For the last 24 hours, 60-1 has been switching between the program and a test pattern with some words similar to "iON NOC Media."

Haven't seen it during the short time this afternoon that I've looked at it, for the show "A Grandpa for Christmas."

Any local places to buy Channel Master amplifiers? I'll probably just buy another CM 7777 and see if it works. I believe my local Radio Shack has it, but it was about $90. I bought it online for $60. Gas prices now a bit lower, I"m willing to do a bit of driving if I can find it cheap.
baynesville electronics in towson has them. i think their number is 8320082.

For the last 24 hours, 60-1 has been switching between the program and a test pattern with some words similar to "iON NOC Media."
Haven't seen it during the short time this afternoon that I've looked at it, for the show "A Grandpa for Christmas."
A quick check a few minutes ago showed regular programming on WWPX-DT 60.1. BTW, how far are you from the broadcast towers in NW DC if you can only get WTTG-DT Fox 5 intermittently?

While posting about Ion, on Friday the FCC granted the WPXW-DT Ion 66 maximization request to operate at 1000 kW on UHF 34 post-transition. WPXW-DT will be moving from Fairfax to the WUSA-DT 9 digital 34 antenna in NW DC, but had been allocated to run at 110 kW post-transition. Since WUSA-DT is currently at 1000 kW on UHF 34, WPXW-DT should be at 1000 kW on Feb 18 and will have the same coverage as WUSA-DT does now. However, those located some miles NE of Baltimore may run into an interference issue as WCAU-DT NBC 10 in Philadelphia will be moving to UHF 34 post-transition.

On the news front, President Bush signed the analog night-light bill today which will allow some analog stations to stay on the air for 30 days after Feb. 17 with info messages and any emergency broadcasts. Which stations will opt to do so and will be able to do so has not been announced.

70.04 miles (2-edge), according to the FCC and GPS co-ordinates. My APEX DT502 is the only CECB that is able to acquire it.

Why is WTTG-DT 17:00 Newscast not in 16:9?

WBAL has began using an HD bug during telecasts. I wonder if this is a sign that they will soon begin HD newscasts.

http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/4473/vlcsnap276374yc4.png

They now have a winter weather advisory bug up now. Much better than downsizing the picture.

They just downsized the picture for a weather advisory scroll on the lower third.

70.04 miles (2-edge), according to the FCC and GPS co-ordinates. My APEX DT502 is the only CECB that is able to acquire it.

Why is WTTG-DT 17:00 Newscast not in 16:9?
WTTG-DT local news is SD. Only WJLA-DT 7, WUSA-DT 9, WBFF-DT 45 have local news in HD in the DC & Baltimore markets (so far).

70 miles puts you in deep fringe range, especially for UHF reception. Looking back at our earlier posts, you have a CM-3020 antenna. The CM 3020 is not a top of the line deep fringe antenna for UHF. You should consider using the CM 3020 for VHF only and adding a Antennas Direct XG-91 for UHF. Or a CM-4228 for UHF if your mast can handle the weight and wind load. Look at the comparision UHF gain charts at http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/comparing.html.

Any word on WJZ news going HD? I have noticed a huge improvement in their studio & recorded news PQ. The detail on live studio shots is amazing!!

We lost our power yesterday for a couple of hours. When the power came back on I went to our VCRs to use the autoset clock function. For some reason it didn't work yesterday and I tried it again today. This happened both on antenna and cable connected VCRs. It appears that the local PBS stations have already taken the clock signal from their analog broadcasts. I just did a quick search and found an article about how this will be the case starting with the change, but am still surprised it has already taken place.

Most VCR's and DVD recorders rely on the PBS analog signal via Antenna will be out of sync

When I was outside talking to my girlfriend about the digital transition. I found out that most DVD recorders, and VCR's rely on the PBS analog signal while using an antenna for to set the clock which it does for me. After Feburary 17, 2009 the signal from PBS will completely go off air causing the VCR and DVD recorder to be out of sync with the time.

Also I bet other electronic devices such as other video equipment that use the signal also depend on the PBS clock signal to set clocks to keep things in synchonization. Without that analog PBS signal via antenna things such as DVD recorders and VCR's and some DVR's even in the professional fields will be out of sync causing logging problems for time stamps of video recordings such as in the TV and radio stations across the country rely on time based information. Some electronic devices might rely on the PBS analog signal for business purposes, government and schools. Also some security cameras that rely on VCR's and DVR's need the synchronized time signal to keep a tab on what time the event occured rely on this PBS clock signal from the outside antenna. Most video equipment used in the professional fields for video editing will be affected real bad. A converter box will not do a bit of good cause the signal transmitted in the digital carrier does not contain the "subcarrier" information will not be able to set the clock automatically to keep the clock set even if the clock needs to set ahead or back an hour. The standard definition signal however wil contain PBS but the clock signal will not be available to use to set the clock. Most DVD recorders and VCR's rely on the PBS signal through the analog tuner using the antenna, not satellite, but it will possibly be available through analog cable , not a passive digital tuner or satellite receiver such as directTV or dish network. If you have a VCR, DVD recorder, video camera, or DVR with a analog tuner that receives PBS and sets the clock automatically be prepared for a huge disappointment.

GCC Engineering

http://snardfarker.ning.com/group/dtvtransitiondiscussion/forum/topics/most-vcrs-and-dvd-recorders

Any word on WJZ news going HD? I have noticed a huge improvement in their studio & recorded news PQ. The detail on live studio shots is amazing!!

WJZ plans to have its studio broadcasts in HD by the end of the year, says Vice President and General Manager Jay Newman, with the rest of the newscast following suit in March or April next year. WBAL plans to broadcast the studio portion of its newscasts in HD by February, says President and General Manager Jordan Wertlieb.

WMAR (Channel 2) has no plans to broadcast local news in HD, but is "investigating our options," says Vice President General Manager Bill Hooper. "We're more focused on making sure that we're up to speed on the digital conversion, which we have no choice on," he says.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=13994350&postcount=587

Thanks Marcus!!

16:9 doesn't mean HD.

I'm still looking for a good sunny day (40°+) without wind so that I can climb my 40' tower to setup the rotor, homemade bearing, and 10' center pole, then I can move everything from the 26' pole.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=13994350&postcount=587

WJZ plans to have its studio broadcasts in HD by the end of the year, says Vice President and General Manager Jay Newman, with the rest of the newscast following suit in March or April next year. WBAL plans to broadcast the studio portion of its newscasts in HD by February, says President and General Manager Jordan Wertlieb.

If this was the status 6 months ago, I wonder if it's still the status given the economic upheaval taking place in broadcasting. The end of the year is about a week away and it's hard to imagine WJZ cutting over to HD Newscasts before the end of the year given the shortened work week.

I want Spike HD :(
I wish G4 would get an HD channel...

G4 does have an HD channel, since Dec. 8.

G4 does have an HD channel, since Dec. 8.I wish.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G4_(TV_channel)#G4HD
G4HD was scheduled to be launched on December 8, 2008.[26] However, it did not launch, another in a long list of corporate failures that have plagued the network in recent years.:(

Actually, according to this thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1058081), some Comcast and TWC subs have G4 HD (and Style HD, which Wikipedia also says failed to launch).

It's possible that these channels have no HD programming yet. Comcast may have lit up these HD channels even though no programming would be available until early 2009 simply because five new HD channels markets better than only three.

Comcast has also stated that G4 won't see substantial HD programming until Q3 when the G4 studios finish transition to HD, so maybe they're holding off a significant push for G4 carriage across their own subs until next fall.

Actually, according to this thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1058081), some Comcast and TWC subs have G4 HD (and Style HD, which Wikipedia also says failed to launch).

It's possible that these channels have no HD programming yet. Comcast may have lit up these HD channels even though no programming would be available until early 2009 simply because five new HD channels markets better than only three.

Comcast has also stated that G4 won't see substantial HD programming until Q3 when the G4 studios finish transition to HD, so maybe they're holding off a significant push for G4 carriage across their own subs until next fall.Ah, that makes sense. Thanks :)
It's odd, because some G4 OnDemand stuff is HD. Apparently Spike HD's not available though :(

Interesting discovery this morning, 31-1 (WWPB-DT) shows Sesame Street as 1080i and it's in 16:9. I don't believe I ever noticed that before.

I also see where 60-1 (WWPX-DT) is showing a Kodak Infomercial during the 10:00 hour, while 60 analog (WWPX-TV) is showing the 700 Club.

What's up with WTTG-DT (5-1) and WJLA-DT (7-1) tonight?

I couldn't get the side bars removed when I set my APEX DT502 to 16:9. It worked on other channels and even the WJLA subs. I had the problem during "Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader" and the ABC "Special."

I've been seeing occasional macroblocking on WETA-Kids channel 26.3, all tuners, for several weeks. Other channels, and even other WETA sub-channels, don't do this.

I claim this is a WETA issue, or else I would see this on other WETA sub-channels as well. (All subchannels are on one UHF carrier.)

I've been seeing occasional macroblocking on WETA-Kids channel 26.3, all tuners, for several weeks.Yes it is a WETA problem. The macroblocking is also evident on Verizon Fios channel 472.

What's going on with WWPX (12) 60-1?

I can't watch any iON Christmas Movies. :(WWPX 60.1 has just recently switched from simulcasting the analog signal from WPXW to a direct satellite feed. The picture is 100% better now.

Has anyone else noticed the stop/start issue with WDCW-DT (50-1)? I originally thought it was my location, until last night.

I was setting up a friends house with CECB's, in two different rooms, on two different homemade antennas. His location has a much stronger Quality/Signal level, than my location, and the problem existed on both of his CECB's. It seems to happen only during the Primetime shows that are produced in HD.

I'm still getting some "ghosting" on WWPX-DT (60-1) during some programming. It's definitly a lot better. :)

I'm still getting some "ghosting" on WWPX-DT (60-1) during some programming. It's definitly a lot better. :)
The "ghosting" you see on WWPX-DT Ion 60.1 in Martinsburg is part of the digital picture, not because of your tuner or antenna. WWPX is a satellite station of WPXW Ion 66 in Manassus. WWPX get the analog signal from WPXW over the air with an antenna and puts that out as the analog 60 and digital 60.1 broadcast. The ghosting is part of the analog picture WWPX gets at long range. The other 3 sub-channels for Qubo, Life, Worship are from a direct digital satellite feed, so the picture quality for those sub-channels are fine.

The reason I know this is that earlier this year I sent an email to Ion asking what happened to their announced plan to go HD in early 08 and added a question about the poor picture quality for 60.1. I got a call from the station engineer for WWPX 60 who explained why. WPXW 66 adds in local commercials to the Ion programming, so WWPX 60 gets the Ion network programming from WPXW OTA. The station engineer also told me WWPX was ready to go HD, he had the equipment in place. Didn't ask how they will get the digital signal from WPXW-DT when the analog station goes away or Ion finally goes HD in the 1st quarter of 09. Maybe they will get it OTA when WPXW-DT 66 takes over WUSA-DT's UHF 34 digital broadcast out of NW DC. Ion has WWPX 60 up for sale, BTW.

WWPX get the analog signal from WPXW over the air with an antenna and puts that out as the analog 60 and digital 60.1 broadcast.Are you sure this hasn't changed?
60.1 & 66.1 are showing completely different programming at this time.(Infomercials) The picture on 60.1 is ghost free. Maybe they only do this at certain times.:confused:

Maybe they only do this at certain times.:confused:Now at 11:00, they are both showing the same program, and it's sharper & brighter on 60.1.

So, is WUSA colluding with DirecTV to prevent those of us in Washington from ever watching a good AFC game? I am so incredibly sick and tired of getting stuck with the g**d**** Ravens every single week while countless classic AFC matchups get national coverage that I can't watch.

Seriously, what would it take to make WUSA STOP selecting into Ravens games rather than the default national coverage? WUSA needs to realize that Baltimore has its own CBS affiliate! How about serving what has to be the large majority of your viewership that lives in Virginia, WUSA???

Argh, my frustration boils. Ninety-two percent of the country will be watching a classic matchup between the Jets and Dolphins. Those of us in WUSA's coverage area will get stuck with the other six percent of viewers trapped in Ravens hell.

And the game is now in SD. Watching the Jets on Sunday Ticket. CBS is having some major problems today as that game was breaking up as well on the HD feed. Things look to be fixed on both games (looking at the game mix channel), however WUSA has not switched back.

Are you sure this hasn't changed?
60.1 & 66.1 are showing completely different programming at this time.(Infomercials) The picture on 60.1 is ghost free. Maybe they only do this at certain times.:confused:
You are right, the picture on WWPX-DT 60.1 is much improved. It had the ghosting on it not long ago. So they have switched to a digital feed, presumably to get ready for the analog shutdown and Ion going 720p HD on their primary x.1 channel.

WUSA now frozen for over an hour - what the heck is going on over there (it's not a CBS problem as the NFL Game Mix feed was ok).

So, is WUSA colluding with DirecTV to prevent those of us in Washington from ever watching a good AFC game? I am so incredibly sick and tired of getting stuck with the g**d**** Ravens every single week while countless classic AFC matchups get national coverage that I can't watch.

Seriously, what would it take to make WUSA STOP selecting into Ravens games rather than the default national coverage? WUSA needs to realize that Baltimore has its own CBS affiliate! How about serving what has to be the large majority of your viewership that lives in Virginia, WUSA???

Argh, my frustration boils. Ninety-two percent of the country will be watching a classic matchup between the Jets and Dolphins. Those of us in WUSA's coverage area will get stuck with the other six percent of viewers trapped in Ravens hell.

Stations have no control over what game is shown. The great NFL masters control that.

As for the other problems, from what I gather, there were some serious transponder problems of one type or another and in the excitement a Dolby decoder locked up killing some of the audio on HD and so they had to take the SD feed or it would have been a silent movie albeit in color.

Most of what happened was out of their control, they damage limited as best as they could.

Here's an FCC page that has coverage maps that show coverage area gain/loss of each channel from the DTV transition: http://www.fcc.gov/dtv/markets/

Click on Baltimore or Washington to see the maps. It's also interesting to see the network maps, which show the gain or loss over the entire country.

Mark

Here's an FCC page that has coverage maps that show coverage area gain/loss of each channel from the DTV transition:
...
Click on Baltimore or Washington to see the maps. It's also interesting to see the network maps, which show the gain or loss over the entire country.
Mark, thanks for posting the link. These are different than the subset of maps of digital stations with significant changes in coverage which was discussed in the Final DTV allotment sticky thread: http://www.fcc.gov/dtv/markets/report2.html.

Stations in our market with notable changes in the modeled coverage are WBAL 11, WMAR 2, WUTB 24 and WETA 26 (net coverage increase BTW), WFPT 62, WTTG 5. But some of us are of the opinion that the loss for the VHF stations moving to UHF is overstated because much of the modeled loss can be made up with high gain UHF antennas (provided terrain is not severely blocking the signal path).

PS. The FCC comparision map for WPXW Ion 66 is pretty messed up. Even at the original 110 kW allotment in NW DC, why would the station lose all the viewers to to NE? WPXW-DT 66 will take over WUSA-DT's UHF 34 transmitter and antenna and has been granted it's application to run at 1000 kW.

Argh, my frustration boils. Ninety-two percent of the country will be watching a classic matchup between the Jets and Dolphins. Those of us in WUSA's coverage area will get stuck with the other six percent of viewers trapped in Ravens hell.

Now you know how those of us on the Baltimore end have felt about having the Redskins on WBFF virtually every week.

Of course, as someone else already pointed out, it's not WUSA's (or WBFF's) fault. And if Snyder and Bisciotti ever get their way, we will be one market for NFL purposes and those few times that the stations actually get to opt out of coverage of the team at the opposite end of the parkway will be gone.

Boy, yesterday was a day for DTV problems. During the Ravens game I was recording, CBS must have lost the HD feed as we spent much of the first half in SD. Then my signal from WRC for the Chargers game kept breaking up even though I had the antenna pointed right at it.

Good times...

So, is WUSA colluding with DirecTV to prevent those of us in Washington from ever watching a good AFC game? I am so incredibly sick and tired of getting stuck with the g**d**** Ravens every single week while countless classic AFC matchups get national coverage that I can't watch.

Seriously, what would it take to make WUSA STOP selecting into Ravens games rather than the default national coverage? WUSA needs to realize that Baltimore has its own CBS affiliate! How about serving what has to be the large majority of your viewership that lives in Virginia, WUSA???

Argh, my frustration boils. Ninety-two percent of the country will be watching a classic matchup between the Jets and Dolphins. Those of us in WUSA's coverage area will get stuck with the other six percent of viewers trapped in Ravens hell.

D.C. is considered a secondary market by the NFL for the Ravens. WUSA has no control over it. If you're really looking for a long-term solution your only option right now D*'s Sunday Ticket (or hanging out a place that has it).

PS. The FCC comparision map for WPXW Ion 66 is pretty messed up. Even at the original 110 kW allotment in NW DC, why would the station lose all the viewers to to NE?

Because the much more powerful signals of WHUT-DT 33 and WDCA-DT 35 would stomp on its tiny signal in those areas.

- Trip

...Stations in our market with notable changes in the modeled coverage are WBAL 11, WMAR 2, WUTB 24 and WETA 26 (net coverage increase BTW), WFPT 62, WTTG 5. But some of us are of the opinion that the loss for the VHF stations moving to UHF is overstated because much of the modeled loss can be made up with high gain UHF antennas (provided terrain is not severely blocking the signal path)...


WUTB 24 is the one that stands out to me the most. They lose a lot of coverage to the south in Prince George's County. Won't really notice until next summer when WDCA shows a Nats game instead of Smackdown on a Friday night.

Hi all. I'm a complete newbie to this digital world, and my introductory experience this weekend has left me baffled. I bought a new Sony Bravia (old TV is 10 yrs old) and did an autoprogram. Everything worked fine--I was picking up great reception on digital and analog stations...until it hit 47.1 (WMDO), and then the picture started flashing on and off, the TV wouldn't take any commands (except power off) from the remote, it wouldn't go to any other channels, or anything. I spent an hour and a half on the phone w/ the Sony tech people, we re-booted the TV several times, etc. Nothing helped, and it actually got worse, so I couldn't even get the other stations any more--just the WMDO flashing on and off. I brought the TV back and got a new one....and the very first autoprogram froze up on WMDO. So now I'm back to my old TV, wondering what I'll do on Feb. 17.

I live on Capitol Hill in DC and get GREAT analog reception with rabbit ears (I'm on the top floor of the highest building in the neighborhood). Does anyone have ANY ideas what might be happening and how I can solve the problem? I really don't want to have to get cable when I live in a place with such good OTA reception.

Thanks for any help...I'm completely lost on this one.

WMDO still has a problem with their PSIP decoder. (Ever since they went digital ;3 or so months ago) I can't understand why they haven't addressed the problem yet????? On my tuners the channel number displayed rapidly changes from channel 1 to channel 47. There is nothing wrong with the tuner on your TV(s).

Do you watch any of the analog VHF channels now, or are you only viewing the digital ones?

Because the much more powerful signals of WHUT-DT 33 and WDCA-DT 35 would stomp on its tiny signal in those areas.

- Trip
Why would the 100 kW UHF 33 signal of WHUT-DT and 500 kW UHF 35 signal of WDCA-DT stomp that much on then alloted 110 kW UHF 34 for WPXW-DT? Not that much of a dB difference between them. Yes, WHUT-DT filed a maximization request to increase to 1000 kW post-transition and WDCA-DT for 950 kW, but of the three, only WPXW-DT has so far been granted it's maximization request for 1000 kW on UHF 34. Even the directional antenna pattern they have for WPXW-DT on it's original 110 kW allotment still don't account for the orange triangles marking loss of reception to the east and north. I think there was a messed up parameter entry in the computation for the WPXW-DT post-transition comparison map.

[QUOTE= There is nothing wrong with the tuner on your TV(s).[/QUOTE]

Except that I can't watch TV. I can't change off the WMDO channel, I can't program the TV to skip over it. The TV either sticks on WMDO, or it shuts itself down, then starts up again only to freeze on the same station again.

WMDO still has a problem with their PSIP decoder. (Ever since they went digital ;3 or so months ago) On my tuners the channel number displayed rapidly changes from channel 1 to channel 47. There is nothing wrong with the tuner on your TV(s).
Except for the firmware in the tuner in the Sony Bravia TV. A bad PSIP data field should not cause well written & tested tuner firmware to crash. Since people are getting WMDO-LD even with the bad channel # displayed, one solution may be to get a different brand TV or a (SD only) converter box to use with the Sony TV until WMDO-LD fixes their PSIP data. Has anyone contacted the station about the problem? Or contacted the FCC - which might get WMDO's attention?

My tuners detect WMDO-LD on VHF 8 from Sterling, but I have not been able to get a lock on the station with the upper VHF antenna in the attic. So I have not seen this bad PSIP problem myself.

Except that I can't watch TV. I can't change off the WMDO channel, I can't program the TV to skip over it. The TV either sticks on WMDO, or it shuts itself down, then starts up again only to freeze on the same station again.A UVSJ filter will solve the problem temporarily until WMDO gets it's act together.(You can borrow mine) It will work as long as you don't watch any analog VHF channels now. Someone else may have a better solution; but this will work.

Except that I can't watch TV. I can't change off the WMDO channel, I can't program the TV to skip over it. The TV either sticks on WMDO, or it shuts itself down, then starts up again only to freeze on the same station again.

Can you get into the menu? If you can, go in and erase that channel! There should be a way to do that in there someplace.

Good luck!

.

Can you get into the menu? If you can, go in and erase that channel! There should be a way to do that in there someplace.

Good luck!

.
tried that. once you get to that station on the menu, it tunes that station in, and then I'm back in la-la land where nothing works. I'm especially confused by the fact that the second Bravia never even went through the motions of letting me see other stations before it latched onto WMDO and freaked out. It hooked straight onto that station during the first auto-program run, and then I was stuck.

I'm thinking I like afigatt's suggestion of trying another brand, but if anyone has any other ideas, (thanks, Digital Rules, for the filter idea), I'm 'listening'. this has baffled everyone I know.

Why would the 100 kW UHF 33 signal of WHUT-DT and 500 kW UHF 35 signal of WDCA-DT stomp that much on then alloted 110 kW UHF 34 for WPXW-DT? Not that much of a dB difference between them. Yes, WHUT-DT filed a maximization request to increase to 1000 kW post-transition and WDCA-DT for 950 kW, but of the three, only WPXW-DT has so far been granted it's maximization request for 1000 kW on UHF 34. Even the directional antenna pattern they have for WPXW-DT on it's original 110 kW allotment still don't account for the orange triangles marking loss of reception to the east and north. I think there was a messed up parameter entry in the computation for the WPXW-DT post-transition comparison map.

The maps were created before the FCC approved the 1000 kW signal they now have approval for.

Because the pattern is directional. Very, very directional. In its weakest nulls (which were north and east), the power was 0.039 kW ERP. That's 39 watts. Compare to even just WHUT's 100 kW, that's more than 34 dB higher than what WPXW-DT would have done on that pattern.

A link to the pattern in question. (http://www.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/polarplot?temp=101238962&rotate=252&p0=1&p10=0.983&p20=0.939&p30=0.85&p40=0.745&p50=0.634&p60=0.521&p70=0.405&p80=0.296&p90=0.223&p100=0.165&p110=0.101&p120=0.049&p130=0.023&p140=0.019&p150=0.028&p160=0.045&p170=0.064&p180=0.077&p190=0.071&p200=0.051&p210=0.028&p220=0.017&p230=0.035&p240=0.08&p250=0.125&p260=0.168&p270=0.224&p280=0.305&p290=0.409&p300=0.525&p310=0.64&p320=0.75&p330=0.849&p340=0.932&p350=0.987)

- Trip

tried that. once you get to that station on the menu, it tunes that station in, and then I'm back in la-la land where nothing works. I'm especially confused by the fact that the second Bravia never even went through the motions of letting me see other stations before it latched onto WMDO and freaked out. It hooked straight onto that station during the first auto-program run, and then I was stuck.

I'm thinking I like afigatt's suggestion of trying another brand, but if anyone has any other ideas, (thanks, Digital Rules, for the filter idea), I'm 'listening'. this has baffled everyone I know.That's a great TV!! I wouldn't take it back yet. Once you do a scan with the VHF filter (WMDO is actually on VHF-8), you won't need to use the filter unless you do a re-scan. The re-scan shouldn't be necessary until 2-17-09. By then the problem should be fixed.

WMDO still has a problem with their PSIP decoder. (Ever since they went digital ;3 or so months ago) I can't understand why they haven't addressed the problem yet????? On my tuners the channel number displayed rapidly changes from channel 1 to channel 47. There is nothing wrong with the tuner on your TV(s).

Do you watch any of the analog VHF channels now, or are you only viewing the digital ones?

From their website (http://wfdc.entravision.com/p1253.html) - they don't have their Chief Engineer listed, but here's their General Manager's e-mail address: rguernica@entravision.com

Cheers -

That's a great TV!! I wouldn't take it back yet. Once you do a scan with the VHF filter (WMDO is actually on VHF-8), you won't need to use the filter unless you do a re-scan. The re-scan shouldn't be necessary until 2-17-09. By then the problem should be fixed.
I already took it back. I was pulling my hair out and starting to believe in evil spirits coming across the airwaves and taking over my TV (OK, maybe not, but it was really ticking me off!). Maybe I gave up too fast--didn't know this forum existed, for example--but what do you think the chances are that a different brand wouldn't have the same problem? I'm a gal who likes to have things work when I plug them in--not looking for a project...

LG should work since they are the parent company of Zenith; who makes the DTT-900 & 901 converter boxes that works fine with WMDO. Others her may have suggestions if you aren't interested in the LG brand.

The maps were created before the FCC approved the 1000 kW signal they now have approval for.

Because the pattern is directional. Very, very directional. In its weakest nulls (which were north and east), the power was 0.039 kW ERP. That's 39 watts. Compare to even just WHUT's 100 kW, that's more than 34 dB higher than what WPXW-DT would have done on that pattern.
I didn't realize or had forgotten that the antenna pattern that was originally specified for WPXW-DT post-transition was so extremely directional. No wonder WPXW 66 wanted to get the 1000 kW maximization using WUSA-DT's current antenna pattern.

I thought Arlington Comcast was adding Fox News/FX and some other channels to their HD lineup. Can anyone tell me if this is going to happen? If so when?

Thanks

Next Monday, Live with Regis and Kelly goes HD. I'm assuming if WJLA can carry Wheel and Jeopardy in HD, they can carry Live in HD as well?

(Do they air Oprah in HD?)

Thanks for the advice. You all are the first folks I've come across who had a clue about what the problem could be, let alone how to fix it. Thanks for nothing, Sony tech guy....

tried that. once you get to that station on the menu, it tunes that station in, and then I'm back in la-la land where nothing works.
Need to disconnect antenna while doing this so it cannot tune it.

Need to disconnect antenna while doing this so it cannot tune it.
did that, too. this one is a real stumper.

Ok, so it's not the tuning that sends the Sony out to lunch, but the bad data in the channel table itself. That means your only option is to keep that channel out of the table in the first place.

A workaround in DC prior to 2009-02-18 would be to keep the antenna disconnected until the auto scan passes channel 8, because all the digital channels are currently on UHF. But this will not work once channel 7 and 9 move back to VHF.

More generally, the way to get past PSIP problems is to avoid auto scans altogether and add channels manually. Most TVs and CECBs will add channels to the virtual channel table if you simply tune the RF channel of each desired channel, one by one. With some sets, there’s a menu option to do the same. This is, of course, a pain, and you may have to do a little research to find all the relevant RF channels, but it does work.

TVs and CECBs that do NOT let you add channels manually should definitely be avoided, however. PSIP problems will be a fact of life in the digital era, no matter what happens with WMDO. Anybody who thinks there will never be another PSIP issue after 2009-02-18 is dreaming.

afigatt is absolutely right, of course, that faulty PSIP data should NEVER crash a tuner. But there will always be the possibility of data idiosyncrasies that software engineers haven’t considered, so even if your tuner doesn’t crash today, you can never be sure it won’t crash tomorrow, unless you’ve written and verified the software yourself. The best you can do is insure that your TV or CECB allows manual tuning, to protect yourself against being put completely out of business by one station’s faulty data.

A workaround in DC prior to 2009-02-18 would be to keep the antenna disconnected until the auto scan passes channel 8, because all the digital channels are currently on UHF. But this will not work once channel 7 and 9 move back to VHF.

More generally, the way to get past PSIP problems is to avoid auto scans altogether and add channels manually.
A VHF and UHF combiner with the antenna connected to the UHF input should filter out the VHF signals. There is of course, WWPX-DT Ion 60 on VHF 12 out in Martinsburg, but that may not show up for an antenna in DC anyway. But that fix is only good until WJLA 7, WUSA 9, WBAL 11, WJZ 13 all switch their digital broadcasts to their upper VHF channels after midnight on February 17->18. WMDO-LD needs to fix their PSIP data, but maybe they don't know they have a problem.

As for manual tuning, not all ATSC tuners allow for this. The Zenith DTT901 converter box has a handy menu option to directly select the RF channel and show signal strength. But a 19" Samsung HDTV I have does not allow manual tuning at all from what I can find. OTOH, the older Samsung SIR-T451 ATSC STB does allow manual tuning if you enter a channel number that has not been assigned. There is no industry standard for this - and there should be (to provide for a manual tuning option).

Next Monday, Live with Regis and Kelly goes HD. I'm assuming if WJLA can carry Wheel and Jeopardy in HD, they can carry Live in HD as well?

(Do they air Oprah in HD?)

that would be am accurate assumption. :)

Here's an FCC page that has coverage maps that show coverage area gain/loss of each channel from the DTV transition: http://www.fcc.gov/dtv/markets/

Click on Baltimore or Washington to see the maps. It's also interesting to see the network maps, which show the gain or loss over the entire country.

Mark

Looks like WRC-4 and WTTG-5 are incurring a significant reduction in coverage.

I find it interesting that the maps show no coverage from the Balt. stations out to my area in western Prince William County in VA either now or after the transition. I've been receiving pretty much every Balt. station since I put up a roof mounted antenna 7 years ago. :D

RCN in D.C. has launched MLB Network in HD on channel 695 and SD on 391.

MLB Network (SD) added on Comcast in Baltimore City.

I understand that MLB Network is part of the digital package and not part of the sports package, so it doesn't cost extra.

But any word on if they will be in HD on Comcast? I see only SD so far and it is in the SD range of channels, not the HD in Howard County.

Hi, folks. Yesterday, I received delivery of a top-rated 1080p HDTV, a 40-inch Samsung, with 120 Hz refresh rate, that I had bought online due to reading very good reviews about this HDTV. I set up the digital, customizable captions on it using yellow text on a black background.

Unfortunately, I discovered a severe problem with WJLA's digital captions on channel 7.1.

Specifically, what I saw happen was the digital captions building up on the screen over time for two different pre-recorded prime-time programs and eventually cluttering up the entire screen. Old captions were staying at the top of the screen and moving up, while new ones were showing up on the bottom. I haven't seen this kind of captioning problem before with any other digital TV equipment.

WJLA's digital captions are also problematic for my 2006 Sharp HDTV, which can't decode them at all. Thus neither of my HDTVs are able to decode digital captions from WJLA even though they can decode digital captions from other stations. This tells me there is something unusual about how WJLA is transmitting its digital (CEA-708) captions for non-live, prime time programming on their digital channel.

(On the other hand, my Insignia converter box and my Panasonic DVD writer are both able to decode WJLA's digital captions, so there is a difference in how TV equipment from different manufacturers are processing the digital captions.)

I am really, really disappointed. I had certainly hoped that a brand new HDTV from Samsung, particularly a top-rated one reviewed by Consumer Reports, would not have any problem at all decoding captions. I think there's an interactive effect between what WJLA is doing, though, and how certain manufacturers are decoding captions. If the TV stations use signal processors and captioning equipment correctly, they should be eliminating such problems, though there may also be a problem with their captioning equipment being faulty. (WJLA uses an Evertz caption encoder.)

If any of you have a digital TV, could you let me know your own experience getting digital captions (the customizable kind) for the local ABC station, WJLA, on their digital channel, especially with non-live prime time programming? (If you change the color of the foreground, or the text, to yellow, and can then see yellow captions, then you'll know you've set up the digital captions correctly. Many people, however, have found it difficult to set up the customizable captions and don't realize they didn't do so correctly, particularly if they didn't change the text color. Default captions will still be black and white.)

Unfortunately, WJLA has not given me the courtesy of responding to my emails to them reporting recent captioning problems, so I do plan to file a complaint with the FCC if I don't get a response from WJLA by next Monday. I think it would be helpful to find out what other digital TV equipment has problems decoding digital captions from WJLA, so I'm asking for your help by letting me know if you have any problems seeing the digital Service1 or CS1 captions, not the analog, CC1 captions, on the digital channel from WJLA, especially for the pre-recorded prime time programs. (I'm not seeing a problem with live captioning, which uses a different captioning process, or with the Samsung's basic CEA-608 captioning.)

Let me know the brand and model number of the HDTV you're using as well as the date of manufacture or the date you bought it.

If you have an HDTV that you are using with an antenna but you're not sure how to program it to decode the digital, CS1 or Service1 captions even after following all the instructions in your HDTV's user manual (please do this first), feel free to email me privately at dmulvany@usa.net.

If this problem isn't fixed in time, I won't be able to watch any WJLA programs, like "Lost," with digital captions from this $1200 Samsung 40" HDTV after February 17th, and that will probably be true for other people in this area who have Samsung HDTVs and possibly HDTVs from certain other manufacturers as well. (I may have to end up returning the HDTV and eating the $57 shipping cost because there was no way I could know ahead of time about the Samsung's inability to decode the problematic digital captions from WJLA.)

If we can find out that there are even more DTV manufacturers involved than Samsung and Sharp which can't decode digital captions from WJLA, that might impress upon WJLA, Evertz and the FCC that they need to take more action to troubleshoot this problem.

Dana

If we can find out that there are even more DTV manufacturers involved than Samsung and Sharp which can't decode digital captions from WJLA, that might impress upon WJLA, Evertz and the FCC that they need to take more action to troubleshoot this problem.



With GMA on this morning, I have checked on two TV's, one off-air (Westinghouse [don't laugh]) and one with Fios (Sony), and I do not see any issues with setting preferences with colors and CC. Right now, I am looking at lime green letters on a purple background with a 50% transparency. No problems with either monitor.

I have also analyzed the bit stream and our captions are within the specs.

I will check at noon during the news to check the local side.

I just checked the 8:25 and the 8:55 transition from network to local news and back to network. There were no issues with either of my TV's with custom captions.

I will check at noon, but things look good on my end.

Dana,

So far this morning, I haven't seen any captioning problems on WJLA-DT. I'm using a 52" Sony Bravia, model #KDL-52V4100. I will check again during Prime Time and let you know if I notice anything then. I will also check my other television (26" Vizio) with a built-in ATSC tuner and my two CECB set-top boxes (Insignia & Magnavox) as well. You can chat with me directly on yahoo (screenname: steve_in_shadyside) if you notice it happening at a certain time and would like me to check any/all of my equipment.

Steve

Hi, folks. Yesterday, I received delivery of a top-rated 1080p HDTV, a 40-inch Samsung, with 120 Hz refresh rate, that I had bought online due to reading very good reviews about this HDTV. I set up the digital, customizable captions on it using yellow text on a black background.
Dana

I believe that samsung has released a firmware updates for the lcd TVs, might be worth searching for it to see if it would fix your problem.

Dana,
Sorry to learn of your problem, but I am glad to note that Robert has responded.
I tested my HP SL4282N HDTV, and find nothing unusual on the captions for Channel 7.1 at 10:15 AM. I did note that most of the commercials did not provide captions. My tv was purchased in September of 2008.

With GMA on this morning, I have checked on two TV's, one off-air (Westinghouse [don't laugh]) and one with Fios (Sony), and I do not see any issues with setting preferences with colors and CC. Right now, I am looking at lime green letters on a purple background with a 50% transparency. No problems with either monitor.
I have long observed odd behavior for the captions on WJLA-DT. The Sony DHG-HDD250 HD-DVR (which I use for OTA only) does not display any captions for WJLA-DT in the custom mode. I have had to switch to the embedded old caption data with white text & blocked out background to see CC for WJLA-DT ABC network programs. The Samsung SIR-T451 ATSC tuner will show the captions, but they don't get cleared properly. The captions stay there and move up the screen in a manner similar to what dmulvany describes.

My guess is that there is a bad parameter setting in the EIA-708 caption field. Perhaps a latency or how long to display the captions parameter. The firmware in the tuners act differently for invalid or unexpected values. When I first started watching digital broadcasts OTA, for one local station, I was seeing generally no captions, but sometime the captions would sometimes flash on the screens for a very short time. After I contacted the station, turns out the CC settings were set to display the captions for either zero time or some very short period, so the tuner would start to load the captions and then wipe them from the display. You should take a look at all the CC parameter settings.

I just checked the 8:25 and the 8:55 transition from network to local news and back to network. There were no issues with either of my TV's with custom captions.

I will check at noon, but things look good on my end.

Robert, thanks for checking, but you were only looking at live captioning, which isn't the problem. GMA is live. The problem I've been seeing is with digital captions from pre-recorded prime time programming, like "Lost" and "Ugly Betty," which I've never been able to see intact on my Sharp HDTV from WJLA-DT (though it decodes digital captions from other stations). Somehow, pre-recorded captioning is being transmitted differently from WJLA than the live captioning is.

afigatt confirms he's seen exactly the same problem with his Samsung equipment on WJLA-DT, and he's also seen no digital captions from WJLA on his Sony equipment (similar to the problem I have on my Sharp HDTV). So now there are three known and different brands of DTV equipment that can't decode the pre-recorded digital captions from WJLA: Samsung, Sharp and Sony, although they can decode captions from other stations. Again, please note that live captioning from news and sports games is fine, so it's important to check out the digital captions from non-live, pre-recorded, prime time programming. (Upconverted captions from syndicated programs may be treated differently from the pre-recorded prime time programs.)

Tonight, for example, "America's Funnies," "Grey's Anatomy" and "Private Practice" would be examples of prime-time, pre-recorded programming that are beamed by ABDC's satellite that I've never been able to watch on WJLA-DT with my Sharp HDTV. The football game is live and would use live captioning. My Sharp and Samsung HDTVs can get live digital captions fine from WJLA, so that's not the problem; it's only the pre-recorded captions that are being sent out incorrectly via either ABC or WJLA.

BTW, my Sharp HDTV cannot be forced to show only the analog-type captions on digital channels, although the Samsung can. (Conversely, the Samsung won't automatically display analog-style captions if no CEA-708 captions are being sent.) Thus I've never been able to see intact captions on WJLA-DT on my Sharp HDTV. The TV manufacturers are different in how they handle decoding CEA-608 or CEA-708 captions, and a spokesperson from the National Association of Broadcasters has stated that HDTVs are not required to decode CEA-608 captions. Both types of captions need to be sent out intact so that all HDTVs will be able to decode either CEA-608 or CEA-708 captions on the digital channel.

Dana

Dana,

So far this morning, I haven't seen any captioning problems on WJLA-DT. I'm using a 52" Sony Bravia, model #KDL-52V4100. I will check again during Prime Time and let you know if I notice anything then. I will also check my other television (26" Vizio) with a built-in ATSC tuner and my two CECB set-top boxes (Insignia & Magnavox) as well. You can chat with me directly on yahoo (screenname: steve_in_shadyside) if you notice it happening at a certain time and would like me to check any/all of my equipment.

Steve

Thanks very much, Steve! Since afigatt reported that he has seen digital captioning problems from WJLA-DT on his Sony DHG-HDD250 HD-DVR, it may be more likely for you to see a problem with digital captions from WJLA-DT on non-live, pre-recorded programs tonight with your own Sony (like "Grey's Anatomy" and "Private Practice."). In his case, the digital CEA-708 captions (aka Service1, CS1 or advanced closed captions) don't show up at all, similar to the problem I experience with my Sharp HDTV.

It'll also be interesting to hear how your Vizio HDTV does. I have an Insignia converter box but not a Magnavox converter box, so it would be interesting to see if your Magnavox can decode the digital captioning consistently.

My Insignia box, made by LG, often has been able to show the digital captions from WJLA-DT but sometimes there have been problems and I've had to use the analog captions instead.

I think it would be helpful to watch the digital captions for at least ten minutes or so. Sometimes the digital captions will be fine at first but then every other phrase will be dropped and then all the captioning drops out altogether.

I'll add your Yahoo screen name; mine is dmulvany. I have a lot of other IM addresses and I'm also on Facebook (use dmulvany@usa.net to find me) so if anyone else here would like to connect with me via chat or email or Facebook, please feel free to contact me---just let me know you're following up on the WJLA-DT digital captioning problems.

Again, thanks very much! It's been quite frustrating never being able to watch "Ugly Betty" or "Lost" in high definition on my Sharp HDTV---for more than the two years I've had the TV. I really appreciate everyone's help trying to figure out what's going on.

Dana

A VHF and UHF combiner with the antenna connected to the UHF input should filter out the VHF signals. There is of course, WWPX-DT Ion 60 on VHF 12 out in Martinsburg, but that may not show up for an antenna in DC anyway. But that fix is only good until WJLA 7, WUSA 9, WBAL 11, WJZ 13 all switch their digital broadcasts to their upper VHF channels after midnight on February 17->18. WMDO-LD needs to fix their PSIP data, but maybe they don't know they have a problem...

WMDO-8 will be about 15 dB weaker than WUSA-9 and about 20dB wealker than WJLA-7 at most reception locations, so one Mickey Mouse autoprogram remedy would be to use a couple of $3 UVSJ band separators and simply pad down the VHF side until the receiver sees 7 and 9 but doesn't see 8. Unfortunately for those DC metro residents who want to get Baltimore WBAL-11 and WJZ-13, they might not be able to sustain adeqate signal strength for those two channels to enable them to be detected.

It'll also be interesting to hear how your Vizio HDTV does. I have an Insignia converter box but not a Magnavox converter box, so it would be interesting to see if your Magnavox can decode the digital captioning consistently.

My Insignia box, made by LG, often has been able to show the digital captions from WJLA-DT but sometimes there have been problems and I've had to use the analog captions instead.

Dana

My 52" Sony Bravia shows no captioning at all on 7.1 during Grey's Anatomy. However, I do see captions on 2.1 and 7.0 (analog).

In addition, both CECBs that I own, an Insignia and a Magnavox, show captions just fine on 7.1 right now. All 3 of these tuners are receiving the signals over-the-air.

It seems that a cheap converter box does a better job than a $2500 tv. This really doesn't surprise me. This tv has other issues too. It doesn't handle HDMI from computers very well and the TVGOS system is totally worthless when receiving signals over-the-air. It does have an awesome HD picture though. Nothing is perfect. I'm just glad that I didn't own a 30 GB Zune.

Thanks,

Steve

I can't believe the FCC has allowed WMDO-8 to ignore this problem for so long. Could it be that so few people can actually receive them?

It's ashamed that this has caused lizh so much trouble!!

The station management doesn't seem to be too concerned.:confused:

I can't believe the FCC has allowed WMDO-8 to ignore this problem for so long. Could it be that so few people can actually receive them?

It's ashamed that this has caused lizh so much trouble!!

The station management doesn't seem to be too concerned.:confused:

I can see that there's a digital signal on 8, but it's too weak to decode where I live.

My 52" Sony Bravia shows no captioning at all on 7.1 during Grey's Anatomy. However, I do see captions on 2.1 and 7.0 (analog).

In addition, both CECBs that I own, an Insignia and a Magnavox, show captions just fine on 7.1 right now. All 3 of these tuners are receiving the signals over-the-air.

It seems that a cheap converter box does a better job than a $2500 tv.

I continued not to be able to see any captions at all on my Sharp HDTV for all three of the pre-recorded prime time programs on WJLA-DT---even though I could see captions for some of the commercials.

On this thread alone, we have seen that there are at least three different brands of DTV equipment that all have trouble decoding WJLA-DT's digital captions although they can decode digital captions from other channels: Samsung, Sony and Sharp. There may be others as well. (LG, Magnavox and Panasonic DTV equipment might not have these problems, however.)

I think there's clearly something that WJLA needs to change about the way it's sending out the digital captions for pre-recorded, prime-time programs so it's not causing problems for the DTV equipment from the first three and possibly other manufacturers. The DTV equipment can decode digital captions just fine from other stations, so there's something abnormal about how WJLA is sending out its digital captions that might be very easy to fix and which could eliminate the current captioning problems for the thousands of owners who have DTV equipment from these manufacturers.

Dana

I can't believe the FCC has allowed WMDO-8 to ignore this problem for so long. Could it be that so few people can actually receive them?

It's ashamed that this has caused lizh so much trouble!!

The station management doesn't seem to be too concerned.:confused:

I think the FCC generally relies on people to file complaints before it will act. Someone would actually need to file a written complaint with the station and then with the FCC if there isn't a satisfactory response. Quite possibly nobody has ever filed a complaint with the FCC. Their web site is at www.fcc.gov.

FWIW, the 40" Samsung I just got doesn't allow me to manually add channels either. It's not letting me see some channels (54.1 and the subchannels of 66) that I can get elsewhere within my house. Ironically, I might have to hook up a cheap converter box in order to see those programs on my expensive HDTV (if I decide to keep it).

Dana

I hadn't been following this thread recently. Is the channel 8 WMDO problem reported recently here believed to be widespread? I haven't had any of my customers complain to me about it

I hadn't been following this thread recently. Is the channel 8 WMDO problem reported recently here believed to be widespread? I haven't had any of my customers complain to me about itTheir PSIP is malfunctioning. Evidently it causes serious issues with some tuners. I will hook my Channel Master CECB back up & try it. I believe it had issues also. The Zenith units just exhibit a rapidly changing virtual channel number (1-47-1-47-1 . . . .) which prevents the channel from locking in the favorites memory. Manual channel entry is the only option.

Some FCC broadcast ma;s of our area (analog vs digital).

http://www.fcc.gov/dtv/markets/maps_report1/Washington_DC.pdf

http://www.fcc.gov/dtv/markets/maps_report2/Washington_DC.pdf

Has anyone else noticed a slight voice-sync issue with WBFF over E*? I receive WBFF both OTA and with E* and have noticed a very slight sync issue. I seems like the audio is off by about .5 seconds to me.

WWPX again, didn't have the 700 Club on 60.1 this morning. I had to watch it on 60. They had another infomercial running during the time slot. About 10-15 min into the 700 Club, I did notice that there was a quick switchover to the Infomercial (then back), on 60.

WWPX again, didn't have the 700 Club on 60.1 this morning. I had to watch it on 60. They had another infomercial running during the time slot. About 10-15 min into the 700 Club, I did notice that there was a quick switchover to the Infomercial (then back), on 60.Does WWPX do any HD? The 700 Club is in HD here in the Virginia Beach/Norfolk market...

Wasn't Weather Plus supposed to have ended at New Years? I haven't checked, and I don't have OTA here at work? What happened to NBC4 and 11's sub-channels?

Wasn't Weather Plus supposed to have ended at New Years? I haven't checked, and I don't have OTA here at work? What happened to NBC4 and 11's sub-channels?

It still on Comcast cable. Also over the air it is on WRC and WBAL, except it does not appear to be national just local weather.

Does WWPX do any HD? The 700 Club is in HD here in the Virginia Beach/Norfolk market...
Cuurently WWPX iON; 60-1 Infomercial is 480i, 60-2 Lambchops is 480i, 60-3 Girls Gone Fishing is 480i, and 60-4 Worship is 480i.

Does WWPX do any HD? The 700 Club is in HD here in the Virginia Beach/Norfolk market...
WWPX-DT 60 (12) and WPXW-DT 66 (43, post 34) are Ion network stations and currently SD sub-channels only. Ion is supposed to go 720p HD sometime in the 1st quarter of 09. Whether they will show 700 Club in HD and what Ion will do with the informercials that fill up much of their daily programming is anybody's guess.

Does WWPX do any HD? The 700 Club is in HD here in the Virginia Beach/Norfolk market...We do get THE 700 CLUB in HD on WBFF 45.1 from Baltimore.

Wasn't Weather Plus supposed to have ended at New Years? I haven't checked, and I don't have OTA here at work? What happened to NBC4 and 11's sub-channels?

Both are still airing weather, using a local feed I'd guess with the recycled WeatherPlus equipment.

- Trip

Folks, I need your help.

I am about to move from Oakton, VA to Centreville, VA. That means I will have to give up FiOS ( I think) and get Cox or a satellite service. I will be living in the area close to where 29 goes over 28 (north east of that ZIP code 20120).

I need suggestions as which service is the best, quality wise. Is Cox better than what I used to have long time ago ? (I have had FiOS for almost 2 years now).

What about internet?

Your help and input are much appreciated.

I think, if I ever move, the availabilty of FIOS will be my number one priority.

I am about to move from Oakton, VA to Centreville, VA. That means I will have to give up FiOS ( I think) and get Cox or a satellite service. I will be living in the area close to where 29 goes over 28 (north east of that ZIP code 20120).
Did you check the address for Fios availability? The dslreports Fios location map shows homes around Rt. 29 & 28 intersection with Fios service (http://www.dslreports.com/gmaps/fios). If Fios is not available at the place you are moving to, it may not be far off from becoming available.

The map shows the areas where Verizon has not rolled out Fios - west of Centreville, Manassas, big hole for DC. Those poor deprived people.

I just got home and turned on the tv and I'm fairly sure the news guy on WBAL stated that they will be on their new set in HD tomorrow. Just thought I'd share.

Steve

HD Set and HD Broadcast can be two different things. But we will see.

I think, if I ever move, the availabilty of FIOS will be my number one priority.

Well, I would too, but not when you are buying a house. I love my services with FiOS but I could not turn down the offer because of it.

Did you check the address for Fios availability? The dslreports Fios location map shows homes around Rt. 29 & 28 intersection with Fios service (http://www.dslreports.com/gmaps/fios). If Fios is not available at the place you are moving to, it may not be far off from becoming available.

The map shows the areas where Verizon has not rolled out Fios - west of Centreville, Manassas, big hole for DC. Those poor deprived people.

Actually I did check that and saw that some people had it. I don't know if it is something with the FiOS database that can't qualify my address or something else.

I will try couple more times before I finally commit myself to other services.

Cox offers 15 Mbps internet (not sure if I will get all of that) but the HD selection doesn't come close.

I don't think Cox has gone fiber optic here in NoVA yet, has it? I know it did in Hampton Roads.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

Actually I did check that and saw that some people had it. I don't know if it is something with the FiOS database that can't qualify my address or something else.

I will try couple more times before I finally commit myself to other services.
If it is a fairly new house, there may be errors or gaps in the Verizon database. If you are at the house, you could look for ONTs at the service areas on the back of houses in the immediate area and/or the buried Fios distribution boxes in the neighborhood. If you are buying through a realtor, the realtor should be able to find out what services are available for the house.

Well, I would too, but not when you are buying a house. I love my services with FiOS but I could not turn down the offer because of it.

Buying a house would be the main reason for me to have FIOS at the top of my priority list. No different than some of people I know with children put the school in the area as the top priority when they looked for a house. But I have no desire to deal with a house so I'll just stick with my condo. Just dealing with my girlfriends house is more than enough for me. Although she has FIOS in her area but I still haven't been able to convince her to get it yet. Her 768kbs DSL and OTA only TV is almost torture sometimes.

Upcoming MASN HD availability has been posted for various areas and providers.

http://masnsports.com/images/channel_lineup_2008.gif

http://masnsports.com/2007/09/find-masn.html

Upcoming MASN HD availability has been posted for various areas and providers.

http://masnsports.com/2007/09/find-masn.html

You do know it is from Sep 2007, right?

You do know it is from Sep 2007, right?

The chart has been updated since then. Comcast had been using Mojo for HD games, which was channel 226 in many areas. Now the channel number is 247, which is currently HD On Demand.

I'm still at a loss that Dish doesn't have MASN HD. I mean MASN-HD is only a part time channel, and Dish only carried RSNs in HD on a part time basis. I would have thought that they would have been on the same page and signed a deal easily. I mean Dish does have MASN SD, so its not like they can't agree on anything.

I've added the MLB-HD information to the Wash/Balt HDTV spreadsheet in my signature. Any other updates?

-SUO

Anyone else getting little static clicks/pops on 211 watching the NFL game? GD it's annoying. None of the other stations are doing it.

Anyone else getting little static clicks/pops on 211 watching the NFL game? GD it's annoying. None of the other stations are doing it.

I haven't noticed it.

I just got home and turned on the tv and I'm fairly sure the news guy on WBAL stated that they will be on their new set in HD tomorrow. Just thought I'd share.

Steve

Steve: Heres the link: http://www.wbaltv.com/news/18205112/detail.html they have been airing promos for it.

Just saw an HD advertisement on WBAL-DT that announced that the 11 news is now in HD. I guess we'll get to see how it looks after the football game tonight.

Steve

Anyone else getting little static clicks/pops on 211 watching the NFL game? GD it's annoying. None of the other stations are doing it.

yeah it was irritating as hell. I had just setup a new TV and thought the speaker was busted. I'm visiting maryland for a few weeks from lexington, ky and I'm not impressed with the NBC feed here in the least.

watching both games today on a 60" Mitsu OTA there are the annoying pops, and the PQ isn't great compared to what I'm used to.

also noticed that the audio level on the local CBS 13-1 I think was really loud compared to the rest of the stations.

Just saw an HD advertisement on WBAL-DT that announced that the 11 news is now in HD. I guess we'll get to see how it looks after the football game tonight.

Steve

Hopefully this means they won't downsize the picture whenever there is a weather or urgent news bulletin. And anyone else notice that the 11 bug keeps being placed in the wrong spot?

I like the WBAL HD set. Not too cluttered/busy at all. It's certainly not as teched up as WBFF's, but I for one really appreciate WBAL finally making the leap.

>> The bug ... 4:3 safe ... oh well
>> The graphics seem properly set up for overscanning sets like mine. Maybe a bit too much, but we'll see Monday morning when the ticker is going.

WBAL, if you're watching .... APPROVE.

http://mysite.verizon.net/~vze4gzbj/wbal.png

I'm still at a loss that Dish doesn't have MASN HD. I mean MASN-HD is only a part time channel, and Dish only carried RSNs in HD on a part time basis. I would have thought that they would have been on the same page and signed a deal easily. I mean Dish does have MASN SD, so its not like they can't agree on anything.
There is no MASN-HD at this point in time. MASN-HD was a part time feed that was only live for 80 Os and Nats games during the last MLB season. MASN-HD won't start as a full time HD channel until March. Hopefully Verizon and Dish will add MASN-HD at the launch, not months later.

Now they just need to upgrade to 5.1 sound.

http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/4783/vlcsnap12765885ax1.png

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/6222/vlcsnap12766030md3.png

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/7501/vlcsnap12763716pw1.png

Now they just need to upgrade to 5.1 sound.

http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/4783/vlcsnap12765885ax1.png

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/6222/vlcsnap12766030md3.png

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/7501/vlcsnap12763716pw1.png

Very good, I was going to do a screen grab but alas you beat me to it. Done very well, but does a news cast necessarilly need 5.1 surround sound? In my opinion the pillarboxing with the lower third there's too much blue on the screen.

I wonder when they will upgrade their portable units to HD.

Tom Tasselmeyer looked like he had botox, while Donna Hamilton looked great.

Woah. I was looking for WJZ news to go HD. Didn't expect it form WBAL first.

In addition to 5.1, WBAL needs to get syndicated shows in HD (Oprah, Ellen, Regis).

http://www.wbaltv.com/news/18205112/detail.html

Woah. I was looking for WJZ news to go HD. Didn't expect it form WBAL first.

In addition to 5.1, WBAL needs to get syndicated shows in HD (Oprah, Ellen, Regis).

http://www.wbaltv.com/news/18205112/detail.html
Well according to a previous Baltimore Sun article it was stated that WJZ was to go HD by the end of 2008 and WBAL by Spring 2009. That new control room looks has been installed for over two months, sometimes they have shot prerecorded news segments from there, so I guess it was just a matter of finishing up the studio or wiring or something, because about a week ago concerning winter weather one of the meteorologists was shown using a weather computer in the new studio.

As for the syndicated shows, I emailed the programming director specifically regarding that question.

Out of the four networks, WBAL and NBC in general is my favorite station.

They also need to stop dropping to SD to show the lottery numbers.

Between their lack of 5.1 and their history of stretching, WBAL has certainly not been one of my favorites.

They also need to stop dropping to SD to show the lottery numbers.

Between their lack of 5.1 and their history of stretching, WBAL has certainly not been one of my favorites.

I just meant news wise, and I have noticed they have stretched their syndicated showings. As for the lottery, during the playoff game they did a split screen which was full 16:9 showing both pictures, but the lottery drawing was still in 4:3 mode; its beyond me why they cant move one of their camera's to another location in the building.

11 Launches HD Local News, To End Analog Signal Early

- 1/4 - Channel 11/WBAL has become the second TVer in Baltimore and fourth TVer in the DC-Baltimore region to launch high-def local news. On 1/3, it also unveiled a new news set and graphics package. More at wbaltv.com. Baltimore's Channel 45/WBFF and DC's Channel 7/WJLA launched HD local news in 2008, with DC's Channel 9/WUSA running it several years. Also, we're told that Channel 11 says it's planning to discontinue its traditional analog TV broadcasts on 1/21, about four weeks before the national digital TV deadline of 2/17. WBAL is scheduled to move its current DTV signal from UHF channel 59 back to its longtime perch of VHF channel 11.....

http://dcrtv.com/

11 Launches HD Local News, To End Analog Signal Early

- 1/4 - Channel 11/WBAL has become the second TVer in Baltimore and fourth TVer in the DC-Baltimore region to launch high-def local news. On 1/3, it also unveiled a new news set and graphics package. More at wbaltv.com. Baltimore's Channel 45/WBFF and DC's Channel 7/WJLA launched HD local news in 2008, with DC's Channel 9/WUSA running it several years. Also, we're told that Channel 11 says it's planning to discontinue its traditional analog TV broadcasts on 1/21, about four weeks before the national digital TV deadline of 2/17. WBAL is scheduled to move its current DTV signal from UHF channel 59 back to its longtime perch of VHF channel 11.....

http://dcrtv.com/


They have aired commercials about the reduction of the analog signal strength, in order to complete the digital facility and increase broadcast coverage. If you looked at the FCC maps for WBAL they would loose a significant amount of viewers when switching to digital only broadcasting.

WBAL has began using an HD bug during telecasts. I wonder if this is a sign that they will soon begin HD newscasts.

http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/4473/vlcsnap276374yc4.png

Unfortunately, they are not using that bug for the news.

Finally, HD Doppler in HD!:D

From WJLA, 7.3:

As of 5:00 AM on January, 2009, Equity Media Holding Corp's contract to serve the Retro Television Network has Expired. EMHC attempted to coordinate a seamless transition, but despite repeated attempts to comunicate with Luken Communications representatives, it received no response. Please direct any questions regarding the RTN network, programming and delivery of services to:

Luken Holdings Inc.
735 Broad Street, Suite 1204
Chattanooga, TN 37402
423-756-1200

It has been reported at SatelliteGuys that the satellite linked RTN feeds have already been moved to another satellite, and that a few local TV stations that have some common ownership interest appear to be unaffected by this disruption, which was caused in part by a bankruptcy of one of the parties.

Too bad if it disappears locally. It has actually become my most watched TV channel.

The loss of RTN (and specifically Emergency! and Dragnet) will be deeply felt in this household.

I like the WBAL HD set. Not too cluttered/busy at all. It's certainly not as teched up as WBFF's, but I for one really appreciate WBAL finally making the leap.

>> The bug ... 4:3 safe ... oh well
>> The graphics seem properly set up for overscanning sets like mine. Maybe a bit too much, but we'll see Monday morning when the ticker is going.

WBAL, if you're watching .... APPROVE.

http://mysite.verizon.net/~vze4gzbj/wbal.png

EngadgetHD (http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/04/wbal-tv-switches-on-hd-news-in-baltimore-maryland/)used your image!

I sincerely doubt RTN is gone for good.

- Trip

man the nfl pregame today on fox 45-1 looks horrible. I just tuned in from CBS which looked fantastic.

Bummer about RTN, I'll miss my nightly Night Gallery recordings... It was one of my most watched channels, as I'm OTA only.

Has RTN come back up for you guys yet? I hear it's coming back up slowly, it's back in Detroit and Austin, but not here in Roanoke where WSET 13-2 (co-owned with WJLA) is still showing the red slide of death...

- Trip

Hi All-
This talk about RTN is intriguing me. I live in the Frederick, MD area, and use the Frederick Comcast cable. Just a few weeks back, I bought an HDTV, and in scanning the channels, was able to pick up some DTV channels that had previously been unavailable to my old (analog) TV set.

One of the channels that I've happened upon at times showed old shows--like Leave It To Beaver, or dramas I didn't even recognize. A few nights back I saw a Rockford Files...was that RTN? I think it was on one of Channel 7's sub-channels.

The tricky thing about it was that I never hung around long enough to see a network ID, and the Channel 7 subchannel showed their weather radar most of the day, it seemed. I think the RTN-like stuff only appeared at night; anyway, it struck me as being inconsistent.

I wish I knew when it was on, and what it was going to show (their website seems to be down). Seemed pretty cool. I'll keep a lookout for it.

WJLA's weather is on 7-2, RTN is on 7-3.

- Trip

WJLA's weather is on 7-2, RTN is on 7-3.
- Trip

Interesting...I'll have to look at it more closely. I have to admit, since getting this new TV, all the channels have been completely changed, so I'm still trying to learn the line-up.

Thanks!

Has RTN come back up for you guys yet? I hear it's coming back up slowly, it's back in Detroit and Austin, but not here in Roanoke where WSET 13-2 (co-owned with WJLA) is still showing the red slide of death...
As of 6:08 PM EST, WJLA-DT 7.3 is showing the red slide of hey, Luken Communications, where are you?

I just checked my lineup, and here in Frederick on Comcast, on my set (a Samsung LN40A630), Channel 7 shows up like this:

17-1 is "WJLA HD"
17-2 is "7 WX"
17-3 is "7 Local"

The odd thing, to me, is that the red screen of RTN is on 17-2, which the digital tuner says should be the Weather channel. And 17-3, called "local" by the tuner, is showing the weather radar. Huh!

As of 6:08 PM EST, WJLA-DT 7.3 is showing the red slide of hey, Luken Communications, where are you?


I don't think it comes right back in every market. As I understand it, there is one group of stations that continues to have the rights to carry the service and just has to change its reception means, whereas for most stations, probably including WJLA, some new contractual rights will have to be negotiated with someone.

7-3 has been my target channel since I found out about it. Bummer! :( I just moved my CM3020 to the 40' tower today, so that I could continue to work towards 7-3.

I still need to setup the rotor and thrust bearing with 10' center shaft. Then I can find my "Sweet Spot" and hopefully get a little more hieght. :)

I did acquire 5, 9, 20, 24, 54 solidly now. I'll be waiting to see what happens with WBAL, if they really do make the digital transition to 11, on the 21st. It'll give me an idea of what will happen to my reception of VHF-High stations.

The Raven's weekend sports show that is on after the 11pm news is in HD on WBAL.

It sure would be nice to see a local team in the Superbowl again.

The Raven's weekend sports show that is on after the 11pm news is in HD on WBAL.Meanwhile WRC unceremoniously bought out George Michael's contract last weekend and ended the Redskins Report/Full Court Press immediately following broadcast.

Ugh.

The midday lottery on WBAL was SD with red side bars. The evening lottery was in a small 4:3 window. The network program was in a separate 16:9 window. They were in front of a 16:9 background.

Any chance Comcast in MoCo will get FXHD for the Nip/Tuck and Damages premieres??????? Didn't think so :(

Sony Pictures Television (SPT) will announce it is making the syndicated comedy Seinfeld available to broadcast stations in high-definition for the first time. HD episodes of the long-running sitcom will be ready to air on stations beginning Jan. 26.

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6625774.html

Hopefully WUTB will show it in HD.

RTN is finally operational again here in the Roanoke area this morning, how about on WJLA?

- Trip

Regis wasn't in HD on WBAL. Briefly during the news cut ins or weather segments - there would be a 4:3 image of the 5 day forecast, A few studio shots were in SD, but with the HD lower third.

I noticed that the lower third on the HD feed during the morning news wasn't there on the SD feed.

Also they had a newscroll going over top of Today show graphics.

RTN is finally operational again here in the Roanoke area this morning, how about on WJLA?

- Trip

It is back on WJLA.

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6625774.html

Hopefully WUTB will show it in HD.
WTTG-DT Fox 5 has Seinfeld in the DC market and they have been showing syndicated shows in HD, so they should also be able to show Seinfeld in HD. However, Seinfeld in HD is cropped to 16:9 on TBS-HD (with a little from the original framing added on the side), how will that work for the SD converter boxes and SD cable channels? Center cut the cropped 16:9 (ouch) or set the AFD to letter box it? On second thought, that is one reason for delaying the syndication roll-out of Seinfeld in HD - wait until the digital transition is almost done so the AFD option is in place (in theory anyway).

Anyone else notice that WWPX-DT programming, on all four channels, is blank?

Regis and Kelly looked very "Washed Out" to me today, on 11-1. Am I the only one?

I'll be waiting to see what happens with WBAL, if they really do make the digital transition to 11, on the 21st. It'll give me an idea of what will happen to my reception of VHF-High stations.
If you are referring to the WBAL news posted at dcrtv.com, there is no indication that WBAL will be shutting down their analog early. There are no FCC filings I can find nor was there anything at the wbaltv.com website. The FCC requires 30 days of advance public notice for a early shutdown with a lot of announcements shown on the TV broadcast. I have not heard about any of that. WBAL however did state in their FCC submissions they will reduce their analog broadcast power ahead of time so they can shut down one of their VHF 11 transmitter cabinets and modify it for digital broadcast. I think dcrtv.com confused a scheduled analog power reduction by half on Jan 21 with an early shutdown and transition for WBAL-DT 11.

If you are referring to the WBAL news posted at dcrtv.com, there is no indication that WBAL will be shutting down their analog early. There are no FCC filings I can find nor was there anything at the wbaltv.com website. The FCC requires 30 days of advance public notice for a early shutdown with a lot of announcements shown on the TV broadcast. I have not heard about any of that. WBAL however did state in their FCC submissions they will reduce their analog broadcast power ahead of time so they can shut down one of their VHF 11 transmitter cabinets and modify it for digital broadcast. I think dcrtv.com confused a scheduled analog power reduction by half on Jan 21 with an early shutdown and transition for WBAL-DT 11.

They have been running a message with a screen crawl that their analog power will be reduced on 1/21 and some analog viewers may lose the signal. It suggests viewing the digital feed.

Has anyone noticed a power reduction on WRC-DT of late? In the last week or so, it has become a little unreliable for me.

I live in southern Carroll Co. and keep my outdoor antenna pointed toward DC most of the time to get the maximum number of channels. The other major DC stations are all rock solid for me.

WTTG-DT Fox 5 has Seinfeld in the DC market and they have been showing syndicated shows in HD, so they should also be able to show Seinfeld in HD. However, Seinfeld in HD is cropped to 16:9 on TBS-HD (with a little from the original framing added on the side), how will that work for the SD converter boxes and SD cable channels? Center cut the cropped 16:9 (ouch) or set the AFD to letter box it? On second thought, that is one reason for delaying the syndication roll-out of Seinfeld in HD - wait until the digital transition is almost done so the AFD option is in place (in theory anyway).

Well, that explains why Sony redid all the title cards for the HD presentation. They're in the 4:3 safe frame.

So yes, Sony appears perfectly fine with what is effectively a zoom job for 4:3 users after center cut crops the already cropped picture. And why wouldn't they be?

So does anyone have the schedule for the new RTN7? Looks like the current programming is completely different from the previous programming ( http://static.wjla.com/documents/rtn.pdf ).

Could this be the national schedule? http://cfc.whtm.com/external.cfm?p=rtn_schedule

The current RTN feed is temporary until Luken Communications gets their new equipment in Chattanooga all sorted out. The original schedule should be returning at some point in the near future.

- Trip

Oh Well! I've been able to slowly get the Baltimore digital stations reliably. WUTB is the weakest at the moment (2, 11, 13, 24, & 54 - no WBFF), but I wasn't able to get WMAR this morning.

While watching the news on 2, 11, & 13, I noticed that WBAL doesn't seem to be a clear as the others. I also noticed 13 has a much higher volume setting.

Regis wasn't in HD on WBAL.

Ellen and Oprah were also still in SD. (But at least they used that new, tiny, transparent bug.)

Oh Well! I've been able to slowly get the Baltimore digital stations reliably. WUTB is the weakest at the moment (2, 11, 13, 24, & 54 - no WBFF), but I wasn't able to get WMAR this morning.

While watching the news on 2, 11, & 13, I noticed that WBAL doesn't seem to be a clear as the others. I also noticed 13 has a much higher volume setting.

As a Comcast suscribe, I noticed on WBAL's HD feed has just been a bit grainy over the anchors picture, not the studio shots.

And earlier this morning I noticed that WBALs Lower third (containing weather and traffic information) on the HD feed was non existant on the SD feed, but they did have a partial lower third showing the story topic and persons names.

Looking at the 6pm news, it appears to be clearer (2 & 13 are still sharper). The volume on 11 is the lowest of 2, 11, & 13. Of the three, I like the WJZ set the best (bright & colorful), then WMAR, and lastly WBAL. WBAL comes across (to me) as being really sterile.

Anyone else notice that WWPX-DT programming, on all four channels, is blank?

As of 6:20 pm today, all four channels were present.

Jeopardy! in SD tonight. Did JLA show Regis and Kelly in HD this am?

Great, WBAL has added a Ravens bug next to their 11 bug.

WBAL needs to replace their "Harbor Cam" with a High-Def unit.

Will MPT EVER get consistent with their HD programming? Both WETA and MPT were showing the same program during primetime last night. It was listed as HD on the guide for both. WETA presented it widescreen in HD. What does MPT do? You can probably guess, it was fully windowboxed :mad: Even Motorweek, which they produce themselves in widescreen SD, is inconsistently presented. Sometimes it's proper widescreen, sometimes windowboxed.

I finally had a chance to see what would happen to my Sunkey SK-801ATSC, when it acquires two stations that are sending the same "Virtual Channel" number. They come up as 24-1 (WNPB-DT), 24-1 (WUTB-DT), 24-2 (WNPB-DT), 24-3 (WNPB-DT), 24-4 (WNPB-DT).

So it looks like there will be duplicate "Virtual Channel" numbers. What fun.

Regis & Kelly (4:3, where's 16:9?) are washedout again today, on WBAL-DT.

What's going on with WUTB-DT (720P)? I have a "Signal Strength" of 68%, but the picture starts "Blocking" when it gets a "Signal Quality" of less than 60%. "Siganl Quality," generally bounces between 13% and 80%, staying above 60% most of the time.

http://www.TVFool.com/ shows that I should be getting a level of -19.1dB (NM)/-109.9dBm (Power).

That brings up another issue. Why am I not receiving WBFF-DT at -15.2dB (NM)/-106.0dBm (Power)? I'm getting WBAL-DT solidly and it's at -16.5db (NM)/-107.3 dBM (Power).

There's a 24-4? What's on that? I received the W08EE-D signal on Friday and it only went up to 24-3...

- Trip

What's going on with WUTB-DT (720P)? I have a "Signal Strength" of 68%, but the picture starts "Blocking" when it gets a "Signal Quality" of less than 60%. "Siganl Quality," generally bounces between 13% and 80%, staying above 60% most of the time.

http://www.TVFool.com/ shows that I should be getting a level of -19.1dB (NM)/-109.9dBm (Power).

That brings up another issue. Why am I not receiving WBFF-DT at -15.2dB (NM)/-106.0dBm (Power)? I'm getting WBAL-DT solidly and it's at -16.5db (NM)/-107.3 dBM (Power).If you are using a high gain pre-amp, I am guessing intermodulation distortion from your strong locals. It's a delicate balancing act to get those weak fringe stations with those strong signals coming from Clear Spring, MD. Things should improve for you when the analogs go dark.

Oh Well! I've been able to slowly get the Baltimore digital stations reliably. WUTB is the weakest at the moment (2, 11, 13, 24, & 54 - no WBFF), but I wasn't able to get WMAR this morning.

While watching the news on 2, 11, & 13, I noticed that WBAL doesn't seem to be a clear as the others. I also noticed 13 has a much higher volume setting.

I've been complaining about WJZ's loud volume setting for years. Its for all programming, network and local. WUSA is too low in comparison.

Hi all -

As of about 1:30 this afternoon, WBFF started broadcasting on 45.2 with a slate for ThisBaltimore. On Jan 12, we will be putting on ThisTV (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_TV), which will have movies and shows from MGM.

We don't have any program guide info for it yet, and I haven't found a web page for it yet, but here's a link for page that has the schedule: http://titantvguide.titantv.com/apg/basic.aspx?siteid=52545 (scroll to the bottom of the page)

_

Excellent!!

There's a 24-4? What's on that?
My mistake. It only has three channels.

If you are using a high gain pre-amp, I am guessing intermodulation distortion from your strong locals. It's a delicate balancing act to get those weak fringe stations with those strong signals coming from Clear Spring, MD. Things should improve for you when the analogs go dark.
I have a 40' tower with a Channel Master CM3020 Deep Fringe antenna (http://www.starkelectronic.com/cm3020.htm) and a 0265DSB pre-amp (http://www.summitsource.com/channel-master-0265dsb-spartan-3-mastmounted-tv-preamplifier-0265dsb-television-aerial-16-db-vhf-and-23-db-uhf-gain-antenna-signal-amp-booster-with-switchable-fm-trap-300-input-75-ohm-output-part-0265dsb-p-5720.html) (FM Trap active), that feeds a TrunkLine 20-TDA25 25dB UHF/VHF/FM DA (FM Trap active). This feeds a 6dB In-line attenuator, in front of a 2-way splitter, that feeds two other 2-way splitters.

I still have to tweak the antenna height. I've also been debating about replacing the TrunkLine with a CM3410 (http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=CM3410).

NOTE: Had to remove the DA from the system to eliminate the dropouts on WNUV-DT.

Does anyone know if NBC changed their broadcast power today?

My mother in law lives in Annapolis and could previously receive both WBAL and WWRC both analog (11 & 4) and digital (11-1, 4-1, etc.).

But as of this afternoon all those channels seem to be barely coming in. In the case of the digital stations, not coming in at all.

The rest of her reception (CBS, FOX, ABC) is unchanged, so I'm suspicious that NBC might be changing things around.

Any info is appreciated as we live out of the area so it's tough to get good info.

Quick additional note, this seemed to start occurring at 1:32 this afternoon as there was a show being recorded (Tivo) on 11-1 that suddenly cut out.

Thanks for any help.

I lost WBAL-DT completely sometime today and it's still not up. I had attributed it to the weather. I'm still getting WMAR-DT, WJZ-DT, WUTB-DT, & WNUV-DT.

I'm still experiencing the video stop/start (choppiness) issue on WNUV-DT, that I was getting when the antenna was at it's old mounting location. It only happens on Prime-Time programming that is 16:9 and HD (ie. Smallville, 90210, etc.). It doesn't matter which CECB I'm using. Has anyone else seen this?

No issues with WBAL 11.1 here in Arlington. (40 miles from TV Hill)

I lost WBAL-DT completely sometime today and it's still not up. I had attributed it to the weather. I'm still getting WMAR-DT, WJZ-DT, WUTB-DT, & WNUV-DT.

This seems to mirror my MIL's situation.

I know the weather is "bad" there at the moment, but seemed like an odd loss.

I'm still experiencing the video stop/start (choppiness) issue on WNUV-DT, that I was getting when the antenna was at it's old mounting location. It only happens on Prime-Time programming that is 16:9 and HD (ie. Smallville, 90210, etc.). It doesn't matter which CECB I'm using. Has anyone else seen this?


What's your location? Add it to your info.

Does anyone know if NBC changed their broadcast power today?

My mother in law lives in Annapolis and could previously receive both WBAL and WWRC both analog (11 & 4) and digital (11-1, 4-1, etc.).
But as of this afternoon all those channels seem to be barely coming in. In the case of the digital stations, not coming in at all.
NBC does not control the broadcast power of each of their stations. WBAL 11 is owned by Hearst-Argyle Television. WRC 4 in DC is NBC owned & operated. We have rainy weather today which can degrade marginal strength digital signals. It is possible that one of them is operating at reduced digital power because of transmitter problems or for adjustment work, but I would be surprised if both were.

I have been having trouble getting WBAL-DT 11 for the past several weeks. Dropouts to no picture at times. For me, WBAL-DT 11 has always been the most marginal of the Baltimore stations. UHF 59 does not propagate as well over hills as lower UHF or VHF. I have moved the antenna in the attic to get WBAL-DT back, but it is a tricky adjustment to not lose other distant stations off in other directions. I chalk the adjustment up to the changing seasonal weather. Reception issues should get easier once possible interfering analog signals are gone. But I don't know if I will be able to get WBAL-DT 11 reliably when it switches back to VHF 11 at a rather weak power. February 18 is going to be interesting.

NBC does not control the broadcast power of each of their stations. WBAL 11 is owned by Hearst-Argyle Television. WRC 4 in DC is NBC owned & operated. We have rainy weather today which can degrade marginal strength digital signals. It is possible that one of them is operating at reduced digital power because of transmitter problems or for adjustment work, but I would be surprised if both were.

I have been having trouble getting WBAL-DT 11 for the past several weeks. Dropouts to no picture at times. For me, WBAL-DT 11 has always been the most marginal of the Baltimore stations. UHF 59 does not propagate as well over hills as lower UHF or VHF. I have moved the antenna in the attic to get WBAL-DT back, but it is a tricky adjustment to not lose other distant stations off in other directions. I chalk the adjustment up to the changing seasonal weather. Reception issues should get easier once possible interfering analog signals are gone. But I don't know if I will be able to get WBAL-DT 11 reliably when it switches back to VHF 11 at a rather weak power. February 18 is going to be interesting.

I realize the NBCs are independently owned and operated, but I notice that down here (in NC) that NBC is dropping its analog strength for whatever reason. I was wondering if the NBC stations in DC area were doing something similar. To be honest 4-1 was always tough, but 11-1 was crystal clear, no problems, no stutters before today. She's located in Annapolis which is about 10 miles closer to Baltimore broadcast than DC, so I'm not surprised that they'd be better on the whole. The unfortunate part is that her antenna is an old roof antenna that's near to impossible to adjust (for her anyway).

I realize the NBCs are independently owned and operated, but I notice that down here (in NC) that NBC is dropping its analog strength for whatever reason.

If you're referring to WNCN, they're converting half their analog transmitter into a digital transmitter for use when they flash-cut back to channel 17 on the transition date. WBAL-11 analog will be cutting power for the same reason in a while. WRC is unaffected.

- Trip

It seems that WBAL has finally stopped doing their stretch-o-vision.:)

The weather today is having no effect on reception here. WBAL 11.1 comes in full strength, as always. The only constant problem Baltimore channel is WUTB 24.1.(occasional hiccups) It is much weaker than the measly 14kw signal from WMPB 67.1.

I realize the NBCs are independently owned and operated, but I notice that down here (in NC) that NBC is dropping its analog strength for whatever reason.

The point that trip is trying to make is that the networks have nothing to do with what happens at their affiliates (other than when the network's parent owns a station). ABC/CBS/NBC/FOX/CW have nothing to do with the station's everyday operation. The stations should be called by their call letters. If you don't know the call letters, then you can describe the station as "Big City's NBC affiliate" appears to be having power level problems. The stations are affiliates, even if owned by a network. If you know the station is owned and operated by a network parent, you can say, for example, NBC O&O, instead of NBC affiliate.

I see that you are new to the forum, so please keep in mind that I'm posting just to inform as to how stations are described. No offense intended. You are not the only person who describes stations this way.

Welcome to AVS, it can really be a fun place.

The point that trip is trying to make is that the networks have nothing to do with what happens at their affiliates (other than when the network's parent owns a station). ABC/CBS/NBC/FOX/CW have nothing to do with the station's everyday operation. The stations should be called by their call letters. If you don't know the call letters, then you can describe the station as "Big City's NBC affiliate" appears to be having power level problems. The stations are affiliates, even if owned by a network. If you know the station is owned and operated by a network parent, you can say, for example, NBC O&O, instead of NBC affiliate.

I see that you are new to the forum, so please keep in mind that I'm posting just to inform as to how stations are described. No offense intended. You are not the only person who describes stations this way.

Welcome to AVS, it can really be a fun place.

I understand the terminology issue. I relayed them as Washington & Baltimore NBC affiliates because in my line of work a lot of times you have to find the common denominator. In this case, both NBC affiliates were affected at the same time. Additionally, my local NBC (WNCN) happened to be running messages about lower power broadcasts, therefore I figured perhaps NBC was mandating that its affiliates all do this on a specific date. It was just a guess, as I'm in no way as connected to what's happening as the AVS vets are.

In any event, I guess we're out of luck since only one other person seems to report any WBAL problems. It still seems suspicious to me because prior to today the signal was up in the 80-90% range (as reported by a converter box), but it just proves that OTA is as unreliable now as it was in the 1970s. Was hoping to avoid having to swap to cable, but I guess that's the way it goes.

Additionally, my local NBC (WNCN) happened to be running messages about lower power broadcasts, therefore I figured perhaps NBC was mandating that its affiliates all do this on a specific date.

Others can verify this, but no station can reduce their power, or increase their power, without official permission from the FCC. If there is equipment failure that forces a reduction in power, that is fine, but I think the FCC has to be informed.

In any event, I guess we're out of luck since only one other person seems to report any WBAL problems. It still seems suspicious to me because prior to today the signal was up in the 80-90% range (as reported by a converter box), but it just proves that OTA is as unreliable now as it was in the 1970s. Was hoping to avoid having to swap to cable, but I guess that's the way it goes.

The only real way to prove a power reduction is with real RF detection equipment. There could be a number of factors to cause your reception to appear to be less than normal. Which does indeed indicate that DTV OTA reception isn't any better than analog OTA reception. Hell, it can be more problematic.

I wouldn't call going to cable to be any more reliable. The local reception thread is full of people complaining about cable problem this or cable problem that. There no perfect delivery method.

Others can verify this, but no station can reduce their power, or increase their power, without official permission from the FCC. If there is equipment failure that forces a reduction in power, that is fine, but I think the FCC has to be informed.


I suppose that's the case, but I'm not the FCC, I can only report what the station states in their crawl.


The only real way to prove a power reduction is with real RF detection equipment. There could be a number of factors to cause your reception to appear to be less than normal. Which does indeed indicate that DTV OTA reception isn't any better than analog OTA reception. Hell, it can be more problematic.

I wouldn't call going to cable to be any more reliable. The local reception thread is full of people complaining about cable problem this or cable problem that. There no perfect delivery method.

I do realize there are a lot of factors to reception, but going from best-signal she receives to completely out in the span of a minute is problematic, which is why I posted here in the first place as I was looking to see if it was a systematic problem.

As for cable, anecdotally, I can count on 1 hand the # of hours my cable has been out in the last 10 years. This isn't 100% obviously, but it's certainly better then the alternative. And even in those cases it's typically been digital cable or cable-card related, etc. I can't remember the last time analog cable was down, which in this case is all we'd be looking for.

I suppose that's the case, but I'm not the FCC, I can only report what the station states in their crawl.[quote]

I understand that. I was just adding that AFAIK it does require permission before it can happen, other than the mentioned technical difficulties (don't want that transmitter melting down trying to keep the power at max allowed power) :D

[quote]I do realize there are a lot of factors to reception, but going from best-signal she receives to completely out in the span of a minute is problematic, which is why I posted here in the first place as I was looking to see if it was a systematic problem.

Most definately worth asking. I'm not disputing that. It is an excellent troubleshooting clue. If others have the same issue, then it ain't you.

It was the calling the station NBC, that I just wanted to correct. There was absolutely nothing wrong with posting the query.

In most cases, the query is regarding signal quality. Someone posts that the CBS video of the basketball game is macroblocking. No, the CBS video is just fine as it is being fed to the station at 35-40 Mbps, it is the local CBS affiliate that is causing the macroblocking. That is the reason for the distinction.

As for cable, anecdotally, I can count on 1 hand the # of hours my cable has been out in the last 10 years. This isn't 100% obviously, but it's certainly better then the alternative. And even in those cases it's typically been digital cable or cable-card related, etc. I can't remember the last time analog cable was down, which in this case is all we'd be looking for.

Really, you don't want HD via cable? That is where the complaints with cable are. Not that it fails as a result of an outage, but problems with tuning channels, quality of said digital channels, etc. Up time doesn't appear to be a major complain in my area.

You have been posting to this thread about the signal level of the digital stations, so why would you resort to cable only to get analog? That confuses me?

I can't remember the last time analog cable was down, which in this case is all we'd be looking for.
I assume you know the days of analog cable are also numbered, like OTA. But unlike a mandate from the FCC with a hard date, it'll be the cable co's choice when it decides to pull the plug.

I understand the terminology issue. I relayed them as Washington & Baltimore NBC affiliates because in my line of work a lot of times you have to find the common denominator. In this case, both NBC affiliates were affected at the same time. Additionally, my local NBC (WNCN) happened to be running messages about lower power broadcasts, therefore I figured perhaps NBC was mandating that its affiliates all do this on a specific date. It was just a guess, as I'm in no way as connected to what's happening as the AVS vets are.

In any event, I guess we're out of luck since only one other person seems to report any WBAL problems. It still seems suspicious to me because prior to today the signal was up in the 80-90% range (as reported by a converter box), but it just proves that OTA is as unreliable now as it was in the 1970s. Was hoping to avoid having to swap to cable, but I guess that's the way it goes.

Have you looked at the Tropospheric Ducting Forecast?

http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo.html

conditions aren't favorable right now.

I suppose that's the case, but I'm not the FCC, I can only report what the station states in their crawl.



I do realize there are a lot of factors to reception, but going from best-signal she receives to completely out in the span of a minute is problematic, which is why I posted here in the first place as I was looking to see if it was a systematic problem.

As for cable, anecdotally, I can count on 1 hand the # of hours my cable has been out in the last 10 years. This isn't 100% obviously, but it's certainly better then the alternative. And even in those cases it's typically been digital cable or cable-card related, etc. I can't remember the last time analog cable was down, which in this case is all we'd be looking for.

Another option is to get a better antenna for OTA broadcasts. At my girlfriends that just involved getting a table top antenna with a built in amplifier for VHF and UHF where the amplification for each can be adjusted independently. It cost under $40. That solved any problems she had. Now she can reliably pick up everything in Baltimore and DC.
And since she has no desire to get cable, this was a very inexpensive solution that gave superb results. Coupled with the TiVoHD boxes, she is now all set for the switch to digital.

It seems that WBAL has finally stopped doing their stretch-o-vision.:)

Hooray! Hope it's permanent.

I've had no issues with reception of WBAL-DT in the last few days.

I'm still experiencing the video stop/start (choppiness) issue on WNUV-DT, that I was getting when the antenna was at it's old mounting location. It only happens on Prime-Time programming that is 16:9 and HD (ie. Smallville, 90210, etc.). It doesn't matter which CECB I'm using. Has anyone else seen this?

I've had one other complaint about the same problem. I haven't been able to find the problem that is causing the issue... Still looking, though.

_

As to why just analog cable ... she doesn't have an HD set. The convertor box and HD Tivo are just down converting to her SD TVs. If she were to get cable, she'd still have the benefits of a good signal.

We did try an indoor antenna when we were setting this up and reception was awful, couldn't pull in just about anything.

I'll check out the forecast site. Thanks.

Out of curiosity, can someone tell me what's likely to happen on Feb 18th? I'm under the impression that the digital broadcasts move from UHF to the VHF frequencies, but practically should we expect better signal reception when this takes place?

As to why just analog cable ... she doesn't have an HD set. The convertor box and HD Tivo are just down converting to her SD TVs. If she were to get cable, she'd still have the benefits of a good signal.

We did try an indoor antenna when we were setting this up and reception was awful, couldn't pull in just about anything.

I'll check out the forecast site. Thanks.

Out of curiosity, can someone tell me what's likely to happen on Feb 18th? I'm under the impression that the digital broadcasts move from UHF to the VHF frequencies, but practically should we expect better signal reception when this takes place?

At my girlfriends without the amplified tabletop antenna her reception was terrible too. But just that little bit of amplification allowed her to go from a getting a few unreliable channels to getting all the DC and Baltimore stations reliably.

The Antenna I got is http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8280843&st=antenna&lp=1&type=product&cp=2&id=1171058630563
It's not very big, and not ugly either. And can easily be hidden if need be.
It's only $33 at BB now although I got mine cheaper online. With BestBuy you can try it out and if it doesn't work you can return it for a refund.

Also I think only two DC stations are moving to VHF. the rest are staying on UHF. Not sure about Baltimore. Someone had a link to what each station was doing in each city, but I don't know it offhand.

Out of curiosity, can someone tell me what's likely to happen on Feb 18th? I'm under the impression that the digital broadcasts move from UHF to the VHF frequencies, but practically should we expect better signal reception when this takes place?
The four upper VHF stations in DC and Baltimore will move their digital channel from UHF to their analog VHF channels on February 18: WJLA-DT 7, WUSA-DT 9, WBAL-DT 11, and WJZ-DT 13. The other moves and power increases will all be on UHF. Two stations taking over vacated DT antennas are WMAR-DT 2 on UHF 52 to WJZ-DT's current UHF 38 antenna & 1000 kW ERP, WPXW-DT Ion 66 in Manassas on UHF 43 will move to DC and use WUSA-DT's current UHF 34 antenna & 1000 kW ERP. Other significant changes are WNVC-DT MHz 56 in Fairfax will return to the air on UHF 24 which might be picked up in Annapolis. WHAG-DT NBC 25 in Hagerstown will go full power on UHF 26, but that is out of range for Annapolis.

I posted a summary table on what the stations are doing here around the beginning of December. I should update it and repost it in a few days.

The word of the day for February 18 will be to do a channel rescan - probably multiple times until the dust settles.

You guys are great, thanks for the info on UHF/VHF changes on 2/18.

As for the antenna, that's very similar to one we got from Best Buy (also an RCA), but it picked up very little. It was amplified however, and that amplifier is currently inline on her rooftop antenna. It makes a big difference for the roof antenna as well.

Don't forget that WWPX-DT, in Martinsburg, is already on channel 12, operating at 23KW and looking to go to 30KW.

Don't forget that WWPX-DT, in Martinsburg, is already on channel 12, operating at 23KW and looking to go to 30KW.

Since it's a direct simulcast of WPXW-DT, there's no point in wasting any effort on it.

And I don't see an application to go to 30 kW. Where did you see that?

- Trip

I've had one other complaint about the same problem. I haven't been able to find the problem that is causing the issue... Still looking, though.
Is there any datastream information (Video/Audio/PCR PID's) that I can feedback to you? When are you going to implement "Set by Program" or "Auto Aspect" ratio? It would be nice to be able to have that feature on my CECB's to be worth something.

Since it's a direct simulcast of WPXW-DT, there's no point in wasting any effort on it.
I was just pointing out that there are other VHF stations in the Baltimore/D.C. DMA. You also have W08EE-D (WNPB-DT) in Martinsburg, which is already on 8, operating at 0.3KW
And I don't see an application to go to 30 kW. Where did you see that?
I can't remember at the moment and it's in my notes, so I'd assume I saw it in the FCC Database. I'll check.

You might be thinking of their rejected app several years ago to relocate their analog signal from channel 60 to channel 12. The FCC turned that one down quickly.

- Trip

That's what it was. :)

WWPX-TV is currently Off-Air.

I guess they're doing a lot of In-House transmitter work.

Is there any datastream information (Video/Audio/PCR PID's) that I can feedback to you? When are you going to implement "Set by Program" or "Auto Aspect" ratio? It would be nice to be able to have that feature on my CECB's to be worth something.

Anything you want to send would be useful, although I've looked at them here. More info is always better!

I'm still trying to come up with a way to do the auto-aspect ratio thing. THe problem is that everything that comes out of our servers, or goes through our master control is upconverted to 720p, so nothing that I put downstream sees a 4:3 aspect ratio - just a 16:9 with pillars. The metadata info isn't there yet, either...

_

For all of the fans of FX's Damages which starts tonight, I noticed on the HD OnDemand channel guide (Arlington/Alexandria) that it looks like they might put the show up there. I was hoping we would have FX HD by now since it's been listed on Comcast's cable lineup for close to 3 months, but alas nada. On the HD menu, it's under TV Series -> Damages (scroll down). Nothing is in there yet, but I'm hoping they put tonight's premiere up tomorrow. I can wait a day to watch it in HD. And it's past my bedtime anyway.

Comcast always promises long before it delivers, except for price increases. :)

I'm still trying to come up with a way to do the auto-aspect ratio thing. THe problem is that everything that comes out of our servers, or goes through our master control is upconverted to 720p, so nothing that I put downstream sees a 4:3 aspect ratio - just a 16:9 with pillars.
So, somewhere during the upconversion process, the system automatically inserts 16:9 pillars. I would think the upconverting equipment manufacturer could give an answer to this issue.

Why do you need upconversion anyway? Why not feed the 4:3 material straight to the transmitters?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_scaler
However, remember under no circumstances will an upscaling/upconverting DVD player provide "high-definition content", since video information can only be retained or lost in each successive conversion step, but not created. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_scaler)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspect_ratio_(image) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspect_ratio_%28image%29)
Both PAL and NTSC have provision for some data pulses contained within the video signal used to signal the aspect ratio (See ITU-R BT.1119-1 - Widescreen signaling for broadcasting). These pulses are detected by television sets that have widescreen displays and cause the television to automatically switch to 16:9 display mode. When 4:3 material is included (such as the aforementioned commercial), the television switches to a 4:3 display mode to correctly display the material. Where a video signal is transmitted via a European SCART connection, one of the status lines is used to signal 16:9 material as well. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspect_ratio_%28image%29)Widescreen Signaling (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widescreen_signaling) and Active Format Description (AFD) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_Format_Description)

Does the HD Primetime material go through this upconversion equipment also? Maybe this is where the freeze framing is coming from.

The current RTN feed is temporary until Luken Communications gets their new equipment in Chattanooga all sorted out. The original schedule should be returning at some point in the near future.
Wow, I can't figure out what the heck RTN is feeding into RTN7. Programming seems random, and doesn't even start/stop at the 30 minute breaks.

I was watching Magnum PI (started around maybe 8:35pm?) then at 8:59pm, it switched to A-Team credits. Then at 9:00pm the same Magnum PI episode re-started. Strange stuff going on there.

Is Night Gallery even on anymore? I can't seem to find it. Tivo seems to record McHale's Navy in its time slot (well, mostly in its timeslot).

-John

man the nfl pregame today on fox 45-1 looks horrible. I just tuned in from CBS which looked fantastic.

This was a quote from last Sunday but could have been from any NFL Sunday for the last several years. Once CBS started telecasting the NFL Today in HD, they left Fox's widescreen standard definition in the dust. Who knows when if ever Fox will switch their LA studio to HD. The amazing thing to me is that so few people post about it.

On a positive note, I tuned into WBAL's 11 o'clock news tonight and was very impressed with their presentation. I will only say that the news will not truly be in HD until the field reports are also in HD. It will be interesting to see who steps up first in that regard. But then, like the comparison between CBS and Fox, will the average viewer even notice?

So, somewhere during the upconversion process, the system automatically inserts 16:9 pillars. I would think the upconverting equipment manufacturer could give an answer to this issue.

Why do you need Upcoversion anyway? Why not feed the 4:3 material straight to the transmitters?

<edit>

Does the HD Primetime material go through this upconversion equipment also? Maybe this is where the freeze framing is coming from.

There are a number of pieces of equipment in the chain that will only allow 720p video to go through, so we have to have conversion equipment in line to make sure that it is in that format. Also, the video servers that we use only put out 720p - they have the converters built in. I agree that fewer conversions gives you a better end result, but once the material is in 720p, any converters further downstream just pass it through.

The primetime HD material does go through converters, but it's handled a little differently. The CW HD material comes in as 1080i, and is cross-converted to 720p. I would agree with you that this could be the problem, but 1: we get several other HD shows the same way (Stargate Atlantis, and American Chopper are two examples), and 2: the problem doesn't show up in master control or on my TV at home. I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the encoding process, but no problems are showing up on the test equipment that I have.

I'm still looking, though...

It's wierd the problems that only show up in literally one or two places... There's a man that calls me up pretty regularly who doesn't have any audio on local programming on WBFF, but it comes in fine during prime-time. As far as I've heard, he's the only one, and again, I can't find the problem that would cause that...

_

I haven't seen SGA or American Chopper, so I can't comment on what the material looks like here. What time periods are they on so that I can check?

I'll assume, for the moment, that this also applies to the "AFD" issue. :)

Wow, I can't figure out what the heck RTN is feeding into RTN7. Programming seems random, and doesn't even start/stop at the 30 minute breaks.

I was watching Magnum PI (started around maybe 8:35pm?) then at 8:59pm, it switched to A-Team credits. Then at 9:00pm the same Magnum PI episode re-started. Strange stuff going on there.

Is Night Gallery even on anymore? I can't seem to find it. Tivo seems to record McHale's Navy in its time slot (well, mostly in its timeslot).

-John


I understand that RTN-7 is "taking what's available" until Luken Communications can get all the regional feeds sorted out. It is hard to understand, though, why the shows start at random times.

I record "Ironside" for my wife and it's been starting anywhere from 10:05AM to 10:30AM. I'm now recording a 2 hour block each day to cover it. "Kojak", which wouldn't even normally be on RTN-7's schedule, started at 2:47 PM on Tuesday.

Hopefully, the uplinks get straightened out soon.

I notices that there was no program on WMPT-22.2 last evening, while Cyrano was running on 22.1 Is that something that is occasionally done to make more bandwidth available for the HD program?

Speaking of WMPT-DT [22/42], does anyone know what their transmitter upgrade plans are for (1) the Feb 19 transition, (2) thereafter? I had understood that they had either applied for or received permission to increase power levels....? Right now, I don't even get the slightest signal from them in NoVa.

I know this forum is supposed to be for HD but does anyone else have problems with the analog feed of WGN on cable. I have Comcast Prince George's County and its hooked straight into the TV. The picture is too dark. Of course, Comcast was clueless about the problem when I emailed them.

problem fixed. wonder what was wrong?

Speaking of WMPT-DT [22/42], does anyone know what their transmitter upgrade plans are for (1) the Feb 19 transition, (2) thereafter? I had understood that they had either applied for or received permission to increase power levels....? Right now, I don't even get the slightest signal from them in NoVa.
WMPT-DT 22 (42) filed a post-transition maximization power request to increase from the current 150 kW to 516 kW on UHF 42, but the FCC has not acted on this filing yet. So there should be no change in WMPT-DT reception on Feb. 18 (assuming no last minute delay) except perhaps the elimination of interference from WVPY-TV PBS 42 in Front Royal for those further west of DC.

However, more modest maximization filings have been granted for: 1) WFPT-DT 62 (28) in Frederick from the current 30 kW to 41.2 kW, 2) WMPB-DT 67 (29) in Baltimore from 14 kW to 42.6 kW. If you don't get WFPT-DT now, the increase to 42.6 kW won't help much. But I can get WMPB-DT 67 (with dropouts in poor weather) from Sterling if I place the CM 4221 right. Whenever WMPB-DT 67 increases to 42.6 kW, it might come in solid. Although getting it really doesn't matter as I get MPT OTA from WFPT-DT.

I don't get WMPT-DT 22 very often. My antenna is looking length-wise down a row of townhouses in that direction, so that is probably why. But I have wondered if the weak analog signal from WVPY-TV 42 in the other direction is a factor. One of the things it will be interesting to find out on February 18, provided Congress doesn't blink and delay the transition which is suddenly looking like a real possibility. Time to get off the pot and get this transition done, IMO.

I was wondering why I was getting MPT 67-x the other night. It was coming in almost as good as MPT 31-x.

WBAL-DT is back. :)

Every time WBAL seems to take a small step forward, they invariably take a larger one back. Going HD for news was a nice forward step. But now the big step back? The constant logos and graphics they are now pasting all over the prime time shows. Thank God I can pull in WRC 4 from DC. They might have an extra subchannel, but at least the picture isn't covered with unneeded graphics. And my rear speakers actually get used, as unlike WBAL, the provide 5.1 sound. Way to suck, WBAL!


http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/1158/vlcsnap195748rt8.png

I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the encoding process, but no problems are showing up on the test equipment that I have.

I'm still looking, though...
Here's some stats from tonight's Smallville (watched in 16:9), maybe it can help you find the problem:
Smallville had ~1 second intervals between freezing (happening on Supernatural now).

NOTE: Tyler Perry's House of Pain is also freezing (both episodes). I'm now seeing it on My Wife & Kids (in 4:3) and it doesn't matter if I set the CECB to 4:3 or 16:9.

2-1: 68/84, 11-1: 62/62, 13-1: 88/100, 24-1: 78/97, 31-1: 88/22, 54-1: 84/100, & 68-1: 98/100 (Rated in Signal Strength/Signal Quality).

Commercials|||
With Freezing|Format|Without Freezing|Format
Olive Garden|16:9|Smallville Promo|4:3
H&R Block||CW Promo|4:3
Snowmen||13 Promo|4:3
T-Mobile|16:9|Notorious Promo|4:3
Oreo Double Stuff|16:9|Select Harvest Light|4:3
Inkheart|16:9|Olay|4:3
Sprint|16:9|Reese's|4:3
Wal-Mart|4:3|Visine|4:3
TurboTax|4:3|KFC|4:3
Olive Garden|16:9|Gossip Girl Promo|4:3
||Dunkin' Donuts|4:3
||Abovetheinfluence.com|4:3
||Everybody Hates Chris Promo|4:3
||My Wife & Kids Promo|4:3
||Cochran Firm|4:3
||Invention Resource|4:3
||Rock-A-Mation Promo|16:9
||My Wife & Kids Promo|4:3
||Supernatural Promo|4:3
||Monistat|4:3
||Red Bull|4:3
||90210 Promo|4:3

anyone having issues with 45-1? in Columbia over QAM the game is almost unwatchable. Lots of stuttering and pixelization.

I know this forum is supposed to be for HD but does anyone else have problems with the analog feed of WGN on cable. I have Comcast Prince George's County and its hooked straight into the TV. The picture is too dark. Of course, Comcast was clueless about the problem when I emailed them.
My wife watches WGN(79) on Comcast basic cable, and the video is very dark at some times, and very good at other times. I assime the problem for Comcast is that they are capturing an OTA signal from a weak-signal station, and putting that signal on the cable without any real supervision. This is a free program, so complaints are likely to be ignored.

I've always had a poor picture on analog WGN, as well as a couple of the low-numbered analog channels. (Fortunately, I now have WGN in HD on Comcast.)

I've always had a poor picture on analog WGN, as well as a couple of the low-numbered analog channels. (Fortunately, I now have WGN in HD on Comcast.)

Must be nice. After being one of the first places in the area to get HD via Comcast, we seem to be the last in getting any new HD.

In the news yesterday, Obama is pushing for a delay in the digital TV switch:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123144336503065213.html

anyone having issues with 45-1? in Columbia over QAM the game is almost unwatchable. Lots of stuttering and pixelization.

Sorry - I didn't see this until now. Since you said QAM, and you're in Columbia, you're on Comcast, I'm assuming.

I didn't get any calls or e-mails last night or today about any problems (cable, or otherwise). Did it clear up?

_

In the news yesterday, Obama is pushing for a delay in the digital TV switch:
This last minute push for a transition delay is being discussed at http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1105820 and in the HOTP thread. If you had asked me a week ago, I would had said with no action taken by the last Congress in Nov/Dec, that Feb 17 was locked-in. With the recent statements from the powers that be, a delay is looking possible. But a delay would leave WNVC-DT MHz 56 and WHAG-DT NBC 25 along with other stations across the US twisting in the wind on firing up their full coverage digital broadcast.

Is it me or is WJZ-DT off by +1:00 on their Time Stamp?

Here is feedback for the 20:00 to 21:00 shows:

NOTE: There was a complete audio drop at about 20:48 for about 5-10 seconds.

Commercials|||
Bad|Format|Good|Format
Notorious|WS within 4:3|Dunkin' Donuts|4:3
Select Harvest Light|4:3|90210 Promo|4:3
Dove*|4:3|TP Promo|4:3
Dove*|4:3|The Game Promo|4:3
Ritz|16:9|Bonds Not Easily Broken|
Jackson-Hewitt*|4:3|KFC|4:3
McDonalds*|4:3|13 Promo|4:3
Sprint|16:9|Lactaid|4:3
H&R Block|4:3|Nationwide|4:3
Charmin*|4:3|Cochrin Firm|4:3
DTV2009.gov|4:3|Comcast|4:3
Gossip Girl*|4:3|One On One Promo|4:3
Weed (drug)|4:3|Campbell Select Harvest|4:3
AT&T - Dino|16:9|Notorious|WS within 4:3
Chevy - Traverse|16:9|90210 Promo|4:3


* Very little freezing

What on this Earth is going on at WMAR? I've had problems with this channel for so long, I'm getting close to deleting it.

Tonight, for example, a Media Center PC was pixelating/stuttering with audio issues. Of course at first I blamed myself, like always, but when I found absolutely nothing wrong I switched to the TV's internal tuner, hooked up to an antenna I designed specifically for Baltimore. Same problems. Signal strength/quality was 100% at all times, but Jeopardy/Wheel was just painful to watch tonight.

Is nobody else having regular problems with WMAR? From my house, they are the absolute worst channel in DC/Balt right now. Nothing but technical problems all around.

I don't mean to rant, really, but it's so frustrating to spend so much time looking at your own equipment just to find out that yet again the problem is at the source. I even hooked up TSReader to an ATSC tuner and it reported not a single solitary issue, I'm quite literally seeing what WMAR is transmitting.

I can't wait for 2/17, well, make that 3/17, let's give everyone a month to sort it all out. My homemade VHF antenna is primed and ready to go, bring on VHF WJLA and WUSA, I'm so sick of WMAR and WJA and their inability to get this stuff right. I can only prey that the D.C. VHF signals are powerful enough to get all the way up here reliably. Seem OK on analog, so I'm hopeful!

So, Seinfeld will start network syndication in HD on January 26. Will WTTG be carrying it in HD? (I'm guessing not in the near future.)

Will MPT EVER get consistent with their HD programming?

In a shining example of -- for lack of a better word -- inconsistency, last Tuesday hour one of "The Story of India" was shown in full screen HD; hour two in postage stamp.

WMAR-DT is very solid here without any issues. Granted WJZ-DT is the absolute best of all the Baltimore stations I currently receive. Reception may improve when WMAR-DT goes to 38 and increases their power.

My "Order of Station" reliability at 72 miles and 2-edge:
WJZ-DT | Channel 38* (1000 KW)
WMAR-DT | Channel 52* (602 KW)
WNUV-DT | Channel 40 (845 KW)
WBAL-DT | Channel 59* (513 KW)
WUTB-DT | Channel 41 (200 KW)*
*WBFF-DT | Channel 46 (550 KW)

* Don't Get
* Increasing Power (WUTB-DT may already be at full power)
* Changing Frequencies

What on this Earth is going on at WMAR? I've had problems with this channel for so long, I'm getting close to deleting it.

Tonight, for example, a Media Center PC was pixelating/stuttering with audio issues. Of course at first I blamed myself, like always, but when I found absolutely nothing wrong I switched to the TV's internal tuner, hooked up to an antenna I designed specifically for Baltimore. Same problems. Signal strength/quality was 100% at all times, but Jeopardy/Wheel was just painful to watch tonight.

Is nobody else having regular problems with WMAR? From my house, they are the absolute worst channel in DC/Balt right now. Nothing but technical problems all around.

I don't mean to rant, really, but it's so frustrating to spend so much time looking at your own equipment just to find out that yet again the problem is at the source. I even hooked up TSReader to an ATSC tuner and it reported not a single solitary issue, I'm quite literally seeing what WMAR is transmitting.

I can't wait for 2/17, well, make that 3/17, let's give everyone a month to sort it all out. My homemade VHF antenna is primed and ready to go, bring on VHF WJLA and WUSA, I'm so sick of WMAR and WJA and their inability to get this stuff right. I can only prey that the D.C. VHF signals are powerful enough to get all the way up here reliably. Seem OK on analog, so I'm hopeful!

I've been having problems with WMAR too. Lots of stuttering and break ups. I thought maybe it was my equipment, but I switched channels and didn't have a problem. I'm using Directv and live in Balto County.

Just saw on WNUV-DT, the ACC game between UMD & GT, that it is in 16:9, and I'm not getting any freeze-ups.

NOTE: Forgot to mention that "One on One" had video Stop/Start Freezing last night.

Just checked the channel lineup for Cox in Fairfax, and noticed the following HD channels will be added on 1/27:

Fox Business HD (Channel 755)
Cartoon HD (Channel 759)
WE HD (Channel 760)
IFC HD (Channel 761)
Comedy HD (Channel 762)
E! HD (Channel 764)
Biography HD (Channel 765)
MLB HD (Channel 766)

Very nice!

Tyler Perry's House of Payne has been available in HD syndication for months now. Why hasn't WDCA 20 aired it in HD yet? They show Everybody Loves Raymond in HD. WNUV CW Baltimore shows it in HD.

I thought all Wizards home games were supposed to be in HD. Why is CW50 showing Bobcats @ Wizards in SD?

WMAR-DT is very solid here without any issues. Granted WJZ-DT is the absolute best of all the Baltimore stations I currently receive. Reception may improve when WMAR-DT goes to 38 and increases their power.

My "Order of Station" reliability at 72 miles and 2-edge:
WJZ-DT | Channel 38* (1000 KW)
WMAR-DT | Channel 52* (602 KW)
WNUV-DT | Channel 40 (845 KW)
WBAL-DT | Channel 59* (513 KW)
WUTB-DT | Channel 41 (200 KW)*
*WBFF-DT | Channel 46 (550 KW)

* Don't Get
* Increasing Power (WUTB-DT may already be at full power)
* Changing Frequencies

Thanks for that little table. I've been scratching my head for a month wondering why I can pick WNUV-DT and WJZ-DT (and occasionally WBFF_DT), but I can't pick up WMAR, WBAL or WUTB. I've had my TVFool chart in front of me, but having spelled out in a chart did the trick. I'm using a DBGH which isn't really great for channel 51 or above.

Many thanks!
Craig

Where was this bug supposed to go?
I can see it in the 4x3 area, but why so high? Wha?
And why so dark? At least NBC's bug is lighter/dimmer/whatever.

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/6263/snapshot20090110235300yz8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

And when did WBAL start with the "ding" before the advisories/alerts? Ugh.

Every time WBAL seems to take a small step forward, they invariably take a larger one back. Going HD for news was a nice forward step. But now the big step back? The constant logos and graphics they are now pasting all over the prime time shows. Thank God I can pull in WRC 4 from DC. They might have an extra subchannel, but at least the picture isn't covered with unneeded graphics. And my rear speakers actually get used, as unlike WBAL, the provide 5.1 sound. Way to suck, WBAL!


http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/1158/vlcsnap195748rt8.png

Back in the mid 1990s, the NBC station in Raleigh used to plaster crap like that on the screen, self-promoting themselves. Link to contact the geniuses at WBAL:
http://www.wbaltv.com/station/index.html

Sorry - I didn't see this until now. Since you said QAM, and you're in Columbia, you're on Comcast, I'm assuming.

I didn't get any calls or e-mails last night or today about any problems (cable, or otherwise). Did it clear up?

_



Yes, Comcast. It did clear up. Playoffs were fine over the weekend. Thanks.

Why does MPT keep putting side bars on 16:9 programming? Are they trying to get large screens back down to 20"?

I have been curious what WETA is going to once they loose there analogue channel, since they are one of the few (only?) stations that broadcasts content on analogue that isn't rebroadcast on a digital channel, so I did a little googling and found the following

http://www.kued.org/uploads/pdfs/165-249_weta-dtvplan2008.pdf


WETA TELEVISION CHANNELS
Current
WETA TV 26
WETA HD
WETA Kids
WETA Create
WETA World

Post-Transition (TBD)
WETA TV
WETA HD
WETA Kids
WETA Create

So it looks like they are dropping world and moving the current WETA to a standard def subchannel and continuing their cop out of pulling the PBS HD feed rather than program their own HD channel.

Does anyone know if this is still accurate?

I also thought this was a little amusing since I didn't see it in person

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX0DCxTB-Fo
(the analogue shutoff test)

I sure hope that's not WETA's plan. If it is, that's pretty dull. Three kids shows on at once?

- Trip

Docisis 3.0 is now available on Comcast in Anne Arundel County MD, according to http://www.comcast.com/fastestfast/ (using my parents' zip code).

I have been curious what WETA is going to once they loose there analogue channel, since they are one of the few (only?) stations that broadcasts content on analogue that isn't rebroadcast on a digital channel, so I did a little googling and found the following

http://www.kued.org/uploads/pdfs/165-249_weta-dtvplan2008.pdf


WETA TELEVISION CHANNELS
Current
WETA TV 26
WETA HD
WETA Kids
WETA Create
WETA World

Post-Transition (TBD)
WETA TV
WETA HD
WETA Kids
WETA Create

So it looks like they are dropping world and moving the current WETA to a standard def subchannel and continuing their cop out of pulling the PBS HD feed rather than program their own HD channel.

Does anyone know if this is still accurate?

I also thought this was a little amusing since I didn't see it in person

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX0DCxTB-Fo
(the analogue shutoff test)

I'm pretty sure they're already doing that. 26.1 is WETA HD, .2 and .3 are WETA Kids and WETA Create, and 26.4 is WETA SD.

Docisis 3.0 is now available on Comcast in Anne Arundel County MD, according to http://www.comcast.com/fastestfast/ (using my parents' zip code).

Also in my area. In fact although I have a Docsis 2.0 cable modem my upload and download speeds have more than doubled, and I have the standard Comcast service.

http://www.speedtest.net/result/388810891.png

I'm pretty sure they're already doing that. 26.1 is WETA HD, .2 and .3 are WETA Kids and WETA Create, and 26.4 is WETA SD.

Yeah, I noticed that as well when I continued searching, but 26 and 26.4 don't quite match, for example eastenders is on 26 on a saturday morning and not on 26.4. The programming deviates from about Midnight till about 4pm. Very frustrating since 26 is the only analogue channel I am still forced to use.

WETA-DT is (and will be) transmiting on UHF channel 27. WHAG-DT needs UHF Channel 26 to be able to go full power.