I have a HD-Tivo And I can't tune in 5-2 NBC5 weather. Is it actually being broadcast, and if it is, is anyone with the HR10-250 receiving it?

Originally posted by Jeff009
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?

Asked this a few days back and didn't see a response. Anyone know the answer??

Thanks,

Jeff

Originally posted by Jeff009
Asked this a few days back and didn't see a response. Anyone know the answer??

I would assume it is because HDNet and TNT-HD do not transmit OTA.

I fully understand that TNT-HD and HDNet do not broadcast OTA....I guess I should be more specific. The games are being taped with HD cameras, UPN channel 21-1 has the ability to broadcast HD, why then does channel 21-1 not show it in HD?

Probably because KTXA only has the rights to carry the broadcasts in SD -- I suspect that HDNet is holding onto the HD rights in order to promote subscribership.

Originally posted by lseven
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. Better late than never...

I just got around to watching the recording of this and Enterprise from the week before last and UPN had definite audio problems for those programs.

Interestingly, I think it was on Enterprise, they took a couple of seconds to switch from SD to HD after a commercial, and the audio was fine until the switch.

Xesdeeni

P.S. Check out the DHTG site (http://dhtg.napurano.com/) for more local DFW HD info.

Originally posted by Thomas Desmond
Probably because KTXA only has the rights to carry the broadcasts in SD -- I suspect that HDNet is holding onto the HD rights in order to promote subscribership.

Thomas,

Thanks for the response. It's interesting that one can buy the rights to SD alone.

Jeff

Remember that Mark Cuban owns the Mavericks, and is also co-owner of HDNet -- that means that he can negotiate contracts that are in his best overall interest. And I suspect that keeping Mavericks HD broadcasts on HDNet helps boost that network.

And, yeah, HD and SD broadcast rights really can be separated. The most prominent example is the cable rerun rights for "Smallville", which went to HDNet for the HD version and someone else (ABC Family?) for the SD version. Another example is "Hogan's Heroes", which runs in SD on several broadcast stations across the country. As of last November, the HD version of that same show (which is running on HDNet) is *not* available to broadcast stations that pick up the SD broadcast rights to the show.

I live south of LBJ, just north of Royal Lane and just east of Preston Road. 1 story house with GIANT trees between me and the antenna farm. I'm now using a Winegard Squareshooter 1000 with a Channel Master 7777 preamp/amp, and I still cannot get consistent HD reception on the major channels other than 8.1 (actually channel 9). 90+ % of the time everything is fine, then the remaining 5-10% is punctuated by total picture breakup.

The antenna is feeding a DirecTV HR10-250 HD/TiVo. I was routing through a Terk 5x8 multiswitch (which distributes HD satellite to 4 locations), but I pulled the antenna feed out of that loop to try and boost signal. It helped only very marginally. The HR10-250 signal strength meters report sigs in the 70s on most HD channels, but they will occasionally fluctuate wildly, and that's when I get the picture breakup.

Reception was much better during the winter, when the trees were bare, so I am guessing the trees are the major problem.

There's no way I could ever get over the trees, not without an 80' tower.

Anyone in the area who has solved a similar problem? Any ideas at all?

Thanks.

Bewitz:

Someone I highly regard contends that folliage doesn't affect reception that much (http://dhtg.napurano.com/forum/tm.asp?m=2202#2216).

I live east of Plano, so I'm considerably further away than you are. I have an attic installed Channel Master 3018. I use a distribution amplifier in the attic to feed a bunch of tuners (NTSC and ATSC) throughout the house.

I wasn't happy that my HD tuners only showed 60-80% most of the time, with occasional glitches. So I went out and bought a Channel Master Spartan 3041DSB (http://www.channelmaster.com/Pages/TVS/SpartanAmp.htm), which is just about the same as the 7777, except it does not require an external balun. When I put this in, I almost completely lost all my reception. I removed the distribution amplifier, and things went back to normal. But I had no improvement.

When I thought about this, I realized why. Pre-amps aren't black magic, they are just amplifiers. They can't distinguish between signal and noise. They amplify both. Their advantage is that they are put on the antenna, so that noise introduced after reception (i.e. in the house) doesn't affect the signal as much. But since my antenna is in the attic (and any noise is introduced right along with the signal right there), and my distribution amplifier was already pretty close, I got no advantage.

But my point is that even though I'm much further from the tranmitters than you, and even though I have an attic antenna installation (more attenuation), two amplifiers overdrove my tuners.

So I suggest that if your signal is bad, it's your antenna (sorry). The 3018 is only $35 at Fry's, and you can probably go much smaller, since you are so much closer to the transmitters. The fancy active antennas just don't bring in the signal as well as the old-fashioned ones do. (http://www.kyes.com/antenna/antennatypes/antennatypes.html)

Xesdeeni

Thanks, Xesdeeni, for the info.

To expand a little, I started with a "legacy" Winegard antenna (model unknown) the previous homeowner had left, along with his Winegard preamp/amp combo. He had HDTV, so it must have worked for him, but it didn't work very well for me, at least not recently (back to the foliage issue?).

I tried a DB2 UHF (looks like an oven rack with a couple of bow ties), and that was OK for UHF but it killed our VHF HD (8.1 = 9) completely.

So I've tried the Squareshooter, and that's not working out either.

Things I have not tried are: (1) pulling new R6U (through the attic and down a wall, something I'm not looking forward to and something I don't think would help based on my problem), (2) your suggestion, another "conventional" antenna, and (3) using 2 antennas, 1 for VHF and 1 for UHF. The preamp on the CM7777 has 2 inputs that appear to allow this setup.

As to a single antenna solution, size isn't a big issue, but it needs to get the upper VHF spectrum to capture WFAA on 9.

I remain puzzled as to why signal strengths are adequate then fluctuate unpredictably so low that lock is lost and the picture disintegrates or at least "pixelates" (if that's a word).

The HD-Net site only mentions games two through five as being in HDTV. Does that mean we are out of luck for game six?

Xesdeeni, I bought a 3018 at Fry's. It is better, but still doesn't do the job satisfactorily . . . I still get dropouts on 4.1 (UHF 35). And, today when it was windy, the signal was really variable, although there's no detectable motion in the antenna itself. In an abundance of caution, I did run fresh R6U, so now I'm officially out of ideas. (Trying to watch right now, 8:30 p.m., and the picture is breaking up all the time.)

Based on what I'm seeing, I believe being behind these giant red oaks has got to be an issue with signal strength. If you think about it, a 70-foot red oak is probably almost as wide as it is tall, and that's a lot of mass between the antenna and the signal. Plus, that mass is water saturated (green limbs and leaves).

Since the neighbors might object to me chain sawing all their trees (and I love trees anyway, that's why we live in this area), and an 80-foot tower is not in my plans, I may be out of luck in the OTA HD arena.

I suppose I could try some huge deep-fringe antenna just to see whaat happens.

I am getting a LG 4200a soon and I was wondering is comcast broadcasts anything in unencrypted QAM. Do they do network channels, a few movie channels, or nothing at all? Can anyone help me out? Thanks

Bewitz

I'd suggest you contact Topp Robertson. He can be reached at topp.robertson@verizon.net, or you can post on the Dallas Home Theater Group at http://dhtg.napurano.com/ .

Xesdeeni

Hey guys, I just hooked up a huge OTA to pick up HD stuff with the new Panny 42PD50, but I find that I can't watch KERA over the air because after a few seconds or minutes of watching 13-1, the TV will apparently lose the signal and switch to the first saved channel, and KERA will no longer exist on 13-1, it will appear on 14-1!!!

By the way, I live in the colony and am using a 3018 in the attic if that helps at all.

Is this a common occurrence with KERA for everyone or just me? or is this a TV problem?

Thanks for your quick help! (the Panasonic guy wants to pick it up to work on it tonight,,, I'm trying to stall him until I hear from you all)

bump

Originally posted by kmoe
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.

Thanks, that tip helped. Finally got around to doing this last night... everything is coming in nice and purty again!

-Richard

FYI, we've been advised over in the Dallas Home Theater Group discussion boards that "Enterprise" will run from 6 to 8 PM this Friday night, due to a Mavericks playoff game.

The bad news: this means that "Enterprise" will only be in SD.

Originally posted by Thomas Desmond
The bad news: this means that "Enterprise" will only be in SD.

Out of curiosity why did this require them to show it in SD? The final ep ran from 7-8, which is (was) the normal STE timeslot, but it still ran SD. Is there some technical reason, or was this just a matter of "can't be bothered to flip the switch"?

Talk about adding insult to injury to all their Trek fans...

UPN set up an HD feed from 7-8 and 8-9 for the two hour series finale(s). But since 21 had to show it from 6-7 and 7-8, they had to use some type of pre-feed, that was apparently only available in SD.

Further, they were given the choice by UPN to show it in SD from 6-8, or to show it in HD after the Mavericks game. But UPN wouldn't allow them to do both. So economics meant that they had to opt for the much more populous SD audience.

Just par for the course with Enterprise...UPN sucks.

Xesdeeni

FYI

BB and CC are selling the HD Tivo's for $649. List price is $699, but at BB you have to ask the sales person for the $50 gift card to put toward the Tivo. CC will match the $649 price.

Is that the DirectTV Tivo, or an OTA version?

Xesdeeni

For anyone interested, I hooked up my LG 4200a and did a scan on the A and B Comcast Plano lineup to look for unencrypted QAM. I discovered that the A coax has quite a few channels. I got TNT HD (yay basketball), ABC, FOX, NBC, CBS, PBS, WB HD, too many music channels to count, discovery, lifetime movie channel, a few praise/worship channels, and I think thats about it. Definately worth the $200 for all these HD channels. Does anyone have the comcast box get many more channels? Trying to figure out if its worth the extra money to comcast for digital cable.

>BB and CC are selling the HD Tivo's for $649. List price is $699, but at BB
>you have to ask the sales person for the $50 gift card to put toward the
>Tivo. CC will match the $649 price.

BB will just give you $50 for the asking or is there more to it? I am on my way to the Lewisville BB tonight to pick up a new Sammy HDR-5667W and currently have a Zenith HD SAT520 and DirectTivo. Needing an additional HD receiver the DirectTivo HD looks great, and to make sure I got it straight I just need to 'ask for the $50 gift card'?

Sorry for the late response....I saw a post on another thread and wanted to share ASAP. Didn't have time to follow up due to work.

BB website has the DirecTV HD Tivo listed at $699. Stores should also be selling at this price.

Yes, apparantly you can ask for the $50 gift card, prior to purchase, to put toward the purchase of the HD Tivo.

Remember that DirecTV Retention is still giving a $250 credit when you buy a HR10-250 and activate HD programming. Might be possible to get a HR10-250 for $400 (if you count the discounts).

FYI:

KDAF-DT2 is on the air with the ever popular weather radar and NOAA radio feed. This makes 4 digital weather stations and 3 NOAA feeds. Surely there is another use for the digital subchannels (attn KERA: how about multi-casting all the programming you say you don't have time to show like KLRN San Antonio is doing with their 4 multicast channels)?

Yeah, I just don't get the desire by every channel to run a 24/7 weather feed. It can't be ad revenue, since 33-2 and 21-2 don't have any ads.

Xesdeeni

Be sure to check out the two DFW polls:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=542752

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=542754

Xesdeeni

does anyone have the Clear QAM channel map for Comcast Dallas?

Hi All,

I finally finished my dedicated media room and have been enjoying it. Currently I have no HD source but wanted to get some OTA hopefully by the fall (Football). I use Dishnetwork for SD TV so been looking at the 811 receiver (righ now only concerned with HD in the media room, not entire house).

I have skimmed through this entire thread (believe it or not) look for folks that live in my general area. I'm in far N. Dallas basically at campbell between Preston and the Tollroad. I have written down the differing antenna folks in this general area (N. Dallas, Plano, Addison) are using and have come up about a dozen or so options.

However, I got confused when I went to AntennaWeb to see what they say. When I click on the radio button for D-TV (I assume this is HD?) this is all it says I can get,

* red - uhf KMPX-DT 30.1 DAY DECATUR TX 213° 9.8 30
* violet - uhf KDAF-DT 33.1 WB DALLAS TX 190° 31.4 32
* violet - uhf KLDT-DT 55.1 IND LAKE DALLAS TX 274° 9.6 54
* violet - uhf KDTN-DT 2.1 DAY DENTON TX 190° 31.4 43
* violet - uhf KTXA-DT 21.1 UPN FORT WORTH TX 190° 31.4 18

Am I using this search engine wrong)? When I switch to all channels I of course get all the major networks, etc but already of course get them in SD from Dishnetwork.

-Can you suggest how to better use the AntennaWeb to get the info I need (or probably just tell me what I'm doing wrong.
-Can you recommend an antenna? As most other folks, I'd rather not put a large exterior antenna up, but I can. I see several people in my area are using an amp and I'm particularly interested in the Square Shooter.

OK, wait, I took out my exact address and just left the zip code and now is shows all the DTV channels..

* yellow - uhf KXAS-DT 5.1 NBC FORT WORTH TX 196° 28.3 41
* yellow - uhf KXTX-DT 40.1 TEL DALLAS TX 196° 28.3 40
* yellow - uhf KTXA-DT 21.1 UPN FORT WORTH TX 193° 30.9 18
* yellow - uhf KTVT-DT 11.1 CBS FORT WORTH TX 194° 28.5 19
* yellow - uhf KPXD-DT 68.1 PAX ARLINGTON TX 196° 28.1 42
* yellow - uhf KUVN-DT 23.1 UNI GARLAND TX 196° 28.1 24
* yellow - uhf KDTN-DT 2.1 DAY DENTON TX 193° 30.9 43
* yellow - uhf KERA-DT 14.1 PBS DALLAS TX 194° 28.5 14
* yellow - uhf KFWD-DT 52.1 IND FORT WORTH TX 196° 28.1 51
* yellow - uhf KDAF-DT 33.1 WB DALLAS TX 193° 30.9 32
* yellow - uhf KDFW-DT 4.1 FOX DALLAS TX 197° 28.6 35
* green - uhf KMPX-DT 30.1 DAY DECATUR TX 223° 10.1 30
* green - uhf KSTR-DT 49.1 UNI IRVING TX 193° 30.9 48
* green - vhf WFAA-DT 8.1 ABC DALLAS TX 197° 28.6 9
* lt green - uhf KDTX-DT 58.1 TBN DALLAS TX 196° 28.1 45
* blue - uhf KLDT-DT 55.1 IND LAKE DALLAS TX 278° 11.2 54
* blue - uhf KDFI-DT 27.1 IND DALLAS TX 193° 30.9 36

Is it trying to tell me that due to my exact house location I'm not going to have any luck? I have a single family home, single story. It looks like most of the channels are SSW and looking I have a clear view with no 2-story homes in the way and no commercial buildings for a bit. Addison airport is close, but not that close. Weird

Anyway, sorry for the lengthy post, but just looking for suggestion for an antenna. Thanks for the help and thanks to all those that posted previously.

Don't see that you should have any trouble getting the major stations in digital HD. I'm a little bit north and east of you, in Plano (couple miles north of Collin Creek Mall, just west of Central) and receive all the stations with no trouble using a very average Winegard outdoor antenna (can't remember the model number). I've seen reports of folks getting good reception using attic installed antennas, as well -- and for that matter, as an experiment I tried hooking an indoor antenna to my STB and was able to get the major channels.

It seems like Antenna Web must have a few bugs...

Don't see that you should have any trouble getting the major stations in digital HD. I'm a little bit north and east of you, in Plano (couple miles north of Collin Creek Mall, just west of Central) and receive all the stations with no trouble using a very average Winegard outdoor antenna (can't remember the model number). I've seen reports of folks getting good reception using attic installed antennas, as well -- and for that matter, as an experiment I tried hooking an indoor antenna to my STB and was able to get the major channels.

It seems like Antenna Web must have a few bugs...

Thanks for the prompt reply. Well I started thinking the antenna web must be a little off as looking here and at the hdpub I found a lot of folks in my general area getting pretty much all the stations.

So you had luck with an indoor antenna? Interesting. I don't really have a spot for an indoor one, but might try my luck with the Terk 55 bar antenna. Well guess I got to find a deal on a hd receiver 1st.

Thanks again!

Anyone getting the Spurs Suns game in HD on WFAA?

Just went HD for the first time.

Hello,

I just bought a Samsung 50" DLP with DirecTv HD-250 DVR receiver. I am looking to get a suggestion on what antenna to buy for OTA HD channels. I prefer an internal antenna that I can place in my attic. I am looking at the following two antennas:

* Terk TV25 TV Antenna
* Samsung TV5.2 SAX Amplified Indoor Antenna

Has anyone used these? If so, what did you think? Does anyone have any suggestions or other recommendations. I live near Frankford and the Dallas North Tollway. Once again, I am open to any suggestions. I just need to get it before Sunday when the DirecTv guy is coming to install the new dish which will be on the 2nd story of my house.

Thanks,

Robert

When I plug in my McKinney address in antennaweb.org, it indicates I get ZERO digital stations.

Using the "View street level map" feature, I realize that antennaweb.org is putting my home down in the creek behind my house. After clicking the map revealing where my house actually is located, it indicates I can only be get 2 digital stations:

* violet - uhf KTVT-DT 11.1 CBS FORT WORTH TX 192° 44.8 19
* violet - uhf KERA-DT 14.1 PBS DALLAS TX 192° 44.8 14

If I simply put in the McKinney zip of 75070 I get the following digital stations:

* lt green - uhf KDAF-DT 33.1 WB DALLAS TX 194° 46.6 32
* lt green - uhf KDFW-DT 4.1 FOX DALLAS TX 197° 44.3 35
* lt green - uhf KERA-DT 14.1 PBS DALLAS TX 195° 44.2 14
* lt green - uhf KXAS-DT 5.1 NBC FORT WORTH TX 196° 44.1 41
* lt green - uhf KTVT-DT 11.1 CBS FORT WORTH TX 195° 44.2 19
* blue - uhf KSTR-DT 49.1 UNI IRVING TX 194° 46.6 48
* blue - uhf KTXA-DT 21.1 UPN FORT WORTH TX 194° 46.6 18
* blue - uhf KXTX-DT 40.1 TEL DALLAS TX 196° 44.1 40
* blue - uhf KUVN-DT 23.1 UNI GARLAND TX 197° 43.8 24
* blue - uhf KDTN-DT 2.1 DAY DENTON TX 194° 46.6 43
* blue - uhf KFWD-DT 52.1 IND FORT WORTH TX 196° 43.8 51
* violet - vhf WFAA-DT 8.1 ABC DALLAS TX 197° 44.3 9

Due to the extreme pitch of my roof, and believing that the higher my antenna the better, I opted for a less conventional antenna (i.e. where the elements are place on a horizontal plane and and spread out over 8 or 9 feet in length), and went with a DB8 high gain bowtie arrayed antenna from antennasdirect.com (http://www.antennasdirect.com/DB8_HD_Antenna.html) and installed it in my attic using a Radio Shack antenna mount and pole kit. The DB8 is only 29" high and 42" wide. Very easy to install in an attic. I also used a Channel Master 7777 pre-amp since I'm about 46 miles away from the transmission towers. Consequently, I get 12 of the 13 digital stations above, plus I get 55, 58 and 68. I do not get KERA very well... it tends to pixelate. I had to work with antenna placement to get a decent signal from VHF channel 8 ABC for it too pixelated quite a bit and the signal strength had extreme variations. Once I positioned the DB8 at the highest peak inside of my attic, Channel 8 ABC came in strong enough for my HDTV tuner to lock in on the signal. The higher the antenna the better! I suspect that the pre-amp may be overdriving the KERA signal, but without the pre-amp, I lose Channel 8 ABC. Since ABC is more important to me, I opted to get PBS SD via DirecTV.

I believe antennaweb.org is very conservative on their signal reception estimates. There are smaller bowtie antennas offered, the DB4 and the DB2 which can be used if you live closer to the towers.

WOW, thanks for the great information. I feel a lot "mo better" about the whole situation. Looks two of you are north of me and having good luck. Sweet.

Looks like I need to find a deal on a Dishnetwork HD Receiver. Then will start finding an antenna. Man if I could attic mount one, that would be sweet and easy.

So rkhobbit, you use a UHF antenna and are still able to get ABC? Since I significally closer to the towers then you, I might be able to get away with a smaller antenna. In fact that might be what I do; once I get a hd receiver get a smaller antenna to play around with and see what I can and can't get and go from there....

Hi all,

I have been lurking for years and now I finally got my OTA HD set up. I live in Corinth and here is what I have/get:

Receiver: E* 942 HD-DVR
OTA Antenna: Silver Sensor (stuffed in a windowless, bottom floor, under the staircase closet pointing into a wall)

2-1 ?
4-1 Fox
5-1 NBC
5-2 Weather
11-1 CBS
13-1 KERA
21-1 UPN/HDNET
21-2 Weather Map
27-1 KDFI
39-?
48-?
51-?
68-1 PAX

and some others. The receiver counted 23 digital channels in all. The signal strength varies from 60 - 85. If I run a long coax up to one of upstairs bedrooms, the signal gets stronger.

Now, according to antennaweb, I am not supposed to get anywhere near the signal I am getting with a small highly directional antenna like the silver sensor. Im not complaining, but I want to also say that I think antennaweb is not 100% accurate in its ratings.

I also have the problem of choosing either channel 5 or 33. Eventually Ill probably upgrade to an antenna mounted in the attic, but for now Im quite happy.

Also, I know that this is a little OT, but the 942 receiver is very cool. For me, the best part after the HD-DVR capability is the fact that it comes with a UHF remote (in addition to the RF remote) which helps me because all of my components are in the closet next to my watching area. It works better than having to go through the RF->UHF (pyramid) converter.

enjoy!

-jeff

...So rkhobbit, you use a UHF antenna and are still able to get ABC? Since I significally closer to the towers then you, I might be able to get away with a smaller antenna. In fact that might be what I do; once I get a hd receiver get a smaller antenna to play around with and see what I can and can't get and go from there....

Yes, I called antennasdirect.com and I explained to them about my concern about trying to get ABC VHF using the DB8 antenna... The person I talked to was knowledgeable of the DFW area and indicated that I might be on the fringe at 46 miles but to give it a try and install it as high as I could get it. The good thing was the Channel 8 ABC VHF frequency is right at the bottom of where the DB8 could pick up VHF signals. If I wasn't able to pick up channel 8 VHF, they recommended purchasing a 2nd, yet dedicated VHF antenna and use a UHF/VHF signal combiner. Fortunately I did not have to go the route of picking up a 2nd antenna. I did have to work on placement to get channel 8 ABC VHF to come in. I would guestimate that in Plano if you want a smaller attic antenna to try a DB4 and if you are still closer to the towers try a yet smaller DB2 antenna. My house in McKinney is actually on a downward slope away from the towers near a creek bottom and I was still able to get good reception. I think in all, I pick up at least 25 digital stations and a few analog stations, though the only good analog signal that is tolerable in watching is KDFI channel 27, but I'd rather watch KDFI (Go Rangers!) over DirecTV.

Also, in McKinney, I have issues picking up radio stations inside my home. Using the Channel Master 7777 pre-amp, switching the FM trap feature, I now get excellent FM reception from the DB8 antenna as well. You can either split the cable out to your HDTV input and stereo receiver, or better yet, my HDTV tuner has an RF pass thru so I output it to the stereo recevier and I now get good FM and decent AM reception to my stereo.

hello all,

i'm in lewisville, right off 35. and all of a sudden ( a few weeks ) i cannot get ABC. i don't understand this, everything was fine up until a few weeks ago and then it just vanished. i have a terk 55 mounted at the highest point of my house outside.


i don't know what else to do

I am having the EXACT same problem birdog. The other day I went to watch the NBA Playoffs in HD and I could not receive a signal from channel 8-1. Last week I had also tried to bring up 8-2 to see the weather radar and could not receive a signal for that channel either.

I am located at the intersection of Plano, Carrollton and Lewisville. If anyone has any ideas, or knows of any problems with WFAA, I would appreciate your input. Thanks.

The PIDs were changed awhile back so this may not be related.......but one thing that may be working for some is to unplug the coax from your tuner, do a rescan so it "unlearns" the old WFAA PIDs, plug in your coax, then do a new final re-scan.

Question for Comcast users: anyone try out the firewire port on the 6412 STB? Comcast is my only option for HD in Los Colinas b/c I'm in a 1st floor apt on opposite end of the OTA signals. The inability to archive is a deal-breaker for me though, so before I take the plunge I wanted to check if the firewire port is open. Thanks.

Im having problems with ABC also. I've never gotten a completely Solid HD Signal From WFAA when I look at the Analog Signal it has some noise in it but all my Analog channels have Noise. I was able to get the HD Signal when I moved my indoor antenna just so but over the last few wks I have not been able to get WFAA on the tuner in my SIR-T360 or the Tuner in MY Sony KD-36XS955. Im also near the border of Dallas,Plano, and Carrollton any help on this would be appreciated.

I was watching the Channel 11 News and it looks ALOT sharper than the normal Standard Def to High Def up conversion. Also the graphics seem to be sharper than the Standard Def Broadcast. Has anyone else noticed or am I seeing things.:)

I think channel 11 has the best upconverter. Who's is worst? Vote in this thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=542752&highlight=Xesdeeni). And don't forget to vote on overall picture quality in this thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=542754).

Xesdeeni

Has anyone watched any HD broadcasts on FOX lately? Have they looked like crap on your TV?

I was watching CSI last Thursday and changed channels during a commercial. When I came across FOX, the O.C. was playing, it looked pretty bad (for HD anyway). It almost looked like a SD program. I watched it for a while and changed the channel back to CSI, which seemed 100 times better. I was shocked at the difference in PQ.

If anyone gets a chance, could you switch between these two programs tomorrow? I want to see if the difference is as bad as I saw it.

Suggestions and/or comments welcome of course.

Thanks

I started getting WFAA 10:00 news in Dobly 5.1 a couple of nights ago. My video is still 4:3 and is very good, but I don't think it is HD.

Does anyone know what video quality WFAA news is being broadcast in? What is there status of going to full 16x9 HD news cast?

Any status of Channel 4, 5 or 11 going to HD news?

look guys,

i've come to my wits end about this channel 8-1. i've tried re-setting the unit, new channel scan, resetting my antenna, and i'm still without the friggin channel. i don't know what else to do. anybody in the lewisville area, if you can offer some insight i'm listening

Were you getting channel 8 before?

Does your antenna accept VHF?

Birdog what make and model set/tuner do you have? You don't happen to have a Samsung with a built in tuner do you?

Why would a person get a UHF only antenna vs. one that does both UHf and VHF. My antenna in the attic is $50 or so Radio Shack that has both. I get good 95-100 % signals on digital. It would seem to me here in Dalas with all the good signals that just about any kind of good VHF/UHF antenna will work.

Does anyone know why Channel uses VHF vs. UHF like everyone else?

Does anyone know why Channel uses VHF vs. UHF like everyone else?VHF requires less power than UHF to reach the same distance. That translates to a lower electric bill. For example, WFAA-DT on channel 9 is listed at 18.6 kW. KERA-DT on channel 14 is listed at 475 kW. However, the low VHF channels (2-6) suffer from greater interference, and most stations are avoiding those. So, the upper VHF channels (7-13) are a valuable sweet spot.

Also, WFAA won't be the only VHF channel after the analog shutoff (2008?):

Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) Channel Elections:

KDTN - 43
KDFW - 35
KXAS - 41
WFAA - 8
KTVT - 11
KERA - 13
KTXA - 19
KUVN - 23
KDFI - 27
KMPX - 30
KDAF - 32
KXTX - 40
KTAQ - 46
KSTR - 48
KFWD - 9
KLDT - ???
KDTX - 45
KPXD - 42

Xesdeeni

hey guys,

my tv is a sammy 50 inch, my tuner is the hughes hd model, i have the terk tv 55 antenna mounted on the roof outside. i've always had every channel with no problems until about a few months ago. no i can't get WFAA at all. i'm really frustrated here

drjdan I see you noticed the 5.1 all the time on WFAA-DT. No changes in the video. Just checking out a new "Demo" piece of equipment that could help the audio issues when switching between Stereo & DD. It goes into bypass when a true DD pgm is on.

Note that all the NBA Basketball games are NOT sent from the network in DD. This box is simulating DD on all NON DD pgms. I think it sounds pretty darn good in my home. How about others?
JStigler

Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) Channel Elections:

KTVT - 11

KLDT - ???
Xesdeeni

Just wanted to comment on these two.

KTVT: The FCC has rejected the negotiated agreement that would have KTVT returning to 11 and KTXA moving from 18 to 19 (which is where KTVT-DT currently is). I would suspect that KTVT will end up on channel 11 anyway, but it will be interesting to see what they need to do to get the FCC to sign off on it.

KLDT: KLDT has a negotiated agreement with KXTX. Since KXTX-DT will remain on channel 40, the proposal will have KLDT-DT moving to channel 39 at the end of the transition.

KTVT: The FCC has rejected the negotiated agreement that would have KTVT returning to 11 and KTXA moving from 18 to 19 (which is where KTVT-DT currently is). I would suspect that KTVT will end up on channel 11 anyway, but it will be interesting to see what they need to do to get the FCC to sign off on it.Any idea what the objection is? It seems that when the analog channel vacates 11, the digitial channel could move in. And I would have thought that KTVT-DT would have first rights to 11 since KTVT is there already. Obviously it's more complicated than that. Can you elaborate?KLDT: KLDT has a negotiated agreement with KXTX. Since KXTX-DT will remain on channel 40, the proposal will have KLDT-DT moving to channel 39 at the end of the transition.I couldn't find a channel election application on the FCC site for KLDT.

But if KXTX-DT moves to 11, where will KLDT be?

Xesdeeni

ABC PROBLEMS ALSO....

I still get HD-ABC, but the signal has dropped into the 60's from the 80's I had in the past. It was breaking up so much last night during the game, I went to SD viewing. Now that is bad!!!

I seem to be going through the same problem I went through last year. I had been getting all the main HD channels including ABC. Last summer, I stopped getting ABC for some reason. I upgraded my Antenna/Amp from Radio Shack (average at best) to Wingard/ChannelMaster (best you can get), and ABC came back strong and started getting other HDs I didn't get before, like down in the 50s and 60s. Now I notice that ABC picture/signal has been getting worst again.

I guess I will relearn my channels again and then try some antenna adjustments.

Any idea what the objection is? It seems that when the analog channel vacates 11, the digitial channel could move in. And I would have thought that KTVT-DT would have first rights to 11 since KTVT is there already. Obviously it's more complicated than that. Can you elaborate?I couldn't find a channel election application on the FCC site for KLDT.

But if KXTX-DT moves to 11, where will KLDT be?

Xesdeeni

As best I could understand, the concern of the FCC was that KTVT-DT on channel 11 will create impermissible adjacent channel interference in the southernmost portions of KXII-DT's coverage area when that station moves back to channel 12. I would suspect that a slight modification of the transmission power for one or both of these stations will resolve that problem.

As for KXTX and KLDT, the plan is that KXTX-DT will be on channel 40, KLDT-DT on channel 39.

As best I could understand, the concern of the FCC was that KTVT-DT on channel 11 will create impermissible adjacent channel interference in the southernmost portions of KXII-DT's coverage area when that station moves back to channel 12.Not to step on anyone's toes, but shouldn't KTVT take priority over KXII based on larger viewer base?I would suspect that a slight modification of the transmission power for one or both of these stations will resolve that problem.

As for KXTX and KLDT, the plan is that KXTX-DT will be on channel 40, KLDT-DT on channel 39.So if they resolve the issue, KXTX would be on 11. Would KLDT still be on 39?

Xesdeeni

JStigler,

Yes the NBA games are very good. As for thd Dobly 5.1 on Channel 8 and Channel 11, it is not all the time. It is Dobly 5.1 on the 10:00 news on both channels. On Channel 5, it is Dobly 2.0. This is what my receiver is reporting. I have noiticed on the 10:00 Channel 8 news that you can really tell the Dobly 5.1 on certain segments of the news. As for the other news times, I don't know as I only watch the 10:00 news.

Not to step on anyone's toes, but shouldn't KTVT take priority over KXII based on larger viewer base? So if they resolve the issue, KXTX would be on 11. Would KLDT still be on 39?

Xesdeeni

I don't know how the FCC is determining priorities when dealing with interference issues as with KXII and KTVT. I'm sure that it will ultimately get resolved in a way that won't hurt either station, though -- the interference that would allegedly occur to KXII is almost certainly limited to the very southern edge of their protected coverage contour. That's here in Plano, where almost no one actually watches KXII -- but because the population of Plano is much higher than that of any cities that are actually in the Sherman/Ada TV market, the population in Plano that would receive interference on KXII ends up looking like a fairly high percentage of KXII's total coverage area.

As for KXTX -- it will not end up on channel 11, no one has suggested that it would end up on channel 11. It has been posted here several times that KXTX will end up on channel 40, and this will occur regardless of how the interference concern between KTVT and KXII is resolved.

...the interference that would allegedly occur to KXII is almost certainly limited to...Plano, where almost no one actually watches KXII -- but ...the population in Plano that would receive interference on KXII ends up looking like a fairly high percentage of KXII's total coverage area.Ahh. That makes sense.As for KXTX -- it will not end up on channel 11, no one has suggested that it would end up on channel 11. It has been posted here several times that KXTX will end up on channel 40, and this will occur regardless of how the interference concern between KTVT and KXII is resolved.Please forgive me. Apparently I was operating below the legal limit of caffeine yesterday. Somehow I confused KTVT/KXII and KXTX/KLDT.

Ks & Xs & Ts, oh my!

Never mind....

Xesdeeni

JStigler

I think the NBA finals were very good sound.

Do you have any idea when Channel 8 will start broadcasting in 16:9 HD? The current 4:3 broadcast look good--are they using HD cameras and down converting to 4:3 for broadcast?

Our camera's are Phillips LDK-9 and are 4:3. These are several years old. Can't say when you will see local news in 16:9 but it is being discussed. We are a serial digital plant. That means the camera's are digital all the way through the plant and upconvert to 8.1. No analog in the path. This makes a big of difference.
JStigler

I'm also having problems with ABC, but I haven't been able to get the signal to lock-on, also with KDFI 27. I just installed this antenna (Terk HDTVs) today. I'm able to get:

2.1: KDTN
4.1: KDFW
5.1: KXAS
5.2: KXAS Weather
11.1: KTVT
13.1: KERA
21.1: UPN
21.2: UPN Radar
23.1: KUVN
33.1: KDAF
33.2: KDAF Radar
39.1: KXTX
46.1: Some shopping channel
49.1: KSTR
52.1: KFWD
58.1: KDTX
58.2: KDTX
58.3: KDTX
58.4: KDTX
68.1: KPXD
68.2: Pax West
68.3: Worship
68.4: Faith

It just seems really strange to me that I can pick ALL of this up, but I can't get ABC or KDFI. Any suggestions? I'm thinking they both may be VHF and I'll have to get one of those combiners mentioned earlier in the thread.

Edit: did some research and found out that KDFI is in the middle of upgrading their tower from ~11kW to ~1,000kW, so that's why I'm not getting that up here in Denton. WFAA/ABC I've read is really hard to get, even in parts of Plano. I don't get why they can't use UHF like every other station in DFW. :mad:

Since Channel 8 is VHF, why don't get a small external VHF antenna that is easy to handle (and could be returned easy) to see if you can get Channel 8. With your regular TV's, can you get Channel 8 analog?

Just did that about half an hour ago using a powered antenna from Radio Shack with no luck. On regular analog ABC I get a little bit of constant static, but it's still very watchable. I live in an apartment, so I think I'm quickly coming close to the limit of what I can do. I'd like to have Monday Night Football in the Fall, otherwise I really wouldn't care about ABC.

Schlep, what tuner (or HDTV set if tuner built in) are you using?

I've got a Sony 42WE655 which has a built-in tuner.

Anyone looking at getting a HD Tivo (HR10-250)?

Picked up one at the Lewisville BB for $377. Used a 50% off coupon they had in a coupon book back in the TV section. It took a while and two different managers, but they accepted it.

DTV also offered me:

$250 credit upon acitvation of HD programming
$5.99 for 6 months of the HD pack (1/2 off)
Showtime free for 3 months
HBO $2 a month for 3 months

If you take the $250 credit and act like it is going toward the HD Tivo, Un-technically I got the HD Tivo for $127.

I thought about it, but decided not to since the box will probably be useless within a year due to the change to MPEG4. I'll wait and see what these new boxes look like.

Having the same exact problem as Birddog. I am using a Radio shack antenna installed in my attic since November (TV is a Samsung 30" widescreen with built-in HD Tuner). ABC's HD signal was flawless - Monday night football was crystal clear. Over the last two months, I can't pick it up at all. Rescanning did not help. Same problem with KDFI digital, but an earlier post mentioned that their broadcast tower is under maintenance. All other local digital channels are fine.

Any other suggestions are welcome.

Thx.

Found the quote below from KMOE. Tried this, and it worked. I removed the antenna, rescanned; reattached the antenna, and rescanned again. I now get both ABC 8-1 & 8-2 (weather) perfectly. I live in Plano near the intersection of Custer and Legacy.

THANKS KMOE!!!!

------------------------
QUOTE= kmoe]The PIDs were changed awhile back so this may not be related.......but one thing that may be working for some is to unplug the coax from your tuner, do a rescan so it "unlearns" the old WFAA PIDs, plug in your coax, then do a new final re-scan

I on a lark this morning I tuned in 8-1 on my Samsung S360 and low and behold there was a Signal so I went to my TV's internal Tuner and scanned for digital channels and 8-1 magically appeared. Ive changed nothing on my setup for the last month or so when I last tried to pick up WFAA.

Now if they could of only did what they did before the NBA finals.

Jason

Sorry for the newbie questions:

Somewhere on this forum in the past I found a link to a site that tells you whether a station is UHF or VHF and at what power they're boradcasting. Where is this site?

How can you tell what's full power (what do the numbers relate to)?

When were all of these stations supposed to be at full power?

I looked for a FAQ, but couldn't find anything specific to this. Sorry if this is a repetitive post.

I recently upgraded my Dish Network 811 receiver to a 942. I could pick up KMPX-DT (30), and KTAQ-DT (46) on the 811, but the new reciever is not picking up either one now. No changes of any kind have been done to my Radio Shack antenna in the attic or to the Channel Master signal booster attached to the receiver. KDFI-DT is still coming intermittantly, but I chalk that up to their weak signal.


Also, does any one know if KLDT-DT is broadcasting at all? I have never been able to pick up their digital sigal on channel 54.

I recently upgraded my Dish Network 811 receiver to a 942. I could pick up KMPX-DT (30), and KTAQ-DT (46) on the 811, but the new reciever is not picking up either one now. No changes of any kind have been done to my Radio Shack antenna in the attic or to the Channel Master signal booster attached to the receiver. KDFI-DT is still coming intermittantly, but I chalk that up to their weak signal.


Also, does any one know if KLDT-DT is broadcasting at all? I have never been able to pick up their digital sigal on channel 54.


It has been suggested by others that the 942's OTA tuner is inferior. Hopefully it's just software related and can be fixed with an update.

Also, does any one know if KLDT-DT is broadcasting at all? I have never been able to pick up their digital sigal on channel 54.

KLDT-DT is transmitting at low power from their analog tower site in Lewisville (a mile or so down the road from Vista Ridge Mall). While Plano is theoretically in the coverage area of this low power transmitter, as a practical matter it really can't be easily received here -- an outdoor or attic antenna aimed at Cedar Hill is pointed the wrong way for KLDT, and the signal is just too weak for an indoor antenna to receive.

Not that there is much to see on this station, anyway. Still, it is a waste considering that they do have CPs from the FCC to move both analog and digital to Cedar Hill.

Out of curiosity...why do these stations broadcast from Cedar Hill instead of from a more central location like Irving or Farmers Branch?

Out of curiosity...why do these stations broadcast from Cedar Hill instead of from a more central location like Irving or Farmers Branch?


Two Reasons:


1. Cedar Hill is the highest geographic point in the Metroplex.


2. When the towers were built at Cedar Hill, the Metroplex was both a lot smaller, and geographiclly a lot further south.

Makes sense. I'm surprised there aren't some higher points in Denton county; especially west of 35.

There are higher points in Denton County. Denton County's highest point is approx. 110 feet higher than Cedar Hill, but its north of Slidell.

Seems like that would be a lot further from downtown Dallas and downtown Fort Worth than the current Cedar Hill antenna farm is.

In any event, relocating the main antenna farm location for the area is not really practical -- it would be a logistical nightmare to coordinate a whole bunch of stations relocating at the same time to avoid interference. And it would ripple into adjacent markets, violating spacing requirements with adjacent and cochannel stations in Wichita Fallas and Sherman.

Living in low-lying area in McKinney about 46 miles from the towers, ABC HD was coming in on my DirecTV HR10-250 at a signal strength around the mid 60's. This was somewhat satisfactory if you want to put up with the occassional interference and digitallization fragments which would happen for a second or two every 5 minutes (especially at night).

I'm using a DB8 high-gain multi-directional antenna (UHF/VHF) in my attic from antennasdirect.com. This works great for all my HD UHF channels which I receive signal strengths from the mid 70's to the mid 80's. But I wasn't quite satisfied with the VHF ABC HD performance.

After some research, I purchased and installed a cheap ($33 at SolidSignal.com) dedicated VHF antenna in my attic. I got a Winegard YA-1713 that is designed for VHF channels 7 through 13. This thing is only 35" wide with a boom length of 100". Since I was using a channel master 777 pre amp that allows for independent VHF and UHF inputs, I combined both the UHF (from DB8) and the VHF (YA-1713) on the pre-amp. I had to switch the FM trap from IN to OUT to get the "combine" to work. My ABC signal strength jumped from the mid 60's to the high 80's. ABC HD is NOW coming in very strong and this morning I checked and signal strength was at 90.

I hope this improves my periodic interference issues and digital pixelation artifacts on VHF ABC HD channel 8-1.

This is most likely a load of bull, but a WalMart employee told me today that all DFW stations stopped broadcasting OTA HD at least until 2006. Please somebody debunk this rumor so that I can buy an OTA receiver and know I won't be terribly disappointed. :)

Dgouldin, that WalMart employee is indeed full of it...OTA HD programming is not going away locally.

And going back one post further, I'm not surprised that adding a separate VHF antenna was helpful to rkhobbit; the DB8 is a UHF-only 8-bay bowtie antenna, which will work somewhat in the high VHF band but really is not designed to do so. That means it wasn't a very efficient antenna for receiving WFAA-DT on channel 9.

dgouldin - HD all over the place last night. Damn! Jennifer Connelly looked good in HD (on Leno).

Xesdeeni

dgouldin - HD all over the place last night. Damn! Jennifer Connelly looked good in HD (on Leno).

Xesdeeni

I knew I forgot to record something..... :p

I lost lock on all of my OTA Dallas/Ft. Worth stations this morning. (FOX, NBC, ABC, CBS, PBS). The signals are still weak. Anyone else having this problem this morning?

I have weak signal on Fox this evening. Never had a problem with Fox.

I think the weak signals were a part of a propagational event. All signals here, which are normally weak, were absent from both Dallas and Shreveport.

finally made it through all of the pages of this thread, lots of good info.

I will be moving to Dallas in a week, and wanted a little antenna advice. We'll be a few blocks north of the Addison airport, somewhere around 30 miles from the broadcasters. Our apartment patio faces east, and there's a few buildings to the south of the apartment, so I'm not in the best position for reception. From what I have read here, it seems to be even money that an indoor antenna would work, but the TV is less than 8 feet from the patio, where I could hang a smallish outdoor antenna under the patio ceiling and run a short cable inside. Would that give me better odds, or would it be about the same as having an indoor antenna?

oh, and one really really simple question about yagi antennas I have not found through searching, the kind that makes you feel dumb for asking:

front?_/______
..........\
or is that backwards?

Long elements are at the rear with short elements pointed at the towers.
JStigler

Charter in Denton doesn't offer HD channels yet, and my apt complex won't let me put up a dish. I've called Charter, and they don't have an ETA for HD availability in Denton. This is a last ditch effort: anybody know anything about Charter's plans to add markets for HD or should I just buy a voom receiver and go at it with a silver sensor?

Hey everyone - I just moved to Southlake and frantically trying to figure out what the best setup is for HD. I will be purchasing two HD LCD's this weekend but have not decided on Direct, Dish or Charter. All have pro's and con's, anyone around the Southlake area have problems picking up signals from Cherry Hill? I know that Direct has launched new satellites recently but sounds like they are not in use yet. I thought about Charter to get HD local channels until Direct offers more HD but hate to wait :)

Sorry if this is the wrong forum to post and thanks in advance.

After doing research in the Denton area (see post above) I decided to go with Dish. They're offering that $20/mo for 1 year on the Top 60 with free HBO & Showtime for 3 months and free HD for 6 months. Plus if there are some locals that require another dish you can get the voom capable dish installed for free. Then voom is $5/mo. That was going to be my best deal except my apartment complex doesn't allow satellite dishes. It really depends on what channels you're looking for, but I know that if Charter does have HD in your area they are running a pretty killer special. You get the 3mb internet and their biggest digital package for like $80 a month. Then HD is $10 on top of that. You might have to haggle a little bit and get the right person to get that special, but it does exist. Direct was going to be way expensive plus a lot of up-front equipment costs. That's just my $0.02.

Mark,

You should not have much of a problem picking up our locals with an antenna. I live just southeast of you (3-5 miles) and don't have any problems with my OTA reception. I am using a Channel Master 3018 that I bought at Fry's ($35). I did have to get a pre amp, Channel Master 7777, in order to get channel 11. My signal strength on my locals come in around 85-90.

If you want more info or have additional questions please feel free to ask.

So doesn't really matter who the provider is as I will be able to get most locals HD via antenna? Sorry for the stupid question but what does OTA stand for (over the antenna?)

If I have the antenna can I get a receiver and not have cable or dish service?

So doesn't really matter who the provider is as I will be able to get most locals HD via antenna? Sorry for the stupid question but what does OTA stand for (over the antenna?)Over The Air.If I have the antenna can I get a receiver and not have cable or dish service?Absolutely! You can get a box at Circuit City for $189 to receive HD. Or you can do like I did and put an HD card into a PC and create an HD PVR!

Almost all prime time programming this fall (excluding news and reality shows) will be in HD. Check out http://www.geocities.com/xesdeeni2001/TVFall2005.html.

Xesdeeni

It all depends on your set-up. I have DirecTV and just purchased a HD Tivo. My antenna runs straight into my Tivo and allows me to record the local HD programming on the Tivo.

You can also buy TVs that have a built in tuner. That way you can hook the antenna directly to the TVs to receive your HD programming without going through a seperate box. I think this is the best option if you are not interested in any other HD programming besides the local HD network programs.

Don't know anything about Dish...been a DTV customer for 7 yrs.

I am on the edge of Garland and Mesquite near Beltline and I-30. I have tried two different amplified indoor antennas and I have not been able to get any signal at all. The signal never changes from 0%. I am around 30 miles from the towers, should I be getting something? Is my tuner broken?

I live in Coppell (approx.30 miles), and have an antenna in my attic, no preamp, and receive all OTA channels just fine!
Tom in TX

Sounds like there might really be a problem with the reciever then. I would think I would get some type of signal. It never changed from 0% no matter what I did. One of the antennas used was a Terk 1080i

I tried three different indoor antenna's and could not get one of them to pick up a signal. If you have a house then you need to get a directional antenna. Put it in your attic like Tom and see if it works. Unfortunately I have to have mine mounted on my chimney. Channel Master 3018, from Fry's, is a relatively small directional antenna and picks up UHF, VHF, and Radio Stations.

A lot of people love the Square Shooter, but I can not remember if it picks up both UHF and VHF.

I live in Coppell (approx.30 miles), and have an antenna in my attic, no preamp, and receive all OTA channels just fine!
Tom in TX

Hey Tom, I"m also in Coppell and would like to know which antenna you use. If directional, did you have a hard time finding the right 'pointing' direction?

Thanks!

First, I want to thank all of you who have contributed to this forum. I've learned quite a bit from each and every one of you and it is more than appreciated, especially when getting involved in buying expensive new toys.

I'm in Carrollton near the intersection of Old Denton and Hebron with loads of obstructions (trees/buildings) and am getting the following stations using a Radio Shack indoor amplified antenna:

KDFW
KXAS
WFAA
KTVT
KERA
KTXA
KDAF
KFWD
KDTX
KPXD
KXTX

I first hooked up a Silver Sensor and couldn't believe how strong the signals were, but for obvious reasons, couldn't get WFAA using a UHF antenna. The Radio Shack brings in WFAA, but has occasional dropout, which is certainly better than nothing, especially when it comes to Monday Night Football.

Charter Cable (the cable co. we're stuck with) has no intention of offering HD anytime soon. As a matter of fact, they've only recently introduced digital. They're still learning how to walk while everyone else is running.

I'm holding my breath waiting for Directv to launch the Spaceway F2 to get HD via satellite. Once they launch and bring out the equipment for Mpeg-4, I'll be in line to sign up.

Thanks again to everyone who contributes!

This is absolutely killing me. Here it is, on the the brink of MNF, and I get nothing! I have been getting WFAA for over a year now flawlessly. Now, nothing. I assumed a storm knocked it off track so I re-calibrated, and still nothing! I even tried to reset my local list and no luck. What's going on?

Location- Knox/Henderson & I-75
Rec. - Hughes HR-10
Antenna - Channel Master Roof top

Fox has always been a problem for me, cbs, nbc are great, but no WFAA. Any help would be appreciated.

JStew--could you tell me which Radio Shack antenna you're using? I'm not far from your location, just a bit farther E/SE, and I'm in the same situation...making do with rabbit ears for the moment, but eager to get a real antenna and WFAA included.

A good medium gain antenna that would probably receive all the Dallas market stations, is the Winegard Ghost Killer. The model number is HD 7210P. It sells for around $50 and has been a reliable performer.

I have a Radio Shack 15-1880. It's a small, tabletop amplified antenna with the usual looking UHF mesh "dish" and the two rabbit ears on either side. They sell for around $50.00.

I really wasn't ready to go through the gambit of testing a boatload of indoor antennae, and was fortunate to find one that works on the first try. The Silver Sensor worked extremely well on the UHF stations but obviously didn't work for WFAA.

I hope you have as much (if not better) luck than I'm having. Let me know if it works for you as well as it's worked for me.

A new HD tuner fixed my problems. I am getting everything now except for WFAA. I am using a Terk HDTVi which supposedly has support for VHF channels. The signal hovers at 49% no matter what I do. I get the constant 49% with no varation while turning the antenna close to 90 degrees and then it starts to fall. Any suggestions on what I can do?

Ratboy (re: Post #859),

See posts #825 & #826. I had a similar problem with WFAA, and fixed it by removing the antenna, rescanning; reconnecting the antenna, and rescanning again.

Hope this helps!

Bought a Mitsubishi WS-55511 HDTV about 2 years ago... Worked fine until this spring... Then, started having channel mapping problems... I have two 8.1's, two 8.2's most of the time.... Sometimes three sets of 8.1,8.2.... Here's the fun .... One 8.1 is WFAA, the other is KTVT.... One 8.2 is WFAA radar, the other KTVT....

Since the set is under a 5 yr extended warranty, I call for some help... They replace the DMI module (a mere $1,200) and say "that will fix it".... Well, a week or so later, back to 2 or 3 sets of 8.X.... Ed Kellum, which is a real heads-up outfit, had a new service company here today.... The new tech couldn't believe it was happening and it not being a set problem.... The Mitsu tech support guy whom techs are to call told the serviceman the problem is KTVT "drifting in frequency".... Have you ever heard such a crock....

I can re-program the channels and it will be fine, for a couple days.... Receiving OTA, not cable.... Any suggestions ????

My Mitsubishi WS-65513 doesn't have any problems with WFAA OTA or the channel mapping symptoms you describe. I think it's unlikely that WFAA it to blame.

However, it is possible that the signal strength is causing corruption of the channel mapping data (although I'd also think you'd have picture and/or sound corruption as well). What kind of antenna are you using, and where is is placed?

Xesdeeni

Winegard 8200 ??? Their big UHF/VHF yagi.... Chimney mounted.... Distribution amp.... Good coax..... Had Topp Robertson come by last fall to make sure everything was OK.... Have had absolutely no problems with picture or sound corruption....

Plano -

Yeah, I saw your earlier post, and did it, and still no luck. I can't believe it. WFFA along w/ CBS were my two best signals. Now the best I can get is a strength of 18 or so. It's terrible. I don't know if I should experiment w/ a taller mast or something. I just can't understand what could have changed though.

Any suggestions?????

Plano-

Fixed it! Turns out that was the fix. I had fixed when I did the disconnect, but I had screwed with the antenna alignment so much, that it was off course. When I re-aligned this morning it was a strong 82+ signal. Sweetness!!! Bring on the MNF!
now, if I could only get fox going. I wonder why, despite the fact I am only 21 miles from the tower, that I can't get a signal above 20. Any suggestions here?

Ratboy (re: Post #859),

See posts #825 & #826. I had a similar problem with WFAA, and fixed it by removing the antenna, rescanning; reconnecting the antenna, and rescanning again.

Hope this helps!

That didn't work. Any other ideas? Has anyone else picked it up using the Terk HDTVi?

I picked up a Voom box on e-bay so that I could learn about HD see the PQ, etc. I just hooked up tonight and it sure seems like the receiver works fine. However,

I can't seem to get it to lock on Fox - KDFW (RF 35 channel 4.1). When I do the "aim antenna" feature and punch in 35 it tells me my signal is 94 (the strongest I have seen so far), yet when I tell it to scan for channels, it will pause at 35 but won't lock it in. And when I'm watching TV it won't let me manually select 4.1.

Details,

As mentioned, Voom box with one of those Winegard antenna's (the wing looking one). I set the antenna in the attic, but have not mounted to a pole or anything yet (was trying to find a location where I got all the channels I wanted). I live in far North Dallas roughly at Campbell between Preston and the N. Dallas Tollroad.

I get,

NBC - KXAS (awesome PQ)
TEL - KXTX
UPN - KTXA
PAX - KPXD
PBS - KERA
ABC - KFAA

And a few others. CBS shows about 70 strength when I try to use it to "aim antenna" so I assume it will lock once I mess with the antenna enough to get it up to 80. But my concern right now is Fox because it show 94 but I can't lock it in and I really wanted to watch the Cowboy this fall in HD.

Thanks for any suggestions or help.

OK, I found some information that may be the issue. I found this at another site

"Many people who have complained the the scan did not detect anything did not pass steep 3.
It it pauses a while on your local channel but doesn't lock. Then the channel is still testing and is not transmitting the proper ID code to lock. So until they start sending out the ID code# you would need a receiver with a channel map from your local area to receive them."

Can someone explain this to me? Is there anyone in the Dallas area getting Fox on a Voom box? Could someone using a Voom box tell me what channels they are picking up? I'm trying to trouble shoot and not sure which way to look. Thanks...

I don't have a voom box, but a HR-10 Hughs HD recorder. Out of the blue, WFAA, which used to come in perfectly, now comes in a a signal of 20 instead of the 80 I was getting. I have tried everything. I did a rec-scan, and this worked for about a day. Now, that won't even work. Everything else except fox, comes in perfectly (which I never got).
It's driving me crazy though, as MNF is about to start.

Anyone have any info or suggestions?

I don't have a voom box, but a HR-10 Hughs HD recorder. Out of the blue, WFAA, which used to come in perfectly, now comes in a a signal of 20 instead of the 80 I was getting. I have tried everything. I did a rec-scan, and this worked for about a day. Now, that won't even work. Everything else except fox, comes in perfectly (which I never got).
It's driving me crazy though, as MNF is about to start.

Anyone have any info or suggestions?

Same problem here, but with an E* 942 box. WFAA has cruddy signal, whereas before it was always my best one.

JStew--thanks for the info, I'll try that antenna soon.

I see that this has been asked before, but I have found no answer (wrong thread/forum?):
Does anyone have the Comcast HD package and has anyone tried recording via the firewire port on the STB? Are the channels encrypted to defeat this? I have gone through customer service hell just to get a working cable setup, and it required driving to Comcast and switching boxes. The new box now works and gets me cable tv, but it does not have firewire, and I'd be willing to swap boxes AGAIN if the firewire recording works.

Hi. I live in the Trophy Club area, about 32 miles from Cedar Hill, from which I understand, is where the antennas for the stations are in DFW. When I go on antennaweb it says that I need something that will pick up the blue hues for an outdoor antenna, but talking with other people, some have testified that indoor antennas work for pretty long distances. I have an HDTV with tuner, and want to be able to watch MNF in HD. Any suggestions on what type of antenna will work?

Jason

Hi. I live in the Trophy Club area, about 32 miles from Cedar Hill, from which I understand, is where the antennas for the stations are in DFW. When I go on antennaweb it says that I need something that will pick up the blue hues for an outdoor antenna, but talking with other people, some have testified that indoor antennas work for pretty long distances. I have an HDTV with tuner, and want to be able to watch MNF in HD. Any suggestions on what type of antenna will work?

Jason

See my post a couple above. I live in Far N. Dallas and per antennaweb, I right at 28 miles from the antennas. When I bought my HD receiver off ebay, the guy through in one of those Winegard Wing looking antennas. I believe it to be amplified, but not 100% about that. Just setting it on a chair in my room picked up 2 or 3 HD channels. And putting in the attic (but not yet mounted, just sitting up there) I get most of the major channels (my receiver is having trouble locking, but it shows a strong signal).

My dad also lives 4 four houses from me and he has a medium sized radio shack "yogi" antenna in the attic. Now he is not doing HD, but he picks up all major channels pretty well (and as I'm sure you know they are broadcasting non-HD and HD signals from Cedar Hill).

Personally, if I were you I would decide where you would want to put the antenna. Then buy the antenna locally that seems to fit the best in the space and see how you do. If no luck, just return it and try again. Or you might try what I did and get a compact design antanna and just move it around your home till you get the best signal. Then either keep that one or get a bigger one as you have at least determined the best spot at your place to put it.

That's good advice. May I ask, then, are you saying that Antennaweb had you in the blues/violets for your area, yet you were able to pick up a signal without needing an antenna that strong? My goal is minimal work. I am hoping an indoor antenna will work, but wish I had some sort of confirmation. As it is right now, i have directv, but not an hd receiver. i jusr want to watch mnf in hd. any further suggestions? your help is appreciated.

Jason

Let me restate,I have an hd tuner in my tv, but the Directv package that I bought is not the HD one.

If you are in a house, consider putting an outdoor antenna in your attic. Fry's has Channel Master antennas, which I recommend. I intended to get the $30 one, but I splurged and got the $35 one :-) But you'll want to consider how much room you have in your attic with room to point the antenna to Cedar Hill.

Xesdeeni

Jason, you live the same distance I do from the "antenna farm" in Cedar Hill and I'm using a Radio Shack VHF/UHF amplified antenna that's sitting next to my TV. I pick up WFAA just fine and get all the major networks as well.

There are so many variables that it is difficult at best to recommend an antenna. I've had good luck choosing the antenna I have but it may not work for you. When I purchased the antenna, I asked the store manager if I could return the antenna if it didn't work and he was more than happy with the arrangement, so I knew I wasn't going to throw away money, which is definitely a good thing!

The only thing I can say is to purchase whatever antenna you're going to try locally so you can try it out and return it if it doesn't work out.

[QUOTE=Xesdeeni]If you are in a house, consider putting an outdoor antenna in your attic. Fry's has Channel Master antennas, which I recommend. I intended to get the $30 one, but I splurged and got the $35 one :-) But you'll want to consider how much room you have in your attic with room to point the antenna to Cedar Hill.

I would do this, but who does installation cheaply? Or, it is easy to install?

Just in case you didn't know there is a Local DFW Home Theater group at:
http://dhtg.napurano.com/forum/default.asp
This is where most early adopters of HD started.

I can tell you that nothing at Cedar Hill has changed as far as signal strength on WFAA or KDFW. Both Ch9 & Ch35 are on the same tower. Just remember that WFAA Ch9 is VHF so an all band antenna in the atic or outside is needed.

I have never been a big fan of cable but in Dallas Comcast does carry the major station in HD. Even if you don't have their Motorola STB you can still get the HD free to air signals with a STB or TV that will do 256 QAM for cable. LG STB's do a nice job if you just want to watch.

MNF on ABC is still here this year but goes to ESPN next year. Lets get all of you up and running.
JStigler@wfaa.com

If you are in a house, consider putting an outdoor antenna in your attic. Fry's has Channel Master antennas, which I recommend. I intended to get the $30 one, but I splurged and got the $35 one :-) But you'll want to consider how much room you have in your attic with room to point the antenna to Cedar Hill.I would do this, but who does installation cheaply? Or, it is easy to install?It's pretty easy inside. You don't have to worry about grounding. Initially, I just laid it in the attic, allowing the parts that stuck down to sit between beams. Eventually, I got a pole and bracket and mounted it to a beam. The antenna has a bracket for mounting to the pole. The most difficult part is making sure you don't put your foot through the ceiling :-) (oh, and dealing with summer heat...best to work in the early morning).

But if you want someone to install it, I absolutely recommend Topp Robertson (topp@idigscience.com or http://www.idigscience.com/)!

Xesdeeni

That's good advice. May I ask, then, are you saying that Antennaweb had you in the blues/violets for your area, yet you were able to pick up a signal without needing an antenna that strong? My goal is minimal work. I am hoping an indoor antenna will work, but wish I had some sort of confirmation. As it is right now, i have directv, but not an hd receiver. i jusr want to watch mnf in hd. any further suggestions? your help is appreciated.

Jason

Use Antennaweb (or any of the on-line sites) only as a very general guide. For example, when I put in my exact address it shows I would get only 2-3 of the HD channels. Yet if I put in my zip it shows I should get at least 12-15 HD signals. Yet my home is not in hole in the ground or around any larger buildings. And as mentioned, I get good signals with a small antenna in the attic.

Based on the antennaweb, I had actually put off trying to get any HD signal. Obviously this was a mistake and after reading places like here where many were getting great reception, I'm making the jump. I suggest you do the same. Like I say you can save a few $$ buy buying the antenna on line, but then it is a pain to ship back to try a different one. Yes, it will be a little work to get set up, but it is easy work (unless you are going to try to mount on your roof and have a steep roof).

[QUOTE=Xesdeeni]
I would do this, but who does installation cheaply? Or, it is easy to install?
I got a large box, and stuffed it with flat newspapers (to make it heavy), and cut a hole in it, and stuck the antenna mast in that. It supports the antenna in my attic, is easy to rotate for fine tuning, and I didn't need tools for attaching to beams.
It works fine for me in Coppell.
Tom in TX

OK, looks like I just about got my antenna aimed as best as it will get and getting a lot of HD channels. But it appears some are broadcasting in 16:9 and others are not? Or does it depend on the specific program? For example, today watching the golf tourny and my picture is squared off with black bars on the side (KTVT-CBS I believe). Yet other channels seem to be always WS?

So many questions:

What is the deal with aspect ratio in Dallas?
Anyone using a Voom box for OTA?
Can anyone tell me if Fox (KDFW RF 35) is properly sending it entire PSIP?

Oh and if it helps others,

Winegard amplified sensar III antenna, attic mounted in far North Dallas (campbell between Preston and the Toll Road) with Voom box 28.5 miles from the towers and right now I get good signal and channel locks on,

KXAS - NBC
KXTX -TEL
KTXA - UPN
KTVT - CBS
KPXD - PAX
KUVN -UNI
KERA - PBS
KDAF - WB
WFAA - ABC
KDTX - TBN

Get a good signal on (90-94) on KDFW - Fox, but channel will not lock. Not sure if my Voom box or their broadcast (lack of PSIP).

OK, looks like I just about got my antenna aimed as best as it will get and getting a lot of HD channels. But it appears some are broadcasting in 16:9 and others are not? Or does it depend on the specific program? For example, today watching the golf tourny and my picture is squared off with black bars on the side (KTVT-CBS I believe). Yet other channels seem to be always WS?


Hi and welcome to HD! You will find that aspect ratio will vary program to program...if they are in HD you'll get 16:9; if not, 4:3. If you watch a lot of primetime major network shows, you'll probably pretty pleased at how many are now offered in HD. Last week the PGA Championship was in HD, but they only seem to go HD for the bigger tourneys. Hope that helps a little...

-Randy

Due to the high number of cameras necessary to carry a golf tournament, it's unlikely you're going to see very many in HD. Eventually that'll change but not anytime soon.

Right now, I'm watching the Yankee - Chicago baseball game on Fox in HD (16:9) as well as BMX on NBC. Both are just fine.

Hi and welcome to HD! You will find that aspect ratio will vary program to program...if they are in HD you'll get 16:9; if not, 4:3. If you watch a lot of primetime major network shows, you'll probably pretty pleased at how many are now offered in HD. Last week the PGA Championship was in HD, but they only seem to go HD for the bigger tourneys. Hope that helps a little...

-Randy

Ah, ok so if in 4:3 then I'm not really watching HD? Man that is a good pic on the golf tournament today, but I guess they are just converting it for their HD channel since it is in 4:3?

And I mainly did this to start learning about HD, but I also wanted to watch Football in HD (but having trouble with Fox), and to watch the few prime time shows I do watch in HD (CSI for example).

Due to the high number of cameras necessary to carry a golf tournament, it's unlikely you're going to see very many in HD. Eventually that'll change but not anytime soon.

Right now, I'm watching the Yankee - Chicago baseball game on Fox in HD (16:9) as well as BMX on NBC. Both are just fine.

Yea, I was flipping over the the BMX. I was getting some break up on that channel so I may need to play with the antenna a little more after all.

I really hope some one can help me, but I was told to post here my problem

well my problem is that, I cannot get my Fusion HDTV card to FOX RF35 in Windows Media Center Edition 2005

well, my problem is the Fusion will not tune FOX (RF 35) in Dallas
well at least in MCE, it will not tune FOX at all

I have ran the Fusion channel scanner
it finds FOX and has a strong signal
then I open the HDTV Fusion app and run the channel scanner in the app
but it will not add FOX to my channel line up
I can manually add RF35 to my channel list in the Fusion software
but the Fusion software will not detect that it is KDFW DT like other channels which I added manually

I have a strong feeling these problems are related
I started an account with Dvico over a month ago
and informed them of the problem
and they said they would fix it ASAP
but every new driver from them does nothing

furthermore this is specualation, but it seems the Fusion HDTV 5 has issues with channels adjacent frequencies
FOX is RF35 and KDFI (local independent) is RF36
UPN is RF18 and CBS is RF19

when doing the channel scanning in the Fusion HDTV app
neither RF35 or RF18 get added although there signal strength is high enough for reception
I added manually RF18 and the Fusion app detects it is KTXA UPN


my Sony TV has no trouble picking up all my DTV stations
and most of the time with better signal strength

here is copy of my original post

I will put my reply below which led me to post here
I had the same issue for Fox in my area - good signal but no picture or audio. Posted my problem in the Local HDTV Info And Reception forum for my area and someone diagnosed it as missing or corrupt PSIP data being broadcast by my local Fox broadcaster. He discovered the problem by capturing the datastream and analyzing the packets. Apparently the Fusion drivers can't handle bad data very well. So he called up the engineer at the station, got the datastream fixed, and everything's working fine for me now.

Thanks and sorry for the long post

here is FOX 4's phone number
214 720 4444
press 5 from the main number to be connected with the engineers
I left a message but I hope others will contact them to resolve the problem

Odd. I don't have any problem with my FusionHDTV 3 Gold QAM receiving FOX.

Xesdeeni

here is FOX 4's phone number
214 720 4444
press 5 from the main number to be connected with the engineers
I left a message but I hope others will contact them to resolve the problem

Well yesterday I sent an e-mail to them. I'm wondering if you are having the same problem as me,

I recently purchased a Voom box on ebay. All channels work great except KDFW Fox. Using "aim antenna" I get a strong green signal of between 90 and 94. Yet when I scan for channels it will not lock in, meaning I cannot watch Fox. Which is a bummer as I was hoping to watch the Cowboys in HD.

Please, please, if you hear back from the engineer post back. If I hear anything I will post back.

I know it was a "gamble" getting a Voom box on ebay, but it sure looks to me like the box it working fine (I can get ABC, CBS, NBC and about 7 others - just not Fox despite being on the same hill as the others and getting a strong signal.)

I have read where the Voom box will not lock on if the PSIP is not broadcast and there is no way with the voom box to do channel mapping.

I am having the same trouble with my voom box and Fox. Reception in the 90s but it won't lock during a channel scan.

I am having the same trouble with my voom box and Fox. Reception in the 90s but it won't lock during a channel scan.

Did you purchase your box on ebay or something or is it left over from when you had Voom before?

I ask as some have said that even if the channel was not broadcasting the PSIP then your Voom box will still work IF it was activated in this area and thus have this (Dallas) map in it.

I purchased mine on ebay and it has a San Diego map. Thus, it must scan for and receive PSIP broadcast to lock in local channels.

Please take the time to call or e-mail KDFW. Hopefully if enough people call they will at least check it out for us so that we can trouble shoot.

kny3twalker,
Here is the post by the guy who diagnosed the problem for me URL (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6036775&&#post6036775)

You should probably PM him to see if he can give you instructions on how to capture and analyze the packets so you'd know what to say to the Fox engineers.

I recently purchased the HDTV system from Dish Network and come to find out I cannot get my local channels in HD. I have read all the posts and I need someone to simplify this for me. I live in Rockwall, Tx which is about 30 miles east of Dallas. Could someone give me a recommendation on what I need to do to get the local channels in HD?

I recently purchased the HDTV system from Dish Network and come to find out I cannot get my local channels in HD. I have read all the posts and I need someone to simplify this for me. I live in Rockwall, Tx which is about 30 miles east of Dallas. Could someone give me a recommendation on what I need to do to get the local channels in HD?

1. You need a HD TV
2. You need a HD Receiver (this may or may not be built into your HD TV)
3. You need an antenna

1. Since you bought the HD Package from Dish, I assume you have an HD TV
2. Since you bought the HD Package from Dish, I assume they gave you a HD Receiver like the 811
3. Since you are asking, I assume Dish did not put up an antenna for you

I don't know about the Dish HD package, but I'm surprised they did not set you up with an external antenna so you get get local OTA HD channels. I would think this is part of their package.

You can go to Antennaweb.org to determine your distance from and direction from Cedar Hill where the broadcast antenna's are. This will tell you the type of antenna you need, the direction you need to point it and the channels you can expect to get. Use this as a guide only, it is not an exact.

Since it sounds like you really only need an antenna, just keep in mind there are no special HD antennas. If by chance your house has an antenna left over from a previous owner or you were watching SD TV with antenna before dish, this should work for HD as well (this is a genernal statement, but I start there).

If you are doing this yourself, personally I would just pick where you want the antenna to go, get a long cable for it and try it. If you don't get a strong signal, move it around to find the best spot to put it. With antennas, bigger is better, highter is better and outside is better. But that doesn't mean you need the biggest or highest. Depending on your location heck rabbit ears might work. Get something local, try it, if it doesn't work take it back and try again.

Personally if I spent all that money with Dish, I would call them back and ask them to do this for you. Or at least find out why they didn't. There are installers outside of Dish that will do this work for you. If you DIY try Fry's electronic's, Home Depot, Lowes, Radio Shack, etc for all the stuff you need.

Hope that helps...

Odd. I don't have any problem with my FusionHDTV 3 Gold QAM receiving FOX.

I wondered if it was a driver issue
my Sony TV picks up FOX HD just fine

Hello all, New to both Texas and the forums. We recently bought a new HD ready tv and then I went out and got an LG 3510A STB. We put up a radio shack 160" boom uhf/vhf antenna and there was already an amp mounted in the attic from the previous owner. We live up on the hills near Whitewright(about 16 miles SE of Sherman)and the antenna is nearly 40 feet off the gound mounted to the chimney. Once we got the antenna pointed according to antennaweb we were getting 25 channels! Alot better than the TWO local channels provided by my sat dish!

Now of course here is the strange part. I cannot get a signal on the stb for WFAA . But if we connect the antenna directly to the tv and rotate the antenna about 15 degrees east of the cedar hill area(202* is where it is normally positioned), We get a very nice clear picture. What gives? I know I am roughly 70 plus miles from the tower but how is it that we get the signal on just the antenna and amp but no signal at all on the stb? All our other channels come in very well, With signals at about 70-80%. There are a few that coming fuzzy but they are mostly auction channels or a few of the spanish channels we don't watch anyway.

If needed, I could post a list of the channels.

I'm really confused as I'm about a week into HDTV and learnig more every minute! I found this site a few days ago and have spent more time reading posts than actually watching my HD! So much to learn here!

It is very possible that something is overloading the front end of your STB. I would suspect this because you can receive the signal without the preamp. I live 90 miles from the Dallas stations and 85 miles from Shreveport stations and find I have to use a 10 dB pad to cut down on the number of drop outs due to overloading.

If overloading is the case, then would eliminating the pre-amp and connecting the antenna directly to the STB resolve overload conditions? Does the pre-amp have an FM trap? Try and change the FM trap from OUT to IN or vice-versa.

One option is to buy and install a dedicated VHF antenna and point it to where you get the best WFAA digital signal. Then combine it with a CM 777 pre-amp. I live in McKinney, about 46 miles North of Cedar Hill. In order for me to get WFAA (VHF) I had to go with 2 antenna's in my attic. A high gain UHF antenna combined with a dedicated high gain VHF antenna (designed to pick up the higher end VHF frequencies). I used a CM 777 pre-amp which allows for combining separate VHF and UHF antennas. For this to work I had to eliminate the FM signals by using the FM trap selector on the CM 777 pre-amp.

Connecting the antenna to the STB without a preamp does eliminate the overloading problem, but there may not be enough signal to decode. Often times, the pre amp is too powerful for the application and some STBs, notably the LG and Zenith, are very sensitive to overloading from nearby FM signals.

In my case and at my distance, no pre amp would result in no Dallas or Shreveport signals. A pre amp, tempered by a 10 dB pad, produces the kind of results I expect.

It is very possible that something is overloading the front end of your STB. I would suspect this because you can receive the signal without the preamp. I live 90 miles from the Dallas stations and 85 miles from Shreveport stations and find I have to use a 10 dB pad to cut down on the number of drop outs due to overloading.

Hank,

What is the definition of dropouts? Is it when you see some periodic digitalization artifacts or pixelations? If yes then I get intermittent artifacts (1 every 5-10 minutes or so) and maybe I can benefit by adding an attenuator. How did you come to using a 10 dB versus a 3 dB or 6 dB attenuator? Trial and error?

Connecting the antenna to the STB without a preamp does eliminate the overloading problem, but there may not be enough signal to decode. Often times, the pre amp is too powerful for the application and some STBs, notably the LG and Zenith, are very sensitive to overloading from nearby FM signals.

In my case and at my distance, no pre amp would result in no Dallas or Shreveport signals. A pre amp, tempered by a 10 dB pad, produces the kind of results I expect.

Oops, Guess I should have been more specific. I only get WFAA on the antenna when the pre amp is on. So basically, My connections are: Antenna to preamp, To LG STB, looped out of STB to co-ax on the tv. This is how I am able to get WFAA with the OTA antenna, But I cannot get the stb to receive any signal at all. I just tune the tv to ch 8 and WFAA comes in clear. If I take out the preamp it gets very fuzzy/snowy. But no matter what, The stb will not pick up WFAA.
Does WFAA broadcast at differant power levels for regular tv broadcast vs HD content? If so, could that be my problem?
I'm going to look into the FM trap. I know there isn't one on the pre amp I currently have. At least it doesn't say so. The 10db attenuator seems like it may be worth a try as well. So many things to learn!

Sounds like your STB is not picking up the digital 8-1 channel for WFAA. When you turned your antenna and got WFAA, was that a good HD digital signal through your STB or was that a SD signal only picked up by your TV? If it is the latter then your antenna is simply not picking up the VHF HD signal from WFAA. All other HD signals come in via UHF.

My understanding is that VHF signals are strong but subject to lots of interference. I think you may have to opt for a dedicated VHF antenna.

Low VHF is subject to enough interference that almost no station has opted to live there once the digital changeover is complete (there was a statistical breakdown, and in the entire country, there were only a handful...but I don't have the link). But high VHF doesn't suffer nearly as much, but it has the huge benefit of getting a great deal more coverage from a significantly lower power output, meaning lower electricity bills. And remember that at least two other stations will be moving back to high VHF (11 and 13). So VHF is here to stay.

Xesdeeni

Sounds like your STB is not picking up the digital 8-1 channel for WFAA. When you turned your antenna and got WFAA, was that a good HD digital signal through your STB or was that a SD signal only picked up by your TV? If it is the latter then your antenna is simply not picking up the VHF HD signal from WFAA. All other HD signals come in via UHF.

My understanding is that VHF signals are strong but subject to lots of interference. I think you may have to opt for a dedicated VHF antenna.

Just the SD signal through the tv w/antenna and preamp. Something tells me that this may be a futile effort to get WFAA in HD this far out! Guess I should be happy i'm able to get a clear picture on the antenna alone!

Did anyone have any luck confirming that KDFW (Fox) is broadcasting their PSIP correctly? I have sent two e-mails and left three messages.

Dish Network says that they have requested a waiver so that I can be allowed to be given the CBS HD signal from New York. Does anyone know if CBS 11 here in Dallas usually grants the waiver?

Dish Network says that they have requested a waiver so that I can be allowed to be given the CBS HD signal from New York. Does anyone know if CBS 11 here in Dallas usually grants the waiver?

If you look on DishNetwork's website, you will find a list of areas that can automatically qualify for the national CBS HD feed. They are cities whose stations are owned by the parent company, Metromedia? Dallas is one, and I now get the CBS HD east feed. I sent an email to Dish and it appeared later. (You do need a Dish pointed at 61.5, by the way.)

Now, I need an antenna to get everything else OTA.

Not sure if this is the right area. I have had problems with the Comcast Cable TV signal for over 3 weeks. No HD and other channels look poor. After numerous phone calls and 2 technician visits, who both were to write work orders for line work, the problem has not been fixed. Now they are sending another tech out "since thats all they can do". Is there any way to contact somebody at Comcast that can provide technical information on why this problem can't be fixed.

Dish Network says that they have requested a waiver so that I can be allowed to be given the CBS HD signal from New York. Does anyone know if CBS 11 here in Dallas usually grants the waiver?

I live in McKinney and DirecTV sent in a waiver for me requesting SAT HD channels ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX out of NY. Was granted all but ABC.

I've been told that the local channels in Dallas will be available in HD via Dish Network early in '06.

This sounds like wishful thinking to me. Anyone have any hard facts on this?

I've been told that the local channels in Dallas will be available in HD via Dish Network early in '06.

This sounds like wishful thinking to me. Anyone have any hard facts on this?

I would be surprised if that happens. E* has to move to MPEG4 before they will start adding HD locals. They just don't have enough bandwidth on their birds. My bet is they won't really offer any locals in HD until they start offering an MPEG4 receiver (replacement for the 942). Maybe Mid 06. And then it will only be the top 10 or 25 markets initially. Of course that will include the DFW area.

Is there any word on KDFI 27 and broadcasting HD content?

I know that they have a digital signal, but they don't have HD content. I am anxious to see Hockey this season in HD and I know that most games will be on 27.

WWL-TV New Orleans is owned by Belo, the same people that own WFAA-TV here in Dallas. Belo has dropped it's weather radar feed on WFAA-DT2 for a simulcast of WWL-TV's coverage of the disaster.

Did anyone have any luck confirming that KDFW (Fox) is broadcasting their PSIP correctly? I have sent two e-mails and left three messages.

Just a heads up, I ordered a 2nd Voom box on ebay cheap (as it had no remote, cable) but I verified before ordering that it had the last firm ware. That did the trick! I know get all major channels including KDFW with no problem. I didn't think having a more up to date FW would make a difference as they both had the ability to scan for channels, but whatever, it worked and now a happy camper!!! :)

maybe you guys can help out.

i had wfaa for the longest time but a few months ago it just dissapeared. I was told that they reset the pids? or whatever they call it and that i had to do a re-scan. I've done this multiple times and still am yet to receive the signal. what did i do wrong. What should i do?

any help would be appreciated.. Thanks

Birdog,

Have you tried this?

Disconnect your Ant cable from your TV or other device and scan for channels. Obviously it will find none. Then reconnect the Ant cable and scan again.

hello,

thanks for the response. I have done what you suggested and i'm still having the same problem as before.

there must be something i can do differently

thanks,
birdog

Only other thing I can think of is to Reset the TV. Unplug the Ant cable and do a reset...then plug the Ant cable back in and do a rescan.

What kind of TV do you have?

Have you tried posting this issue in a thread regarding your TV type?

Just wondering how many other D* network customers in the Sherman/Denison area have channels 8400(WFAA-abc) and 8403(KDFW-fox) as of today or have had them in the past?

I was told we could not get a waiver for WFAA here in Whitewright(just east of sherman) about two weeks ago by D* customer service. But when I turned on the receiver this morning these two new channels appear in my list :D Is this just for the holiday week or are they here to stay?

DirecTV came and installed the Winegard antenna a few weeks ago on the roof of my townhome and I'm having some problems picking up local stations. The line is diplexed from the antenna to the receiver. When I plug the line into my Ant In on my HR10-250, I get no OTA signal strength and no channels when I scan. However, when I plug the line directly into my television's tuner, I pick up most of the local stations. I don't want to invest in buying a more powerful antenna since locals will be available to our market in the next few months. Does anybody have a solution so I can pick up these stations with my Tivo receiver? Thanks in advance!

I live an hour SE of Austin and may be moving to the DFW area soon. Our local ABC station is owned by BELO just as WFAA is. I just want to know if WFAA upconverts all the 720p programming that ABC feeds it to 1080i just as KVUE in Austin does. It leads to an inferior picture because of the extra conversion. I've heard that BELO mandates that their station conform to 1080i regardless of their network affiliation. Is this true in Dallas as well?

Yes, WFAA in Dallas also does this.

Hey, what's up with UPN 21 and the gray bars again?

Xesdeeni

Yes, WFAA in Dallas also does this.I'd love for us viewers to start pressuring BELO to drop this requirement. It's ridiculous, decreases quality, and makes the second subchannel impact the main image that much more.

Who do we contact? Is anyone else interested in creating a customer-driven groundswell?

Xesdeeni

I recently hooked up a TERK VHF/UHF antenna and get every channel except WFAA. I live about 3 miles north of downtown Dallas and so I am very surprised that I don't get this channel. Any suggestions on what to do to fix this issue?

Rabbit ears and a vhf/uhf combiner.

A good medium gain antenna that would probably receive all the Dallas market stations, is the Winegard Ghost Killer. The model number is HD 7210P. It sells for around $50 and has been a reliable performer.

Has anyone found these at a retail store in Dallas?

I recently hooked up a TERK VHF/UHF antenna and get every channel except WFAA. I live about 3 miles north of downtown Dallas and so I am very surprised that I don't get this channel. Any suggestions on what to do to fix this issue?
Get rid of the Terk. If you're lucky you can get a refund if you still have the box and didn't goober up the hardware. The Winegard Ghost Killer is a good one, as would be even an inexpensive Radio Shack UHF/VHF combo if you're in a hurry. I think you might have to order the Winegard on line.

Fry's has the Channel Master series. $30 gets you a 90" one. I splurged for the $35 112" one and put it in my attic.

Xesdeeni

I'd love for us viewers to start pressuring BELO to drop this requirement. It's ridiculous, decreases quality, and makes the second subchannel impact the main image that much more.

Who do we contact? Is anyone else interested in creating a customer-driven groundswell?

Xesdeeni

If anyone can get that information, I'd be on board.

If anyone can get that information, I'd be on board.I had a response from WFAA a couple of years ago that basically said that 1080i was as good as 720p. What a goofball. There have been religious wars fought over which was better, but neither camp said that starting in one and converting to the other was good.

Any ideas of who to contact at BELO? I suspect we should copy WFAA. But we really need to get a number of people, maybe even in other cities this affects (Austin?) to deluge them with complaints.

Xesdeeni

I popped in a couple of months ago mentioning my pending move from Colorado Springs to the DFW area. Well, we just made an offer on a house in Mansfield so the move could happen any day now (although I'm hoping for later rather than sooner). Anyone else here from that area of the Metroplex? Seems like most of you are north of Dallas.

Here in the Springs, we have a total of 2 OTA HD channels, CBS & Fox. I just picked up an OTA receiver this week thinking it will be worth having one when we move. I just checked the Charter Comm website and they do offer digital service in the area of our prospective home so it looks like I'll be sticking with the Dish. Will I be able to pick up all of the stations you guys getting?

-Redbird

Has anyone tried the Radio Shack HD indoor antenna? The one which is small enough to fit on top of the TV? If so, how good is it?

I popped in a couple of months ago mentioning my pending move from Colorado Springs to the DFW area. Well, we just made an offer on a house in Mansfield so the move could happen any day now (although I'm hoping for later rather than sooner). Anyone else here from that area of the Metroplex? Seems like most of you are north of Dallas.

Here in the Springs, we have a total of 2 OTA HD channels, CBS & Fox. I just picked up an OTA receiver this week thinking it will be worth having one when we move. I just checked the Charter Comm website and they do offer digital service in the area of our prospective home so it looks like I'll be sticking with the Dish. Will I be able to pick up all of the stations you guys getting?

-Redbird
I live in southwest Ft Worth - I'm guessing about the same direction to the antenna farm as you will be in Mansfield, just a little farther away for me. I hooked up an indoor Terk antenna from Radio Shack, and all the digital stations come in good enough for me. Didn't have any of the trouble with WFAA that others seem to be having.

Charter serves our area too, and we still use Directv. Still have the SD box, but may upgrade before the end of the year. OTA HD broadcasts look great though.

Welcome to the area!

Thanks. Glad to hear that report. Football in HD on the big screen projector was great this weekend. I'm more of a baseball fan but have yet to be able to catch a baseball game in HD. I only have the standard box from Direct TV as well, I haven't upgraded to a HD package either.

Well, our offer on the house last Friday was denied so we're back in the market again.

-Redbird

Hi,

I live in the DFW area, have Dish network and am having an issue. Maybe someone can explain it to me.

I understand that Fox Sports Net has the rights to show Mavs and Rangers in our area, BUT why on my HD PPV channel are there games listed. For example, this weekend (or maybe last week), Seattle vs. Texas showed up on the HDPPV channel. But, when I selected it, it said that it was blacked out in my area.

WHY?? It just seems odd that they put that game on the HDPPV channel in the dfw area, but then black its blacked out!?!

This happened last year with Mavs games too!

What is the best way for me to get the Mavs in HD during the regular season on Dish Network??? Do I need to subscribe to the NBA package??

Also, why are games NOT in hd on UPN 21?? They are widescreen!

Any help is appreciated.

Get rid of the Terk. If you're lucky you can get a refund if you still have the box and didn't goober up the hardware. The Winegard Ghost Killer is a good one, as would be even an inexpensive Radio Shack UHF/VHF combo if you're in a hurry. I think you might have to order the Winegard on line.


Hillcest HiFi says they stock the Wineguard 7210 (ghost killer) http://www.hillcresthifi.com/

Actually I have been using the Winegard HD7080P series antenna for years. Think the HD is just marketing. It is a true 75ohm antenna. http://www.winegard.com/offair/pdf/hd7080p.pdf

If you are tight for space then ck out the Square Shooter with the amp. SS-2000
http://www.winegard.com/offair/s2shooter/WC-811.pdf

A Terk antenna will just give most of you a headache.
JStigler

Okay, on the top of page 93 I listed the QAM channels that I was able to find after my television scanned for them.

I am still having issues picking up ABC and CBS which I hear resides on 1.11 and 1.12. I also hear that these channels may take up to 30-60 seconds to be received on Comcast and that is the reason my auto-scan does not pick up on these channels. The issue is that my TV 42FP9630A Philips 42" Plasma does not allow for manual channel entry that was not picked up on auto-scan. Why would these 2 channels take longer to register than say WB,NBC, or FOX?

Does anyone have a list they can post of what unencrypted QAM channels are available in the Arlington VA area?

Here is the list I was able to pick up in the Arlington Comcast area.

0 - Sports Pass
1.3 WB (D2_3WB)
1.4 Fox 5 (D2_4Fo)
1.10 NBC 4 (D2_10N)
83.9 Comcast Sports Net
89.2 INHD2
89.3 INHD
100.7 (T Encore - Tennis)
110.1 ESPN HD
110.12 iNDemand (Previews)
112.1 (ABC 7 Weather)
112.2 Discovery HD
112.7 (NBC 4 Weather)
112.8 TNT HD

Okay, on the top of page 93 I listed the QAM channels that I was able to find after my television scanned for them.

I am still having issues picking up ABC and CBS which I hear resides on 1.11 and 1.12. I also hear that these channels may take up to 30-60 seconds to be received on Comcast and that is the reason my auto-scan does not pick up on these channels. The issue is that my TV 42FP9630A Philips 42" Plasma does not allow for manual channel entry that was not picked up on auto-scan. Why would these 2 channels take longer to register than say WB,NBC, or FOX?

Does anyone have a list they can post of what unencrypted QAM channels are available in the Arlington VA area?

Here is the list I was able to pick up in the Arlington Comcast area.

0 - Sports Pass
1.3 WB (D2_3WB)
1.4 Fox 5 (D2_4Fo)
1.10 NBC 4 (D2_10N)
83.9 Comcast Sports Net
89.2 INHD2
89.3 INHD
100.7 (T Encore - Tennis)
110.1 ESPN HD
110.12 iNDemand (Previews)
112.1 (ABC 7 Weather)
112.2 Discovery HD
112.7 (NBC 4 Weather)
112.8 TNT HD

? wrong forum??? :confused:

Hey everyone. I'm extremely new to all this HDTV stuff and just wanted to ask your opinion. I just bought the Samsuny 47" crt rp hdtv and want to start getting hd content. I don't think I'll be able to setup dtv through directtv because of how much they charge. So, I'm left to using an OTA antenna. An outdoor antenna isn't that likely because I can't be drilling holes through the walls and such (its my mom's house), so I think I'm confined to indoor. I have this Samsung antenna picked out off of bestbuy online.

Which antenna should I buy and attempt to setup? This is for a beginner mind you.

Where are you? It makes a big difference where in town you are, how close to the transmitters, etc.

But the general guideline to use is that any antenna that gives you decent analog reception on the VHF-hi band (channels 7 through 13) and UHF band (channels 14 and up) should work fine for digital reception. It's okay if the picture is on the snowy side, but if it has severe ghosts that would be likely to cause problems with digital reception.

And the easy way to find what works is to go to a place with a good return policy (like Radio Shack) to buy your antenna. If it doesn't work for you, you can return it...

One other question: does your Samsung have a built in digital tuner?

Add 4-2(35-2) to the channel list. KDFW now multicasting. It's the Vipir 4 radar/satellite.

Where are you? It makes a big difference where in town you are, how close to the transmitters, etc.

But the general guideline to use is that any antenna that gives you decent analog reception on the VHF-hi band (channels 7 through 13) and UHF band (channels 14 and up) should work fine for digital reception. It's okay if the picture is on the snowy side, but if it has severe ghosts that would be likely to cause problems with digital reception.

And the easy way to find what works is to go to a place with a good return policy (like Radio Shack) to buy your antenna. If it doesn't work for you, you can return it...

One other question: does your Samsung have a built in digital tuner?

Yes, it has a built in tuner. I live in Keller, just moved in from Carollton. I'll try and find a Radio Shack and find me an antenna. I basically need to search for an antenna with VHF hi-band capabilty and UHF capabilty all-in-one? I'll start looking ASAP then.

Maybe someone who lives in Keller can chime in with their own reception experiences to provide you with additional guidance.

I know when I played around with an old Radio Shack two-bay bowtie antenna, it brought in everything for me except WFAA-DT. Perhaps a simple pair of rabbit ears would have brought that in, but I didn't give it a try, since I have a decent outdoor antenna, anyway.

Has any one had any problems with the HD TIVO? When watching HD material the screen occassionally goes blank even though the audio is still there. It happens when the output is set to 1080i but not on 480i. I haven't tried the other setting yet. I'm using component outputs thru my receiver and then to my projector. I know the problem isn't the cables, receiver or projector because I used to use this input and cables with my DVD player. Any ideas?

I posted this over in the HDTV Programming forum (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=583911), but it was suggested that I first check with other Dallas folks. Here's what I wrote:

WB 4x3 window on network feed off-center?
I just got my HDTV, and am pulling locals off-air (Dallas market). I watched LOTR-Two Towers, then a few days later caught Smallville on the local WB affiliate. In both cases, when they went to commercial (and showed SD 4x3 upconverted ads), the national feed had the 4x3 window off-center -- the left pillarbox was narrower than the right. When the local station jumped in with local ads (still SD), the window was correctly centered. Am I the only person who's seen this? Is it a local issue only? More of a curiosity than anything.

I've got a quick question.

I'm positive my tv has a built-in hd tuner, since its what I searched for a bought. Now, if I plug in an antenna, connected through the antenna in connection, it will pick up hd signals? I don't have to hook it up through the composite connections?

I've got a quick question.

I'm positive my tv has a built-in hd tuner, since its what I searched for a bought. Now, if I plug in an antenna, connected through the antenna in connection, it will pick up hd signals? I don't have to hook it up through the composite connections?

You are correct. If all you are using is your monitor (i.e. no A/V receiver, etc.), then you should be able to bring the coax in from an antenna, let the set scan for channels, and you're set. ;)

Maybe someone who lives in Keller can chime in with their own reception experiences to provide you with additional guidance.

Well, I live just south of Keller off 377 by about 5 miles. I have very good reception with OTA through my Dish HD-DVR 942 and outside antenna.

I can even get channel 27-01 which alot cannot (and I could not when using my Dish HD811). My reception for most channels is between 90-100% (according to the bar on my receiver).

Anyone know the station contact info for WFAA? The Monday Night Football game tonight looks terrible OTA... kinda studdery... confirmed with 2 other people in the Dallas area.

The thread over in the HD Programming section shows others in the US getting the feed just fine.

Definately something wrong with the WFAA HD broadcast.

I wish I could call 'em, too. The WFAA HD looks like incorrect frame rate. I figured they'd clear it up, but apparently they don't watch what they're sending out. (That's obviously an uneducated view, but for rant's sake it worked for me)

Hi everyone I am new to this forum. I live in Lewisville and I can not receive WFAA. I have an indoor antenna that I purchase from radio shack, I selected the radio shack brand antenna. I am able to receive the local digital channels except for ABC.

Can anyone recommend an indoor antenna that will work for me?

Hi everyone I am new to this forum. I live in Lewisville and I can not receive WFAA. I have an indoor antenna that I purchase from radio shack, I selected the radio shack brand antenna. I am able to receive the local digital channels except for ABC.

Can anyone recommend an indoor antenna that will work for me?

Well, going for the obvious first - Is the antenna you bought UHF & VHF, or just UHF. Rat Shack sells both kinds. Remember that WFAA is VHF - unlike any of the other HD channels in Dallas. So you have to have a VHF antenna, and even if you do have one that does both - you likely have "rabbit ears" VHF dipoles that you have to adjust special for WFAA...

Many of you might be interested in the following...Last week I bought the $40 Terk indoor antenna from Circuit City. I was very dubious and kept the receipt just in case.

I live in far north Rockwall County, just off the Collin County line...a long way from Cedar Hill. But antenna works just fine. Particularly strong are channels 4 and 11.

ER 9/29 in HD OTA

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted this elsewhere, but thought I might reach a different audience here...

Sanity check here - I live in the Dallas area and I recently got an HR10-250. Last night I recorded ER over the OTA signal and started watching it about half way through.

So when I started it, the picture was extremely small. It was as if the local NBC station was broadcasting it with the 4:3 frames on the side but the picture inside was a 16:9 picture so that made it REALLY small looking. I tried several different scenarios with my TV setup to see if I had accidentally changed the output ( I normally have the Tivo at 1080i and the TV on 'Natural' for HD programming) but I could not get it to look right.

I went to live TV on the other tuner and checked the SD local and it was fine, I went to the NBC-East feed and it seemed fine. But on the feed I had recorded it had this 'tunnel' effect.

Am I crazy, or did this happened to others in DFW or possibly elsewhere last night? Seems it did something crazy on Will & Grace too. My wife is a little unimpressed (even disgruntled) with my latest TV purchase because this is 2 weeks running that we've had problems with a show we watch (last week it was Lost).

Anyway, I'm kind of hoping that it wasn't just me.

BG

ER 9/29 in HD OTA
Sanity check here - I live in the Dallas area and I recently got an HR10-250. Last night I recorded ER over the OTA signal and started watching it about half way through.

So when I started it, the picture was extremely small. It was as if the local NBC station was broadcasting it with the 4:3 frames on the side but the picture inside was a 16:9 picture so that made it REALLY small looking. I tried several different scenarios with my TV setup to see if I had accidentally changed the output ( I normally have the Tivo at 1080i and the TV on 'Natural' for HD programming) but I could not get it to look right.
BG

The TV stations certainly aren't very consistent having their HD signals work well. With the local NBC station in the past, I remember the signal going in an out from HD to SD. It sounds like the local NBC station switched to SD, and ER is letter boxed in 4:3, so you got a picture with bars all around it. My season pass (also have the HR10-250) is set to channel 82 or something similar for ER. That is the east coast NBC HD feed. I saw a part of it last night and it looked very good (certainly HD). I think you should have the east coast HD channels for everything except ABC (WFAA, channel 8).

WFAA has been a thorn in my side for HD. First, because they are the only station that won't release a waiver to let me watch in HD on the east coast feeds from DirectTV. So for them I need an antenna. Not just any antenna, a VHF one. But even with a signal strength of 78, I get about 20 dropouts per hour, like I did with Lost two weeks ago. Lost last week was unwatchable for me, I guess because of the storms. They must reduce the signal strength.

Anyway, sometimes channels are hit and miss with good HD quality. I've had better luck on the east coast feeds than I have with the local stations, but they pictures are more compressed. Another example is the WFAA problems with Monday Night Football this week, which I also experienced.

I will be returning my antenna to rat shack. Now I am having problems receiving signals from channel 52 as well as WFAA. This is beginning to turning to bur under my saddle.

I will be returning my antenna to rat shack. Now I am having problems receiving signals from channel 52 as well as WFAA. This is beginning to turning to bur under my saddle.

I had a lot of success with the Silver Sensor as an indoor antenna. It was the only indoor antenna I was happy with. I live in North Garland. However, that didn't give me WFAA, so I had to go with an attic Channel Master antenna. Even then I'm not totally happy with WFAA, so I would be surprised if you could find a good indoor VHF/UHF antenna that works in the northern suburbs.

So when I started it, the picture was extremely small. It was as if the local NBC station was broadcasting it with the 4:3 frames on the side but the picture inside was a 16:9 picture so that made it REALLY small looking. I tried several different scenarios with my TV setup to see if I had accidentally changed the output ( I normally have the Tivo at 1080i and the TV on 'Natural' for HD programming) but I could not get it to look right.

Keep in mind that all ads (including local ones) are SD 4x3 upconverts. When the local channels 'insert' their signal over the national feed, they then have to switch back to the national HD signal once the ads/local promos are done to get back to full 16x9. If they forget to do so, you end up watching an upconverted version of what folks on the SD analog channel are getting.

Last week, I sat down to watch one of the NFL games on CBS in HD. For the first 4-5 minutes, they were not on the HD feed, but still showing the same SD feed upconverted. They eventually fixed it. Also, while I was waiting for the WB's airing of LOTR-Two Towers, I noticed that the local affiliate stayed in SD for the last segment of one of the WB comedy shows airing before the movie (but had been HD for the earlier part of the show) -- they just forgot to switch back for the last 3 minutes of the show.

To TVPAL:
The ch52 problem is not your ant or set. They are off the air. Tube went bad. New one on order. This is a one tube transmitter.

Ch27 KDFI is also a one tube transmitter until they add more to boost the pwr. I also believe Ch21 KTXA is a one tube also.

I just got a Sencore RF Probe to ck VSB & QAM signals. I will be learning how it works and then maybe ck some of the problem viewers on WFAA-DT
JStigler

Anyone had luck getting digital channels from the Greenville area? Antenna web says no way, and that's my experience so far with a walmart antenna. But I know someone that swears he has nothing special and gets great digital channels in this area. I've just got a standard RCA 65 mile outdoor antenna plus a 24db preamp. Would something else make the difference for me?

Selphj
I would think if you have a good antenna outside with the preamp mounted at the antenna that this should work. Put the coax on an analog set and look at the reception on ch8, ch21, ch33. If this looks good then digital will work.
JStigler

24 db amplifier. I have a 10db, what is the product anme?

I have noticed that WFAA has a new set for the news. Do you think that might be an indication they are going to start broadcasting the news in HD? The set is very wide and would fit a 16x9 better than 4x3.

I am still having issues receiving WFAA. I had an indoor antenna with rabbit ears and amplifier, this did not help. I just replace that antenna with a Philips indoor antenna minus the ears. I still can not receive Channel 8 plus I have noticed that my TV Guide does not work. I have the Toshiba 32HL95 with the TV guide feature.

Is there an indoor antenna that will allow me to receive Channel 8. I can receive the other channels fine.

I live in Lewisville near 3040 and Bus 121.

I am in rockwall. i used a mast antenna, noise and weaker channel. i used an old rabbit ear from walmart, i received all except PBS, WB, and 27..whatever that is. my wfaa i get at 85% meter strength. i used that Radio Shack discontinued $89 bucks receiver, Accurian.

i am surprised that the bigger antenna is weaker that the small rabbit ear.

for the first time, i saw baseball on 1080i...WOW!

I just replace that antenna with a Philips indoor antenna minus the ears. I still can not receive Channel 8 plus I have noticed that my TV Guide does not work.

Once again, is it a VHF antenna? Generally indoor antennas have "ears" for VHF, and without ears it sounds like you might have a UHF only antenna, which of course won't pick up VHF WFAA Channel 8...

ALSO!!!! WFAA is the only station in the market that uses VHF for ATSC. Ch (9)
All others are on UHF.

ALSO!!!! WFAA is the only station in the market that uses VHF for ATSC. Ch (9)
All others are on UHF.That'll only be true until the analog shutoff (looking like Jan. 1, 2009--only a bit more than 3 years away), when KTVT (11) and KERA (13) will move their digital channels to their VHF frequencies.

Xesdeeni

Ahh yes. I forgot 'bout that.

Will all digital be VHF when the old analog is shut down on Jan 1, 2009 or will be both VHF and UHF be used by various digital broadcasters?

In DFW, 8, 11, and 13 will be VHF. 4, 5, and the rest will be UHF (obviously 4 and 5 will need to change their station numbers). That's according to their filings with the FCC (see earlier in this thread). In most of the U.S. few stations are moving back to the low VHF (2-6) because the type of interference there is more detrimental to digital transmissions. But high VHF (7-13) don't suffer the problems and they require less power to operate the transmitter, so they are desirable.

BTW, I think it's stupid that the FCC didn't foresee this and just reclaim the low VHF at the same time as the UHF spectrum.

Xesdeeni

Actually, this has changed a bit. Apparently, KERA will be unable to return to channel 13 after the transition -- apparently, it would cause interference with a digital station on channel 13 in Killeen.

Meanwhile, KFWD (analog 52, digital 51) will be taking over channel 9 after WFAA returns to channel 8.

So our post-transition VHF digital channels will be:

WFAA-DT channel 8
KFWD-DT channel 9
KTVT-DT channel 11

Sometime over the last week I lost KXAS channed 5 (frequency 41) and ONLY this channel.

I am in Richardson and have an outdoor antenna with amplifier that has been set up since the beginning of the summer. I have it hooked into a Dish 942 HD DVR. Since everything was installed, I have had no reception issues wil any channel including KXAS.

Since last week I have suddenly gotten very poor reception on KXAS. All of my other channels still have high signal strength (80 to 100). It's only Channel 5 that has gone bad.

I tried removing the channels from the 942 and rescanning with no luck. I also tried swiveling the antenna through +/- 5 or 10 degrees but I still can't pick up KXAS.

Is anyone else having issues with this channel? Has KXAS changed anything about their broadcast setup over the last few weeks that couls explain this change?

Thanks!

(newbie alert...)

I have an OTA in my attic in Keller.

I can pick up all the local channels except KDFI.

This is, regrettably, a personal tragedy to this Dallas Stars fan.

Is there anything I can do to get channel 27? Are the Stars broadcast in HD?

pasmar,

I also have a Dish 942 and I having no problem with Channel 5 OTA. I get 77 signal strength. I live close to Richland College.

I live near Hebron Rd. & Josey in far north Carrollton.


I don't know if it is supposed to be HD or not, but Ch. 27
is the only one of the local channels that I don't get in HD

I just got a Samsung 42" and LOVE it. I have an outside antenna about 20' above ground level. I get all of the local channels (ex 27) in HD.

I've had Dish Network for 8 years and want to get HD service, but it seems as if they won't do squat for an existing customer or to keep me as an existing customer.

They will give me the farm if I am a new sign-up.


That said, I'd like to correspond with a couple of you guys with DN 942 DVRs.

Where did you get it ? How much did it cost ?

Do you like it ? Is it worth the $$ (subjective, I know)

Did you have a DN HD receiver B4 you got the 942 ? Did you get any trade-in for your old HD receiver or your old standard receiver on the 942 ?

Did you get any price break on either the 811 or the 942 ?

Do you still have your previous HD receiver ?

Is ALL of the HD Pak programming in HD or are there non-HD programs mixed in ?

With an external local antenna, are the transitions from local stations to Dish and Dish HD programming seamless or do you have to switch sources/antennas ?

As you probably know, you have to ask the DN customer service rep. the right (specific) question to get a realistic/understandable answer.

Lots of questions..... Any advice ?

I just got a Samsung 42" and LOVE it. I have an outside antenna about 20' above ground level. I get all of the local channels (ex 27) in HD.

I've had Dish Network for 8 years and want to get HD service, but it seems as if they won't do squat for an existing customer or to keep me as an existing customer.

They will give me the farm if I am a new sign-up.


That said, I'd like to correspond with a couple of you guys with DN 942 DVRs.

Where did you get it ? How much did it cost ?

Do you like it ? Is it worth the $$ (subjective, I know)

Did you have a DN HD receiver B4 you got the 942 ? Did you get any trade-in for your old HD receiver or your old standard receiver on the 942 ?

Did you get any price break on either the 811 or the 942 ?

Do you still have your previous HD receiver ?

Is ALL of the HD Pak programming in HD or are there non-HD programs mixed in ?

With an external local antenna, are the transitions from local stations to Dish and Dish HD programming seamless or do you have to switch sources/antennas ?

As you probably know, you have to ask the DN customer service rep. the right (specific) question to get a realistic/understandable answer.

Lots of questions..... Any advice ?

I've got the 46" Samsung and love mine, too. I'm near Hebron/Old Denton and like you, am interested in the 942. Mine will be installed on Tuesday.

I'm new to DN and got the usual "bend over backwards" deal from them: the 942 for 249.00, first month programming for free and free HD for the first six months, but I had to think about it for a couple of weeks. I believe I'll like it, but eventually they'll have to go to MPEG-4 and the 942 will become a doorstop. Whether they'll do a clean swapout of DVRs when that happens is anybody's guess. Based upon thier track record, I believe they will, but I may be buying a pig in a poke.

According to the booklet that came with the 942, OTA HD is totally seamless and goes through their tuner directly into either HDMI or component in the back of the set. OTA HD or analog can be recorded on the 942.

I've heard horror stories from individuals like you who have been loyal Dish subscribers. Most of the ones I know are really torn between trying to find a 942 at a reasonable cost or waiting for MPEG-4 to come out. For one reason or another, Dish is reluctant to work with any of my friends on the 942 issue. I still believe it's worth it if it works as advertised, but I've been reading a slew of bulletin boards and am very leery that the 942 may be more of a liability than an asset. Watching HDTV should be fun........I suspect I'll be a little more bald when all this is set up.

Hopefully I'll have more answers for you on Tuesday. I'm sure many other people here will be able to assist you far better than me. Good luck!

(newbie alert...)
I can pick up all the local channels except KDFI.

This is, regrettably, a personal tragedy to this Dallas Stars fan.

Is there anything I can do to get channel 27? Are the Stars broadcast in HD?

KDFI-DT is currentlythe running on an temporary authorization from the FCC at very low power -- far and away, the lowest power of any digital station in the Dallas area other than KLDT-DT. So that's why you are having trouble receiving it.

Note that KDFI-DT transmits in 720p HD, but that all of their programming is just upconverted from standard definition. Nothing is currently originated in high definition, and that includes the Stars games. So the good news is that if you can receive KDFI's analog broadcasts you're really not missing anything by not getting their digital transmission.

And since KDFI-DT does have a construction permit to boost to much higher power, by the time they are broadcasting true HD programming they'll probably be easy to receive.

...Where did you get it ? How much did it cost ?
On June 4, 2005, I emailed Echostar Executive Offices: ceo@echostar.com. In the email I politely reminded them that I was a long-time customer (8-9 yrs) in good standing. I respectfully requested an exception to the new customer lease program and for them to extend the lease to me. I received a call later that day from a representative from "Executive Offices" (I'll not reveal her name here) who offered me the deal. All I had to do was pay $250, then $5/mo lease.

Do you like it ? Is it worth the $$ (subjective, I know)Absolutely no complaints whatsoever (4 months usage). This is a solid performer.

Did you have a DN HD receiver B4 you got the 942 ? Did you get any trade-in for your old HD receiver or your old standard receiver on the 942 ?I was leasing an 811. I returned it when the 942 arrived. I already owned a 721 (dual-tuner SD DVR) which I still use. This gives me more flexibility: Most of my repeat SD recording is done on the 721, reserving drive space for HD on the 942. All on the same monitor, using a Harmony H688 remote makes switching between boxes simple (the press of a button).

Did you get any price break on either the 811 or the 942 ?I can't recall having to pay anything down to begin leasing the 811. I had it for ~6 months. I obviously had to sign-up for HD Pak. (why get the 811 if I didn't subscribe to HD programming). Upon getting the 811, I also subscribed to CBS-HD (east), so Dish agreed to install another dish to point at 61.5. This became important when the VOOM channels went live. All I had to do at that point was to call the rep and subscribe. Other customers that didn't have a dish pointed at 61.5 at that time, had to pay for installation before getting VOOM. Having subscribed to CBS-HD got my 2nd dish (previously) installed for free.

Do you still have your previous HD receiver ?See above.


Is ALL of the HD Pak programming in HD or are there non-HD programs mixed in ?Some content is upconverted. But film, for instance, looks incredible when upconverted. Especially on these DLP's.

With an external local antenna, are the transitions from local stations to Dish and Dish HD programming seamless or do you have to switch sources/antennas ?Seamless.

OTA HD or analog can be recorded on the 942.Correction: only digital can be recorded on the 942, thus no analog recording.

Actually, this has changed a bit. Apparently, KERA will be unable to return to channel 13 after the transition -- apparently, it would cause interference with a digital station on channel 13 in Killeen.

Meanwhile, KFWD (analog 52, digital 51) will be taking over channel 9 after WFAA returns to channel 8.

So our post-transition VHF digital channels will be:

WFAA-DT channel 8
KFWD-DT channel 9
KTVT-DT channel 11Thanks for the update.

It's curious that KERA wouldn't have priority over a Killeen station. Certainly it has a bigger audience, and I would assume it's an older station. Perhaps they filed with the FCC too late?

Xesdeeni

Once again, is it a VHF antenna? Generally indoor antennas have "ears" for VHF, and without ears it sounds like you might have a UHF only antenna, which of course won't pick up VHF WFAA Channel 8...

Oh yes, I do have an antenna with rabbit ears and I am still not able to get WFAA Channel 8-1 with my indoor antenna. I assume that the HD channel for ABC is 8-1. This indoor antenna is driving me up the wall.

I am able to receive of the following channels without issue:

CBS
NBS
UPN
PBS
WB
FOX

The only one that is stressing me out is ABC.

It's curious that KERA wouldn't have priority over a Killeen station. Certainly it has a bigger audience, and I would assume it's an older station. Perhaps they filed with the FCC too late?

the Killeen station is on analog channel 62, digital channel 13. Since the analog is out of core, they have to stay on their digital channel or find a completely new channel. I think that is why they're getting priority for channel 13 over KERA.

Another reason KERA should have priority is that VHF costs less than UHF, and this is a PBS station, so WE pay for it :-)

Xesdeeni

Oh yes, I do have an antenna with rabbit ears and I am still not able to get WFAA Channel 8-1 with my indoor antenna. I assume that the HD channel for ABC is 8-1. This indoor antenna is driving me up the wall.

I am able to receive of the following channels without issue:

CBS
NBS
UPN
PBS
WB
FOX

The only one that is stressing me out is ABC.


i live in rockwall... and ABC seems to be the strongest channel for me. what is your location??

I'd like to thank jstew and 122inna55 for their replies to my questions about Dish Network HD and the 942 DVR specifically.

Sorry to be so tardy in my reply, but I was down south for a few days.

After researching DN HD & DVR for a couple of weeks, today I presented my findings to my wife, the primary reason we got a new HD TV in the first place.

As we walked through the DN HD Pak, se told me that there wasn't anything in the Pak that she really wanted to see.

That's certainly "good" news. Now I don't need to sweat getting the HD pack ($10/mo) and a DVR ($700).

Now I can go back to my garage and finish restoring my 66 Mustang GT FB.

Tim

PS: What does 122inna55 stand for ? I have visions of a drag race result.....

i live in rockwall... and ABC seems to be the strongest channel for me. what is your location??


I live in Lewisville and ABC seems to be an issue with me. I am looking for an indoor antenna that will work for me.

Thanks for the update.

It's curious that KERA wouldn't have priority over a Killeen station. Certainly it has a bigger audience, and I would assume it's an older station. Perhaps they filed with the FCC too late?

Xesdeeni

I don't which station this is, but Killeen stations are often Waco/Temple/Killeen, and are seen over quite a bit of Central Texas. I know when I went to school in Bryan/College Station, we watched Killeen stations. And KERA IS PBS. It is not on the top my of list of HD local channels...

As we walked through the DN HD Pak, se told me that there wasn't anything in the Pak that she really wanted to see.

You didn't show her the 10 extra Voom HD channels did you? :rolleyes:

OKOK, maybe she won't want Rave, but Voom is about Dish's only compelling HD content other than the standards (Discovery HD, HDNet)...

I don't which station this is, but Killeen stations are often Waco/Temple/Killeen, and are seen over quite a bit of Central Texas. I know when I went to school in Bryan/College Station, we watched Killeen stations.Population WACO: 103,590
Population Temple: 54,514
Population Kileen: 86,911
Total: 245,015

Population Dallas: 1,188,580

I didn't include Dallas's surrounding areas (Ft. Worth, Irving, Arlington, Plano, etc.) because I have no idea how to get this total or the total of Waco's surrounding areas. But I'd wager Dallas's surrounding cities outweigh Waco's by at least the same ratio.
And KERA IS PBS. It is not on the top my of list of HD local channels...Hmmm. That's the argument I was using for giving KERA priority...it's a public station, which tax dollars pay for, so as taxpayers, we should get the savings of a lower power transmitter.

Xesdeeni

I don't which station this is, but Killeen stations are often Waco/Temple/Killeen, and are seen over quite a bit of Central Texas.

It's a Spanish language station that primarily serves Austin. Used to be a WB affiliate for Waco/Temple, but they were able to move the transmitter far enough south to get into Austin and flipped to one of the Spanish networks since Austin already had the WB.