problems using analog to feed the local cable stations, so they're using the SD (digital) sub-channel as the primary feed for cable. So I feel your pain.

Panther. Where's the thread??

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=483294

Thanks.

i'm a newbie...just had an antenna installed in my attic yesterday...i can get fox/nbc/abc/pbs digital channels, but not cbs...any suggestions? is it my antenna or cbs? thanks.

If you are getting those then you should be getting CBS.

What kind of OTA receiver do you have?

Try directly tuning to Channel 19. KTVT-DT is transmited on UHF ch 19.
Once it locks the signal then it should appear 11-1.
If you have the HD Tivo you can't do that. Try re-scanning for off air locals.

I'm 77 nautical miles from the transmitter and my signal level is 92%

i appreciate your response:

i have dish 811...

antenna=vu 120xr from radio shack

fyi: i was able to get cbs a few days ago using rabbit ears...now can't get it either way...in fact, cbs was the only digital station i got using rabbit ears.

i don't see ch 19 or 11.1 at all....

You are in Little Elm you should be able to get CBS 12-1 from sherman.

They xmit on ch 20.

I dont see why your not getting it. it's not the antenna if you are getting the others.

NBC-41
FOX-35
ABC-9
CBS-19
CBS Sherman-20

These are the actual channels.

Try resetting your receiver and scan again.

If I remember on the dish you press Menu,6,1,5.

If you are trying to see the game. Call Dish and see if they will turn on you CBS-HD on Dish. Dallas qualifies but you may be too close to Sherman and those folks do not qualify. Worth a shot anyway.

i reset the 811...i got 20-01 cbs in sherman, but strength is 40-49...i still do not see 19...is the fact that my antenna is pointed south have anything to do w/ this problem? this is driving me crazy...

Pointed south is correct. North for Sherman.

That's what I don't understand. ch19 = nothing, Ch 20 = 40 signal off the back of the antenna in an attic. It's not your antenna or your cable.

You say Sherman is displaying 20-1???? Does NBC show 41-1?

If so your receiver is not remapping correctly and even though your receiver is getting the signal it's not appearing in the guide. I had a 6000 that had the crappiest 8VSB module I think E* ever made. I'm saying it's your receiver. It was SO bad I used another receiver for OTA. Worth a call to E*(dish).

Does your TV have an ATSC(digital) tuner?

no ch 40...

no tuner from tv...samsung dlp

i'm using a diplexer...could that be a reason i'm getting 40 strength from sherman on ch 20-01??? the strongest strength is around 88...nothing in the 90s...

would preamp help???

thanks..i appreciate your interest in helping me out

Perhaps a preamp would help. Dishnetwork installers are BIG on using diplexers. I have never been a fan of using diplexers unless I was running a split to another bedroom. I never used them to combine SAT and OTA. I would run a seperate line for your antenna first. If no luck then try a preamp.

Heres my list of what I get in The Colony using an ATI HDTV Wonder.

2-1 Daystar
4-1 Fox4
5-1 NBC
5-2 NBC Weather Radar
9-1 ABC (when its pointed just right)
11-1 CBS11
18-1 UPN21
21-1 UPN21
21-2 Some weather radar station
23-1 Unvision 23
30-1 Channel 29 (dont know what network)
33-1 WB33
33-2 WB33 in Spanish
39-1 Channel 39
40-1 Channel 39
42-1 PAX (channel 68)
43-1 Daystar
46-1 Jewelry TV
49-1 Channel 39 again
58-1 TBN
58-2 The Church Channel
58-3 JCTV
58-4 EnlaceUSA

The thing that susks is that everything comes in in 4:3 ratio and never widescreen. Probably my setup but thats for another thread.

Check it during primetime. No station broadcasts HD all the time.

Your right a lot more programs are widescreen now. Im new to all this newfangled HD stuff.

49-1 is actually KSTR-DT (Telefutura, a Spanish language network owned by Univision).


29-1 is KMPX-DT (an idependent Spanish language channel)

I expected to see a bunch of postings complaining about no 5-1 NBC, but much to my surprise, there are none.

I can no longer tune to 5-1, all my other -1 stations are fine.

Is it just me (and my Samsung 360) or is this maybe related this PSIP (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=495173) thing?

TIA, eric

I am NOT getting 5-1 or 5-2 at the moment.

Originally posted by EricJRW
I expected to see a bunch of postings complaining about no 5-1 NBC, but much to my surprise, there are none.

I can no longer tune to 5-1, all my other -1 stations are fine.

Is it just me (and my Samsung 360) or is this maybe related this PSIP (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=495173) thing?

TIA, eric

Don't know if it the PSIP thing or not, but they aren't there for me on my Mits with its onboard ATSC tuner....I just didn't happen to be watching them so far tonight so I didn't know...

-Randy

I did the rescan for PSIP changes per the link on the previous message and now get both 5-1 and 5-2 with good signal strength.

Same here. Rescanned on my 360 and it came back. The strange thing is that my Sylvania ATSC stand alone tuner was fine without rescanning.

Rescanning hasn't brought mine back. Using Samsung TS-160.

5-1 ok. 5-2 not there "SFS". HR10-250

Now they are back. Just in case some else does what I did, here is what happened. The first thing I did was unplug the 160 assuming it would scan as part of rebooting. That didn't work. Running the OTA scan from the setup menu worked. Should have done the easy thing first :rolleyes:

Originally posted by Pine59
Now they are back. Just in case some else does what I did, here is what happened. The first thing I did was unplug the 160 assuming it would scan as part of rebooting. That didn't work. Running the OTA scan from the setup menu worked. Should have done the easy thing first :rolleyes:

Hmmm...I just rescanned on my TV and now (11:40pm) they don't show up at all in the list. Guess I'll wait and try again tomorrow....

-Randy

Cool - I rescanned and they ARE back!

Thanks!

Eric

I have three ATSC tuners, two of which are on HD recording cards, and all three of which use the same antenna feed. I have good reception most of the time, but last night my MyHD (MPD-100) card failed to record KTVT-DT. I checked to see why, and I found it could not receive KTVT-DT at all! I checked the other two tuners, and they were picking it up fine. Only one of them provides a signal strength estimate (based on bit error rate), and that indicated 83%/23.0 dB. The dB value is a bit low, but KDFI-DT comes in at 58%/15.8 dB on that tuner, while the MyHD card could receive it fine.

Has anyone else noticed a change in KTVT-DT's broadcast, or an increase in noise that affects your reception?

Xesdeeni

I have lost KTVT also. I started a thread on the DHTG about it 2 nights ago. Finally, I am finding some people who are also having this problem. The signal strength is violently fluctuating. For me, it is between 0 and 30, not enough to get a solid picture.

This happened to UPN a year or two ago, and it took a while for Technobill to figure it out, but then he did fix it. I don't think that this will get fixed before the AFC championship game though.

I have a steady 80% on KTVT. I am 77.5 crow fly miles from the transmitter. My antenna is up 28 feet using a CM 4228 preamp.

I can't get 11-1 either. I have not changed any setup, and I used to get 80-90% strength.

Right now I'm showing 0-25% consistently, with a peak of 28%....

arrggghhh of course right before the football games tomorrow.

At the time of this posting my signal is 69% and steady. In the past I've seen 88-90%. HMMM.

Perhaps I'll give the control room a call. I will post what they tell me.

Originally posted by mp3trojan
At the time of this posting my signal is 69% and steady. In the past I've seen 88-90%. HMMM.

Perhaps I'll give the control room a call. I will post what they tell me.

They are investigating. He was a REAL nice guy. They can't see it from the CR but they will be making a trip to the transmitter. I did a test with him on the phone.

KERA-DT Ch 14 was 89%
KTXA-DT Ch 18 was 90%
KTVT-DT Ch 19 was 65%

He said HMMM. KERA and KTVT are on the same tower.

He is also aware of this thread now and will keep an eye on it.

Pleas state your "general" location.

WFAA dropped the ball again. We got it in HD until the first commercial break and it has been SD ever since.

This summer the folks living east of the metroplex will have a choice.

KLTV-DT ABC Tyler will go online with full power and full HDTV capabilities this summer. It will broadcast on VHF channel 10. Since WFAA is the only VHF digital station in Dallas, I will point my VHF antenna to Tyler and the UHF antenna to Dallas.

I will no longer have ANY use for WFAA(Belo, Below, B-LOW).

Originally posted by mp3trojan
He is also aware of this thread now and will keep an eye on it. The odd thing is I get a viewable signal (albeit with a lower strength than any other channel) on the other two tuners. I know I had perfect reception on Sunday, and no reception on Thursday. What I'm wondering is what was done between those two days? And given that these tuners apparently use bit error rate instead of genuine signal strength, even a data format change to the stream could be to blame.

Xesdeeni

I dunno. But the signal here is considerably less than usual. He has my email addy and mabye he will fill me in. If so, I will advise.

As of this post, my 11-1 (ktvt-dt 19) is still fluctuating between 0 and 20 %

I just tried kera-dt and am getting similar bad results.

ALl of my other local DT's are still strong as ever, 4-1, 5-1 and 5-2, 8-1 and 8-2, 21-1 and 2, and so on.

11-1 (cbs) used to be my strongest. My antenna has not moved.

I've even gone to friends house down the street. He has a different box (his is an HTL-HD, I use a HD Dtivo). Same results at his house..no CBS HD OTA. We are in Frisco.

mp3: thanks for getting the info for us.

Originally posted by EscapeRocks
arrggghhh of course right before the football games tomorrow.

If you have D* or E* call them and get CBS-HD turned on and you will not miss a minute of the game. KTVT is owned by the network and therefore everyone in the D/FW area is instantly qualified to receive those signals.

AND IT'S FREE!!!!

Originally posted by mp3trojan
If you have D* or E* call them and get CBS-HD turned on and you will not miss a minute of the game. KTVT is owned by the network and therefore everyone in the D/FW area is instantly qualified to receive those signals.

AND IT'S FREE!!!!


...assuming you're pointed @ 61.5. ;)

Originally posted by 120inna55
...assuming you're pointed @ 61.5. ;)

or 148.

I thought E* put HD on 110 as well. I will check it out.

Yeah, I have channel 80 (dtv's CBS HD), but with most things, the OTA HD signal is much better than the compressed stuff D* sends down the line ;)

I do appreciate the suggestions, however!

About 5 hours to the AFC Championship game, and still no CBS. Still fluctuating between 0% to 30%. Sometimes it will stay on 30% for a while, then drop out to 0% for a while. But even when it stays on 30%, there are far too many dropouts to make a stable picture.

I did try KERA - I am fluctuating on that station as well, but much higher, it is jumping between 58% to 87%.

All other stations are rock solid on the meter.

UPN = 75%
ABC = 69%
NBC = 81%
FOX = 69%
WB = 81%

I am in Flower Mound, using MyHD as my HDTV tuner and an attic antenna. Unfortuantely, I don't have a D* HDTV receiver. I really don't want to watch this game in low def.

Just wondering if anyone else is noticing problems with KXAS-DT during HDTV broadcasts since the new NBC weather plus started this week on 5-2.

I have not noticed this live, but while I was catching up with my TiVo recordings of law & order, there was times that it was unwatchable. Freezing, dropouts, and blocking.

Is anyone else noticing this??

Current signal level on 41 is 92%

It's a shame to see them start multicasting. They were, along with KTVT the best in town. This puts them at the bottom of the list.

Cheezmo: What's this doing to their bitrate?

I can get around 72% on 35-1 (Fox or KDFW), but it always starts going in and out...switching from 49% to 0 and back up to 72%.

I have no other issues with any other HD channels. I put an in-line amplifier on the signal from my Terk Antenna and it helped, but did not eliminate the problem.

Is there anything that can be done or is it an issue with the signal transmission from KDFW? I am in North Lewisville using the Dish Network HD receiver as my tuner for the local antenna.

At the time of this posting, KDFW-DT 4-1 signal here is 95%. I'm 77 nm away from the tower.

I had NO issues during the game.

I use the Terk Antenna (TV 36), According to the antenna selector from the website, I should use the TV 38...could be why I have trouble with KDFW. Does anyone recommend Terk or another antenna? I have to place it in the attic, wife would never allow outdoor mounting.

Originally posted by mp3trojan
Cheezmo: What's this doing to their bitrate?

16.7mb/s (maybe down to 16.2 per last measurement). Higher than WFAA, not as high as KTVT.

Still no KTVT-DT. At one point, for about 10 minutes on Saturday night, I got a couple of blips. They varied between 40 and 44%. But they only lasted a few 10s of seconds each time. But I haven't seen anything since then.

Xesdeeni

Originally posted by Xesdeeni
Still no KTVT-DT. At one point, for about 10 minutes on Saturday night, I got a couple of blips. They varied between 40 and 44%. But they only lasted a few 10s of seconds each time. But I haven't seen anything since then.

Xesdeeni

I watched the AFC Championship game OTA on 11-1 with my little RCA indoor antenna in my apartment in Plano (near Park and Preston). There were some signal issues, but not really that many more than usual, given my setup. Strange....

-Randy

Anyone have suggestions on a good OTA Antenna?

I've verified with a friend who has a MDP-100 and a MDP-120, that he has lost KTVT-DT on his MDP-100, and his signal strength has gone down on his MDP-120 to a point where he gets frequent dropouts.

I think this is beginning to be clearly a KTVT issue, although it's not a black and white (completely lost signal), but instead a gray (interference or signal strength loss) issue.

I've e-mailed KTVT about this, but haven't received a response. Please drop them a line if you are having any reception issues.

Xesdeeni

"Thanks for the additional information. I sent the link to the guys who know all the secrets of the transmitters. The situation is being investigated."

I got this email today from KTVT

They are watching this thread. Keep posting.
State your "general" location.

Okay!!


SInce I am friendly with most of my neighbors, and several of us have DirecTV and HD, I walked around yesterday.

Of the 5 people I contacted, allof them are having identical problems to mine. NO signal.... on a directv HD Tivo, the signal is showing as 0-22% every second (1 second 0 next second 22%)

We all agreed that it used to be one of our best stations.


to see if it was a Hughes box issue, one of my firnds has a Samsung HD receiver. Same thing.

My neighborhood is near Custer and 121..far east Frisco.

Again, have had great pictures from KTVT until the other day, and now get nothing.


Same for my 5 neighbors who I checked with yesterday,

At the time of this posting. UHF ch 19(11-1) Signal is 65%. on all three atsc tuners here. The other UHF stations are 90+.

I live in Flower Mound and started noticing problems with 11-1 around Christmas. It comes and goes. Sometimes the signal will be good enough to produce a solid signal for hours or days on end. Other times, like tonight, it is unwatchable. After playing with my antenna and amp for a week or so I gave up and called D* and got channel 80 enabled. I switch to 80 when necessary. I chalked the problems with 11-1 up to seasonal changes in propagation and my attic-mounted hi-gain antenna.

I usually get 11-1 at around 90% on both of my ATSC tuners. Right this minute I am bouncing between 0 and 60% with frequent dropouts. Other UHFs like 4-1, 5-1, and 13-1 all come in around 90% on both of my ATSC tuners. Since they all broadcast from Cedar Hill I cannot explain why 11-1 is the only one I am having problems with.

I'm new in this thread. I read all the posts and have a basic question.

I was planning on getting dish network and leasing an 811 reciever, does that mean I STILL need an OTA antenna to recieve locals in HD?

Yes.

thanks MP3trojan,

I'm new to all this HD thing. I guess this has something to do with somebody not allowing sattelite providers to offer local HD channels. That seems kinda screwy to me but stranger things have happened I guess.

I face north and am in Addisoin in a townhouse. There are dishes on the side of other units facing south. I have to assume I could mount something like a Winegard 2000 to the dish and then a Channel master 7777 in the house and be all set?

Do I need to get permission from the local stations to let me recieve the signals and will dish network have any issues with the Winegard being part of the setup? I wonder if I should just do a Silver Sensor and channel master 7777?

I would go with the Winegard and the amp. What you do with your antenna is none of Dishnetworks business. No permission needed. OTA signals are FTA(Free to all).

ok, got it thanks. I have to get Dish first. This might be a stupid question but I have to assume once the Winegard is attached to the dish, then I need to use a splitter or something to connect both antenna's to one line coming into the house and then into the 7777.

I'll be using a IF 4805 PJ and be using a AV switch box on my Onkyo. I assume then the 7777 will connect in the line between the antenna and the 811. Then out via component from the 811 to the switch box on the Onkyo. Does that sound right?

I'm guessing the channel master 7777 also works well on cable SD?

I found it, I need a satelite/ OTA diplexer.

Is any body else having audio dropouts on 11.1 during CSI and CSI Miami?

I have an lg 4200a receiver and indoor amplified rca antenna. The receiver shows that I have a good signal. I'm in South Arlington south of Sublet between Cooper and Matlock.

Originally posted by LookingG
ok, got it thanks. I have to get Dish first. This might be a stupid question but I have to assume once the Winegard is attached to the dish, then I need to use a splitter or something to connect both antenna's to one line coming into the house and then into the 7777.

I'll be using a IF 4805 PJ and be using a AV switch box on my Onkyo. I assume then the 7777 will connect in the line between the antenna and the 811. Then out via component from the 811 to the switch box on the Onkyo. Does that sound right?

I'm guessing the channel master 7777 also works well on cable SD?

I found it, I need a satelite/ OTA diplexer.

You can but I would run a seperate line. The receiver sends voltage to the dish which "could" create interference to your OTA reception.

Originally posted by rhino1975
Is any body else having audio dropouts on 11.1 during CSI and CSI Miami?

I have an lg 4200a receiver and indoor amplified rca antenna. The receiver shows that I have a good signal.

KTVT is having problems. Thank you for your post. The engineers are watching this thread. Please state your "general" location.

I live about 10 miles east of Denton and wish the only problem I was having was audio dropouts. At unpredictable times, but usually at night, 11.0 fades entirely to snow. 11.1 isn't affected as much, but at times I lose the picture there too. The worst time was towards the end of the Patriots-Colts game. Lost the picture on 11.0 completely with about 6 minutes to go in the game. One other thing, I do get a lot of video dropouts on 11.1 when 11.0 goes out and the signal strength varies wildly on 11.1. It will drop from about 80 to 0 and many points in between.
Had the same problem last winter, but it went away with the warmer weather in the spring and summer only to return when the temperatures turned colder this winter. Sure is frustrating!!!
Hope this post may give them a clue as to where to look as we satcha lot of shows on Ch. 11.

Originally posted by mp3trojan
You can but I would run a seperate line. The receiver sends voltage to the dish which "could" create interference to your OTA reception.

Dish doesn't use voltage in its antennas or lines, so you can 'join' the ota antenna with the dish signal without any problems.

Sure it does. 13/18vdc to command the lnb to switch polarization. They all do. Without that voltage you would only get half of your channels. What dish does different than D* is: D* uses a 22khz tone to command the multiswitch to switch to 119/110 on multisat setups. E* uses a digital signal to command the multiswitch. Take a short piece of coax, connect it to "satellite in" and cut the connector off of the other side, seperate the center from the shield. Connect a DC voltmeter and switch transponders in the signal meter screen and you will see it change on the voltmeter.

I am a new HD customer with D* and having an issue with 4-1. I have an ota on the roof and I am getting a strong signals on all channels but 4-1. The thing is, when I update the receiver to find the local channels in my zip (75093), it gets 4-1 to a signal of 69% and working great, but once I change the channel and then go back to 4-1, it has a signal of 30% and no picture. Has anyone ever heard of this issue? D*'s HD receivers now only have D*'s name on them. They do not show the manufacture of the receiver, ie: Hughes, Samsung. Is this a receiver issue? Thanks for any feedback.

Originally posted by nortex
Dish doesn't use voltage in its antennas or lines, so you can 'join' the ota antenna with the dish signal without any problems.

Not entirely true, with the Dish 811 you cannot run the OTA cable with the SAT cable (via splitter). You must run a separate coax for the OTA antenna directly to the OTA input of the Dish 811 receiver.

I'm in Watauga (north Fort Worth) a few miles north or 820W off Denton hwy and I get all the locals with no problem. The antenna is mounted on a 15’ pole on the south corner of my house with the UHF end pointed at Cedar Hill.

I recently bought a VU-190XR antenna from radio Shack and I get excellent reception thru my sammy STB. Never had any issues with ch 11-1, always a great picture. Switching to Dish this weekend and getting a 811 and a 522 box so I can have some DVR ability without paying the ridiculous price of the 921 or D*'s 1K HD DVR receiver. Should be interesting to see if my reception is the same using the 811's OTA receiver.

This antenna is about the size of a small car, but works great.
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=15-2156

as i had posted a few weeks back...i can get all channels except ktvt...i used to get ktvt w/ rabbit ears around december, but now cannot, even w/ a larger antenna in the attic...right now, i get 49% on 19-1...that's it...anyways, thanks to mp3trojan for all his help. any idea how long it will take to fix???

Hopefully soon.

Ok, I talked to my complex and they said no to an outdoor antenna. I'm thinking I might be able to put it out on my balcony but my balcony faces due north. According to antennaweb most of the stations I want are 26-29 miles away at between 193 and 196 degrees.

Now I'm not sure what antenna to buy. What are the best indoor antenna options given these parameters or am I better trying to use something like a flat and small bowtie mounted facing north?

I'm still confused about this VHF vs UHF and not sure which I should go for.

Thanks,
Joe

I have been unable to receive 5-1, KXAS-DT in digital ATSC for one week now on either of my two DirecTV HDTV receivers with ATSC tuners. One is a Hughes and the other a Samsung. I live in University Park, so I am not too distant from the broadcast. Is anyone else reporting these problems or know the cause?

I lost KXAS-DT for about 30 minutes this morning but it's back now. If you are getting 4-1 and not 5-1 then it's not your antenna. 4-1 is on ch 35 and 5-1 is on ch41.

Current signal here is 90% and steady. 77 miles away

Antenna selection help for M-Streets Area?

I live in the m-streets- (Greenville Ave.- North of downtown/ South of Mockingbird). Have had decent luck in pulling in most of the OTA local HD channels using a Zenith Silver Sensor/ standard rabbit ear configuration (combined the two using a diplexor)- on my Sony LCD w/ built-in ATSC tuner.

However, I cannot get any signal at all on UPN 21.1-- and I get some dropouts/ have to reconfigure a bit for 11.1 and 5.1.

Question is-- I have the Silver Sensor basicall behind the tv-- would I get any performance boost by putting it higher- like in the attic? Or, am I seeing about what is to be expected and need to step-up to a larger antenna and either mount rooftop / or place in the attic? (or maybe add a line booster?)

Anyone in the area have a decent solution that works? Thanks a bunch for your help!!!

The attic should work fine. You are within line of sight to the towers. A south facing balcony or porch would do the trick.

We have recently found an issue with the KTVT-DT High Definition transmitter that has caused some viewers to have erratic power level fluctuation while others were not affected. We have one of our vendors working on a solution and anticipate correcting this problem in the next few days.

The signal to noise ratio has decreased which is causing some receivers to not be able to decode the transport stream while others are not affected.

It is interesting to find that some receivers show this as an erratic signal level rather than an issue with the information contained inside the signal itself. The transmitter has been at or near full power the entire period of time, but the modulation of the signal has been drifting.

We are sorry for any inconveniences that this may have created.

Bill

Thanks for the update Bill. That is great news and it sounds like it was not easy to find. Many of us have the D* HD Samsung 360 STB whose signal meter is practically useless so its hard to tell what the signal level was on that box. Luckily I have a couple of Sylvania tuners as well and those showed erratic signal strength.

Thanks bill,

I hope that some of the posts from us AVS'ers helped you troubleshoot this problem. I was aware that you were monitoring this thread. Thanks for your help and keep up the good work.

Also, thank your for making KTVT-DT the VERY best HDTV in Dallas/Ft. Worth. Hopefully the others will follow suit and make D/FW one of the best digital DMA's in the country.

First, I will tell you what I have:

Dish Network 921 Receiver, all wires are RG6. We have an attic that is a bunch of trouble. The attic has a reflective, metal insulation on the back on the whole roof. Its called teck shield which is a heat shield. Then we have an old antenna suspended in the attic facing 198 degrees. The antenna was already installed except we upgraded the several butted RG59 wires to one contious RG6 wire.

Whats going on:

We tried an in-line amp, tried amping at the antenna, tried amping at the antenna and tv rec, tried amping only at the tv rec. The amps we used was 2-24 db with fm trap. The inline amp was a 10 db with dc block. All methods were about the same. One method that worked the best was amping at both locations, tv rec and antenna. We may be over amping it but we don't know how much.

Channels Quality:

8.1 - Strong
21.1 - Strong
11.1 - Slow loading and fading in and out
33.1 - Comes and goes
4.1 - Real Strong
5.1 - Can not pick up at all, (only once or twice at night or mid morning)

Our question:

What can we do? I know the answer is to get an antenna outside away from the attic. We live in a neighboorhood that doesn't allow big antennas. We've seen a dish mounted tv antenna that spreads 4 ft maybe left to right and looks like a wing. It attaches to the back of dish bracket and suspended above the dish. Its not a terk antenna because it looks different and I tried a search online and no luck.

Should we buy a better, newer antenna?

Any advice would be great,

Justin

Originally posted by Archdog75
What can we do? I know the answer is to get an antenna outside away from the attic. We live in a neighboorhood that doesn't allow big antennas.

That teck shield is killing your reception.


A chimney mounted antenna should work fine. Most restricted neighborhoods do not allow antennas over 20' high. NO H.O.A. can refuse you the right to do that. It is against federal law. Go to the www.fcc.gov and search "OTARD".

Others here have been noticing problems with 5-1.

Let me be the first to welcome you to AVS Justin, or is that your location??

Originally posted by Technobill
We have recently found an issue with the KTVT-DT High Definition transmitter that has caused some viewers to have erratic power level fluctuation while others were not affected. We have one of our vendors working on a solution and anticipate correcting this problem in the next few days.

Since I'm having the exact same symptoms on KERA-DT (actually started a few weeks earlier), what are the chances they are experiencing the exact same issue? Any chance you could have them check?

They are on the same tower. Could be.

That doesn't mean they use the same transmitter (which is where Bill said the problem was), does it?

I doubt it. I'd like to see that trick. Same antenna, now that's possible.

Originally posted by davedelite
I have been unable to receive 5-1, KXAS-DT in digital ATSC for one week now on either of my two DirecTV HDTV receivers with ATSC tuners. One is a Hughes and the other a Samsung. I live in University Park, so I am not too distant from the broadcast. Is anyone else reporting these problems or know the cause?


I have nothing on 5-1 for at least a few days either. :(

Originally posted by Technobill
We have recently found an issue with the KTVT-DT High Definition transmitter that has caused some viewers to have erratic power level fluctuation while others were not affected. We have one of our vendors working on a solution and anticipate correcting this problem in the next few days.

The signal to noise ratio has decreased which is causing some receivers to not be able to decode the transport stream while others are not affected.

It is interesting to find that some receivers show this as an erratic signal level rather than an issue with the information contained inside the signal itself. The transmitter has been at or near full power the entire period of time, but the modulation of the signal has been drifting.

We are sorry for any inconveniences that this may have created.

Bill


I have also experienced the problem with the varied signal strength on 11.1 using the HD TIVO. I live in Corinth. One additional problem I have noticed on 11.1 and 11.1 only is a slight popping noise on the audio every few seconds during primetime programming. It comes and goes but I have no problem on any of the other local channels.

* Kudos to KTVT-DT for acknowledging this intermittent problem. I'm sure they constantly get complaints with this new technology that are not their fault. And when we first started seeing this issue, it probably looked like the same type of problem. It probably took a reasonable number of complaints before they looked into it, and even then they probably saw no problem on a lot of receivers. But thankfully, they've realized something on their end is fouled up. Hopefully they can figure it out. Oh, and kudos to everyone who complained :-) so they'd know the problem wasn't just a few techno-neophites.

* KXAS started multicasting (again) a week or so ago. You might want to try a re-scan and see if this helps, although I have a friend who can't get either 5-1 or 5-2 even then.

* UPN 21's radar channel is now indicating 352x240p! I haven't had the time yet to check out the stream, but this is not one of the 18 legal ATSC resolutions. My Mitsubishi TV cannot receive this channel. I have e-mailed UPN 21, but I haven't gotten a response. If you are having problems with 21-2, please let them know. Multicasting is bad enough, but when you can't even view the extra channel, it's an even bigger waste!

* FOX is using only about 50% of their bandwidth. Unlike the other networks, the ATSC-encoding for FOX is done a the network. I contacted the network to see if I could encourage them to at least use 75%. I'm sure there are local affiliates that are multicasting, so they have to leave some room, but 50%!? The network told me I had to contact the affiliate. Of course, the affiliate verified that they can't control the bitrate, which is controlled from the studio (actually, he said "in the truck" in reference to sporting events). If you'd like to encourage FOX to crank up the bitrate before the Super Bowl, please let them know.

Xesdeeni

About the time that 11-1 started all the problems, I also started having problems with 8-1 and 8-2. I live in Little Elm and haven't had any problems with local channel reception on any channels until 11-1 started having theirs.

Well 11-1 is up and looking good again, however 8-1 and 8-2 have just vanished for the past 3 or so days. A big fat 0 on the signal meter. This is on a DishNetwork 921 with a Winegard Antenna in the attic. I've tried a re-scan to no avail.

8-1 and 8-2 used to come in beautifully, the BCS bowls were awesome, so it has clearly worked just fine before. Nothing changed on my end, except the re-scan, which still doesn't locate it.

A friend of mine suggested I check this site out. Let me say that after a lot of hours yesterday and this morning I think I am up to speed on this thread. I guess I am also a little relieved to see others are having the same problems that I have/had. I am very impressed with the amount of info and knowledge some of you guys have on this subject.

With that said, I have a couple of questions/problems myself that I hope some of you may be able to answer.

I have a Mits 62525 and I am using a TERK 38 antenna to pull in my HD and local programming. The antenna is attached to my chimney, and in case some are not familiar with how big the 38 is, lets just say that it looks like a UFO has landed on my chimney. I am using the Mits built-in tuner to get my programming. I live in Grapevine, just off of 121 and Hall-Johnson.

Problem:
I have always had problems with receiving 11-1. The problem with 11-1 is that it always digitizes, more during HD programming. No matter how many times I hiked my fat butt up on the roof and tried to re-aim the antenna, it was always 11-1 that would give me problems. By the way, I never had any problems with 4-1, 5-1, or 8-1, well until about a week ago, but I will get to that in a little bit. I see that some of you have had issues with 11-1 as well and would appreciate any info or input on the issue.

Now to the problem that I see many have had since last week. Yes I am talking about Channel 5-1. Well I also lost 5-1 last week but I can not bitch about that right now because I got an e-mail from one of their people yesterday evening saying it was back on line and to re-scan. Well I did and now I have my 5-1 back. However, this is my issue that I would like some input on:

When 5-1 went out last week I started getting 11-1 better than ever, no digitizing. I also got in KERA, which I could never get in a digital signal (I don't really care about KERA, but thought I would toss it in there for info purposes). They both worked flawlessly this past week until last night (when I re-scanned to get 5-1 back). Now that I have 5-1 back, 11-1 is digitizing again and I can not receive KERA. I don't think this is a coincidence. Does anyone else think so? Is this a problem with my Mits TV? Is there some sort of signal/tower/broadcast/frequency issue?

A question:
When ever I watch primetime HD programs on Fox (4-1), the FOX insignia in the lower right hand corner is cut off. I can only see the upper left quarter of the FOX insignia. Is this normal? Why?

That's it for now. I am sorry if my first post was lengthy, I am just glad to see a forum of this type and quality. I appreciate all feedback that any of you may have to offer. Thanks again.

Originally posted by DubC
A question:
When ever I watch primetime HD programs on Fox (4-1), the FOX insignia in the lower right hand corner is cut off. I can only see the upper left quarter of the FOX insignia. Is this normal? Why?

It has been said that the FOX logo is caused by overscan in your TV set.

Cheezmo may be able to explain it furthur. He is an ISF calibrator and his services may suit you needs.

A question:
When ever I watch primetime HD programs on Fox (4-1), the FOX insignia in the lower right hand corner is cut off. I can only see the upper left quarter of the FOX insignia. Is this normal? Why?


Some claim this is a problem with your tv and the overscanning of the image. I disagree because I have no other overscanning issue on any other local channel. Is anyone in this forum able to view the entire FOX logo on a regular basis during primetime?

On my Mits TV, if I shrink the image so that I can see the entire scan, I still can't get all of the FOX logo. This, plus the fact that none of the other channels' logos are cut off, puts me in the "FOX's fault" camp. But, given that the logo is huge and opaque, I really don't care if they ever move it. It'll just cause burn-in on my screen.

Xesdeeni

In order to view the entire Fox logo you would have to have 0% overscan. That is not practical on any RPTV or CRT based television. Some LCD/Plasma displays may have an option to display that way (and my Samsung DLP RPTV does, but only in a mode where it scales the image smaller and has a black border around the entire image as that mode is designed for PC input where you need to see alll the way to the edges). The Samsung does have an "Expand" mode that does 1:1 pixel mapping of 720p, but even then there is 1-2% overscan and the Fox logo is cut off a little. Looking at it in the "black border" mode, I can see that the X actually extends past the active image on the right edge of the screen, so in order to see the entire thing you would have to have a small black border on the right edge.

I have no idea why they choose to force it all the way to the edge like that (it actually isn't all the way to the bottom, but definitely to or off the right edge).

I calibrate typical RPTV's to about 4-4.5%, in some cases with a geometry template down to around 3%. But trying to go lower is asking for too many geometry/convergence issues around the edges.

So am I losing any of the broadcast picture?

Has anyone else besides me totally lost 8-1 and 8-2? I'm in Little Elm, all other locals come in just fine, however 11-1 is still a little weak compared to what it used to be. Re-scan does not find either of them, this is the fourth straight day without any signal on either of the 8's.

Sure, if you have any overscan, you are losing some of the broadcast picture. But, things are generally framed assuming about 5% overscan so you likely aren' t missing anything important. For example sports scores/stock tickers, etc. should all still be visible. If not, your overscan may be excessive.

What channels are broadcast on the VHF band?

Which are on the UHF?

Originally posted by DubC
What channels are broadcast on the VHF band?

Which are on the UHF?



Try www.antennaweb.org

I just got a Sony 30HS420 and it will accept 720p signals. This is one of the first things I checked out. I set my HTL-HD to 720p and "shrink" during HD programming and it's still cut off. However I do see more of it.

I have seen a lot of people saying they use the "Channel Master 7777" to get in channels they are having problems with receiving.

What is the benefit of the Channel Master 7777?
Where do you connect it?
Does anyone think that I could get a better signal on 11-1 with it?

I can not receive 27 or 33 in digital as well. Would it help with these?

The amp increases the dB gain of your antenna. It is a two part system. One part connects at the base(near the feedpoint) of the antenna. The other part goes behind your TV or distribution center in your house and requires 110vac.

I live 77.5 nautical miles from the transmitters in Cedar Hill. I have the mid line radio shack antenna up about 30 feet. Without this amplifier, 4-1 KDFW(ch35) signal is 40-50%. with this amplifier the signal strength is 95%. A big improvment for you. For me, it's a matter of OTA or no OTA reception. Out here ya gotta have it.

This morning (Friday 1/28/05) we are showing higher signal to noise ratio after we fiwed and reinstalled the problematic device in our transmitter. Since some STB's are pickier than others some of you may require a rescan of channels to again receive KTVT-DT. Before you try this you may want to try going to our rf channel 19.1 and your STB should see the signal and remap to 11.1.

Bill

Are there any local stores that carry the Channel Master 7777?

Originally posted by Technobill
This morning (Friday 1/28/05) we are showing higher signal to noise ratio after we fiwed and reinstalled the problematic device in our transmitter. Since some STB's are pickier than others some of you may require a rescan of channels to again receive KTVT-DT. Before you try this you may want to try going to our rf channel 19.1 and your STB should see the signal and remap to 11.1.

Bill

Signal level at my location is now 90%, up from 65%. 77.5 nm from the stick. Bill, if you are a ham, my locator is em23bd. Thanks and keep up the good work!

still can't get ktvt...20-01 sherman coming in at 49% only...unable to get 19-01...what pre amp recommended? thanks.

Originally posted by Technobill
This morning (Friday 1/28/05) we are showing higher signal to noise ratio after we fiwed and reinstalled the problematic device in our transmitter. Since some STB's are pickier than others some of you may require a rescan of channels to again receive KTVT-DT. Before you try this you may want to try going to our rf channel 19.1 and your STB should see the signal and remap to 11.1.

Bill GREAT WORK!!!! Signal level is now 64-69% and steady. I'll be sending a thank you e-mail next week (I think if you complain, you need to compliment too). Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Xesdeeni

ABC News Now has been pulled off of digital broadcast stations. WFAA-DT2 still has the "Digital Xpress 8.2" banners, but where the ABCNN broadcast was, there is now a weather radar and the audio from NOAA Weather radar.


Comment: How many different radars do we need? KXAS-DT2 is now running their NBC Weather Plus, KTXA-DT2 is running a straight NOAA feed along with KTVT's radar, now WFAA adds their radar loop to the mix.

Originally posted by Xesdeeni
GREAT WORK!!!! Signal level is now 64-69% and steady. I'll be sending a thank you e-mail next week (I think if you complain, you need to compliment too). Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Xesdeeni

Great idea.

Technobill,

Who would be the best person and email address to send feedback/praise/suggestions to at KTVT about the last few weeks events? I would hate to send it to someone or an address that would be a waste of time.

Well, I tried to send an "attaboy," but their web page is broken:
ERROR
The requested URL could not be retrieved

While trying to retrieve the URL: http://cbs11tv.com:8881/contactus

The following error was encountered:

* Unable to forward this request at this time.

This request could not be forwarded to the origin server or to any parent caches. The most likely cause for this error is that:

* The cache administrator does not allow this cache to make direct connections to origin servers, and
* All configured parent caches are currently unreachable.

Your cache administrator is sa@zope.com.
Generated Mon, 31 Jan 2005 15:02:42 GMT by cache1.zmh.zope.com (squid/2.5.STABLE3)
Xesdeeni

Originally posted by Xesdeeni
Well, I tried to send an "attaboy," but their web page is broken:

Xesdeeni

This one seemed to work okay...I think it just doesn't have the port designation on it...or maybe they just fixed the link:

CBS 11 Contact Us Link (http://cbs11tv.com/contactus/)

-Randy

Hey Yoda,
I'm in Little Elm too, are you getting 8-1 or 8-2? I lost those two channels about a week ago and they've been gone ever since. Multiple re-scans haven't found them again.

Is anyone else having problems getting 8-1 or 8-2? I used to have a 90% signal on these, now it is absolutely 0, doesn't even register on the strength meter. These are the only local channels I am not receiving now.

Hey, new user here. Great idea to have a local thread. Maybe someone can explain why I'm having this problem. I live in Munger Place, near Gaston & Fitzhugh in East Dallas. According to antennaweb.org, all of the digital channels are "yellow," so I bought a Silver Sensor, and generally it works. The antenna is hooked to a Dish 921 and is sitting on my TV next to a SW-facing window. Interestingly, I have to point it NNE (wide end SSW) to get the best picture.

Here's my issue. 5-1 (KXAS/NBC), 8-1(WFAA-DT) have an almost perfect (90-97) signal strength, but they just suddenly drop out to zero for three or four seconds, then come back for about 5 minutes. This happens constantly. None of the other channels do that. FWIW, I tried a Radio Shack in-line amp, and that made no discernable difference.

On another note, 11-1 (KTVT/CBS) and 8-1 won't co-exist. I have to move the antenna within about 7 degrees (hardly at all), and at one end, 11-1 comes in, at the other, 8-1.

Can anyone explain, or better yet, suggest a fix for one or both of these?

I live in Richardson near 190/75 intersection. I've tried 3 different terrestrial antennas and none of them have consistent signal. Anntenaweb says I'm about 30 miles from the towers...does anyone have any suggestion for a quality antenna or antenna/amplifier combo i shold try next?

thanks.

rollout17

As someone said here before, bigger is better, outside is better, and directional is better. I used the huge roof mount VHF/UHF from ratshak and it works very well with all channels.

Also, I don't recommend antennas with a gimmic. If it looks like a spaceship, pass on it. Go to Fry's and get an old-fashioned Channel Master (first isle on the right, second section). I was looking at the $30 one, but I splurged and got the $35 one ;) I'm 5-6 miles east northeast of you and it works fine in my attic. It'd be even better outdoors, but that didn't fly with the wife.

Xesdeeni

Hey Xesdeeni, I was over at Fry's the other day to pick up a Channel Master but didn't see any. Where I looked, all they had were Terks for $100 and up. But that was near the back of the store by the AV stuff. I asked the clown that worked that dept. if that's all they had and he said, 'uh huh'. Did you see them near the front of the store? Anyway, I had to go to the 'shack and spend $40 for a 50" 18-element job. It works ok and I'm probably 12 mi. northeast of you. I get Fox @ 100% but the other main network channels fall to 50-60% or less. If I can get a 94" 27-element from Fry's for the same price, I'll take the 'shack back!

They are just inside the door on the right. Go past the little gates, turn right and go down the first isle. The first section is the flashlights (and maybe batteries, or that may be the second isle) and then across the break. The other section of the isle has the discrete components hanging on one side, and on the other are the antennas. The Channel Master boxes are hard to miss, since they are 4-5' tall and red, white, and blue.

I got the 113" one (http://www.channelmaster.com/Pages/TVS/AdvantageAnts.htm), which must be the 3018, for $35. I just looked on Saturday, and they are the same price (http://shop3.outpost.com/product/2570111?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG). The 94" is $30 (http://shop3.outpost.com/product/2581581?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG).

Xesdeeni

Lowe's carries the Channel Master antennas and some of their other products. No Channel Master 7777 though.

Thanks guys, for the quick responses. I believe I'll be picking up a Channel Master before the game this weekend.

One other thing to note, my current antenna is connected to the receiver via over 200' of RG6 Quad-shield coax as it criss-crosses its way from my garage attic to my home theater without any amplification. It doesn't seem like I'll need an amplifier--just lucky I guess!

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Originally posted by peejmeister
One other thing to note, my current antenna is connected to the receiver via over 200' of RG6 Quad-shield coax as it criss-crosses its way from my garage attic to my home theater without any amplification. It doesn't seem like I'll need an amplifier--just lucky I guess!

200' of coax is causing you some extreme loss in dB gain. Runs of RG6 should be kept under 100'. Here's a table to show you attenuation loss per 100 feet.


http://www.pbn.com.au/library/rf5.htm

What's wrong with NBC HD??? Who can I contact at the local affiliate to complain.

1. Last two weeks ER has been broadcast in SD not HD. This has happened numerous times in the recent past but I haven't been keeping track.

2. I don't watch Joey but it seems the few times I have watched it (or part of it) the audio is screwed up, but at least it's HD :)

Lincoln. Look Here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=505243

Has anyone else lost audio on FOX via OTA?

I am receiving audio over the dish but can not get it from the antenna.


NEVERMIND.......audio is back

yes, i get 8-1 and 8-2 around 88-90%...

just cannot get 19-1(cbs)...i get 20-1(sherman), but 49% only...

anyone: will a pre-amp help?

Hi guys,

I just installed E* with an 811 receiver. I am using a silver sensor indoors.
4.1 and 5.1 at about 77-82%. What's the trick to pulling in abc and cbs?

Can I use an outdoor antenna in the attic? If I did, could it be wired with a dioplexer and carried to the receiver on a single line and then split out with another dioplexer just prior to the receiver?

Thanks.

Originally posted by Cary in HDTV
[B]Hi guys,

I just installed E* with an 811 receiver. I am using a silver sensor indoors.
4.1 and 5.1 at about 77-82%. What's the trick to pulling in abc and cbs?/B]


Isn't the silver sensor a UHF only antenna?

8-1(ch9) is VHF and 11-1(ch19) is low UHF, close enough to need a VHF antenna. I would take the SS back and use that money to get you a good VHF/UHF Yagi for the attic with an amplifier. Yagi antennas are what you see on everybody's roof. All elements are horizontal.

4-1 is bcast on UHF35 and 5-1 is on UHF41

Question regarding Comcast QAM channels (in Arlington)

Does anyone know if Comcast encrypts the broadcast HDTV channels on its cable system in Arlington?

/// Motulal

> 8-1(ch9) is VHF and 11-1(ch19) is low UHF, close enough to need a VHF antenna.

This is not quite correct. 8-1 is indeed on VHF channel 9, and 11-1 is on UHF channel 19 -- but the latter is not "close enough [to VHF] to need a VHF antenna"... The VHF TV band stops at 216 MHz (the top of channel 13) and the UHF band starts at 470 MHz (the lower edge of channel 14). Since there is a *big* gap between those channels, there is no benefit to using a VHF antenna to receive any UHF channel, even one near the bottom of the UHF TV band.

I have seen posts that say that the VHF band covers channels 2-13. If this is true, then how are channels 4 (FOX) and 5 (NBC) on the UHF band?

Originally posted by DubC
I have seen posts that say that the VHF band covers channels 2-13. If this is true, then how are channels 4 (FOX) and 5 (NBC) on the UHF band?

The digital broadcasts are actually on UHF channels that are remapped to channels 4-1, 5-1, 11-1, etc., by your ATSC tuner.

Hope that helps...
-Randy

Does anyone know of a local place to buy a CM7777?

Xesdeeni

I have heard that Fry's sells CM antennas so it would be a safe bet that they would have the amps too.

They don't carry the CM7777. They have something called a 3041 (by Channel Master), but its specs aren't as good as the CM7777. Some Lowes carry it too, but not locally.

Any other suggestions?

Xesdeeni

I'm not sure about Dallas but I got mine from my local(Commerce TX)TV shop. I know you can get them from Solid Signal but you said local.

HELP....I can't get FOX 4-1.

I just got a RCA DTC-210 receiver and connected it to an antenna in my attic. All other channels are 90% or better. I just can't get Fox 4-1. Any suggestions?

I jiggled the antenna etc...nothing. Anyone else in the Saginaw area have problems with Fox?

Working fine here. Check the signal level on ch 35 and see what you get.

Ummm....I don't get ch 35 either??

Suggestions?

I am thinking of putting my antenna in the attic so I can get it off my chimney. Will the extreme heat in the attic during the summer months affect reception?

I would not, but you can get away with it. Make sure you don't have the aluminum sheeting on the underside of your roof decking. You will go from great to NADA!

No, heat does not affect signals.

OK, did I mess up?

I have the 811. I used a diplexer and joined an antenna signal from my attic and the satellite signal and ran it across the house to the 811. I used another diplexer coming out of the wall and then hooked it up to the receiver as diagrammed.

I am getting channels 5.1 (80%), 8.1 (75%), 11.1 (65%) and 4.1 (70%, but it takes a minute to actually lock-in).

Problem: My program guide keeps dropping out. Is this related to me joining the signals? The locals OTA in HDTV look really good. Can't believe the difference!

Suggestions?

Thanks for your help. BTW, I am a complete novice to electronics, satellites, wiring, etc. I would never have been able to figure any of this out without the help of this board! Lurker for quite awhile.

Cary

To all of those who have a chimney mounted antenna:

Do you guys run a ground wire?

If so, what is the best way to do it? (i.e. where do you connect the grounding wire to the antenna, mast or antenna? Where do you attach the other end of the grounding wire (in the ground, to a stake)? What do you use to connect the wire to the antenna? What do you use to connect the wire on the opposite end. How do you run the grounding wire (follow the chimney down to the ground? or attach it to something else?)?

Thanks again

Found this manual that explains grounding procedure. It contains all info on mounting an antenna. Good stuff for those who have not done this before.

http://www.solidsignal.com/manuals/AntInstallGuide.pdf

Another antenna question:

Does an antenna have to say "HD antenna" on the box or in the manual, or will any antenna that picks up UHF/VHF signals be able to acquire HD programs?

Most of the Channel Master antennas I am looking at don't mention HD in thier description.

any UHF/Vhf antenna will do, some put HDTV on the box for marketing, but there is nothing special about any antenna that makes it able to pick up HD signals.

Remember;
Outdoor is better
Bigger is better
Directional is better

My Dad worked for a TV repair shop in the 50s, and he remembers how many new antennas were sold to unsuspecting customers, who were told they needed a new antenna with their color TV.

A similar thing occurred when CDs took off, where "digital ready" speakers were sold.

The signal is in the same bandwidth, so the same antennas work.

Xesdeeni

Originally posted by DubC
Another antenna question:

Does an antenna have to say "HD antenna" on the box or in the manual,

Absolutely NOT!!

This may have already been answered...I just couldn't find it. Does anyone know why Comcast doesn't carry the local UPN in HD? I have the 6412 box and would really like to time shift the show in HD. Analog on Comcast really sux (at least it does on the box). I can watch the HD version using my built ATSC tuner on the TV but when I'm away from home, I don't have an HD record capability for UPN.

Does anyone else have any solutions? I looked into getting a D-VHS tape and/or external hard drive recorder but that seems to be a non-starter right now.

Let me know
thx

Found the answer to the program dropping out on 811 Dish receiver. It's the idiot operator!

Actually, I wasn't aware I need to turn the receiver off every day or so to allow it to upload the programming info.

Now I know.

Also, I was told by someone that I, too, needed an "HDTV" antenna. Being the super cheapy that I am, I used a regular OTA antenna I used 8 years ago when I was too cheap buy cable. I don't even know why I have it after 3 moves and being on satellite for 6 years. Hooked it up using the diplexers and low and behold I have great HDTV on the 4 channels I want.

The silver sensor "HDTV" antenna is going back to sears.

"Also, I was told by someone that I, too, needed an "HDTV" antenna"

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN HDTV ANTENNA!!!!!!!!!!:mad:

An antenna is an antenna is an antenna. If it's for TV is for HDTV too!!!

Antenna update:

I was having big time problems getting channel 11, 21, 33 and even 5. I kept rotating the antenna trying to get a better signal, but it was no use. I was using a Terk 38 antenna ($180) mounted to my chimney with no signal booster. I didn't know what the hell was going on since I live in Grapevine and I am only 23 miles from the broadcast tower.

Well I took the Terk 38 back to Fry's. Picked up a Channel Master 3017 for $30 ($150 cheaper than the 38 and a lot smaller). Ordered a Channel Master 7777 signal booster/amplifier/what ever the proper name for it is (which arrived today). I set up everything this evening.

HOLLY CRAP.......I am getting all my digital channels in perfectly.......well so far anyway........and I can not get channel 27-1. Why can I get all the other channels and not 27-1? Anyone know?


Anyway, a big thank you to all in this forum. As mentioned before, I don't think I would have been able to solve this problem without you guys. For those with signal problems, order the 7777. I got mine from Solid Signal and got it in two days (with ground shipping).

Some notes about the Channel Master antennas:
-The antennas don't come with a mounting pole or any brackets for mounting on the chimney, attic, or side of your house.
-The chimney mounting kit comes with two braces even though the box only shows one in the picture (glad I opened it in the store).

Thanks again, and if someone can explain why I am not getting channel 27 in digital that would be great......

27-1 is low power. It's difficult without a tall mount. Don't worry it's 4x3 SD only. You're not missing much.

The FCC deadline for round one of the post-transition channel selections for local broadcasters has just finished. For those who are interested, here are the channel elections for Dallas/Fort Worth area broadcasters:

KDTN/2 -- will stay on current digital channel (43)
KDFW/4 -- will stay on current digital channel (35)
KXAS/5 -- will stay on current digital channel (41)
WFAA/8 -- will return to current analog channel (8)
KTVT/11 -- will return to current analog channel (11)
KERA/13 -- will return to current analog channel (13)
KTXA/21 -- will return to current analog channel (21)
KUVN/23 -- will return to current analog channel (23)
KDFI/27 -- will return to current analog channel (27)
KMPX/29 -- will stay on current digital channel (30)
KDAF/33 -- will stay on current digital channel (32)
KXTX/39 -- will stay on current digital channel (40)
KTAQ/47 -- will stay on current digital channel (46)
KSTR/49 -- will stay on current digital channel (48)
KFWD/52 -- proposes to move to digital channel vacated by WFAA (9)
KLDT/55 -- no election made, must wait for next round in digital channel election
KDTX/58 -- will stay on current digital channel (45)
KPXD/68 -- will stay on current digital channel (42)

North of us, KXII/12 in Sherman, TX has elected to return to its analog channel (12), and KTEN/10 in Ada, OK will stay on its digital channel (26).

Note that these are the channels that these stations will be on when the transition to digital is complete and the analog transmitters are shut off. Joe Barton's wishes aside, this is probably at least several years off...

Looks like the need for a VHF antenna will remain in the Dallas market.

Thanks for the info Thomas

You're welcome...

What I wonder is if all channel antennas will be able to shrink signficantly in size after the transition. After all, they'll not generally have to accomodate low band VHF, but only high band VHF and UHF reception. Theoretically, that means that the antennas could shrink by 2/3.

Just thought I would say that I have not had a single problem with any of the digital channels since my last post (Fri. night). NASCAR looked pretty good in HD last night and today.

So far it looks like the 7777 took care of all my problems.

Originally posted by Thomas Desmond
You're welcome...

What I wonder is if all channel antennas will be able to shrink signficantly in size after the transition. After all, they'll not generally have to accomodate low band VHF, but only high band VHF and UHF reception. Theoretically, that means that the antennas could shrink by 2/3.


Yes, and that will also mean I can work 6 meters with more than 20 watts without complaints from the neighbors about my trashing channel 4 and 5.

http://www.qrz.com/hampix/m/l/n5blm.1094052140.jpg

Anyone else having problems with KDFW FOX 4 this morning. I have no signal.

KDFW and WFAA-DT are gone here. All else is good.

KDFW and WFAA-DT are back on the air. They both came back within one minute of each other.

KTXA-DT will begin airing a series of IMax Movies on 21.1.

The first two IMax movies on 21.1 are scheduled to air this weekend.

The titles are:
"Ultimate G" and "Tropical Rainforest" (Disclaimer, These tapes are not yet in house and if needed we will be substituting two other IMax movies that are already in-house.)

These titles are 1-hour in length each and air back to back. The first airing is Saturday 2/19/05 at 7:00PM with a repeat airing on Sunday 2/20/05 at Noon to 2:00PM.

Bill

WFAA has been out for me for more than a week.
Before that I had a strong signal.
Can't get it on my Mitts tuner or my Dish 621.
Anyone know whats going on. I know 8.1 is VHF but nothing has changed with my eqipment.
Tried rescan still same problem level keeps going up and down from 0 to 60.

Originally posted by Technobill
KTXA-DT will begin airing a series of IMax Movies on 21.1....These tapes...That's great! We look forward to seeing them.

One question though: Does your tape deck record HD as well? I'm curious whether that the reason the UPN delay on nights when a Maverick game shifts the lineup aren't in HD.

Xesdeeni

bobr66,

I don't have an answer for you except that in Highland Village I'm getting 8.1 at near 80%. I am using an 811 receiver from dish with an attic antenna. However 11.1 is entirely different issue. Its not coming in higher than 49% no matter what I do.

Cary

I replaced the antena with a Terk TV55. I now get all networks at over 100 except 13-1.

Think I posted to wrong area. I'll try again.....I am in Frisco trying to get HD ota signals wiht no luck. Is there an exact angle/degre to point my antenna? It is in the attic right now. May consider mounting outside.
Thanks,
E

You need to point just slightly west of due south. The transmitters are in Cedar Hill. If you roof decking has the aluminum sheet on the inside then you should install outdoors. If not it should work fine.

Originally posted by Xesdeeni
That's great! We look forward to seeing them.

One question though: Does your tape deck record HD as well? I'm curious whether that the reason the UPN delay on nights when a Maverick game shifts the lineup aren't in HD.

Xesdeeni

Yes we are able to record HD.... If you give me specifics I will find out.

Are you talking about delays on KTVT or KTXA, what shows, what days?

A correction to that digital channel election list that I posted a few days ago. Apparently, KTXA is electing to go to channel 19 (when it is vacated by KTVT) or staying on their current digital allocation (18).

Of course, the man who can confirm the digital election (and maybe some of the reasons) is right here... Bill, is there anything that you can tell us?

im in Lancaster and havent made the move to HD yet for a couple reasons
mainly because there isnt alot of content to watch in HD...what 10 channels?
im located in Lancaster which is south of Dallas approx 20 mins Near the cedar hill antennas. Anyhow im a subscriber to Comcast Basic cable cable internet. No complaints from either service but i would like to eventually go with HD from comcast instead of OTA. What i was wondering is....anyone from the dallas area have basic cable and comcast HD package? if so what do you pay a month to have the service include a breakdown of retail fees. Ive been told i could keep my basic rate and upgrade to HD content with their receiverthat i would rent for 5 bucks a month and the hd programming is 5 dollars also.basic cable + internet cost me 75 total. i could justify getting HD for 10 dollars more if there was enough content.


also has anyone tried QAM Tuner in the dallas area with comcast? does comcast have unencrypted HD content running on their basic cable plan?

Originally posted by Thomas Desmond
A correction to that digital channel election list that I posted a few days ago. Apparently, KTXA is electing to go to channel 19 (when it is vacated by KTVT) or staying on their current digital allocation (18).

Of course, the man who can confirm the digital election (and maybe some of the reasons) is right here... Bill, is there anything that you can tell us?

This is correct, KTXA-DT as a first choice will move to ch. 19 that will be vacated by KTVT-DT when it re locates to ch 11.

Originally posted by Technobill
Yes we are able to record HD.... If you give me specifics I will find out.

Are you talking about delays on KTVT or KTXA, what shows, what days? Well, it's been a couple of weeks, but the Tuesday night lineup was delayed for a Mavericks broadcast. Luckily I caught it and moved the recording time (unfortunately, I didn't catch the last time). But it wasn't in HD. It was in "picture box" (SD upconvert of letterbox).

As I said, I missed the last time (the week before last?), so I can't say whether that delayed broadcast was HD. But the time before that (four weeks?) was.


Oh BTW, is the weather channel (21-2) really 352x240p? One tuner says it is, and the one on my TV can't receive it. But that's not a legal ATSC resolution.

Xesdeeni

Is anyone having trouble with KDAF-DT (WB33)? Only one of my three tuners can pick this up. The one in my TV can't see it at all. The FusionHDTV can see the channel, but it can't decode a picture. The MyHD isn't having any problem with it.

Xesdeeni

And another thing. I just noticed that KDFI-DT (27) is now transmitting in 720p! I've never seen anything on there that could ever have an HD source, so I'm wondering why they switched. Anyone know?

Xesdeeni

> But that's not a legal ATSC resolution.

Since the FCC didn't mandate that stations stick to the ATSC table of 18 standards, there really is no such thing as a "legal" resolution. It certainly is a non-standard resolution, although it seems to work well with both my Zenith and Toshiba boxes.

> And another thing. I just noticed that KDFI-DT (27) is now transmitting in 720p! I've never seen anything on there that could ever have an HD source, so I'm wondering why they switched. Anyone know?

Perhaps they switched for corporate consistency, since they're owned by Fox and Fox favors the 720p format. This would also allow KDFI-DT to offer in HD any Fox programming that might get bumped from KDFW for some reason -- much the same as CBS programming occasionally shows up on KTXA.

As for current programming on KDFI that could run in HD...I was told by someone in Paramount's syndication group that "Cheers" is available in HD. Over time, we'll probably see some other syndicated shows offered in HD as well, although that's going to be a very, very slow process.

Originally posted by Thomas Desmond
> But that's not a legal ATSC resolution.

Since the FCC didn't mandate that stations stick to the ATSC table of 18 standards, there really is no such thing as a "legal" resolution. It certainly is a non-standard resolution, although it seems to work well with both my Zenith and Toshiba boxes.That's probably semantics. The FCC did mandate the ATSC specification be used. And this is not one of the ATSC specified resolutions. However, by "legal," I didn't mean in the law sense (as in they'd get fined), I meant in the following the specification sense. That was probably a misleading word.

Regardless, my TV can't receive it, which is pretty understandable, since the TV was designed with the ATSC specified resolutions in mind.

In any case, it occurred to me that the FCC allowed any data type to be in the ancilliary data, so long as the first channel was ATSC-compliant. So while my TV (and presumably the thousands of other Mitsubishi TVs) can't receive the picture, and while I question the logic of choosing something pretty much guaranteed to be incompatible with a significant fraction of the TVs out there, it's not something that is actionable (unless/until it breaks a TV ;-) ).> And another thing. I just noticed that KDFI-DT (27) is now transmitting in 720p! I've never seen anything on there that could ever have an HD source, so I'm wondering why they switched. Anyone know?

Perhaps they switched for corporate consistency, since they're owned by Fox and Fox favors the 720p format. This would also allow KDFI-DT to offer in HD any Fox programming that might get bumped from KDFW for some reason -- much the same as CBS programming occasionally shows up on KTXA.

As for current programming on KDFI that could run in HD...I was told by someone in Paramount's syndication group that "Cheers" is available in HD. Over time, we'll probably see some other syndicated shows offered in HD as well, although that's going to be a very, very slow process. I figured the FOX connection was why they chose 720p, but I've never seen programming bumped from FOX to KDFI. I was kind of hoping this might mean Texas Rangers games might be in HD this season.

Xesdeeni

> The FCC did mandate the ATSC specification be used.

That portion of the ATSC specification that includes that table of 18 combinations of image resolution, aspect ratio, and frame rate was *not* mandated by the FCC. So it isn't really just a matter of semantics -- broadcasters are not required by FCC rules to use one of those 18 standards.

As a practical matter, it is probably smart to stick to that table for the main channel -- since it seems that non-standard formats don't necessarily work with all the existing STBs. On the other hand, I've read elsewhere that some of the existing STBs may not work with at least one format that *is* in that table -- 1080p at 24 fps.

Originally posted by Thomas Desmond
Since the FCC didn't mandate that stations stick to the ATSC table of 18 standards, there really is no such thing as a "legal" resolution.
Although the FCC did not mandate the ATSC table per se, the FCC did mandate that at least one stream be compliant with the MPEG-2 MP@HL (Main Profile at High Level) format specification, which places some upper limits on resolution.

I have a MITS 62725 and w/in the last two weeks started having problems that required a TV re-set each day after the previous night's shut down. In the MITS forum, others suggested the problem related to some quirks in their local OTA HD channel broadcasts. Once all channels were re-scanned, the problem cleared. None of those replies were from the DFW area so... my question here is... any other local MITS owners have a similar experience lately?

Originally posted by TomTx
I have a MITS 62725 and w/in the last two weeks started having problems that required a TV re-set each day after the previous night's shut down. In the MITS forum, others suggested the problem related to some quirks in their local OTA HD channel broadcasts. Once all channels were re-scanned, the problem cleared. None of those replies were from the DFW area so... my question here is... any other local MITS owners have a similar experience lately?

Hi Tom,
I have a Mits 62725 as well, and have not had the problem you are describing. Once in awhile I'll have to reset because I can't change inputs..the set basically stops responding. But happens rarely and hasn't happened in quite some time. It seems like there was an issue with one of the stations when they were doing something with their PSIP, but I can't recall exactly what was going on...I think they just weren't getting picked up by some receivers when they scanned for them. Oddly enough, my last scan snagged two entries for 4-1, but that hasn't been a problem. I just haven't taken the time to re-scan to see if that goes away....

-Randy

I have a channel master 3010 mounted outside on a winegard ds-1111 mount on the back of the dish. I am getting Fox, WB, and CBS all the time. I am getting ABC and UPN every so often. I can not get NBC at all. I looked at the analog channels for ABC and UPN when the digital are not working and I am seeing ghosting. The analog channels for FOX and CBS are not ghosting. What do you recomend? Rotating the antennea a couple degrees? The antenna is between my house and my nighbors. on the roof of my garage is single story. Both my house and my neighbors is two stories. Is anyone else currently having trouble with these stations recently?

arch655

I was also having problems with channel 5 and some of the others. I purchased a "channel master 7777 Titan 2" signal amplifier and it solved all my problems. There is not a local store that carries them, at least that I could find (Fry's, Lowes, Radio Shack, Best Buy, or Circuit City). I got mine at www.solidsignal.com and got it in two days using ground shipping. Be aware that solidsignal requires UPS to get a signiture, so you may want to have it shipped to another address if someone is not going to be home. If you can spend the $60 on one I would try this first....it can only help. By the way, I tried a "RCA db amplifier" prior to the 7777 and it didn't help at all.

To make sure your antenna is pointed in the right direction go to www.antennaweb.org

One thing I would be concerned about is if your neighbors house is in the "line of sight" between your antenna and the broadcast tower. This may cause the broadcast signals to be weaker when they reach your antenna.

I have rotated the antenna a degree or two and both analog and digital is pretty good for the channels I was having trouble with (8 and 21) so far. I will watch them for few days and see if more adjustments need to be done. I still do not have channel 5. I have the channel master 3010 stealth antenna like I said above. I have also install the amp (3038) that is designed to replace the board inside the antenna. This amp has a gain of 15dB for both VHF and UHF with noise figure of 3.5 dB vhf and 2.2 dB for UHF. All my signals are like 70 and above for the major networks that I am receiving. I do not understand why NBC is so hard to get. Do they just broadcast with less power?

Please Help
I have only one coaxial cable from the attic to my room and I am using it for analog cable. I just recently bought a HD tuner box with an antenna in the attic. Can I use a diplexer to combine and seperate antenna and analog cable signal or is it the diplexer just for satellite and antenna???

TIA!!!

Anyone reason why CBS Channel 11 is not broadcasting in Dolby Digital tonight? CSI and King of Queens were both in Pro Logic.

Originally posted by gfatherx
Please Help
I have only one coaxial cable from the attic to my room and I am using it for analog cable. I just recently bought a HD tuner box with an antenna in the attic. Can I use a diplexer to combine and seperate antenna and analog cable signal or is it the diplexer just for satellite and antenna???

The diplexer will not work for combining antenna and cable signals onto one coax, because both use the same frequencies. and would interfere with each other.

Depending on where you're located, you may need to add a second cable -- or you may be able to get the OTA HD channels using an indoor antenna near your tuner.

Originally posted by Thomas Desmond
The diplexer will not work for combining antenna and cable signals onto one coax, because both use the same frequencies. and would interfere with each other.

Depending on where you're located, you may need to add a second cable -- or you may be able to get the OTA HD channels using an indoor antenna near your tuner.

I live in a two story house in Allen near Alma and Exchange. What do you recommend for a decent indoor antenna?

Thanks

Anyone having issues with ABC (8.1)? I was picking this up fine for the past month but just recently I can't get a watchable signal. All other channels come in just fine. Just curious if I'm the only one.

Thanks

Coming in fine for me in northwest Plano. Normal signal strength.

Originally posted by arch655
I have rotated the antenna a degree or two and both analog and digital is pretty good for the channels I was having trouble with (8 and 21) so far. I will watch them for few days and see if more adjustments need to be done. I still do not have channel 5. I have the channel master 3010 stealth antenna like I said above. I have also install the amp (3038) that is designed to replace the board inside the antenna. This amp has a gain of 15dB for both VHF and UHF with noise figure of 3.5 dB vhf and 2.2 dB for UHF. All my signals are like 70 and above for the major networks that I am receiving. I do not understand why NBC is so hard to get. Do they just broadcast with less power?

It sounded from your previous post that you have the antenna installed on a single story roof between two homes that are two story. You should consider going above the roofline of your home. You may live in an area governed by an HOA that would frown on this. However, it is your right by federal law that you can install an OTA antenna for local reception up to twelve feet above the top roofline of your home (subject to very few guidelines). If the HOA is an issue for you, then let me know and I'll forward the link to the FCC website covering this issue.

Ok... I've been watching OTA in Dallas for just over a year. I used a Samsung SIR-T351 for a few weeks, then signed up with DISH network and used an 811 for the past 12 months.

I'm giving dish the heave ho and the end of this month, so I found a Samsung SIR-T151 on ebay for cheap.

Here's the problem... the SIR-T151 works Great! except for one small problem it cannot hold a lock on KDFW Fox 4. I mean it's picking up and locking on every single station I get on my 811, except for fox, which is what I watch the most. I double checked by reconnecting my 811 to make sure the station wasn't having issues... I tried repositioning the antenna... nothing works.

I hesitate to think that it's a bad receiver when every other channel works.

It seems to be locking around 50% and then dropping to zero and then up, then down, etc. I guess it could be a multipath problem, but it didn't bother the 351 or the 811.

Help!

Ok... so I just plugged in some old rabbit ears and got better picture on 4 than what I was getting, not good, but better. .... I think my Channel Master 3020 is driving the receiver too hard.... thoughts?

Go to Radio Shack and pick up an in-line attenuator to install in front of the tuner. If that clears up your problems with Fox 4, then you know that the receiver was being overdriven.

Thomas,

Thanks for the suggestion... that just what I had planned to do... other evidence suggest that is the problem...

1) As the evening grew later.... the picture on Fox 4 grew even worse, by 11pm it would not show anything but a few green blocks
2) At 5 AM this morning, the picture/sound is perfect.

Ok... rather than drive to radio shack, here's what I did. I installed a splitter, and ran one input to the 151 and the other direct to the antenna input on the TV. I figured that would knock the signal down quite a bit, and at least let me see if an anttenuator was in order.

Result: Problem completely solved. Fox 4 looks great, no problems on any other channel. Price to fix: 0$ Subscription Free HD: Priceless.

Tonight must be a good night for signal propigation, because KDFI-DT is coming in for the first time in a long while. Have they improved their signal recently?


Also KXII-DT is coming in nicely this evening. This means that the only local digital signal I am unable to pick up right now here in Plano is KLDT-DT (I am getting no signal strength at all on ch. 54 with my Dish 811 receiver). Since KLDT runs nothing but informercials, I am not missing it.


Is it true that the other Sherman/Dennison and Waco digital signals we might be able to get are being covered up by LP stations in the D/FW area?

Up until recently, I have been unable to get KTXA-DT in any reliable form. Have there been significant signal improvements recently?

Chaddle,

There have been no significant outages on the KTXA-DT transmitter. Please email me your phone number and I will try to help.

Bill
bschully@cbs.com

Having problem receiving CBS over the air digital channel in Fort Worth. I have the terk 44 clamped on my directv dish. Also have the panasonic TU-HDS20 receiver. The channel is on 11-1. Will like to hear from someone.

Thanks

Threads merged.

I am moving to Southlake, Texas and bringing my system with me. At this point, I am not interested in subscribing to HD content. However, I do want to capture HD OTA. I have an HDTV with a built in tuner. I will subscribe to directv w/ Tivo (NOT HD Tivo).

I want to get local broadcasts in HD. I am trying to confirm that the only other equipment that I will need is an OTA Antenna.

Is this correct. Are there others doing so, and how does it work out. My main point is to get CSI, West Wing, and various sporting events that are broadcast on local channels in HD. I don't care about the other HD programming through directv.

Thanks.

I am moving to Southlake, Texas and bringing my system with me. At this point, I am not interested in subscribing to HD content. However, I do want to capture HD OTA. I have an HDTV with a built in tuner. I will subscribe to directv w/ Tivo (NOT HD Tivo).

I want to get local broadcasts in HD. I am trying to confirm that the only other equipment that I will need is an OTA Antenna.

Is this correct. Are there others doing so, and how does it work out. My main point is to get CSI, West Wing, and various sporting events that are broadcast on local channels in HD. I don't care about the other HD programming through directv.

Thanks.

Originally posted by occlaw
I am moving to Southlake, Texas and bringing my system with me. At this point, I am not interested in subscribing to HD content. However, I do want to capture HD OTA. I have an HDTV with a built in tuner. I will subscribe to directv w/ Tivo (NOT HD Tivo).

I want to get local broadcasts in HD. I am trying to confirm that the only other equipment that I will need is an OTA Antenna.

Is this correct. Are there others doing so, and how does it work out. My main point is to get CSI, West Wing, and various sporting events that are broadcast on local channels in HD. I don't care about the other HD programming through directv.

Thanks.

As long as you don't intend on capturing HD content on your TiVo, you are correct. Well, that is, if your TV has a built-in ATSC tuner. I see you mentioned a built-in tuner, but I'm not sure if you were referring to ATSC or NTSC. If not, you would need an outboard HD receiver of some type. I hope that helps some, anyway...

Randy

The TV I am buying is the Hitachi 42HDT51. The specs tell me it has
2 NTSC and 1 ATSC. I am not sure what this means (perhaps the 2 NTSC are for PIP), but it looks like I'll have what I need once I get the OTA Antenna.

One other question, by setting up my tv in this way, when I watch tv will I need to switch from my satellite input to the input connected to my aerial antenna whenever I want to watch my locals in HD.

Thanks for the help. You wouldn't believe how hard it has been to elicit such a straightforward response to what I think is a simple question on another website.

No problem at all. You definitely will need to switch to your antenna input from whatever input you use for your dish when you want to watch HD OTA. That should be about it, though. I'm sure you are right about having two NTSCs...that would be for PIP. Good luck!!!

Randy

Originally posted by IFLYSWA
[B] You definitely will need to switch to your antenna input from whatever input you use for your dish when you want to watch HD OTA. That should be about it, though.

Is there a different way to connect the antenna to avoid the need to switch.

Originally posted by occlaw
Is there a different way to connect the antenna to avoid the need to switch.

Not that I know of. Your antenna input will have a path to your ATSC tuner, which you need to receive the HD signal. I can't see any way around it. But I am far from an expert, so somebody else might chime in with a better idea...

Randy

ok. Thanks for all the help.

Did anyone get a cutout from Desparate Housewives last night? It was around when Edie and Susan talking about dating the contractor. The video went black and then the audio. It came back about 2 minutes later.

Originally posted by dtle
Did anyone get a cutout from Desparate Housewives last night? It was around when Edie and Susan talking about dating the contractor. The video went black and then the audio. It came back about 2 minutes later.
Yep, the exact same thing happened to me. I was watching the OTA feed on my HD-Tivo. Glad to know it wasn't an equipment problem.

Yup, it cut out twice and the wife was pissed!

Originally posted by occlaw
ok. Thanks for all the help.
Got yourself in the right neighborhood, eh?

Originally posted by Jeff009
Anyone having issues with ABC (8.1)? I was picking this up fine for the past month but just recently I can't get a watchable signal. All other channels come in just fine. Just curious if I'm the only one.

Thanks

I have the same problem. Channel 8 seems to be overdriving my (811) recevier. All other channels come in fine, either analog or digital. 8 does not come in worth spit on either. With analog the sound comes in fine, but the picture jumps like nothing I have seen...

I haven't been able to get KDFI Channel 27 for several months. I guess I will miss all the Ranger games televised on 27. I wish they would do something about their signal strength.

I was very happy with the FOX logo shown on Tuesday night American Idol on KDFW-DT. It was smaller and not cut off on my screen. But then it switched back to the big honkin' thing usually shown. On my TV, I can see most of the F and O, and almost none of the X.

Xesdeeni

Does anyone know what plans KTVT has to broadcast the Masters today and tomorrow in HD? From their web site it looks like they have no plans. Its like the Masters is not even happening.

Ok, after over a year of successful reception of KDFI 27 on two different OTA boxes (Dishnet 811 and Samsung SIR-T151), it is suddenly gone for over 24 hours.... all other stations still fine.....

Anyone?

Thread ID# was updated for this thread. If you are subscribed to this thread, you may need to re-subscribe.

is there something wrong with UPN's HD broadcast ?????
It seems fine when in 480i, but as soon as it switches to 1080i
I have constant audio drops
I was watching Enterprise and they are always late with turning on the HD broadcast
the first minute or so after every commercial is 480i then they turn on the HD broadcast and I immediately start having audio issues
I do not have this issue with any other 1080i or 720p broadcast
I have a Sony KD30 XS955 with built in ATSC tuner

I even tried adjusting the antenna placement and checked the signal strength and it was fine between 72-98 depending on when I placed the antenna

Enterprise is pretty much the only thing I watch on UPN at least in HD, so not aware if this a common problem with them

should I call them? and ask whats wrong with their broadcast?

I'll check my recording this evening. But you might consider that the audio might change from stereo to 5.1 when they throw the HD switch. Do you have problems with 5.1 on other channels?

Xesdeeni

Originally posted by Technobill
Yes we are able to record HD.... If you give me specifics I will find out.

Are you talking about delays on KTVT or KTXA, what shows, what days? UPN 21, delayed by the Mavericks game, Veronica Mars delayed until after 11:30PM...no HD (at least until the first commercial, where I had to go to bed...I'll watch the recording later this week).

Xesdeeni

Hi All,

Planning a move to the Arlington area later this year so I just subscribed to this thread today. I read back through the January postings and didn't find what I was looking for. It probably wouldn't make sense to go back to the beginning since things must have changed since the thread was started.

What OTA HD channels are available in area? I ask because here in Colorado Springs, I bought an OTA tuner and returned it after finding that I was limited to FOX and CBS. No WB/NBC/ABC/etc. What I can expect to pick up in the DFW area? Just curious before I buy another tuner.

-Redbird

Here you go

4-1 Fox
5-1 NBC
5-2 NBC Weather Map
8-1 ABC
8-2 ABC Weather Map
11-1 CBS
13-1 KERA
21-1 UPN/HDNET
21-2 Weather Map
27-1 KDFI
33-1 WB
68-1 PAX

There are a few more that also come in, although not anything that I'd call real compelling programming. These include:

52-1 KFWD (independent)
58-1 through 58-3 TBN, TBN multicasts
68-2 PAX West feed
68-3 Inspirational music videos
68-4 Faith Channel

We also have several Spanish language DTV stations, and non-stop home shopping on 46-1

Anybody else been having trouble with NBC 5. I cant lock in a signal for the past few days. I believe I had the same problem around this time last year. Seems odd. Otherwise everything else is coming in fine.

hello to all. i'm not a new forum member, just haven't posted very often. 73 to the hams i see on here.

just got my first hdtv yesterday and i read about the first and last 5 pages of this thread while waiting for it to be delivered.

the set is a samsung txp3071 30" crt w/atsc. it was a no-brainer purchase at less than $700 open box with extra 15% off web coupon at bb. i have comcast digital cable with the moto 62xx box. i'm using the dvi output to the hdtv.

from reading this thread i thought i was going to need ota reception, but it looks like comcast has most of the local channels in their lineup. would i miss anything by not using antenna reception?

btw, i have a hard time getting the 8-1 & 8-2 wfaa channel from euless. i have a plain rabbitears antenna and a high tech amplified one by jensen. neither is really to my liking but so far i've been unable to locate the zenith antenna--i'll hit the fry's next.

and one more question just in case anyone also owns a similar samsung. there is an optical output that i connected over to my a/v receiver. but the only way i get any sound via this connection is if i'm receiving off the air and the signal is dolby digital. if i'm watching a hd program via the cable box i don't get any sound to the rvcr via that optical output. any ideas?

thanks,

/guy (73 de kg5vt)

Originally posted by Xesdeeni
UPN 21, delayed by the Mavericks game, Veronica Mars delayed until after 11:30PM...no HD (at least until the first commercial, where I had to go to bed...I'll watch the recording later this week).

Xesdeeni

Just to confirm, I also had a non-HD delayed Veronica Mars this week. Not a big deal, but it would be nice to get the delayed version in HDTV.

Originally posted by gteague
<del>

from reading this thread i thought i was going to need ota reception, but it looks like comcast has most of the local channels in their lineup. would i miss anything by not using antenna reception?

<del>

well, partly answered my own question with some more monitoring. i see that channel 13 kera/pbs is not on the comcast lineup. unfortunately, although i can receive it ota, it's not of the highest quality, even trying to direct the antenna. is the broadcast antenna for kera at cedar hill?

thanks,

/guy

HDNET TO BROADCAST GAMES 2-5 OF FIRST ROUND IN PLAYOFFS

For Immediate Release- April 23, 2005

DALLAS - The Dallas Mavericks and HDNet announced today that fans will
be able to watch Games 2 through 5 of the Mavs vs. Rockets Round 1
Playoff Series in high-definition on HDNet in Texas.

"There's nothing more exciting than playoff time, especially when you
have a match-up featuring two Texas teams," said Mavs owner Mark Cuban.
"HDNet and the Mavs want to give viewers at home an experience that is
almost as good as being there."

Co-founded by Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, HDNet provides
viewers with exciting and topical news, sports, music and entertainment
programming. The network features up to 20 hours of original
programming each week, all produced in the highest quality 1080i HDTV
format - more original high-definition programming than any other
network.

HDNet news and entertainment includes original series "HDNet World
Report," "Face 2 Face with Roy Firestone," "Art Mann Presents," "HDNet
Concert Series," and "True Music," as well as every episode of the
acclaimed Warner Bros. series "Smallville." Live sports productions
include NASCAR auto racing, National Hockey League and Major League
Soccer games.

HDNet Movies, the company's second network, shows a wide selection of
major studios' theatrical releases - all uncut, unedited, and appearing
in their original aspect ratio. The network also features movies
produced and finished in true 1080i high-definition, including movies
premiering day and date with their theatrical releases.

Fans can contact their cable or satellite providers or visit www.hd.net
for more information. Comcast does not currently carry HDNet and HDNet
Movies, so Mavs Playoff games in HD are not available to Comcast
customers. Comcast customers are asked to call their local office and
let them know they want HDNet and the Mavs in HD.

MAVERICKS 2005 PLAYOFF HDNET SCHEDULE
(All Times Listed CT)
Game 2 Mon., April 25 - Rockets @ Mavs 8:30 p.m.
Game 3 Thurs., April 28 - Mavs @ Rockets 8:30
p.m.
Game 4 Sat., April 30 - Mavs @ Rockets 4:30 p.m.
Game 5 Mon., May 2 - Rockets @ Mavs, if necessary TBD

I had earlier reported having problems with NBC (5) dropping out and poor signal strength. Well today I climbed onto the roof and moved the antenna to the highest point (about 10' above were the installer mounted it) this took about hour and half, had to keep climbing up and down the ladder, nobody around to hand me stuff, well it was well worth the time and sweat. I now have 92-95 signal strenght on all channels and no more drop outs. The original installer stated its not how high its mounted but the direction (guess he didn't want to climb on the roof). So if an installer comes out and states that, tell him NO mount it as high as you can. It was really easy to do except for all the trips to bring up the drill, socket wrench, caulking and such. I should note I live about 45 miles from the towers in Aubrey.

I was curious, i noticed that the game tonight is on TNT HD and on HDNET (dallas area only) For anyone in Dallas who gets both channels, which channel looks better for the game?

Threads merged.

I've read thru and don't think I've seen this answered, although I could have missed it.

Why is it that we do not get the Mav games in HD OTA, when they are being done on HDNet and now appearently TNT-HD?

Anyone having problems picking up channel 5-1 tonight?

And to reiterate....why is the Mavs game being broadcast in SD via OTA on channel 21-1, but apparantly in HD via HDNET and TNT? (I don't get these but I think it is being broadcast in HD)

An even better question is how? Is the game being broadcast in HD and then converted to SD?

As the subject says i dont get a picture when tuned to 8-1. The signal strength is above 90% according to my D* H10 receiver...This has been going on for a week or so. any ideas on what to do, i dont have issues on other OTA channels, although i havent checked 8-2... please help cuz this suxorz...

Try doing a re-scan/re-learn of DTV channels.....the PIDs were changed last week and some receivers need to "learn" the new settings.

This is the second time I've heard this... during Veronica Mars the entire program (and commercials) had clicking or dropouts during the entire program. Did anyone else notice this last night? The picture was fine, so I assume my OTA signal was OK.