Is anyone else in Alexandria (or on the Alex/Arlington headend) on Comcast having issues? I have some channels, many are badly pixelated to the point you can't watch, and some are just black screens. As the day has gone on, I've lost more and more. Comcast says they can send a truck on next Thursday (6/12), but they won't call the engineering department to let me know I'm having problems.

I've been having the same issues for awhile, too. I live in a 250-unit condo with main feeds from Comcast going through splitter boxes and from these into individual apartments. Last summer I had a Comcast tech check my signal strength both at the splitter box and in my unit, and it was OK.

Given the various responses already submitted to Hokie's original post, I seriously doubt this problem is localized to individual subscribers, so sending techs won't solve anything. It's also definitely not heat/moisture related, since these problems have been occurring randomly for several weeks. I suspect there are occasional hardware and/or software problems at the head end that feeds Alexandria/Arlington, and the engineers don't recognize it or don't have a clue about how to fix it permanently.

To recap the symptoms when the problem occurs, most HD channels above 215 will pixelate then freeze and disappear. This can happen to many of the SD digital channels, too, e.g. the movie channels between 150 and 170 and others like Hallmark at 68 and 137 and BBC America at 114. Sometimes, an SD equivalent (SFI-FI at 51) will be OK, other times not. None of the broadcast HD channels (e.g., NBC-HD at 211) are affected, which is another reason why I doubt this is a localized problem. In my case, the problem, when it occurs, seems to start in the early evening, but is gone the next day. Two or more days usually go by before it occurs again.

BTW, I use 2nd-gen cable cards in both my Panny TV and Sony DVR. The TV's QAM tuner seems more susceptible to this issue with pixelated or frozen screens, audio breakup, and no signal at all on some channels, but the DVR is also affected to a lesser extent.

I'm in Arlington with Comcast, and I am not having any problems at all with the signal quality. A few years ago I was having issues with the cable at various times of the day, which was caused by a loose cable at the box that feeds all the units in my building. It actually three service techs to fix the problem, and the last tech only fixed it after I complained to the Arlington County Cable Authority about my problem. I'm sure Alexandria must have a cable management authority as well, and if Comcast continues to give you the run-around, contact the county. Comcast is amazingly fast to solve problems when the government starts check up on them.

Yes, they do and I'll be calling them tomorrow.

Seems many are singing the praises of WBFF HD news. Maybe it's just me, but I think the set design has way to much blue. Even graphics have a blue tint.
Never the less, it's a big improvement from the 'clay faces' everyone seemed to have before.
Compared to channel 9 in DC, no contest....... Channel 9 by a mile.
Don't get me wrong....
I am now a daily viewer of WBFF 5:30 news cast. Before , on occasion I watched the 10 PM news cast.
For now, ' you're the only game in town'.... GOOD LUCK .

I had a chance to adjust the monitors in the studio a bit, today. They should look less blue. (all monitors normally have a blue tint - although you normally don't notice it, the camera sees them that way).

Give it another look, when you get a chance.

BTW, other than the computer monitors in the weather area, there are 4 monitors that I didn't adjust. See if you can tell which ones aren't adjusted!

Thanks for watching -

Yes, they do and I'll be calling them tomorrow.

Good luck, and please keep us informed on the results (although I still think this is a head-end problem, perhaps related to higher compression rates on some QAM channels).

I took another forums member's advice and sent an email through the CC website (the "Ask Rick a question" form) on Sunday, explaining everything, as well as a few other things :)

At 8 am this morning, before I could call the city, I noticed a voicemail from someone at the local corporate office saying she received my complaint and would like to discuss. I called back a little while ago and left a message. We'll see how that goes.

The last tech to actually make it out said the drop, or TAP, or whatever it's callled, was pretty much F-ed so I gotta believe that's the issue. I basically had no channels (HD or SD) all weekend. Thank god for OTA.

UPDATE: I've left two messages at the number of the woman who called me Monday morning. No call back yet. The number rings a few times and then goes straight to voicemail. That's not a good sign.

Also, no channels worked when I got home last night at 5:30. Watched a movie, then tried again at 10:45pm. ALL my channels worked, without a break-up. This morning, none of them worked. WTF!

unrelated note, nice picture by robert forsyth on the metro derailment story on news8.net

great weather conditions tonight. picking up WBOC DT(21) at between 65 and 75 percent. turned antenna slightly and picked up WPVI-DT(64) and WCAU-DT(67) from Philly at around 50 percent. some breakups on WCAU. those seem like the only channels from Philadelphia I can ever get during nights like this because I think their Fox channel is broadcast digitally on 32.

great weather conditions tonight. picking up WBOC DT(21) at between 65 and 75 percent. turned antenna slightly and picked up WPVI-DT(64) and WCAU-DT(67) from Philly at around 50 percent. some breakups on WCAU. those seem like the only channels from Philadelphia I can ever get during nights like this because I think their Fox channel is broadcast digitally on 32. Have you tried Richmond WUPV-DT(65)? It has been coming in regularly here. WBOC-DT(16 & 21) come in sometimes, but never have been able to get anything from Philly. I have also found that virtual channel 13 in Norfolk is on the same frequency(41) as Baltimore WUTB-DT (24). It overpowers it from the back of the antenna at times with a 1000 kW signal. I'm guessing this is the reason that WUTB is beaming their signal more to the north.

thanks for the info, haven't tried that channel yet. just picked up WMDT-DT(53) from Salisbury at between 35 and 40 percent. Also, its the CW from Philly thats on 32, Fox is on 42.

Have you tried Richmond WUPV-DT(65)? It has been coming in regularly here. WBOC-DT(16 & 21) come in sometimes, but never have been able to get anything from Philly. I have also found that virtual channel 13 in Norfolk is on the same frequency(41) as Baltimore WUTB-DT (24). It overpowers it from the back of the antenna at times with a 1000 kW signal. I'm guessing this is the reason that WUTB is beaming their signal more to the north.

Actually, the reason WUTB-DT 41 is directional and not putting any signal to the south is to protect WMPT-DT 42.

- Trip

Actually, the reason WUTB-DT 41 is directional and not putting any signal to the south is to protect WMPT-DT 42.

- Trip

Will that change anytime soon? Is WMPT going to stay on 42? Is WUTB staying on 41? Why is WMPB on 29 so weak? Also, for now I lost WCAU-DT and WMDT-HD. Don't know why.

Have you tried Richmond WUPV-DT(65)? It has been coming in regularly here. WBOC-DT(16 & 21) come in sometimes, but never have been able to get anything from Philly. I have also found that virtual channel 13 in Norfolk is on the same frequency(41) as Baltimore WUTB-DT (24). It overpowers it from the back of the antenna at times with a 1000 kW signal. I'm guessing this is the reason that WUTB is beaming their signal more to the north.

No luck with Richmond WUPV 65(47). Also, no signal for WUTB 24(41) not even the spikes to 7 and 11 like last week.

Will that change anytime soon? Is WMPT going to stay on 42? Is WUTB staying on 41? Why is WMPB on 29 so weak? Also, for now I lost WCAU-DT and WMDT-HD. Don't know why.

Both are staying put.

WMPB is so weak due to protecting...

WGCB-DT 30 Red Lion PA
WNVT-DT 30 Goldvein VA
WTXF-TV 29 Philadelphia

And when WTXF signs off...

WUVP-DT 29 Philadelphia

You lost those signals probably because the atmosphere isn't helping you so much anymore. Around sunrise and sunset are the best times for tropospheric ducting, the phenomenon you're experiencing.

- Trip

This is from August 2007:

Verizon to Baltimore: You'll get FiOS someday

Reader Robert asks: "When will FIOS come to Baltimore City? I look forward to the day I can leave Comcast." So I put the question to Verizon spokeswoman Sandy Arnette. Her response:

"Regarding your reader's question about when Verizon will bring FiOS to Baltimore City, we have not yet announced a timetable for Baltimore. But, of course, that in no way means the city will not get FiOS. So, please ask your reader to stay tuned -- recognizing that we cannot build a fiber-optic network everywhere at once.

"Just so you know, urban areas, because of permitting, undergrounding and property access issues present unique challenges that are different from suburban areas. We'll work through these issues in Baltimore knowing it's a good market for us.

"It's also important to note that we're still in the early stages of our fiber-optic upgrade, which we'll be working on for the next several years. Just because we have not built our network or obtained a cable franchise in a particular area now is not an indication that we won't do so."


I take this to mean: Don't hold your breath. I suspect the city is also not a first priority for Verizon because of lower-income neighborhoods, which the company may fear wouldn't sign up for high-priced cable/Internet packages at the rate of affluent neighborhoods. Verizon could cherry-pick Guilford, Roland Park, Federal Hill & Mt. Washington, but that would leave it wide open to charges of redlining. On the other hand, Baltimore has many more residences per mile of cable than the counties.

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/business/hancock/blog/2007/08/verizon_to_baltimore_youll_get.html

Comcast monopoly may face challenges

Feb 22, 2008 3:00 AM (109 days ago) by Aaron Cahall, The Examiner

BALTIMORE (Map, News) -

Months after its first attempt to gain a franchise agreement in Baltimore City faltered, cable company Cavalier seems ready take another shot at breaking up Comcast’s monopoly.

It might not be alone, as city officials and a company spokesperson said Verizon will eventually seek a franchise in Baltimore.

The city’s planning commission earlier this month approved a Cavalier franchise agreement, again sending it to the council for debate. A contract proposed by the Richmond, Va.-based cable, telephone and Internet provider died last fall after a council subcommittee gave the contract an unfavorable recommendation and the city’s Board of Estimates did not take it up.

At that time, Verizon officials said they too may try to break into the city market. In an e-mail statement, Verizon spokeswoman Sandy Arnette said the company will “eventually” seek an agreement to bring FiOS to Baltimore once it deploys its fiber optic network, but could not say exactly when that would occur.

“They’re going to get to Baltimore City,” said Marilyn Harris-Davis, Mayor Sheila Dixon’s director of cable and communications. “Baltimore is certainly a viable cable communications area.”

The contract would allow Cavalier to lease and piggyback on existing Verizon transmission lines to provide service.

However, both Harris-Davis and Councilman James Kraft, chair of the judiciary and legislative investigations subcommittee which spiked the agreement, said they have not heard from the company. Kraft said legislation for the agreement has not been reintroduced. Cavalier representatives did not return calls for comment Thursday.

“We didn’t have a lot of information, they gave it with less than 30 days left before the end of our session,” Kraft said. “We’re not saying we don’t want to create a more competitive market, we’re saying we can’t do this within in the timeframe in a reasonable way. Our understanding is that the issue would return.”

In an e-mail, Comcast spokeswoman Alicia Martin defended the company’s market dominance.

“Competition is not new to Comcast,” Martin said. “No other provider is capable of delivering integrated products on the scale that Comcast does today.”

Harris-Davis reiterated concerns about Cavalier’s customer service capabilities, and questioned who would conduct maintenance and repairs on the system.

“Cavalier is a smaller company,” she said. “When you give a franchise [agreement], you’re giving them access to city streets. We want to make sure they’re up to it.”

http://www.examiner.com/a-1235336~Comcast%20monopoly%20may%20face%20challenges.html

This is from August 2007:

Verizon to Baltimore: You'll get FiOS someday

Reader Robert asks: "When will FIOS come to Baltimore City? I look forward to the day I can leave Comcast." So I put the question to Verizon spokeswoman Sandy Arnette. Her response:

<CUT>

"Just so you know, urban areas, because of permitting, undergrounding and property access issues present unique challenges that are different from suburban areas. We'll work through these issues in Baltimore knowing it's a good market for us.

"It's also important to note that we're still in the early stages of our fiber-optic upgrade, which we'll be working on for the next several years. Just because we have not built our network or obtained a cable franchise in a particular area now is not an indication that we won't do so."

<CUT>

I live in Fauquier, nice and rural. So Verizon is gonna jump right on that, right? Still can't even get DSL, so I'm sure we're at the bottom of the list. Verizon won't admit the truth, as the poster said, "We're looking to put FIOS in higher value neighborhoods where it's more likely people will subscribe. If you live in low income housing, no matter where it is, don't hold your breath."

So for every "Comcast is awful" I'm happy they at least have BOTHERED to do high speed internet. They had no competition, so they could have sat back and not bothered with HD service or internet. If Verizon said tomorrow they were going to offer me DSL, I'd stick with Comcast. I'm in no hurry to switch to FIOS either, even if it was offered.

Both are staying put.

WMPB is so weak due to protecting...

WGCB-DT 30 Red Lion PA
WNVT-DT 30 Goldvein VA
WTXF-TV 29 Philadelphia

And when WTXF signs off...

WUVP-DT 29 Philadelphia

You lost those signals probably because the atmosphere isn't helping you so much anymore. Around sunrise and sunset are the best times for tropospheric ducting, the phenomenon you're experiencing.

- Trip

This morning pulled in WTVE-DT 51-1(25) for a few minutes at 30 percent from Reading. was showing infomercials. The two channels that seem strongest are WPVI-DT 6(64) and WBOC-DT 16(21). WPVI was between 30 and 50 percent. WBOC was at 96 percent but WMDT must be weaker because the signal meter didn't budge from zero.

still no signal for WUTB 24(41)

as of 12:30pm still holding on to WBOC DT but dropped from 95 to 30 percent. everything else is gone

...picking up WBOC DT(21) at between 65 and 75 percent...

Interesting DX point: Has anyone noticed what happens if you're watching one channel, and a second distant channel fades in over it? When this stuff moves down to VHF, I'll bet we'll be seeing a lot more of that.

ACC football in HD:

http://raycomsportsmarketing.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=87&Itemid=91

I took another forums member's advice and sent an email through the CC website (the "Ask Rick a question" form) on Sunday, explaining everything, as well as a few other things :)

At 8 am this morning, before I could call the city, I noticed a voicemail from someone at the local corporate office saying she received my complaint and would like to discuss. I called back a little while ago and left a message. We'll see how that goes.

The last tech to actually make it out said the drop, or TAP, or whatever it's callled, was pretty much F-ed so I gotta believe that's the issue. I basically had no channels (HD or SD) all weekend. Thank god for OTA.

UPDATE: I've left two messages at the number of the woman who called me Monday morning. No call back yet. The number rings a few times and then goes straight to voicemail. That's not a good sign.

Also, no channels worked when I got home last night at 5:30. Watched a movie, then tried again at 10:45pm. ALL my channels worked, without a break-up. This morning, none of them worked. WTF!

Ah, I didn't realize that you are intermittently not getting any channels; very different than my issues. That does sound like a loose/flaky connection somewhere. If the woman who called you is the customer service manager in Manassas, I know from experience that she's on the road a lot. I contacted her last fall to resolve a billing issue. When she finally returned my call, she apologized for the delay and solved my problem in real time.

still no signal for WUTB 24(41)

As soon as someone in P.G. reports reception of WUTB, I expect them to reduce the power in our direction since they DON'T want us to get their signal here.

As soon as someone in P.G. reports reception of WUTB, I expect them to reduce the power in our direction since they DON'T want us to get their signal here.

That seems strange as close as we are to get every other station except that one. Why would they not want us to receive it?

That seems strange as close as we are to get every other station except that one. Why would they not want us to receive it?
It is not a question of WUTB-DT not wanting you to not get the station, but that they had to go with a directional antenna when they ended up on UHF 41 - which was not their first choice.

I don't why this did not occur to me earlier, but I wonder that adjacent channel interference may be why you and others well SW of Catonsville and close to Annapolis can't get WUTB-DT on UHF 41. You are closer to the broadcast tower for WMPT-DT on 42 located in the Crownsville area, although Forestville, MD is not that close. The stronger signal from WMPT-DT may be keeping your tuner from getting a lock on UHF 41. Check the coverage maps for the two DT stations:
WUTB-DT 24(41): http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1233410.html
WMPT-DT 22(42): http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT684296.html.

Unfortunately, both stations are on their final post-transition assignments so they are not changing their channels next year. What are you using for an ATSC tuner? It is possible that a 6th generation tuner such as one of the new converter boxes might be able to get a lock on WUTB-DT from down there. Can anyone who has tried one of the new converter boxes from south of Annapolis comment on this?

Those who can't get WUTB-DT 24 from west of DC and southwest of Catonsville might just have to live with getting their My Network HD programming (such as it is) from WDCA-DT My 20 which is least putting out a strong broadcast signal.

This morning pulled in WTVE-DT 51-1(25) for a few minutes at 30 percent from Reading. was showing infomercials. The two channels that seem strongest are WPVI-DT 6(64) and WBOC-DT 16(21). WPVI was between 30 and 50 percent. WBOC was at 96 percent but WMDT must be weaker because the signal meter didn't budge from zero.

I'd be curious... WTVE-DT is an interesting case, they're actually running 7 (!) low-powered transmitters and one full-powered transmitter (from the same site as WPVI and most of the other Philly stations). I'm guessing that you received the Philly one, but there's really no way to know which one you actually saw. If you were in a different part of Maryland, I'd say it's the transmitter in North East, MD.

I stuck info about their digital signal in the WTVE Wikipedia page, if you're curious about it.

- Trip

Comcast bumps D.C. stations to digital only

Analog customers may need to upgrade

By ERIN SHEA Staff Writer

Published June 10, 2008

Comcast cable is shuffling some of its channels, moving the Washington, D.C., network affiliates to its more expensive digital tier.

Comcast customers currently receive network affiliates from both Washington and Baltimore, providing two ABC, NBC, FOX and CBS channels. But on June 25, Comcast will cut the Washington channels from its analog service.

The change will mean that Comcast's analog customers will have to upgrade to the digital service if they want to continue receiving stations from Washington, though company officials said the majority of their customers won't notice any change.

According to Comcast officials, 80 percent of their customers in Annapolis and Anne Arundel already have digital cable. Aimee Metrick, director of public relations for Comcast's Eastern Division, which serves the state of Maryland, said the only changes those customers should expect will be the channels changing from their current numbers to numbers 193-196.

"These changes are designed to help us continue our commitment to bring new programming and high-definition (HD) choices to digital customers," she said.

But if customers choose, they can keep their analog service and still receive the Baltimore channels.

For the others, Ms. Metrick said Comcast customers who now subscribe to the standard analog cable package will be able to change to the digital starter package at no cost increase. Both packages cost $52.15 a month. She also said the required converter box for the digital service is included in the cost, though additional boxes for other televisions cost $3.95 each a month.

The total number of Comcast customers in Anne Arundel and Annapolis was not available. Ms. Metrick also said she did not know how many of the non-digital customers subscribed to the Comcast's least expensive basic cable package for $16.70 a month.

Those customers would be forced to make the biggest leap in service to keep their Washington stations, paying about $35 more a month.

By changing to digital service, customers would "get the D.C. broadcast channels and they'll enjoy the benefits of digital cable, which include better picture quality and sound, On Demand programming, 47 music channels, parental controls, and an interactive program guide," Ms. Metrick said. Many customers in the county are not happy about the change.

"I don't think that's good at all," said Bryan Copeland, 33, of Lothian. "I don't think that's fair to people who have (basic) cable. We're between D.C. and Baltimore so we should have both channels."

Brandon Machen, a 24-year-old former resident of Severna Park agreed.

"Sometimes the Baltimore (channels) don't come in and the D.C. ones do," he said.

However, former Pasadena resident Bill Paddy, 55, said while being able to watch both Washington- and Baltimore-area channels was nice, he didn't think it would "be the end of the world" if the Washington channels were unavailable to area residents.

Victoria Bruce, 41, of Riva welcomed news of the change.

"At some point technology just has to move forward," she said. "When cars came in style, horses went out. It was inevitable."

Millersville resident Peter Mallo, 74, also said he was glad to hear the news because digital cable is a better service, calling it "complete."

Faruq Muhammad, 41, of Philadelphia, said he was infuriated by the news though, saying that if the transition succeeds here he thinks they would do similar things in the rest of the country.

"This is just another tragedy being swept under the rug," he said.

Comcast, along with all cable providers across the country, will make a complete transition to digital service on Feb. 17, 2009. It was unclear what Comcast's least expensive package will be once the digital transition occurs.

"These changes are not in any way related to the federally mandated broadcast digital-television transition (DTV)," said Ms. Metrick.

Verizon FiOS also is planning a similar digital change. Heather Wilner, a media relations manager for Verizon, said the company is "transitioning to an all-digital format on a gradual basis region-to-region."

Ms. Wilner said the transition is expected to be completed by the end of the year and that the transition will be completed by July in Anne Arundel County. According to the Verizon FiOS Web site, the company's lowest tier digital package starts at $47.99 a month, though the company also offers package deals with its Internet and telephone service, similar to Comcast.

Verizon customers will receive one free digital adaptor with the upgrade and Ms. Wilner said they would "work with customers" who have more than one analog television set to complete the transition. The current cost for digital adaptors is $3.99 per month.

Broadstripe, formerly known as Millennium Digital Media, said they have no current plans to change to an all-digital format or turn any of the current analog channels into digital channels. Doing so would require customers to get a digital box, an option that they say is not "customer-friendly."

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2008/06_10-05/TOP

It is not a question of WUTB-DT not wanting you to not get the station, but that they had to go with a directional antenna when they ended up on UHF 41 - which was not their first choice.

I don't why this did not occur to me earlier, but I wonder that adjacent channel interference may be why you and others well SW of Catonsville and close to Annapolis can't get WUTB-DT on UHF 41. You are closer to the broadcast tower for WMPT-DT on 42 located in the Crownsville area, although Forestville, MD is not that close. The stronger signal from WMPT-DT may be keeping your tuner from getting a lock on UHF 41. Check the coverage maps for the two DT stations:
WUTB-DT 24(41): http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1233410.html
WMPT-DT 22(42): http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT684296.html.

Unfortunately, both stations are on their final post-transition assignments so they are not changing their channels next year. What are you using for an ATSC tuner? It is possible that a 6th generation tuner such as one of the new converter boxes might be able to get a lock on WUTB-DT from down there. Can anyone who has tried one of the new converter boxes from south of Annapolis comment on this?

Those who can't get WUTB-DT 24 from west of DC and southwest of Catonsville might just have to live with getting their My Network HD programming (such as it is) from WDCA-DT My 20 which is least putting out a strong broadcast signal.

WUTB isn't at full power yet, are they? Wasn't last week just a test? and it must not have lasted long because by the time I found out about it the test was over. Also, WUSA is on 34 and WDCA is on 35 and WTTG is on 36. So why are they worried about protecting WMPT? Those are adjacent and don't cause any problems

Adjacents don't matter so long as the stations are close together--on the same tower or within a few miles of each other. When they're more than 14 miles apart, they begin to cause lots of interference and then stations have to worry about protecting them.

WUTB-41/WMPT-42 was a really poor allocation; here's hoping something's done to correct it. (Move WMPT to 43 in the future maybe?)

- Trip

This is from August 2007:

Verizon to Baltimore: You'll get FiOS someday

Reader Robert asks: "When will FIOS come to Baltimore City? I look forward to the day I can leave Comcast." So I put the question to Verizon spokeswoman Sandy Arnette. Her response:

"Regarding your reader's question about when Verizon will bring FiOS to Baltimore City, we have not yet announced a timetable for Baltimore. But, of course, that in no way means the city will not get FiOS. So, please ask your reader to stay tuned -- recognizing that we cannot build a fiber-optic network everywhere at once.

"Just so you know, urban areas, because of permitting, undergrounding and property access issues present unique challenges that are different from suburban areas. We'll work through these issues in Baltimore knowing it's a good market for us.

"It's also important to note that we're still in the early stages of our fiber-optic upgrade, which we'll be working on for the next several years. Just because we have not built our network or obtained a cable franchise in a particular area now is not an indication that we won't do so."


I take this to mean: Don't hold your breath. I suspect the city is also not a first priority for Verizon because of lower-income neighborhoods, which the company may fear wouldn't sign up for high-priced cable/Internet packages at the rate of affluent neighborhoods. Verizon could cherry-pick Guilford, Roland Park, Federal Hill & Mt. Washington, but that would leave it wide open to charges of redlining. On the other hand, Baltimore has many more residences per mile of cable than the counties.

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/business/hancock/blog/2007/08/verizon_to_baltimore_youll_get.html

City of Alexandria is far down on the list because of the cost. We have a lot of money in the City, but tearing up old streets and neighborhoods is cost prohibitive. I think their timetable is 2010 for the City...

Finally.

http://www.gazette.net/stories/061108/rocknew212558_32362.shtml

The City Council on Monday night approved an agreement with Verizon to install its high-speed, fiber optics cable service within [Rockville].

Verizon FiOS will provide telephone, high-speed Internet and cable television to the majority of homes throughout Rockville, except the King Farm community.

City officials said Verizon serves King Farm from its Gaithersburg central office. They said Verizon plans to obtain approval to begin construction from that office in 2009.

Phone calls to Verizon were not returned by Gazette press time Tuesday afternoon.

Verizon will now begin engineering design work and is scheduled to begin construction in Rockville in September, with completion in a year, according to Craig Simoneau, the city’s director of public works.

City officials stressed that all of the costs for the installation would be paid by Verizon.

‘‘We are moving forward, but we’re moving forward with the knowledge that the city is protected and the costs to the city are taken care of by Verizon,” Mayor Susan R. Hoffmann said Monday after the unanimous vote of approval.

‘‘It may have taken longer than anybody would like, but I’m pleased with the agreement and the relationship we have developed and I have confidence it will be done in a timely way,” Hoffmann added.

Montgomery County approved Verizon FiOS service in 2006.

WUTB isn't at full power yet, are they? Wasn't last week just a test? and it must not have lasted long because by the time I found out about it the test was over. Also, WUSA is on 34 and WDCA is on 35 and WTTG is on 36. So why are they worried about protecting WMPT? Those are adjacent and don't cause any problems
As Trip posted, if the station towers are co-located or close enough, adjacent digital channels are ok. The stations may be at different power levels and have different coverage areas, but the relative signal strengths stay within so many dB of each other. When you have adjacent channels on towers far enough apart, then someone close to tower A gets a signal X dB stronger than the adjacent channel from distant tower B. The edge of the envelope of the strong signal for channel A overwhelms the weak signal for adjacent channel B. However, looking at the map, Forestville, MD is pretty far from the WMPT-DT tower for adjacent channel interference to be the cause.

WUTB-DT 24 on UHF 41 is at it's post-transition power of 200 kW and channel assignment. Nothing temporary about it. All WUTB-DT has to do for next February is to turn off the analog UHF 24 transmitter. Hopefully WUTB-DT has to do some adjustments to the antenna radiate pattern to the south to improve reception in those areas. If not, then the reception situation to the south of the station is not going to improve when analog broadcasting ends. WNUV-DT 54 on UHF 40, WUTB-DT on UHF 41, WMPT-DT 22 on UHF 42 are all on their post-transition channels and alloted power levels. What is curious in this case is that none of the 3 are co-located on the same tower or tower cluster, they are spread out by some miles.

BTW, speaking of UHF 24, WNVC-DT MHz 56 in Fairfax, which is moving to UHF 24 next February 17 (after WUTB-TV turns off it's analog signal), has filed to increase it's power next year on UHF 24 from the current allotment of 45 kW to 160 kW. This should give a pretty good coverage area - well, once they get back on the air. WNVC will be going dark on both analog 56 and digital 57 in September so they can put up a new antenna on top of the the tower that is located next to the Beltway.

Is there an ETA for HD on WUTB?

I am in a dilemma whether to switch to comast digital triple play from DirecTV. The main reason is to get the cable internet as DSL or dial-up is the only other alternative. I think cable will be better than DSL. I currently do not have internet, and phone through verizon. Between satellite and my phone I pay 130.00/month and the triple play is 130.00/month for two years. Making the internet free for all intent and purposes. How often does comcast go out and for how long? How is the signal quality for HD as well as SD? I am in Calvert County, MD.

Thanks in advance for any feedback

I am sure some if not all of this has been coverd in the past, but I would like current info.

keep your dish get verizon dsl use your cell phone

Comcast bumps D.C. stations to digital only

Analog customers may need to upgrade

By ERIN SHEA Staff Writer

Published June 10, 2008

Comcast cable is shuffling some of its channels, moving the Washington, D.C., network affiliates to its more expensive digital tier.

Comcast customers currently receive network affiliates from both Washington and Baltimore, providing two ABC, NBC, FOX and CBS channels. But on June 25, Comcast will cut the Washington channels from its analog service.

The change will mean that Comcast's analog customers will have to upgrade to the digital service if they want to continue receiving stations from Washington, though company officials said the majority of their customers won't notice any change.
...
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2008/06_10-05/TOP

I'm surprised that both DC and Baltimore stations were available in Annapolis and Anne Arundel on analog. PG County lost the Baltimore stations on analog quite a long time ago and then lost them on formal digital and recently lost them on QAM digital. I thought at the same time that PG County lost those QAM signals that Anne Arundel and Annapolis also lost the QAM signals for the DC stations. I wonder if they'll get those back with this June 25 transition or what?

Neil

I am in a dilemma whether to switch to comast digital triple play from DirecTV. The main reason is to get the cable internet as DSL or dial-up is the only other alternative. I think cable will be better than DSL. I currently do not have internet, and phone through verizon. Between satellite and my phone I pay 130.00/month and the triple play is 130.00/month for two years. Making the internet free for all intent and purposes. How often does comcast go out and for how long? How is the signal quality for HD as well as SD?
Comcast service should not go out very often; TV and internet should be reliable. For TV, you should compare the channel line-up between what Comcast offers in your county versus DirecTV. Comcast digital SD picture quality will be better than the very compressed DirecTV SD channels. On the flip side, the new DirecTV HD satellites provide good HD quality and a larger HD channel line-up compared to the typical Comcast system at this time. You have to decide between the trade-offs and costs of each service bundle for what your needs are.

I assume Verizon Fios is not yet available in your neighborhood. Fios would offer the best internet service for choices of speed. TV, phone, and internet have been very reliable for me. The upcoming HD channel expansion of some 27 HD channels should hit the Washington Metro market sometime in August (we hope).

I was without internet and cable TV for 12 + hours yesterday starting around 2PM. Seeing no other comments, it must have been very isolated.

My internet was/is fine. My cable has been f-ed for 4 days, except after 10 pm or so. Awaiting word from the CC maintenance folks via a corporate rep. I was supposed to get a call this morning.

I was without internet and cable TV for 12 + hours yesterday starting around 2PM. Seeing no other comments, it must have been very isolated.

Same thing here (very near Alexandria Hospital) - entire building out. Must have been a cut or damaged main line feeding a broad area.

So, since I'm still without cable, I switched over to OTA when I got home. For some reason, Fox 5 is no longer at, well, 5 in my channel summary. It's at 44.1 and the PSID(?) info says KWKT-DT, which appear to be Waco, TX call letters.

Anyone else notice this?

So, since I'm still without cable, I switched over to OTA when I got home. For some reason, Fox 5 is no longer at, well, 5 in my channel summary. It's at 44.1 and the PSID(?) info says KWKT-DT, which appear to be Waco, TX call letters.

Anyone else notice this?

Not sure if you mean Wash or Balt, and what you're using to tune, but WTTG on my TivoHD using OTA is on 5-1. So they must be broadcasting the right PSIP info.

Washington. Using the ATSC tuner in my TV. The channel summary (the results after I scan) showed it as 5.1 WTTG-HD as of last night, as it always had. Tonight, 5-1 is no longer in the summary, but 44-1 is, as KWKT, but showing our local Fox 5 DC programming.

Baltimore Fox is showing up correctly.

So, since I'm still without cable, I switched over to OTA when I got home. For some reason, Fox 5 is no longer at, well, 5 in my channel summary. It's at 44.1 and the PSID(?) info says KWKT-DT, which appear to be Waco, TX call letters.

Anyone else notice this?

I just saw it--I rescanned my TV just out of curiosity and it picked it up as 44.1. My other tuner that gets PSIP when you tune in is also showing KWKT.

Rusticusa,

I am in Calvert County as well and have had Comcast for a couple of years. I signed up for it primarily to get the internet because as you note, we do not have a lot of options. I don't think FIOS will be out by us for a long long time. Satellite is probably not an option for me because of the many tall trees around us (My wife will not let me cut any of them.)

Comcast has been quite reliable. I cannot think of any times that it has been out and we have had power. There probably have been a few minor outages when I haven't been using the system. The customer service is probably a bit better than that in more populated areas, but you still have to deal with the Comcast culture (bottom line driven, not very much information and slow changes). As afiggatt noted (he is always a good source of information), the HD quality is not as good as DirectTV but I think acceptable (others would probably argue with me on that).

Have you thought about the Comcast double play (internet and phone)?

I just saw it--I rescanned my TV just out of curiosity and it picked it up as 44.1. My other tuner that gets PSIP when you tune in is also showing KWKT.
This is one of the weirdest PSIP errors I have ever seen. The tuner showed WTTG-DT on 5; entered channel 36 (physical channel for WTTG-DT), it automatically switched to channel 5 as expected. So I did a re-scan and yup, it now shows a KWKT-DT 44.1 which is the Fox affiliate in Waco, TX which broadcasts on UHF 57. I enter channel 36 and the channel changes to 44.1!! What The Heck? This is not some strange atmospheric ducting as the station is still on UHF 36.

Somehow WTTG-DT got the call sign and channel assignment for KWKT-DT in their PSIP data. Betcha that WTTG-DT uses a service to program their PSIP data and it is the same company that does KWKT-DT 44 in Waco. Someone messed up the call sign. Wonder what KWKT-DT is showing in Waco? :eek:

This glitch is going seriously confuse anyone trying out their new converter box for the first time tonight in the DC area. :D

On the subject of PSIP, wasn't there a deadline in May, or something to that effect? I notice Univision 14 isn't transmitting any sort of program data. Their audio also has pops that sound like a sampling rate mismatch (well, that's what happens with SPDIF, anyway), which occur only on their digital channel.

That's been the situation for several weeks now. I tried emailing the station manager but got no reply. There is no engineering contact of any sort on the station web site.

I don't watch the channel but it'd be nice for them to fix those issues. As far as DC Spanish-language stations go, I'd really like to see WZDC go digital, since they air international soccer games fairly frequently. Does their signal even reach outside of the city? It's already pretty weak here, that's for sure.

WTTG (OTA) seems to have corrected their PSIP data as of Friday morning.

On that same subject, there still appears to be an issue with WUTB's PSIP data since their recent power upgrade. Two of three DTV tuners in my household identify WUTB as 41.1. The third tunes the signal fine, then goes blank ten seconds later, just as it labels the station as 24.1.

"This glitch is going seriously confuse anyone trying out their new converter box for the first time tonight in the DC area."

You mean my wife? We tried to tune in WTTG around 7pm last night and saw the dreaded "no signal" box. Did a rescan and found Fox 5 at 44.1 Huh? Great dx I thought. But that didn't make any sense since they were still on uhf 36. Noticed that the error had been corrected by 10pm last night.

Comcast bumps D.C. stations to digital only

Comcast, along with all cable providers across the country, will make a complete transition to digital service on Feb. 17, 2009. It was unclear what Comcast's least expensive package will be once the digital transition occurs.

"These changes are not in any way related to the federally mandated broadcast digital-television transition (DTV)," said Ms. Metrick.


Ms. Metrick gives the paper the right info, and they still can't manage to make a statement that's somewhere between "completely wrong" and "hopelessly misleading". I emailed the editors, we'll see if I get any response.

I'm in Silver Spring. If I knew how to post my chart from TVFool I would, but I don't. But basically, most of the DC stations are clustered between 221 and 226 degrees magnetic at a distance of around 7 miles, and the Baltimore stations are clustered at 54 degrees magnetic at a distance of about 29 miles. So the two groups are about 170 degrees apart.

I have DIRECTV and I use a variety of indoor tabletop antennas to get great reception on basically all the main DC digital stations (digital versions and subchannels for 4,5,7,9,14,20,26, and 50). I also have a major WAF concerning an outdoor antenna, but personally I don't like having all those tabletop antennas around. So I'd like to replace them all with a small discrete outdoor antenna instead. An HDX1000 appended to my DTV dish would probably work fine for DC. But I'd like to add the main Baltimore stations if possible.

What do other people directly along the 29 corridor between DC and Baltimore, like Silver Spring, Burtonsville, and Columbia, use for antennas to get both cities? Should I use two antennas pointed in opposite directions and combine the signals? Does something like a Sensar III work (the charts suggest that the bi-directional nature of that unit seems to fade in the UHF range - does this thing actually work when you have stations that are in nearly opposite directions?) What about a Winegard MS2002 Metrostar? Again, do those things work and are they good enough to get Baltimore stations from 30 miles away (without being mounted 40 feet in the air). That might have the advantage of picking up 22 as well, but I'm not really worried about it. My primary interest is in getting the Baltimore network affiliates for the added NFL and college football games in the fall.

Yes, I know a nice big bow-tie array would probably perfectly do the trick, but it's simply not going to happen. The attic is, for various reasons, also not a good option. I wondered if anyone similarly situated has had success with a more "aesthetically pleasing" outdoor solution. Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

Will the subchannels for these stations also be in VHF or will they remain where they are in UHF?

Thanks.

Will the subchannels for these stations also be in VHF or will they remain where they are in UHF?

Thanks. YES, They will move to VHF as well.

I'm in Silver Spring. If I knew how to post my chart from TVFool I would, but I don't. But basically, most of the DC stations are clustered between 221 and 226 degrees magnetic at a distance of around 7 miles, and the Baltimore stations are clustered at 54 degrees magnetic at a distance of about 29 miles. So the two groups are about 170 degrees apart.

I have DIRECTV and I use a variety of indoor tabletop antennas to get great reception on basically all the main DC digital stations (digital versions and subchannels for 4,5,7,9,14,20,26, and 50). I also have a major WAF concerning an outdoor antenna, but personally I don't like having all those tabletop antennas around. So I'd like to replace them all with a small discrete outdoor antenna instead.
If you want to get stations from both cities, you need to look at a bi-directional (more or less) antenna. The flat plate bowtie antennas are good for this. You don't have to necessarily get the big CM 4228 8 bay. The Cm 4221 4 Bay should have enough performance for UHF, but not so sure about upper VHF performance for next year for the more distant stations.

Have you looked at the new Winegard HD-1080 antenna? It is a 2 bay bowtie combined with 2 34" long dipoles for upper VHF reception. See http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1037149 for photos and some early reports. But I have not seen detailed specs for the HD-1080 yet, so it may not have the pickup in the backside direction for upper VHF that will be needed. If you can mount the antenna outside with the front end aimed at the Baltimore stations and the closer DC stations in the opposite direction, it might do the job. The HD-1080 with 2 bowties is not going to have the gain for UHF of the 4 bay or 8 bay bowties, but if the terrain in the direction of the Baltimore stations is favorable, at 29 miles it should be good enough. If you have a long cable run from outside, you may need to add a pre-amp, but I would suggest not getting a pre-amp until after you tried whatever antenna you get first.

Will the subchannels for these stations also be in VHF or will they remain where they are in UHF?

Thanks.

Wait, what? Are you saying the DC locals will be changing their frequency from nice, easy to receive UHF, to yucky, harder to receive VHF?

I thought the UHF assigned frequencies were it. It's going to change again?

I believe both ABC and CBS are supposed to move to VHF in 2009... Some of the other stations may be moving around, but I think they're staying in UHF.

It baffles me a bit as well, because I'm pretty sure there are plenty of people currently only using a UHF antenna to receive HD.

Drew

Wait, what? Are you saying the DC locals will be changing their frequency from nice, easy to receive UHF, to yucky, harder to receive VHF?

I thought the UHF assigned frequencies were it. It's going to change again?
Yes. Man, the amount of confusion on this is amazing, even 10 years after it was set. Digital TV broadcasting is not all on UHF, but will take place after the transition on VHF 2-13, UHF 14-51. The channels being take re-allocated are the shorter wavelength UHF 52 to 69. You may have read about the 700 MHz auction. Those are the UHF channel frequencies that were auctioned off for cell phone & portable communication use. Four channels of the UHF channels are being re-assigned for public safety and emergency communications.

In our area, we already have 1 digital station on VHF, WWPX-DT Ion 60 in Martinsburg, WV which is broadcasting on VHF 12. I get it here in Sterling, VA. WJLA-DT ABC 7, WUSA-DT CBS 9 in DC and WBAL-DT NBC 11, WJZ-DT CBS 13 in Baltimore will all move their digital channel from UHF to their upper VHF analog channel. So anyone putting up an antenna has to consider UHF and upper VHF reception. The good news is that many larger UHF antennas can pick up upper VHF stations if the conditions are favorable.

Next February, 647 full service stations across the US will move their digital broadcast channel, 502 of them to their analog channel. Many of them have to because their digital channel is out of core, that is, on UHF 52 to 69 which they have to vacate by midnight, February 17, 2009. It will be a huge channel reshuffle and quite interesting to watch. Our area is not too complicated, but other stations will be moving, not just the 4 I listed (the San Francisco re-alignment with multiple new antennas going up will be a doozy).

Because of impulse & RF noise problems, few stations have chosen to use low VHF 2 to 6 for digital broadcasting. Only 40 stations in the US have opted to stay or switch to low VHF, some of them because they had no other channel to go to. The most prominent of these is WPVI-DT ABC 6 in Philadelphia which will move from UHF 64 to VHF 6. People in the Philadelphia area or those northwest of Baltimore who want to get the Philly stations will need an antenna that covers VHF low.

Yes. Man, the amount of confusion on this is amazing, even 10 years after it was set. Digital TV broadcasting is not all on UHF, but will take place after the transition on VHF 2-13, UHF 14-51. The channels being take re-allocated are the shorter wavelength UHF 52 to 69. You may have read about the 700 MHz auction. Those are the UHF channel frequencies that were auctioned off for cell phone & portable communication use. Four channels of the UHF channels are being re-assigned for public safety and emergency communications.

In our area, we already have 1 digital station on VHF, WWPX-DT Ion 60 in Martinsburg, WV which is broadcasting on VHF 12. I get it here in Sterling, VA. WJLA-DT ABC 7, WUSA-DT CBS 9 in DC and WBAL-DT NBC 11, WJZ-DT CBS 13 in Baltimore will all move their digital channel from UHF to their upper VHF analog channel. So anyone putting up an antenna has to consider UHF and upper VHF reception. The good news is that many larger UHF antennas can pick up upper VHF stations if the conditions are favorable.

Next February, 647 full service stations across the US will move their digital broadcast channel, 502 of them to their analog channel. Many of them have to because their digital channel is out of core, that is, on UHF 52 to 69 which they have to vacate by midnight, February 17, 2009. It will be a huge channel reshuffle and quite interesting to watch. Our area is not too complicated, but other stations will be moving, not just the 4 I listed (the San Francisco re-alignment with multiple new antennas going up will be a doozy).

Because of impulse & RF noise problems, few stations have chosen to use low VHF 2 to 6 for digital broadcasting. Only 40 stations in the US have opted to stay or switch to low VHF, some of them because they had no other channel to go to. The most prominent of these is WPVI-DT ABC 6 in Philadelphia which will move from UHF 64 to VHF 6. People in the Philadelphia area or those northwest of Baltimore who want to get the Philly stations will need an antenna that covers VHF low.

Wow, I'm pretty current with this stuff, and had no idea.

I get that people in the auctioned spectrum need to vacate it, but why do the people who are already up and running in "safe" space need to move? Seems like a user-acceptance nightmare.

For digital cable/satellite/FiOS, it's not a big deal since the channel numbers won't change.

But I have an antenna, and prefer the OTA to FiOS (no real reason, I just like doing it that way). Since I have Tivo, it should be relatively transparent to me I guess.

But for all those people who depend on an antenna, they're going to wake up that Monday and not have anything to watch, and have to call a tech out to fix it since they won't know to just do a rescan.

Why the heck are they doing this if they don't have to (i.e. not in the auctioned off spectrum)?

Didn't the stations have the choice to move their digital channel back to their analog frequency at the analog cutoff and that is why some are moving back to VHF?

Didn't the stations have the choice to move their digital channel back to their analog frequency at the analog cutoff and that is why some are moving back to VHF?

Bingo.

VHF has lower power costs than UHF does, plus gets around terrain better. Cons are the need for a larger antenna and possible issues with lightning.

- Trip

Bingo.

VHF has lower power costs than UHF does, plus gets around terrain better. Cons are the need for a larger antenna and possible issues with lightning.

- Trip

And the biggest con is that everyone will be desparately getting things set up and configured, only to have everything change underneath them at the last minute.

Dumb from a User Acceptance standpoint.

And the biggest con is that everyone will be desparately getting things set up and configured, only to have everything change underneath them at the last minute.
Dumb from a User Acceptance standpoint.
You may not have known about the digital channel changes, but we have discussed it in this thread many times. As for the need for a re-scan next February, there will be a huge amount of coverage on the analog shutdown.You can bet that all of the stations changing their digital channel will post numerous warnings in the weeks beforehand about not only the analog shutdown, but the need to do re-scans after February 17, 2009.

As to why the stations are changing their digital channel, as Trip posted, many upper VHF stations want to move to their analog channel. There are many other reasons: some stations have side mounted digital channel antennas with reduced coverage and want to re-use the analog antenna on top of the tower; the station wants a better channel assignment for their location; have to move to free up the channel for another station. If you want to see what the stations are doing next February, check the link at Trip's post above or follow the links to Falcon_77's spreadsheet in the 1st post in the Upcoming DTV allotment thread at http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=823166. Read the thread if you want to get some understanding of the complexity of the DTV channel selections and follow some of the links for the transition plans and filings to the FCC by the stations.

There will be a modest amount of channel and power changes for the Baltimore & DC stations next February. WMAR-DT 2 will take over WJZ-DT's UHF 38 antenna but will put up a new antenna later; WPXW-DT Ion 66 will take over WUSA-DT's current UHF 34 antenna in DC but reduce the power to 110 kW; WNVC-DT 56 will be on UHF 24, and so on. We should have a summary in the first post of this thread. I may take a shot at putting one together, although people can get the key info from Trip's website or Falcon_77's spreadsheet.

All I'm saying is, I'm way more in touch with this than the average person, and I had no clue.

This is going to be a disaster for people who rely 100% on antenna's. It's just silly for what sounds like the majority of broadcasters to change back right after everyone gets set up. The actual channel frequency no longer makes a difference from a user perspective, and the coverage excuse seems to be a little thin.

I'm really surprised.

And the biggest con is that everyone will be desparately getting things set up and configured, only to have everything change underneath them at the last minute.

Dumb from a User Acceptance standpoint.

Bah, only those that ONLY bought UHF antennas are in trouble. I bought a combo VHF/UHF channel just in case this would happen. Plus, as a small bonus, it works as an FM antenna. It tunes in analog 4 now quite well, so I'm not worried. It's not CHANGING at the last minute. It was the antenna sellers who convinced folks they "only" needed UHF antennas several years ago, before the FCC said stations could go back to their VHF channels. Don't blame the FCC.

Bah, only those that ONLY bought UHF antennas are in trouble. I bought a combo VHF/UHF channel just in case this would happen. Plus, as a small bonus, it works as an FM antenna. It tunes in analog 4 now quite well, so I'm not worried. It's not CHANGING at the last minute. It was the antenna sellers who convinced folks they "only" needed UHF antennas several years ago, before the FCC said stations could go back to their VHF channels. Don't blame the FCC.

Try to think outside of the technology.

I'm talking grandma and grandpa out there with their one $50 ATSC box, who finally get things working, only to wake up and find nothing coming in.

Doing a rescan for the average AVS forum member is trivial. But not so much for the significant number of people who only get OTA.

And the main issue is - there's really no reason to do this, other than some weird vanity issue of having the spectrum allocation match the channel number, which is pointless for ATSC/PSIP.

Well, it's been over a month but Comcast finally fixed the problem I was experiencing - no channels coming through until late in the evening. It only took a month. The maintenance tech who left a message said "she fixed the node that was cauing the problems." I don't really know what that means but I'll take it.

Through all of this I learned that the only way to get any real service from Comcast is to a) complain through their corporate channels and b) threaten to switch providers. Once I did that it's amazing how attentive, and, honestly, how helpful, they can be. The woman I dealt with was great. We will discuss the account adjustments on Monday. And thanks to the members who suggested using the corporate email addresses.

However, as of right now I have no picture on HGTV-HD (229) and SciHD (217). Is everyone receiving a picture on these channels, or is it just me?

Thanks

Will the subchannels for these stations also be in VHF or will they remain where they are in UHF?The subchannels aren't physically separate, only logically. They're all part of a single bitstream.

Try to think outside of the technology.

I'm talking grandma and grandpa out there with their one $50 ATSC box, who finally get things working, only to wake up and find nothing coming in.

Doing a rescan for the average AVS forum member is trivial. But not so much for the significant number of people who only get OTA.

And the main issue is - there's really no reason to do this, other than some weird vanity issue of having the spectrum allocation match the channel number, which is pointless for ATSC/PSIP.

Not sure it is a vanity issue. There are other reasons.

Local examples:

WMAR and WBAL are on 52 and 59 currently. That is what they were given by the FCC.

Channels 51 through 69 are being given back as part of the transition (a big part of it, actually). That means both WMAR and WBAL need to find new channels. WBAL is moving from 59 to 11. WMAR is moving from 52 to 38 which is currently occupied by WJZ, which is moving to 13.

So, WMAR and WBAL at the least *have* to move.

That is not vanity. It is reality.

Throw in technical issues like amount of signal on a single frequency and geographic interferences with other channels undergoing similar problems means it is very complex by necessity, not vanity.

Not sure it is a vanity issue. There are other reasons.

Local examples:

WMAR and WBAL are on 52 and 59 currently. That is what they were given by the FCC.

Channels 51 through 69 are being given back as part of the transition (a big part of it, actually). That means both WMAR and WBAL need to find new channels. WBAL is moving from 59 to 11. WMAR is moving from 52 to 38 which is currently occupied by WJZ, which is moving to 13.

So, WMAR and WBAL at the least *have* to move.

That is not vanity. It is reality.

Throw in technical issues like amount of signal on a single frequency and geographic interferences with other channels undergoing similar problems means it is very complex by necessity, not vanity.

Clearly you all like to talk in circles... I've said multiple times that the spectrum give-back is a different point.

Otherwise, it's vanity over user acceptance. If there are users who can't receive the signal on 2/17/09, they aren't going to be happily sitting around waiting until 2/18/09 to hook everything up.

All users will have solved their problems by 2/17/09 - either through bigger antennas, more amplification, or switching to a cable/satellite/FiOS operator. Moving the frequencies only serves to introduce a huge confusion on the people who depend on this the most (i.e. the folks who get OTA only), since most of them (not all) aren't posting on these boards.

Anyway, I'm done with this discussion, since it's futile here. Please feel free to circle around some more...

2/17/09 will be very interesting. I'm sure alot of people will be having some big complaints when/if the analog cutoff actually occurs.

Clearly you all like to talk in circles... I've said multiple times that the spectrum give-back is a different point.

Otherwise, it's vanity over user acceptance. If there are users who can't receive the signal on 2/17/09, they aren't going to be happily sitting around waiting until 2/18/09 to hook everything up.

All users will have solved their problems by 2/17/09 - either through bigger antennas, more amplification, or switching to a cable/satellite/FiOS operator. Moving the frequencies only serves to introduce a huge confusion on the people who depend on this the most (i.e. the folks who get OTA only), since most of them (not all) aren't posting on these boards.

Anyway, I'm done with this discussion, since it's futile here. Please feel free to circle around some more...

No one is disagreeing with you on the point of it being confusing and difficult for many non-technical folk. What I was pointing out is that it is not "vanity" of the channels that is causing the movement.

Since they are doing an overlap of analog and digital at the same time, that means there needs to be some temporary locations of some of the channels. It cannot be avoided. And since many of the temporary locations are in the spectrum that is being given back (how is that a different point as it affects what is happening with the relocations), the stations in that spectrum have to move.

I don't see anything circular about it. It is pretty linear, actually. Stations have to occupy temporary space while both analog and digital are broadcasting and they had to use some of the spectrum that was going away because there wasn't enough space to have both without using the spectrum that is going away. Then the movement again when the spectrum goes away.

Quite logical even if it leads to confusion.

While it can cause a true problem for hardware (bad antenna choices), the tuners will handle it with a simple rescan (if full instructions are given, it is not that difficult).

Hello all:

I made a post something like this in the Philadelphia thread, but for a location near Philadelphia. I have another place in mind for the DC/Baltimore market. =)

In about two weeks, I'll be going up to visit my grandparents, who will be vacationing in the Poconos near Bushkill. I've been there many times before, and reception there is... crap, to say the least. Analog signal from WTBY in Poughkeepsie, a faint analog from WMBC in Newton, and rarely, a faint analog from WNJB2 in Blairstown.

I want to try to add DC and Baltimore stations to my collection of TSReader captures so I have their data for my website. Since we take I-81 up, I never get to see them, so I'm going to try to convince my mom to take a brief detour to let me do some signal searching.

I was looking at a Catoctin Mountain Park. TVFool says I should have line of site to the DC, Baltimore, Hagerstown, and Lancaster (but not Harrisburg) stations from there. I'd be getting off I-81 and going east out of Hagerstown, then it's off of SR-77 near Thurmont MD.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Is the park open to the public? Is the road up the mountain in good shape?

To get the three remaining Harrisburg stations, we'd be stopping somewhere near Harrisburg and trying there. I can usually get a few frames out of WHP-DT with my Silver Sensor (yes, really) while moving, so I'm hoping that stopped with rabbit ears will work better.

Thanks in advance.

- Trip

Trip,

Don't know anything about the reception from there, but Catoctin Mountain Park is a part of the National Park System and most of it is open to the public. Camp David is located somewhere inside the park and that part is off limits.

Trip, you might want to check this spot on the TV Fool maps it would be easy to get to from 81 only a few miles from Hagerstown. It's a rest stop on 70 on the downward slope of south mountain.It's the oblong looking loop on the western side of 70 in the center of the map.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=south+mountain+maryland&ie=UTF8&ll=39.528407,-77.603946&spn=0.019,0.032015&t=p&z=15

Trip, you might want to check this spot on the TV Fool maps it would be easy to get to from 81 only a few miles from Hagerstown. It's a rest stop on 70 on the downward slope of south mountain.It's the oblong looking loop on the western side of 70 in the center of the map.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=south+mountain+maryland&ie=UTF8&ll=39.528407,-77.603946&spn=0.019,0.032015&t=p&z=15

Thanks for the suggestion, but looking at TV Fool, it says I'd have no line of sight from there, everything's 1- or 2-Edge.

I attached the one on I-70 as well as the one on Catoctin Mountain Park.

If you have any other ideas though, I'd love something a little more convenient. I tried every other spot near a major road I could find on a ridge between Front Royal and the PA state line, but I'm not familiar with the geography, so I easily could have missed something.

- Trip

Hey you guys, I just checked out WBFF news for the first time in HD but it's still kinda dissapointint compard to the Philly market, since the field video is just stretched SD. Wonder how long that's gonna take to upgrade, here's some shots to show my point:

http://img.lineupui.silicondust.com/snapshots/64/snapshot_2732764.jpg

http://img.lineupui.silicondust.com/snapshots/90/snapshot_2718090.jpg

Usually, the SD cameras seem to have a 16x9 setting that they can use to not stretch. You see this on WUSA when they do "live" on the scene reports.

Usually, the SD cameras seem to have a 16x9 setting that they can use to not stretch. You see this on WUSA when they do "live" on the scene reports.
Except their cameras are HORRIBLE. There are always some kind of vertical line artifacts when they are reporting remotely. It's pure garbage.

Except their cameras are HORRIBLE. There are always some kind of vertical line artifacts when they are reporting remotely.There used to be. I haven't seen that in a while.

is this golf tourney on wrc REALLY in SD? come on...

No, it was in HD on D* it went off completely for 5 min just as Tiger putted to tie. It came back in SD with a WeatherPlus peacock and then a severe thunderstorm warning and has not switched back. It's WRC, not the network.

No, it was in HD on D* it went off completely for 5 min just as Tiger putted to tie. It came back in SD with a WeatherPlus peacock and then a severe thunderstorm warning and has not switched back. It's WRC, not the network.


It did the same thing on Comcast so yes it must be a WRC problem.

Well, it looks like I won't need to make my special trip to the mountain after all, apparently I now have someone in the DC area to provide me the TSReader captures I need. =)

Thanks cpldc! And thanks to all who gave advice, it's much appreciated. =)

- Trip

It did the same thing on Comcast so yes it must be a WRC problem.
I was also watching the golf on Comcast QAM, channel 122-2, which is WRC HD in digital format. When the screen went blank, I quickly switched to channel 4, the Comcast analog signal, and all seemed to be normal. I missed Tiger's put, but saw the action immediately after. What happened?

It did the same thing on Comcast so yes it must be a WRC problem.

I've come to expect problems when they run the scrolling emergency banners. What's worse is that my power went out during the playoff and it takes TIVO too dang long to boot up, so I just switched to QAM to get it...

I've come to expect problems when they run the scrolling emergency banners. What's worse is that my power went out during the playoff and it takes TIVO too dang long to boot up, so I just switched to QAM to get it...

Hook your TiVo to a UPS. I have all my DVRs on them. Assuming the TV is turned off, you can get 10-15 minutes on battery power with a decent UPS.

Quite logical even if it leads to confusion.

While it can cause a true problem for hardware (bad antenna choices), the tuners will handle it with a simple rescan (if full instructions are given, it is not that difficult).The biggest problem with this is that you might think you have everything set up right now, but until the stations are at their actual frequency you really don't know. Stations that come in okay right now might not then and vice versa. Some people might have bought equipment that they won't need when the frequencies change around or bought equipment that won't do the job then. When loads of people find out their current equipment is not good enough, will the retail outlets have enough for people to buy? Plus there are various workarounds (on HDPCs) you may have had to do due to station guides that have the future frequencies and not the current ones that you need to undo.

The saving grace about all of this may be that the networks do know that there will be loads of confusion and will most likely be broadcasting repeats for a while as people transition to the new frequencies. (I'm not sure how things work on the cable end, but I am guessing that they may need to do some reprogramming as well - will that work correctly the first time? Of course, as seen in other articles here cable companies have their own plans for sowing confusion.)

Neil

I was also watching the golf on Comcast QAM, channel 122-2, which is WRC HD in digital format. When the screen went blank, I quickly switched to channel 4, the Comcast analog signal, and all seemed to be normal. I missed Tiger's put, but saw the action immediately after. What happened?

This goes back to the "SD for weather alerts and crawls" issue from the NHL playoffs. Up here in Baltimore, WBAL must have learned their lesson, because they never broke the HD away for alerts! SD had the crawl and logo, but HD was always in HD, at least OTA.

Looks like we don't have to worry about local news in HD from WRC anytime soon. I guess it might be ABC4 or CBS4 by the time that happens. From dcrtv.com:

HD Delay At 4 - 6/17 - DCRTV hears rumors that NBC suits have delayed or scrapped high-def upgrade plans for the news studios of DC's WRC-TV and Philadelphia's WCAU-TV. Fueling rumors that the Peacock is planning to put both stations on the market.....

Hook your TiVo to a UPS. I have all my DVRs on them. Assuming the TV is turned off, you can get 10-15 minutes on battery power with a decent UPS.

You can easily get several hours on an El cheapo one for $30. The ones I gave my girlfried still had the TiVos up after the power being out for a few hours yesterday.

Hook your TiVo to a UPS. I have all my DVRs on them. Assuming the TV is turned off, you can get 10-15 minutes on battery power with a decent UPS.Spend the money on a UPS if you have issues with power. We did in our area. Even a slight hiccup would reboot our DirecTV STBs...

I'm not sure that there has been a affiliate swap in DC in my lifetime.

I remember when it happened in Baltimore. When I was a kid it was:

NBC 2
CBS 11
ABC 13

Now we can't even get Baltimore channels in Montgomery Couty without an antenna.

Hey you guys, I just checked out WBFF news for the first time in HD but it's still kinda dissapointint compard to the Philly market, since the field video is just stretched SD. Wonder how long that's gonna take to upgrade, here's some shots to show my point:
<edit>
[/IMG]

Couple of things - Philiadelphia: 4th largest market in the US, Baltimore: 24th... (Washington is the 9th) Personally, I think we're doing pretty good, especially considering the size of the market.

The field video isn't "stretched", at least the way I define it. (I consider video "stretched" if it is expanded horizontally, but not vertically) Normally the 4:3 video from the field (or from other outside sources) is shown at its native resolution and size, but it has the Fox 45 wings on the side. I guess that they expanded (or zoomed, if you prefer) the video in the second shot to fill the screen for whatever reason (I haven't seen that done here, but apparently it happens), but it still has the correct aspect ratio - the top and bottom of the picture are cut off.

I just wanted to make that distinction because there's another station in the market that "stretches" their video to fill the 16:9 screen, and I REALLY don't like the look...

Cheers

Usually, the SD cameras seem to have a 16x9 setting that they can use to not stretch. You see this on WUSA when they do "live" on the scene reports.

Ours don't.

Except their cameras are HORRIBLE. There are always some kind of vertical line artifacts when they are reporting remotely. It's pure garbage.

That was an issue with the old routing system. Although the video still starts out as analog, and is currently transmitted with an analog microwave system, they are pretty clean (depending on distance, signal level and reception issues, of course). The old station routing system is showing its age, and has developed crap in the video, but we're no longer using it, so the video ends up much nicer.

That was an issue with the old routing system. Although the video still starts out as analog, and is currently transmitted with an analog microwave system, they are pretty clean (depending on distance, signal level and reception issues, of course). The old station routing system is showing its age, and has developed crap in the video, but we're no longer using it, so the video ends up much nicer.

I'll give it a try tonight.

I'll give it a try tonight.

Don't expect HD from the field cameras, though. That won't happen for a while.

The next big step is when we replace all of the microwave transmitters with digital ones - that will really improve things, too.

I just wanted to make that distinction because there's another station in the market that "stretches" their video to fill the 16:9 screen, and I REALLY don't like the look...

Cheers

Not sure who you mean. WBAL stopped stretching (they only stretch drop-ins and commercials when showing a 16:9 NBC program now) and My24 is only broadcasting SD on their digital station now. They were stretching everything prior to going to full power testing.

I'm not sure that there has been a affiliate swap in DC in my lifetime.

I remember when it happened in Baltimore. When I was a kid it was:

NBC 2
CBS 11
ABC 13

Now we can't even get Baltimore channels in Montgomery Couty without an antenna.

Baltimore did two affiliate swaps since I moved here in 1979.

WMAR
Independent (1947-1948)
CBS (1948-1981)
NBC (1981-1995)
ABC (1995-present)

WBAL
NBC (1948-1981)
CBS (1981-1995)
NBC (1995-present)

WJZ
DuMont (1948-1956)
ABC (1955-1995)
CBS (1995-present)

I'm not sure that there has been a affiliate swap in DC in my lifetime.



WTTG was a Metromedia cable "superstation" in the 70s until Murdoch bought it in 1986 for his new Fox Network.

Not in my lifetime, but WMAL (now WJLA) was originally the CBS affiliate in DC, but was replaced by WOIC (now WUSA) back in 1949.

Ok, that makes a little bit more sense. I forgot there was multiple swaps.

In DC channel 9 has changed names a few times. WTOP, WDVM, and now WUSA.

Not sure who you mean. WBAL stopped stretching (they only stretch drop-ins and commercials when showing a 16:9 NBC program now) and My24 is only broadcasting SD on their digital station now. They were stretching everything prior to going to full power testing.

Well, I only watch WBAL during prime-time... (and only occasionally, at that) I assumed that they were still always doing it.

I wonder why it's different during prime-time? I'm trying to think of a way that I could accomplish the same thing, and it would take some work on my part to do it...

Thanks for giving me the updated poop.

Looks like we don't have to worry about local news in HD from WRC anytime soon. I guess it might be ABC4 or CBS4 by the time that happens. From dcrtv.com:

NBC must really be in dire straits to sell their DC affil which I believe usually gets great ratings for their local news in spite of the fact that NBC program ratings are in the toilet. But, NBC has done a lot of odd moves over the past few years, so I guess anything is possible.

Did WJLA forget to flip the switch? NBA Countdown is supposed to be in HD. It's in HD on WMAR but in SD on WJLA

WJLA - how can they drop the ball in game 6 of the finals!!!!!! Oh my god.. flip the switch!

edit: spoke too soon... HD now :D

It seems odd that NBC would sell the DC affiliate since the WRC facilities house the NBC News Washington Bureau.

Well, I only watch WBAL during prime-time... (and only occasionally, at that) I assumed that they were still always doing it.

I wonder why it's different during prime-time? I'm trying to think of a way that I could accomplish the same thing, and it would take some work on my part to do it...

Thanks for giving me the updated poop.

I think they are giving a "consistent viewing experience" by taking NBC 16:9 and making their local pictures (commercials, news drop-ins) 16:9. Oddly, they even did stretch-o-vision on the 4:3 formatted Scrubs this year. But they did not stretch Scrubs itself.

They are at least not stretching the programming itself anymore. I really don't care about commercials.

got a hangtag on my door yesterday saying FiOS is coming to my neighborhood soon. been excited about the possibility of FiOS for a while but haven't actually had any issues with current Comcast service. guess i'll wait to see channel lineup and package pricing before considering any switch.
my neighborhood is in silver spring near olney.

It seems odd that NBC would sell the DC affiliate since the WRC facilities house the NBC News Washington Bureau.

It seems the bean counters think that there are only 3 places that deserve O/O stations and that is LA, NYC and Chicago.

Is anyone having trouble with WUTB -24.1? I haven't seen it for a week or so.

wow nbc is really botching up this funeral today

Is anyone having trouble with WUTB -24.1? I haven't seen it for a week or so.

I just recently put up an antenna in my attic and have not had any problems getting this channel. I am in Easton on the Eastern Shore, at least 50 miles away.

Anyone else not getting WJLA in DD 5.1? It's that way on both OTA and Comcast. Noticed it last night after they fixed the HD issue.

Anyone in the Frederick, Maryland Comcast area know about their cable cards?

Do they have "M" cable cards (the multi-stream cards) or only the "S" (single-stream cards).

Can you go to the main office and pick up the cards, installing them yourself and setting them up over the phone, or do they require a home visit by a Comcast tech?

WBFF Launches Baltimore’s First HD Newscast

George Winslow -- Multichannel News, 6/17/2008 12:00:00 PM

After a year long process of planning and rebuilding their operations, which included installing a new master control and building a new set, WBFF, or Fox 45, launched its HD newscast on June 2 and is now producing about five-and-a-half hours of local news in HD each weekday, according to general manager Bill Fanshawe.

“We’re excited to have the ability to be first into the market with an HD newscast,” Fanshawe said. “It is our understanding that the other stations are about six months away from completing the transition to high-definition and we see it an important competitive advantage.”

Scott Livingston, WBFF news director, said the transition has gone extremely well but has required an enormous amount of work for the installation of new equipment and extensive staff training.

“At the end of March we pulled an all-nighter,” to prepare for the transition, Livingston said. “When we finished our newscast at about 11:30 [p.m.] Friday, we worked until 2 [p.m.] on Saturday to clear out our studio and to build a makeshift studio, using piece of the old studio, in another studio.”

As it continued to produce its standard newscast from the temporary studio, WBFF had the Devlin Design Group to build a new HD set with 35 monitors, a revolving anchors desk, a 143-inch rear projection screen and an HD SkyWatch Weather Center.

Other vendors for the project included Sundance Digital, which provided equipment for the master control, and Snell &Wilcox, which provided a Kahuna SD/HD multiformat production switcher.

Once the master control was completed in late April, the station began an intensive schedule of training and rehearsals. “We had three weeks of intense rehearsals,” he said. “We rehearsed every show before and after the regular airing.”

The staff put in three or four hours of rehearsal time each day in addition to producing their usual five-and-a-half hours of regular newscasts.

That training was particularly important given the complexity of dealing with different formats and the need to continue to produce newscasts in both the standard def four by three and the HD 16x9 aspect ratio.

“You have to always be aware that there will be elements in the 16x9 shot that are not seen in the four by three,” Livingston said.

The extra work is however already paying off in higher ratings and a strengthened competitive position.

“If anyone doesn’t think HD is a competitive advantage, they are wrong,” Livingston said. “We have already seen a ratings increase in the first week. You will be getting sampling from viewers if you are the only one broadcasting in HD. We will have about a six month period where we will be the only game in town that is producing local news in HD,” to attract new viewers.

Like most stations, WBFF is not yet doing HD from the field. But Fanshawe noted that it is planning to buy four HD field cameras and should begin using them within “the next three months.” They are still deciding on which brand to buy and haven’t made a decision on whether the cameras will supply HD feeds or will produce standard-def material in the 16x9 format.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6571407.html?nid=2387&rid=607925853

wow nbc is really botching up this funeral today

Then they cut off the Nightly NEws early as they were doing a nice montage of the Wake...

Good Job NBC...

WBFF Launches Baltimore’s First HD Newscast

George Winslow -- Multichannel News, 6/17/2008 12:00:00 PM

After a year long process of planning and rebuilding their operations, which included installing a new master control and building a new set, WBFF, or Fox 45, launched its HD newscast on June 2 and is now producing about five-and-a-half hours of local news in HD each weekday, according to general manager Bill Fanshawe.

“We’re excited to have the ability to be first into the market with an HD newscast,” Fanshawe said. “It is our understanding that the other stations are about six months away from completing the transition to high-definition and we see it an important competitive advantage.”

Scott Livingston, WBFF news director, said the transition has gone extremely well but has required an enormous amount of work for the installation of new equipment and extensive staff training.

“At the end of March we pulled an all-nighter,” to prepare for the transition, Livingston said. “When we finished our newscast at about 11:30 [p.m.] Friday, we worked until 2 [p.m.] on Saturday to clear out our studio and to build a makeshift studio, using piece of the old studio, in another studio.”

As it continued to produce its standard newscast from the temporary studio, WBFF had the Devlin Design Group to build a new HD set with 35 monitors, a revolving anchors desk, a 143-inch rear projection screen and an HD SkyWatch Weather Center.

Other vendors for the project included Sundance Digital, which provided equipment for the master control, and Snell &Wilcox, which provided a Kahuna SD/HD multiformat production switcher.

Once the master control was completed in late April, the station began an intensive schedule of training and rehearsals. “We had three weeks of intense rehearsals,” he said. “We rehearsed every show before and after the regular airing.”

The staff put in three or four hours of rehearsal time each day in addition to producing their usual five-and-a-half hours of regular newscasts.

That training was particularly important given the complexity of dealing with different formats and the need to continue to produce newscasts in both the standard def four by three and the HD 16x9 aspect ratio.

“You have to always be aware that there will be elements in the 16x9 shot that are not seen in the four by three,” Livingston said.

The extra work is however already paying off in higher ratings and a strengthened competitive position.

“If anyone doesn’t think HD is a competitive advantage, they are wrong,” Livingston said. “We have already seen a ratings increase in the first week. You will be getting sampling from viewers if you are the only one broadcasting in HD. We will have about a six month period where we will be the only game in town that is producing local news in HD,” to attract new viewers.

Like most stations, WBFF is not yet doing HD from the field. But Fanshawe noted that it is planning to buy four HD field cameras and should begin using them within “the next three months.” They are still deciding on which brand to buy and haven’t made a decision on whether the cameras will supply HD feeds or will produce standard-def material in the 16x9 format.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6571407.html?nid=2387&rid=607925853


Engineering did a bit of work on this project, too. Not sure if that really came out in the article...

Mark

Engineering did a bit of work on this project, too. Not sure if that really came out in the article...

Mark
Well some of us appreciate your engineering efforts.:D The HD picture looks great. I have been watching much more 45 news since the switch, mostly in the mornings. Keep up the good work.

Is anyone having trouble with WUTB -24.1? I haven't seen it for a week or so.
I was getting WUTB-DT My 24 several days ago, but last night & this morning, can't get a lock for the station. My Samsung T451 tuner was typically showing 8-9 bars (out of 10) on the signal meter for WUTB-DT since the station finally went full power a few weeks ago. Today it is around 0-2 bars.

Of course, people to the south of the WUTB-DT tower in Catonsville have been having trouble getting WUTB-DT because of the strong directional pattern of the digital antenna. But the directional coverage should still cover DC and MD down to Prince Georges county for people with rooftop or good attic antenna setups (FCC map for grade B coverage http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1233410.html). So is the station running at reduced power for a technical problem or are they making adjustments to the antenna and transmitters to fix coverage to the south?

My WUTB-DT readings are now in the upper 50s. When the tests started, they were in the upper 80s. Prior to the testing, they were in the mud.

I guess they are still on higher power but not as high as they were when the tests began.

got a hangtag on my door yesterday saying FiOS is coming to my neighborhood soon. been excited about the possibility of FiOS for a while but haven't actually had any issues with current Comcast service. guess i'll wait to see channel lineup and package pricing before considering any switch.
my neighborhood is in silver spring near olney.

The PQ on verizon, even SD is spectacular. I was recently watching back episodes of family guy on my DVR; it was amazing to me the difference in PQ of the shows prior to FiOS was OK, but the episodes since I brought in FiOS are amazingly good. They are also adding more channels (including more HD) in the coming weeks; that may not be reflected on the channel line up right now.

Internet speeds are more consistent as well. The only downside is I am no longer able to host my own server... :(

FWIW, Verizon has a refer a friend program going on right now. Feel free to PM me and I will refer you. I think we both win, depending on how much of the bundle you sign up for... anyone is welcome to PM me.

Fyi, I just got the 1.05 / 05.93 firmware update on my FIOS HD DVR box (QIP 6416-2) last night (Herndon, VA).

Haven't noticed any differences (yet).

PDS

Lots of news recently about the analog to digital switchover for Comcast (20% of by the end of 2008). Any idea if Comcast plans to do that in the MD area in the near future?

My WUTB-DT readings are now in the upper 50s. When the tests started, they were in the upper 80s. Prior to the testing, they were in the mud.

I guess they are still on higher power but not as high as they were when the tests began.Great, I was beginning to think the problem was on my end; so I guess I don't have to crawl up on the roof now!! I lost digital Channel 31 in Hagerstown at the same time(No big deal), which I also use as a weak reference signal for equipment testing.

Thanks much!!

Why aren't you able to run your own server on FIOS? I have FiOS and I have been able to run some server stuff.

Why aren't you able to run your own server on FIOS? I have FiOS and I have been able to run some server stuff.
Not according to the terms of service:

4.3 Restrictions on Use. The Service is a consumer grade service and is not designed for or intended to be used for any commercial purpose. You may not resell the Service, use it for high volume purposes, or engage in similar activities that constitute such use (commercial or non-commercial). If you subscribe to a Broadband Service, you may connect multiple computers/devices within a single home to your modem and/or router to access the Service, but only through a single Verizon-issued IP address. You also may not exceed the bandwidth usage limitations that Verizon may establish from time to time for the Service, or use the Service to host any type of server. Violation of this section may result in bandwidth restrictions on your Service or suspension or termination of your Service.

I was at my parents' house in Hagerstown this weekend and while up there set up my CM4221+CM7777 for my dad, since they aren't useful here. As expected we managed to get a decent improvement in reception from his previous antenna, which was a Philips MANT940. The house seems to be in some sort of RF magic zone where convention doesn't apply--the DC stations don't even show up in the TV Fool plot, yet he got them all with just the tiny Philips antenna. The CM4221, in a different location, also got some Baltimore stations and some stations from Virginia (Harrisonburg, even, at some 70 miles) and even Harrisburg, PA. Pretty much everything he gets is in the gray on the plot, but shows up strong when the antenna is in the right place. It's kind of a mystery.

Anyway, my question is, does anyone know what's going on as far as WDCW, its repeater W51CY and the LP/repeater W50DE in Martinsburg? WDCW is the only DC station the local cable co doesn't carry in HD, so it's the most important to get OTA.

It seems W51CY is not digital, but has a CP to go digital next year. If it doesn't, WDCW-DT on 50 will be impossible come February since I couldn't get analog WDCW, only W50DE. The weak digital signal is the most intermittent of the DC stations, probably due to interference from W51CY. But I couldn't get a picture on 51 analog while I was up there.

From the FCC database it looks like W50DE has something of a permit for channel 44. I have no idea what the actual status is, but that'd help things out.

Does anyone have any clue what's going on with any of these developments?

On another note, WHAG-DT, although currently low power, is now transmitting in 1080i and rebroadcasts national network content in HD. Picture quality is excellent on those shows. It should be easier to receive once it goes full power on 26 next year. It's on the same tower as WWPB digital (31.1) as far as I know.

Anyway, my question is, does anyone know what's going on as far as WDCW, its repeater W51CY and the LP/repeater W50DE in Martinsburg? WDCW is the only DC station the local cable co doesn't carry in HD, so it's the most important to get OTA.
It seems W51CY is not digital, but has a CP to go digital next year.

Looking at the applications, W51CY filed for a digital flash cut permit 2 years ago which was granted. The digital signal will be at 15 kW from the same tower & height which is a significant boost in respective coverage over 60 kW in analog. See page 10 of the PDF copy of the engineering attachment to their filing for the analog vs digital coverage areas: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getattachment_exh.cgi?exhibit_id=382396. The coverage area of the translator will expand to include Martinsburg, much of Frederick County, and northeast to Shippensburg, PA.

WDCW-DT 50 in DC will move from 51 to 50. I don't think they can fire up W51CY-LD (LD = low power digital) because of interference problems until WDCW-DT vacates UHF 51 which the station will do on February 17, 2009. You should contact WDCW to ask when they plan to flash cut their W51CY translator and whether it will pass the HD signal. They might be planning to do right after February 17 if they have everything ready to go. I had not really looked at the W51CY translator before, but I can see one reason for WDCW-DT to move back to 50 is so they can free up the channel space for a maximum 15 kW UHF 51 LD power translator to cover the Hagerstown, Martinsburg, Chambersburg market.

From the FCC database it looks like W50DE has something of a permit for channel 44. I have no idea what the actual status is, but that'd help things out.
Not sure what to make of the UHF 44 entry for W50DE. I'll do some more digging. Maybe Trip in VA can add some info.

On another note, WHAG-DT, although currently low power, is now transmitting in 1080i and rebroadcasts national network content in HD. Picture quality is excellent on those shows. It should be easier to receive once it goes full power on 26 next year. It's on the same tower as WWPB digital (31.1) as far as I know.
Thanks for passing on that WHAG-DT 25 is now transmitting in 1080i. I figure I should be able to get the station OTA from Sterling when it moves to UHF 26 at 575 kW with some tweaking to the antenna aim. But WHAG has not yet filed for a CP for their post-transition DT allotment and it is getting late in the game to do so.

...or use the Service to host any type of server...

Wow, so by definition, you can't run any computer with any kind of client/server applications such as a centralized media server for your house. Such a computer could never be connected to their network, even though the media server is running though your home network. What a crock of cr@p that is. I would seriously call them regarding their ToS and get it clarified. I'm pretty sure what they are really worried about is someone sucking down all the bandwidth in the neighborhood.

Not sure what to make of the UHF 44 entry for W50DE. I'll do some more digging. Maybe Trip in VA can add some info.

Whoa, my name got dropped. =)

The UHF 44 entry is a vacant allocation that the FCC apparently set aside (from when W50DE was located on 44--before WWPB-DT went on the air) in case the West Virginia PBS wanted a full-service facility in Martinsburg.

Looks like W50DE wants a digital signal on channel 8, W08EE-D. (Note, the -LD suffix is reserved for stations with four-character call signs only, five-character call signs get -D) It's horribly directional; not sure why they did that since the current analog signal looks like it has better coverage. The thinking must be that people will already have VHF antennas for WWPX-DT (I doubt people will go out of their way for it) and so it won't cause reception issues.

If WV PBS was smart, they'd have gone with a UHF instead, like 29 or something.

- Trip

Wow, so by definition, you can't run any computer with any kind of client/server applications such as a centralized media server for your house.
No, the wording is *HOST* a server. So if anyone could access your media server thru your internet connection, Verizon wouldn't be happy with you. But if its just a local network media server, you're ok.

Anyways, this is prettymuch off topic for here...

Don't know when but at some point Comcast dropped 13 west coast premium channels, all except HBO West, Cinemax West, and Starz West.

Why aren't you able to run your own server on FIOS? I have FiOS and I have been able to run some server stuff.

Not to drift too far off topic, but suffice to say I think it has to do with me being in a MDU (Multi-Dwelling Unit); Rumor is other people have not had issue. I wasn't supposed to do it on Comcast either, but.... The ToS is to prevent web hosting... SlingBox, TiVo control, home automation control and probably streaming music to yourself at work might be allowable, but I'm not going to ask... Tis Better to beg for forgiveness than seek permission!

Back on topic... I've heard a LOT of carriers are dropping west coast feeds from the movie channels; subs are demanding more channels and more HD, and something has got to give. That's also (as we all know) the reason Comcast and others will be going all digital. I heard a rumor that PG County was going that way soon. Most of the DC/Baltimore area is fed from five headends, so once one goes, the others will follow.

Yeah, that is pretty rough. To think that you'd get all that great upstream speed and can't run a quake server.

Does anyone know when (or if) WMPT-DT (Chan 42) will increase its power? According to my FCC records search, they are only broadcasting with 150kW, while their analog station (22) is putting out 5000kW. At only 150kW, I don't stand a chance of getting them in Alexandria without employing heroic antenna measures. :(

Does anyone know when (or if) WMPT-DT (Chan 42) will increase its power? According to my FCC records search, they are only broadcasting with 150kW, while their analog station (22) is putting out 5000kW. At only 150kW, I don't stand a chance of getting them in Alexandria without employing heroic antenna measures. :(
Analog power (Effective Radiated Power) is not the same as digital ERP. If the antennas are at the same height, approximately 313 kW digital ERP would match the coverage area of a 5000 kW analog ERP signal. The digital antenna for WMPT-DT is 289 m HAAT versus WMPT-TV 22 273 m HAAT so the digital antenna is a little higher.

But, no there has been no indications that WMPT-DT intends to file for increased power. MPT has multiple stations and their strategy appears to be to reduce the overlapping coverage of their stations with lower power for their digital operations, presumably to save on operating costs. WMPT-DT 22 is the main MPT station for where you are, you should be able to get it. I have gotten WMPT-DT 22 (UHF 42) from here in Sterling, but I have terrain and buildings blocking the signal so it is not reliable. Have you tried to get WFPT-DT MPT 62 (UHF 28), located south of Frederick or WMPB-DT MPT 67 (UHF 29) in Baltimore? Both of them are likely weak for Alexandria, but you should try if you have not done so.

The FCC at the beginning of June lifted it's long standing freeze on stations applying for maximized post-transition power with June 20 submission deadline for equal consideration. So far, I've been surprised by who has applied for increased power. WHUT-DT 32 just filed for the maximum allowed for digital UHF of 1000 kW, up from the current 100 kW. WHUT stated in their filing that WPXW-DT Ion 66 which will be on adjacent channel UHF 34 will also file for 1000 kW. WNVC-DT 56 in Fairfax filed for an increase to 160 kW up from 45 kW when they start up on UHF 24 next February. So far, nothing from WBAL-DT NBC 11 which is currently alloted for a low 5 kW on VHF 11 next February.

According to TV FOOL, the post transition power for WMPT is going up to 347 kw. Is this correct?

Analog power (Effective Radiated Power) is not the same as digital ERP. If the antennas are at the same height, approximately 313 kW digital ERP would match the coverage area of a 5000 kW analog ERP signal. The digital antenna for WMPT-DT is 289 m HAAT versus WMPT-TV 22 273 m HAAT so the digital antenna is a little higher.

But, no there has been no indications that WMPT-DT intends to file for increased power.

The TVfool post-transition plot for me has WMPT-DT at 347kW (in my direction) versus current 147kW (again, in my direction). I couldn't find anything on the FCC site, though, so that may be incorrect data.

I used to get it reliably when it was colder out but no longer.

I wish WFPT weren't so directional, since I'm finally getting my antenna installed outdoors on the 30th and it'd be right in the middle, angle-wise, as the four main DC towers. Apparently it's only 2.39kW in my direction. I doubt I'll get that over 30 miles with a two-bay antenna (HD-1080, which, for reference, seems to be a bit weaker on UHF than the CM4220).

According to TV FOOL, the post transition power for WMPT is going up to 347 kw. Is this correct?
No. Tvfool.com's database is using older FCC Appendix B data from earlier this year, but many stations filed to stay at their current digital ERP and allotment rather than increase and/or replace a working non-directional antenna. WMPT-DT was authorized for 350 kW at a lower height. But WMPT-DT filed in their Form 387 transition plan back in February that the Appendix B entry should be corrected. See http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getattachment_exh.cgi?exhibit_id=619927. However, this does not preclude WMPT-DT from filing for increased power if the plan was to be able to stick with the current antenna. Hundreds of stations have filed for increased power so the final post-transition ERPs are still being juggled around.

Analog power (Effective Radiated Power) is not the same as digital ERP. If the antennas are at the same height, approximately 313 kW digital ERP would match the coverage area of a 5000 kW analog ERP signal.
I'm familiar with the traditional usage of ERP to include antenna gain/loss factors, but was not aware that there was an ERP differential on basis of analog vs. digital transmission. So I had to do some research, of course. ;)
I learned that the ERP for ATSC broadcast is based on average power, while ERP for NTSC broadcast is based on peak power. Your comparison of 5000kW analog being equal to 313kW digital implies a factor of 16 difference, or about 12 dB.
[If...] WMPT-DT 22 is the main MPT station for where you are, you should be able to get it.
Since I'm across the moat in Virginia, my "main" PBS station would be WETA. I don't think WMPT (Annapolis) is considered to be part of the Wash DC DMA, but I do often watch it's analog station, because WETA let's me down with programming decisions on certain shows.

Have you tried to get WFPT-DT MPT 62 (UHF 28), located south of Frederick or WMPB-DT MPT 67 (UHF 29) in Baltimore?
Unfortunately, there's not a chance for me. My elevation isn't the greatest, and I get zero signal on those. My various ATSC receivers' signal meters do indicate activity on WMPT-DT (42), but it's never enough to lock on.

Hi All--New here, been lurking a bit, learning. I have an issue that I need to figure out, hope someone can help me....

I'm trying to get my mother-in-law set up for the transition. The basics:

She lives in Culpeper, just outside of town on top of a knoll.
She currently has a VHF/UHF antenna on her roof (20 years old?) that is pointed at DC (60 miles away); she gets 4, 5, 7, and 9 quite well at this point (all analog, of course).
She has a bunch of stations down in Charlottesville (nearly the opposite direction from DC, about 40 miles from her house) that she should be able to get--like PBS, etc--but the antenna is pointed in the wrong direction.
She's not interested in a rotator (don't think she'd use it, anyway).

I'm trying to figure out how to add a nice, high-gain UHF antenna, aimed at the C-Ville stations, and combine its output with the output from the antenna aimed at DC. Ideally, I'd like her to be able to surf through the channels and see the combined output from both antennas, without having to hit a switch, or anything.

I know there are definite issues involved--in combining the two signals, in placement of the two antenna relative to each other...any advice? Another option is a single omni, but not sure that would do the trick at that distance.

Thanks--great forum here! :)

PS. Buying a A-to-D converter box soon (Zenith DTT-901 probably) and am going to take it to her place just to see what I can get with it, digital-wise. Just to get an idea what is possible with the digital signals already out there...I know thing s will probably change quite a bit after the transition.

Does anyone know when (or if) WMPT-DT (Chan 42) will increase its power? According to my FCC records search, they are only broadcasting with 150kW, while their analog station (22) is putting out 5000kW. At only 150kW, I don't stand a chance of getting them in Alexandria without employing heroic antenna measures. :(

I think WMPT-DT must have reduced power on channel 42 recently. My Ballston condo's master antenna was receiving it fine until the last week or so, but now it is too low to lock in. The condo antenna still gets the analog channel 22 just fine. I can get 42 from my unit on the sixth floor with a Zenith Silver Sensor indoor antenna today, but the signal had dropped too low for it for a while also.

Anybody else had a problem with WMPT-DT on channel 42 recently?

I think WMPT-DT must have reduced power on channel 42 recently. My Ballston condo's master antenna was receiving it fine until the last week or so, but now it is too low to lock in. The condo antenna still gets the analog channel 22 just fine. I can get 42 from my unit on the sixth floor with a Zenith Silver Sensor indoor antenna today, but the signal had dropped too low for it for a while also.

Anybody else had a problem with WMPT-DT on channel 42 recently?

My signal disappeared Thursday night but was back to regular strength last night. On another note, how is it possible that I can pick up WBOC DT most nights and even WPVI DT some nights but not get any activity on WUTB DT

Got a letter from Comcast/Howard County today.

The jist: They are moving DC locals to digital as well as AMC to add ABC Family HD, Disney HD, WGN HD, WUTB HD and Science HD. Also, adding Gospel Music to Digital Classic.

The DC locals will move from 7, 4 and 9 to 193, 194, 195 for the customer's "convenience." (They couldn't just leave them on 4, 7 and 9? That is where I get the digital versions now with my HD Tivo.) AMC remains on 53 and will also be on 138 (both Digital).

Takes effect July 9.

I asked this a few days ago but got no response, and didn't see it mentioned in the thread. I'm getting WJLA in HD, but not in DD 5.1, ever since game 6 of the NBA finals; it's in DD 2.0. This is on Comcast as well as OTA. The Baltimore HD feed from WMAR is and has been in 5.1.

Anyone else experiencing this?

I asked this a few days ago but got no response, and didn't see it mentioned in the thread. I'm getting WJLA in HD, but not in DD 5.1, ever since game 6 of the NBA finals; it's in DD 2.0. This is on Comcast as well as OTA. The Baltimore HD feed from WMAR is and has been in 5.1.

Anyone else experiencing this?


The last thing I recorded from WJLA was on June 7th and it is in 5.1
I see right now I'm receiving 2.0 but it also isn't an HD program.

Thanks for replying. I emailed the station a little while ago but haven't heard back. No 5.1 sound at all for me in any HD programming for me since game 6.

I'm trying to figure out how to add a nice, high-gain UHF antenna, aimed at the C-Ville stations, and combine its output with the output from the antenna aimed at DC. Ideally, I'd like her to be able to surf through the channels and see the combined output from both antennas, without having to hit a switch, or anything.

I know there are definite issues involved--in combining the two signals, in placement of the two antenna relative to each other...any advice? Another option is a single omni, but not sure that would do the trick at that distance.


I've seen quite a bit of discussion about this, probably some on this forum, and I don't think you'll have much luck just combining antennas. I'm not that up on the technical reasons, but if you just combine two antennas there is a good chance they will interfere with each other. There are some joiners that will pass a selected channel from a second antenna.
I'm in Germantown, MD, and I played around with combining antennas pointed at Baltimore and DC, but in the end the only way I could make it work was with a switch

QAM changes for P.G. Comcast>
I find my QAM channels have changed, and I just learned about a web page listing digital channels per ZIP Code: http://www.silicondust.com/wiki/hdhomerun/channels
I connected to this web page and find it is relatively correct for 6/18/2008, but not for today.

Hi All--New here, been lurking a bit, learning. I have an issue that I need to figure out, hope someone can help me....

I'm trying to get my mother-in-law set up for the transition. The basics:

She lives in Culpeper, just outside of town on top of a knoll.
She currently has a VHF/UHF antenna on her roof (20 years old?) that is pointed at DC (60 miles away); she gets 4, 5, 7, and 9 quite well at this point (all analog, of course).
She has a bunch of stations down in Charlottesville (nearly the opposite direction from DC, about 40 miles from her house) that she should be able to get--like PBS, etc--but the antenna is pointed in the wrong direction.
She's not interested in a rotator (don't think she'd use it, anyway).

I'm trying to figure out how to add a nice, high-gain UHF antenna, aimed at the C-Ville stations, and combine its output with the output from the antenna aimed at DC. Ideally, I'd like her to be able to surf through the channels and see the combined output from both antennas, without having to hit a switch, or anything.

I know there are definite issues involved--in combining the two signals, in placement of the two antenna relative to each other...any advice? Another option is a single omni, but not sure that would do the trick at that distance.

Thanks--great forum here! :)

PS. Buying a A-to-D converter box soon (Zenith DTT-901 probably) and am going to take it to her place just to see what I can get with it, digital-wise. Just to get an idea what is possible with the digital signals already out there...I know thing s will probably change quite a bit after the transition. Have you checked TV FOOL to see if you have a shot at receiving Richmond? I recently installed a system at a friends house, just south of Culpeper in Reva, VA(Just over the Madison County line). We used the CM 4228 antenna and a CM 7777 pre-amp. We were able to get Richmond and Charlottesville with the same compass setting. The Charlottesville stations(NBC29 & PBS41) are so strong that they still come in, even when the antenna is pointed towards Richmond.(The 4228 isn't as directional as a yagi style antenna). We swung the antenna around to DC, and the digital signal would lock on 4,5,7, and 9, but it was not reliable. If you can make do with Richmond/C-ville, you should get all the networks except UPN & ION. Another plus is that you won't have to worry about VHF.( A UHF only antenna will provide much better performance than any combo antenna) The only station going back to VHF is NBC12 in Richmond. You would get NBC from C-ville 29. If you do have to go with DC, Channels 7 & 9 are going back to VHF in '09. It would probably require a 2 antenna set-up, and a rotor for C-ville. This is definitely a deep fringe area for digital reception. A combo antenna will probably be insufficient for "reliable" digital reception.

Thanks for replying. I emailed the station a little while ago but haven't heard back. No 5.1 sound at all for me in any HD programming for me since game 6.


been noticing the same problem for the last couple of days

I think WMPT-DT must have reduced power on channel 42 recently. My Ballston condo's master antenna was receiving it fine until the last week or so, but now it is too low to lock in. The condo antenna still gets the analog channel 22 just fine. I can get 42 from my unit on the sixth floor with a Zenith Silver Sensor indoor antenna today, but the signal had dropped too low for it for a while also.

Anybody else had a problem with WMPT-DT on channel 42 recently? The digital signal of WMPT is weak enough here in Arlington that the antenna must be pointed "directly" at it for a lock. Your building would probably need a separate antenna for WMPT digital, as it is about 30-40 degrees furthur east of the DC/Baltimore towers.(The analog signal is much more forgiving) I can get just about everything in the area without rotatiing the antenna; except for WMPT. It's not much stronger than WFPT in Frederick here.

been noticing the same problem for the last couple of days

OK cool. Thanks. Just wanted to be sure it wasn't on my end.

She lives in Culpeper, just outside of town on top of a knoll.
She currently has a VHF/UHF antenna on her roof (20 years old?) that is pointed at DC (60 miles away); she gets 4, 5, 7, and 9 quite well at this point (all analog, of course). She has a bunch of stations down in Charlottesville (nearly the opposite direction from DC, about 40 miles from her house) that she should be able to get--like PBS, etc--but the antenna is pointed in the wrong direction.
Combining 2 antennas in the same band aimed in different offset directions is tricky. You might find two aims that work for now, but then would need to be tweaked for the seasonal changes in the propagation path as the leaves fall off the trees in the fall. Fine for someone who put up the antennas themselves and is willing to maintain it, not so much for someone's mother-in-law.

Adding in my comments, putting in a zip for the town of Culpeper confirms she is around 61 miles from the DC towers, 68-70 miles from the Richmond stations, and 40+ miles from the Charlottesville stations. That the DC and Charlottesville stations are in nearly opposite directions can simplify the antenna setup.

First question I have is how do the DC analog UHF stations look? Does she get decent analog picture quality for WDCA 20, WETA 26, WHUT 32, WDCW 50 with the current antenna? All of the DC stations are currently digitally broadcasting on UHF so the UHF performance is critical. Can you identify the model and brand of the antenna?

Second question is the type and condition of the cable run to the antenna? If it is old twinlead or aged RG-59 co-axial, the first step might be to replace the cable run with good quality RG-6 with a few connectors as possible. The RG-6 will have less loss per foot of run for the UHF channels than RG-59.

The UHF yagi antennas have good front to back ratios. That is, they have strong gain to the front and very little to the rear. The UHF bowties have some gain for stations located behind the screen, so a CM 4228 combined with a VHF antenna is one possibility. But the CM 4228 is heavy and requires a strong roof mast mount. A new Winegard or Channel Master conventional UHF/VHF antenna might be easier to setup. If she does not need analog anymore, one of the long range Winegard HD-769 models such as the HD-7696P with a CM 7777 pre-amp might do the job for getting just the DC stations. In case you have not checked this website, it is very useful for antenna info: http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ISSUES/erecting_antenna.html.

I haven't seen this mentioned anywhere else, but I flipped through analog today and saw a message on channel 49 (WWTD-LP) saying WJLA is taking over that channel in November in order to keep an analog channel after the transition.

I guess with the other LP's, WDDN, WZDC and WMDO, the others could do the same. WWTD must have been pretty easy to get, though, since from the other content of the scrolling message it seems they aren't doing so well financially or viewership-wise.

I think WMPT-DT must have reduced power on channel 42 recently. My Ballston condo's master antenna was receiving it fine until the last week or so, but now it is too low to lock in. The condo antenna still gets the analog channel 22 just fine. I can get 42 from my unit on the sixth floor with a Zenith Silver Sensor indoor antenna today, but the signal had dropped too low for it for a while also.

Anybody else had a problem with WMPT-DT on channel 42 recently?

No problems here.

What condo do you live in? Was the MATV system deliberately upgraded to include broadcast HDTV or has it just passively been picked up by it?

FWFW, the antenna system at The Jefferson Sunrise, which is a twenty-one story complex in Ballston, dows not have a clear reception path from WMPT because a taller hotel blocks their path.

Thanks all for the replies! I have some things to think about, that's for sure.

The Richmond channels are all a bit too far to aim for, I think. It's never been something they could pull in at their location...so I thought I'd just skip it if I could.

Digital Rules--interesting results from Reva! Depending where your friend's house is, that might be as little as 5-6 miles from hers.

afiggat--The UHF channels from DC aren't that great, but then the antenna (not sure what brand/model/etc) is a bit old and tattered, missing some elements. No preamp on it (at least I don't think there is) and it has the original twinlead. I'll attach a picture...

I'm going down there (I live up in the Frederick, MD area, so I'm doing this on random visits) in a few weeks, and I'll get a closer look at things. I'll take a converter box, and play with everything to see what's possible as it is. I'll know more then...

It's funny (I may not be the first to mention this, but it's crossed my mind quite a bit): I wish the conversion date didn't fall in February. I'll know more about things after that date, but I wish it happened in the Spring, Summer or Fall. Not the nastiest month of the year (Feb). Can't really see getting up on the roof to tweak things at that time of the year...

Anyway--I'll keep plugging away, reading and thinking, and asking. I have a while, but it's going to be fiddly, I just know it.

Thanks again!

...I'm across the moat in Virginia...I don't think WMPT (Annapolis) is considered to be part of the Wash DC DMA, but I do often watch it's analog station, because WETA let's me down with programming decisions on certain shows.


Unfortunately, there's not a chance for me. My elevation isn't the greatest, and I get zero signal on those. My various ATSC receivers' signal meters do indicate activity on WMPT-DT (42), but it's never enough to lock on.

WMPT is very strong in your locale if you have an unobstructed signal path. I've serviced many antenna installations in the Old Town area, and they actually have more trouble getting DC reception because of tall buildings in Arlington being on their transmission paths. Are you in a single family residence or a highrise/apartment building?

I don't think I've ever gotten the 62 Maryland Public Television analog transmitter in Alexandria or even in Arlington, where I service the master antenna systems in some very tall buidings. I can get the digital counterpart to analog 62 (28) on very tall buildings in McLean and Vienna, but even then reception of that alternate WMPT source is spotty.

WMPT is very strong in your locale if you have an unobstructed signal path. I've serviced many antenna installations in the Old Town area, and they actually have more trouble getting DC reception because of tall buildings in Arlington being on their transmission paths. Are you in a single family residence or a highrise/apartment building?

I don't think I've ever gotten the 62 Maryland Public Television analog transmitter in Alexandria or even in Arlington, where I service the master antenna systems in some very tall buidings. I can get the digital counterpart to analog 62 (28) on very tall buildings in McLean and Vienna, but even then reception of that alternate WMPT source is spotty. It must be multipath that is causing a majority of these reception problems with WMPT. What kind of antennas do you generally use for your commercial installs? I have no problem with 31, 62, or 68 analog here (31, and 68 are quite snowy; except at night). 62 digital comes in reasonably well, with occasional hiccups, especially on windy or rainy days. All this with a standard 2 story rooftop install, 75 feet of RG-6, and a 91-XG antenna.

It must be multipath that is causing a majority of these reception problems with WMPT.

Multipath is going to be nearly impossible for the hobbiest/self installer to reliably detect as soon as the corresponding analog transmitters get shut off. In Old Town, Alexandria, I often have had to "play the bounce" off a taller southern building to get the best quality signal there.

What kind of antennas do you generally use for your commercial installs? I have no problem with 31, 62, or 68 analog here (31, and 68 are quite snowy; except at night). 62 digital comes in reasonably well, with occasional hiccups, especially on windy or rainy days. All this with a standard 2 story rooftop install, 75 feet of RG-6, and a 91-XG antenna.
Nothing special or exotic. Since I only install on highrise rooftops, and since none of my customers are buildings of less than ten stories, I am pretty much free to pick from among the common antennas (Winegard PR or CA/HD series, CM 4 bay bowties when I need a wide boresight). For now, I pick antennas that let me roughly equalize Baltimore channels 38 and 40 with Washington, DC channel 39, and Baltimore channel 52 with Washington, DC channel 51, and sometimes I'll take the screen off a 4221 and use it to receive both 42 from Annapolis and 43 from Manassas, but I have a different agenda than do most residential installers. I place a premium on minimizing signal level differentials to make the easier to distribute through large buildings, but a single residential TV can easily, reliably differential between adjacent channels with signal level differentials of well over 20dB, and between alternate channels or further apart signal channel differentails of over 30dB.

Multipath is going to be nearly impossible for the hobbiest/self installer to reliably detect as soon as the corresponding analog transmitters get shut off. In Old Town, Alexandria, I often have had to "play the bounce" off a taller southern building to get the best quality signal there.


Nothing special or exotic. Since I only install on highrise rooftops, and since none of my customers are buildings of less than ten stories, I am pretty much free to pick from among the common antennas (Winegard PR or CA/HD series, CM 4 bay bowties when I need a wide boresight). For now, I pick antennas that let me roughly equalize Baltimore channels 38 and 40 with Washington, DC channel 39, and Baltimore channel 52 with Washington, DC channel 51, and sometimes I'll take the screen off a 4221 and use it to receive both 42 from Annapolis and 43 from Manassas, but I have a different agenda than do most residential installers. I place a premium on minimizing signal level differentials to make the easier to distribute through large buildings, but a single residential TV can easily, reliably differential between adjacent channels with signal level differentials of well over 20dB, and between alternate channels or further apart signal channel differentails of over 30dB.Looks like you'll be pretty busy after the FEB '09 transition!!

Thanks, Glen

I haven't seen this mentioned anywhere else, but I flipped through analog today and saw a message on channel 49 (WWTD-LP) saying WJLA is taking over that channel in November in order to keep an analog channel after the transition.

I guess with the other LP's, WDDN, WZDC and WMDO, the others could do the same. WWTD must have been pretty easy to get, though, since from the other content of the scrolling message it seems they aren't doing so well financially or viewership-wise.
dcrtv.com posted a month or two back that WJLA 7 was in negotiation to take over the WWTD-LP 49 signal for a time to use as an analog broadcast outlet for WJLA. I don't recall if we discussed that here, but I did in the Final DTV allotment thread as a interesting interim end run to get around the analog shutdown. Taking a look, WWTD has a long message scroll going on about their audio problems (BZZZZZZ), money problems, their web stream site, get a converter box with RF pass-through (what they really mean) and that the WJLA ABC feed will be on the channel in November.

The other LPs in DC may not be as viable options for the other major network stations, if they have any interest at all in doing this. WDDN-LP 23 is a religious station, WZDC-LP 25 has an extremely directional pattern to keep it from interfering with WHAG 25, WMDO-CA 47 has a very limited coverage area. WWTD has a digital LD channel allotment for UHF 14. They might take the money they get from WJLA and put that to starting up a digital low power signal, once WFDC 14 vacates channel 14. If WWTD can up the digital allotment to a 5 to 10 kW ERP, they could cover a good chunk of the DC area with a clean digital picture with multiple sub-channels to go after different viewer niches.

dcrtv.com posted a month or two back that WJLA 7 was in negotiation to take over the WWTD-LP 49 signal for a time to use as an analog broadcast outlet for WJLA. ...WWTD has a long message scroll going on about their audio problems (BZZZZZZ), money problems, their web stream site, get a converter box with RF pass-through (what they really mean) and that the WJLA ABC feed will be on the channel in November.

The other LPs in DC may not be as viable options for the other major network stations, if they have any interest at all in doing this. WDDN-LP 23 is a religious station, WZDC-LP 25 has an extremely directional pattern to keep it from interfering with WHAG 25, WMDO-CA 47 has a very limited coverage area. WWTD has a digital LD channel allotment for UHF 14. They might take the money they get from WJLA and put that to starting up a digital low power signal, once WFDC 14 vacates channel 14. If WWTD can up the digital allotment to a 5 to 10 kW ERP, they could cover a good chunk of the DC area with a clean digital picture with multiple sub-channels to go after different viewer niches.

A low power analog transmitter on channel 49 will never be viable for off-air reception as long as this market has a powerful, adjacent channel 48 mucking it up. When 49 moved to Washington, DC, I opened up a dialog with them to ask them what their long-range plans were (I think they were a Spanish channel back then), but they didn't tell me anything. I've always figured that the benefit of moving to Washington, DC was that, if they eventually become a low power digital station, they can easily endure the 20dB signal level differential between them and WRC-48 and multicast niche programming to a million people. The only way they could be useful as an analog outlet for WJLA or anyone else is if that somehow entitles them to attain "must carry" status on local cable TV systems.

Channels 23 and 25, if they become digital, will be reliably received in the metro region by anyone other than those within a mile or two of WNVC's channel 24 digital transmitter, which I believe is staying on the same Falls Church tower it's 56A and 57D transmitters are on now.

afiggat--The UHF channels from DC aren't that great, but then the antenna (not sure what brand/model/etc) is a bit old and tattered, missing some elements. No preamp on it (at least I don't think there is) and it has the original twinlead. I'll attach a picture...
...
It's funny (I may not be the first to mention this, but it's crossed my mind quite a bit): I wish the conversion date didn't fall in February. I'll know more about things after that date, but I wish it happened in the Spring, Summer or Fall. Not the nastiest month of the year (Feb). Can't really see getting up on the roof to tweak things at that time of the year...

The February shutdown date was the result of a political compromise with little consideration given to the practical aspects of the transition. Having the transition in the middle of winter is a problem to a lot of stations, especially those located in the northern climes with remotely located towers, not just viewers. Only WNVC-DT 56 in Fairfax in our area is adversely affected by the winter date because they have to put up a new antenna. But a number of stations across the country won't be able to match their analog coverage area as they will use auxiliary or side-mounted antennas until they can put up a new antenna when the weather improves later in the spring or summer. A transition date in June or July not only gives stations and viewers better weather (well, except for thunderstorms), but more hours of daylight to work on the tower or rooftop antenna.

Your photo shows what look to be a good quality VHF antenna, but the UHF part may not have that much gain. Still the first step after a test with the converter box may be to replace the twin-lead with a new balun and RG-6 co-axial.

A low power analog transmitter on channel 49 will never be viable for off-air reception as long as this market has a powerful, adjacent channel 48 mucking it up.
The last few times I checked, I always got a loud audio buzz for WWTD-LP 49 from out here in Sterling. Wonder if it is because the station is between WRC-DT at 813 kW on UHF 48 and WDCW-TV 50 4168 kW signal. Next February, it will be sandwiched between 2 powerful digital stations when WDCW-DT moves to 50 and may crank up to 1000 kW.

There were 366 station filings posted to the FCC website tonights, looks like almost all of them for maximizing post-transition power. Some were posted last week. These are applications to run next year at greater power than currently authorized; the FCC may not grant all of them and even if they do, the station may not increase the power until a later date. Anyway, if I am keeping correct track of the filings:

WJLA-DT ABC 7 wants to increase from the authorized 13.6 kW to 30 kW on VHF 7 (strong signal for digital upper VHF)
WDCA-DT My 20 (35) wants to increase from 500 kW to 1000 kW.
WHUT-DT 32 (33) wants to increase from 100 kW to 1000 kW.
WPXW-DT Ion 66 (34) is taking over WUSA-DT's current digital transmitter and wants to keep it at 1000 kW.
WDCW-DT CW 50 wants to increase from 123 kW on UHF 50 to 1000 kW.
WNVC-DT MHz 56 in Fairfax wants to operate at 160 kW on UHF 24.

And... (drumroll please)
WMPT-DT 22 (42) wants to increase from 150 kW to 516 kW
WFPT-DT 62 (28) in Frederick, MD wants to increase from 30 kW to 41.2 kW
WWPB-DT 31 (44) in Hagerstown, MD wants to increase from 209 kW to 1000 kW.

If all of these are granted, digital reception in the greater DC area will be easier, perhaps a lot easier. I may be able to get 4 MPT stations at the same time without turning my antenna.

Missed a couple of station maximize filings:
WUTB-DT 24 (41) wants to increase from 200 kW to 310 kW but will keep the very directional antenna pattern. Side comment: I have not been able to get WUTB-DT in recent days, I think the station is running at reduced power (but > 530 Watts)

WMPB-DT MPT 67 (29) in Baltimore wants to increase to 42.6 kW from 14 kW.
However, no filing from WBAL-DT 11 so far.

Got a letter from Comcast/Howard County today.

The jist: They are moving DC locals to digital as well as AMC to add ABC Family HD, Disney HD, WGN HD, WUTB HD and Science HD. Also, adding Gospel Music to Digital Classic.

The DC locals will move from 7, 4 and 9 to 193, 194, 195 for the customer's "convenience." (They couldn't just leave them on 4, 7 and 9? That is where I get the digital versions now with my HD Tivo.) AMC remains on 53 and will also be on 138 (both Digital).

Takes effect July 9.

so analog customers in HoCo will no longer get DC locals? :mad: Are they at least adding DC local HD channels?

WMPT is very strong in your locale if you have an unobstructed signal path. I've serviced many antenna installations in the Old Town area ... Are you in a single family residence or a highrise/apartment building?
I'm actually in the west end of Alexandria, opposite of Old Town. I have a CM 4221 above the roof line of a 3-story townhouse! Still no luck. I've attached a TVFool signal diagram here, which clearly shows 42 as the lowest power station I'm "supposed" to receive ;)

I plugged your zip code into TV fool. 32 miles from WMPT's 134 KW transmitter results in a field strength of -65dBm at a height of 35 feet. That is a very strong signal.

You might have better luck with a more directional antenna to defeat multipath.

We seem to be receiving the digital channels for 57 tonight. I have never seen this before out here in Calvert Co. Did they change their signal or is it just a favorable atmosphere?

I plugged your zip code into TV fool. 32 miles from WMPT's 134 KW transmitter results in a field strength of -65dBm at a height of 35 feet. That is a very strong signal.
I have found that using my zipcode alone on TVFool or Antennaweb gives misleading (optimistic) advice about my specific address within the zipcode. I think I might be in a lower topo spot.

You might have better luck with a more directional antenna to defeat multipath.
Agreed. I also have my CM4221 pointed NE up the DC/Balt corridor, so it's not optimally pointed at Annapolis. I could also try a preamp, but past experience says they cause more problems than they solve. The post above that says WMPT has filed for higher power operation is encouraging :)

I have found that using my zipcode alone on TVFool or Antennaweb gives misleading (optimistic) advice about my specific address within the zipcode. I think I might be in a lower topo spot.


Agreed. I also have my CM4221 pointed NE up the DC/Balt corridor, so it's not optimally pointed at Annapolis. I could also try a preamp, but past experience says they cause more problems than they solve. The post above that says WMPT has filed for higher power operation is encouraging :)A rotor is probably your best option. You are too close to DC for a pre-amp.

so analog customers in HoCo will no longer get DC locals? :mad: Are they at least adding DC local HD channels?

This is the future for Comcast. Eventually, they will move all the analog to digital to make space.

And, no word on DC local HD. This move seems to me to be an indication of downplaying the DC locals. They specifically called them duplicate services in the letter, so that tells me that the priority for DC locals in HD is non-existant.

No mention of WTTG which is on 75 now analog and digital. Guess they don't want to anger Redskins fans.

Since Howard County is getting WGN HD in July, any word on any other areas getting this channel? More HD baseball is good.

I have Extra Innings, but of course Comcast doesn't show the 2-3 daily HD games in HD. I've complained twice, once to Brian Roberts, but nobody responds. (I realize that almost nobody subscribes to EI for Comcast, so I have no chance of getting the HD games. The suffering of fans who like out-of-market games...).

Rich N.

Since Howard County is getting WGN HD in July, any word on any other areas getting this channel? More HD baseball is good.
Rich N.

Baltimore City has been getting channels at the same time as Howard County. No message from Comcast yet.

Baltimore City has been getting channels at the same time as Howard County. No message from Comcast yet.

The letter I got pretty much said the shutting down of DC analog networks was where they were getting the bandwidth to add the HD they are adding. Where would they get that space in Baltimore City? They don't have DC locals, do they? Or do they have space they aren't using yet already available?

The letter I got pretty much said the shutting down of DC analog networks was where they were getting the bandwidth to add the HD they are adding. Where would they get that space in Baltimore City? They don't have DC locals, do they? Or do they have space they aren't using yet already available?

They have been removing other analog channels, such as G4 and Ion, and most of the West Coast digital premium channels.

The February shutdown date was the result of a political compromise with little consideration given to the practical aspects of the transition. Having the transition in the middle of winter is a problem to a lot of stations, especially those located in the northern climes with remotely located towers, not just viewers. Only WNVC-DT 56 in Fairfax in our area is adversely affected by the winter date because they have to put up a new antenna. But a number of stations across the country won't be able to match their analog coverage area as they will use auxiliary or side-mounted antennas until they can put up a new antenna when the weather improves later in the spring or summer. A transition date in June or July not only gives stations and viewers better weather (well, except for thunderstorms), but more hours of daylight to work on the tower or rooftop antenna.


I have a lot of sympathy for consumers. But as to the stations, it's not like this is a big surprise. They've known this was coming for a very long time. Couldn't they be installing that new antenna tower this summer so that they would be ready to go in February? What is the excuse for waiting until NEXT summer, after the transition has occurred, before they bother to take the action that they should be taking beforehand?

Only "1" antenna can be on the "top" of most towers; so I would guess the analog antenna is of more importance until FEB '09. ($$$$$$$$$$$$$)

I have a lot of sympathy for consumers. But as to the stations, it's not like this is a big surprise. They've known this was coming for a very long time. Couldn't they be installing that new antenna tower this summer so that they would be ready to go in February? What is the excuse for waiting until NEXT summer, after the transition has occurred, before they bother to take the action that they should be taking beforehand?
Yes, putting up another antenna on top of the tower can be the problem. If the tower has room or weight limits for only 1 antenna on top - which is going to be the analog in most cases, then the station has to remove the analog channel antenna first before putting up the new digital channel antenna. Most commercial stations are opting to keep their analog channel on the air until Feb 17, 2009 or close to it. If the station is doing a digital flash cut to their analog channel, then they may be able to re-use the antenna. But some stations can't and have tower work to do.

We have one of more extreme situations in our area. WNVC MHz 56 in Fairfax has a analog UHF 56 antenna on top of the tower and a low power UHF 57 antenna on the side 50 meters lower. Both channels are out of core (2-51), so they have to go dark on Feb. 17, 2009, no buts. The tower can't take the weight of a 3rd antenna. So WNVC will go dark in September, ahead of winter, take down both the 56 and 57 antennas and put up a new UHF 24 antenna for their post-transition DT channel. All the work was scheduled to be done by November according to their February Form 387 filing (pdf attachment at http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getattachment_exh.cgi?exhibit_id=616063). But WNVC-DT 56 won't be able to start up on UHF 24 until WUTB-TV 24 in Baltimore vacates it's analog channel. If WNVC was a commercial network station, they almost certainly would have found a way to stay on the air or a different channel assignment. But they are a public station and likely running on a very tight budget, so they go dark for 5 months and provide a land line feed to the cable companies. This transition process next February is anything but simple for some stations.

It could get even more interesting in our area. WETA-DT PBS 26 (on UHF 27) in DC and WWPX-DT Ion 60 (on VHF 12) in Martinsburg have both filed petitions in the past week to the FCC asking for UHF 51 as their new digital channel assignment. WETA 26 wants UHF 51 because that will allow them to operate at higher power for a larger coverage area. The FCC may not grant either petition at this late date or any change may not happen for many months after next February, so this is strictly a side show for now.

Any idea what's going to be on 7-4? Right now there is a signal there, but no picture.

Isn't WJLA signed up to air RTN? Maybe that's what it is...

For the record, I doubt that WWPX-DT will get their channel 51 approved. It's improperly spaced to WDCW-DT 50.

- Trip

Is anyone else seeing tracking fuzz on the top of fox hd? I'm watching king of the hill and its starting to annoy me. i've noticed it on my 20 as well

DC analog locals are removed in Anne Arundel County as well. This includes WTTG. Now there is only one channel above analog ch. 72 (a PI chan).

So when are cable companies gonna transmit h.264 instead of mpeg2? Seems like they are falling behind satellite in the technology dept.

Hello all,

I live down in Woodbridge and just got a DTV converter mainly to pull down WNVC. (We subscribe to Comcast but have a higher than necessary digital tier to get the WNVC feed; it's cheaper to pay $20 for the Zenith 901 box than Comcast monthly until we get an HDTV with a tuner.)

I'm not sure what type of antenna is on the roof (other than it's supposed to be omnidirectional, ancient, and used to pick up DC/Baltimore analog stations years ago) or what direction it's pointed, but right now it's only picking up WNVT-DT 30 and WPXW 43. It's also picking up one or two other channels I can't seem to identify, and since I'm at work I can't turn the box on to check. The signal strength on WNVT goes in and out too, but it's definitely not as strong as WPXW; it is enough for everything to get choppy, though I don't think it's fully dropped out yet. I can pick up a signal on the big four but it's way too weak for the receiver to get a lock.

Does this sound like a positioning problem or an antenna size/type problem? Right now it's mounted at the very top of the house (on top of the chimney) but there are still some trees level with it all around the house. I've attached the tvfool readout too.

Yes, putting up another antenna on top of the tower can be the problem. If the tower has room or weight limits for only 1 antenna on top - which is going to be the analog in most cases, then the station has to remove the analog channel antenna first before putting up the new digital channel antenna. Most commercial stations are opting to keep their analog channel on the air until Feb 17, 2009 or close to it. If the station is doing a digital flash cut to their analog channel, then they may be able to re-use the antenna. But some stations can't and have tower work to do.


I'm sorry. I don't understand. Can't the same antenna be used to broadcast either analog or digital? We can receive both with only one. Or, to put it another way, can't they upgrade their antenna (do the tower work) now, but still broadcast an analog signal from it until Feb. 17?

Secondly, the Feb 17 transition date is mandatory only in terms of afterwards, right? There's nothing in the regulation requiring stations to be analog until then, is there? If someone wanted to, they could go all digital today, couldn't they? For a "Big 4" commercial station, that would probably be financial suicide, but it might make economic sense for a smaller station that relies mostly on cable or satellite subscribers anyway.

-Chris

The February shutdown date was the result of a political compromise with little consideration given to the practical aspects of the transition.

Many don't know or remember this but the original cutoff date was Feb 2007.

I'm sorry. I don't understand. Can't the same antenna be used to broadcast either analog or digital? We can receive both with only one. Or, to put it another way, can't they upgrade their antenna (do the tower work) now, but still broadcast an analog signal from it until Feb. 17?

Secondly, the Feb 17 transition date is mandatory only in terms of afterwards, right? There's nothing in the regulation requiring stations to be analog until then, is there? If someone wanted to, they could go all digital today, couldn't they? For a "Big 4" commercial station, that would probably be financial suicide, but it might make economic sense for a smaller station that relies mostly on cable or satellite subscribers anyway.
The commercial TV broadcast antennas are specific to the frequency or channel being broadcast. So WNVC can not re-use it's UHF 56 antenna for UHF 24. Also the analog antenna may be omni-directional while the post- transition digital antenna may have a directional pattern to reduce interference with other stations. The digital allotment may be for a different antenna height or location. The equipment to broadcast a 50 kW to 1000 kW ATSC digital UHF signal or up to a 5000 kW analog UHF signal is going to be a wee bit different than what you use in the home. Check the Final DTV Table of Allotment sticky thread if you want to get some insight into it all.

There are around 40 full power stations across the US that are digital only. Most of them are public or small independent stations, but there are several small market ABC or CBS affiliates in Falcon_77's list. In our area, WNVT-30 MHz 30 in Goldvein, VA turned off it's analog transmitter in 2003, becoming one of the 1st digital only stations. But the stations have to get approval from the FCC before turning off the analog transmission.

I'm not sure what type of antenna is on the roof (other than it's supposed to be omnidirectional, ancient, and used to pick up DC/Baltimore analog stations years ago) or what direction it's pointed, but right now it's only picking up WNVT-DT 30 and WPXW 43. It's also picking up one or two other channels I can't seem to identify, and since I'm at work I can't turn the box on to check. The signal strength on WNVT goes in and out too, but it's definitely not as strong as WPXW; it is enough for everything to get choppy, though I don't think it's fully dropped out yet. I can pick up a signal on the big four but it's way too weak for the receiver to get a lock.

Does this sound like a positioning problem or an antenna size/type problem? Right now it's mounted at the very top of the house (on top of the chimney) but there are still some trees level with it all around the house. I've attached the tvfool readout too.
You should be able to get the DC digital stations from Woodbridge with a rooftop antenna. WNVC-DT 56 has a weaker digital signal. You should read back a few posts for my summary on the WNVC 56 transition plan as the station will be going dark for analog & digital in September and is not expected to be able to go back on the air until February 17/18, 2009.

If you could post a photo of the antenna that would help. But the first step is to make sure that the antenna looks level and not knocked down by the wind or damaged. What type of antenna cable does it have? Old twinlead, RG-59 or RG-6 coaxial? You may need to replace the cable run with new RG-6. However, from Woodbridge, if getting WNVC-DT 56 and WNVT-DT 30 is your primary goal, a good indoor antenna placed high up in the room or facing the window might do the trick. If you have one or can borrow one, try a basic indoor table top UHF loop and VHF rabbit ear antenna. The Silver Sensor UHF antenna is a good UHF antenna if you can borrow one or find one at the store for a reasonable. At this time, save your money and don't buy the expensive indoor antennas with built-in amplifiers that the chain stores push.

Channel 22 sync problem on HD signal

I have watched the Channel 22 NEWS HOUR for many years, and I connected to the HD version for the first time tonight. The synchronizing between the video and sound was so bad I went back to the SD signal. I checked the repeat program on Channel 26 HD signal an hour later and it was fine.

I'm sorry. I don't understand. Can't the same antenna be used to broadcast either analog or digital? We can receive both with only one. Or, to put it another way, can't they upgrade their antenna (do the tower work) now, but still broadcast an analog signal from it until Feb. 17?

Secondly, the Feb 17 transition date is mandatory only in terms of afterwards, right? There's nothing in the regulation requiring stations to be analog until then, is there? If someone wanted to, they could go all digital today, couldn't they? For a "Big 4" commercial station, that would probably be financial suicide, but it might make economic sense for a smaller station that relies mostly on cable or satellite subscribers anyway.

-Chris

afiggatt already touched on the antenna question, but in addition to that, the waveguide, if they are using it to get to the antenna, is a different size for channel 56 and channel 24, so they would have to replace that, too. That would be on the order of 1000 feet of rectangular aluminum box, 15 inches wide by 7.5 inches deep. Pretty expensive stuff, just in the price of metal.

On your second question, there's a lot of coordination that's going on during the change-over. As you're probably aware, WUTB up in Baltimore is broadcasting on channel 24, so WNVC can't start using that channel until WUTB turns their analog channel off.

Cheers -

Channel 22 sync problem on HD signal

I have watched the Channel 22 NEWS HOUR for many years, and I connected to the HD version for the first time tonight. The synchronizing between the video and sound was so bad I went back to the SD signal. I checked the repeat program on Channel 26 HD signal an hour later and it was fine.

The funny thing is, I noticed this problem the last couple of nights, but what I also noticed was that the audio from Verizon FiOS perfectly matched the OTA video.

In other words, if I watched the OTA video (channel 22.1), but listened to the FiOS audio (via a coaxial digital connection to my surround-sound processor), everything was perfectly in sync. But if I both watched and listened to either the OTA signal or the FiOS signal, the audio and video were out of sync. I couldn't believe my ears, so I double-checked, but this was certainly the case.

I will try to contact MPT today about this.

Just saw that Comcast in the Baltimore area will be carrying the BTN in time for football on the Sports tier. The article didn't say anything about HD.

Rich N.

Isn't WJLA signed up to air RTN? Maybe that's what it is...
Maybe so. I contacted RTN, and was informed July 14th would be when WJLA plans to start carrying RTN. www.rtnville.com

-John

Hey there everyone.

Getting ready to move to Fairfax, VA, and I'm looking to do some research.

I've looked through the forum, but there's a lot of content here to peruse. Hopefully I haven't missed an earlier post that answers my question. I apologize if this is redundant. Maybe in that case, someone can point me to a specific prior post.

We've been lucky in Chicago to be about 2 miles from the broadcast towers downtown, so OTA HD content has been easy to receive. Not so sure about our suburban location in Fairfax, so I'm considering wired options.

Can current COX and Verizon customers in the NO VA area give me reviews of their cable service, both the standard def and HD packages? Before it's mentioned, our area isn't eligible for FIOS, so if you have it, please don't rub it in.

Thanks very much!

We've been lucky in Chicago to be about 2 miles from the broadcast towers downtown, so OTA HD content has been easy to receive. Not so sure about our suburban location in Fairfax, so I'm considering wired options.

Can current COX and Verizon customers in the NO VA area give me reviews of their cable service, both the standard def and HD packages? Before it's mentioned, our area isn't eligible for FIOS, so if you have it, please don't rub it in.
Verizon is still rolling out Fios to many neighborhoods in the Northern VA area. If your house in Fairfax county(?) has Verizon available as the primary phone service, Fios is coming, but when is hard to tell. Your wording is a bit confusing, as you don't get Verizon cable TV w/o Fios. Verizon does offer a DirecTV package tie-in to the areas with just phone/dsl service, but that is a different deal.

As for OTA, unless your house/condo is down in a deep ravine or blocked by a highrise building, should not be difficult to get the DC digital stations from Fairfax. The Baltimore digital stations are also likely in reach with a attic or rooftop antenna setup. DC has full power digital stations for all 7 broadcast networks that provide HD programming.

Others here can comment on Cox. I have Verizon Fios for internet & TV, but also currently get 18 digital stations OTA (from DC, Baltimore and several other stations around the area).

Just saw that Comcast in the Baltimore area will be carrying the BTN in time for football on the Sports tier. The article didn't say anything about HD.

Rich N.

That's good news. Where did you see that info? Hopefully it will be in HD too. It is great for football season.

That's good news. Where did you see that info? Hopefully it will be in HD too. It is great for football season.

Just found this on Big Ten Networks website:

June 19, 2008

Comcast, Big Ten Network Reach Broad Multimedia Agreement for Big Ten Network Content

Comcast customers to receive Big Ten Network HD, Big Ten Network high-speed Internet content through Comcast.net, and condensed game replays and other programs through Comcast On Demand

Philadelphia and Chicago -- Comcast Corporation and the Big Ten Network announced today that they have reached a long-term multimedia agreement for Comcast to carry Big Ten Network programming across television, broadband and video-on-demand in time for the 2008 college football season.

Under the terms of the agreement, Comcast will initially launch the network as part of its expanded basic level of service to promote it to the majority of its customers residing in states with Big Ten universities (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, with the exception of the Philadelphia region which will launch on a broadly distributed digital level of service) starting August 15th. (Comcast does not have systems in Iowa, the eighth Big Ten state.) In Spring 2009, Comcast may elect to move the network to a broadly distributed digital level of service in most of its systems in these states. Comcast's digital customers in the Big Ten states will also have immediate access to live Big Ten games and events in high definition, Big Ten programming via Comcast's video-on-demand platform, and a wide array of conference-related content through Comcast.net.

Outside of the Big Ten states that Comcast serves, Comcast has the option to provide Big Ten Network programming on any level of service, including its Sports Entertainment Package.

Officials from Comcast and Big Ten Network said they look forward to utilizing both traditional and emerging media to bring more Big Ten programming to fans than was ever available to them before.

"We are very pleased with the agreement we have reached with the Big Ten Network to carry hundreds of live Big Ten events," said Madison Bond, Executive Vice President, Content Acquisition, Comcast Cable. "We will be providing our customers with Big Ten programming through our signature video-on-demand service, and will have lots of highlights, replays, scores and more through Comcast.net so fans can keep pace with Big Ten action whenever they want to."

Big Ten Network President Mark Silverman said the network is thrilled to have Comcast as a distribution partner. "This agreement allows us to reach many more Big Ten fans with our programming because of the high concentration of Comcast subscribers in Big Ten states. With the Comcast deal now in place, the Big Ten Network will be available to more than two-thirds of all homes in Big Ten Country."

Big Ten Network already produces more high-definition television content than any new sports network in television history. Over the next year, more than 400 live Big Ten sporting events will be carried by the Big Ten Network in high definition, including football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball and soccer, as well as other NCAA-sponsored sports.

Comcast's digital customers who receive the network will have On Demand access to programming such as weekly extended highlights and condensed game replays from around the conference, classic Big Ten sporting events, bowl game coverage and coaches' shows, plus original campus programming and nightly studio shows from Big Ten Network, most of which is available in high definition.

Comcast also has the ability to deliver much of that same content to its Comcast High Speed Internet customers via the company's Comcast.net portal. Additionally, Comcast has the rights to carry certain network content on Fancast.com.

About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (http://www.comcast.com) is the nation's leading provider of entertainment, information and communications products and services. With 24.7 million cable customers, 14.1 million high-speed Internet customers, and 5.2 million voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.

Comcast's content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, The Golf Channel, VERSUS, G4, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One, ten Comcast SportsNet networks and Comcast Interactive Media, which develops and operates Comcast's Internet business. Comcast also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia.

About the Big Ten Network
The Big Ten Network is dedicated to covering the Big Ten Conference and its 11 member institutions. The Big Ten Network provides unprecedented access to an extensive schedule of conference sports events and shows; original programs in academics, the arts and sciences; campus activities; and associated personalities. Sports programming includes live coverage of more major men's and women's events than ever before, along with news, highlights and analysis, all complemented by hours of university-produced campus programming. The network is available to all cable and satellite carriers and television distributors nationwide, with most programs offered in stunning high-definition television (HDTV). The Big Ten Network is a joint venture between subsidiaries of the Big Ten Conference and Fox Cable Networks.

I did a channel scan using my Sylvania SRZ3000 and was suprised when 24-1 came in. It's a good 55-80% as are the other Baltimore stations. It may be due to the weather because the other Baltimore stations are stronger than usual.

It's a shame they're doing SD on 24-1 with nothing else. My Network is a 720p network, IIRC, so they have the same option as the ABC affiliates.

I did a channel scan using my Sylvania SRZ3000 and was suprised when 24-1 came in. It's a good 55-80% as are the other Baltimore stations. It may be due to the weather because the other Baltimore stations are stronger than usual.

It's a shame they're doing SD on 24-1 with nothing else. My Network is a 720p network, IIRC, so they have the same option as the ABC affiliates.
The Baltimore stations are coming in strong for me tonight, even WMPB-DT 67 which I usually don't get a reliable lock on. This even though I am on the other side of Baltimore from Dover. Warm muggy weather is good for long range pickups. Got a noisy but viewable WMDT-TV ABC 47 out of Salisbury on my analog tuner.

After WUTB-DT 24 was very weak for a few days, it was back to 7-8 bars out of 10 for me several days ago. I think WUTB-DT was running at reduced power for a while; maybe some hardware problems or making adjustments. The station engineer for WUTB who posted here when WUTB-DT finally went to full power last month did state that they were working to upgrade to HD, but did not give any specifics or date. My guess would be sometime this summer.

My guess would be sometime this summer.

Since Comcast is supposedly adding WUTB-DT (in Howard County at least) on July 9, hopefully they will go HD soon instead of wasting bandwidth on a 24 hour stretch-o-vision channel. (On the other hand, Comcast has sent messages about it being added in Baltimore city twice and it never happened. Could be another false alarm.)

Since Comcast is supposedly adding WUTB-DT (in Howard County at least) on July 9, hopefully they will go HD soon instead of wasting bandwidth on a 24 hour stretch-o-vision channel. (On the other hand, Comcast has sent messages about it being added in Baltimore city twice and it never happened. Could be another false alarm.)

We can hope. Since their power increase, WUTB has been broadcasting SD only (480i, 4:3).

The Baltimore stations are coming in strong for me tonight, even WMPB-DT 67 which I usually don't get a reliable lock on. This even though I am on the other side of Baltimore from Dover. Warm muggy weather is good for long range pickups. Got a noisy but viewable WMDT-TV ABC 47 out of Salisbury on my analog tuner.

After WUTB-DT 24 was very weak for a few days, it was back to 7-8 bars out of 10 for me several days ago. I think WUTB-DT was running at reduced power for a while; maybe some hardware problems or making adjustments. The station engineer for WUTB who posted here when WUTB-DT finally went to full power last month did state that they were working to upgrade to HD, but did not give any specifics or date. My guess would be sometime this summer.

Still the ONLY channel that I can't even get a signal on.

WRC has once again forgotten to throw the "HD" switch on the LPGA US Open. WBAL is showing the tournament in HD. I called and hopefully someone will fix it.

Whats wrong with WJLA ABC7?

The sound has been in 2.0 all day instead of 5.1 throughout the DC United game in Washington DC and even right now during the 2008 Euro Soccer games.

Maybe the feed is only 2.0

Maybe the feed is only 2.0

Might be a local station issue, WABC had the game in 5.1 the entire time according to other posters.

Might be a local station issue, WABC had the game in 5.1 the entire time according to other posters.

I've been experiencing this issue ever since game 6 of the Finals. All HD programming on WJLA is in DD 2.0. It's really annoying. I emailed the station twice but haven't received a reply.

I'm kind of surprised so few people have acknowledged it. Maybe it's not a widespread issue.

Comcast now has WUTB at 215 next to the other HD local channels, but it's 480i like the current OTA signal.

All HD programming on WJLA is in DD 2.0. It's really annoying. I emailed the station twice but haven't received a reply
Perhaps with the ad revenue from the latest "ABC-7 Cinema" Saturday night pre-emption, they can upgrade... Another 20 year old movie, this time with the "Governator"

I've been experiencing this issue ever since game 6 of the Finals. All HD programming on WJLA is in DD 2.0. It's really annoying. I emailed the station twice but haven't received a reply.

I'm kind of surprised so few people have acknowledged it. Maybe it's not a widespread issue.

In the LA area, KABC 7/53 frequently has this problem. It was more like mono sound for the Euro 2008 final. It would have been nice to hear the crowd noise with the surrounds. It seems that something is lost when they have "ESPN on ABC." However, when I had cable, ESPN had the same problem locally. One of these days I will get to the bottom of this. The receiver shows DD5.1, but there is nothing coming from the other speakers w/o forcing all channel stereo.

In the LA area, KABC 7/53 frequently has this problem. It was more like mono sound for the Euro 2008 final. It would have been nice to hear the crowd noise with the surrounds. It seems that something is lost when they have "ESPN on ABC." However, when I had cable, ESPN had the same problem locally. One of these days I will get to the bottom of this. The receiver shows DD5.1, but there is nothing coming from the other speakers w/o forcing all channel stereo.


That is the worst when you have a DD5.1 signal but really the audio is only coming from two channels.
The way WJLA has it, with DD2.0, is the best. That way you can use Dolby PLIIX to create 5.1/7.1 from the 2.0 signal. Close enough to true 5.1 for being a broadcast source. DPLIIx does a very good job with a stereo signal.

3 new HD channels on Comcast this morning, CNN, Animal Planet and AMC, in Calvert County. I think we now have all of the widely available Comcast HD channels. Looking forward to more :).

3 new HD channels on Comcast this morning, CNN, Animal Planet and AMC, in Calvert County. I think we now have all of the widely available Comcast HD channels. Looking forward to more :).

When are they supposed to be adding more?

Hi all
I was supposed to pick up some sections of antenna mast from the only local supplier I could find (I'm in Frederick, MD). They told me they had 10' and 5' sections of pole, at 1.5" diameter.

When I got there, they dug out 2 10' sections (very nice, powder coated grey, nice and strong) but the 5 footers were all 1.25". They called their supplier who told them that they couldn't get the 1.5" pole sections anymore, just 1.25".

Does anyone have a source in the Wash/Balt area for the 1.5" pole sections? the 1.25" seemed too flimsy for my liking. Another 10 foot section of the 1.5" would do, I could always cut it down if necessary, or mount things higher...

Thanks in advance--

Hi all
I was supposed to pick up some sections of antenna mast from the only local supplier I could find (I'm in Frederick, MD). They told me they had 10' and 5' sections of pole, at 1.5" diameter.

When I got there, they dug out 2 10' sections (very nice, powder coated grey, nice and strong) but the 5 footers were all 1.25". They called their supplier who told them that they couldn't get the 1.5" pole sections anymore, just 1.25".

Does anyone have a source in the Wash/Balt area for the 1.5" pole sections? the 1.25" seemed too flimsy for my liking. Another 10 foot section of the 1.5" would do, I could always cut it down if necessary, or mount things higher...

Thanks in advance--How high are you planning on going??? I believe Radio Shack has good 5 & 10 Ft 16-gauge antenna masts. I have seen them recommended on this forum. I bought mine there years ago and have been very pleased. I'm assuming the quality is still good.

You can call Urbana electronics and see if they stock those.

When are they supposed to be adding more?

I don't know. I guess it was wishful thinking.:rolleyes: Not sure what to expect next perhaps BTN, weather channel or WGN HD.

3 new HD channels on Comcast this morning, CNN, Animal Planet and AMC, in Calvert County. I think we now have all of the widely available Comcast HD channels. Looking forward to more :).

Just got a recorded phone message from Comcast announcing these new channels :mad: Why can't they use the messaging system built into the HD box? Do they have to bother us with phone calls at home?

How high are you planning on going??? I believe Radio Shack has good 5 & 10 Ft 16-gauge antenna masts. I have seen them recommended on this forum. I bought mine there years ago and have been very pleased. I'm assuming the quality is still good.

The existing mast is around 22 ft, I was looking at about 25--that's about 10 feet above the roof peak. The mast is attached to the gable end of the house, well supported for most of its length, then guyed above that, on the roof.

Radio Shack does have the 1.25 poles--was hoping to get the bigger, 1.5. May not have a choice. Is your Radio Shack pole 1.25 or 1.5, do you recall?

Thanks!

You can call Urbana electronics and see if they stock those.

Thanks Cyclone--I had forgotten about them. They don't mention antennas on their website, but who knows. I have a call in to them. Thanks for the reminder!

Does anyone have a source in the Wash/Balt area for the 1.5" pole sections? the 1.25" seemed too flimsy for my liking. Another 10 foot section of the 1.5" would do, I could always cut it down if necessary, or mount things higher...
Thanks in advance--

Try Allegheny Electronics in Hagerstown, Mark Electronics - Beltsville, Action Antenna in Baltimore, or Cumberland Electronics in Hanover (near BWI)

The existing mast is around 22 ft, I was looking at about 25--that's about 10 feet above the roof peak. The mast is attached to the gable end of the house, well supported for most of its length, then guyed above that, on the roof.

Radio Shack does have the 1.25 poles--was hoping to get the bigger, 1.5. May not have a choice. Is your Radio Shack pole 1.25 or 1.5, do you recall?

Thanks!My RS pole is only 1.25". 11' above the roofline, CM 9521 rotor, and 91-XG antenna. No guy wires, but very stable.(Chimney mount with 3 straps)

Try Home Depot and Lowes. I got all the stuff for my setup at Home Depot in Gaithersburg.

Try Home Depot and Lowes. I got all the stuff for my setup at Home Depot in Gaithersburg.

Was this recently, Remoteless?

My local Home Depots claim they don't carry them any more; the Lowe's has some cheap-looking 5' poles (they're an odd gold metal-flake!).

It's funny though--I found the poles at Lowe's after being told by a kid at the Customer Service desk that they didn't have any, and that "it's not gonna matter soon, anyway; once they change over to the digital thing antennas won't work".

It's funny though--I found the poles at Lowe's after being told by a kid at the Customer Service desk that they didn't have any, and that "it's not gonna matter soon, anyway; once they change over to the digital thing antennas won't work".Ugh. I hope you corrected him.

Ugh. I hope you corrected him.

I did, but he had a glazed look once I started talking....not sure it got through. In fact, I'm pretty sure it didn't!

Was this recently, Remoteless?

My local Home Depots claim they don't carry them any more; the Lowe's has some cheap-looking 5' poles (they're an odd gold metal-flake!).

It's funny though--I found the poles at Lowe's after being told by a kid at the Customer Service desk that they didn't have any, and that "it's not gonna matter soon, anyway; once they change over to the digital thing antennas won't work".
I put my anteena up over 2 years ago. I think the mast pole was from RCA zinc plated steel 5' sections that interlock. I don't remember the diameter it did fit my channel master rotor exactly.

Is Northern VA FIOS all-digital yet? I had received an email from Verizon stating that this would be done by June 30. How does one confirm when this is completed? I do not have a QAM tuner.

If you have an analog TV, connect it directly via coax... If you receive no channels, it's all-digital.

Drew

Is Northern VA FIOS all-digital yet? I had received an email from Verizon stating that this would be done by June 30. How does one confirm when this is completed? I do not have a QAM tuner.

Not yet. They are supposed to start later this month dropping the analog channels. The letter I got said July.

Is Northern VA FIOS all-digital yet? I had received an email from Verizon stating that this would be done by June 30. How does one confirm when this is completed? I do not have a QAM tuner.
No. You must have mis-read the date, perhaps June 30 was the date by which to order the DCT700 STB if you have a analog TV connected directly to the coaxial run. The analog shutdown for the Washington Metro market is scheduled to BEGIN on July 21. The shutdown will take place by CO (Central Office) so some people will have analog channels for a while after July 21.

The QAM tuner won't tell you anything about the status of the analog channels. ALL of the channels you see on the Verizon STB and DVRs have been sent digitally all along, including those that you see in the 2-49 range. The Verizon STBs and DVRs don't even have analog tuners. Only those who connected a analog TV directly to the co-axial cable ever saw the limited set of basic analog channels. What Verizon is doing is yanking the hardware for the up to 40 NTSC analog channels and replacing them with QAM channels & building the system out to provide all 135 QAM channels for live TV channels (VOD and guide data are sent via the internet path). You need to connect a NTSC tuner to the system to see if the analog channels have the warning messages or gone to the red screens yet.

The unconfirmed tentative date for the channel assignment overhaul and HD expansion for Fios for the Washington Metro market is September 17. Of course, the Fios subscribers here hope it will be sooner than that. The roll-out started in Fort Wayne, IN on Monday, but this is getting off-topic for this thread.

What HD channels should be on Comcast in Howard County right now. My mother got digital cable with the HD DVR the other day and I noticed that the channel designated for CNN HD and a few others were blank. Are these channels listed in the guide, but not yet available or is there some other reason why she wouldn't be getting CNN HD?

WUTB is still at channel 215 in 480i on Comcast. Comcast.com has it listed as MyHD. When WUTB goes HD I should it on Comcast. They must be close to finishing the upgrade. (Also see that it's on a different QAM than the SD feed at channel 24.)

Quick question here, would it be possible to attach QAM channel mappings for FiOS(for the DC area) on the first post? I spent sometime today and I looked up each channel and put into an Excel sheet, so I was wondering if it would useful to post it. Let me know if this is possible.

Quick question here, would it be possible to attach QAM channel mappings for FiOS(for the DC area) on the first post? I spent sometime today and I looked up each channel and put into an Excel sheet, so I was wondering if it would useful to post it. Let me know if this is possible.
I have a detailed breakdown of the clear QAM channels for Fios as well - and where all the encrypted national HD channels currently are. But Verizon puts the locals in the same QAM channel block in all markets (so far), so that info can be found in the national FIOS threads or at dslreports.com with a little digging. All people really need to know is that Verizon Fios in the Washington Metro market currently carries 11 digital broadcast locals with all the sub-channels in the clear with the PSIP channel mapping data, so most QAM tuners will map them to their broadcast channels. The SD locals and PEGS are in the QAM 63-68 range; digital broadcast locals are at QAM 71-75, 82 if they don't get the PSIP remap. But they may get moved for the Verizon HD expansion when that hits our area.

No. You must have mis-read the date, perhaps June 30 was the date by which to order the DCT700 STB if you have a analog TV connected directly to the coaxial run.

Naw I didn't misread it but I did miss the * next to the date which in the footnote to the email states that this is Subject to Change.

I received an email from VZ on June 24 with the title "FiOS TV Goes 100% Digital" and the body of the email states:

Verizon will be transitioning all analog FiOS TV channels to a 100% digital format. Experience the superior picture and sound quality of our fiber to-the-premises network with no change to your rates or disruption to your service by ordering this FREE Digital Adaptor.

As a Loyal FiOS TV Subscriber, your service will be transitioned to the all-digital format on June 30, 2008.*

This simple to install equipment will give you full access to the FiOS TV lineup including Local, Premier, and Premium content with subscription to these packages.

Act today to avoid disruptions to your service.

> Call 1-888-GO-DIGITAL now to order.Since we're not digital yet, obviously your letter was more correct than the email I received. Guess I tossed out the letter. When was it received?

I received a phone call (computer) 3 days ago informing me that Comcast had added 3 new HD channels. AMC CNN Animal Planet. As of today no additions. I called Comcast and they stated they were available in Charles Co. After having me reset my box with no luck they stated that there was a problem at the headend, I noticed a post from a Calvert Co. subscriber that they had the 3 new channels and just wonder if Charles Co is in error or if it is a headend problem. The new additions always came thru before.

Anyone with RCN have problems in the past day or so? I'm in Silver Spring, and both yesterday and today I've lost all cable signals via the cablecard at around 5 pm. By the next day, the signal is back. The weird thing is, the cable signals are fine to all the other rooms in the house... it's just the cablecard portion of the set-up that is the problem.

Addendum: Never mind. I figured out what was wrong. I installed a signal booster a few weeks ago - removed it, and boom, things worked again.

Quick question here, would it be possible to attach QAM channel mappings for FiOS(for the DC area) on the first post? I spent sometime today and I looked up each channel and put into an Excel sheet, so I was wondering if it would useful to post it. Let me know if this is possible.The trouble with this is that the Cable company in the past has been quick to makes changes to the QAM channels without reguard to notifying anyone. Since I don't have access to all of the cable systems it had been really impossible for me to put a detailed QAM list on the first post, since if it changes, I wouldn't be able to verify that. Plus whoever gave me the info in the first place, might not follow up with changes.

The best I can do, is if you put up your own page somewhere with the QAM listing, I can put a link to that on the first post. That way you can get the list maintained and it will be readily accessible from the first post.

CycloneGT,

The first post of this thread says WETA has DD5.1. Is this an error or does WETA have DD5.1 but they never use it?

The trouble with this is that the Cable company in the past has been quick to makes changes to the QAM channels without reguard to notifying anyone. Since I don't have access to all of the cable systems it had been really impossible for me to put a detailed QAM list on the first post, since if it changes, I wouldn't be able to verify that. Plus whoever gave me the info in the first place, might not follow up with changes.

The best I can do, is if you put up your own page somewhere with the QAM listing, I can put a link to that on the first post. That way you can get the list maintained and it will be readily accessible from the first post.

That's the whole point of getting cable cards so you don't have to worry about any changes. FiOS shouldn't need to notify anyone since their own boxes and cable card devices handle any changes so any changes are transparent to the user.
And as far as I can tell nothing has changed on the unencrypted local FiOS channels here since the one TV I have the FiOS cable connected to, still receives all the local digital channels with it's QAM tuner(I'm not using the Cable Card slot on this TV). These local channels or basic tier channels should be the only ones they need to worry about. Any other channels should be encrypted so the user shouldn't be able to access them. If they can it's free so they can't expect any update when things change.

Comcast in Anne Arundel County has WUTB (currently still broadcasting in SD), Science Channel, Disney Channel, and ABC Family in their HD lineup.

It is now official, AMC HD; CNN HD and Animal Planet HD are now on in Charles Co. It was effective as of July 1 but I only started receiving as of today after calling and complaining. They finally got the signal thru to my box.

Strange the Olympics trials aren't in HD on 4, but they are in HD on 11. Looks like someone forgot to flip the switch! I wonder what's going to happen next Feb when analog goes away and there is no SD to fall back on when they forget to flip the switch? Will the signal just go dark?

-John

Strange the Olympics trials aren't in HD on 4, but they are in HD on 11. Looks like someone forgot to flip the switch! I wonder what's going to happen next Feb when analog goes away and there is no SD to fall back on when they forget to flip the switch? Will the signal just go dark?

-John

I'm thinking NBC4 is having some issues. They have tried a couple of times to flip to HD, but the sound goes away, and we get 2 seconds of picture, then 1 second of black screen, and it goes back and forth until I guess someone gives up and flips it back to SD. I hope they work out all of the glitches between now and 8/8/08. I also noticed the nightly news was in SD.

It's a top notch operation they're running at WRC, let me tell you. No wonder NBC is looking to unload them.

It's a top notch operation they're running at WRC, let me tell you. No wonder NBC is looking to unload them.

It still shouldbe better than when I watched the 2002 Winter Olympics in HD.

Absolutely embarassing the operation over at WRC, for an NBC O&O in the nation's capitial to have the problems they do, never mind the fact they still haven't switched their newscast to HD.