WUSA-DT 9. Whatever the problem was, it was fixed before the game, as it has been a rock solid signal the whole game. Thought my superbowl party was gonna be a bust there for a while.

Likewise. WUSA techs must have cleaned up / boosted the OTA signal immediately before the game, because things were perfect for the remainder of the broadcast for my superbowl party. I was one scared host for a while, but WUSA came through. Got some big "oohs and ahs" from the first-time HD, first-time front projection crowd I had over. Always satisfying for us AVSers to see our work appreciated, eh? :-)

Cheers,
Adam

Did anyone see the ad for the WUSA news? They were touting how it was in HD but the commercial was only SD on a very big HD broadcast. It made no sense to have it in SD when even most of the commercials were in HD. This is much better than 5 years ago. Although I guess in 2002 it was actually broadcast in 480P(Fox crappy widescreen 480P) while in 2001 it was 1080i.

what area are u in? i'm still able to get a lot of channels through QAM.

Baltimore City, Downtown to be exact. I still get all the OTA HD channels, and some PPV and digital channels but ESPN, ESPN2 and CSN HD are all gone :(

Baltimore City, Downtown to be exact. I still get all the OTA HD channels, and some PPV and digital channels but ESPN, ESPN2 and CSN HD are all gone :(

Oh ok. That happened to me the other day, but I did a rescan and found them on a different channel. Doesn't hurt to try and do a rescan ever so often, maybe they will come back.

I just got the Samsung DTB-H260F.

Well I got my Comcast Cable installed this weekend and connected it to my Samsung. I did the auto-discover of channels, and while it found some, it did not find any of my "basic cable" stations like SciFi and MTV and ESPN regular.

It only gives me a couple of the stations properly (NBC, CBS, ABC) and none of the guide functions.

Anyone know why this is, or what I need to do to get these channels? Or does the box just not find them?

I just got the Samsung DTB-H260F.

Well I got my Comcast Cable installed this weekend and connected it to my Samsung. I did the auto-discover of channels, and while it found some, it did not find any of my "basic cable" stations like SciFi and MTV and ESPN regular.

It only gives me a couple of the stations properly (NBC, CBS, ABC) and none of the guide functions.

Anyone know why this is, or what I need to do to get these channels? Or does the box just not find them?I am not sure since most cable favorites are analog and should be picked up during scan. Has you Comcast recently migrated to an "all digital" system? If so, only your local broadcasters (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC) are typically in-the-clear. I sure wish our local Comcast (formly Adelphia) would migrate to ADS here in the Fredericksburg area.

I did the auto-discover of channels, and while it found some, it did not find any of my "basic cable" stations like SciFi and MTV and ESPN regular.

It only gives me a couple of the stations properly (NBC, CBS, ABC) and none of the guide functions.

Anyone know why this is, or what I need to do to get these channels? Or does the box just not find them?
You might think those are "basic cable" but Comcast doesn't share that view. It's unlikely you'll ever get those in clear QAM. You'll only get the locals in clear QAM.

Is the broadcast of Veronica Mars on 54-1 WNUV supposed to be in HD today? My Dish 622 PVR box appears to be showing it with Grey bars on the sides. Picture looks good, just not in widescreen format. Since the original broadcast was bumped for a basketball game, it re-scheduled the recording for today.

If we have to time-shift a program out of prime-time, it won't be in HD. We currently have no way to record or play back an HD program.

Mark

Did anybody else have any problems with the Super Bowl OTA? I kept having the picture freeze for a few seconds at a time. The signal meter would go from 93% to below 49% when this occured. It would happen in cycles, and then disappear for 10 or 15 minutes. It almost seemed like a wind-related problem, but it was not blowing at our house when this happened.

Same problem on both Channel 9-1 and 13-1. And the problem occured on two TV's hooked to two separate tuners (albeit the same model tuner). Same antenna feed for both.

I am guessing it is a problem with the antenna and I will need to call Fairfax antenna back again. Of course it never happened while watching 9-1 in the days leading up to the game, or even during the pre-game show.

Any thoughts? I am located in Falls Church.

I just got the Samsung DTB-H260F.

Well I got my Comcast Cable installed this weekend and connected it to my Samsung. I did the auto-discover of channels, and while it found some, it did not find any of my "basic cable" stations like SciFi and MTV and ESPN regular.

It only gives me a couple of the stations properly (NBC, CBS, ABC) and none of the guide functions.

Anyone know why this is, or what I need to do to get these channels? Or does the box just not find them?
The Samsung DTB-H260F is a digital only ATSC receiver which can also receive unscrambled digital QAM cable channels. All of those basic channels are either analog or scrambled on the digital simulcast. The H260F has no analog tuning capability. The DTB-H260F is specifically sold as a ATSC OTA receiver which has a throw-in capability for QAM. It is not a cable box.

If you want to get all the basic cable channels, you need a cable ready TV or analog tuner or if you want the digital channels beyond the local broadcast stations, a cable STB or a TV / STB with cable card capability.

For about a week, the schedule on the WETA website for HD programming has shown only about 3 or 4 programs per day.

I would inquire by e-mail to them, but they have not responded to my e-mails.

Comcast of Alexandria/Arlington will begin Airing National Geographic HD on February 28. It will air on Channel 224.

Did anybody else have any problems with the Super Bowl OTA? I kept having the picture freeze for a few seconds at a time. The signal meter would go from 93% to below 49% when this occured. It would happen in cycles, and then disappear for 10 or 15 minutes. It almost seemed like a wind-related problem, but it was not blowing at our house when this happened.

Same problem on both Channel 9-1 and 13-1. And the problem occured on two TV's hooked to two separate tuners (albeit the same model tuner). Same antenna feed for both.

I am guessing it is a problem with the antenna and I will need to call Fairfax antenna back again. Of course it never happened while watching 9-1 in the days leading up to the game, or even during the pre-game show.

Any thoughts? I am located in Falls Church.
The wind was gusting to 30+ mph at my place in Vienna during the Super Bowl, so I'm pretty sure it would have been similar conditions near your house. I had some occasional minor dropouts during the wind gusts, but they only lasted a second or two on 9-1 via OTA.

Did anyone see the ad for the WUSA news? They were touting how it was in HD but the commercial was only SD on a very big HD broadcast. It made no sense to have it in SD when even most of the commercials were in HD. This is much better than 5 years ago. Although I guess in 2002 it was actually broadcast in 480P(Fox crappy widescreen 480P) while in 2001 it was 1080i.
They just did a "Tonight at 11" promo in HD on their 7PM newscast, and I think it's the one that will air throughout the night, but we'll see.

I think they've been trying to get these in HD for a while, but something has been preventing them from doing so. (They tried squeezing a 16:9 image into the 4:3 frame for one of the promos last week)

WBAL seems to be broadcasting in stretched SD, or else its compressed real bad. Heroes looks like crap (Comcast Harford County)

What the heck is wrong with NBC HD out of Baltimore. Heroes is completely un-watchable in Howard County. Wind maybe?

WBAL seems to be broadcasting in stretched SD, or else its compressed real bad. Heroes looks like crap (Comcast Harford County)

Watching it OTA. Definetly stretched SD on WBAL

Edit- Fixed now!

Like previous posters, I am also having trouble with WUSA-DT. The SB was unwatchable last night, and I'm still having problems tonight.

The odd thing is that all other OTA channels are coming in rock solid, while WUSA fluctuates between 10-70%.

Did anybody else have any problems with the Super Bowl OTA? I kept having the picture freeze for a few seconds at a time. The signal meter would go from 93% to below 49% when this occured. It would happen in cycles, and then disappear for 10 or 15 minutes. It almost seemed like a wind-related problem, but it was not blowing at our house when this happened.



I had OTA problems with the Super Bowl all evening. Maddening! My house isfour blocks from the transmitter. It wasn't wind related since none of my other channels had a problem.

I'd say the wind (though I'm on D*). When I was on OTA, wind would wreck havoc with the signal.

-Mike

Like previous posters, I am also having trouble with WUSA-DT. The SB was unwatchable last night, and I'm still having problems tonight.

The odd thing is that all other OTA channels are coming in rock solid, while WUSA fluctuates between 10-70%.
I'm also seeing a weak signal for WUSA-DT 9. All the other stations are ok, but WUSA-DT is constantly breaking up. I think they must be having a broadcast problem on the digital signal tonight.

With an indoor Terk Silver Sensor clone antenna in(side) a window facing in the general direction of DC, WAY out west of Dulles Aiport, I hosted a succesful and flawless OTA-viewed SuperBowl Party :)

The difference (other than non-susceptibility to wind) in my setup, compared to most you folks'? The glorious Series3 TiVo. Yes, the KoolAid is good, and my guests absolutely loved it too :)

Jokes aside, they definitely put a rock-solid OTA tuner in this baby. Good job, TiVo!

Watching it OTA. Definetly stretched SD on WBAL

Edit- Fixed now!

I was going to time shift it (on Comcast), but luckily I saw the beginning and was able to switch to WRC (OTA).

I saw a similar ad last night where they squeezed a 16X9 to 4X3. Even the wife thought it looked funny. And during the SB, my buddy and I were both perplexed that they would show an ad for their news in SD. Doesn't make sense, so I suspect they had some kind of problem.

Jim

They just did a "Tonight at 11" promo in HD on their 7PM newscast, and I think it's the one that will air throughout the night, but we'll see.

I think they've been trying to get these in HD for a while, but something has been preventing them from doing so. (They tried squeezing a 16:9 image into the 4:3 frame for one of the promos last week)

I had an Encore Verizon technician at my house today to install FIOS TV. Unfortunately, I discontinued my FIOS Internet service two weeks ago, and just learned that I must have FIOS Internet to use FIOS TV !! This is unlike COMCAST cable, which has a "cafeteria plan" by which you can select cable internet or TV or both. It makes me wonder what people do if they have no computer or no desire for internet.

So I have put in a new order to resume FIOS internet, which will take two days to "flip the switch." Then I'll need to request that a technician return to complete the FIOS TV installation.

I'm not sure that the tech was correct. I think you can have TV without internet.

I'm not sure that the tech was correct. I think you can have TV without internet.

The FiOS TV service is based on IPTV (Internet Protocol TV), where your STBs are basically IP addressable, so it makes sense that an Internet router would be needed for TV. But, I was under the impression that FiOS TV would provide the router whether or not you were actually subscribing to FiOS Internet.

Only the VOD portion of FIOS is IP based. But, yeah, I don't see why one couldn't have the TV service without the IP service. And with MOCA built into the new ONT you wouldn't even need the router.

Yeah, the TV portion of FiOS is still DOCIS like the CableTV, only its delivered via Fiber rather than COAX.

Problems with INHD and MHD on Comcast Howard County. All other channels are okay. Big time breakup/meltdown.

Also bear in mind the issues of bandwidth. If you're not on one of their own networks there are a whole host of delays that can disrupt the service. Higher bandwidth applications like video will certainly benefit from being delivered through a controlled network. Both from a performance and a reliability standpoint. Unfortunately that also means getting stuck with Verizon's draconian restrictions against using your IP connection the way you choose.

If having FiosTV requires having Verizon internet we will NOT make the switch. That and several of our friends have left Verizon's DSL services (going to speakeasy) because they're had absolutely HORRIBLE support experiences from Verizon.

Verizon's just not a company worth trusting if you want actual choice, good service and reasonable treatment.

Verizon's just not a company worth trusting if you want actual choice, good service and reasonable treatment.

I'd have to disagree with that. Before verizon I had no choice in high speed internet or cable TV. It was either COX or Comcast depending on which part of Va I was in. Having been vary disappointed with both C. & C. basic bandwidth speeds and over all Cust. service (COX being the worst) I'm SO thankful for the option to choice Verizon.

The install went Perfect for once. My bandwidth speed is double that of COX for less $$. I also get a HD DVR box for the same price I was paying COX without one.

With all that said its nice just having one bill for the above and phone.
IMHO- Verizon may not be perfect but its better then the other cable options available in Va.

Also bear in mind the issues of bandwidth. If you're not on one of their own networks there are a whole host of delays that can disrupt the service. Higher bandwidth applications like video will certainly benefit from being delivered through a controlled network. Both from a performance and a reliability standpoint. Unfortunately that also means getting stuck with Verizon's draconian restrictions against using your IP connection the way you choose.

If having FiosTV requires having Verizon internet we will NOT make the switch. That and several of our friends have left Verizon's DSL services (going to speakeasy) because they're had absolutely HORRIBLE support experiences from Verizon.

Verizon's just not a company worth trusting if you want actual choice, good service and reasonable treatment.


I know this is a TV not an internet thread but I think it is important to respond. FIOS Internet and DSL are completely separate animals. We've had FIOS internet service for 14 months and haven't needed to deal with support because we've never had a single problem. This is completely different from our previous experience with Comcast which varied between bad and acceptable and dialup before that. We have the 15/2 internet service and using the speakeasy speed test we are routinely at 15.2 down and 1.8 up.

I would doubt that VZ requires FIOS internet to have FIOS TV but I think you would be pleased with FIOS internet service.

wkearney, with FiOS, and ALL that unused bandwidth, VZ seems to have dropped all their draconian restrictions of the past.

I doubt even port 80/21 etc are blocked/disallowed! Run a web server. They don't care. Yet!

The Samsung DTB-H260F is a digital only ATSC receiver which can also receive unscrambled digital QAM cable channels. All of those basic channels are either analog or scrambled on the digital simulcast. The H260F has no analog tuning capability. The DTB-H260F is specifically sold as a ATSC OTA receiver which has a throw-in capability for QAM. It is not a cable box.

If you want to get all the basic cable channels, you need a cable ready TV or analog tuner or if you want the digital channels beyond the local broadcast stations, a cable STB or a TV / STB with cable card capability.C

I believe you previously answered a question of mine wherein I wondered why I was unable to tune in the Comcast Music Channels with the Samsung when several neighbors that have integrated ATSC/QAM/NTSC tuners are able to receive the music channels. I believe you stated it was because the cable Co uses a filter on my cable line.
Could it be because the Samsung does not have an NTSC tuner? The music channels are in the channel 107 range which I guess is for digital channels. As all of the neighbors and myself are on the same cable run[There are several boxes along the route which could indeed have a filter) I just think there is another answer and the only way I could know for sure is to connect an integrated tv with QAM tuning.
Thanks for your thoughts.

9 is now running a promo advertiesing HDTV...in SD. ;)
I guess they're also adopting more CBS mandates...they're using "We are" before everything ("We are CBS" was the slogan put on the promotional material at the 2006-2007 upfronts)

Verizon's just not a company worth trusting if you want actual choice, good service and reasonable treatment.

Compared to Comcast, that loses most of its thrust. At least in my experience anyway, down here in former Adelphia territory. Now, if we're talking in comparison to Cox, you may have a point. I hear nothing but good things about Cox and I have had a few hiccups with Verizon customer support since I switched to FiOS.

Anyway, as has been stated in this thread, Verizon FiOS and Verizon DSL are completely separate services. FiOS Internet is like cable broadband on crack.

Problems with INHD and MHD on Comcast Howard County. All other channels are okay. Big time breakup/meltdown.

No one else having this problem in Howard County? Or elsewhere?

I an loathe to deal with Comcast because they always assume every problem is at the customer end and don't bother checking for a systemic problem. And their solution is always to send out a repairman.

i get the same problem for comcast in prince georges county. i get it late night early morning. i get it on discovery hd inhd mhd and espn2hd. my screen gets real pixelated and no sound. i called comcast and they reset box and it cleared up but started 5 min later. i think im get a new hd dvr box but i still havent watched all my recordings

No one else having this problem in Howard County? Or elsewhere?

I an loathe to deal with Comcast because they always assume every problem is at the customer end and don't bother checking for a systemic problem. And their solution is always to send out a repairman.

That's because they usually are at the customer end.

GoIrish

FiOS Construction Locations Feb 1st thru Feb 28th


Anne Arundel County Schedule:

http://www22.verizon.com/about/community/md/files/aacountyfeb.doc

Baltimore County Schedule:

http://www22.verizon.com/about/community/md/files/bacofeb.doc

Howard County Schedule:

http://www22.verizon.com/about/community/md/files/hcofeb.doc

Montgomery County Schedule:

http://www22.verizon.com/about/community/md/files/mocofeb.doc

Prince George's County Schedule:

http://www22.verizon.com/about/community/md/files/pgcofeb.doc

FIOS construction in VA(FEB2007) (http://www22.verizon.com/about/community/va/files/VAFTTP0207.pdf)

Verizon Virginia Community Page (http://www22.verizon.com/about/community/va/)

C

I believe you previously answered a question of mine wherein I wondered why I was unable to tune in the Comcast Music Channels with the Samsung when several neighbors that have integrated ATSC/QAM/NTSC tuners are able to receive the music channels. I believe you stated it was because the cable Co uses a filter on my cable line.
Could it be because the Samsung does not have an NTSC tuner? The music channels are in the channel 107 range which I guess is for digital channels. As all of the neighbors and myself are on the same cable run[There are several boxes along the route which could indeed have a filter) I just think there is another answer and the only way I could know for sure is to connect an integrated tv with QAM tuning.
Thanks for your thoughts.
There is another possible explanation. I know that Channel 107(Music channel) is using QAM (64) while most clear digital channels use QAM (256). It is possible that the Samsung tuner is not capable of decoding QAM (64). I use an LG LST-4200A which provides a good signal from Channel 107, as well as from all the other clear digital channels from Comcast Basic.

I too am in Elkridge/Howard County, but have never seen TNT HD or Discovery HD in the clear. I only get a PBS, CBS, ABC, NBC and the Comcast Sports Net in HD (I get more digital channels, but they are SD, not HD). Recently, I rescanned, and now the channel assignments are somewhat garbled (PBS is showing up at 13-2 or 13-1, can't remember which one... but it definitely shouldn't be, and now CBS HD is missing. And, I started miraculously getting Fox HD at 45-2 (I only got Fox HD via OTA before)).

Anyways, other than ComcastSportsNet HD, I've never gotten anything other than the local OTAs (and even then, FOX HD hasn't typically been on my Comcast feed as unencrypted).

I have a Vizio VX37L set with NTSC/ ATSC/ QAM tuner built-in.

That's because they usually are at the customer end.

GoIrish

That is a pretty bad generalization. If they research the problem and find no issue, then it is at my end. You don't just ASSUME and cause a customer to sit out work to fix a problem that may or may not have a systemic cause.

But noooooo, Comcast just says, "We'll send out a tech." No checking to see if there is an issue on their end. Just knee-jerk.

Just like your unhelpful answer to my question.

What would cause two stations on MY box to go bad without a general fault?

I have a question about getting FIOS channels in the clear. I recently cancelled the FIOS TV service and now only get OTA along with FIOS internet. I tried to see which FIOS channels I could get through QAM but was unable to get any through my old cable line. Can I get the FIOS channels in the clear if I only get their internet service? If so, how do I do this?

thanks in advance for any help

Hello Hoyty..Do you have D* where you live? If so, how has your experience been with them? Currently i live in Columbia, but will be moving to Parkville in a few months,and already purchased the D* HR-20 HD DVR. I'm just waiting to move before I hook everything up.
Right now I have Comcast and get all the DC and Baltimore locals, but only the Baltimore locals in HD
When I lived in Crofton,MD. I also recived both Balt and DC channels. Now in Frederick with crappy Adelphia for now, hoping more HD channels will come soon.

I have a question about getting FIOS channels in the clear. I recently cancelled the FIOS TV service and now only get OTA along with FIOS internet. I tried to see which FIOS channels I could get through QAM but was unable to get any through my old cable line. Can I get the FIOS channels in the clear if I only get their internet service? If so, how do I do this?

thanks in advance for any help

No, you have to actually pay for them.

Unlike analog cable, Fios can be shut off at the software level without cutting the cable.

That is a pretty bad generalization. If they research the problem and find no issue, then it is at my end. You don't just ASSUME and cause a customer to sit out work to fix a problem that may or may not have a systemic cause.

But noooooo, Comcast just says, "We'll send out a tech." No checking to see if there is an issue on their end. Just knee-jerk.

Just like your unhelpful answer to my question.

What would cause two stations on MY box to go bad without a general fault?

An RF issue in your home, a bad box, ingress from a neighbor, a bad splitter. Those are some examples of what can be wrong.

My qualified generalization is based on experience and information.

You asked the general population of AVSForum if they have a problem such as yours. I didn't see any responses from any other Howard County customers affirming your same issue even though though there are many members from Howard County on this forum regularly. I get the same SA feed in Harford County and I have no problems.

To be a common problem affecting all customers as you want to infer, you don't think they would have repaired it ? Perhaps all the other customers in Howard County that have this issue sought the advice and counsel of people on the internet as well, rather than simply call the cable company. That could explain why they all have a problem and the company doesn't know about it and fixed it.

When I say that these types of issues are usually at the customer end it's because on a vast percentage basis they are. Yours certainly could be the exception to the rule, but we won't know that until you call the company for a service call.

GoIrish

That is a pretty bad generalization. If they research the problem and find no issue, then it is at my end. You don't just ASSUME and cause a customer to sit out work to fix a problem that may or may not have a systemic cause.

But noooooo, Comcast just says, "We'll send out a tech." No checking to see if there is an issue on their end. Just knee-jerk.

Just like your unhelpful answer to my question.

What would cause two stations on MY box to go bad without a general fault?

I kept losing UHD and could not figure out why. I had it fine on one TV but the other it would show up for a few seconds then be gone for a while...I thought about calling Comcast to figure it out, but figured I needed to check something out...Guess what? The connector to the back of my box was a little loose. I tightened it up and BAM guess what I saw? Yup, UHD...

So, yes it can be at your end...And if there was an issue on their end, don't you think there would be more than 1 person calling in?

First I wanted to post a more general link to Verizon's Maryland Construction (http://www22.verizon.com/about/community/md/broadband/construction_information.html) page as a follow-up to Marcus Carr's post. Second according to a story in the Sun (http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_county/bal-bz.co.verizon06feb06,0,3783082.story) about the progress Verizon is making in Baltimore County. Lastly, can someone more familiar with the area tell me if the construction plans for Balt Co are anywhere near the Harford Rd / Parkville area? I am hoping to get FIOS sooner than later.

Hey all, Georgetown OTA HD guy again here...I just got a loop antenna, as many of you suggested. This is the model I got: http://www.amazon.com/RCA-ANT120-Indoor-TV-Antenna/dp/tech-data/B00000J0E2/ref=de_a_smtd/103-2826271-6082209.

My question is, what position should I turn the UHF/VHF knob on the top to get the best reception? Thanks.

I want to burn JP/Raycom sports / wdca to the ground. How the F is the duke unc game blacked out in the DC area? In fact, I'm really in the BALTIMORE market. These media rules are GODDAMN RIDUCLOUS. :mad: :mad: :mad:

I want to burn JP/Raycom sports / wdca to the ground. How the F is the duke unc game blacked out in the DC area? In fact, I'm really in the BALTIMORE market. These media rules are GODDAMN RIDUCLOUS. :mad: :mad: :mad:

And don't get me started on JP/Raycom Sports not broadcasting the ACC Basketball Tournament in HD and blacking out ESPN who does show it in HD so I have to watch it in SD from them !

Hey all, Georgetown OTA HD guy again here...I just got a loop antenna, as many of you suggested. This is the model I got: http://www.amazon.com/RCA-ANT120-Indoor-TV-Antenna/dp/tech-data/B00000J0E2/ref=de_a_smtd/103-2826271-6082209.

My question is, what position should I turn the UHF/VHF knob on the top to get the best reception? Thanks.
Put the antenna in or close to the window with the open face of the loop facing out the window for starters. Set the "fine-tuning" knob to a middle position and don't worry about it too much although you could try a couple of settings for it.

I've had great success this past week setting up a Winegard SS-1000 Square Shooter mounted on a tripod inside my attic.

I've noticed the ATSC tuner in the Pioneer Pro-1140HD picks up quite a few stations. The HDHomerun networked tuner feeing a Media Center 2005 PC gets the same ones at just about the same signal strength. The tuners in the DirecTV HR10-250 comes nowhere near as close and just barely gets the same signals. I get 4,5,7,9,14,26 and 50 ATSC stations reasonably well. I'm in zip 20817 and apparently being 'close' to the transmitters is worse than a little farther away.

Once the weather warms up a bit I'm going to try moving the antenna outside of the attic to see if that improves reception. It's a 1950's house with an asphalt shingled roof that's not very steep (about 10yrs old The local stations are between bearings of 130 to 150 degrees. Baltimore stations are closer to about 20 degrees and that's outside the pickup of the SS-1000. I don't expect moving outside the attic will improve that. But hopefully it'll allow picking up 32.

There there's the idea of using two antennae.... anyone done this around here?

And don't get me started on JP/Raycom Sports not broadcasting the ACC Basketball Tournament in HD and blacking out ESPN who does show it in HD so I have to watch it in SD from them !

I was so pissed off at that last night.

Does anyone know if the game was available in Howard County? A friend of mine was having trouble finding it and not sure if he ever did.

If Howard Co. gets Baltimore channels, then it was available on WNUV-54.

Don't get me started about the ESPN-blackout in ACC markets. I'm already dreading the tournament coming up.

If Howard Co. gets Baltimore channels, then it was available on WNUV-54.

Don't get me started about the ESPN-blackout in ACC markets. I'm already dreading the tournament coming up.

I just posted this about a week ago and apparently no one noticed. I emailed Raycom and asked. Maybe Mark Bulla can shed some light on this since I think WNUV is the Baltimore affiliate, right? I doubt we'll get much info from WDCA.

>Thank you for your feedback. Currently, Raycom Sports and Lincoln
>Financial Sports are testing "non-network" HD delivery of our ACC
>Basketball telecasts with our local stations throughout the ACC
>Territory. If the tests are successful, we have plans in place to
>produce and deliver the entire ACC Basketball Tournament in HD.

>Thank you,
>Raycom Sports & Lincoln Financial Sports

Like I've said before - I'll believe in Raycom-HD when I see it.

Like I've said before - I'll believe in Raycom-HD when I see it.

Agreed. I got the same canned response as inlogan. I'd like to believe it, but I'm waiting until I hear something a little more definitive... I mean, the least they could do is not black out the HD stations until they have an HD feed. And it's not like their SD quality is even that good to begin with! What's an ACC fan to do?

I just posted this about a week ago and apparently no one noticed. I emailed Raycom and asked. Maybe Mark Bulla can shed some light on this since I think WNUV is the Baltimore affiliate, right? I doubt we'll get much info from WDCA.

>Thank you for your feedback. Currently, Raycom Sports and Lincoln
>Financial Sports are testing "non-network" HD delivery of our ACC
>Basketball telecasts with our local stations throughout the ACC
>Territory. If the tests are successful, we have plans in place to
>produce and deliver the entire ACC Basketball Tournament in HD.

>Thank you,
>Raycom Sports & Lincoln Financial Sports

Well, good news and bad news - I participated in the test, and am able to receive the HD signal with no problem. I have a dedicated HD satellite receiver on a dedicated satellite dish, and it all works!

Unfortunately, I currently have no way to put the signal on the air... The equipment that I use to put the CW network HD signal on the air doesn't have another input for audio. I might be able to use the HD video with the analog audio, if they are in time with each other, but I would have to test that...

Something to think about, I guess.

Mark

Is the original poster (CycloneGT), the only one of us who can modify the first post?

I've tried to update the "Who Has What" table to add:

ABC 2.3 to OTA columns (any reason not to do so?)
CW 50.2 to VA Cox (I'm assuming this is the source of The Tube on Ch. 804)
ESPN2-HD to VA Cox
Univeral-HD to Wash Comcast (per JoeInNVa in the next message)

If I get really adventurous one day, I'll move the FiOS column so that it appears before the Baltimore columns. I'd also move RCN to the other side of Cox (and possibly, the other side of the now-moved Verizon FiOS). I guess I'd finish it all off by adding the PBS sub-channels.

So, here goes my update:

Local OTA OTA Wash Wash VA Balt Wash
Channel DishTV Direct Comcast RCN COX Millenium Comcast Verizon
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABC 2 X X X X
ABC 2.2 X X
ABC 2.3 X X X
NBC 4 XS XS X X X X
NBC 4.2 X X X X X X
FOX 5 XS XS X X X X
ABC 7 XS XS X X X X
ABC 7.2 X X X X X X
ABC 7.3 X X
CBS 9 XS XS X X X X X
NBC 11 X X X X
NBC 11.2 X X X X
CBS 13 X X X
TFA 14 X X
MyN 20 X XS X
MPT 22 X X X X X
MyN 24 X X
PBS 26 X X X X X X
MHz 30 X X
FOX 45 X X X X
FOX 45.2 X X X X
CW 50 X X X X X X
CW 50.2 X X X X X
CW 54 X X X X
MHz 57 X X
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Network Dish Direct Wash VA Balt Wash
Channel Network TV Comcast RCN COX Millenium Comcast Verizon
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESPN-HD X X X X X X X X
ESPN2-HD X X X X X X X
DiscoveryHD X X X X X X X X
UniversalHD X X X X X X X
TNT-HD X X X X X X
NatGeo-HD X X X X
Food-HD X X
HGTV-HD X X
NFL-HD X X X X X
HDNet X X X X
HDNetMovies X X X X
INHD X X X
MTV-HD X X X X
WealthHD X
CSN-HD X X X X
A&E-HD X
-
HBO-HD X X X X X X X X
SHO-HD X X X X X X X X
CMax-HD X X X X X
StarZ-HD X X X X X X X
TMC-HD X X
- Part Time
OnDemand-HD X X
NBATV-HD X X
Versus-HD X X X
Golf-HD X X
PPV-HD X X
HDEvents X X X X
- Voom
Rush-HD X
Rave-HD X
HD-News X
Ultra-HD X
Equator-HD X
Gallery-HD X
Monsters-HD X
Animania-HD X
FilmFest-HD X
KungFu-HD X
WldSport-HD X
WldCinma-HD X
Family-HD X
Treasure-HD X
GamePlay-HD X
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

OTA Channels require antenna for reception. Reception varies by location.

Did I miss anything (given that I only know Cox)?

-SUO

Orange---

Washington Comcast has Universal HD.

Can anyone tell me if Comcast Woodbridge (Prince William County) has clear digital channels from Comcast Basic (analog) that can be picked up with a QAM tuner.

Thank you.

I want to burn JP/Raycom sports / wdca to the ground. How the F is the duke unc game blacked out in the DC area? In fact, I'm really in the BALTIMORE market. These media rules are GODDAMN RIDUCLOUS. :mad: :mad: :mad:

Hey! I agree with a Hokie! The ACC needs to re-do their local TV contracts. I hope the JP contract is set to expire soon. I wrote to John Swofford (ACC commish) and the UVA AD Craig Littlepage a while back but never heard back from them regarding the bogus deal we get in ACC territory with the local broadcasting rights.

I'm somewhat confused because I had always thought that ESPN could pick which games to broadcast from the ACC schedule and then Raycom/JP gets the leftovers. I don't know how Duke @ UVA was able to be shown on ESPN-HD locally in Northern VA but then UNC @ Duke was blacked out and shown on JP. Of course one of the few times I was able to watch my Hoos in HD, I was actually at the game LOL.

At the very least, if Raycom is not ready to do HD, the ACC should put language in the next contract which guarantees HD broadcasts when available.

An RF issue in your home, a bad box, ingress from a neighbor, a bad splitter. Those are some examples of what can be wrong.

My qualified generalization is based on experience and information.

You asked the general population of AVSForum if they have a problem such as yours. I didn't see any responses from any other Howard County customers affirming your same issue even though though there are many members from Howard County on this forum regularly. I get the same SA feed in Harford County and I have no problems.

To be a common problem affecting all customers as you want to infer, you don't think they would have repaired it ? Perhaps all the other customers in Howard County that have this issue sought the advice and counsel of people on the internet as well, rather than simply call the cable company. That could explain why they all have a problem and the company doesn't know about it and fixed it.

When I say that these types of issues are usually at the customer end it's because on a vast percentage basis they are. Yours certainly could be the exception to the rule, but we won't know that until you call the company for a service call.

GoIrish

Okay.

MY POINT was that Comcast didn't bother to even check if anyone else was having a problem, they just KNEE-JERK said they would send someone out. THAT is bad triage.

AND, no one has said that they DON'T HAVE the problem either so your "analysis" and assumption is bad.

BTW, I DID ask the company to check on it. Their reaction was to want to send a repairman out rather than EVEN CHECKING IF THEY HAVE ANY OTHER CALLS ON THE ISSUE.

THAT was the point.

But of course it was lost in your arrogant answer to a question I didn't ask. Now, if you don't live in Howard County, your information is useless to me.

And, to Joe, I have no idea if more than one person called in. Neither did they. They didn't bother to check!

Why is this nuance missing on you guys. If they get ZERO calls, then it might be on my end. If they don't check how do they know?

A GOOD customer service organization checks to see if there is a pattern, doesn't ASSUME that you need a service call.

But go ahead and defend Comcrap. They want to send someone out if the wind changes direction.

Anyone else noticed major breakups on most of the Howard County Comcast HD channels? Super Bowl was great, but since then it's been really bad. Even the "analog" ones have been choppy.

NBC's to Be First National Newscast in Format

"NBC Nightly News" is about to become the first national evening news broadcast to go hi-def.

The show will begin broadcasting in the format in March; an exact date is not yet decided. (read more - TV Week (http://www.tvweek.com/page.cms?pageId=578))

Well, good news and bad news - I participated in the test, and am able to receive the HD signal with no problem. I have a dedicated HD satellite receiver on a dedicated satellite dish, and it all works!

Unfortunately, I currently have no way to put the signal on the air... The equipment that I use to put the CW network HD signal on the air doesn't have another input for audio. I might be able to use the HD video with the analog audio, if they are in time with each other, but I would have to test that...

Something to think about, I guess.

Mark


I'll settle for video only on 54.1 if available. If someone really wants to hear Tim Brant and whomever babble on about something, then let those people watch on 54 analog.

from "Kay, Frank" <FKay@raycomsports.com>
to ***
date Feb 8, 2007 3:41 PM
subject RE: High Definition

A Message From Raycom Sports / Lincoln Financial Sports:

We apologize for having to blackout the HD feed of ESPN's UNC-Duke game in your area. R/LF's broadcast contracts with the local TV stations that carry ACC Basketball provide them with full exclusivity in their markets, as per FCC requirements for syndicated content. Without these affiliates we would not be able to broadcast the other 35 regular season ACC games we have on the R/LF schedule. As a result, we will have to continue to black-out ESPN's SD & HD feed of any games that we share with ESPN.

Raycom Sports and Lincoln Financial Sports have been testing "non-network" or syndicated HD delivery of our ACC Basketball telecasts with our local stations throughout the ACC region. The tests are have been fairly successful thus far, with about half of our local stations having the ability to downlink and broadcast a HD feed from R/LF. Because of this promising statistic, we will most likely be producing and distributing the entire ACC Basketball Tournament in HD this season. We are also looking into the feasibility of broadcasting other regular seasons games (such as the UNC-Duke match-up) in HD during the 2008 season. Thank you for your patience and your support of ACC Basketball.


Raycom Sports & Lincoln Financial Sports


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
from Ahsan ***
to media@raycomsports.com
date Feb 8, 2007 3:33 PM
subject High Definition


When will you be bringing us ACC basketball in High Definition? I do not appreciate that ESPN-HD is blacked out for low quality Raycom/LFS productions. ACC Basketball deserves to be shown to its fans in the highest quality broadcast standards. What are your near future plans? At the very least, you should allow ESPN-HD and ESPN2-HD to be displayed while blacking out ESPN. It is also a travesty that the ACC Tournament is blacked out on ESPN-HD in the mid-Atlantic region and shown on analog cable. It is really fuzzy!

Thank you,
--
Ahsan

Okay.

MY POINT was that Comcast didn't bother to even check if anyone else was having a problem, they just KNEE-JERK said they would send someone out. THAT is bad triage.

AND, no one has said that they DON'T HAVE the problem either so your "analysis" and assumption is bad.

BTW, I DID ask the company to check on it. Their reaction was to want to send a repairman out rather than EVEN CHECKING IF THEY HAVE ANY OTHER CALLS ON THE ISSUE.

THAT was the point.

But of course it was lost in your arrogant answer to a question I didn't ask. Now, if you don't live in Howard County, your information is useless to me.

And, to Joe, I have no idea if more than one person called in. Neither did they. They didn't bother to check!

Why is this nuance missing on you guys. If they get ZERO calls, then it might be on my end. If they don't check how do they know?

A GOOD customer service organization checks to see if there is a pattern, doesn't ASSUME that you need a service call.

But go ahead and defend Comcrap. They want to send someone out if the wind changes direction.

Tony, there are people on this forum that really do know what they are talking about and aren't merely speculating when they respond to people. For example, the fact I live in Harford is not irrelevant to the answer I gave you. The fact that you don't understand that doesn't make my information incorrect. The fact you don't understand why the question and scenario you propose is illogical is also something I can't help you with either. So my efforts to inform you will end.

If you're this pleasant with the cable people who try and help you, I would expect they have an equally juvenille name for you as you ascribe to them. I would.

GoIrish

I kept losing UHD and could not figure out why. I had it fine on one TV but the other it would show up for a few seconds then be gone for a while...I thought about calling Comcast to figure it out, but figured I needed to check something out...Guess what? The connector to the back of my box was a little loose. I tightened it up and BAM guess what I saw? Yup, UHD...

So, yes it can be at your end...And if there was an issue on their end, don't you think there would be more than 1 person calling in?

Joe,

I had a problem with reception of UHD from COMCAST also. As you know, the Moto 6412 DVR has a duel tuner. Well, one tuner would not receive UHD but the other would !! The trick is to set the DVR to record on the "good" tuner. Since I couldn't specify which tuner to use, it got a little tricky. I developed a work-around though. Let me know if this becomes a problem for you, and I'll share my work-around.

Can anyone tell me if Comcast Woodbridge (Prince William County) has clear digital channels from Comcast Basic (analog) that can be picked up with a QAM tuner.

Thank you.

Yes, they do. I'm on the Dale City system and we get 4,5,7,9,26,56(I think) plus others I can't remember. I don't think we get 20 yet. If you're interested, the on-demand shows are transmitted in the clear on digital 77, 78, 79 channel range.

Anyone else noticed major breakups on most of the Howard County Comcast HD channels? Super Bowl was great, but since then it's been really bad. Even the "analog" ones have been choppy.

I've had issues with this in the past, the free QAM channels specifically. My analog channels up around 75 have interference too. I had a tech come out to try and fix it a long time ago because it was messing with the cable modem as well. He wasn't much help at all. The one thing I did learn is that temperature has an effect on the signal and he offered to turn it down to the house because it was too strong. (Cold makes it stronger.) It was working since the visit up until a couple weeks ago.

That said, now my TV says the the signal is too low. I think it might be too high, actually, because it has been so cold recently. My cable modem is fine, and I am watching everything OTA, so I could care less. I don't need Comcast to come out and waste my time (again) and possibly make things worse.

Also recently, I removed a 4-way splitter that was unneeded because it fed rooms that don't have TV's. (I needed the splitter for something else and I didn't want to go to the store.) It wasn't between the main line and the QAM TV, but if I understand things right, it could affect the whole house. That might have had something to do with it. I need to do some experimentation to be sure.

I've noticed the ATSC tuner in the Pioneer Pro-1140HD picks up quite a few stations. The HDHomerun networked tuner feeing a Media Center 2005 PC gets the same ones at just about the same signal strength. The tuners in the DirecTV HR10-250 comes nowhere near as close and just barely gets the same signals.
From what I've read, that's an issue with the D*'s DTV tuner before anything else. Don't try to be the hero until 2009, when you'll post about not getting mo&%^#%&^@*ng WJLA and WUSA... ;)
______________

On a side note, if you think that WETA's HD PQ is bad now, imagine this on a WETA subchannel....

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9721094#post9721094

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9724763#post9724763

My response from the Chicago OTA thread:

Here in DC, our PBS-HD channel, WETA, already has three SD subchannels to go along with their 1080i HD channel, and even with my SDTV, I can see macroblocking on many an occasion. I wonder if they'll add this Spanish channel, and if they'll down-resolve the HD to 720p to cope...

To think, the other PBS station in town, WHUT, isn't digitally broadcasting, yet. This "V-me" would be a great channel for them...

I recently bought a CM 4221 to replace my Terk HDTVa (amplified) to get perfect reception in Columbia, MD thanks to the suggestions on this board. The Terk was doing an OK job, but it wasn't always perfect (especially with wind) and it was making me nervous that it wasn't tied down to anything and could be easily bumped out of alignment. (Though it wasn't in a place where this could readily happen.)

I mounted it in the attic and it is getting better reception than the Terk without even being amplified. I've aimed it at DC (which I prefer) but I wasn't really successful in getting Baltimore off the back side. I have tall trees in that direction which probably doesn't help. I saw a suggestion to remove the wire grate off the back and that worked wonderfully. I get basically everything but 24 (jeez, get some juice already) and 26. I get 67 which is a surprise, but 22 comes in much better. Most everything is a very strong signal.

So far I have no multipath issues, but it's only been a day. :) I'll see what happens when the wind starts picking up because that always doomed Baltimore with the Terk.

I'm hoping this will get the VHF well enough in 2009. We'll see.

From what I've read, that's an issue with the D*'s DTV tuner before anything else. Don't try to be the hero until 2009, when you'll post about not getting mo&%^#%&^@*ng WJLA and WUSA... ;)
______________

On a side note, if you think that WETA's HD PQ is bad now, imagine this on a WETA subchannel....

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9721094#post9721094

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9724763#post9724763

My response from the Chicago OTA thread:

Why will the DirecTV tuner have problems with VHF in 2009?

from "Kay, Frank" <FKay@raycomsports.com>
to ***
date Feb 8, 2007 3:41 PM
subject RE: High Definition

A Message From Raycom Sports / Lincoln Financial Sports:
...
The tests are have been fairly successful thus far, with about half of our local stations having the ability to downlink and broadcast a HD feed from R/LF. Because of this promising statistic, we will most likely be producing and distributing the entire ACC Basketball Tournament in HD this season.



I also emailed them and got the same email back. What do you want to bet that WDCA 20 is one of the half of the stations that don't have the ability to downlink and broadcast HD. WDCA was like the last station to go digital.

When will you be bringing us ACC basketball in High Definition? I do not appreciate that ESPN-HD is blacked out for low quality Raycom/LFS productions. ACC Basketball deserves to be shown to its fans in the highest quality broadcast standards. What are your near future plans? At the very least, you should allow ESPN-HD and ESPN2-HD to be displayed while blacking out ESPN. It is also a travesty that the ACC Tournament is blacked out on ESPN-HD in the mid-Atlantic region and shown on analog cable. It is really fuzzy!

Thank you,
--
Ahsan

At least you said thank you.

Why will the DirecTV tuner have problems with VHF in 2009?
It won't: Your SquareShooter will have the issue. It's vertically polarized for VHF (http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/SquareShooter.html), while the antenna is horizontally polarized for UHF. This means that you'll have to tilt it in a way that maybe you'll get VHF and UHF signals at once, if it's possible to get the VHF ones at all (the link'll help you how). You might have a chance on your two other tuners, but I suspect that it's a lost cause for the D* receiver. But it won't have total blame.

Anybody with a SquareShooter will be prone to reception issues in 2009. Many will learn that the hard way.

It won't: Your SquareShooter will have the issue. It's vertically polarized for VHF (http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/SquareShooter.html), while the antenna is horizontally polarized for UHF. This means that you'll have to tilt it in a way that maybe you'll get VHF and UHF signals at once, if it's possible to get the VHF ones at all (the link'll help you how). You might have a chance on your two other tuners, but I suspect that it's a lost cause for the D* receiver. But it won't have total blame.

Anybody with a SquareShooter will be prone to reception issues in 2009. Many will learn that the hard way.

I have a SquareShooter that I like a lot. I don't really care about the move to VHF because my AppleTV will be here in a couple of weeks and I hope by 2009 I will be getting all my content off the internet :D

I don't really care about the move to VHF because my AppleTV will be here in a couple of weeks and I hope by 2009 I will be getting all my content off the internet
This is a good possibility, but if it doesn't pan out, I wonder what power WJLA and WUSA will be transmitting at. Given that they are currently transmitting at the UHF digital max of a MW, perhaps they will do what -- 60 some odd kW for VHF digital max.

My, that seems awfully weak and perhaps the FCC will drastically increase that ceiling following analog shutdown! Otherwise, I don't see how I could continue to digitally pull these stations in.

update as of this morning (1/17): I spoke to the customer service folks at Verizon fios, and they called the tech folks who told them that the DC HD stations would remain in the system for the Howard/Anne Arundel County subscribers. That would be a huge relief if it's accurate. I guess we really won't know until the channel line-up changes. I'll be holding my breath!
We received another new lineup for AA/Howard counties today, and a letter from Verizon:

"... It has come to our attention that a few of the new Hi-Def channels were omitted from the updated channel lineup we sent you . Those channels are:

801 FOX - WTTG HD
802 CBS - WUSA HD
803 ABC - WJLA HD
804 PBS - WETA HD
807 NBC - WRC HD

Please note that these channels, along with the ones outlined in our previous lettter, will change positions in the lineup on 2/20/07..."

Now they just need a correction to the correction :)... those channels aren't new, and they aren't changing positions (based on the revised list titled "AA/HC-1pg-1/07".)

I wonder what power WJLA and WUSA will be transmitting at.
A few months ago, I asked four questions (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9228544#post9228544[/url) about WJLA and WUSA in that sort of regard. With an FCC-released document (Excel version (http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-150A2.xls)) (pdf version (http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-150A2.pdf)), I have the answer to three of the questions.

(By the way, there's no note of call signs in the document, but search the document for "washington", and there's "references" to both channels 7 and 9 there. ;) )

Short version:

* WUSA and WJLA will both broadcast at 254 meters above average terrain. This is the tallest tower location in town, at least in terms of HAAT, and higher than their current analog location.
* WUSA will broadcast at 17,000 watts
* WJLA will broadcast at 15,000 watts

I don't know if either will have a directional array, because I don't know where I can go to get info on an "Antenna ID" number. WUSA has 74506, and WJLA has 74539. I suspect that means that the two won't share the same antenna, though I may be wrong.

Mr. Johnson, I don't know if you'll get WUSA, let alone WJLA, but I do know that they'll have a good clean feeling in their power bills. :cool: :o

quick question, do people from Baltimore get Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune in HD or not. I know here in NoVA we are not because of WJLA not having the right equipment.

Also, FIOS sent us letter about the change in lineup, but next to Comcast Sports Net HD it says Philadelphia. You guys think it is a typo or we are getting the PA CSN. Because I remember reading an article that in late December FIOS reached an agreement with CSN Philadelphia, not sure if that includes the Baltimore/Washington one.

Thanks in advance

quick question, do people from Baltimore get Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune in HD or not.

WMAR shows them in HD.

quick question, do people from Baltimore get Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune in HD or not. I know here in NoVA we are not because of WJLA not having the right equipment.
WMAR-DT ABC 2 broadcasts Jeopardy and WOF in HD. Assuming you are not blocked by terrain or local circumstances, you can get WMAR-DT in almost all of NoVA with a good UHF antenna.

Also, FIOS sent us letter about the change in lineup, but next to Comcast Sports Net HD it says Philadelphia. You guys think it is a typo or we are getting the PA CSN. Because I remember reading an article that in late December FIOS reached an agreement with CSN Philadelphia, not sure if that includes the Baltimore/Washington one.
Typo. Can you imagine what Peter Angelos would do if Verizon started showing the Philly regional Sport network with the Phillies on almost every day during baseball season in HIS market?

Did anyone else notice lots of breakups on WNUV-DT. My wife noticed it during Gilmore Girls on Tuesday and I saw it during the Duke-Carolina game on Wednesday (upconverted). We were watching via Comcast Baltimore County.

Typo. Can you imagine what Peter Angelos would do if Verizon started showing the Philly regional Sport network with the Phillies on almost every day during baseball season in HIS market?


I actually had a related question to this. With the Extra Innings package very likely going to D* exclusively and CSN-MidAtl having no baseball in the summer, is there anything to stop Comcast from buying rights for FSN-regional (or NESN or YES) baseball games from other markets and putting them on CSN?

It would seemingly be a good counter-programming idea (vs MASN and D*), but I assume there is some MLB rule that prevents teams from selling rights to regional broadcasts outside their geographic territory?

Can anyone tell me if Comcast Woodbridge (Prince William County) has clear digital channels from Comcast Basic (analog) that can be picked up with a QAM tuner.

Thank you.



Yes. I pick up Comcast's HD in-the-clear offerings on a MyHD tuner. So yes, they are indeed available!

Tony, there are people on this forum that really do know what they are talking about and aren't merely speculating when they respond to people. For example, the fact I live in Harford is not irrelevant to the answer I gave you.


Think what you want. Harford County is Howard County, how? They are feeding the signal from a central spot? Skipping over Baltimore county and city? And even if they were doing that, there are no connection problems between those two locations.

Guess what? The channels are fine now and I did nothing. Hmmm.

Now explain to me again how you are missing the POINT I was making, which was that Comcast IMMEDIATELY wanted to send out a tech without even CHECKING if the problem existed on their end. THAT is what ticked me off with them.

It happened again today. My internet connection could not get to THIS website. Even though it was happening on TWO computers and that I could connect via my work connection on those same computers, the drone at Comcast tried to push on me that it was MY PC's that had a bad setting. And then when I told him that the problem was not solved, he reached the end of his script and asked me if there was anything else he could help with. Didn't even ask what sites I was trying to get to.

Yup, that is great. ASSume that the problem is on the customer's end (as you did) and then you get to roll thru "tickets" quickly so it looks like you are good at your job.

That is the Comcast you are defending. And I stick to the original point...you were unhelpful to me. You just stuck your nose in (and in what came off as an arrogant way).

Update. The problems I was having with Comcast clear QAM channels went away on its own when I checked last night. This is why I haven't gone to digital cable. Now if only ESPN became an OTA station...

That is the Comcast you are defending. And I stick to the original point...you were unhelpful to me. You just stuck your nose in (and in what came off as an arrogant way).

You may want to back off the caffine and take it down a thousand. :)

I actually had a related question to this. With the Extra Innings package very likely going to D* exclusively and CSN-MidAtl having no baseball in the summer, is there anything to stop Comcast from buying rights for FSN-regional (or NESN or YES) baseball games from other markets and putting them on CSN?

It would seemingly be a good counter-programming idea (vs MASN and D*), but I assume there is some MLB rule that prevents teams from selling rights to regional broadcasts outside their geographic territory?
What you describe wouldn't be possible. Individual teams own the TV rights to their games only in their geographic regions. They cannot sell their games outside of these defined markets. MLB owns the out of region rights in which take the form of the ESPN, TBS (Sunday afternoon) and Fox contracts along with the Extra Innings.

I also emailed them and got the same email back. What do you want to bet that WDCA 20 is one of the half of the stations that don't have the ability to downlink and broadcast HD. WDCA was like the last station to go digital.
Yeah, but FOX 5 has the ability to do HD synidcation (kind of), they aired those NFL Network games in HD. And, for an event like this, one could assume that FOX 5/My20 has syndication equipment shared between the two.

Not saying any of that will hold up, but it does shed some light on WDCA.

And, just to bring it up, what ever happened to FOX 5 upgrading their local news to HD? They ordered the equipment last July, but since then, nothing has been said, with the exception of sister station WTXF in Philly upgrading to HD.

Comcast in Montgomery County now has Golf/Versus on channel 258 and National Geographic HD on channel 224

I currently receive my HD channels OTA, but due to several dropout problems lately I have been considering using my QAM tuner to pick up the clear HD channels on Comcast's basic cable, or upgrading to their digital package and using their digital converter/DVR.

I love the uncompressed signal that I receive OTA and was wondering if I will see any degradation in the picture quality going to cable for HD. I have heard that there is a certain amount of compression with digital cable.

My question is for anyone who has looked at both OTA HD and Comcast's HD. Am I going to be able to detect any difference?

Thank you.

Yeah, but FOX 5 has the ability to do HD synidcation (kind of), they aired those NFL Network games in HD. And, for an event like this, one could assume that FOX 5/My20 has syndication equipment shared between the two.

Not saying any of that will hold up, but it does shed some light on WDCA.

And, just to bring it up, what ever happened to FOX 5 upgrading their local news to HD? They ordered the equipment last July, but since then, nothing has been said, with the exception of sister station WTXF in Philly upgrading to HD.

I also think there's a good chance WDCA will be able to do it.

I made a post back when MyNetworkTV was just starting on WDCA about how it looked like they had the ability to record and playback HD. It was a non-network time of the day and they were playing around with the digital signal and showing a recorded version of their network telenovelas. Here's the link from then.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8527882&&#post8527882

I've been having very strange sound problems with my KD-E42A10. On any of the WBAL OTA HD channels I lose sound whenever I turn the TV off, or switch to another channel. To get the sound back I must purposely move the antenna (silver sensor) so that the channel loses its signal, then move the antenna back to its original position. This "fix" works 100% of the time.

We also have another HD set in the basement connected via a 2-bay outdoor antenna through a HD Tivo box that does not have this issue.

I'm guessing it's been about a month this way, and the symptoms have been exactly the same every time. No hit-or-miss.

Any ideas?

and note that in the latest revised channel lineup they sent, verizon took out channel 829: comcast sports net hd.

oops. reprint!




We received another new lineup for AA/Howard counties today, and a letter from Verizon:

"... It has come to our attention that a few of the new Hi-Def channels were omitted from the updated channel lineup we sent you . Those channels are:

801 FOX - WTTG HD
802 CBS - WUSA HD
803 ABC - WJLA HD
804 PBS - WETA HD
807 NBC - WRC HD

Please note that these channels, along with the ones outlined in our previous lettter, will change positions in the lineup on 2/20/07..."

Now they just need a correction to the correction :)... those channels aren't new, and they aren't changing positions (based on the revised list titled "AA/HC-1pg-1/07".)

I currently receive my HD channels OTA, but due to several dropout problems lately I have been considering using my QAM tuner to pick up the clear HD channels on Comcast's basic cable, or upgrading to their digital package and using their digital converter/DVR.

I love the uncompressed signal that I receive OTA and was wondering if I will see any degradation in the picture quality going to cable for HD. I have heard that there is a certain amount of compression with digital cable.

My question is for anyone who has looked at both OTA HD and Comcast's HD. Am I going to be able to detect any difference?

Thank you.
Depends on the TV and your eyes, but it's unlikely you'll see any diff - I can't on a Sony 30XS955. It's a big jump from lifeline basic to just about any other package.

Just a quick question. Does Comcast/Baltimore broadcast any local HD's over basic cable?

Just a quick question. Does Comcast/Baltimore broadcast any local HD's over basic cable?
We get the Baltimore locals in HD here in AA County, I would presume that Baltimore proper would get the same.

Just a quick question. Does Comcast/Baltimore broadcast any local HD's over basic cable?

All locals are unencrypted on basic.

GoIrish

Did anyone else notice lots of breakups on WNUV-DT. My wife noticed it during Gilmore Girls on Tuesday and I saw it during the Duke-Carolina game on Wednesday (upconverted). We were watching via Comcast Baltimore County.

A quick follow-up. I tried to watch my recording of ER from WBAL and it was unwatchable with audio drops and tons of blocking. I assume this wasn't a national issue, since it would've been on the Programming forum. Was it WBAL issue? Or is it possibly a bad sector on my DVR?

This morning I was channel surfing and stopped to look at Viva Pinata (only because I have it for the 360, I swear!) It looked like it was broadcast in 4:3 but at the very top of the screen was a thin strip that extended across the whole screen. When I looked closely, I could see that the part of the strip that was above the black bars was actually a continuation of of the picture and showed the very top of what should be behind the the black bars. So, in a moving scene, if a tree passed, you would see the very top of it go by above the black bars. So basically, either FOX, Cox, or my cable box is taking a 16:9 picture and putting black bars over it to make it look like 4:3. Any other Cox user notice this?

All locals are unencrypted on basic.

GoIrish

Thanks

* WUSA and WJLA will both broadcast at 254 meters above average terrain. This is the tallest tower location in town, at least in terms of HAAT, and higher than their current analog location.
* WUSA will broadcast at 17,000 watts
* WJLA will broadcast at 15,000 watts

I don't know if either will have a directional array, because I don't know where I can go to get info on an "Antenna ID" number. WUSA has 74506, and WJLA has 74539. I suspect that means that the two won't share the same antenna, though I may be wrong.

Mr. Johnson, I don't know if you'll get WUSA, let alone WJLA, but I do know that they'll have a good clean feeling in their power bills.
I have some thoughts/questions here:

1. These are proposed allotments and after reading accompanying FCC notices I found elsewhere, I see that licensees can request changes following finalization.

2. Therefore, I wonder if 7 and 9 may want to request a change to UHF given that (a) 15 and 17 kW seem awfully weak, (b) they currently are operating at max. for UHF digital (1,000 kW), (c) even now with analog and digital totalling more than 1,300 kW, they apparently have no problem with current power bills, and (d) their main competitors will stay at 1,000 kW.

3. I know stations now rely heavily on cable, audience-wise, but OTA these power levels -- apparently necessary for hi-VHF and perhaps mandated by the FCC because of potential interference problems -- the levels seem ridiculous. Out here, WVIR analog-wise touts itself as the 5,000,000 watt voice of Virginia. What's 7 and 9 going to do in 2009: Tout themselves as the little DC stations that could!

4. I wonder why both are currently at only 316 kW analog when they could be 5,000. Seems kind of coincidental and perhaps again an FCC mandated thing because of potential interference for analog hi-VHF.

5. You're right! Even at almost 1800 ft. elevation, I can kiss these stations goodbye being 125 miles away. That's probably why I'm ranting along here, especially since 7.1 often brings Nittany Lions football when the other ABC stations I get invariably bring ACC games. Putting my attic 4228 on the roof probably wouldn't even help. 1,000 kW to 15 -- Man oh man! Perhaps sanity will prevail at these stations and they'll say an electric bill of only a few hundred dollars a month is beyond the pale. ;) ;)

P.S. Many many thanks mike, for getting this info, terrible for me tho it is. :( :( :( :( .......

Hi-

I'm new to the forum, so I hope it will be okay to drop this message into an ongoing thread. If not, sorry -- please let me know the correct procedure....

Two days ago we bought a Sony KDL-32S20L1 32" LCD TV set. Setup has been uneventful but for one glaring problem -- we absolutely cannot pick up WETA's digital channels over the air.

We live in Silver Spring MD, close to Wash DC. Antennaweb says we are 6 mi NNE of the River Rd tower and 11 mi NNE of their other tower (Arlington?). Our antenna is a medium-high gain Channel Master VHF/UHF (11 ft boom) on a chimney approx 30' above ground. We're not in a hole (310 ft elevation). The antenna feeds an RF amplifier (a Channel Master model with a high overload point). As we swing the rotator, we get noise free and ghost free reception of all the main analog channels in DC, Baltimore, and Annapolis. Analog ch. 26 comes in perfectly (strong and no ghosts), yet digital ch.s 26.1 to 26.4 are just not there.

After exhausting every test I could think of yesterday, a second tier Sony tech rep and I spent 2 hrs on the phone until he ran out of ideas too. We tried many antenna related trials -- various bearings, disabling the amp, even a set of inside rabbit ears. The tuner locked on ~every~ digital station except for WETA even though analog ch 26 was always fine. We did the digital tuner auto-chan search over and over again, but no luck. We did an overall TV reset twice -- no help.

To be missing one station like this seems odd. Or is it? Can anyone comment on how likely it is for a tuner to be broken such that it cannot receive one and only one digital station. With all the antenna tests and the good analog signal from WETA, the Sony guy said he could only conclude that the tuner is faulty. Does that sound likely? Or is there something odd about WETA? Are they known to be doing anything atypical which could lead to a problem like this?

One last idea... I've read that WETA broadcasts analog from the River Rd tower, but the digital signal comes from the other tower which is farther south. The bearings I have suggest that we just happen to live where we are almost directly in line with the two towers -- the digital tower is behind the analog tower, and at twice the range. Could it be that the strong signal from the nearby analog tower is somehow precluding the tuner from "seeing" the farther away digital source, effectively interfering with the simulcasting?

Clutching at straws here.... Sorry about the long message, but if anyone can help, thanks!

I am also in Silver Spring. WETA digital broadcasts are flaky, even with a good rooftop antenna (a 4-bay or 8-bay bowtie type is best). I can only get them consistently at night from late fall to early spring. During this period, I can sometimes get them irregularly during the day without too much dropout.

The WETA website program schedule for channels 26.1, 26.3, and 26.4 is riddled with errors in the listings it shows. Also, no listings are shown for 26.2 at all or for 26.1 outside of the HD broadcast hours at night. The website listings are not consistent with what shows up in program listings for DirecTV HD-Tivo program guide, which is somewhat more accurate, but not too accurate either.

The WETA website program schedule for channels 26.1, 26.3, and 26.4 is riddled with errors in the listings it shows. Also, no listings are shown for 26.2 at all or for 26.1 outside of the HD broadcast hours at night. The website listings are not consistent with what shows up in program listings for DirecTV HD-Tivo program guide, which is somewhat more accurate, but not too accurate either.

I am also in Silver Spring. WETA digital broadcasts are flaky, even with a good rooftop antenna (a 4-bay or 8-bay bowtie type is best). I can only get them consistently at night from late fall to early spring. During this period, I can sometimes get them irregularly during the day without too much dropout.
WETA has been somewhat flaky from my house, which is at a similar distance to you. However, I've gotten it so that I can get consistent reception of it with my indoor antenna. I think the digital antenna they use could be old, and not refined enough vs. newer ones. WETA was one of the pioneers in local DT broadcasting...

Fortunately, they should move to a new tower in Tenleytown pretty soon, so you shouldn't have issues then. In the meantime you can try for WMPT 22-1 from Annapolis.

JDH,

Simply solution, but most likely not what you are looking for. If you are looking for the HD subchannel, just pick up an MPT station. I live way out in Haymarket, and I got a CM 4228 just to get MPT, as WETA's HD feed is sub-optimal due to the amount of bandwidth the allot. The HD feeds are the exact same programming, but MPT only does HD from 4 pm -sometime early in the morning, whereas WETA is 24/7. I sacrifice the 10 hrs a day of HD from MPT in order to get a better pic and sound from MPT.

But...I understand your frustration with not being able to get WETA. Not being able to get something I should would drive me crazy, even if I don't watch it. Such is the life for us HD junkies.

Jim

Two days ago we bought a Sony KDL-32S20L1 32" LCD TV set. Setup has been uneventful but for one glaring problem -- we absolutely cannot pick up WETA's digital channels over the air.

A quick follow-up. I tried to watch my recording of ER from WBAL and it was unwatchable with audio drops and tons of blocking. I assume this wasn't a national issue, since it would've been on the Programming forum. Was it WBAL issue? Or is it possibly a bad sector on my DVR?

I DVR'd ER off of WBAL-DT on Thursday night and had no problems. I receive the station off air on my DirecTV HR20.

I am also in Silver Spring. WETA digital broadcasts are flaky, even with a good rooftop antenna (a 4-bay or 8-bay bowtie type is best). I can only get them consistently at night from late fall to early spring. During this period, I can sometimes get them irregularly during the day without too much dropout.

The WETA website program schedule for channels 26.1, 26.3, and 26.4 is riddled with errors in the listings it shows. Also, no listings are shown for 26.2 at all or for 26.1 outside of the HD broadcast hours at night. The website listings are not consistent with what shows up in program listings for DirecTV HD-Tivo program guide, which is somewhat more accurate, but not too accurate either.

WETA has a detailed coverage map on their website. Maybe it's half science and half their advertising department' wishful thinking, but the Four Corners area of Silver Spring is ~very~ close to the center of their coverage areas. Heck, they show both their digital and analog TV, as well as their FM radio footprint extending all the way to Baltimore city, and meanwhile my set's tuner won't even lock on them from this short distance.

Any ideas on WETA's problem? If they're low in power, maybe I should consider getting a better antenna to combat that? If it's reflections, a higher gain antenna would fight that too. But what really, really bothers me about all this is that the analog ch 26 signal is flawless here. No ghosts, good signal, low noise, etc., so I figured the digital signal ought to be comparable -- not so.

Getting back to my TV set, maybe Sony tuners are known to be insensitive or finicky in operation? I haven't read this anywhere, but if the Sony tuners have a limited range of acceptable signals (insensitivity combined with poor overload performance), that would be a deadly combination. If this is the case, I can return this set and exchange it for something else. Any idea if there's a certain brand whose digital tuners are known to be well done?

On the program guides and published schedules, as someone once said, "I feel your pain" <g>. My wife and I do a lot of time shift recording, and it drives us nuts how frequently inaccurate the various guides seem to be (not just WETA). If you haven't already done so, check out the Titan TV website. They have a TV Guide-like grid you can access, and it seems more accurate than many others.

WETA has been somewhat flaky from my house, which is at a similar distance to you. However, I've gotten it so that I can get consistent reception of it with my indoor antenna. I think the digital antenna they use could be old, and not refined enough vs. newer ones. WETA was one of the pioneers in local DT broadcasting...

Fortunately, they should move to a new tower in Tenleytown pretty soon, so you shouldn't have issues then. In the meantime you can try for WMPT 22-1 from Annapolis.

Ch 22 and ch 26 often have different shows at different times, so we really would like to have access to both digital stations (as we do now for their analog feeds).

Chan 22 comes in here like gangbusters. If the antenna is pointed at them (due East), they are flawless. But they even come in almost as well (slight breakup, occasional digital pixelization) off the side or back of the antenna when it is pointed SSW to aim at the DC stations. Under this latter circumstance with the antenna not aiming at them, the ~analog~ ch 22 signal looks like a total mess -- tremendous ghosting, low signal, sound dropping in and out -- completely unwatchable. Yet you flip over to their digital signal and it's amazing that it's as good as it is (again, assuming the analog signal is representative of the digital one).

So it's mostly these ch 22 performance tests which make me suspicious of this set's tuner and the trouble it's having with WETA. How can it lock on to digital ch 22 when it's apparently so rotten a signal (35 miles off the back of the antenna, etc.), yet it can't even see nearby WETA (6-10 miles) with a beam antenna pointed right at them? I don't get it. Is this somehow an apples-oranges comparison?

Let me ask ask the same question I just posed in another reply. Do Sony ATSC tuners have a bad reputation? Are they good, bad, average, or what? If they are on the poor side (at least the one in this model set), and if some other brand is more well thought of, I would think very seriously of returning this set in exchange of that better brand.

Bottom line: I have to sort out -- is this TV set broken or substandard in design, is it WETA, is it our specific location and, whichever, is there a fix?! Boy oh boy, I just love these exercises which sometimes seem like crystal ball gazing.....

Hi Jim-

We currently watch the three main PBS stations in our area (analog ch.s 22, 26, and 32). Certainly their programming overlaps, but they also frequently broadcast different shows. Okay, maybe we're spoiled <g>, but since ch 32 seems not to broadcast digitally, we just dropped from 3 stations to one by shifting to digital reception.

Of course we'll live with that if it's the only choice, but the question is whether there's a fix for this WETA problem. I'd hate to lose their station (how many subchannels do they have -- isn't it 4 or 5? That's a bunch....).


JDH,

Simply solution, but most likely not what you are looking for. If you are looking for the HD subchannel, just pick up an MPT station. I live way out in Haymarket, and I got a CM 4228 just to get MPT, as WETA's HD feed is sub-optimal due to the amount of bandwidth the allot. The HD feeds are the exact same programming, but MPT only does HD from 4 pm -sometime early in the morning, whereas WETA is 24/7. I sacrifice the 10 hrs a day of HD from MPT in order to get a better pic and sound from MPT.

But...I understand your frustration with not being able to get WETA. Not being able to get something I should would drive me crazy, even if I don't watch it. Such is the life for us HD junkies.

Jim

WETA has been somewhat flaky from my house, which is at a similar distance to you. However, I've gotten it so that I can get consistent reception of it with my indoor antenna. I think the digital antenna they use could be old, and not refined enough vs. newer ones. WETA was one of the pioneers in local DT broadcasting...

Fortunately, they should move to a new tower in Tenleytown pretty soon, so you shouldn't have issues then. In the meantime you can try for WMPT 22-1 from Annapolis.

Sorry, I forgot to ask in my original reply.... If we are roughly the same distance from WETA, and you can get them via an indoor antenna (what? just a loop or bowtie?), does it make any sense that my roof top beam cannot give this tuner a signal it likes for this one channel when this setup works for ~every~ single other station within 30-35 miles of here? We're not in a hole. WETA analog TV is perfect. I'm just amazed by all this and find it hyper curious <g>! Yet it seems so odd to envision a TV tuner which has a block against only one station yet sees all the others (maybe it dislikes PBS pledge week!).

TV Sports
Here comes ACC HD
By Mark Washburn Charlotte Observer

Raycom/Lincoln Financial will announce next week that ACC basketball is going high definition.For the first time, the ACC tournament -- which begins March 8 -- will be broadcast in HD on the syndicated network.

Although the penetration of high-definition sets is still relatively low, those who get the broadcasts are growing increasingly vocal. They want their ACC in HD.

But technical problems have kept the network from switching to high def.

Ken Haines, Raycom's president, says affiliates aren't set up to receive syndicated programming in HD. They get their network programs in HD, but aren't set up to receive feeds from other sources.

Of the 35 stations that get ACC basketball from Raycom/Lincoln Financial, about a third will be equipped to receive the HD feed by tournament time. That includes WBTV (Channel 3) in Charlotte as well as other major markets, including Greensboro and Raleigh.

"We're looking at adding some regular-season games next year," says Haines. "I don't know how far away we are from doing all the games in HD."

Costs are part of the problem. While it is more expensive to do HD games -- cameras, a high-def studio truck and other equipment must be added -- there is no increase in ad revenues.

"It costs a lot more to produce in HD than standard definition. We haven't found anyone willing to pay more to be broadcast in HD," Haines says.

J-D-H,

Something that you might want to know about WETA-DT: They broadcast from a tower in Arlington that is about 70 meters lower above average terrain vs. stations like WUSA and WRC. Only the WETA analog tower is in the height and location range of the Big 4. Also, WETA-DT broadcasts at 75,000 watts vs. 813,000 for WRC and 1,000,000 for WJLA. So maybe downtown Silver Spring buildings block the WETA-DT signal or something.

Remember, WETA should move in the future to the WJLA tower...
_________________

Watching WJLA-DT (and analog) OTA, it looks like the game has a red cast. All other stations look fine, like the b-ball was on WUSA. Maybe it was the ABC feed, but it wouldn't hurt to check up on things.

The WETA website program schedule for channels 26.1, 26.3, and 26.4 is riddled with errors in the listings it shows. Also, no listings are shown for 26.2 at all or for 26.1 outside of the HD broadcast hours at night. The website listings are not consistent with what shows up in program listings for DirecTV HD-Tivo program guide, which is somewhat more accurate, but not too accurate either.

How do you get listings for your TV? I have a Samsung DLP and all that it shows in programing guide is "Local Programing".

We live in Silver Spring MD, close to Wash DC. Antennaweb says we are 6 mi NNE of the River Rd tower and 11 mi NNE of their other tower (Arlington?). Our antenna is a medium-high gain Channel Master VHF/UHF (11 ft boom) on a chimney approx 30' above ground. We're not in a hole (310 ft elevation). The antenna feeds an RF amplifier (a Channel Master model with a high overload point). As we swing the rotator, we get noise free and ghost free reception of all the main analog channels in DC, Baltimore, and Annapolis. Analog ch. 26 comes in perfectly (strong and no ghosts), yet digital ch.s 26.1 to 26.4 are just not there.
Sorry, I forgot to ask in my original reply.... If we are roughly the same distance from WETA, and you can get them via an indoor antenna (what? just a loop or bowtie?), does it make any sense that my roof top beam cannot give this tuner a signal it likes for this one channel when this setup works for ~every~ single other station within 30-35 miles of here? We're not in a hole. WETA analog TV is perfect. I'm just amazed by all this and find it hyper curious <g>! Yet it seems so odd to envision a TV tuner which has a block against only one station yet sees all the others (maybe it dislikes PBS pledge week!).
Which specific Channel Master antenna do you have? If I follow this, you don't get WETA-DT at all, even if you rotate the antenna towards Arlington and do a scan, correct? Depends on how your tuner works, but do you get anything if you enter channel 27 (the actual broadcast channel for the digital signal for WETA-DT)?

The Sony HD TVs have been reported to have good ATSC tuners. Given the Sony -Samsung collaboration on the LCD plant, it is likely that the Sony uses the same chipset as in Samsung ATSC tuner STBs. So you should be ok on the ATSC tuner.

For starters, I wonder if your Channel master is too directional for your location. In Silver Spring, Baltimore is in close to the opposite direction. With the right antenna, you should be able to aim the front of the antenna at Baltimore and pick up the DC stations in the backlobe without having to use a rotator most of the time.

I can get WETA-DT along with the rest of the DC and the Baltimore stations (and other stations in the region) from out here in Sterling with a Channel Master 4221 4 Bay bowtie UHF antenna without a rotator. The 4221 4 Bay is multi-directional with a broad pickup pattern to the front, but can also pick stations from the backside. I get WWPX-DT Pax/i 60 (DT=12) station way out in Martinsburg at 46 miles with my CM 4221 aimed in the other direction just south of Baltimore.

If you can't get WETA-DT at all from where you are, you may be blocked by the terrain, the city between you and the not that high a broadcast tower. If WETA-DT is still at Arlington, then the station is only at 75 kW, which would normally put you withing range, is not that powerful a signal for UHF. The FCC database for WETA is at http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WETA if you want to look at the locations and tower heights. There is a lack of information over when WETA-DT will move it's digital broadcasting to the same DC area as the other DC towers. But I may be wrong and they already have. Maybe I should break out the very directional Radio Shack U-75R and find out where WETA-DT is broadcasting from just to be sure.

Baltimore City Comcast has chanced their local ota broadcast list...

NBC dissapeared (was at 92-11) now is abc.

91-13 cbs
91-67 mpt
91-167 mpt
91-267 mpt kids
91-367 mpt select
91-467 mpt learner
92-2 abc? gone!
92-11 abc hd (was nbc)
92-15 abc weather
126-2 fox hd
105-3 CW hd

Anyone know where NBC went? Please append this list if you are in the baltimore city area.

Thanks

On WJLA (DT only) during the Cavs game. It looks like the colors are fainter than usual -- like there's not enough red. Odd contrast there between the two games.

EDIT: By "DT only" means I only looked at DT that time. Sorry if I unnecessarily wasted anybody's time.

Which specific Channel Master antenna do you have? If I follow this, you don't get WETA-DT at all, even if you rotate the antenna towards Arlington and do a scan, correct? Depends on how your tuner works, but do you get anything if you enter channel 27 (the actual broadcast channel for the digital signal for WETA-DT)?

The Sony HD TVs have been reported to have good ATSC tuners. Given the Sony -Samsung collaboration on the LCD plant, it is likely that the Sony uses the same chipset as in Samsung ATSC tuner STBs. So you should be ok on the ATSC tuner.

For starters, I wonder if your Channel master is too directional for your location. In Silver Spring, Baltimore is in close to the opposite direction. With the right antenna, you should be able to aim the front of the antenna at Baltimore and pick up the DC stations in the backlobe without having to use a rotator most of the time.

I can get WETA-DT along with the rest of the DC and the Baltimore stations (and other stations in the region) from out here in Sterling with a Channel Master 4221 4 Bay bowtie UHF antenna without a rotator. The 4221 4 Bay is multi-directional with a broad pickup pattern to the front, but can also pick stations from the backside. I get WWPX-DT Pax/i 60 (DT=12) station way out in Martinsburg at 46 miles with my CM 4221 aimed in the other direction just south of Baltimore.

If you can't get WETA-DT at all from where you are, you may be blocked by the terrain, the city between you and the not that high a broadcast tower. If WETA-DT is still at Arlington, then the station is only at 75 kW, which would normally put you withing range, is not that powerful a signal for UHF. The FCC database for WETA is at http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WETA if you want to look at the locations and tower heights. There is a lack of information over when WETA-DT will move it's digital broadcasting to the same DC area as the other DC towers. But I may be wrong and they already have. Maybe I should break out the very directional Radio Shack U-75R and find out where WETA-DT is broadcasting from just to be sure.
I normally watch WETA through my Comcast Basic cable with a QAM digital tuner,but the recent comments led me to try my indoor loop antenna. The digital OTA signal for WETA 26 is not as strong as that of MPT 22, but no problem obtaining a good signal tonight .

Okay.

MY POINT was that Comcast didn't bother to even check if anyone else was having a problem, they just KNEE-JERK said they would send someone out. THAT is bad triage.

AND, no one has said that they DON'T HAVE the problem either so your "analysis" and assumption is bad.

BTW, I DID ask the company to check on it. Their reaction was to want to send a repairman out rather than EVEN CHECKING IF THEY HAVE ANY OTHER CALLS ON THE ISSUE.

THAT was the point.

But of course it was lost in your arrogant answer to a question I didn't ask. Now, if you don't live in Howard County, your information is useless to me.

And, to Joe, I have no idea if more than one person called in. Neither did they. They didn't bother to check!

Why is this nuance missing on you guys. If they get ZERO calls, then it might be on my end. If they don't check how do they know?

A GOOD customer service organization checks to see if there is a pattern, doesn't ASSUME that you need a service call.

But go ahead and defend Comcrap. They want to send someone out if the wind changes direction.

And I guess you know how they run things there? Or how they run their Com Center? You come here asking for help, and when someone tells you what MIGHT be the problem, you go off on them.
It doesn't matter what they did to fix it, someone weighed in on what the problem might be, and you went off on them. There was no reason for that. If you are looking for a specific answer, please spell it out in the question, otherwise, accept what possible answers might come your way.

I DVR'd ER off of WBAL-DT on Thursday night and had no problems. I receive the station off air on my DirecTV HR20.

Thanks for the info. Did anyone else record on Baltimore County Comcast?

I just tried to watch Friday Night Lights and Law and Order from this week and they were exactly the same.. unwatchable. My recording of CSI seems fine from CBS.

TV Sports
Here comes ACC HD
By Mark Washburn Charlotte Observer

Raycom/Lincoln Financial will announce next week that ACC basketball is going high definition.For the first time, the ACC tournament -- which begins March 8 -- will be broadcast in HD on the syndicated network.

Although the penetration of high-definition sets is still relatively low, those who get the broadcasts are growing increasingly vocal. They want their ACC in HD.

But technical problems have kept the network from switching to high def.

Ken Haines, Raycom's president, says affiliates aren't set up to receive syndicated programming in HD. They get their network programs in HD, but aren't set up to receive feeds from other sources.

Of the 35 stations that get ACC basketball from Raycom/Lincoln Financial, about a third will be equipped to receive the HD feed by tournament time. That includes WBTV (Channel 3) in Charlotte as well as other major markets, including Greensboro and Raleigh.

"We're looking at adding some regular-season games next year," says Haines. "I don't know how far away we are from doing all the games in HD."

Costs are part of the problem. While it is more expensive to do HD games -- cameras, a high-def studio truck and other equipment must be added -- there is no increase in ad revenues.

"It costs a lot more to produce in HD than standard definition. We haven't found anyone willing to pay more to be broadcast in HD," Haines says.

Nice find! Now does anyone have any idea if WDCA 20 is one of the stations that can receive syndicated HD content? I'm also curious to know what providers around here actually carry Ch. 20 in HD?

Looks like Frederick's Adelphia/Comcast has added new channels and removed the hdnet channels. Just check my guide and now i'm on NGC HD


Pyrr

Comcast was supposed to add TNT-HD and CSN-HD to the Frederick lineup as well.

Nice find! Now does anyone have any idea if WDCA 20 is one of the stations that can receive syndicated HD content? I'm also curious to know what providers around here actually carry Ch. 20 in HD? Its always been pretty hard to get HD information out of Ch 20. Good luck.

I think that FiOS has WDCA-DT, maybe even DirectTV does too.

I think that FiOS has WDCA-DT, maybe even DirectTV does too.
Verizon FiosTV does carry WDCA-DT MNT 20 on the HD local set at channel 805. But the regional cable coverage for WDCA-DT 20 in HD is very sparse as far I know. Checking the cable line-ups for some of the local cable systems: Comcast in Reston - nope. Cox cable for Fairfax county - nope. RCN cable for MD and DC - nope.

Does Comcast carry WDCA-DT on it's HD tier anywhere in the DC area? Besides Verizon, are there ANY cable systems in the greater DC area that have WDCA-DT on their HD tier?

The poor cable carriage says something about how much Fox cares about the My Network startup. My Network may have 2 hours of cheesy soap operas / telenovels every night, but they are in good looking HD. (My Network will be cutting back on the soaps with new programming starting up in March, IIRC). But here you have Fox owned WDCA-DT which did finally go full power last summer, but only because the FCC made them. At least they are in HD. Then you have the Fox owned WUTB-DT 24 in Baltimore still broadcasting at a mere 550 watts and in SD only.

Based on their history, the odds have to be against WDCA-DT 20 showing any of the ACC tournament in HD. But if they do and you are a hoops fan, OTA is the only way to get it for most HD TV owners in the DC area.

Hi Mike-

Earlier today I found some of the things you just mentioned re WETA on the FCC website. It wasn't obvious whether the data were current, but they listed WETA's analog station as 2290 kw ERP, the digital as 75 kw ERP (but later on the same page as 90 kw ERP). Even using the higher number, I was amazed to see how tiny the digital power was in comparison to the analog counterpart.

The ERP ratio of 2290/90 is about 25 to 1. And even if the two towers were identical, Arlington is twice the distance from me as the analog tower, so another 4 to 1 loss for the range doubling. Overall, a 100 to 1 difference, or a 20dB power loss . Then throw in those Silver Spring buildings and the digital tower's poor elevation.... It sounds like you've nailed the problem -- I'm getting a very sinking feeling about whether there's a cure.

Do you have any idea whether another mfgr's tuner might be able to cope with this magnitude of a signal level problem any better than my existing Sony tuner does? In reading downloaded manuals last night, I noticed that some Samsung sets have a low noise amplifier the user can switch on and off on a per station basis. That would help, but would it be enough?

You mentioned WETA's antenna site may be moving. Something like that was said here yesterday, but a Tenleytown tower was mentioned. Is that the same as the WJLA tower you referenced? I ask because while trying to confirm the earlier Tenleytown tower comment, I kept finding articles about a lawsuit resulting in a half finished tower being torn down. I hope this and the WJLA tower are completely different subjects.

Thanks for your helpful comments....

John





J-D-H,

Something that you might want to know about WETA-DT: They broadcast from a tower in Arlington that is about 70 meters lower above average terrain vs. stations like WUSA and WRC. Only the WETA analog tower is in the height and location range of the Big 4. Also, WETA-DT broadcasts at 75,000 watts vs. 813,000 for WRC and 1,000,000 for WJLA. So maybe downtown Silver Spring buildings block the WETA-DT signal or something.

Remember, WETA should move in the future to the WJLA tower...
_________________

Watching WJLA-DT (and analog) OTA, it looks like the game has a red cast. All other stations look fine, like the b-ball was on WUSA. Maybe it was the ABC feed, but it wouldn't hurt to check up on things.

J-D-H's problem isn't signal strength, nor is it signal differential. It is multipath. WETA is on a short tower, Its signals bounce all around. He'll have to get lucky with an antenna positioned such that develops some usable gain on the desired signal line while rejecting what might be the next strongest but undesired multipath signals of which there will be several. There is no scientific way to do this. You buy a few cheap antennas, you try lots of different positions. Don't spend much money trying to buy a solution for this situation unless you have money to burn.

As has been said many times in this thread, WETA digital is moving from Arlington to Wisconsin Ave. If you can't reliably get it now, you might as well wait.

Which specific Channel Master antenna do you have? If I follow this, you don't get WETA-DT at all, even if you rotate the antenna towards Arlington and do a scan, correct? Depends on how your tuner works, but do you get anything if you enter channel 27 (the actual broadcast channel for the digital signal for WETA-DT)?

The Sony HD TVs have been reported to have good ATSC tuners. Given the Sony -Samsung collaboration on the LCD plant, it is likely that the Sony uses the same chipset as in Samsung ATSC tuner STBs. So you should be ok on the ATSC tuner.

For starters, I wonder if your Channel master is too directional for your location. In Silver Spring, Baltimore is in close to the opposite direction. With the right antenna, you should be able to aim the front of the antenna at Baltimore and pick up the DC stations in the backlobe without having to use a rotator most of the time.

I can get WETA-DT along with the rest of the DC and the Baltimore stations (and other stations in the region) from out here in Sterling with a Channel Master 4221 4 Bay bowtie UHF antenna without a rotator. The 4221 4 Bay is multi-directional with a broad pickup pattern to the front, but can also pick stations from the backside. I get WWPX-DT Pax/i 60 (DT=12) station way out in Martinsburg at 46 miles with my CM 4221 aimed in the other direction just south of Baltimore.

If you can't get WETA-DT at all from where you are, you may be blocked by the terrain, the city between you and the not that high a broadcast tower. If WETA-DT is still at Arlington, then the station is only at 75 kW, which would normally put you withing range, is not that powerful a signal for UHF. The FCC database for WETA is at http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WETA if you want to look at the locations and tower heights. There is a lack of information over when WETA-DT will move it's digital broadcasting to the same DC area as the other DC towers. But I may be wrong and they already have. Maybe I should break out the very directional Radio Shack U-75R and find out where WETA-DT is broadcasting from just to be sure.

I've visited the FCC database but, frankly, got confused about what I was reading re WETA. There were three antenna entries for them, not two. Maybe two of the listings were on the same tower -- not sure. From the lat and long data, they have at least two towers, but it wasn't clear to me if the digital site is in Arlington. If it is, you might have a line of sight to it, and maybe I do not.

Sorry, but I can't quote a model number for my antenna since the documentation is long gone. All I know is that it's a combo VHF/UHF log periodic with a boom length of 11-12 feet. Channel Master called it a "fringe" or "deep fringe" (like that's a lot of help <g>), but judging by what we've seen over time with analog station reception, it seems to be a decent array.

Right... I cannot get the digital WETA no matter what. Just as you said, it so happens that two days ago I experimentally tried pointing the ant toward Balt and found we could get every VHF and UHF digital station up there while still maintaining perfect reception of all the DC area stations off the back of the antenna (but not WETA). Then we tried moving the antenna slightly east of Balt and found we could also receive digital Ch 22 in Annapolis perfectly along with all the rest. When analog ends on 2009, that compromise antenna bearing is so convenient, like you suggested, we may never need to use the rotator again.

In all the above, WETA is always impossible to get. I've tried auto-program scans and rescans so many times, the menu key on the TV's remote is in danger of wearing out. Instead of auto-program, I've tried entering via the numeric keypad every channel number in and around 26.1. No matter whether 26.1, 26.2, 26.3, etc., 27.x, etc., the tuner never finds WETA.

While doing this last night, I decided to keep looking higher in frequency. WETA never appeared, but when I got up to 34.1, the tuner locked onto what appeared to be a simultaneous UHF broadcast of VHF CBS channel 9.1. According to the TV set's diagnostics, this signal at 34.1 was super loud. After spending a lot of time on the internet I could not verify if CBS is actually transmitting on that UHF channel, but I'm suspicious that they are not. So once again, I'm wondering if this tuner is somehow defective.

Here's another symptom... I wondered why all the auto-scans had never picked up this 34.1 station, so I tried auto-programming several more times. The tuner ~never~ finds 34.1, but if I manually enter 34.1 via the keypad, it is always reliably there, almost pinning the scale on the signal strength diagnostic screen. Whether this station is real or some kind of overload product, I'd have thought that the tuner should find it during an auto-scan.

Getting back to the antenna, I've tried pointing it to every bearing, with and without a relatively low noise/high overload point Chan Master preamp, with and without a 4:1 splitter (6-7 dB loss), and even tried an inside bow tie as well as a loop. The other stations can be received in most of these tests, but never WETA. Still suspecting a tuner that's fouled up in some odd way, we even tried an auto-programming scan in Cable mode, but of course this was a waste of time. But now I find this powerful station at 34.1 and can't seem to verify if it's "real" or not.

Thanks for the info about the Sony ands Samsung tuners having much in common. That's good to know. However one thing they seem not to share is a user-electable low noise RF amplifier that's part of some Samsung DTV sets. I couldn't find any technical specs on this amp, but the fact that it might help my situation has me wondering about returning this Sony and instead getting a Samsung.

Prior to this odd channel 34.1 discovery, I was starting to accept that this is probably a low signal problem without a fix. We are up high (305 ft), but maybe we are co-level with downtown Silver Spring and the buildings there are blocking the wee little signal that WETA seems to be sending out. But the ch 34.1 thing gives me pause about there being no fix. As does the fact that a Samsung set with the LNA just might make the difference.

If you have any more thoughts/advice on all this, I'd sure appreciate hearing it! Thanks....

I normally watch WETA through my Comcast Basic cable with a QAM digital tuner,but the recent comments led me to try my indoor loop antenna. The digital OTA signal for WETA 26 is not as strong as that of MPT 22, but no problem obtaining a good signal tonight .

If you're in Beltsville, your location may make the difference. I'm not sure how to confirm it, but I may be looking into a wall of buildings in downtown Silver Spring, a few miles south of me. I thought we were looking over those buildings, but maybe not. Even if this is so, I wish I knew how to determine how far we are below an acceptable situation. If we are within a few dB of reception, a slightly better tuner might do the trick. If 20 dB below the edge for WETA, we'll just have to forget it (unless a tower move is in the works).

J-D-H's problem isn't signal strength, nor is it signal differential. It is multipath. WETA is on a short tower, Its signals bounce all around. He'll have to get lucky with an antenna positioned such that develops some usable gain on the desired signal line while rejecting what might be the next strongest but undesired multipath signals of which there will be several. There is no scientific way to do this. You buy a few cheap antennas, you try lots of different positions. Don't spend much money trying to buy a solution for this situation unless you have money to burn.

As has been said many times in this thread, WETA digital is moving from Arlington to Wisconsin Ave. If you can't reliably get it now, you might as well wait.

I have no way to measure it, but I bet you are correct. And if those buildings in Silver Spring are in fact a co-level screen between us and WETA, I assume that would make matters even worse resulting in a multipath mess. I had originally assumed otherwise based on the complete lack of ghosting on the analog WETA signal here (it's strong and clean), but that was before finding out via this forum about the digital antenna's location and other analog/digital differences.

Regarding the WETA digital antenna move, I've tried to find out more about this, but my search strings haven't gotten me very far. Based on the original reference made here about Tenleytown, I found a lot of data on a lawsuit causing a half-built tower to be torn down, but no specific info regarding WETA's plans.

To all....

After loading the Google Earth program, just now I was finally able to explore this area while watching the indicated elevation. It turns out that downtown Silver Spring has a base elevation of 335 ft, while our house is a few miles north of them at an elevation of 305 ft. So looking south, we're 30 feet below the roadway elevation at the intersection of Georgia Ave and Colesville Rd -- an over the horizon situation (and that does not even take into account the downtown buildings).

Evidently the antennas for all the other TV stations in that direction are high enough and/or their signals strong enough so as not to be a problem here, but WETA may be a lost cause for the time being. If and when WETA digital actually moves, I hope it'll be way higher and closer than it is now.

Oh well.... luckily WETA isn't the only PBS station in the area!

While doing this last night, I decided to keep looking higher in frequency. WETA never appeared, but when I got up to 34.1, the tuner locked onto what appeared to be a simultaneous UHF broadcast of VHF CBS channel 9.1. According to the TV set's diagnostics, this signal at 34.1 was super loud. After spending a lot of time on the internet I could not verify if CBS is actually transmitting on that UHF channel, but I'm suspicious that they are not. So once again, I'm wondering if this tuner is somehow defective.

Here's another symptom... I wondered why all the auto-scans had never picked up this 34.1 station, so I tried auto-programming several more times. The tuner ~never~ finds 34.1, but if I manually enter 34.1 via the keypad, it is always reliably there, almost pinning the scale on the signal strength diagnostic screen. Whether this station is real or some kind of overload product, I'd have thought that the tuner should find it during an auto-scan.
There is nothing wrong, channel 34.1 is the digital simulcast channel for WUSA 9. All the digital broadcasts are done on other channels from the analog channels that you know the station as. They can not broadcast on the same channel as the analog signal as they would severely interfere with each others. ATSC provides a header field, called the PSIP, which tells the receiver to display channels 9.1, 9.2 for the channel 34 broadcast. WTTG-DT Fox 5 is broadcasting on UHF 36, for example. Look at the first post in this thread. The column of numbers in orange are the current digital broadcast channel for the station.

Digital broadcast provides for automatic channel remapping. The actual digital broadcast channel is useful to know when selecting an antenna. It can also help when a station messes up it's PSIP information and the digital station can only be found at it's actual broadcast channel. This happened recently with WBAL-DT 11 in Baltimore. Tune to channel 11.1 and the receiver switched to displaying channel 59.1 and in the case of my Samsung SIR-T451, wiped out the entry mapping it to channel 11. To get the station, I had to enter channel 59.

In February, 2009 when the analog shutdown occurs, we will get a reshuffling of the digital broadcast channels. The upper VHF (7 to 13) DC stations 7 & 9 and the Baltimore stations 11 & 13 will switch their digital broadcast to their current analog channels. You may have seen the recent posts discussing what power levels they will use when then do this. The low VHF (2 to 6) stations, 2, 4, and 5 have elected to avoid low VHF for digital broadcast as many large city stations have elected to do across the US and will stay at UHF. However, WMAR-DT 2 will move from ch 52 to ch 38. 2009 will be the year of the great broadcast channel reshuffle dance. So we will have no local stations at low VHF after 2009 unless a low power start-up applies for one of the unused low VHF channels.

Comcast was supposed to add TNT-HD and CSN-HD to the Frederick lineup as well.


Yah it's there,
21 - CN8
770 - TNT-HD
771 - VS HS
778 - NGC-HD

Pyrr

Verizon FiosTV does carry WDCA-DT MNT 20 on the HD local set at channel 805...
Really! Not in Anne Arundel, yet we get all of the other DC locals, HD and otherwise. Even the DC weather sub-channels are on Vz FiOS here. We don't even have WDCA analog.

Yah it's there,
21 - CN8
770 - TNT-HD
771 - VS HS
778 - NGC-HD

PyrrSo, is that CN8 in HD also?

BTW: its good to see you posting here again Pyrr.

Does anybody know the Comcast Clear QAM channels available in Howard County ?

WETA has a detailed coverage map on their website. Maybe it's half science and half their advertising department' wishful thinking, but the Four Corners area of Silver Spring is ~very~ close to the center of their coverage areas. Heck, they show both their digital and analog TV, as well as their FM radio footprint extending all the way to Baltimore city, and meanwhile my set's tuner won't even lock on them from this short distance.

Any ideas on WETA's problem? If they're low in power, maybe I should consider getting a better antenna to combat that? If it's reflections, a higher gain antenna would fight that too. But what really, really bothers me about all this is that the analog ch 26 signal is flawless here. No ghosts, good signal, low noise, etc., so I figured the digital signal ought to be comparable -- not so.

Getting back to my TV set, maybe Sony tuners are known to be insensitive or finicky in operation? I haven't read this anywhere, but if the Sony tuners have a limited range of acceptable signals (insensitivity combined with poor overload performance), that would be a deadly combination. If this is the case, I can return this set and exchange it for something else. Any idea if there's a certain brand whose digital tuners are known to be well done?

On the program guides and published schedules, as someone once said, "I feel your pain" <g>. My wife and I do a lot of time shift recording, and it drives us nuts how frequently inaccurate the various guides seem to be (not just WETA). If you haven't already done so, check out the Titan TV website. They have a TV Guide-like grid you can access, and it seems more accurate than many others.


The problem is probably not with the tv's tuner. To check this, get the latest model LG or Samsung HD receiver with the 5th generation OTA tuner. Research this to be sure not to get an older model. You will probably need a good rooftop antenna.

I am not far from 4 Corners either. Digital channels are harder to get than analog and you either get a picture, highly pixellated picture, or nothing at all.

At some point, WETA digital channels will be transmitted from the WJLA tower instead of the current N. Virginia location. I don't think it has happened yet. Whenever I email WETA at its website, as I last did about a month ago, they say this will happen in a few weeks, but they have been saying this for over a year. When it does, if you get WJLA-HD well, you should get WETA digital.

I've visited the FCC database but, frankly, got confused about what I was reading re WETA. There were three antenna entries for them, not two.
One of them is for the analog station, one is for the current DT facility, and one is for the digital CP at the new tower, which also hosts WJLA-DT's digital facility.

The lawsuits referred to another tower. The tower WETA has applied for isn't affected.

Just for fun, click here (http://www.google.com/maps?q=4010+Chesapeake+St+NW,+Washington,+DC+20016&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=38.950561,-77.078978&spn=0.003212,0.007424&t=h&om=1&iwloc=addr), and you can see the tower that the lawsuit is all about. (If you can't see them all well, double-click just below the green arrow and it'll enhance the towers.) One is very tall and built, one is shorter, with red stripes, and the third is short and without red stripes. This third one is the tower referred in the lawsuit.

I'm getting a very sinking feeling about whether there's a cure.
WETA has the cure. It's called Tenleytown. That 90 kW thing you mentioned applies to the CP for the Tenleytown site. Yes, WETA-DT will only be 90,000 watts ERP, compared with the one million from WJLA, but it'll come from an antenna over 200 meters in the sky, and it'll be closer to you. Therefore, I suspect that WETA will come in one day with your current setup. The question is this: When? Last year, WETA promised that they'd do it by the end of that year, and they apparently still haven't delivered. If I remember correctly, the CP for the Tenleytown site expires this summer or fall, so it should arrive this year. However, I suspect that they'll wait until the last minute. See, they like to save their money: They have to pay the people who go on the air during pledge drives. :D

WETA never appeared, but when I got up to 34.1, the tuner locked onto what appeared to be a simultaneous UHF broadcast of VHF CBS channel 9.1. According to the TV set's diagnostics, this signal at 34.1 was super loud. After spending a lot of time on the internet I could not verify if CBS is actually transmitting on that UHF channel, but I'm suspicious that they are not. So once again, I'm wondering if this tuner is somehow defective.
34-1 (9-1) is DC's CBS affiliate, via WUSA-DT, as afiggatt said. CBS is notorious for loud sound. I have to turn the volume down over other stations like WJLA and WTTG with my tuner. As for not having it remap, my own tuner, a Samsung DTB-H260F, remaps it correctly, so perhaps you do have a defective tuner. However, it's not a huge issue.

Keep it on DT 34 (9-1) for local news in HD. It's pretty good stuff.

Local CBS affiliate, channel 9.1, is actually broadcasting from UHF channel 34. There is nothing wrong with your tv tuner. Some tuners map this to 9.1, others to 34. Similarly 7.1 is really channel 39, if I recall correctly.



I've visited the FCC database but, frankly, got confused about what I was reading re WETA. There were three antenna entries for them, not two. Maybe two of the listings were on the same tower -- not sure. From the lat and long data, they have at least two towers, but it wasn't clear to me if the digital site is in Arlington. If it is, you might have a line of sight to it, and maybe I do not.

Sorry, but I can't quote a model number for my antenna since the documentation is long gone. All I know is that it's a combo VHF/UHF log periodic with a boom length of 11-12 feet. Channel Master called it a "fringe" or "deep fringe" (like that's a lot of help <g>), but judging by what we've seen over time with analog station reception, it seems to be a decent array.

Right... I cannot get the digital WETA no matter what. Just as you said, it so happens that two days ago I experimentally tried pointing the ant toward Balt and found we could get every VHF and UHF digital station up there while still maintaining perfect reception of all the DC area stations off the back of the antenna (but not WETA). Then we tried moving the antenna slightly east of Balt and found we could also receive digital Ch 22 in Annapolis perfectly along with all the rest. When analog ends on 2009, that compromise antenna bearing is so convenient, like you suggested, we may never need to use the rotator again.

In all the above, WETA is always impossible to get. I've tried auto-program scans and rescans so many times, the menu key on the TV's remote is in danger of wearing out. Instead of auto-program, I've tried entering via the numeric keypad every channel number in and around 26.1. No matter whether 26.1, 26.2, 26.3, etc., 27.x, etc., the tuner never finds WETA.

While doing this last night, I decided to keep looking higher in frequency. WETA never appeared, but when I got up to 34.1, the tuner locked onto what appeared to be a simultaneous UHF broadcast of VHF CBS channel 9.1. According to the TV set's diagnostics, this signal at 34.1 was super loud. After spending a lot of time on the internet I could not verify if CBS is actually transmitting on that UHF channel, but I'm suspicious that they are not. So once again, I'm wondering if this tuner is somehow defective.

Here's another symptom... I wondered why all the auto-scans had never picked up this 34.1 station, so I tried auto-programming several more times. The tuner ~never~ finds 34.1, but if I manually enter 34.1 via the keypad, it is always reliably there, almost pinning the scale on the signal strength diagnostic screen. Whether this station is real or some kind of overload product, I'd have thought that the tuner should find it during an auto-scan.

Getting back to the antenna, I've tried pointing it to every bearing, with and without a relatively low noise/high overload point Chan Master preamp, with and without a 4:1 splitter (6-7 dB loss), and even tried an inside bow tie as well as a loop. The other stations can be received in most of these tests, but never WETA. Still suspecting a tuner that's fouled up in some odd way, we even tried an auto-programming scan in Cable mode, but of course this was a waste of time. But now I find this powerful station at 34.1 and can't seem to verify if it's "real" or not.

Thanks for the info about the Sony ands Samsung tuners having much in common. That's good to know. However one thing they seem not to share is a user-electable low noise RF amplifier that's part of some Samsung DTV sets. I couldn't find any technical specs on this amp, but the fact that it might help my situation has me wondering about returning this Sony and instead getting a Samsung.

Prior to this odd channel 34.1 discovery, I was starting to accept that this is probably a low signal problem without a fix. We are up high (305 ft), but maybe we are co-level with downtown Silver Spring and the buildings there are blocking the wee little signal that WETA seems to be sending out. But the ch 34.1 thing gives me pause about there being no fix. As does the fact that a Samsung set with the LNA just might make the difference.

If you have any more thoughts/advice on all this, I'd sure appreciate hearing it! Thanks....

Really! Not in Anne Arundel, yet we get all of the other DC locals, HD and otherwise. Even the DC weather sub-channels are on Vz FiOS here. We don't even have WDCA analog.
Fios in NoVa has WDCA on channels 6 and 805.

Really! Not in Anne Arundel, yet we get all of the other DC locals, HD and otherwise. Even the DC weather sub-channels are on Vz FiOS here. We don't even have WDCA analog.
Looking at the Fios channel line-ups, WDCA-DT 20 is on the Washington Metro line-up, but not the Anne Arundel-Howard County line-up. Interesting that all of the other DC stations are shown in the AA-HC HD line-up, but not WDCA-DT 20. All of the current FiosTV channel line-ups can be found at http://www22.verizon.com/content/fiostv/channel+lineup/channel+lineup.htm. Wonder if because the WUTB 24 transmitter is located in Catonsville, that affects the area between DC and Baltimore that they have exclusive rights to.

Is anyone in the Annandale/Springfield area using a Channel Master antenna? I'm debating between the 4-bay and 8-bay models and am wondering if the 8-bay model is overkill for someone who lives close to the beltway (but would be trying to hide it in the attic rather than above the roof). I'd appreciate hearing anyone's experience - thanks!

Anybody else have horrible breakups on 24 from Fox5 via Comcast?

ng5783, I don't suggest either antenna, as they both may have channel 7 reception issues in the attic after analog shut-off in 2009, though you might be fine since you're so close to the WJLA transmitter. However, the power of the 8-bay might do, if you want CBS via WJZ in Baltimore. They, unlike WUSA, have full-bandwidth HD, making the picture look a little better. If you want a Channel Master antenna for reception of only DC channels, a 3016 VHF/UHF combo unit is more appropriate.

Belcherwm, OTA WTTG reception tonight was 100%, a.k.a. a little too intensely, clean.

Yah it's there,
21 - CN8
770 - TNT-HD
771 - VS HS
778 - NGC-HD

Pyrr

Wow, if Comcast has VS HD, I think FiOS might get it as well. At least that is what I hope.

Does anyone know if FiOS is adding more channels or is it just CSN HD. I mean why else would they realign all the channels?

I also hope that they would move WTTG-DT to 805, and WJLA to 807 and so on, but apparently they are sticking to the same numbers. It is cool for the NFL season, one click to switch between Fox and CBS.

You can already do that. You just hit the last channel button and switch between two channels. That's been around for decades.

Is anyone in the Annandale/Springfield area using a Channel Master antenna? I'm debating between the 4-bay and 8-bay models and am wondering if the 8-bay model is overkill for someone who lives close to the beltway (but would be trying to hide it in the attic rather than above the roof)
Are you looking to get the major stations in both DC and Baltimore? Fortunately from Annandale/Springfield, the major Baltimore stations are the close to the same direction at the DC stations. The CM 4228 is a long range very directional antenna intended for 50+ mile situations which is overkill for the DC stations. It can probably get the DC and Baltimore stations at the same time with the right aim, but you might have to add a rotator to get one of the MPT stations and the other local stations such as MHz and Pax/i (if these matter at all).

The CM 4221 4 Bay is much less directional. I have a CM 4221 in the attic and I can get the Baltimore stations at 43 miles and the DC stations at ~ 16 miles without a rotator, even though they are over 50 degrees apart in azimuth from where I am. I have to add a pre-amp to get several of the weaker Baltimore stations, but the direction to Baltimore is blocked by the tops of three townhouses looking down the row.

The tradeoff is that the CM 4228 has good gain for upper VHF channels, so it should get ch 7, 9, 11, 13 after the digital switchover in 2009. The CM 4221 is not as good for upper VHF, so I may have to add a upper VHF antenna in 2009 in my attic. But this will be pretty easy to do. OTOH, I get analog 7 & 9 pretty well with the CM 4221. See the diagrams and charts under the commercial antenna comparison link at http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ISSUES/erecting_antenna.html for useful info.

You need to look at the possible obstructions in your attic, nearby buildings, and terrain to determine if you have a need for the greater gain of the CM 4228. My advice would be to give the CM 4221 4 Bay a try. The CM 4228 is much heavier, larger, and more directional, so it has those drawbacks. The advantage of the CM 4228 is that you would be set for 2009 while with the CM 4221, you might to add a upper VHF antenna in 2009. You have to weigh the tradeoffs.

Anybody else have horrible breakups on 24 from Fox5 via Comcast?

In Montgomery County I was getting breakups on all channels between 7:15pm to 7:45pm but then it cleared up and reception on all channels was great.

There is nothing wrong, channel 34.1 is the digital simulcast channel for WUSA 9. All the digital broadcasts are done on other channels from the analog channels that you know the station as. They can not broadcast on the same channel as the analog signal as they would severely interfere with each others. ATSC provides a header field, called the PSIP, which tells the receiver to display channels 9.1, 9.2 for the channel 34 broadcast. WTTG-DT Fox 5 is broadcasting on UHF 36, for example. Look at the first post in this thread. The column of numbers in orange are the current digital broadcast channel for the station.

Digital broadcast provides for automatic channel remapping. The actual digital broadcast channel is useful to know when selecting an antenna. It can also help when a station messes up it's PSIP information and the digital station can only be found at it's actual broadcast channel. This happened recently with WBAL-DT 11 in Baltimore. Tune to channel 11.1 and the receiver switched to displaying channel 59.1 and in the case of my Samsung SIR-T451, wiped out the entry mapping it to channel 11. To get the station, I had to enter channel 59.

In February, 2009 when the analog shutdown occurs, we will get a reshuffling of the digital broadcast channels. The upper VHF (7 to 13) DC stations 7 & 9 and the Baltimore stations 11 & 13 will switch their digital broadcast to their current analog channels. You may have seen the recent posts discussing what power levels they will use when then do this. The low VHF (2 to 6) stations, 2, 4, and 5 have elected to avoid low VHF for digital broadcast as many large city stations have elected to do across the US and will stay at UHF. However, WMAR-DT 2 will move from ch 52 to ch 38. 2009 will be the year of the great broadcast channel reshuffle dance. So we will have no local stations at low VHF after 2009 unless a low power start-up applies for one of the unused low VHF channels.


Thanks for the short, but very helpful primer on the conversion from analog to digital - excellent. I had no idea it was so complex (should have guessed).

I'm still wondering about this new Sony set we just bought. Okay, good, so channel 34.1 is proper and expected, but the only way it can be seen on our set is by manual keypad entry. It is ~never~ picked up when the set is asked to auto-scan for digital channels. I figured that if the set can tune to 34.1 manually, it ought to be able to find it during an auto-scan as well., but maybe this depends on the PSIP information you mentioned. Or maybe this Sony set is somehow not handling that PSIP info correctly.

I looked at the chart you mentioned on pg 1 of this thread. Of all the many UHF chan assignments shown in that chart, the only duplicates (if that's the right way to put it) I've found are 9.1 and 34.1. After laboriously entering each and every UHF channel (no sub-channels, just the xx.1 channels) manually via the remote control keypad, chan 34.1 appeared, but none of the other Wash DC based station VHF channel - UHF actual transmission channel pairs were evident. Sorry, in case that's not worded well: we can get 4.1, 5.1, 7.1, 9.1, etc., but not 48.1, 36.1, or 39.1 - only WUSA on 34.1 is there. Is all of this to be expected? Is this part of the PSIP topic you referenced?

The problem is probably not with the tv's tuner. To check this, get the latest model LG or Samsung HD receiver with the 5th generation OTA tuner. Research this to be sure not to get an older model. You will probably need a good rooftop antenna.

I am not far from 4 Corners either. Digital channels are harder to get than analog and you either get a picture, highly pixellated picture, or nothing at all.

At some point, WETA digital channels will be transmitted from the WJLA tower instead of the current N. Virginia location. I don't think it has happened yet. Whenever I email WETA at its website, as I last did about a month ago, they say this will happen in a few weeks, but they have been saying this for over a year. When it does, if you get WJLA-HD well, you should get WETA digital.

Thanks for the tip on the Samsung tuners. There may be a couple of Samsung sets available at the store we're dealing with, so I'll try to see if there are any reviews available on those models and hope that they speak to the generation of tuners they use.

It's good to hear that the WETA move ~may~ be soon (the check's in the mail....). We get every other station just fine -- WJLA is very strong -- so it sounds like we'll be all set if they ever get this move done.

One of them is for the analog station, one is for the current DT facility, and one is for the digital CP at the new tower, which also hosts WJLA-DT's digital facility.

The lawsuits referred to another tower. The tower WETA has applied for isn't affected.

Just for fun, click here (http://www.google.com/maps?q=4010+Chesapeake+St+NW,+Washington,+DC+20016&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=38.950561,-77.078978&spn=0.003212,0.007424&t=h&om=1&iwloc=addr), and you can see the tower that the lawsuit is all about. (If you can't see them all well, double-click just below the green arrow and it'll enhance the towers.) One is very tall and built, one is shorter, with red stripes, and the third is short and without red stripes. This third one is the tower referred in the lawsuit.


WETA has the cure. It's called Tenleytown. That 90 kW thing you mentioned applies to the CP for the Tenleytown site. Yes, WETA-DT will only be 90,000 watts ERP, compared with the one million from WJLA, but it'll come from an antenna over 200 meters in the sky, and it'll be closer to you. Therefore, I suspect that WETA will come in one day with your current setup. The question is this: When? Last year, WETA promised that they'd do it by the end of that year, and they apparently still haven't delivered. If I remember correctly, the CP for the Tenleytown site expires this summer or fall, so it should arrive this year. However, I suspect that they'll wait until the last minute. See, they like to save their money: They have to pay the people who go on the air during pledge drives. :D


34-1 (9-1) is DC's CBS affiliate, via WUSA-DT, as afiggatt said. CBS is notorious for loud sound. I have to turn the volume down over other stations like WJLA and WTTG with my tuner. As for not having it remap, my own tuner, a Samsung DTB-H260F, remaps it correctly, so perhaps you do have a defective tuner. However, it's not a huge issue.

Keep it on DT 34 (9-1) for local news in HD. It's pretty good stuff.

First, thanks for the link. I knew the new tower was going to be quite tall, but I had not known it was nested among two other existing towers. For me anyway, this puts a different slant on the eyesore factor which was supposed to be the basis of that lawsuit. Regardless, I'm glad to hear that the WETA move isn't impacted by any of that controversy.

Though it's not certain when the WETA move will actually happen, I'm just happy to hear that it's likely to be this year. Even if it's an 11th hour thing, it's great to know that we'll eventually be able to receive them (maybe as well as we now get WJLA).

WUSA isn't remapping from 9.1 to 34.1 in our Sony set, it's being mapped to both channel numbers at the same time. So far this is the only station we've found via this tuner which is apparently in two places at once. I don't know whether this is a Sony problem or some oddity of how WUSA has implemented the PSIP header mentioned earlier, but I don't know how to sort that out. If it is the details within the PSIP, shouldn't WUSA appear at both 9.1 and 34.1 on ~every~ tuner made?

If not, and if this implies a problem with this set, it's out of here (maybe to be replaced by a Samsung). If we decide to go with a Samsung (a 5th gen tuner model as recommended), I only hope we don't find out the hard way that there's a significant difference in reliability between Sony and Samsung. I've read that they're both reputable, but who can tell anymore now that regardless of brand everything seems to be made in unexpected countries.

34-1 (9-1) is DC's CBS affiliate, via WUSA-DT, as afiggatt said. CBS is notorious for loud sound. I have to turn the volume down over other stations like WJLA and WTTG with my tuner. As for not having it remap, my own tuner, a Samsung DTB-H260F, remaps it correctly, so perhaps you do have a defective tuner. However, it's not a huge issue.

Keep it on DT 34 (9-1) for local news in HD. It's pretty good stuff.

Analog channel 9 is loud for me on Comcast but the digital channel OTA is normal for me on 9-1. Compared to 13-1 it's too low and 66-1 on the rare occasion I turn to it is much louder than 9-1.

Anybody else have horrible breakups on 24 from Fox5 via Comcast?

Comcast has done something to their systems, because for the past couple weeks I keep getting breakups on Fox. Don't experience them on other channels, but on Fox, it's sometimes impossible to watch shows like 24 without having sound dropouts ect.

It was so bad last night my wife and I actually missed a few minutes of the program, specifically the discussion about removing Palmer from office.

I've just been chalking it up to Comcast taking over ADelphia's systems for this area, but it's becoming more and more frustrating.

I don't know who to complain to, WTTG or Comcast so I did both. We aren't in an Adelphia transition in my area.

ng5783, ... if you want CBS via WJZ in Baltimore. They, unlike WUSA, have full-bandwidth HD, making the picture look a little better.

Can you point me to a summary of the various stations OTA HD bitrates, does such a resource exist?


thanks

No there isn't a resource for the bitrates. Usually folks who can record with a PC card can calculate the bit rate and post them from time to time for channels.

MikeyMike's response is due to the known fact that WUSA-DT has a sub-channel and WJZ-DT does not. So WJZ gets the full bandwidth of its broadcast while WUSA-DT is sharing.

ok, thanks. The reason I ask is that I constantly see compression artifacts on WRC that I don't on the other networks so I am assuming they are overcompressing. I see they also have one sub-channel.

I'm still wondering about this new Sony set we just bought. Okay, good, so channel 34.1 is proper and expected, but the only way it can be seen on our set is by manual keypad entry. It is ~never~ picked up when the set is asked to auto-scan for digital channels. I figured that if the set can tune to 34.1 manually, it ought to be able to find it during an auto-scan as well., but maybe this depends on the PSIP information you mentioned. Or maybe this Sony set is somehow not handling that PSIP info correctly. [snip]
I think you are confused on how this works. You should enter channel 9 or 9.1 to get WUSA-DT (DT means this is the digital station). Depending on how the receiver firmware is designed, your TV should display 9.1 when you enter channel 34 or 34.1 after a momentary display of 34.1. (don't know whether your TV differentiates between the analog and digital tuners). I have not noticed any PSIP issues with WUSA-DT 9.

When you do an auto scan, only the mapped channel numbers should be displayed such as channels 4,5,7,9,20,50 with their sub-channels. The real channel numbers may be shown in one of the channel list menus, but that is all. By manually entering 34.1, the firmware may have been written to save that entry.

I think you are getting way off into the weeds here. Your issue, if I follow it, is that you have been unable to receive WETA-DT 26. I suggest you clear your TV channel list by disconnecting the antenna cable from the back of the TV and do an full auto scan (not an update scan if the TV has that option). Then reconnect the antenna, aim it at Baltimore or whatever and do a full auto scan to repopulate the channel list.

If you can not receive WETA-DT after all this, I suggest you contact the station and tell them that you can not get their digital signal from Silver Spring. Maybe add that you will not donate a dime until they fix their digital broadcast situation, just to nudge them a little. The more complaints they get, the more management might be motivated to move the digital transmission to the higher tower and boost their signal strength.

JSYK

WUSA is streaming their news---IN HD--over the internet. I think this is the first time it's happened. There's a topic in HD Programming about it. Video looks pretty good, streaming at 720p and 3.18 Mbps. Although, even with a 5Mbps FiOS connection, I'm getting some breakups.

JSYK

WUSA is streaming their news---IN HD--over the internet. I think this is the first time it's happened. There's a topic in HD Programming about it. Video looks pretty good, streaming at 720p and 3.18 Mbps. Although, even with a 5Mbps FiOS connection, I'm getting some breakups.

Can you post a link, I can't find it ?

Can you post a link, I can't find it ?
They took it down around 5:15. They had some test videos up there, too, but I guess those were taken down as well.

I got the flier the other day about Adelphia switching to Comcast soon. They gave a website to go to for customers to get info about the switch. My wife accidentally threw the flier away and I cannot remember the website. Does anyone have it handy? Thanks
Jeff

I got the flier the other day about Adelphia switching to Comcast soon. They gave a website to go to for customers to get info about the switch. My wife accidentally threw the flier away and I cannot remember the website. Does anyone have it handy? Thanks
Jeff

http://www.comcast.com/welcomeadelphia/

Thanks mark

So, is that CN8 in HD also?

BTW: its good to see you posting here again Pyrr.

Unfortunately no, it's SD.

Thanks ;)

Pyrr

I don't think adelphia in Frederick has completely converted, if you still go to the website and put in 21701 it still shows adelphia, plus the line up shows all the new channels except for CN8. Also my VOD still says adelphia. Hopefully it convert over to the rest of the channels soon.

Pyrr

Ugh.

Adelphia Comcast Loudoun - Discovery HD is gone. Both on the Series 3 TiVo with CableCards & the Motorola 6412 (so-called-)DVR.

Both error messagea re to the 'channel not authorized' effect. And Versus/Golf still lacks Guide information (on the Moto as well as on Tribune's Zap2It website, and hence on the S3 TiVo)

Anyone else privy to any ongoing Comcast HD channel changes? Earlier this week I received their new updated fleecingpricing sheet, I wonder whwther they're reworking more channels in too. I'm back on the fence again, assuming FiOS lights up that last one-two miles to my place soon!

I live in the Sleepy Hollow are of No Virginia (near Seven Corners). I have a Sony Wega 50" LCD projection HDTV and a relatively high gain Weingard HD7082p VHF/UHF antenna on the roof. The problem is that I get dropouts on many of the local HDTV stations whenever there's any wind. The problem seems to be a large number of trees about 300' away that tower 100' above my antenna. Is there a solution to this problem? Am I better off with a different antenna, a different tuner, or a pre-amp? Most of the stations are less than 15 miles away. I am not currently using a pre-amp, and my coax lead-in is about 40' long. Thanks for any help.

Ugh.

Adelphia Comcast Loudoun - Discovery HD is gone. Both on the Series 3 TiVo with CableCards & the Motorola 6412 (so-called-)DVR.

Both error messagea re to the 'channel not authorized' effect. And Versus/Golf still lacks Guide information (on the Moto as well as on Tribune's Zap2It website, and hence on the S3 TiVo)

InHD is broke too...

What channel is VS/Golf? Wasn't aware we were getting it.

gtroan, I suggest a Samsung DTV-H260F tuner. They're hard to find, but are sometimes available at Best Buy and especially Circuit City stores. I suggest trying one of both, starting with Circuit City. If your local stores are out of stock, they can find other locations with units in stock.

If that alone doesn't work, get an attenuator, as this could remove the multipath. Careful, though: Too much attenuation and you lose your signal. Too little attenuation and the dropouts don't go away. Go somewhere where you can return something if it doesn't work.
__________________________

Would Robert Forsyth be proud? (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9770790#post9770790)

Top of that thread here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9766728#post9766728)

I don't know if anyone here posted about HD VOD on FiOS but I just leaned today that FiOS has started it. Yes, you can watch it by going to VOD >> All Free >> Marketplace >> Ambient.tv HD

Currently they only have two shows about art and desert. That is not important, all I care about is that finally there is HD VOD.

Also here is screenshots of the new IPG of FiOS:

Screenshot 1 (http://newsfeed.verizon.com/detail?source=&mid=VER2007010753931&mime=JPG)
Screenshot 2 (http://newsfeed.verizon.com/detail?source=&mid=VER2007010753895&mime=JPG)
Screenshot 3 (http://newsfeed.verizon.com/detail?source=&mid=VER2007010753967&mime=JPG)

gtroan, I suggest a Samsung DTV-H260F tuner. They're hard to find, but are sometimes available at Best Buy and especially Circuit City stores. I suggest trying one of both, starting with Circuit City. If your local stores are out of stock, they can find other locations with units in stock.

If that alone doesn't work, get an attenuator, as this could remove the multipath.
Get an attenuator because his digital signal gets drop outs when it is windy?? :rolleyes:

The Samsung DTB-H260F is a possibility, but if the Sony is a recent model, it may have the same chipset as the H260F. Don't know. Also an expensive suggestion.

gtroan, which stations drop out when it is windy? Just Baltimore or do the closer major DC stations - channels 4, 5, 7, 9, 50 drop out as well? You have a good somewhat directional antenna, but do you have a rotator to tweak the aim? Also, does the antenna move much in the wind? If the antenna is twisting around, the aim is moving around. A pre-amp might help with overall reception, but you probably want to get a medium boost pre-amp to avoid possible overload of the front end for the powerful DC stations.

Ugh.

Adelphia Comcast Loudoun - Discovery HD is gone. Both on the Series 3 TiVo with CableCards & the Motorola 6412 (so-called-)DVR.

Both error messagea re to the 'channel not authorized' effect. And Versus/Golf still lacks Guide information (on the Moto as well as on Tribune's Zap2It website, and hence on the S3 TiVo)

Anyone else privy to any ongoing Comcast HD channel changes? Earlier this week I received their new updated fleecingpricing sheet, I wonder whwther they're reworking more channels in too. I'm back on the fence again, assuming FiOS lights up that last one-two miles to my place soon!


Well, I figured it would finally happen. Comcast (formerly Adephia here) has taken away HDNet and HDMovies and replaced them with MHD and UHD. UHD I don't mind, as I'll enjoy getting to finally see Galactica in HD, but I have ZERO use for MHD and wish they still have HDNet. :(

Also, for some reason I can't tune in Discovery HD with the QAM tuner in my LG set at home. What's odd is I can at my office just a few miles away though. I'm not sure if they've decided to encrypt it and no longer offer it unencrypted QAM, or if it's just my cable signal experiencing issues. I can still tune in the VIdeo On Demand channels with the QAM tuner though, so I don't know what to think.

I can understand that Comcast has dropped the HDNet channels because they don't have an agreement with them, but DiscoveryHD? That has been on Comcast for a very long time. Are you sure that it just didn't get reassigned to a different channel number? I know that Comcast likes to maintain the same channel numbers throughout the areas.

My wife gave me a ride to work today so I didn't have to wait for a bus that was likely never to come. Anyway, we are on Mass Ave. southbound approaching Wisconsin Ave when all traffic has to squeeze into the left lane because a WJLA van is set up in the right lane. Very nice and considerate WJLA.

I know this is way off topic but this kind of behavior really p's me off. Hope WJLA is monitoring this thread.

I received a letter from Comcast yesterday with the following statement:
“As a special benefit only available to current analog basic customers, we’re going to provide you a Digital Self-Install kit which includes your Digital box FREE for one year!”
I am skeptical but I will call them as soon as the phone is free to accept their offer, which includes free shipment of the kit.
I have been using a digital QAM tuner connected to the cable for more than two years to receive the clear channels, which include the D.C. Baltimore and Annapolis channels. I will report on the progress next week.

I hope they do this everywhere so they can eventually wean people off the analog channels. They really need to get rid of all the analog channels since they hog so much bandwidth. 95% of what I watch is HD. The sooner they get rid of the analog channels the better.

I'm guessing that Cable Companies nationwide will try to convert over to Digital Only when the OTA analog cut off happens. That way they can captialize on the confusion and make it seem that they "had to" do it. Which of course they aren't required to do.

Local CBS affiliate, channel 9.1, is actually broadcasting from UHF channel 34. There is nothing wrong with your tv tuner. Some tuners map this to 9.1, others to 34. Similarly 7.1 is really channel 39, if I recall correctly.

I now understand the basics of this remapping done for digital channels. I was just trying to ask about the at least atypical way my Sony tuner handles the 9.1/34.1 channel pair for WUSA, and only for WUSA. With all the other digital stations, the actual channel number the station is using (in this case, like ch 34.1) is effectively "hidden" from the user -- when you enter the actual channel you get "no signal". But it's not this way for 34.1. No big deal -- it just seemed odd and I wondered if it implied the tuner was sick. Maybe not. Maybe it just has to do with how WUSA has implemented the PSIP (if that the right acronym), mentioned earlier.

Hopefully this is in preparation for adding more HD channels by dropping analog channels. I have no objection to them converting to digital only. The satcos have been like that for a long time. Of course there is the question of how much they are going to charge for these boxes. (But I already have DVRs for both TVs anyway.)

I can understand that Comcast has dropped the HDNet channels because they don't have an agreement with them, but DiscoveryHD? That has been on Comcast for a very long time. Are you sure that it just didn't get reassigned to a different channel number? I know that Comcast likes to maintain the same channel numbers throughout the areas.


I still get DiscoveryHD on my DVR box, I just don't get it through a QAM tuner anymore.

I was hopeful that they'd keep HDNet for a little while longer, but oh well... :rolleyes:

They have though drastically increased the amount of available Video On Demand programing. Before, with Adelphia it was basically the PPV movies, the HBO, Cinemax, Showtime and Movie CHannel programs, and then a couple special HGTV type programs. Now they offer all kinds of channel, including Comedy Central.

InHD is broke too...

What channel is VS/Golf? Wasn't aware we were getting it.

Discovery HD in Loudoun's Comcast is still out!

InHD (770) was (only) out last night because the NBA game was subject to blackout rules.

VS/Golf is right after the batch of current HD channels - 776. WHOA - its gone again now! The S3 TiVo's new guide doesn't show the number at all, the Moto 6412 DVR can't tune it either - blank screen or last frame from previous channel shows up, as the case may be.

Hopefully VS/Golf being dumped in favor of a REAL channel - preferably Universal HD. :)

Time to call Comcast and complain again.

The last time I called to speak to them, they gave me the whole 'we are having CableCard issues in your area' line. Which was an outright lie I had to call them out on - their stupid DVR & digital boxen had the same missing channels too!

I think you are confused on how this works. You should enter channel 9 or 9.1 to get WUSA-DT (DT means this is the digital station). Depending on how the receiver firmware is designed, your TV should display 9.1 when you enter channel 34 or 34.1 after a momentary display of 34.1. (don't know whether your TV differentiates between the analog and digital tuners). I have not noticed any PSIP issues with WUSA-DT 9.

When you do an auto scan, only the mapped channel numbers should be displayed such as channels 4,5,7,9,20,50 with their sub-channels. The real channel numbers may be shown in one of the channel list menus, but that is all. By manually entering 34.1, the firmware may have been written to save that entry.

I think you are getting way off into the weeds here. Your issue, if I follow it, is that you have been unable to receive WETA-DT 26. I suggest you clear your TV channel list by disconnecting the antenna cable from the back of the TV and do an full auto scan (not an update scan if the TV has that option). Then reconnect the antenna, aim it at Baltimore or whatever and do a full auto scan to repopulate the channel list.

If you can not receive WETA-DT after all this, I suggest you contact the station and tell them that you can not get their digital signal from Silver Spring. Maybe add that you will not donate a dime until they fix their digital broadcast situation, just to nudge them a little. The more complaints they get, the more management might be motivated to move the digital transmission to the higher tower and boost their signal strength.

No confusion (at least not now). Right, I first brought up the inability to receive WETA 26.1, and then later the WUSA 34.1/9.1 topic.

The 26.1 concern was, given our near-in location, I wondered why we weren't able to receive them. Was there a fix for this (new antenna setup, etc.), was it typical not to get them in my area, or was this somehow an indication that our 3 days old Sony set was defective and should be returned. As of a few days ago, the consensus seems to be that the problem is our location.

Then, while in the midst of the above discussion, I found channel 34.1 while doing some manual tuning via the remote's keypad. So I asked about it here and this lead to the explanation about remapping, 34.1/9.1, etc. Good, got that.

However this Sony set seems to handle the WUSA 34.1/9.1 pair oddly (or at least differently than the way it handles every other remapped pair and differently than the way other sets I've been able to try). So I wondered why.

Your description of what usually happens when entering 34.1 is what I've seen with other sets too. But the Sony does not do that. You enter 9.1, you get digital WUSA as expected. If you enter 34.1, you get the same station, and the channel display remains at 34.1. It does not change in a short moment to 9.1. Obviously I have by now tried this with every other channel pair, and none of the others act this way. Example: I put in 7.1, I receive WJLA. I input either 39 or 39.1, the set says "no signal". Only the WUSA pair works differently.

Is the above meaningful? Don't know. Overall resets have changed nothing; neither have multiple auto-programming scans. Sony agreed that this is strange and unexpected behavior, but they wouldn't commit to saying that the set is defective. You say the PSIP seems okay, so I have no idea why it does what it does.

Bottom line: The WETA issue has been more or less laid to rest, but this WUSA thing has not. Maybe what the set does with 34.1 is just a slight idiosyncrasy, one to be ignored, but so far no other Sony users have jumped in and said "yeah, mine does that too.....".

I live in Frederick, MD with Adelphia/Comcast and they added:
770- TNTHD
771- VSGLF
778- NGCHD
and
21 - CN8 not HD and not CSNHD but a Comcast channel
Just like Pyrr stated.
They also added a lot of ON Demand Channels too.
My overall bill will be about $15 more a month with the same packages. Will wait and see if
they are worth staying with because the only other real options are dish or directv. Will check with my bro, and compare to his directv options.
Also, on the Adelphia website for Fred. zip, it showed 777 as CSNHD. Called them on it and they said it was just a test run. Hopefully it will be added soon! Directv has it already, so they better step up quick.

Maybe what the set does with 34.1 is just a slight idiosyncrasy, one to be ignored, but so far no other Sony users have jumped in and said "yeah, mine does that too.....".
Mine does that too on a 30XS955. When I put in 39.1 (or any other digital ch) I get a No Signal (even tho in the menu I get the signal strength of the WJLA ch). I assume it's an issue with PSIP and the tuner.

Just checked Adelphia Channel lineup for 21701 and it says CSNHD on 771. That is VSGLF right now. Also TNTHD 770 is not on there, but 778 NGCHD is. Maybe another test run?

I live in Frederick, MD with Adelphia/Comcast and they added:
770- TNTHD
771- VSGLF
778- NGCHD
and
21 - CN8 not HD and not CSNHD but a Comcast channel
Just like Pyrr stated.
They also added a lot of ON Demand Channels too.
My overall bill will be about $15 more a month with the same packages. Will wait and see if
they are worth staying with because the only other real options are dish or directv. Will check with my bro, and compare to his directv options.
Also, on the Adelphia website for Fred. zip, it showed 777 as CSNHD. Called them on it and they said it was just a test run. Hopefully it will be added soon! Directv has it already, so they better step up quick.

What's VSGLF and NGCHD? We didn't get those. We did get TNTHD when they dropped INHD2.

VSGLF is a combination of Versus channel that has alot of hockey games and the Golf Channel. Great for hockey in HD and golf in HD. They choose what programs to show from their regular dig. cable channels. NGCHD is national geograhic channel in HD. Still waiting for CSNHD.

Mine does that too on a 30XS955. When I put in 39.1 (or any other digital ch) I get a No Signal (even tho in the menu I get the signal strength of the WJLA ch). I assume it's an issue with PSIP and the tuner.

No, I'm saying the opposite. Your tuner is doing what I would have expected, and mine does the same as yours for most stations. But in the case of WUSA's channel remapping, I receive their station regardless of how it's entered -- I can key in either 9.1 or 34.1 and the station comes in. If I key in 34.1, it does not say "no signal".

The above is probably no big deal, but it just struck me as odd that manually entering channel 34.1 does work, while this set handles the other remapped channel pairs differently. If it's not the WUSA PSIP, I guess it's something slightly weird in the Sony's firmware, programming, etc. So far no guru has jumped in saying that this 34.1 symptom implies a serious fault.... Good!

Discovery HD in Loudoun's Comcast is still out!

InHD (770) was (only) out last night because the NBA game was subject to blackout rules.

VS/Golf is right after the batch of current HD channels - 776. WHOA - its gone again now! The S3 TiVo's new guide doesn't show the number at all, the Moto 6412 DVR can't tune it either - blank screen or last frame from previous channel shows up, as the case may be.

Hopefully VS/Golf being dumped in favor of a REAL channel - preferably Universal HD. :)

You mean 774 for InHD, right? And it's working for me now, so you're right, probably was an NBA blackout.

Discovery HD still down for me as well.

GolfHD is coming in on 776 (1080i 4:3 with black bars) for me on the S3 TiVo. No guide info or anything though. Not sure if the show itself is HD or not.

I don't understand how or why Comcast Loudoun chose to add Versus HD before adding Comcast Sports Net-HD. Its not like they need to buy the rights to their own property. Is Comcast Reston the only local franchise that carries CSN-HD?

I don't understand how or why Comcast Loudoun chose to add Versus HD before adding Comcast Sports Net-HD. Its not like they need to buy the rights to their own property. Is Comcast Reston the only local franchise that carries CSN-HD?

All of Alexandria City and Prince William County have CSN HD and FiOS is adding it the 20th of this month. I wish FiOS had VS HD, they will be showing NHL playoff games in HD.

Well, it seems Comcast has managed to fark up the clear-QAM worse than ever. This is on their Harford County Sci-Atlanta system, but might affect other counties with the Baltimore locals. I'm convinced whoever runs the headend around here has no idea how digital TV works.

What's happened is they are now passing PSIP data from the OTA locals. That's a good thing, right? Program guide and all that...

Problem is, they are retransmitting what they grab without converting it for QAM! This is causing the channel numbers and guide for one channel to end up on another. Not only that, Comcast is using 2+ programs on the same physical for different channels, but the OTA PSIP says there's only one. This WILL cause problems for a lot of TVs/STBs.

Example: Raw QAM channel 101-1 is MPT, 101-2 is WJZ HD, etc.. Comcast started transmitting the WJZ PSIP for 101, causing my tuner to show 101-1 as "13-1 WJZ"... but it's MPT! (because MPT is the -1 subchannel...)

Even worse, WJZ's PSIP only defines 13-1, so both 13-2 and 101-2 give me "NO PROGRAM". WJZ is gone! The scan finds 101-2, but most ATSC/QAM tuners will always use the PSIP data to map subchannels, so it's ignored.

The same thing happened with WBAL/WMAR. They were both on 111, but now I just get "11-1 WBAL" and WMAR (111-2) is gone. "FOX45 HD" is really 54 HD.. at least "FOX 45.2" is 45... when they are working. I liked it better when they were just 80-1 and 80-3.

The only way around this, as far as I can see, is to have a QAM tuner you can manually configure (HDHomeRun, etc..) Or, as Comcast would recommend, you need to get HD Digital service. There is "no such thing as clear QAM..."

Never attribute to conspiracy that which can be explained by incompetance :D

All of Alexandria City and Prince William County have CSN HD and FiOS is adding it the 20th of this month.
FiOS is adding CSN Philly HD to its DC area channel lineup in addition to the analog CSN Mid-Atlantic which it has always carried.

FiOS is adding CSN Philly HD to its DC area channel lineup in addition to the analog CSN Mid-Atlantic which it has always carried.I have never heard of a out of market RSN being offered on Cable. Are you sure about this? I can see CSN-Philly being added to... well Verizon's Philadelphia markets (East PA, South NJ, DE, Maybe NorthEast MD). But DC is way out of Philadephia's turf, not to mention that Comcast owns way too many pieces of this puzzle.

I have never heard of a out of market RSN being offered on Cable. Are you sure about this? I can see CSN-Philly being added to... well Verizon's Philadelphia markets (East PA, South NJ, DE, Maybe NorthEast MD). But DC is way out of Philadephia's turf, not to mention that Comcast owns way too many pieces of this puzzle.
It does seem strange to get an out of market RSN but that's what the Fios mailing says. Last month I got a new Washington Metro Channel Lineup in the mail from Fios for the upcoming channel switcheroo and it's got CSN Mid-Atlantic on channel 66 and CSN Philly HD listed on channel 829.

It does seem strange to get an out of market RSN but that's what the Fios mailing says. Last month I got a new Washington Metro Channel Lineup in the mail from Fios for the upcoming channel switcheroo and it's got CSN Mid-Atlantic on channel 66 and CSN Philly HD listed on channel 829.
This was already discussed as an obvious typo. Verizon almost certainly would not be allowed to show Philly teams in the protected Baltimore-Washington markets.

As for Comcast Sports Network Mid-Atlantic HD, as far as I know, it is carried on all the Comcast systems in the Balt-Wash area that pre-date the recent Adelphia acquisitions. Comcast is just taking their time in adding CSN-MA in SD & HD to the now ex-Adelphia systems.

Frederick Adelphia posted in the Frederick News Post this morning the following programing changes effective 3/21/07:

New Channels- Service Level-
97 MASN2 Basic
184 CSPAN2 Basic (digital converter required)
297 ESPN Desportes Adelphia en Espanol (only applicable in Mt Airy)

Deleted Channels-
289-296 Latin Digital Music Adelphia en Espanol

This was already discussed as an obvious typo. Verizon almost certainly would not be allowed to show Philly teams in the protected Baltimore-Washington markets.
Sorry, I'm a new poster and haven't read thru the entire thread. :eek:

The only reason I can think that Comcast would allow another RSN to be shown is because they lost the O's games to MASN. But even if that's true the Phillies games would be blacked out in the DC/Baltimore areas. So we'll chalk it up to a typo. :)

Example: Raw QAM channel 101-1 is MPT, 101-2 is WJZ HD, etc.. Comcast started transmitting the WJZ PSIP for 101, causing my tuner to show 101-1 as "13-1 WJZ"... but it's MPT! (because MPT is the -1 subchannel...)

Even worse, WJZ's PSIP only defines 13-1, so both 13-2 and 101-2 give me "NO PROGRAM". WJZ is gone! The scan finds 101-2, but most ATSC/QAM tuners will always use the PSIP data to map subchannels, so it's ignored.

The same thing happened with WBAL/WMAR. They were both on 111, but now I just get "11-1 WBAL" and WMAR (111-2) is gone. "FOX45 HD" is really 54 HD.. at least "FOX 45.2" is 45... when they are working. I liked it better when they were just 80-1 and 80-3.

Looks like I've got the same issue here in Howard County. I used to have the channels you listed on those channel numbers on my TV, but they just stopped coming in and a rescan won't pick them up. I had posted a couple weeks ago that I lost the signal, then it came back, now it is gone again as of a few days ago.

I've been tempted to see how my TiVo S3 tunes them (as opposed to the TV's tuner) but I've got a great OTA setup going with it and I don't want to mess with it. And if I can't get reliable clear QAM from Comcast, then why bother? I do still get random ON DEMAND channels ironically enough.

No, I'm saying the opposite. Your tuner is doing what I would have expected, and mine does the same as yours for most stations. But in the case of WUSA's channel remapping, I receive their station regardless of how it's entered -- I can key in either 9.1 or 34.1 and the station comes in. If I key in 34.1, it does not say "no signal".

The above is probably no big deal, but it just struck me as odd that manually entering channel 34.1 does work, while this set handles the other remapped channel pairs differently. If it's not the WUSA PSIP, I guess it's something slightly weird in the Sony's firmware, programming, etc. So far no guru has jumped in saying that this 34.1 symptom implies a serious fault.... Good!
What I was saying is that that is what happens on my Sony - when I put in 34.1 or 9.1 I get WUSA.

My sister works in the call center and I sent her your post. Hopefully they will fix it.

What I was saying is that that is what happens on my Sony - when I put in 34.1 or 9.1 I get WUSA.

Oh sorry, it sounded like you were saying the reverse when you said earlier:

"When I put in 39.1 (or any other digital ch) I get a No Signal (even tho in the menu I get the signal strength of the WJLA ch)."

So we both can key in 34.1 and get WUSA just the same as if we had keyed in 9.1, and we don't see the same for any of the other remapped channel pairs (that is, we get a "no signal" indication for them)". Well I have no clue whether this is an oddity of Sony TV sets (at least yours and mine) or something not quite right within the PSIP information for WUSA, but at least it doesn't sound like my set is defective. Good - thanks for jumping in and letting me know this!

Another matter... You mentioned earlier that you read a signal strength for ch 39.1 even when the set said "no signal". If your Sony is similar to mine, I assume you're referring to the bar graph signal strength display shown on the diagnostics screen. If so, I have to wonder about the validity of the data on that screen (signal strength, AGC %, signal to noise ratio, etc.) when the set is tuned to a channel it cannot lock onto and displays "no signal". In watching my diagnostics, it looks like the strength number is stuck at around "41" for all "no signal" channels. In general, it would be nice to know more about that screen, how it works, how accurate it is, etc., but for now I suspect it shouldn't be taken too literally.

This was already discussed as an obvious typo. Verizon almost certainly would not be allowed to show Philly teams in the protected Baltimore-Washington markets.

As for Comcast Sports Network Mid-Atlantic HD, as far as I know, it is carried on all the Comcast systems in the Balt-Wash area that pre-date the recent Adelphia acquisitions. Comcast is just taking their time in adding CSN-MA in SD & HD to the now ex-Adelphia systems.

MASN told me that they are requiring cable companies to dedicate two receivers and channels to MASN because of the multiple conflicts during baseball season. They also told me that they had to be channels that were in a tier that at least something like 85% of the customers subscribed to, which is to say, Basic Cable.

At the very least, a cable company would have to drop another analog channel to force an opening for one full time basic MASN channel. I suspect that the cable system requirements for accommodating the second MASN channel might be negotiable by large cable systems, whereas the systems I service that only reach a couple hundred customers will be facing a, "my way or the highway" choice.

Oh sorry, it sounded like you were saying the reverse when you said earlier:

"When I put in 39.1 (or any other digital ch) I get a No Signal (even tho in the menu I get the signal strength of the WJLA ch)."

Another matter... You mentioned earlier that you read a signal strength for ch 39.1 even when the set said "no signal". If your Sony is similar to mine, I assume you're referring to the bar graph signal strength display shown on the diagnostics screen. If so, I have to wonder about the validity of the data on that screen (signal strength, AGC %, signal to noise ratio, etc.) when the set is tuned to a channel it cannot lock onto and displays "no signal". In watching my diagnostics, it looks like the strength number is stuck at around "41" for all "no signal" channels. In general, it would be nice to know more about that screen, how it works, how accurate it is, etc., but for now I suspect it shouldn't be taken too literally.
I should have said "or any other ch besides 34.1".

My signal strength meter is not a bar but simply a number up to 100. On 39.1 it hovers around 90, the same as for 7.1. For any ch that truly has no signal it's at 41 or lower.

MASN told me that they are requiring cable companies to dedicate two receivers and channels to MASN because of the multiple conflicts during baseball season.
Correct. On days when the Nats and O's are on at the same time, one of them will be on MASN and the other will be on MASN Plus. I suspect that MASN Plus will be dead at all other times.

Comcast channel numbers for MASN and MASN2:

http://www.masn.tv/programming/index.cfm?ID=124

In Baltimore City, MASN 2 will be on channel 17, which is normally CSPAN2.

Question... I am moving from Alexandria to Frederick next week. My DirecTV mover's connection won't be there to hook me up until March 2nd. Any chance I will be able to tune in some stations (analog or digital) with an amplified indoor antenna in the meantime? I don't want to miss Jack Bauer scream "DAMMIT!" any more than I have to!

jasonblair, I'd be very surprised if you could pick up WTTG-DT or a strong analog channel 5 signal with any indoor antenna anywhere in Frederick Co. That is, unless you go to the woods of Burkittsville...

HD is dropping out during The Office OTA on WRC.

.

gtroan, which stations drop out when it is windy? Just Baltimore or do the closer major DC stations - channels 4, 5, 7, 9, 50 drop out as well? You have a good somewhat directional antenna, but do you have a rotator to tweak the aim? Also, does the antenna move much in the wind? ... A pre-amp might help with overall reception, but you probably want to get a medium boost pre-amp to avoid possible overload of the front end for the powerful DC stations.

Thanks for your input. WRT your questions, it's the Washington digital stations (4,5,7,9,26,50) that dropout. It's usally not all of them at once, however, unless the wind is very strong. They all lie between 42 and 47 degrees N except 50 that lies at 55 degrees. I rarely pick up 50.1 without lots of dropouts. I do not have a rotator. I rarely get 22.1 from Annapolis at 80 degrees with the rooftop antenna. However, I have a smaller antenna in the attic that I can go to (via A/B switch) that often picks up 50.1 and 22.1 without dropouts when there's no wind. It's pointed more to the South (around 60 degrees) than the rooftop antenna. It's still affected by the wind, though. I am not very successful at picking up any Baltimore stations with either antenna. I was hoping to find the optimum antenna to bring in everything without dropouts and without a rotator since all the stations lie between 42 and 55 degrees and are within about 10 miles. Is it likely that a better tuner that the one in the Sony WEGA could solve this problem?

Quick question for those who already have CSN HD.

Beside the home games, is there anything else that is shown in HD, like talk shows or programs?

NFL Network HD rarely does stuff in HD, I mean what is the point? You would think for an organization with so much money and so many followers who care about the HD content they would be the first to anything that has to do with HD.

I've never seen anything other than games shown in HD on CSNHD, and they don't even show all the FSN-HD network games in HD (certainly not college football anyhow).

Looks like I've got the same issue here in Howard County. I used to have the channels you listed on those channel numbers on my TV, but they just stopped coming in and a rescan won't pick them up. I had posted a couple weeks ago that I lost the signal, then it came back, now it is gone again as of a few days ago.

I've been tempted to see how my TiVo S3 tunes them (as opposed to the TV's tuner) but I've got a great OTA setup going with it and I don't want to mess with it. And if I can't get reliable clear QAM from Comcast, then why bother? I do still get random ON DEMAND channels ironically enough.

I just got my HDHomeRun yesterday. This thing is the holy grail for HTPCs: Works with MCE, SageTV, MythTV, can be made to work with anything. It's a dual-tuner network device, so any number of HTPCs can share both tuners on any number of units. It can do OTA, but the real killer is the ability to remap QAM channels to ATSC. This allows systems that only support ATSC (Windows MCE) to finally use QAM!

Well, anyway, I scanned with this thing and discovered the program data now appears to be correct. 101.1 is "67-1 WMPT SD", 101.2 is "13-1 WJZ HD", etc.. Wouldn't matter if it wasn't tho, because you can set up the channel map by hand. Even found TNTHD and CSNHD in the clear. I haven't had a chance to rescan with my TV, but if it still can't find them, it must be a limitation of JVC's tuners. (From what I've gathered here, it seems Sony and Panasonic have the best QAM support.)

Even if the Tivo S3 can find them, I don't know how well it would map the QAM channels to their OTA equivalents. I thought you needed a CableCARD to make the guide work.

Quick question for those who already have CSN HD.

Beside the home games, is there anything else that is shown in HD, like talk shows or programs?

NFL Network HD rarely does stuff in HD, I mean what is the point? You would think for an organization with so much money and so many followers who care about the HD content they would be the first to anything that has to do with HD.

SportsNite/SportsRise are also shown in HD.

I've never seen anything other than games shown in HD on CSNHD, and they don't even show all the FSN-HD network games in HD (certainly not college football anyhow).

It is funny that you mentioned FSN HD because when I first received a letter from FiOS to let me know it is available, they had FSN HD included. After getting it and not seeing FSN HD in the line up, I called and asked about it, and they said it is only available in other FiOS markets, like Tampa and San Fransisco.

Question... I am moving from Alexandria to Frederick next week. My DirecTV mover's connection won't be there to hook me up until March 2nd. Any chance I will be able to tune in some stations (analog or digital) with an amplified indoor antenna in the meantime? I don't want to miss Jack Bauer scream "DAMMIT!" any more than I have to!
Unless you get a reply from someone who lives next door to where you are moving, you're probably going to have to wait and see what happens. It all boils down to location, location, and location.

I live a few miles outside of Frederick and I'm up on a hill with a roof antenna and I get get everything in DC and Baltimore just fine. Not that this success will help you much as you situation sound very different, but have hope! :)

SportsNite/SportsRise are also shown in HD.
They're actually WS SD.

I should have said "or any other ch besides 34.1".

My signal strength meter is not a bar but simply a number up to 100. On 39.1 it hovers around 90, the same as for 7.1. For any ch that truly has no signal it's at 41 or lower.

I don't know how much your set and mine have in common, but it sounds like the signal strength indicator is handled slightly differently. No matter though, the more important issue was hearing how your Sony handled WUSA and channel 34.1. Again, thanks for passing that info along!

Question... I am moving from Alexandria to Frederick next week. Any chance I will be able to tune in some stations (analog or digital) with an amplified indoor antenna in the meantime?

As others have said, it depends on excatly where in Frederick you are, and your elevation. I've gotten WBFF DT 45.1 (HD) as well as WTTG-DT 5.1 (HD) via a Silver Sensor. For me, 45 comes in stronger. According to Google Earth, my house is at 525 feet above sea level....

-Mike

MASN told me that they are requiring cable companies to dedicate two receivers and channels to MASN because of the multiple conflicts during baseball season. They also told me that they had to be channels that were in a tier that at least something like 85% of the customers subscribed to, which is to say, Basic Cable.

At the very least, a cable company would have to drop another analog channel to force an opening for one full time basic MASN channel. I suspect that the cable system requirements for accommodating the second MASN channel might be negotiable by large cable systems, whereas the systems I service that only reach a couple hundred customers will be facing a, "my way or the highway" choice.

This has to be why MTV2 is no longer on analog channel 58 in Prince George's County. Can't get a straight answer from Comcast on the topic.

They're actually WS SD.

At least it is in WS format, that way you don't see the sidebars. I don't understand why most stations don't do that with their HD broadcast even if they don't have the HD equipment.

Fox has been doing that for the last two years with their Saturday baseball games.

The thing that killed me today was as I flipped through the channels, I noticed The View is actually in HD. Why is that stupid show, at least IMO, is in HD and ESPNEWS and Total Access on NFLN are not?

At least it is in WS format, that way you don't see the sidebars. I don't understand why most stations don't do that with their HD broadcast even if they don't have the HD equipment.

Fox has been doing that for the last two years with their Saturday baseball games.


Please - I hope the station managers and engineers spare us from these type comments. I don't want my SD fare stretched to fit someone's 16:9 display, and lose a significant portion of the available display via station cropping. Let them (viewers) stretch it on their own it they don't mind the distortion.

We need more STB's with native passthrough. I bought equipment that senses the input signal and properly adjusts aspect ratios. I don't want to be fed a 16:9 down chopped display of a 4:3 field. My displays can upscale and display 4:3 material fine.

If it bothers you buy equipment that is more capable of displaying 4:3 material.

This is a natural consequence of many folks blindly buying 16*9 "HD" displays and not considering what those will do to the fairly more common 4*3 material - which will be around for hundreds of years.

No - I don't want a a 4:3 HD Imax movie cropped to 16:9 so please don't suggest that the stations do this.

Please - I hope the station managers and engineers spare us from these type comments. I don't want my SD fare stretched to fit someone's 16:9 display, and lose a significant portion of the available display via station cropping. Let them (viewers) stretch it on their own it they don't mind the distortion.

We need more STB's with native passthrough. I bought equipment that senses the input signal and properly adjusts aspect ratios. I don't want to be fed a 16:9 down chopped display of a 4:3 field. My displays can upscale and display 4:3 material fine.

If it bothers you buy equipment that is more capable of displaying 4:3 material.

This is a natural consequence of many folks blindly buying 16*9 "HD" displays and not considering what those will do to the fairly more common 4*3 material - which will be around for hundreds of years.

No - I don't want a a 4:3 HD Imax movie cropped to 16:9 so please don't suggest that the stations do this.I'm not sure if he was saying that but nevertheless I agree with you 100%!

I'm not sure if he was saying that but nevertheless I agree with you 100%!

CSN HD is not stretching or cropping anything. They are shooting their studio shows in 16x9 SD and broadcasting them in 16X9 SD. So the proper aspect ratio remains intact.

CSN HD is not stretching or cropping anything. They are shooting their studio shows in 16x9 SD and broadcasting them in 16X9 SD. So the proper aspect ratio remains intact.

I stand corrected if that was the approach being discussed. I just don't want stations cropping 4:3 material to fit it into a 16:9 box, or stretching it.

Thanks for your input. WRT your questions, it's the Washington digital stations (4,5,7,9,26,50) that dropout. It's usally not all of them at once, however, unless the wind is very strong. They all lie between 42 and 47 degrees N except 50 that lies at 55 degrees. I rarely pick up 50.1 without lots of dropouts. I do not have a rotator. I rarely get 22.1 from Annapolis at 80 degrees with the rooftop antenna. However, I have a smaller antenna in the attic that I can go to (via A/B switch) that often picks up 50.1 and 22.1 without dropouts when there's no wind. It's pointed more to the South (around 60 degrees) than the rooftop antenna. It's still affected by the wind, though. I am not very successful at picking up any Baltimore stations with either antenna. I was hoping to find the optimum antenna to bring in everything without dropouts and without a rotator since all the stations lie between 42 and 55 degrees and are within about 10 miles. Is it likely that a better tuner that the one in the Sony WEGA could solve this problem?
In your earlier post, you stated that you live in Sleepy Hollow area near Seven corners and you have a Winegard 7082P VHF/UHF antenna. First, looking at the maps, you have terrain issues in that you appear to be down at a lower elevation with the 7 Corners shopping center located over a 100' higher to your NW. That is why they call the street a hollow I assume. So you are in a challenging terrain situation.

For starters, the Winegard 7082P is a good antenna but may well be too narrowbeam for your location. Check the beam patterns for the 7082p at http://www.winegard.com/offair/antennas/hd7082p.htm. The higher in channel frequency you go, the narrower the beam pattern. WDCW-DT 50 broadcasts on UHF 51 so the combination of it being off in azimuth and the narrow reception beam pattern make it difficult to pick up when the antenna is aimed at the other stations. Two of the Baltimore stations, WMAR-DT 2 and WBAL-DT 11 broadcast at UHF 52 & 59 so they are up there in the narrow beam area for the 7082p as well. But you may be blocked by terrain from picking up the Baltimore stations even with the serious long range gear such as the AntennasDirect 91XG or the Channel Master 4228 8 Bay.

What model is the smaller antenna in the attic? My suggestion would to try a broad multi-directional antenna in the attic. The Channel Master 4221 4 Bay UHF antenna performs very well in this area with all the digital stations currently on UHF. But I don't know if it has the gain you need to pick-up the stations through the trees. The switch of channels 7 & 9 of their digital signals to their analog channels in 2009 will be an issue, but let's put that aside for now (even though the CM 4221 can get upper VHF 7 to 13 stations to some extent) and get your current reception problems fixed.

What type of cable are you using to connect to the 7082p? RG-59 or good quality RG-6? If the cable is RG-59, that has higher loss than RG-6 and I would replace it.

Which model year Song WEGA TV do you have? I have seen mostly positive reports for the ATSC tuners in the Sony HD TVs. But depending on how much you want to spend, the Samsung DTB-H260F ATSC receiver STB ($180 list) has gotten high marks for improved reception in marginal conditions. But the H260F is hard to find at local stores; Circuit City is the best bet. Check the long H260F thread in the HDTV hardware reception forum.

If you have not looked at this website, do so as there is a lot of useful stuff on antennas: http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ISSUES/erecting_antenna.html

Good luck!

HD is dropping out during The Office OTA on WRC.

Was doing it on WBAL, too (aside from the snow announcement periods).

It looked like it was NBC doing it because the peacock was still way down in the corner and when I zoomed the picture it still was pretty detailed.

I stand corrected if that was the approach being discussed. I just don't want stations cropping 4:3 material to fit it into a 16:9 box, or stretching it.

LOL...now take a deep breath and calm down. NO that is not what I meant by what I said earlier.

I don't know if you have seen the morning show on Fox, it is 16x9 SD. I think Fox is cheap, but that is another subject. I heard Oprah will be doing the same thing before she goes fully HD. I don't mind that at all. It is better than 4x3 with black or gray sidebars.

I don't select the stretch option for the SD stations because I can't stand looking at it that way. Yes a lot of the old stuff will remain in 4x3 SD format, like the Seinfeld, and I will keep watching it.

P.S. you can CROP a 16x9 to 4x3 but you will STRETCH 4x3 to 16x9.

P.S. you can CROP a 16x9 to 4x3 but you will STRETCH 4x3 to 16x9.

For 4:3 the stretch you are referring to really doesn't matter as the resolution isn't affected horizontally. What bothers is the loss of the top and bottom of the frames by cropping, unless its distorted (the stretching I was referring to, even if done intelligently).

For 4:3 the stretch you are referring to really doesn't matter as the resolution isn't affected horizontally. What bothers is the loss of the top and bottom of the frames by cropping, unless its distorted (the stretching I was referring to, even if done intelligently).

I've never heard of any station cropping like that, it doesn't even make any sense as to why they would. Most HDTVs now give you the option of stretching, why would stations do it on their own?

I just received a strange postcard from Comcast stating the arrival of a channel we've had here for a couple weeks now (albeit sans guide data). Strangely, the postcard calls this channel "Comcast Sports HD". The postcard initially got me excited as I thought we were finally going to start receiving CSN-HD (mid-atlantic), but you can see that this is an entirely different channel. Note the "Net" missing from "Comcast Sports HD". What gives? I am surprised that this channel was even added before CSN-HD which is available in other local pre-transition Comcast franchises.

Also, Why send this postcard if this channel is already available? And why the similar name to CSN-HD? I frankly don't care much for this channel and would much prefer CSN-HD over this.

February 1, 2007

Dear Valued Customer:

Comcast is pleased to announce the addition of Comcast Sports HD effective Tuesday, March 6th, to our High Definition Line-up on channel 776.

Comcast Sports HD will feature the best of HD sports programming from Versus and The Golf Channel, including the NHL, PGA Tour and more!

Comcast values your business and viewership, and we reaffirm our pledge to bring you the finest quality programming and customer service.

Sincerely,
Comcast

Was doing it on WBAL, too (aside from the snow announcement periods).

It looked like it was NBC doing it because the peacock was still way down in the corner and when I zoomed the picture it still was pretty detailed.Just confirmed with my dad. It did it in Indianapolis too... so it was an NBC issue.

I thought the switch was rather flawless. Usually when the local affiliate "flips the switch" there is an audio pop. Last night's switch was seamless.

Comcast Sports HD will feature the best of HD sports programming from Versus and The Golf Channel, including the NHL, PGA Tour and more!

Comcast values your business and viewership, and we reaffirm our pledge to bring you the finest quality programming and customer service.

Sincerely,
Comcast

So THAT's what that channel is. It's not in my county's digital lineup yet, but it's clear-QAM and my TV found it. I was wondering why it was Versus HD one day and Golf Channel HD the next. I didn't think comcast switched QAM channels around THAT much!

On that note, they did start encrypting ESPN-HD :( CSN-HD is now in it's place.

Was doing it on WBAL, too (aside from the snow announcement periods).

It looked like it was NBC doing it because the peacock was still way down in the corner and when I zoomed the picture it still was pretty detailed.I was doing the same thing... :D

So THAT's what that channel is. It's not in my county's digital lineup yet, but it's clear-QAM and my TV found it. I was wondering why it was Versus HD one day and Golf Channel HD the next. I didn't think comcast switched QAM channels around THAT much!

On that note, they did start encrypting ESPN-HD :( CSN-HD is now in it's place.

So you have both the new "Comcast Sports HD" (i.e. Versus HD and The Golf Channel HD), as well as CSN-HD MidAtlantic (i.e. the channel that carries the Wizards in HD)?

So you have both the new "Comcast Sports HD" (i.e. Versus HD and The Golf Channel HD), as well as CSN-HD MidAtlantic (i.e. the channel that carries the Wizards in HD)?

I just received a strange postcard from Comcast stating the arrival of a channel we've had here for a couple weeks now (albeit sans guide data). Strangely, the postcard calls this channel "Comcast Sports HD". The postcard initially got me excited as I thought we were finally going to start receiving CSN-HD (mid-atlantic), but you can see that this is an entirely different channel. Note the "Net" missing from "Comcast Sports HD". What gives? I am surprised that this channel was even added before CSN-HD which is available in other local pre-transition Comcast franchises.

Also, Why send this postcard if this channel is already available? And why the similar name to CSN-HD? I frankly don't care much for this channel and would much prefer CSN-HD over this.


So I am going to guess and say NO.

A question for the ones who have CSN HD, does Comcast broadcast ANY away game in HD at all? I mean when they play Boston, for instance, we know they have an HD feed on NESN HD.

Comcast Loudoun Ch. 776 is now listed as VSGLF and is now displaying guide data.

Still not displaying guide data in Howard County.

On the topic of Verizon showing another RSN in the DC market, it's not crazy at all. On D*, I can pay extra to get all the RSNs if I wanted. There's nothing that prohibits them from giving me whatever channels they want in that regard. I don't believe it's anything like local networks. Am I wrong? They've got the bandwidth, we should be asking for more like this! :)

-Mike

On the topic of Verizon showing another RSN in the DC market, it's not crazy at all. On D*, I can pay extra to get all the RSNs if I wanted. There's nothing that prohibits them from giving me whatever channels they want in that regard. I don't believe it's anything like local networks. Am I wrong? They've got the bandwidth, we should be asking for more like this! :)

-Mike

The problem is blackout restrictions, especially with baseball. That's at least one limiting factor.

In an absolutely shocking development, the Washington Post has finally begun including a HD notation for programs broadcast in HD in their weekly TV Guide. Now whether it's accurate is another story...

On the topic of Verizon showing another RSN in the DC market, it's not crazy at all. On D*, I can pay extra to get all the RSNs if I wanted. There's nothing that prohibits them from giving me whatever channels they want in that regard. I don't believe it's anything like local networks. Am I wrong? They've got the bandwidth, we should be asking for more like this! :)

-Mike


Yeah but based on a related previous question I had, they can't air much of the game content (like MLB, NBA, etc.). Don't know how much value it adds without actual game coverage.