OK, it turns out that I actually do know what I'm doing!

The answer is that WVTB doesn't have a splicer. Since they are an O and O (owned and operated by Fox), they get all of their programming from the Fox headend in New Jersey via optical fiber. They don't have a master control at their facility, and they don't put their local programming in there, as is the case with WUTB here in Baltimore. Since they don't have a splicer, anything that they put over the source from New Jersey locally, goes out on the air.

Since I do have a splicer, anything that I put ovet the video locally gets removed by the splicer when the Fox HD programming is going out. I still have to switch back to an SD program (i.e., splice to local), to put out an EAS or weather crawl/bug.

.

WVBT is owned by LIN...

- Trip

Here's the official PDF of all stations (http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-221A5.pdf).
Out of date. The FCC initially kicked back 106 stations on that list, but then allowed 53 of them to shut down analog. Of the remaining 53, some had to file a reason to be allowed to shut down, but most threw in the towel and agreed to keep their analog going. Hopefully the FCC will post a new complete list of all stations and their analog status tomorrow, so we can review it and generate an accurate list of whose analog will be off on Feb. 18 and which stations will running night-light analog for a time.

WVBT is owned by LIN...

- Trip

crap - bad info...?

crap - bad info...?No worries... Don't know their setup at WVBT but they don't have to take the picture to SD to show digital OTA customers crawls, station logos, etc no matter where the program is coming from...

They did KOTH VERY quietly. Looked alright.
Simpsons looked GREAT.

...and exactly where did you get this realization? :rolleyes: The amount bogus info bandied about during this transition is incredible.

OK, I feel like a moron, but I SWEAR I've read/heard that in several places. :o:o

In fact, I had the impression that you need a "special" antenna -- as in, nothing anyone already owns could possibly do the job -- in order to get digital broadcasts. With all the various home-grown bowtie approaches I've seen online, I pretty much assumed that I was just having really great luck with my old antenna.

(I've actually been an antenna moron for years. All through high school, I used an old magnetic whip-style CB antenna for my stereo tuner, despite people telling me that it wouldn't work. It did...)

@Digital Rules -- Thanks for the tips on the UVSJ and the HLSJ. I will give them a try.

In fact, I had the impression that you need a "special" antenna -- as in, nothing anyone already owns could possibly do the job -- in order to get digital broadcasts. With all the various home-grown bowtie approaches I've seen online, I pretty much assumed that I was just having really great luck with my old antenna.

The antenna is designed to funnel RF, in a certain frequency range, down the cable to the intended receiver. There is no such thing as a digital transmission. All RF transmissions are analog. What makes the old NTSC transmissions different from the ATSC transmissions is the modulation scheme. The scheme we are using, 8VSB, makes it appear that digital bits are being sent over the air. It is a complicated mess. It is the same thing for satellite transmissions. In the early days, the 36 MHz wide satellite transponder used FM to send out the video and audio (simplification because audio subcarriers existed). Today, the same 36 MHz wide transponders use QPSK (Quad Phase Shift Key) and 8PSK (8 Phase Shift Key) to send digital audio and video to the networks, which take the video and audio and transmit that to you. The same C and Ku-band dishes are used. The same applies to OTA reception. If you have a currently working antenna, it should work for digital. The problem is in the signal strength and possible multi-path problems. The best place for an antenna is outside, on the roof.

(I've actually been an antenna moron for years. All through high school, I used an old magnetic whip-style CB antenna for my stereo tuner, despite people telling me that it wouldn't work. It did...)

You got away with a lot of things for FM (VHF range, just above channel 6). UHF and the 8VSB modulation scheme make things a little tougher.

They did KOTH VERY quietly. Looked alright.
Simpsons looked GREAT.

Until you stepped through the portion of the opening scene where the landscape is quickly scanned. The low bitrate that Fox uses for HD brought out plenty of encoder errors, since every new image frame (23.976 fps) overloaded the MPEG-2 encoder, as there weren't enough bits to go around.

Fox has lots of encoder problems due to the lack of bandwidth. When you pack four SD and four HD channels per 73 Mbps transponder, something has to give.

As soon as Fox stops sending SD, they can get those bits back. But, with the new analog cutoff date, I doubt that they can do it when they originally planed, as there are lots of Fox stations that need the SD feed (including the one in my DMA).

As soon as Fox stops sending SD, they can get those bits back. But, with the new analog cutoff date, I doubt that they can do it when they originally planed, as there are lots of Fox stations that need the SD feed (including the one in my DMA).

There was an article detailing this in the HOTP thread. Fox was not planning to shut off its analog signal until August, so it will continue as planned.

There was an article detailing this in the HOTP thread. Fox was not planning to shut off its analog signal until August, so it will continue as planned.

Huh? Fox O&O stations can't broadcast analog past June 12, 2009.

I better go find that article.

Here it is. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=15757881#post15757881

Fox’s distribution plans aren’t impacted by the postponement, said Fox president of engineering Andrew Setos. The broadcast network, which currently transmits separate HD and SD satellite feeds, will in early April begin deploying new Motorola MPEG-2 satellite radios at its owned stations and affiliates that can simultaneously output a 16:9 HD stream and a downconverted, 4:3 standard-def stream.

The new Motorola receivers should be installed at all broadcast affiliates by mid-August, at which point Fox will stop transmitting its SD feed, as originally scheduled.

CBS plans to end its analog satellite feed on March 3. ABC's plans are now in flux.

Here it is. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=15757881#post15757881

Ah. Misunderstood, when you said analog, I thought you meant their OTA stations. The sat feeds are technically MPEG-2 digital feeds. Fox hasn't done analog sat feeds (other than current syndicated programming) in ages.

Unless owners, like Sinclair's local Fox affiliate, get their act together and upgrade the analog plants to HD-SDI, the 4:3 analog output of the new receiver will be required for a while.

CBS plans to end its analog satellite feed on March 3. ABC's plans are now in flux.

Again I have to assume the SD feed via the DCII+ DSR-4800/DSR-4810. I'd have to check my notes, but the CW SD feed will go away at the same time.

ABC is working on the transition, as tests have been spotted. Will the testing stop? I would hope not. Now is as good a time as any to continue testing. I guess it will be depend on how many stations still need a SD feed. But testing can still continue. My local ABC affiliate is all HD-SDI. They stopped using the SD feed a few months ago and as of 1 pm CT today, they will never need it again.

Here it is. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=15757881#post15757881



CBS plans to end its analog satellite feed on March 3. ABC's plans are now in flux.Cool article. If they are going to cram less into the same satellite space could we see better HD from networks, ESPECIALLY NBC???

(Link to live document in signature)

I've taken CycloneGT's transition date data and merged it with system2000's transition power chart from December. At the moment, it seems appropriate in putting those datasets together. Let's see how it looks (obviously looks better in the real Google Docs version):Thanks for posting that. I was about to ask for the old ATSC/new ATSC channel info before seeing your post. That is key to keep in mind so we remember we need to rescan for those stations that are changing.

The Comcast lineup for Baltimore City at Comcast.com has WETA HD at 219. Don't know if this is a mistake or a future channel. I already have MPT HD at 220. (I have WETA in SD.)

Cool article. If they are going to cram less into the same satellite space could we see better HD from networks, ESPECIALLY NBC???

Not sure, but with the SD feed going away, the networks will need to broadcast a backup HD feed for sun outages, etc.

Not sure, but with the SD feed going away, the networks will need to broadcast a backup HD feed for sun outages, etc.

Except for The CW (until about a week ago), all of the networks were feeding HD on two different birds.

With NBC the bitrate of their HD is lower than CBS, ABC and The CW. Actually I have to find out about CBS. Even though NBC has gone DVB-S2 and H.264, they are cramming 3 HD streams and a SD stream on the transponder. If you take the H.264 bitrate and double it, it doesn't meet the 2:1 ratio for recompression. If you go with 17.5 Mbps MPEG-2, you want a little more than that with H.264 (or about 18 Mbps). I remember it being less. I will double check for sure. But, with most stations also doing a SD stream, the ATSC HD bitrate is down to 15 Mbps, at most, so NBC has no problem with that.

The NBC main feed is via Ku and the backup is on C-band.

CBS has gone DVB-S2 and are doing two MPEG-2 4:2:2 streams. I'll have to find out what the bitrate is. But, sending 4:2:2 offsets some of the issues going to 4:2:0.

ABC is moving toward DVB-S2, but since they aren't doing that yet, I have not heard how many HD streams will be on each transponder, other than they will be H.264.

The CW is currently doing DVB-S QPSK single HD 4:2:0 MPEG-2 stream. On Sunday another transponder is lit for the west coast.

ABC is the same, currently a single HD stream DVB-S per transponder, at more than double the highest ATSC bitrate. But ABC runs an east and west transponder nightly, except that Nightline on the west coast is done via the east HD transponder.

The Comcast lineup for Baltimore City at Comcast.com has WETA HD at 219. Don't know if this is a mistake or a future channel. I already have MPT HD at 220. (I have WETA in SD.)

Down here in Calvert County, the Comcast lineup has added MPT HD at 219. We already have WETA HD at 220. Since it is the closest transmitter, it would make sense to add MPT HD.

The Comcast lineup for Baltimore City at Comcast.com has WETA HD at 219. Don't know if this is a mistake or a future channel. I already have MPT HD at 220. (I have WETA in SD.)

If Comcast puts the DC stations they have on in HD then I am less likely to bolt to Fios for local HD and internet.

BTW, it is also for Howard County on the website. Also, MASNHD is listed at 247, which is now an on demand channel.

BTW, it is also for Howard County on the website. Also, MASNHD is listed at 247, which is now an on demand channel.

I see that MASN HD is also listed for Baltimore.

But they are still missing some HD channels I already have: FX, Fox News, Speed.

If Comcast puts the DC stations they have on in HD then I am less likely to bolt to Fios for local HD and internet.

BTW, it is also for Howard County on the website. Also, MASNHD is listed at 247, which is now an on demand channel.
Funny, that was one of the last straws when I left Comcast for FiOS. I'm in Anne Arundel County, and Comcast yanked the DC locals (in HD) that had been available via clear QAM but not mapped on the STBs. Combine that with the degraded HD quality and the fact that FiOS was getting ready to hit 100+ HD channels without any added degradation...

My plan is to turn them off according to the original plan: 11:59:59 PM on February 17, 2009.

I like the national anthem idea! I can probably do that.

I'll see what I can do about the test pattern, too.

BTW, the latest that I've heard is that we're supposed to have a "night-light" signal up for a couple of weeks so, at this point, the transmitters aren't actually going off, just the analog programming is going to stop.

.

Well, that didn't work as smoothly as I had hoped... The audio switched, but the video didn't, so I had to re-wire the signals on-the-fly...

Anyway, the night-light programming is up on both WNUV and WBFF.

_

WBFF-TV Fox 45 and WNUV-TV CW 54 in Baltimore are now in "night-light" status. So far, both stations are looping through short programs on how to hook and use a converter box on the analog broadcast. Here's hoping they don't do the night-light for long.

Other local station notes.

WBAL-TV NBC 11 has filed to stay at reduced power on the analog broadcast until June. WBAL reduced the analog 11 power in January to modify one of the transmitter cabinets for digital 11 operation for what they thought would be a Feb. 17 shutdown and digital channel move. WBAL states that it would be impratical to return the modified transmitter back to analog operation.

The Ion Network has delayed it's HD upgrade for the primary x.1 Ion channel until March 16. So it will be another month before we see WWPX-DT 60 and WPXW-DT 66 with a HD sub-channel and presumably some HD programming in prime-time.

Well, that didn't work as smoothly as I had hoped... The audio switched, but the video didn't, so I had to re-wire the signals on-the-fly...

Anyway, the night-light programming is up on both WNUV and WBFF.
Beat me by a couple of minutes. If you can, let us know whether you get a flood of phone calls on what happened to the analog broadcast and how to use a converter box.

Beat me by a couple of minutes. If you can, let us know whether you get a flood of phone calls on what happened to the analog broadcast and how to use a converter box.

One phone call, so far... Wondering why we were the only station that shut off the analog programming.

Well, that didn't work as smoothly as I had hoped... The audio switched, but the video didn't, so I had to re-wire the signals on-the-fly...

Anyway, the night-light programming is up on both WNUV and WBFF.

_WBFF seemed to cut out here for a bit. Was there a power reduction?

Love the old IDs, btw. How ancient are they?

WBFF seemed to cut out here for a bit. Was there a power reduction?

Love the old IDs, btw. How ancient are they?

Channel 45 is now 6 dB lower than full power. I'd do the math, but I'm too tired...

I got the IDs from youtube. I'm sorry that it didn't work out at 11:59:59...

=

Well, that didn't work as smoothly as I had hoped... The audio switched, but the video didn't, so I had to re-wire the signals on-the-fly...I saw that on 45... the two video streams were fighting each other for a second at the end. Then the station seemed to go off altogether briefly.

I love the classic sign-off stuff. The Indian! :)

Anyway, the night-light programming is up on both WNUV and WBFF.How long for?

P.S. After checking out 45 and 54, I decided to see if any other analogs were shutting down unannounced (ya never know, eh?). And then I realized, to my dismay, that my Silver Sensor wasn't picking up anything in the VHF band. I knew it was a UHF antenna, but I'd kinda hoped it could still pick up hi-VHF... hmm. (They specifically mention the Silver Sensor and its UHF-only status in the "night-light" program, BTW.)

The Ion Network has delayed it's HD upgrade for the primary x.1 Ion channel until March 16. So it will be another month before we see WWPX-DT 60 and WPXW-DT 66 with a HD sub-channel and presumably some HD programming in prime-time.I'm not sure WWPX is one of the stations going HD on 3/16. WPXW/66 is, though...

Channel 45 is now 6 dB lower than full power. I'd do the math, but I'm too tired...

I got the IDs from youtube. I'm sorry that it didn't work out at 11:59:59...

Well, you can run the national anthem and old test patterns when you shut the analog broadcasts off for real. Please post here in advance when the plug is pulled, so you know that somebody is watching. :D

Only 1 phone call after the switch to the night light? Probably will get some more today, but if the Feb. 17 shutdown happens without much fuss, should encourage other stations to go ahead and file to shut down in April.

Somebody at work mentioned that they can't watch Jerry Springer today.:D

Oh, the humanity!!! :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

The transition is a good thing.

I was wondering why WBFF-TV was coming in clearer and almost audible. 6dB? Maybe there is hope.

How long until they both go OFF the Air? Definitely let us know when and how much time you'll give for the turn-off.

Did WNUV-TV get a power reduction also? I'm getting better reception this morning on both stations (viewable and audio).

NOTE: WBFF-TV 1290KW -6dB should = 322.5KW & WNUV-TV 5000KW -6dB should = 1250KW

Well, you can run the national anthem and old test patterns when you shut the analog broadcasts off for real. Please post here in advance when the plug is pulled, so you know that somebody is watching. :D

+1 ... I want to be present when the static starts. Mark, WBFF: Thanks for sticking to the original transition plan!!

I also can't believe how much better the analog is at the reduced power. I've never seen what WBFF-TV looked like ghost-free until this morning. Not too bad, actually :)

New game: count and list the errors in this Baltimore Sun article: http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bal-te.to.digital17feb17,0,3036759.story.

Major errors: 1) WBOC in Salisbury was one of the stations that was pressured to keep the analog on, so WBOC-TV 16 is still on the air. 2) There is no WJLA in Hagerstown, presumably meant WJAL 68 which went off the air in mid-January because the transmitter building was destroyed in a fire. 3) The FCC did not force 123 stations to keep broadcasting in analog, but instead dropped the number to 106 of stations they wanted justification from of which 53 quickly were allowed to shut down and another 12? or so which were allowed after they explained why.

The stations should get together and assemble a converter installation and outreach team that will go to homes & retirement homes, bringing along a batch of antennas, and get some of the elderly shut-ins set up. Would make for good press coverage.

WMAR will take over WJZ's current UHF 38 antenna at 1000 kW.

Will WMAR also assume WJZ's physical channel 38 digital transmitter? They're all at the same physical site, so why not?

I don't understand the reason for this complicated swap. WMAR, as a lowband VHF station, could have just put digital on 38 from the beginning and WJZ could have used 52 for its temporary digital until 13 went digital.

What happens to all those lowband VHF channels after the transition? What happens to all those surplus DTV transmitters and antennas? Just how many billions has this transition cost so far? Not that it's not worthwhile, just asking.

I'm not sure WWPX is one of the stations going HD on 3/16. WPXW/66 is, though...
WWPX-DT 60 in Martinsburg is a satellite station of WPXW-DT 66 in Manassas for the primary Ion channel. Since WPXW 60 is part of the Washington DC DMA and Ion did list Washington DC as one of the 20 markets they have stations in that is going HD first, I would think that the odds are WWPX-DT 60.1 will go 720p HD when WPXW-DT 66.1 does. But we will find out in a month, assuming Ion does not delay the HD upgrade again.

WWPX-DT 60 in Martinsburg is a satellite station of WPXW-DT 66 in Manassas for the primary Ion channel. Since WPXW 60 is part of the Washington DC DMA and Ion did list Washington DC as one of the 20 markets they have stations in that is going HD first, I would think that the odds are WWPX-DT 60.1 will go 720p HD when WPXW-DT 66.1 does. But we will find out in a month, assuming Ion does not delay the HD upgrade again.

Remember, though, that WWPX-DT is up for sale. Given that, they may not want to put the money into it.

- Trip

I'd have to go back and check the FCC releases, but IIRC, plain ole nightlite is 2 weeks and nightlite plus is until 4/18 (60 days).

I don't understand the reason for this complicated swap. WMAR, as a lowband VHF station, could have just put digital on 38 from the beginning and WJZ could have used 52 for its temporary digital until 13 went digital.


I could (and have) rant for about an hour as to how poorly I think the DTV allocations were done. Granted, there are only so many channels to go around and we needed 2x the number of them, but it still defies both logic and what I thought were actual rules.

Take our lovely post-transition UHF block of 33,34,35,36,38,40,41,42 as a shining example. Aren't you supposed to maintain a separation between channels? Isn't that a rule?

I'm also still ticked that they couldn't divvy up the new UHF channels so all of D.C. was in one range and all of Baltimore was in another. It would make people in the middle's (like me!) lives a lot easier. Swap the Baltimore MPT (29) with WRC (48), and move WDCW (50) down under 38 somewhere. Then swap WMPT (42) with WMAR (38), and you have this awesome setup where all of D.C. is <= 36, all of Baltimore is >= 40, and you have Annapolis smack dab in the middle. OTA bliss. You could now get a diplexer set for UHF 38 to join the cities together with 2 antennas, and then throw in a Join-Tenna to grab WMPT if you need yet another PBS. Perfecto. I understand it's not quite that easy in practice, but we can't even try right now. At least VHF is now split up nicely, I suppose.

Yeah, I know, that only applies to people that want both cities and happen to be in the middle (therefore not able to get the fringe D.C. market channels), there are other interference issues and calculations that need to be taken into account, but ... everything just feels like it was thrown together without any regard to trying to do it "right". $0.02.

I could (and have) rant for about an hour as to how poorly I think the DTV allocations were done. Granted, there are only so many channels to go around and we needed 2x the number of them, but it still defies both logic and what I thought were actual rules.

Take our lovely post-transition UHF block of 33,34,35,36,38,40,41,42 as a shining example. Aren't you supposed to maintain a separation between channels? Isn't that a rule?

No. With analog you did, but digital signals have a "mask filter" which prevents leakage onto adjacent channels. Stations can co-exist side-by-side.

Now there are rules anyway. Stations can only be side-by-side if the towers are within a certain distance. WUTB-DT 41 and WMPT-DT 42 are an example of what happens when the rule isn't followed. WUTB lost a ton of coverage.

I agree with your overall points though, it would be nice if this could have been condensed better.

- Trip

In my case, I'm going to have several (what fun):

WMAR-DT 38, WJAL-DT 39, WNUV-DT 40, & WUTB-DT 41
WBFF-DT 46, WPMT-DT 47, & WRC-DT 48
WTAJ-DT 32, WHUT-DT 33, WJAC-DT 34/WPXW-DT 34, WDCA-DT 35, & WTTG-DT 36
WJLA-DT 7, WGAL-DT 8, WUSA-DT 9, WHTM-DT 10, WBAL-DT 11, WWPX-DT 12, & WJZ-DT 13
WLYH-DT 23 & WATM-DT 24
WWCP-DT 29 & WGCB-DT 30

NOTE: I see I've left out WHAG-DT 26 & WETA-DT 27 - this is because I don't know how well WETA will be received here.

Currently, I have the following active RF channels within reception range:
2 - 4,5 - 7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14 - 20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36 - 38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52 - 54,55,56 - 58,59,60 - 62 - 66,67

No. With analog you did, but digital signals have a "mask filter" which prevents leakage onto adjacent channels. Stations can co-exist side-by-side.
And that argument co-exists nicely beside djp952’s point.

Transmitters and receivers may be able to process adjacent channels, but receiving adjacent channels from different antennas, especially on UHF, is prohibitively expensive for home installations.

As for MPT, I’d prefer if they had just one strong transmitter on TV Hill with the rest of the Baltimore majors, instead of the three weak sisters in Annapolis, Frederick, and Owings Mills, none of which I can get reliably at my location in northern VA.

systems2000,

No offense, but your previous posts don't suggest that you could ever receive all those channels.

Do you have any evidence of signal from Johnstown-Altoona, for instance?

And that argument co-exists nicely beside djp952’s point.

Transmitters and receivers may be able to process adjacent channels, but receiving adjacent channels from different antennas, especially on UHF, is prohibitively expensive for home installations.

As for MPT, I’d prefer if they had just one strong transmitter on TV Hill with the rest of the Baltimore majors, instead of the three weak sisters in Annapolis, Frederick, and Owings Mills, none of which I can get reliably at my location in northern VA.
As an Annapolitan, I rather like WMPT being located in Annapolis, thankyouverymuch! ;)

I drive past it every day on my way to work, in fact. It's on the eastern side of I-97 (so it's on my right as I drive north).

Depending upon the direction I point my antenna, all the analogs are viewable to some extent (I get WHTM-TV 10 & WGAL-TV 8 very well) and the digitals are capable of stopping my scans for recognition, but not receivable.

I can show you 2,4,5,7,8,9,10,11,13,20,22,24,25,26,31,43,45,50,54,60 analogs any day you want and I'm getting 2,11,13,24,31,42,54,60 digital without moving my antenna from 134° magnetic.

WMAR-DT and WBAL-DT are not coming in tonight. :(

As an Annapolitan, I rather like WMPT being located in Annapolis, thankyouverymuch! ;)
And do you watch only PBS or do watch other channels also?

If the latter, wouldn't a co-located equal power PBS serve you just as well? (Perhaps instead of one, there should be two: one at TV Hill, and the other in Bethesda.)

Isolated full-power transmitters are fine for those who only want to watch that particular channel. For everyone else, they are a nuisance, because they either generate harmful interference with other channels for those too close to them, or require extra reception effort for those far away from them.


I get WHTM-TV 10 & WGAL-TV 8
Clarify please. WHTM is digital on 10, WGAL is analog on 8.

Or do you mean WTAJ-TV 10?

I e-mailed WBOC-DT 16 and they "did" in fact increase their power level on Tuesday.

Yes. The power maximization approved by the FCC was completed yesterday morning. Glad you’re seeing us clearly.

Craig Jahelka

Vice President & General Manager

WBOC-TV / FOX 21 / Interactive

1729 North Salisbury Blvd.

Salisbury, MD 21801

Take our lovely post-transition UHF block of 33,34,35,36,38,40,41,42 as a shining example. Aren't you supposed to maintain a separation between channels? Isn't that a rule?

I'm also still ticked that they couldn't divvy up the new UHF channels so all of D.C. was in one range and all of Baltimore was in another. It would make people in the middle's (like me!) lives a lot easier. Swap the Baltimore MPT (29) with WRC (48), and move WDCW (50) down under 38 somewhere. Then swap WMPT (42) with WMAR (38), and you have this awesome setup where all of D.C. is <= 36, all of Baltimore is >= 40, and you have Annapolis smack dab in the middle. OTA bliss. You could now get a diplexer set for UHF 38 to join the cities together with 2 antennas, and then throw in a Join-Tenna to grab WMPT if you need yet another PBS. Perfecto.
That is a bit complicated. You have to look at the surrounding markets to see how those other channels fit. As it stands, DC may have two contiguous DT channel blocks if the FCC ever grants WETA-DT's petition to switch to DT 51. We would have a block of 4 stations on 33, 34, 35, 36 and another one at 48, low power station on 49 which could be used for a LD, 50, and 51.

However, without doing a full channel review, on the face of it, it would have better to locate WMPB-DT 67 (DT 29) north of Baltimore on DT 39, so it would be placed between WJZ->WMAR on DT 38 and WNUV on DT 40. Then put WJAL 68 out north of Hagerstown currently set for DT 39 post on some open channel that minimizes problems.

WMAR-DT and WBAL-DT are not coming in tonight. :(
up here on the susquehanna wmar and wbal are coming in fine.

You were asking about Altoona and I transposed Harrisburg. Good catch. :)

If you have strong analog on WTAJ-10, WATM-23, and WKBS-47, then afiggatt could be right about WKBS-DT46 interfering with WBFF-DT46. (Although I'm dubious because the Johnstown thread says they are still doing 6.1 kW per STA.)

Do you have signal from Harrisburg and Lebanon, or just York/Lancaster?

systems2000:

For you and other folks up that way, W38AN, the WITF translator in Chambersburg, filed a displacement yesterday. They want to do 5 kW on channel 33, digitally.

- Trip

If you have strong analog on WTAJ-10, WATM-23, and WKBS-47, then afiggatt could be right about WKBS-DT46 interfering with WBFF-DT46. (Although I'm dubious because the Johnstown thread says they are still doing 6.1 kW per STA.)

Do you have signal from Harrisburg and Lebanon, or just York/Lancaster?WATM-TV 23 cancels out WLYH-DT 23, while WKBS-TV 47 cancels out WPMT-DT 47. WKBS-DT 46 should be at 50KW and has an APP in for 200KW. I still have high power analog stations on 45 & 47.

According to http://www.tvfool.com/ WHP-TV 21 is at -10.7dB, WHTM-TV 27 is at -14.3dB (currently 73° off-axis and producing herring bones), and WITF-TV 33 is supposedly somewhere below -36dB.

…W38AN, the WITF translator in Chambersburg, filed a displacement yesterday. They want to do 5 kW on channel 33, digitally.Great! Right smack with WHUT-DT at 1000KW. :rolleyes:

At least I can see the tower from my roof and yard. Straight through the Power Distribution Lines. :eek:

WMAR-DT and WBAL-DT are not coming in tonight. :(
They both came back (at the same time) at approx. 22:00. :)

I've noticed a couple of times now, where I'll loose both these stations around 19:00 or 20:00 and then get them back about 22:00 or 23:00.

Life with 2-edge reception. :rolleyes:

Is there any information on when WDCW-DT, WWPB-DT, WDCA-DT, WPXW-DT, WHUT-DT, WETA-DT, and WFDC-DT go to full power?

They both came back (at the same time) at approx. 22:00. :)

I've noticed a couple of times now, where I'll loose both these stations around 19:00 or 20:00 and then get them back about 22:00 or 23:00.

Life with 2-edge reception. :rolleyes:

Check the Tropospheric Ducting Forecasts to see when you will get the best reception. I used to do this in the early 2000's so I would know when I would get great reception from the Baltimore ABC station when WJLA was not broadcasting in HD yet on their digital signal.

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

And do you watch only PBS or do watch other channels also?

The ";)" signifies a joke -- I had hoped it was pretty clear I wasn't exactly being serious...

I'd have to go back and check the FCC releases, but IIRC, plain ole nightlite is 2 weeks and nightlite plus is until 4/18 (60 days).

According to FCC 09-2 paragraph 1, nightlight programming is "for a period of 30 days after the February 17, 2009 DTV transition date". Later in the same document, paragraph 7 says "Thus, as required by this Act, our analog nightlight program will permit eligible full-power television stations, as described below, to continue their analog braodcasting for a period of up to 30 days beginning on February 18, 2009, for the limited purpose of providing public safety and digital transition information"... "The 30-day period ends at 11:59:50 on March 19, 2009.

If you have another reference, please let me know - this one doesn't address nightlight plus at all...

.

Take our lovely post-transition UHF block of 33,34,35,36,38,40,41,42 as a shining example. Aren't you supposed to maintain a separation between channels? Isn't that a rule?
As others have said, the rules vary drastically between analog and digital transmission. You can read lots more here (http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6516088239). One FCC assessment concluded that DTV stations can operate with 0 dB D/U ratio on adjacent channels - i.e., no problem. And DTV can operate adjacent to NTSC channels with only 10 dB D/U. I believe the latter may be compromised in some markets in the current transition environment.

According to FCC 09-2 paragraph 1, nightlight programming is "for a period of 30 days after the February 17, 2009 DTV transition date".
[…]
If you have another reference, please let me know - this one doesn't address nightlight plus at all...
FCC 09-2 implements SAFER, which was passed in December. Because of the delay, that will not be applicable until June 13 through July 12.

By “nightlight plus”, I think the FCC means what it called “enhanced nightlight” in FCC 09-7 (http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-09-7A1.pdf). Note the first bullet on page 4 and associated footnote:

Ensure that at least one station that is currently providing analog service to an area within the DMA that will no longer receive analog service after February 17, 2009 will continue broadcasting an analog signal providing, at a minimum, DTV transition and emergency information, as well as local news and public affairs programming (“enhanced nightlight” service [11]) for at least 60 days following February 17, 2009. The local news, public affairs, or other programming may include commercial advertising.

11. The “enhanced nightlight” service contemplated here is not the same as the material specified in the Analog Nightlight program (which will apply to continued analog TV service for a period of up to 30 days after the DTV transition date). See Implementation of Short-term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness Act; Establishment of DTV Transition “Analog Nightlight” Program, MB Docket No. 08-255, Report and Order, FCC 09-2 (rel. Jan. 15, 2009) (“Analog Nightlight Order”). Rather, because this is part of the pre-transition time period, the enhanced nightlight service will include other programming--at a minimum, local news and public affairs--in addition to DTV transition and emergency information.

On the other hand, for those stations not subject to “enhanced nightlight” requirements, the FCC’s “encouragement” to provide at least two weeks of SAFER-type nightlight still applies. See FCC 09-6 (http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-09-6A1.pdf), at the top of page 7:

We encourage stations that terminate their analog signal on February 17, 2009, to continue to broadcast on their analog signal information regarding their transition and, if necessary, emergency information. Stations in Wilmington, NC and Hawaii that transitioned early on a market-wide basis voluntarily broadcast a “slate” describing the transition and providing sources for information about actions viewers should take to retain television service. Similarly, the Commission recently implemented “analog nightlight” service in anticipation of the planned February 17, 2009 DTV transition deadline in compliance with the Analog Nightlight Act. We find this DTV transition information particularly important to limit viewer confusion in light of the change in DTV transition deadline and the station’s termination of normal analog programming. We urge stations to air this analogous nightlight programming for a minimum of two weeks following their termination of normal analog programming. Stations that intend to provide this limited programming should so indicate in their analog termination notification to the Commission. We note that, because the overall transition is not taking place on February 17, stations may provide this nightlight-type service after their analog termination on February 17, even if they are not included in the list of stations eligible to participate in the analog nightlight program.

WATM-TV 23 cancels out WLYH-DT 23, while WKBS-TV 47 cancels out WPMT-DT 47. WKBS-DT 46 should be at 50KW and has an APP in for 200KW. I still have high power analog stations on 45 & 47.

According to http://www.tvfool.com/ WHP-TV 21 is at -10.7dB, WHTM-TV 27 is at -14.3dB (currently 73° off-axis and producing herring bones), and WITF-TV 33 is supposedly somewhere below -36dB.
Yes, but what can you actually see?

Sorry, but I think TVFool is an aptly named site that often misleads people into thinking they can get things that they really can’t or vice-versa. I mean, it’s fine for LOS predictions about nearby stations. But db-accurate predictions for stations 60, 80, 100 miles away, using multi-edge diffraction models? You gotta be kidding…

In the real world, there’s no substitute for sweeping an antenna 360 degrees and seeing what you get. In the real world, geography and prevailing atmospheric conditions favor signals from certain directions and distances over others in ways you couldn’t begin to predict with a simple analysis that runs in a few seconds on a web server.

Case in point, I once lived in a basement apartment in Charlottesville, VA, where one of the few FM stations I received was a class A on 92.1 from Mercersburg, PA. (You probably know this station.) It was weak and subject to occasional fading, but I could listen to it all day long, day in and day out. And I could get it a little in my car if I parked in front of my apartment. But elsewhere in the building, at the other end of the parking lot, or any place else in town, I never heard a trace of that station. Most places around town, what I heard on 92.1, if I heard anything at all, was a station near Richmond, VA. Do an FMFool analysis for that address, and the PA station won’t even make the list.

I’ve run TVFool for a number of locations with which I’m familiar, and some of what it predicts is dead on, and other stuff it predicts is sheer nonsense. It should definitely be taken with several grains of salt.

So you say you can get WTAJ-TV 10 well, which suggests that WHTM-DT isn’t causing you too much of a problem. What evidence do you have that WHTM-TV 27 has anything to do with the herringbones on that channel? Can you watch that channel if you aim your antenna at it or not? What about WHP? Can you see anything of that through the digital snow from WVPY if you point your antenna at it? Or if not, do you lose lock on WVPY?

Today I did an automatic rescan on my Sharp HDTV and got 18 analog channels and 39 digital channels, using a carefully positioned rabbit-ear antenna on the third floor of my townhouse. (I'm in north Rockville near Gaithersburg.)

Some analog stations without digital equivalents being picked up are:
23 (CEA-608 captions)
24 (very poor reception, no captions received)
62 (really bad reception, no captions received)
67 (really bad reception, no captions received)

I am NOT picking up 50.2 and don't think I ever have.

I get these digital channels with both my Insignia converter box and the Sharp HDTV:

2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 4.1,4.2,4.3,5.1,7.1,7.2,7.3,9.1,9.2,
11.1,11.2,13.1,14.1,
20.1,22.1,22.2,22.3,26.1,26.2,26.3,26.4,
30.1,30.2,30.3,30.4,30.5,32.1,
45.1,45.2,
50.1,54.1,
66.1,66.2,66.3,66.4

(The reception of 30.1-30.5 is weak, however.)

I'm pleased at how many channels I can pick up for free with just a rabbit ear antenna that isn't even powered. Many of these stations are more than 31 miles away. (It's also nice to have choices among the different affiliates since some affiliates are still having problems generating clean caption data, like WJLA. I still couldn't watch prime time programs last night from WJLA on my Sharp HDTV since WJLA isn't transmitting CEA-708 caption data properly.)

Dana

I'm in the process of getting my rotator mounted and for any antenna re-alignment, is to climb the 40' tower. As soon as I get the rotator properly installed, I'll let you know about Altoona and Harrisburg/Lancaster/York beyond WGAL-TV, WGCB-DT, and WTAJ-TV.

Dewster1977 (who lives in Mercersburg, PA) posted this http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=15848888#post15848888

I am NOT picking up 50.2 and don't think I ever have.
...
since some affiliates are still having problems generating clean caption data, like WJLA. I still couldn't watch prime time programs last night from WJLA on my Sharp HDTV since WJLA isn't transmitting CEA-708 caption data properly.)

You are not getting WDCW-DT 50.2 because WDCW-DT is only broadcasting a single 50.1 sub-channel at this time. The station is on the list of stations that are supposed to carry the "This TV" programming, but they have not added it yet.

As for WJLA-DT 7, I still don't get CEA-708 captions displayed on my Sony HDD250 DVR for prime time scripted series ABC programming. The CEA-708 CC show up on the Samsung T451 tuner, so there is something funky with the CEA-708 captions put out by WJLA-DT. The CCs show up on the Sony DVR for the same prime time programming on WMAR-DT 2. Someday all the stations will get all this stuff (CC, guide, clock, PSIP channel mapping) working correctly, right? Right?

Is there any information on when WDCW-DT, WWPB-DT, WDCA-DT, WPXW-DT, WHUT-DT, WETA-DT, and WFDC-DT go to full power?
If you are asking about the maximization applications or the channel change petition in case of WETA-DT, the FCC has not acted on many of them yet. Of the stations you listed, the only ones that I think the FCC has granted is WFDC-DT Uni 14 (15) post-transition increase from 100 to 1000 kW and WPXW-DT 66 to run at 1000 kW on UHF 34. Unless WFDC-DT gets permission to increase earlier, they can't do that until after June 12. WPXW-DT can't do anything until WUSA-DT 9 flash cuts back to back to VHF 9, freeing up their DT 34 equipment.

The FCC pretty much has ground to a stop on granting or denying the maximization applications. Probably been a wee bit busy dealing lately dealing with the transition mess.

OH GREAT! I forgot I've got a conflict on 34. :rolleyes:

WJAC-DT and WPXW-DT

NOTE: Conflicts:
Channel|Station #1|Station #2
8|WGAL-DT (7.5)|WWCP-DT (9.3)
21|WVPY-DT (50)|WHP-DT (450)
34|WPXW-DT (1000)|WJAC-DT (1000)
38|WMAR-DT (1000)|W38AN (5) (13 miles - LOS)

I'm beginning to realize that I must sit at the most optimum point for OTA interference testing. :D

OH GREAT! I forgot I've got a conflict on 34. :rolleyes:

WJAC-DT and WPXW-DT

NOTE: Conflicts:
Channel|Station #1|Station #2
8|WGAL-DT (7.5)|WWCP-DT (9.3)
21|WVPY-DT (50)|WHP-DT (450)
34|WPXW-DT (1000)|WJAC-DT (1000)
38|WMAR-DT (1000)|W38AN (5) (13 miles - LOS)

I'm beginning to realize that I must sit at the most optimum point for OTA interference testing. :D

W38AN-D wants channel 33, not 38.

- Trip

I'm watching WMAR-DT news right now, and although the main picture is a mediocre upconvert, the graphic bar at the bottom (with rotating weather and traffic) appears to be in HD (though still 4:3). I don't know when this started. Here's hoping it presages a full HD newscast.

WMAR's set is "fully HD-ready" according to this:

http://www.fxgroup.tv/portfolio/

You are not getting WDCW-DT 50.2 because WDCW-DT is only broadcasting a single 50.1 sub-channel at this time. The station is on the list of stations that are supposed to carry the "This TV" programming, but they have not added it yet.

Does anybody know when/if 50.2 will carry the THIS network in Washington, DC?

Baltimore has it on WBFF 45-2.

What is my20 doing with Smackdown? It looks like their letterboxing the HD signal or something. I checked WUTB-DT and they're showing it in HD but I couldn't stand up holding the antenna that long.

News Release

Harford County, Md., Awards Cable Franchise to Verizon

Vote Paves the Way for Innovative, Competitive Choice for TV Service, Delivered Over the Nation's Most Advanced All-Fiber-Optic Network Straight to Consumers' Homes

February 18, 2009
Media Contact:
Sandra Arnette, 410-393-7109

BEL AIR, Md. - Residents in Harford County, Md., are a major step closer to having an innovative, reliable and competitive alternative for their television services, thanks to a unanimous vote by the Harford County Council on Tuesday (Feb. 17) authorizing Verizon to offer its fiber-optic-powered FiOS TV.

FiOS TV is delivered over Verizon's all-fiber-optic network, which brings the power and capacity of fiber optics directly into people's homes and has industry-leading quality and reliability. Fiber delivers amazingly sharp pictures and sound, and has the capacity to transmit a wide array of high-definition programming that is so clear and intense it seems to leap from the TV screen. It also delivers Internet download speeds of up to 50 Mbps* (megabits per second) and upload speeds of up to 20 Mbps, as well as high-quality voice services.

In Maryland, Verizon currently offers FiOS Internet and FiOS TV services to dozens of communities in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George's counties, and parts of Bel Air. The company plans to begin offering FiOS Internet and FiOS TV in Aberdeen and other areas of Harford County in April.

"Approval of Verizon's video franchise is great news for Harford County residents, who soon will have more choice for their video entertainment," said William R. Roberts, Verizon's regional president in Maryland and Washington, D.C. "We commend the Harford County Council and its staff for their dedication and hard work throughout this process.

"Clearly, they recognize and support the technological advantage and competitive benefits - as well as the distinctive edge in economic development and quality of life - that fiber will bring to their community," Roberts added.

Verizon currently offers FiOS TV to more than 9.2 million homes in parts of 14 states: California, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia and Washington state.

FiOS TV Service Highlights

FiOS TV service highlights include:

* More than 500 all-digital channels grouped by genres such as entertainment, sports, news, marketplace, movies and family, making it easy for audiences to find their favorite programming.

* Approximately 108 high-definition (HD) channels in Maryland, with extraordinary clarity and theater-quality sound.

* An industry-leading library of 14,000 video-on-demand (VOD) titles each month, 70 percent of which are free. Verizon's VOD library also includes more than 1,200 HD titles.

* An innovative interactive media guide (IMG) that helps customers quickly and easily find and enjoy content from TV listings, VOD catalogs and the digital video recorder (DVR), as well as personal music and photos from a home network. Among the features of the IMG are:

o Multi-Room DVR - Verizon's Home Media DVR allows customers to stream recorded HD and standard-definition (SD) programs to up to six other TV sets throughout the home. This includes the ability to watch three separately recorded shows on three TV sets at the same time, plus pause recorded programming in one room and continue watching in another.

o Widgets - Customers have one-touch, on-demand access to local weather and traffic reports shown on TV screens. Widgets provide local traffic and weather reports, daily local and national news headlines, daily national sports headlines, community news, and daily horoscopes.

o Free casual games - With the remote control and an HD set-top box, customers can access chess, solitaire and wordplay.

o "What's Hot on FiOS TV" - Features information on the most-popular programs currently being broadcast in the region and the most popular VOD titles.

o "Wait for Me" - Allows customers to pause live programming, change channels, and then return to the paused program and pick up where they left off.

o Channel sorting options - Customers can create two separate lists of favorite channels for family members. Customers also can filter channels in the guide by genre, for instances where a customer only may want to see HD content, international channels or kids programming, among others.

Programming choices for Hispanic, African-American, Asian, Russian and other multicultural audiences are available in every market, making FiOS TV an outlet for emerging and independent networks to showcase their diverse programming.

Consumers in Harford County can check online at www.verizon.com/fios for more information or to request that Verizon contact them when FiOS Internet and FiOS TV services become available. Customers also can call their local Verizon sales office or 888-GET FiOS (888-438-3467).

* NOTE: actual (throughput) speeds will vary.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 80 million customers nationwide. Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon Telecom, which brings customers the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 224,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $97 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

http://newscenter.verizon.com/press-releases/verizon/2009/harford-county-md-awards.html

We have had several station tables posted here recently, but I figured I would post my own cut at summarizing the DT channels and plans for all the stations in the DC, Baltimore and Hagerstown (subset of DC) markets. Some of the info provided showed the post-transition maximization power applications submitted by the stations, but the FCC has not acted on many of them, so until then, people should use the officially allotted ERP as the basis for figuring out antenna needs. Now to see if the table format looks ok.

Digital Transition Summary for DC, Baltimore, Hagerstown Stations – February 22, 2009

The following is an updated summary of the pre and post transition digital channels, power levels, and status of filings for the full power stations in the DC, Baltimore, and Hagerstown markets. I hope some find this list useful to prepare for the postponed to June 12 analog shutdown and DT channel shuffle. The list is sorted by the post-transition physical broadcast channel, which I think is more useful for highlighting the upper VHF stations and possible signal conflicts. The technical shorthand terms are ERP (Effective Radiated Power) in kW, HAAT (antenna Height Above Average Terrain) in meters, CP = Construction Permit granted by the FCC. A number of stations filed maximized power applications last June which the FCC has still not acted on yet.

At the bottom is a separate list for the digital low power (LD) stations in DC and the stronger digital low power CPs in the western edge of the DC area. Some of the LD CPs may not be built; some of them are likely placeholders for future filings for better channel allotments. The analog low power stations and translators do not have to shut down on June 12. WZDC-DC Telemundo 25 was granted a digital flash cut on UHF 25 post-transition. Their digital allotment provides for an increased coverage area over their current analog one, although the coverage pattern is still directional favoring the east. When WHAG-TV 25 analog signal is turned off, that will eliminate interference problems which should help picking up the analog WZDC-CA 25 NW of DC.

The columns are: Station, Location, Pre-transition physical digital channel and pre-transition DT ERP in kW, Post-transition physical digital channel and current ERP allotment in kW, post-transition HAAT in meters, and Notes/Comments.

Station|Location|Pre-DT (ERP kw)|Post-DT (ERP kw)|Post HAAT(m)|Notes
WJLA-DT ABC 7|DC|39 (646 kW)|7 (30 kW)|235 m|Maximized app for 30 kW granted.
WUSA-DT CBS 9|DC|34 (1000)|9 (12.6)|235|
WBAL-DT NBC 11|Baltimore|59 (513)|11 (5)|299|Only 5 kW on VHF 11 post-transition! Reception may be troublesome.
WWPX-DT Ion 60|Martinsburg|12 (23)|12 (23)|314|Petition pending to move DTV operations to 51 in VA which conflicts with WETA’s 51 petition.
WJZ-DT CBS 13|Baltimore|38 (1000)|13 (28.8)|295|To operate on 9.8 kW STA on DT 13 for 1-2 months post-trans until new directional ant installed
WFDC-DT uni 14|DC|15 (325)|15 (1000)|227|Maximized app granted for 1000 kW post-transition
WVPY-DT PBS 42|Front Royal|21 (50)|21 (50)|400|Maximized app filed in Oct 08 for 100 kW
WNVC-DT MHz 56|Fairfax|57 (7.3, dark)|24 (160)|221|App for 160 kW granted, off air until WUTB-TV 24 shuts down
WHAG-DT NBC 25|Hagerstown|55 (0.9)|26 (575)|376|Post DT 26 channel blocked until WETA-TV 26 shuts down
WETA-DT PBS 26|DC|27 (90)|27 (90)|254|Petition pending to move to 51 for DTV operations at 674 kW
WFPT-DT PBS 62|Frederick|28 (30)|28 (41.2)|158|Maximized app for 41.2 kW granted
WMPB-DT PBS 67|Baltimore|29 (14 )|29 (42.6)|309|Maximized app for 42.6 kW granted
WNVT-DT MHz 30|Goldvein |30 (160)|30 (160)|229|
WHUT-DT PBS 32|DC|33 (100)|33 (100)|254|maximized app pending for 1000 kW
WPXW-DT Ion 66|Manassas->DC|43 (90)|34 (1000)|221|maximized app for 1000 kW granted, taking over WUSA-DT’s pre-trans DT 34 transmitter
WDCA-DT MyN 20|DC|35 (500)|35 (500)|227|maximized app pending for 950 kW
WTTG-DT Fox 5|DC|36 (1000)|36 (1000)|227|
WMAR-DT ABC 2|Baltimore|52 (613)|38 (1000)|312|Taking over WJZ-DT’s pre-trans DT 38 transmitter
WJAL-DT ind 68|Hagerstown|16 (6)|39 (105)|372|01/14/09 Fire destroyed analog/pre-DT transmitter building
WNUV-DT CW 54|Baltimore|40 (845)|40 (845)|373|Switched to analog night-light Feb. 18 for up to 30 days
WUTB-DT MyN 24|Catonsville|41 (200)|41 (200)|308|maximized app pending for 290 kW
WMPT-DT PBS 22|Annapolis|42 (150)|42 (150)|289|maximized app pending for 516 kW
WWPB-DT PBS 31|Hagerstown|44 (209)|44 (209)|359|maximized app pending for 1000 kW
WBFF-DT Fox 45|Baltimore|46 (550)|46 (550)|373|Switched to analog night-light Feb. 18 for up to 30 days
WRC-DT NBC 4|DC|48 (813)|48 (813)|242|Filed for nightlight operation after June 12
WDCW-DT CW 50|DC|51 (125)|50 (122)|253|maximized app pending for 1000 kW
Digital LPs|||Lic/CPs||
WMDO Telef 47|DC|8 (0.198)|8 (0.198)|150|on the air in late summer 08.
W08EE WV PBS|Martinsburg|8 (0.3)|8 (0.3)|281|on the air
WWTD ind 49|DC|-|14 (0.1)|179|CP granted Jan 08
WDDN Dayst 23|DC|-|21 (1)|213|CP granted Mar 07
WZDC Telem 25|DC|-|25 (4.6)|116|CP granted Oct 08 for digital flash cut post-transition
WIAV AsiaVis 58|DC|-|44 (0.1)|45|CP granted May 08, analog LP off the air?
WAZW rlg 48|Winchester|-|46 (12)|78|CP granted Jan 07
W51CY CW 51|Hagerstown|-|51 (15)|379|Satellite TX for WDCW, tower located east of Hagerstown

Looks great.

How come the major networks are going from 100's of kW to 10's of kW after the move? Am I missing something?

How come the major networks are going from 100's of kW to 10's of kW after the move? Am I missing something?

VHF (7-13) requires much less power to cover the same area than UHFs (14-51) do.

- Trip

How come the major networks are going from 100's of kW to 10's of kW after the move? Am I missing something?

VHF broadcasts take less power than UHF to cover the same area.

In this area, some major networks will move their digital channels back to their original VHF channels after the analog channels are shut off.

However, Channel 11 from Baltimore may still be a problem at only 5 KW.

VHF broadcasts take less power than UHF to cover the same area.

In this area, the major networks will move their digital channels back to their original VHF channels after the analog channels are shut off.

Gotcha...

So with a Tivo, will PSIP information make this automatic, or will I have to wait 3 weeks for Tivo to update whatever they have to update? (I use OTA for my HD locals, and FIOS for everything else, but not locals.)

Gotcha...

So with a Tivo, will PSIP information make this automatic, or will I have to wait 3 weeks for Tivo to update whatever they have to update? (I use OTA for my HD locals, and FIOS for everything else, but not locals.)

If February 17 was any indication, you'll be waiting three weeks as they manage to not only not update stations that moved, but move stations that didn't change anything.

- Trip

Gotcha...

So with a Tivo, will PSIP information make this automatic, or will I have to wait 3 weeks for Tivo to update whatever they have to update? (I use OTA for my HD locals, and FIOS for everything else, but not locals.)

I don't have experience with Tivo, but you may need to do a new channel scan to find the new channels.

You are not getting WDCW-DT 50.2 because WDCW-DT is only broadcasting a single 50.1 sub-channel at this time. The station is on the list of stations that are supposed to carry the "This TV" programming, but they have not added it yet.

Thanks for clearing this up for me.


As for WJLA-DT 7, I still don't get CEA-708 captions displayed on my Sony HDD250 DVR for prime time scripted series ABC programming. The CEA-708 CC show up on the Samsung T451 tuner, so there is something funky with the CEA-708 captions put out by WJLA-DT. The CCs show up on the Sony DVR for the same prime time programming on WMAR-DT 2. Someday all the stations will get all this stuff (CC, guide, clock, PSIP channel mapping) working correctly, right? Right?

Thanks for confirming your Sony still isn't showing CEA-708 captions for prime-time non-live programming from WJLA. I actually called WJLA more than a week ago to find out how to complain about captioning problems there, and was told by the male person who answered that WJLA was already working on the captioning problems. He refused to give me his name or the name of anyone else to receive a written complaint. He even refused to give me a fax number to use for sending WJLA a written complaint. He basically indicated he had been told to tell anyone who called that they were already working on the captioning problems even though I've been telling them via their web site about these captioning problems for two years to no avail (which I told him). His attitude indicated that HE was annoyed by ME calling to report this problem. There was absolutely no concern expressed about WJLA's audience of caption users experiencing these ongoing problems at all. I guess WJLA doesn't want any deaf or hard of hearing people or other users of captioning to be watching their programming, which should be of great concern to their advertisers since ten percent of the population has hearing loss.

WJLA still hasn't resolved their problems with CEA-708 captions for their prime time non-live programming even though Robert Forsyth, WJLA's engineer, has been told about those problems on this very forum months ago; his public response here was to monitor captions for LIVE programming from GMA in the morning, which was NOT associated with the problems that Alan, Steve and I have seen (for NON-LIVE prime time programming). I've sent him two private messages via the AVS Forum to which Forsyth has never responded.

People who have Sony, Sharp and Samsung DTV equipment will continue to have problems watching WJLA's prime time programming with CEA-708 captions. If we're lucky, we'll be able to switch to watching WMAR-DT on 2.1 instead while we wait for the FCC to give WJLA a well-deserved, hefty fine.

... to use for sending WJLA a written complaint.

I recommend you write it out, addressed to the General Manager, then use the plain ol' US Postal Service to deliver it to WJLA's main street address. Emails, faxes, and telephone complaints don't receive the same level of attention. Why? Broadcasters are required by the FCC to file and maintain written complaints from the public. And this book of complaints can be used against them when the time comes for license renewal.

But more importantly, the FCC has specific requirements for you to follow when making a complaint about closed captioning. See the section "Filing a Complaint" in this guide (http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/closedcaption.html).

I've been receiving HD OTA for a couple of years now. Occassionally (often when it rains), I get drop-outs, particularly Channel 7-1 and sometimes Channel 4-1. When it becomes unwatchable, I just switch to the analog station.

With those stations eventually going away, I wanted to know what I should do. Then I read about changes in power levels (but it also shows power levels dropping, but for different frequencies, making an apples to apples comparison not immediately obvious). Will these stations, in effect, be increasing their power, so I should experience fewer drop outs?

I live between Middleburg and Purcellville, VA. So, yes, I'm a ways out there.

I currently have a large Radio Shack antenna on the roof and a good line facing East. From the antenna, I run about 60' of coax to a power splitter, and then to TVs and DVR.

Should I just hold pat because signal strength will go up? Should I get an antenna mounted preamp? Can I run a preamp with the powered splitter?

Thanks, in advance, for your comments.

I've been receiving HD OTA for a couple of years now. Occassionally (often when it rains), I get drop-outs, particularly Channel 7-1 and sometimes Channel 4-1. When it becomes unwatchable, I just switch to the analog station.

With those stations eventually going away, I wanted to know what I should do. Then I read about changes in power levels (but it also shows power levels dropping, but for different frequencies, making an apples to apples comparison not immediately obvious). Will these stations, in effect, be increasing their power, so I should experience fewer drop outs?

I live between Middleburg and Purcellville, VA. So, yes, I'm a ways out there.

I currently have a large Radio Shack antenna on the roof and a good line facing East. From the antenna, I run about 60' of coax to a power splitter, and then to TVs and DVR.

Should I just hold pat because signal strength will go up? Should I get an antenna mounted preamp? Can I run a preamp with the powered splitter?

Thanks, in advance, for your comments.
Mounting an amp closer to the antenna is certainly worth a shot. 60' is a decent amount of coax to drive unamplified. I don't know much about how broadcast power will be changing, but given your location more amplification can't hurt.

I currently have a large Radio Shack antenna on the roof and a good line facing East. From the antenna, I run about 60' of coax to a power splitter, and then to TVs and DVR.

Should I just hold pat because signal strength will go up? Should I get an antenna mounted preamp? Can I run a preamp with the powered splitter?

Thanks, in advance, for your comments.

Make sure that you antenna is pointed correctly. Just a few degrees off can make a huge difference. I ran 100' from my pre-amp to the power supply, and at 45 miles from the transmitters, I'd get the four networks in the 90s all the time. I have to run new cable as evidently I have a short in the current line, so I'll shorten in up a little bit.

I live between Middleburg and Purcellville, VA. So, yes, I'm a ways out there.

I currently have a large Radio Shack antenna on the roof and a good line facing East. From the antenna, I run about 60' of coax to a power splitter, and then to TVs and DVR.You're about 36 miles from WJLA's antenna. It's to the EbS (east by south) of you...

I've been receiving HD OTA for a couple of years now. Occassionally (often when it rains), I get drop-outs, particularly Channel 7-1 and sometimes Channel 4-1. When it becomes unwatchable, I just switch to the analog station.Since you already have the distribution amp, I would try getting it closer to the antenna if possible. Make sure you have RG-6 cable running from the antenna to the amp. If you are getting all the other DC stations issue free, the antenna is probably pointed correctly, but you may need to raise or lower it a few inches to find a better sweet spot for the problem channels.

If these measures do not provide satisfactory reception, you may need to replace the distribution amp with a pre-amp.

There is a low power station broadcasting on the same frequency as WRC-DT 4 in Winchester, but I seriously doubt that is causing a problem.

Hope this helps

I live between Middleburg and Purcellville, VA. So, yes, I'm a ways out there.

I currently have a large Radio Shack antenna on the roof and a good line facing East. From the antenna, I run about 60' of coax to a power splitter, and then to TVs and DVR.
What model Radio Shack antenna do you have if you know? Just because it is a large antenna, does not mean it performs very well for UHF. The VHF/UHF antennas often tend to work better for VHF than for UHF. WJLA-DT will move to VHF 7 and with a large VHF antenna, you will probably be set for WJLA-DT 7 and WUSA-DT CBS 9. Out where you are there is the possibility of interference from analog WAZW-LP 48 in Winchester which is on UHF 48, same as WRC-DT 4.

You could add a pre-amp, but it is easier to maintain the system if you don't have to have a pre-amp. Is your coax RG-6 or RG-59? If RG-59, replace it with good quality shielded RG-6. RG-59 has increasing dB signal loss per foot the higher you go in UHF compared to RG-6.

Verizon Fios added MLB HD today to channel 586 for the Washington Metro market. Don't know about the rest of VHO 4 yet, but I would expect they did.

I live between Middleburg and Purcellville, VA. So, yes, I'm a ways out there.

I currently have a large Radio Shack antenna on the roof and a good line facing East. From the antenna, I run about 60' of coax to a power splitter, and then to TVs and DVR.

Should I just hold pat because signal strength will go up? Should I get an antenna mounted preamp? Can I run a preamp with the powered splitter?

Thanks, in advance, for your comments.

Yes, Definitely get an amplifier. I too am out in the Loudoun Valley fringe. Per the recommentations of others in this forum I purchased The CM7777. It definetly helps.

Yes, Definitely get an amplifier. I too am out in the Loudoun Valley fringe. Per the recommentations of others in this forum I purchased The CM7777. It definetly helps.The Channel Master 7777 is an excellent choice given your low signal strengths.

SolidSignal is a good place to get them; I've purchased two from them. And it appears the second one I just bought was not needed. No, I don't want to sell it. Because the moment I do put it in the mail, I WILL need it. :D

ANyone else getting breakups on 210-212 on Comcast in Alexandria/Arlington?

Joe, I'm getting breakups, rolling lines, etc here in Frederick, MD, on all my channels. I don't have digital cable service, but my HDTV pulls some digital channels in, just the same. They are breaking up, giving me a "Weak or No Signal" warning. It's been happening since last night when I turned the set on at 11pm,, probably started before that.

I just lost my cable modem a few minutes ago, though it's hard to know if that's related. I'm going to have to call Comcast--wish I could simply call the local folks like the old days. Hate to go through whatever distant office I'll be routed through. Here goes, anyway...

Has anyone out there tried the ganged antenna method as described on the HDTV Primer site? "http://www.hdtvprimer.com/" Had any luck?

If I do put two antennas on a combiner, How far apart do they have to be to NOT interfer with each other? It has been too long since I took that electromagnetics class.

I have been playing around some and have been able to pull in some distant stations only to loose one nearby. Trade-offs.

Now that WRC has bought the rights for the Redskins pre-season games, it will be interesting to see if they broadcast them in HD. Remember, this is the same station that it the ONLY local station in the D.C. market not broadcasting their local news in HD. Maybe (hopefully) CSN will produce the games for them in HD as they did when the games were previously broadcast on WUSA9.

The audio for the local HD channels on Comcast is driving me nuts. Why does the center channel keep going in and out especially during commercials and sometimes even on prime shows I only get the LF and RF speakers. This only happens on the locals. I use optical for the audio connection. The box is the comcast (moto) DVR. Thanks

At 36 miles and having issues, you probably need to overhaul your antenna and cabling. Are there any trees, close-by, that would block your reception, in that direction?

Now that WRC has bought the rights for the Redskins pre-season games, it will be interesting to see if they broadcast them in HD. Remember, this is the same station that it the ONLY local station in the D.C. market not broadcasting their local news in HD. Maybe (hopefully) CSN will produce the games for them in HD as they did when the games were previously broadcast on WUSA9.
I believe that they will be on CSN also.

Since you already have the distribution amp, I would try getting it closer to the antenna if possible. Make sure you have RG-6 cable running from the antenna to the amp. If you are getting all the other DC stations issue free, the antenna is probably pointed correctly, but you may need to raise or lower it a few inches to find a better sweet spot for the problem channels.

If these measures do not provide satisfactory reception, you may need to replace the distribution amp with a pre-amp.

There is a low power station broadcasting on the same frequency as WRC-DT 4 in Winchester, but I seriously doubt that is causing a problem.

Hope this helps


Thanks, everyone.
Yes, it's RG-6. Can't really shorten it much. It's on the roof, down the side of the house, and across to the other side of the house.

So, if I get the preamp, I should pull out the powered splitter?
If I get a CM-7777, how many TVs can I drive? I'm planning to add a couple of TVs.

Again, thanks so much.

I currently have a large Radio Shack antenna on the roof and a good line facing East. From the antenna, I run about 60' of coax to a power splitter, and then to TVs and DVR.
Do you know which RS antenna you have? How high is it?

What is the make/model of the powered splitter?

How much cable between the powered splitter and the TV's and DVR?

What does http://www.tvfool.com/ show for POST reception levels?

Now that WRC has bought the rights for the Redskins pre-season games, it will be interesting to see if they broadcast them in HD. Remember, this is the same station that it the ONLY local station in the D.C. market not broadcasting their local news in HD. Maybe (hopefully) CSN will produce the games for them in HD as they did when the games were previously broadcast on WUSA9.I don't have any insider information, but I am 100% certain these games will still be in HD.

Thanks, everyone.
Yes, it's RG-6. Can't really shorten it much. It's on the roof, down the side of the house, and across to the other side of the house.

So, if I get the preamp, I should pull out the powered splitter?
If I get a CM-7777, how many TVs can I drive? I'm planning to add a couple of TVs.

Again, thanks so much.

You can leave the splitter, but connect it after the amp from the CM7777. That's what I have. I have a 4 way splitter. I usually have 3 always connected, and occasionally connect the 4th. And again, I had 100' of cable, so you shouldn't have signal problems if it's Antenna->pre-amp->amp->splitter->set top boxes.

I don't have any insider information, but I am 100% certain these games will still be in HD.

If they are to be broadcast in HD on channel 4, then WRC is going to have to take a huge technological leap forward. Maybe this will push them to take their newscasts to HD finally.

If they are to be broadcast in HD on channel 4, then WRC is going to have to take a huge technological leap forward. Maybe this will push them to take their newscasts to HD finally.

That's not necessarily true - I was putting HD ACC basketball games on the air on WNUV before we put in our HD master control. It just takes some outside of the box thinking.

It's a good thing to hope for, though!

.

If they are to be broadcast in HD on channel 4, then WRC is going to have to take a huge technological leap forward. Maybe this will push them to take their newscasts to HD finally.

We can only hope that that Redskins were smart enough to include language in their contract with WRC that the pre-season games must be produced and available in HD. That's what the NFL did in its contracts with their broascast partners.

I tried to update the GoogleDocs file (see sig, 'Transition of Local Stations' worksheet) to reflect the info in afiggatt's post-transition chart from last week. Please verify/edit for correctness.

-SUO

Is it me, or does it seem like HD equipment is banned on the UVA campus? I can't remember the last time I saw a Virginia basketball game in HD. Also, I would like to know what qam channels people in Prince George's can get right now. I get the HD locals, Music Choice, A&E HD at 134-3, Oxygen at 110-11, and a few SD repeats like WGN, and TV Guide Network

I tried to update the GoogleDocs file (see sig, 'Transition of Local Stations' worksheet) to reflect the info in afiggatt's post-transition chart from last week. Please verify/edit for correctness.

-SUO

The DirecTV/w OTA column shows all the main network HD channels missing, but with the subchannels present. While I don't have DirectTV -- Can this be right?

Digital Transition Summary for DC, Baltimore, Hagerstown Stations – February 22, 2009


Hey, that is such a useful table, afiggatt, thanks!
I've whittled it down to the following, and added Compass Heading/Distance columns below for the purpose of my questions.

Station|Location|Pre-DT (ERP kw)|Post-DT (ERP kw)|Post HAAT(m)|Degrees|Miles|Notes
WJLA-DT ABC 7|DC|39 (646 kW)|7 (30 kW)|235 m|81|20.9|Maximized app for 30 kW granted.
WUSA-DT CBS 9|DC|34 (1000)|9 (12.6)|235|81|20.9|
WFDC-DT uni 14|DC|15 (325)|15 (1000)|227|83|20.6|Maximized app granted for 1000 kW post-transition
WETA-DT PBS 26|DC|27 (90)|27 (90)|254|81|20.9|Petition pending to move to 51 for DTV operations at 674 kW
WNVT-DT MHz 30|Goldvein |30 (160)|30 (160)|229|189|15.2|
WHUT-DT PBS 32|DC|33 (100)|33 (100)|254|81|20.9|maximized app pending for 1000 kW
WPXW-DT Ion 66|Manassas->DC|43 (90)|34 (1000)|221|134|7.6|maximized app for 1000 kW granted, taking over WUSA-DT’s pre-trans DT 34 transmitter
WDCA-DT MyN 20|DC|35 (500)|35 (500)|227|80|20.9|maximized app pending for 950 kW
WTTG-DT Fox 5|DC|36 (1000)|36 (1000)|227|80|20.9|
WRC-DT NBC 4|DC|48 (813)|48 (813)|242|83|20.6|Filed for nightlight operation after June 12
WDCW-DT CW 50|DC|51 (125)|50 (122)|253|81|23.9|maximized app pending for 1000 kW


So the above table lists the channel line-up I want to receive. And I am able to receive all those channels except for WFDC UNI 14. Looking at the above table, could anyone explain why that is? From a recent previous post, I read that it would go over to 1000kW upon switchover and thought, "Oh, THAT's why I can't get that station; it's not at max power, yet." But then, looking at this table, you can see that its current power is at 325kW, and that is a good amount higher than some of the other stations, at the same transmitter location, that I get very well, like WETA, which may be my strongest signal at my current antenna position (indoor antenna, precisely positioned/rotated to receive all the channels in the table). Could my bad reception for 14.1 be because it is at the lowest frequency of all my channels? Do you think this implies that I will also have trouble getting channels 7.1 and 9.1 when they move from frequencies 39 and 34 to frequencies 7 and 9?

Also, why that drastic power decrease after the switchover for WJLA and WUSA? Do they expect that somehow at the new frequency the siganl will carry just as far with the lower power??

And I am able to receive all those channels except for WFDC UNI 14. Looking at the above table, could anyone explain why that is? From a recent previous post, I read that it would go over to 1000kW upon switchover and thought, "Oh, THAT's why I can't get that station; it's not at max power, yet." But then, looking at this table, you can see that its current power is at 325kW, and that is a good amount higher than some of the other stations, at the same transmitter location, that I get very well, like WETA, which may be my strongest signal at my current antenna position (indoor antenna, precisely positioned/rotated to receive all the channels in the table). Could my bad reception for 14.1 be because it is at the lowest frequency of all my channels? Do you think this implies that I will also have trouble getting channels 7.1 and 9.1 when they move from frequencies 39 and 34 to frequencies 7 and 9?

Also, why that drastic power decrease after the switchover for WJLA and WUSA? Do they expect that somehow at the new frequency the siganl will carry just as far with the lower power??
What antenna are you using? WFDC-DT 14 on UHF 15 has a pretty strong signal. I can get it here in Sterling with any antenna I have tried. The boost to 1000 kW which will happen sometime after June 12 is more for indoor antennas in poorer reception spots and deep fringe viewers.

The power requirements for upper VHF for the same coverage range are much lower than for UHF. For analog, WJLA-TV 7 and WUSA-TV 9 are broadcasting at the maximum allowed ERP (Effective Radiated Power) of 316 kW for upper VHF while WHUT-TV 32 is at the maximum allowed for UHF at 5000 kW. Digital ERPs are lower because the ERPs are calculated differently (peak versus average). WJLA-DT 7 will be at the maximum allowed in Zone 1 for upper VHF at 30 kW ERP. 1000 kW ERP is the maximum allowed for digital UHF.

I'm in College Park and I'm hooked up to comcast cable and I have an HDTV capable of having those "dashed" channels. I've managed to find a couple of them, but they changed and I've found them again, but I feel like there are a lot more.

CBS used to be 9-1, but now it's 122-3.

I've been searching and searching and I find things about OTA channels and broadcasting analog and digital stations, but I can't seem to find an actual listing of the "dashed" channels.

Anyone know anything?

I'm in College Park and I'm hooked up to comcast cable and I have an HDTV capable of having those "dashed" channels. I've managed to find a couple of them, but they changed and I've found them again, but I feel like there are a lot more.

CBS used to be 9-1, but now it's 122-3.

I've been searching and searching and I find things about OTA channels and broadcasting analog and digital stations, but I can't seem to find an actual listing of the "dashed" channels.

Anyone know anything?

I have been using Comcast Basic in Beltsville for clear QAM channels for several years. If you search on "knnirs" you will find many inputs.

Comcast may or may not be thhe same in College Park and Beltsville, but I have a total of more than 300 channels. In addition different TV tuners use different code for QAM tuning.
Try 122-1,122-2,122-3,122-4 122-5
123-1,123-2,123-3 123-4, 123-5 123-6, 123-7
132-1,132-2,
124-1,134-2,134-3
I hope this will get you started.

I got my antenna moved to the rotor yesterday and here is what I'm currently receiving:

CHANNEL | CALL SIGN | NETWORK
2-1|WMAR|CBS HD
2-2|WMAR|CBS-SD
2-3|WMAR|Radar
5-1|WTTG|FOX
7-1|WJLA|ABC
7-2|WJLA|Radar
7-3|WJLA|RTN
8-1|WGAL|NBC
8-2|WGAL|ThisTV
9-1|WUSA|CBS
9-2|WUSA|Radar
10-1|WTAJ|CBS
11-1|WBAL|NBC
11-2|WBAL|Radar
13-1|WJZ|CBS
20-1|WDCA|MyNetwork
24-1|WUTB|MyNetwork
24-1|WNPB|WV PBS
24-2|WNPB|WV PBS
24-3|WNPB|WV PBS
25-1|WHAG|NBC
31-1|WWPB|MD PBS
31-2|WWPB|MD PBS
31-3|WWPB|VMe
42-1|WVPY|VA PBS
42-2|WVPY|VA PBS
42-3|WVPY|VMe
43-1|WPMT|FOX
45-1|WBFF|FOX
45-2|WBFF|ThisTV
49-1|WGCB|
49-2|WGCB|MyFamily
54-1|WNUV|CW
60-1|WWPX|iON
60-2|WWPX|QUBO
60-3|WWPX|iON Life
60-4|WWPX|WorshipI'll be putting in an order for a CM 3412 to replace my TrunkLine DA. I hope the lower NF will allow better reception/viewing.

I still need to do my antenna vertical peak adjustment.

I got my antenna moved to the rotor yesterday and here is what I'm currently receiving:
You are doing pretty good with the rotor setup! Did you raise the antenna height? Now you get WBFF-DT 45 which is good to hear. Curious that you get all of the DC stations which have strong UHF signals except for WRC-DT 4. Do you get anything on the signal meter for UHF 48?

Because of the weather (missed me :)) East of here (along the I-95 corridor), my reception has been plagued with dropouts tonight. I'll have better quality reports when it clears up and I get the antenna elements at least 32.16" (channel 7) above the top of the tower.

Did you raise the antenna height?
No. I'd like to get at least another 10' though.

NOTE: I climbed the tower this morning and took a measurement between the antenna and the top of the tower. Looks like I need to raise the rotor about ½" minimum. I've got a 12'x1" pipe (or I may go get a galv. one) that I plan on replacing the 5' antenna mast with.

Why is WTTG putting Side-Bars on 16:9 programming? I caught Stargate Atlantis Sunday, before the race, and had to set the image to 4:3 to get 16:9. Isn't this a little redundant?

Why is WTTG putting Side-Bars on 16:9 programming? I caught Stargate Atlantis Sunday, before the race, and had to set the image to 4:3 to get 16:9. Isn't this a little redundant?

I have been recording and viewing that show like that for 3 years now.:confused:

MPT does the same thing. Sheesh!

Did anyone else in the Baltimore area experience weird clicking noises during the commercials on NBC tonight? We have DirectTV, and plasma tv.

There were brief sound problems tonight on WBAL during the NBC shows.

There were brief sound problems tonight on WBAL during the NBC shows.

Actually its still seems to be there this morning as we were watching the Today show. More like an intermittent crackle. Kinda like what you hear from a fireplace. Atleast thats what I'm hearing. The other HD channels like FoodTV, HGTV, HD Theater, Discovery, Palladia, NatGeo...everything else on HD that isnt a local channel sounds fine. Maybe its just the local channels.

The audio was tinny and the volume dropped during parts of the NBC programs. I didn't notice anything on other channels. Watching on Comcast.

The audio was tinny and the volume dropped during parts of the NBC programs. I didn't notice anything on other channels. Watching on Comcast.

Hmm thx Marcus. We did experience the drop and the tinny but there have have been clicks or what could be called pops on NBC since last nite. It could just be good ol' Directv, any which way its still a relief that its not my brand nu 111FD!

Hmm thx Marcus. We did experience the drop and the tinny but there have have been clicks or what could be called pops on NBC since last nite. It could just be good ol' Directv, any which way its still a relief that its not my brand nu 111FD!

DC NBC has had clicks for the last year or so. They're not super loud, but annoying in a HT environment. They seem to rotate around the channels every 15 seconds or so. Sometimes you can ignore them, but during quiet scenes, they are distracting.

DC NBC has had clicks for the last year or so. They're not super loud, but annoying in a HT environment. They seem to rotate around the channels every 15 seconds or so. Sometimes you can ignore them, but during quiet scenes, they are distracting.

Thx for the info AbMagFab. Its a pity...I wish they would fix these things!

Looks like MASN is testing out their 24/7 HD channel. They're showing content from the SD channel pillarboxed right now.

Does anyone in PG know if The Comcast Network (formerly CN8) is now only on digital cable? It was on channel 21 but now that is just static. Yet another channel that mysteriously has disappeared over the last two years (see MTV2, Tru TV, GAC to name a few). Something seemed strange when the TV Guide Network would list it as CNPH the Philadelphia version. Also, according to them, Jewelry TV is supposed to be on channel 23. Maybe I'm missing something since I don't have a box (connected straight to TV).

Sounded like they were in a tin can on my OTA system. Very annoying.

Was it my recording or did CBS drop the audio at the end of Big Bang last night?

Looks like MASN is testing out their 24/7 HD channel. They're showing content from the SD channel pillarboxed right now.
Where are you seeing this, out of curiosity?

I'd venture a guess and say that he is watching the MASN SD channel and is seeing stuff pillar boxed.

Where are you seeing this, out of curiosity?

Channel 687 on RCN in D.C., if that's what you're asking. This channel has long been labeled as MASN HD, but before today, it was just a remap of the 480i SD channel when there wasn't a Nats or O's game on in HD.

Comcast to add MASN HD in Charles, Calvert, Frederick, and Carroll Counties on 4/1.

Also in Charlottesville, Palmyra, Greene Co. and Lake Monticello, VA.

The Comcast Network will require a digital box.

http://www.publicnoticeads.com/MD/search/results.asp?T=PN

http://classifieds.dailyprogress.com/classifieds-bin/classifieds?tp=charlottesville%20va&property=charlottesville%20va&temp_type=detail&classification=announcements,legal%20ads,death%20notices&category_number=0111&orderby=start_date:d&date=today,sunday_before(today),MONDAY_BEFORE(TODAY),TUESDAY _BEFORE(TODAY),WEDNESDAY_BEFORE(TODAY),THURSDAY_BEFORE(TODAY ),FRIDAY_BEFORE(TODAY),SATURDAY_BEFORE(TODAY)

Was it my recording or did CBS drop the audio at the end of Big Bang last night?


Sound dropped for a few seconds during the last scene (just prior to the credits) on WJZ-DT via Comcast Howard County.

Channel 687 on RCN in D.C., if that's what you're asking. This channel has long been labeled as MASN HD, but before today, it was just a remap of the 480i SD channel when there wasn't a Nats or O's game on in HD.
That's exactly what I was looking for; thanks.

Hi all -

I'm going to be turning the WNUV and WBFF analog transmitters off tonight at 11:59:59 PM, in case anyone wants to watch. I'm planning on playing the end-of-broadcast-day thing that I did when I took the programming off a couple of weeks ago at around 11:55 PM, then shutting them off.

End of an era!

.

Sound dropped for a few seconds during the last scene (just prior to the credits) on WJZ-DT via Comcast Howard County.The recording was of WJZ-DT. Thanks!

Thanks Mark! I'll do my best to watch.

I'm going to be turning the WNUV and WBFF analog transmitters off tonight at 11:59:59 PM, in case anyone wants to watch. I'm planning on playing the end-of-broadcast-day thing that I did when I took the programming off a couple of weeks ago at around 11:55 PM, then shutting them off.
Cool. I got the Sony HD-DVR set to record WNUV-TV going dark for real.

How many phone calls and questions about the analog shutdown have you and the 2 stations been getting since Feb. 17? More than you expected or less?

Good night, WBFF-TV and WNUV-TV.

Hi all -

I'm going to be turning the WNUV and WBFF analog transmitters off tonight at 11:59:59 PM, in case anyone wants to watch. I'm planning on playing the end-of-broadcast-day thing that I did when I took the programming off a couple of weeks ago at around 11:55 PM, then shutting them off.

End of an era!

.

I watched it -- in fact, I was able to switch from WBFF, after you shut it off, over to WNUV and just catch the shutdown there as well.

End of an era, indeed -- The era began in 1941...

Cool. I got the Sony HD-DVR set to record WNUV-TV going dark for real.

How many phone calls and questions about the analog shutdown have you and the 2 stations been getting since Feb. 17? More than you expected or less?

I guess I've gotten fewer phone calls than I've expected. The interesting thing is that everyone that I've talked to has either a converter box or an HDTV (with the exception of the lady that was told by Best Buy that the TV she was buying in Jan. 2008 had "a digital tuner" in it - turned out that it didn't have an ATSC tuner in it...), but they are having problems setting them up. I'd say 75% of them are "only seeing the infomercial about how to hook up a converter" when they are tuned into the station through their converter box or HDTV, meaning that they are looking at the analog channel, not the digital channel. It's surprising how the different manufacturers activate the ATSC tuners - some TVs have a different RF input, some have a button on the remote control, some you just tune in. A lot of people have never done a channel scan, most of them haven't really read the manual...

The rest of the problems have been with reception. Turns out that you have to move the antennas around to get a reliable signal... I got a call the other day from a lady who was having difficulty getting a reliable signal with her rabbit-ear antenna. It turned out that she was calling from Rockville...

Anyway, I expect a lot of calls tomorrow (well, today, actually) when nothing is on the analog channels anymore.

:

Last few nights I've noticed some audio problems with WBAL. Last night during a few shows, mostly noticed it during Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, where bits got really tinny. I recorded some of it, and it sounded a bit better from the .ts file than live.
I've also noticed some strange blocking, like bad compression effects. It only happens with WBAL. Its more pronounced during a live broadcast, I can't seem to notice it on the recorded .ts files.
I was worried it was my card, but why would it only affect one station?

Glad to see that I wasn't the only one with at least the tinny audio problems.

Tonight during Leno I had some more problems. Some total audio drop-outs, then it switched from HD to letterboxed/4x3 SD, and around. It seemed to get fixed then.

All of this is OTA DTV, using a Dvico FusionHDTV7 Dual Tuner within Windows XP.

Also, bye analog WBFF and WNUV. :(

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/1848/goodbyewbff.gif (http://img56.imageshack.us/my.php?image=goodbyewbff.gif)

I watched too. It was good to see the old WBFF-TV logo. You gotta put the sign off up on YouTube sometime. Loved seeing the National Anthem again too, even with 60s era jets. :D

The rest of the problems have been with reception. Turns out that you have to move the antennas around to get a reliable signal... I got a call the other day from a lady who was having difficulty getting a reliable signal with her rabbit-ear antenna. It turned out that she was calling from Rockville...

:

Having a few sets here with converter boxes, and the card in my PC... yeah, direction of the antenna has a huge effect. As does having people walk by.

Never been too up on the UHF/VHF thing, either, but watched some of that analog thing on WBFF tonight, and learned a bit. Heh.
If you have the wrong antenna, a normal set of rabbit ears, you may still not get ANY DTV signal! :o

Almost makes me want to build one of those DIY antenna to sit behind my TV.

WBAL HD on Comcast has seemed to have audio problems all day when they are airing NBC content.

Now just a constant beep on HD but SD fine.

WBAL HD on Comcast has seemed to have audio problems all day when they are airing NBC content.

Now just a constant beep on HD but SD fine.

OTA WBAL dropped audio, then had some during the commercials, then went to a whine/buzz. Its getting annoying. :(

O's in HD

By Kate Wheeler on January 31, 2009 7:44 PM

As many of you already know, MASN will be launching a full-time HD channel in April, bringing you twice as many O's games in HD this season.

What most of you have been asking about though is if the MASN HD channel will be available to subscribers of Verizon FiOS, and the answer is not yet.

Comcast, DirecTV, Cox and RCN will all carry the full-time HD channel; but as MASN works with its 22 existing cable and satellite affiliates to deliver HD to as many homes as possible, they're holding off on expanding the HD output until any and all problems can be addressed first.

"We want to ensure that any problems experienced by providers or viewers will be addressed before expanding the HD schedule further," MASN said. "Just as other regional networks increased the number of HD games they televised over time, there is no doubt that in the coming years, MASN will continue to expand its HD game schedule."

So if you have Verizon FiOS, you might not be able to reap the full benefits of a full-time MASN HD channel where you can watch your O's in high-definition just yet, as the decision is ultimately made by each distributor; Verizon FiOS might not carry MASN's HD signal this season, but with your patience, MASN will continue to work toward expanding the reach of its full-time HD channel as rapidly as possible, and the result will be well worth the wait.

In the meantime, MASN will still bring you every Orioles game, complete with pre-and postgame shows; and if you really can't wait to see the O's in HD, come out to the Yard and check out the new HD setup Oriole Park will be sporting coming Opening Day.

http://masnsports.com/2009/01/os-in-hd.html

The DirecTV/w OTA column [on the GoogleDocs file] shows all the main network HD channels missing, but with the subchannels present. While I don't have DirectTV -- Can this be right?

gmucklow (as well as CycloneGT)-

The first post of this thread labels those channels as "XS." I'm not exactly sure what that means, so I left it blank on the GoogleDocs file. Like you, I am not a subscriber. Perhaps you have to explicitly subscibe to those channels, which may require some location-based eligibility (i.e., D*TV may require you to be within some local range of the OTA signal before they'll give it to you via sat). I think my parents have a similar issue, given that they live 60 miles out from their closest city (Richmond), but don't get the locals.

If my hypothesis is correct, I don't think it completely explains why some subchannels appear to be fully offered, but the main channel is not.

On the other hand, if the sat receivers include an OTA (err, ATSC) tuner, ... and that's the only way you can get the main channels, then my GoogleDocs chart is correct. You're technically not getting those channels via sat.

Surely, som sat expert will clear all of this up. :)

-SUO

Great exit Mark! "AIM HIGH AMERICA!" I especially loved the Indian Test Pattern.

I thought I caught another station right after the transmission went dead. I did a search of the FCC TVQuery for 200 KM on RF 54, but came up empty in that direction for another analog station.

While playing with the rotor last night, I found a "Sweet Spot" to be able to get a majority of the Baltimore and D.C. stations at the same time. I did a scan with my DT502, since it won't add stations, and then tested the DT502 EPG for datat from the stations. Here are my results:

Station|EPG Data
WTTG|12 hrs
WJLA (-1 & -3)|12 hrs
WUSA|24 hrs
WJZ|12 hrs
WDCA|6 hrs
WNPB|12 hrs
WUTB|6 hrs
WWPB|12 hrs
WVPY|12 hrs
WWPX|24 hrs+ (updates every 5-10 sec)

gmucklow (as well as CycloneGT)-

The first post of this thread labels those channels as "XS." I'm not exactly sure what that means, so I left it blank on the GoogleDocs file. -SUO

Yeah, I kinda did that years ago. The X simply means that the channel should be present with a OTA antenna. I added the "S" later to indicate channels that are also available via Satellite. I guess its a mess now and should be cleaned up. I"m hoping to rebuild those grids using the "table" feature of the site one day. I tried it a few weeks ago with the other part of the grid and had mixed results.

That's exactly what I was looking for; thanks.

I've attached a rough approximation of what I'm seeing on MASN HD. It's not a true screenshot, but rather a photo of my TV screen...

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=135639&d=1236211825

The picture quality is a VAST improvement from the awful MASN SD channel.

I've attached a rough approximation of what I'm seeing on MASN HD. It's not a true screenshot, but rather a photo of my TV screen...

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=135639&d=1236211825

The picture quality is a VAST improvement from the awful MASN SD channel.
Oh wow; I can't wait. That does look a hell of a lot better!

Having a few sets here with converter boxes, and the card in my PC... yeah, direction of the antenna has a huge effect. As does having people walk by.

Never been too up on the UHF/VHF thing, either, but watched some of that analog thing on WBFF tonight, and learned a bit. Heh.
If you have the wrong antenna, a normal set of rabbit ears, you may still not get ANY DTV signal! :o

Almost makes me want to build one of those DIY antenna to sit behind my TV.

I built a single-bay Gray-Hoverman antenna out of a 2x4 & some Romex wire. It is very fragile with wire that flexible but it works surprising well with a little amplification. Stashed behind a door I can pick up most of the Baltimore (~ 52 miles away) & Philadelphia (~ 45 miles away) stations most of the time.

What antenna are you using? WFDC-DT 14 on UHF 15 has a pretty strong signal. I can get it here in Sterling with any antenna I have tried. The boost to 1000 kW which will happen sometime after June 12 is more for indoor antennas in poorer reception spots and deep fringe viewers.

The power requirements for upper VHF for the same coverage range are much lower than for UHF. For analog, WJLA-TV 7 and WUSA-TV 9 are broadcasting at the maximum allowed ERP (Effective Radiated Power) of 316 kW for upper VHF while WHUT-TV 32 is at the maximum allowed for UHF at 5000 kW. Digital ERPs are lower because the ERPs are calculated differently (peak versus average). WJLA-DT 7 will be at the maximum allowed in Zone 1 for upper VHF at 30 kW ERP. 1000 kW ERP is the maximum allowed for digital UHF.

Hey, thanks for the interesting info and inquiring more in order to try and help. Sorry to be so late in replying back to you when you were so quick.

As for the antenna, it is an indoor antenna, a Samsung Axession, a powered Silver Sensorish (~1-ft triangle) antenna, with an extra amplifier after it, too. I've tried everything, including various giant outdoor antennas in various rooms in my apartment with various amplifiers, and this gets the best reception. I realize "everything" is a very ambiguous term, but there is a long history of what I've tried and I'll spare you the boredom unless you really need to know and ask again.

It is, however, pertinent how tenuous this signal that I do get is. In order to get all the channels that I have mentioned, I have to place the antenna in exactly the right xyz coordinates, and this spot happens to be at a window/wall boundary. Some channels come in when the antenna is completely blocked by the wall, and others come in when given complete access to the window, but I can manage both sets of channels if I place the antenna just right. Also intriguing is that although the transmitter locator webpage tells me that most of my signals, which also happen to be the furthest ones, are coming from about 81 degrees and yet my best reception is when I have the thing pointed at about 120 degrees.

If I had not been able to get any signal, I would not have been surprised. In fact, until I found this antenna, I was not able to get anything. But I am able to get everything, everything except WFDC-14 on UHF 15, despite the fact that its transmitter in basically in the same place as most of the others, maybe the same place as WRC which I get fine, so I'm just wondering. WFDC does come in ok if I turn the antenna to about 160 degrees but then I lose most everything else. Also, WFDC prefers the "wall" placement of the antenna over "window" placement.

Any insight? Or is this just an example of the inexactness of antenna science?

Thanks!

Hey, thanks for the interesting info and inquiring more in order to try and help. Sorry to be so late in replying back to you when you were so quick.

As for the antenna, it is an indoor antenna, a Samsung Axession, a powered Silver Sensorish (~1-ft triangle) antenna, with an extra amplifier after it, too. I've tried everything, including various giant outdoor antennas in various rooms in my apartment with various amplifiers, and this gets the best reception. I realize "everything" is a very ambiguous term, but there is a long history of what I've tried and I'll spare you the boredom unless you really need to know and ask again.

It is, however, pertinent how tenuous this signal that I do get is. In order to get all the channels that I have mentioned, I have to place the antenna in exactly the right xyz coordinates, and this spot happens to be at a window/wall boundary. Some channels come in when the antenna is completely blocked by the wall, and others come in when given complete access to the window, but I can manage both sets of channels if I place the antenna just right. Also intriguing is that although the transmitter locator webpage tells me that most of my signals, which also happen to be the furthest ones, are coming from about 81 degrees and yet my best reception is when I have the thing pointed at about 120 degrees.

If I had not been able to get any signal, I would not have been surprised. In fact, until I found this antenna, I was not able to get anything. But I am able to get everything, everything except WFDC-14 on UHF 15, despite the fact that its transmitter in basically in the same place as most of the others, maybe the same place as WRC which I get fine, so I'm just wondering. WFDC does come in ok if I turn the antenna to about 160 degrees but then I lose most everything else. Also, WFDC prefers the "wall" placement of the antenna over "window" placement.

Any insight? Or is this just an example of the inexactness of antenna science?

Thanks!

It sounds like what you're experiencing is "multipath conditions",(reflecting signals of the same channel cancelling each other out depending on frequency), and not low signal level. And adding an amplifier may make the problem much worse. Remember that the "signal level" on your receiver or converter box is not actually signal strength or level, but quality of the digital bitstream being received.

In my many years at this game I've never seen an indoor antenna that will receive all DTV stations equally without a bunch of moving around.

Outdoor antennas are the best route.

As for the antenna, it is an indoor antenna, a Samsung Axession, a powered Silver Sensorish (~1-ft triangle) antenna, with an extra amplifier after it, too. I've tried everything, including various giant outdoor antennas in various rooms in my apartment with various amplifiers, and this gets the best reception. I realize "everything" is a very ambiguous term, but there is a long history of what I've tried and I'll spare you the boredom unless you really need to know and ask again.
Where are you located? Zip or your town will do. Have you tried antennas without an amplifier? In many cases, especially if one is close to the broadcast towers, the amplifier can make digital reception worse by overloading the front end of the digital receiver. But turning off the amp doesn't test working without the pre-amp because that can all but shut off the signal path from the antenna.

I'm in Sterling, 16-18 miles from the DC broadcast towers and 43 miles from the Baltimore towers. I can get all the DC and most of the Baltimore digital stations WITHOUT an amp with a Channel Master 4221 4 Bay bowtie in the attic. I have a CM 7777 pre-amp to get the weaker stations, WMAR-DT 2 (52) and WBAL-DT 11 (59 at 513 kW) in Baltimore of those 2 station groups. I have been having trouble recently getting WBAL-DT reliably which is odd because I can get WMPB-DT MPT 67 (DT 29 at 14 kW) north of Baltimore much of the time. Wierd, but I have a dead spot in the attic for WBAL-DT's current signal. However, I plan to try to see what stations I can get without the pre-amp after June 12. I'm hoping I can dump the pre-amp then. OTOH, I may need it to get the Hagerstown stations then.

One major cause of poor digital reception is the use of a cheap pre-amp or any amp which it is not needed.

I am getting pixelated reception. I am in 20816 which is very close to several stations. I have a Vizio Vo32L and am using a Radio Shack unpowered antenna. I was thinking of getting the small monoprice outdoor antenna and using it indoors (without power). Seems to get great reviews. Thoughts?

I also have Fios and have been trying to get HDTV channels by plugging the coax cable directly into my coax port. I can get 2 HD channels but the quality is not great. Aren't they supposed to supply all over the air HD channels free? I have an HD box in another room and it works great.

I'm going to be turning the WNUV and WBFF analog transmitters off tonight at 11:59:59 PM, in case anyone wants to watch.I thought the night light service had to run for a month or two? I saw the first transition, but I missed this one because I wasn't expecting it. Oh well.

I am getting pixelated reception. I am in 20816 which is very close to several stations. I have a Vizio Vo32L and am using a Radio Shack unpowered antenna. I was thinking of getting the small monoprice outdoor antenna and using it indoors (without power). Seems to get great reviews. Thoughts?.
Don't know what you mean by small monoprice outdoor antenna. Have you tried different locations for the Radio Shack antenna? What Radio Shack antenna are you using?

I also have Fios and have been trying to get HDTV channels by plugging the coax cable directly into my coax port. I can get 2 HD channels but the quality is not great. Aren't they supposed to supply all over the air HD channels free? I have an HD box in another room and it works great.
Yes, Verizon provides the HD and SD digital locals in the clear. The digital broadcast locals are located at QAM 71 to 76, 78 with the 8 HD locals at QAM 71 to 74. But all of the stations with HD sub-channels are mapped by the QAM tuners I have tried to their broadcast channel numbers as Verizon passes the PSIP channel mapping info. Are you sure you are seeing the HD channels? Verizon also passes public, music, local channels in the clear. The non-mapped digital locals are: WNVT-DT, WNVC-DT are at QAM 75, WPXW-DT Ion 66 was recently moved to QAM 76 (my guess in preparation for Ion going HD in mid-March), WHUT-DT PBS 32 at QAM 78.

I happen to do a QAM channel scan today to see if any new QAM subs had been added this week and noticed that NHL HD is currently in the clear at QAM 54 because there is a free preview this week for the NHL channel.

Hi all -
I'm going to be turning the WNUV and WBFF analog transmitters off tonight at 11:59:59 PM, in case anyone wants to watch. I'm planning on playing the end-of-broadcast-day thing that I did when I took the programming off a couple of weeks ago at around 11:55 PM, then shutting them off.
End of an era!

Mark,

How will WNUV be branded after June 12? Can you still call yourself WNUV-DT54? You are now and will continue transmitting on DTV Channel 40 after June 12 but can still map your PSIP to DTV Channel 54-1 until June 12. However, after June 12, Channel 54 can no longer be used for actual DTV transmissions because everything from Channels 52 through 69 are being sold off by the FCC. Can you still map your PSIP to DTV54-1 even though Channel 54 is no longer being used after June 12 for actual transmitting or if not then does that mean that you must rebrand as WNUV-DT40?

Will WBFF-TV45 rebrand as WBFF-DT46?

I imagine that most if not all low VHF analog channels 2-6 who will switch permanently to UHF DTV after June 12 will map their UHF DTV transmissions onto their original analog channel numbers. Included are WMAR-2 and WRC-4. Do you agree?

Thanks

Where are you located? Zip or your town will do.
I'm in Centreville, VA. To review, here is the list of channels I'm able to get at my current antenna position (except for WFDC), with extra columns added for distance and compass heading to the transmitters from my position.

Station|Location|Pre-DT (ERP kw)|Post-DT (ERP kw)|Post HAAT(m)|Degrees|Miles|Notes
WJLA-DT ABC 7|DC|39 (646 kW)|7 (30 kW)|235 m|81|20.9|Maximized app for 30 kW granted.
WUSA-DT CBS 9|DC|34 (1000)|9 (12.6)|235|81|20.9|
WFDC-DT uni 14|DC|15 (325)|15 (1000)|227|83|20.6|Maximized app granted for 1000 kW post-transition
WETA-DT PBS 26|DC|27 (90)|27 (90)|254|81|20.9|Petition pending to move to 51 for DTV operations at 674 kW
WNVT-DT MHz 30|Goldvein |30 (160)|30 (160)|229|189|15.2|
WHUT-DT PBS 32|DC|33 (100)|33 (100)|254|81|20.9|maximized app pending for 1000 kW
WPXW-DT Ion 66|Manassas->DC|43 (90)|34 (1000)|221|134|7.6|maximized app for 1000 kW granted, taking over WUSA-DT’s pre-trans DT 34 transmitter
WDCA-DT MyN 20|DC|35 (500)|35 (500)|227|80|20.9|maximized app pending for 950 kW
WTTG-DT Fox 5|DC|36 (1000)|36 (1000)|227|80|20.9|
WRC-DT NBC 4|DC|48 (813)|48 (813)|242|83|20.6|Filed for nightlight operation after June 12
WDCW-DT CW 50|DC|51 (125)|50 (122)|253|81|23.9|maximized app pending for 1000 kW


Have you tried antennas without an amplifier?
Yes, I've tried without, and I've tried with a few different amplifiers including some channelmaster one and many from Radio Shack. In almost every case, the amplifier destroyed the weak signal completely. The one that I have now is the only one that didn't do that, so I liked it the best. Now, it takes the output from my powered antenna from occassionally having glitches to being rock solid. The more impressive amplifier in my mind is the one built in to the powered antenna. They must have engineered that amp to match that antenna perfectly by impedance or something, because before this antenna, when I was trying everything from a 10-ft (or was it 11?) rooftop antenna (but in various rooms inside my apartment) to a Silver Sensor and various knock-offs, I found that I barely got something sometimes, but adding an amp would make any hint of there being a signal go away. I figured even an amp needed some amount to work with, and the amount it was getting was not enough and just got "absorbed" in the process of trying to "read" and amplify it.

But turning off the amp doesn't test working without the pre-amp because that can all but shut off the signal path from the antenna.
You mean turning off the amplifier but leaving the coax cables connected to either side of it hoping that the signal will somehow make it through the turned-off amplifier? If so, yes, I understand.

I'm in Sterling, 16-18 miles from the DC broadcast towers and 43 miles from the Baltimore towers.
I'm near what a friend and I like to refer to as The Centreville Triangle. Reception is exceptionally poor here for some reason although it is better both west and east of there. I don't know why.


I have not tried any "Channel Master 4221 4 Bay bowtie"-like antennas, though. That's an idea. I may have to try that. Thanks!

How will WNUV be branded after June 12? Can you still call yourself WNUV-DT54? You are now and will continue transmitting on DTV Channel 40 after June 12 but can still map your PSIP to DTV Channel 54-1 until June 12.
...
Will WBFF-TV45 rebrand as WBFF-DT46?
The short answer is no, both stations will continue to identify themselves by their analog channel because the FCC requires stations to do so. Except for stations that went all digital years ago such as WNVT-DT 30 (analog was on 53) and stations that got waivers to use their digital channel, all stations will be required to keep broadcasting their analog channel number even when that analog channel no longer exists. The FCC did not want to get into managing virtual channel assignments.

In the long run, I expect the FCC will relax the rules and allow stations, if they so choose, to use their new physical digital channel provided that the channel number is not used by any other station that overlaps their coverage area. Stations with established identities such as (WRC) NBC 4 or (WBFF) Fox 45 will want to keep their identity. On the other hand. if I were WPXW-DT Ion 66 or WWPX-DT Ion 60, I think I would rather be known as WPXW-DT Ion 34 and WWPX-DT Ion 12.

I'm in Centreville, VA.
...
Yes, I've tried without, and I've tried with a few different amplifiers including some channelmaster one and many from Radio Shack. In almost every case, the amplifier destroyed the weak signal completely. The one that I have now is the only one that didn't do that, so I liked it the best. Now, it takes the output from my powered antenna from occassionally having glitches to being rock solid. The more impressive amplifier in my mind is the one built in to the powered antenna.
...
I'm near what a friend and I like to refer to as The Centreville Triangle. Reception is exceptionally poor here for some reason although it is better both west and east of there. I don't know why.
I have not tried any "Channel Master 4221 4 Bay bowtie"-like antennas, though. That's an idea. I may have to try that. Thanks!
Usually the amps that are built into the antennas are cheap crappy amps with poor noise levels. Most of the antenna with built-in amps sold at the local electronic stores such as Best Buy are overpriced and close to crap. You are at a bad spot for reception, have to check the terrain map, but IIRC, Centreville is at a lower elevation than the land to the NW between you and DC. Are you on a ground floor apartment or higher floor?

The Channel Master 4221 4 Bay is a very good UHF antenna, but it rather large for indoor use and may not work to get the upper VHF stations after the transition. See http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/cm4221.html. A two bay bowtie model with upper VHF dipoles might be more suitable. Or a CM 2016 antenna. Check with the antennas threads in the HDTV reception forum for info on the CM 4221 successor and other more compact UHF/upper VHF antenna options.

Mark,

How will WNUV be branded after June 12? Can you still call yourself WNUV-DT54? You are now and will continue transmitting on DTV Channel 40 after June 12 but can still map your PSIP to DTV Channel 54-1 until June 12. However, after June 12, Channel 54 can no longer be used for actual DTV transmissions because everything from Channels 52 through 69 are being sold off by the FCC. Can you still map your PSIP to DTV54-1 even though Channel 54 is no longer being used after June 12 for actual transmitting or if not then does that mean that you must rebrand as WNUV-DT40?

Will WBFF-TV45 rebrand as WBFF-DT46?

I imagine that most if not all low VHF analog channels 2-6 who will switch permanently to UHF DTV after June 12 will map their UHF DTV transmissions onto their original analog channel numbers. Included are WMAR-2 and WRC-4. Do you agree?

Thanks

By FCC rule, we have to send the PSIP info with our original channel number as the major channel number. IIRC, that was so the public would have one less thing to be confused by, during the change. I haven't seen anything saying that we should change that now, even though it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. That's one of my original concerns with the change - people will have no idea what frequency they are on, because "channel 2" (for example) is actually on frequency of channel 38. No one will know what band anything is in...

I'm sure the promotions people would prefer to keep it as 45.1 and 54.1, just for the "name" recognition.

.

With the use a PSIP I'm surprised that UHF band broadcasters aren't scrambling down to get in to the Single Digits. I know that I would rather be FOX 3 or FOX 8 than 45.

With the use a PSIP I'm surprised that UHF band broadcasters aren't scrambling down to get in to the Single Digits. I know that I would rather be FOX 3 or FOX 8 than 45.

It would cause confusion and conflicts to do that. Plus the FCC smacks down stations that try to map to channels they have no claim to.

- Trip

The FCC did not want to get into managing virtual channel assignments.

Huh? With this silly rule they ultimately are managing virtual channel assignments I do not believe that the FCC had anything to do with this silly, ok, stupid, rule.

As pointed out in another posting, it was to "eliminate" confusion. Ya right, it now creates other confusion. It was done because of the almighty $$$. Have to rebrand to the new channel number (if you didn't revert) was going to cost too much money.

Instead we get things like a poster of my local thread who helped family (I think) get their CECB scanned. Well, it didn't get channel 11, so he told him to punch it in manually. The family member punched in 47 and still got nothing. No, punch in 11. Why, they are channel 47? Do it anyway. Oh, there they are.

Ya, right, eliminate confusion. :mad:

Myself, I don't brand a station by its RF channel number. I've always branded stations by their ID or network affiliation. I agree that using a channel ID like 2 instead of 38 is ridiculous.

In the end, it is what it is.

I've always thought the whole branding thing was too much emphasized for stations with too little return. ABC2, NBC4, ABC7, etc. doesn't exactly roll off the tongue. Being from Baltimore, it seemed that during the 80s, the stations were changing network affiliations every other year. I remember when 2 was NBC, 11 was CBS, and 13 was ABC. And even more recently there was The WB, MyNetwork. And besides that they're always a different number on most cable systems anyhow. So, I've always had to do the translations in my head. I know inherently on my DirecTV system that if I want to watch HBO-HD it's 501 or if I want to watch CNN it's 202. But if I'm at someone else's home and they've got Comcast, then I need to know that WJZ is on 212.

At the rate the broadcast networks are shedding themselves of dramas and sitcoms of interest, I guess eventually we'll become a youtube.com society anyhow.

Having said all of that, does anyone know the history of why in most major cities (NY, LA, Chicago), NBC is usually 4, CBS is usually 2, and ABC is usually 7? Why did things start out with those particular channel numbers/frequencies?

What kind of financial shape is WRC in? Well, it looks like they canceled Redskins Report/Full Court Press so they could run infomercials for Ultimate Healing at 7:30pm on Saturday nights.

On an unrelated note, anyone know why WTTG only runs Seinfeld in HD on weeknights? Why not weekends?

By FCC rule, we have to send the PSIP info with our original channel number as the major channel number. IIRC, that was so the public would have one less thing to be confused by, during the change. I haven't seen anything saying that we should change that now, even though it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. That's one of my original concerns with the change - people will have no idea what frequency they are on, because "channel 2" (for example) is actually on frequency of channel 38. No one will know what band anything is in...

I'm sure the promotions people would prefer to keep it as 45.1 and 54.1, just for the "name" recognition.

.

So what happens if a new station comes online and is granted a channel that used to be an analog? For example, if I started up a new channel here in Baltimore and they gave me UHF 26, I should be "WDJP-DT 26", but that's not possible because of WETA's PSIP. I know it's far fetched, I'm just curious what the rules are.

Actually, I do wonder if WBAL might try to move back to UHF if the 5kW doesn't work out. I don't think it's unreasonable to assume that a defunct local analog frequency like 45, might be near the top of the list since it's more likely to play well with others in our general geographic area.

Just pondering. Unless of course someone wants to buy me a TV station for "WDJP-DT" - lol.

So what happens if a new station comes online and is granted a channel that used to be an analog? For example, if I started up a new channel here in Baltimore and they gave me UHF 26, I should be "WDJP-DT 26", but that's not possible because of WETA's PSIP. I know it's far fetched, I'm just curious what the rules are.

27-1. If that's taken (there'd likely be overlap with WHTM-DT), then they choose an available channel. 38-1, for example, might work.

- Trip

It would also become 26-1, just like WETA. I have two stations PSIPing 24-1 (WNPB), 24-1 (WUTB), 24-2 (WNPB), 24-3 (WNPB) now. The lower true RF channel takes the first position, then the next true RF, and so on. This carries into the sub-channels also.

Definitely, this doesn't bode well for timer recording.

It would also become 26-1, just like WETA. I have two stations PSIPing 24-1 (WNPB), 24-1 (WUTB), 24-2 (WNPB), 24-3 (WNPB) now.

Do you have any TVs/devices that produce a guide from the stream data? If so, how does it handle that situation?

My Bravia's internal guide is shot to hell from stuff like this, since it managed to pick up some conflicting PSIP signals from Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia stations (WNPB was one of them!) and is essentially useless, since it doesn't know the difference between 24.1 and 24.1, for example.

What silly rules. The only time I'm in favor of PSIPs that don't match the physical channel is when a channel has extended itself with an alternate frequency. I believe WNVC/WNVT will do this (especially if you ask my PC), it looks like virtual 30.7 and 30.8 are actually 57.3/57.4 (or 24.3/24.4 when they come back on the air).

<rant>
I wish that the FCC would put quality rules in place and force stations wanting subchannels to license a second frequency for them, making the PSIPs extremely useful in that case, but we all know that will never happen. Just look at what's happening with WETA-DT1 and WUSA-DT1 quality wise lately. The picture quality difference between WJZ and WUSA is rediculous, and WUSA only has a single very low bitrate subchannel sucking it's bandwidth down. [Unforunately, WJZ happens to be very hard for me to get reliably from bad multipath right now, so I'm stuck with WUSA until the transistion is complete and I can put my final antenna designs in the attic].
</rant>

*sigh*

It would also become 26-1, just like WETA. I have two stations PSIPing 24-1 (WNPB), 24-1 (WUTB), 24-2 (WNPB), 24-3 (WNPB) now.
No, it would not. Your situation with 2 stations mapped to 24-1 is unusual. The FCC has laid out rules for new stations selecting their virtual channel number. The default is for the new station to use their physical RF channel number unless it conflicts with another station virtual number. In that case, the new station gets to choose their virtual number from the virtual channels not in use in their coverage area. There may be a station using channel 37 someday.

But a station in Baltimore is not going to use 26 as a physical channel because WHAG-DT in Hagerstown will be broadcasting on UHF 26. Channels that we might see a new startup use which would conflict might be 14, 20?, 32, 45.

WJAL-DT is back on the air. Scan channel 39 to acquire.

My Sunkey SK-801ATSC's automatically added the channel, without scanning.

WJAL-DT is back on the air. Scan channel 39 to acquire.

My Sunkey SK-801ATSC's automatically added the channel, without scanning.

Yeh I noticed they came on DT-39. It had wiped out WJLA-DT 39 for most of us on this side of the county, guess we will have to wait till they move back to CH 7. Has it affected WJLA 7 for you?

That's why I lost WJLA-DT!

I noticed the other day that I couldn't get WJLA-DT and thought it was atmospheric conditions.

The fun just keeps on coming. :)

I wonder how WJAL is cooling the transmitter? Last I knew, they had not rebuilt the shack and the trailer they're using for housing the transmitter, doesn't have A/C.

I e-mailed WJLA Ch 7, I looked at the FCC database and saw an application to test their post digital transmitter, but it dosen't appear to have been granted yet, so I'm wondering if this is just a test?

Yeh I noticed they came on DT-39. It had wiped out WJLA-DT 39 for most of us on this side of the county, guess we will have to wait till they move back to CH 7. Has it affected WJLA 7 for you?
Which county are you in? WJAL-DT filed for a Special Temporary Authority (STA) to operate at 34 kW on DT 39 compared to their post-transition ERP of 105 kW. The STA was granted on February 23, if I am reading the FCC data correctly. (WJAL 68 has a bunch of confusing FCC filings because they want to move to DC). Even if WJAL-DT 68 is operating at the reduced ERP of 34 kW, looks like they will interfere with WJLA-DT 7 over much of Frederick county as well as Hagerstown area if WJAL-DT keeps their STA signal on the air until WJLA-DT 7 flash cuts back to VHF 7.

Not only do we have 2 DT stations significantly interfering with one another, the stations have dyslexic call signs. :rolleyes:

I'm in Franklin County, PA, the worst part is I can see WJAL's transmitter from here about 5 miles away.

I can see it at ~15 miles. The antenna is at 42 meters AGL, although it is on top of the ridge at 655 meters ASL. Their 41dBu contour does show them swallowing up Frederick, Brunswick, Bedford, Gettysburg, and Charlestown and reaching the edges of Westminster, Mt.Airy, Cumberland, Winchester, Hanover, and Carlisle.

Does anyone know what W34DW-D is doing?
They had a CP and transmitter for RF 38. That was rescinded, due to WJZ/WMAR. They reapplied for RF 34 and sent the transmitter back to be tuned for RF 34. They are looking to be on the air in about a month.

They have two CP's for RF 34 & RF 38. RF 34 puts them in conflict with WUSA-DT (Lic) and WPXW-DT (CP MOD), while RF 38 puts them in conflict with W38AN (TX), WJZ-DT (Lic), and WMAR-DT (CP).

Are they looking to use RF 34 after June 12th?
W34DW-D will be operating on RF 34 and using the call sign WNPB (24).

What are they going to do with W08EE-D?
W08EE-D will stay on the air and also continue using the call sign WNPB (24).

I've noticed, over the past couple of days, that I'm having a real hard time receiving WJZ and WNUV, while WMAR and WBAL are coming in much stronger. Anyone else noticing issues?

I've noticed, over the past couple of days, that I'm having a real hard time receiving WJZ and WNUV, while WMAR and WBAL are coming in much stronger. Anyone else noticing issues?I would suspect WJAL(39) is causing adjacent channel issues with WJZ(38) & WNUV(40).

One of the DTT-901's I set up for a neighbor has lost WJLA, WJZ and WNUV since WJAL wet on DT 39.

One of the DTT-901's I set up for a neighbor has lost WJLA, WJZ and WNUV since WJAL wet on DT 39.
The loss of the stations is not good. While WJLA-DT ABC 7 and WJZ-DT CBS 13 will flash cut to their upper VHF channels in June, WMAR-DT 2 will move to UHF 38 and WNUV-DT 54 will stay on UHF 40. Anyone who has lost reception of the stations since WJAL-DT fired up on UHF 39 should contact the stations they are no longer getting to let them know that they are losing OTA viewers because of the interference. Surprised that your neighbor would lose WNUV-DT, but must be getting a strong signal from WJAL-DT. One possibility is that WJAL-DT needs to tighten up it's broadcast signal for spilling over into the adjacent channel frequencies. Maybe Mark can comment on this.

With the increased packing of stations due to the loss of 18 UHF channels (52-69), WJAL-DT's location well away from other broadcast stations & between a number of markets and the selection/allotment of UHF 39 is not ideal. Don't know if there is a better post-transition UHF channel WJAL-DT could have chosen.

If reception of WJZ-DT and WNUV-DT continues to be lost, might have to get a more directional antenna with a high front-to-back ratio and a rotator to reduce the signal from WJAL-DT. Don't know if there is a notch filter for UHF 39 that could knock down the signal for UHF 39, but narrow enough that it wouldn't attenuate UHF 38 or 40 very much.

Last night was the first time I've hooked up my OTA audio through my speakers. Everything sounded wonderful until I started getting frequent popping sounds...like the speakers were clipping.

:mad:

I was distraught and started trying to figure which component of my theater was to blame. I ended up isolating it to NBC, though. Does anyone else get a bad audio signal from NBC? Was is just last night, or is it an ongoing issue? Will it get resolved?

Last night was the first time I've hooked up my OTA audio through my speakers. Everything sounded wonderful until I started getting frequent popping sounds...like the speakers were clipping.

:mad:

I was distraught and started trying to figure which component of my theater was to blame. I ended up isolating it to NBC, though. Does anyone else get a bad audio signal from NBC? Was is just last night, or is it an ongoing issue? Will it get resolved?

Been hearing it for weeks over Comcast...its definitely a problem with the NBC source material...very annoying

I don't get WRC-DT or WHAG-DT, while getting the Baltimore/D.C. stations and I don't point to WGAL-DT, unless I need WMPT-DT. I can't comment on what's happening on those stations, but WBAL-DT has been having issues for at least a week.

With the increased packing of stations due to the loss of 18 UHF channels (52-69)...
Looking at the channel assignments from my location, it appears the local market also has 16-19 off-limits for some reason or limited to very low power transmitters.

NOTE: There are no DT or TV stations licensed for these frequencies.

Looking at the channel assignments from my location, it appears the local market also has 16-19 off-limits for some reason or limited to very low power transmitters.

NOTE: There are no DT or TV stations licensed for these frequencies.

Land mobile operations on 17 and 18 in DC.

- Trip

Cox Expands Baseball Coverage with MLB Extra Innings and MASN HD

CHESAPEAKE, Va., March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Baseball fans in Hampton Roads can catch more big league action as Cox Communications expands its baseball coverage with the addition of MLB Extra Innings and MASN HD in April.

Beginning April 6, Cox will bring MLB Extra Innings to channels 671 - 684. Cox Digital Cable subscribers have two options for the MLB Extra Innings pay-per-view season: Auto-Renewal/Early Bird Customers for $169 or Regular Season for $199. A free early bird preview will be available from April 6 to 12. Visit www.indemand.com to receive customized schedules via e-mail.

Also adding to Cox's unprecedented baseball coverage and growing line-up of high-definition channels, is MASN HD. On April 1, MASN HD will be seen on channel 739 and will show over 200 games of the Washington Nationals and the Baltimore Orioles.

Aside from airing HD games every night of the season, MASN HD also carries Baltimore Ravens pre-season games, selected NCAA basketball, football and lacrosse games, and ESPN News. The network carries over 500 live sporting events every year.

"We are very pleased to add MLB Extra Innings and MASN HD to our extensive coverage of baseball games which includes FOX HD, ESPN HD and Cox 11. These two additions are a double treat for sports fans, especially baseball lovers," said Gary McCollum, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Cox Hampton Roads.

Last January, Cox added the MLB Network on digital cable channel 214, which provides access to up to 80 out-of-market regular season MLB games each week. It features the biggest MLB stars, classic games and live coverage of games.

In addition to MLB Extra Innings and MASN HD, Cox will also offer a treat for soccer buffs with the MLS Direct Kick, available as pay-per-view beginning March 21 on channels 657 to 660. Cost of Auto-Renewal and Regular Season Package is $79, while Half Season Package costs $49.

http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-10-2009/0004985634&EDATE=

City of Aberdeen, Md., Joins Bel Air and Harford County in Awarding Cable Franchise to Verizon

--Vote Paves the Way for Innovative, Competitive Choice for TV Service, Delivered Over the Nation's Most Advanced All-Fiber-Optic Network Straight to Consumers' Homes

Last update: 2:46 p.m. EDT March 10, 2009

ABERDEEN, Md., March 10, 2009 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- This city's residents are a major step closer to having an innovative, reliable and competitive alternative for their television services, thanks to a unanimous vote by the City Council on Monday (March 9) authorizing Verizon to offer its fiber-optic-powered FiOS TV.

FiOS TV is delivered over Verizon's all-fiber-optic network, which brings the power and capacity of fiber optics directly into people's homes and has industry-leading quality and reliability. Fiber delivers amazingly sharp pictures and sound, and has the capacity to transmit a wide array of high-definition programming that is so clear and intense it seems to leap from the TV screen. It also delivers Internet download speeds of up to 50 Mbps* (megabits per second) and upload speeds of up to 20 Mbps, as well as high-quality voice services.

In Maryland, Verizon currently offers FiOS Internet and FiOS TV services to dozens of communities in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George's counties and parts of Bel Air. The company plans to begin offering FiOS Internet and FiOS TV in Aberdeen and other areas of Harford County in April.

"Approval of Verizon's video franchise is great news for Aberdeen residents, who soon will have more choice for their video entertainment," said William R. Roberts, Verizon's regional president in Maryland and Washington, D.C. "We commend the mayor, City Council of Aberdeen and its staff for their dedication and hard work throughout this process.

"Clearly, they recognize and support the technological advantage and competitive benefits -- as well as the distinctive edge in economic development and quality of life - that fiber will bring to their community," Roberts added.

Verizon currently offers FiOS TV to more than 9.2 million homes in parts of 14 states: California, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/city-aberdeen-md-joins-bel/story.aspx?guid=%7B6B4DC7B7-8E2C-4CE8-8C23-B195D8ED6CC2%7D&dist=msr_3

D.C. has some sort of Emergency Management on RF 16. So who's on RF 19?

We also have room on VHF-Lo. ;)

D.C. has some sort of Emergency Management on RF 16. So who's on RF 19?

We also have room on VHF-Lo. ;)

16 and 19 are off-limits because they're adjacent to the aforementioned 17 and 18.

- Trip

Ugh. My plasma is broke. Repairman won't be here until Monday. Its 6yrs old, so its been good so far. Part of me secretly wishes that it dies so that I can get a True HD model with HDMI, both of which weren't reasonable in 2003.

Ugh. My plasma is broke. Repairman won't be here until Monday. Its 6yrs old, so its been good so far. Part of me secretly wishes that it dies so that I can get a True HD model with HDMI, both of which weren't reasonable in 2003.

Sorry to hear that. Is it still under warranty? If not, then toss it and start shopping.

Ugh. My plasma is broke. Repairman won't be here until Monday. Its 6yrs old, so its been good so far. Part of me secretly wishes that it dies so that I can get a True HD model with HDMI, both of which weren't reasonable in 2003.
maybe its time for that new pioneer kuro that you always wanted.

Well, I called Panasonic and they were actually very good with on phone support. Considering that I have a "commercial" model, I was surprised to get a support tech on the phone in about 10 minutes. He walked me through a scripted attempt to recover the Plasma (ie pull the plug, plug it back in, try it again). They then gave me the number of a authorized service center in Silver Spring. That is good because when I first bought this beast back in 2003, one of the drawbacks was that if your commercial plasma needed servcie, you had to drive or ship it up to Secacus NJ for service.

I'm glad to see that is no longer the case. This place in Silver Spring will do a house call out here in Germantown for just $90. Thats worth it to me, since I would sweat profusely if I had to drive it over to Cherry Hill rd for service waiting for a pot hole to jar the glass.

Do you have any TVs/devices that produce a guide from the stream data? If so, how does it handle that situation?
All of my CECB's seem to handle the problem with ease and I've not seen any problem with PSIP data streams.

Am I seeing correctly, that WJAL-DT has put in a CP MOD for 105KW from 83KW on RF 39 post-transition? I believe WJAL-DT is presently operating at 34KW.

At 41dBu, they're going to be able to reach Cumberland, Winchester, Hanover, Westminster, Carlisle and very likely received in Gaithersburg, Leesburg, Altoona, York, Harrisburg, Germantown, Huntington and maybe even Somerset, Johnstown, Baltimore and NW D.C.

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1272398.html

When was the last time that Comcast customers in Montgomery County got a new HD channel?

When was the last time that Comcast customers in Montgomery County got a new HD channel?

It's been some time. What is interesting is that the Montgomery County line-up on Comcast.com includes WMPT-HD, FX-HD, Fox News-HD, Speed-HD and MASN-HD. I'm not sure if this is an error or a sign of what is about to come.

Dish Network added a few HD channel yesterday. BET Jazz (never heard of this one), Showtime too, Showtime Showcase, and TMC-HD. Of course without my plasma working, I'm not viewing them. Besides, I'm not sure BET Jazz is a premium channel, but the others I don't sub to.

Anyone else experience no signal last night on 7-3 (WJLA's "old show network" subchannel)? I could get 7-1 OTA, but 7-2 (weather) and 7-3 were MIA.

I guess I've gotten fewer phone calls than I've expected. The interesting thing is that everyone that I've talked to has either a converter box or an HDTV (with the exception of the lady that was told by Best Buy that the TV she was buying in Jan. 2008 had "a digital tuner" in it - turned out that it didn't have an ATSC tuner in it...)

That happened to my mother when she bought an "HDTV" from Costco. Even up until last year, Costco.com was still calling TVs HDTVs when they had a built-in NTSC tuner and were only HD-ready.


The rest of the problems have been with reception. Turns out that you have to move the antennas around to get a reliable signal... I got a call the other day from a lady who was having difficulty getting a reliable signal with her rabbit-ear antenna. It turned out that she was calling from Rockville...

I'm in north Rockville and on the third floor near a southern-facing window, I can get 45.1 and 45.2 with a signal strength of 80% with an unamplified rabbit ear antenna that's split four ways. I can also get WMAR (2.1) at about 80% too under the same conditions. The antenna happens to be arranged just right! (I'm not as lucky on the second floor, where I haven't been able to get some of the more distant stations.)

Dana

Looks like TiVo HD has screwed up the frequency maps for Channels 7-1 thru 7-3. They are using frequency 7 now. I guess this is the problem with delaying the digital transition. Oh well. Hopefully they will fix this soon!

Anyone else seeing no EPG for WWPX?

Anyone else experience no signal last night on 7-3 (WJLA's "old show network" subchannel)? I could get 7-1 OTA, but 7-2 (weather) and 7-3 were MIA.

Yesterday morning, I couldn't get any of them. Now I only get 7-1. This is on my DirecTV DVR. Unfortunately, my TV tuner isn't working right. If it keep this up, I may dig out an old digital tuner I have and try it.

I just did a quick review of stations within 120KM of my location and found that there is only four RF frequencies that will be clear of any transmissions after June 12th.

They are 14, 20, 31, & 45.

There are five frequencies that are used by low-power stations: 22 (W22DA), 25 (WZDC), 42 (W42CK), 42 (WVPY) - Going away?, 43 (W43BP), and 49 (WWTD-LP).

With that being said, I wonder why WNPB would try to use RF 34 for their W34W-D transmitter, with WUSA-DT putting out 1000KW on RF 34 and WPXW-DT increasing their power to 1000KW post-transition? I think I would have tried for 20 or 31.

Well, you can rule out 20 because of WVPY-DT 21. Too much interference. Same problem for 45 and WWPB-DT 44.

14 gets ruled out because of the possibility of interference from various licenses immediately below channel 14, mostly in the form of two-way communications.

That does leave 31. Maybe they planned to sign it on before the transition and wanted a clear channel for that purpose, otherwise I don't know off-hand why.

- Trip

So the D.C. / Baltimore DMA looses another UHF channel (14) for use by DTV. Great! That makes six of the 38 UHF frequencies off-limits. That's about 16%!

Are 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, & 37 off-limits everywhere? I know why 37 is off-limits - Radio Astronomy.

They could have looked at RF 49. I thought DTV was supposed to be able to exist as adjacent channels. You've got 33, 34, 35, & 36 in D.C. and 40 & 41 in Baltimore.

14 isn't off limits, it's just more prone to interference. If you look at the UHF channels, 14 is the one least used.

16-19 are off-limits within a certain distance of DC. Same goes for 18-21 and Philadelphia, 14-17 and New York, etc. There's a specific rule about it noted in my site's FAQ, I'm just checking in between homework problems so I'm not going to grab it right this second.

Stations can exist adjacent as long as they're close together. Note that the stations on 33-34-35-36 all transmit from within 2-3 miles of each other. Note also how WETA is trying to get moved to 51 because their channel 27 is short-spaced to WFPT-DT 28 in Frederick and cannot boost power.

- Trip

I don't know why they would want 51 with W51CY that is only 30 miles +/- to the north east of Frederick although W51CY's pattern favoures southern PA

I don't know why they would want 51 with W51CY that is only 30 miles +/- to the north east of Frederick although W51CY's pattern favoures southern PA

W51CY has no protection. If they overlap with WETA-DT on 51, WETA can tell them to move.

- Trip

Interesting... didn't know that Thanks. Sounds like the posibility is that some of the translators or LP's could get forced into the VHF-lo band...???

Interesting... didn't know that Thanks. Sounds like the posibility is that some of the translators or LP's could get forced into the VHF-lo band...???

See WKOB-LP in New York, recently applied for channel 2...

- Trip

While watching "Eleventh Hour" tonight on WUSA's 9.1 on my 2006 Sharp LCD HDTV, there was suddenly a loud harsh sound every few seconds or so, accompanied by a flickering of the video at the time of the sound. It lasted for perhaps three minutes or so. The signal strength wasn't weak--it was about 90%.

I've never experienced that before----has anyone else? Any idea what could have caused that? I'm guessing it was something caused by the station because my HDTV hasn't continued to do that.

(Every now and then, my HDTV does freeze and stop working, and I have to unplug the TV to get it to work again. The problem that happened above was brand new, though.)

Dana

16-19 are off-limits within a certain distance of DC. Same goes for 18-21 and Philadelphia, 14-17 and New York, etc. There's a specific rule about it noted in my site's FAQ, I'm just checking in between homework problems so I'm not going to grab it right this second.
Who's got "18-21" off-limits?
Stations can exist adjacent as long as they're close together.
So it's a FCC rule that is preventing it and not the DTV demod.

Who's got "18-21" off-limits?

It's the exact same thing, public safety communications on 19-20. Please see here:

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2007/octqtr/47cfr73.623.htm

Half-way down the page is a table showing which channels are reserved where.

So it's a FCC rule that is preventing it and not the DTV demod.

Um, it's an FCC rule based on observations that signals too close together interfere.

- Trip

Yesterday morning, I couldn't get any of them. Now I only get 7-1. This is on my DirecTV DVR. Unfortunately, my TV tuner isn't working right. If it keep this up, I may dig out an old digital tuner I have and try it.


My girlfriend had a problem yesterday with both her TiVo HDboxes. In the Guide WJLA is now listed as WJLA-HD instead of WJLA-DT. So there isn't any guide data for it and none of her 8 ABC recordings were made. And when you try to tune to the WJLA-DT she doesn't get a signal. She does with WJLA-HD but since there was no guide data it didn't record. Now the really odd thing is, her TiVoHD in the basement, did record the programs properly, even with the change. So at least all she had to do was transfer the content to the Bedroom TiVoHD to watch. I had her set up manual recordings for her ABC shows this morning and afternoon. Hopefully it will work itself out.

I still wonder why the guide data changed. Why is WJLA-DT now WJLA-HD?

While watching "Eleventh Hour" tonight on WUSA's 9.1 on my 2006 Sharp LCD HDTV, there was suddenly a loud harsh sound every few seconds or so, accompanied by a flickering of the video at the time of the sound. It lasted for perhaps three minutes or so. The signal strength wasn't weak--it was about 90%.I was watching it via Comcast and experienced the same thing. I switched to the analog channel and the same thing was going on. When it stopped they were only broadcasting a 4:3 picture on the HD channel, though they could have expanded it later and I didn't notice. I am guessing that it was a WUSA problem, but it might have been Comcast.

There are quite a few addresses at
http://www.wusa9.com/company/contact/default.aspx
and I might try a few of them. I wrote to the Programming Associate and the Director of Technology. If they respond I'll post something more.

Speaking of HD problems. Some weeks ago I mentioned that the DC WB channel DC50 was having some closed captioning problems. I was seeing it with the HD signal for Smallville. I think it persisted throughout the last set of original episodes. I contacted them and they said their engineers would be working on it. We have adjusted some equipment that may improve the captions on your receiver during CW network programming.They asked me to respond as to whether the problem persisted. When Reaper started again last week, it appeared to have cleared up and it was also okay this week on both Reaper and Smallville.

In the Guide WJLA is now listed as WJLA-HD instead of WJLA-DT.
This is because Tivo has changed the frequency of WJLA to 7 from 39. You have probably done a manual scan, so it knows there is also a channel out on frequency 39.

I've called Tivo support and asked to get the frequency changed back, but it will take 5-7 business days (if they even do it at all). You should call as well. :)

-John

I was watching it via Comcast and experienced the same thing. I switched to the analog channel and the same thing was going on. When it stopped they were only broadcasting a 4:3 picture on the HD channel, though they could have expanded it later and I didn't notice. I am guessing that it was a WUSA problem, but it might have been Comcast.

There are quite a few addresses at
http://www.wusa9.com/company/contact/default.aspx
and I might try a few of them. I wrote to the Programming Associate and the Director of Technology. If they respond I'll post something more.I received a reply, for what it's worth: Thank you for your e-mail and comments regarding Eleventh Hour.
Please note that CBS did have technical issues last night.
Problems were addressed within the program.

I received a reply, for what it's worth:

Thanks. It's good to know the problem wasn't with my HDTV! :eek:

I'm curious about what caused it. It sounded awful and like my HDTV was dying!

My girlfriend had a problem yesterday with both her TiVo HDboxes. In the Guide WJLA is now listed as WJLA-HD instead of WJLA-DT.

We encountered the same thing on our Tivo HD box. I tried restarting and resetting, thinking that the hardware had gotten zapped somehow. I was relieved to learn that it wasn't a problem with our box, but annoyed that there isn't a solution.

I read elsewhere that some Tivo HD devices were not affected. I wonder why.

Our two HDTVs and my tuner card on my computer were not affected, so I'm assuming that the other person's assertion that TiVo themselves did it is correct. I can't fathom why they did it, though, and I hope either that they undo it or that the program guide catches up.

When I redid the guided setup, only channel 7 analog was found. When I did a manual channel scan, however, 7-1 WJLA-HD and 7-2/7-3 both SD (rather than the previous DT) were found. Programming, however, says TO BE ANNOUNCED.

My television identifies them as WJLA-HD and SD ratther than DT, but I don't know if it's always been that way, as I never had a reason to notice before. I guess I'll call TiVo and gripe.

I called, too. Other complaints weren't in the system yet. Hopefully, they will get it fixed. When people try over the weekend to watch their Tivo'd recordings from WJLA, I suspect that there will be an influx of complaints.

By FCC rule, we have to send the PSIP info with our original channel number as the major channel number. IIRC, that was so the public would have one less thing to be confused by, during the change. I haven't seen anything saying that we should change that now, even though it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. That's one of my original concerns with the change - people will have no idea what frequency they are on, because "channel 2" (for example) is actually on frequency of channel 38. No one will know what band anything is in...

I'm sure the promotions people would prefer to keep it as 45.1 and 54.1, just for the "name" recognition.

.Sometime back I bought an ATSC tuner card for my desktop and today had Fairfax Antenna run a line from my rooftop antenna to the desktop (Vista Home Premium OS with Windows Media Center). The EPG (Version 3.0) for the Media Center displays programming information for all the local channels--DC and Baltimore--with two exceptions: WBFF and WNUV. The call letters and channel number is displayed for each. Any thoughts on why the EPG is not acquiring the data?
Incidentally, if anyone in NoVA needs OTA work, I highly recommend Fairfax Antenna. They installed my antenna over seven years ago and it has served me flawlessly. AVS Forum members also get a 5 percent discount.

Sometime back I bought an ATSC tuner card for my desktop and today had Fairfax Antenna run a line from my rooftop antenna to the desktop (Vista Home Premium OS with Windows Media Center). The EPG (Version 3.0) for the Media Center displays programming information for all the local channels--DC and Baltimore--with two exceptions: WBFF and WNUV. The call letters and channel number is displayed for each. Any thoughts on why the EPG is not acquiring the data?
Incidentally, if anyone in NoVA needs OTA work, I highly recommend Fairfax Antenna. They installed my antenna over seven years ago and it has served me flawlessly. AVS Forum members also get a 5 percent discount.

Well... I'm not surewhat the problem is. That's the first I've heard of that one... At first blush, it sounds like it must be something in my setup since I have seperate PSIP generators for each channel (one could have crapped out, but probably not both at the same time). Unfortunately, I'm out of town at the moment, so I can't check.

Anyone else having this problem?

.

Well... I'm not surewhat the problem is. That's the first I've heard of that one... At first blush, it sounds like it must be something in my setup since I have seperate PSIP generators for each channel (one could have crapped out, but probably not both at the same time). Unfortunately, I'm out of town at the moment, so I can't check.

Anyone else having this problem?

.

No problems with WBFF/WNUV here through Windows Media Center, which is *very* sensitive to PSIP data. A quick check of the streams in TSReader looks good too for both channels.

Sometime back I bought an ATSC tuner card for my desktop and today had Fairfax Antenna run a line from my rooftop antenna to the desktop (Vista Home Premium OS with Windows Media Center). The EPG (Version 3.0) for the Media Center displays programming information for all the local channels--DC and Baltimore--with two exceptions: WBFF and WNUV. The call letters and channel number is displayed for each. Any thoughts on why the EPG is not acquiring the data?


I'm getting the guide information for both stations just fine even though the signal strength is about 55% for 54.1 and 80% for 45.1. What's your signal strength for these stations?

Mark,

Is there any reason why the daily Simpsons and Family Guy episodes between 6 and 8 on WNUV seem to start about two minutes before the top and bottom of the hour? The 6pm Simpsons ends and then Family Guy is supposed to start at 6:30, but I notice that it seems to begin at around 6:28. The 7pm Simpsons seems to start around 6:58. I noticed this when I tried to record a few with my DVR. My DVR records all the prime time shows on WNUV fine and on other channels so I think it's just these shows between 6 and 8.

Thanks!
Rich

We encountered the same thing on our Tivo HD box. I tried restarting and resetting, thinking that the hardware had gotten zapped somehow. I was relieved to learn that it wasn't a problem with our box, but annoyed that there isn't a solution.


I have been having an ongoing discussion with WHUT and tivo about getting tivo guide data to sync up the actual channel, it turns out that that TIVO matches the guide data to the channel using the station identifier in the PSIP information. WHUT just corrected this they changed there channel identifier from WHUT-DT to WHUTDT and now TIVO is happily record BBC World news for me again.

I just got a channel master digital converter box to see what kind of picture it gives, an noticed that it displays a non call sign name for channels, so in that field it still shows WHUT as WHUT-DT.

From what was set they are calling the channel WJLA-HD, which is the problem. On the tivo, I would go into Settings -> channels I recieve, then look to see if there at two different call signs for WJLA, if there are then call WJLA and complain to there engineering group, that they need to have a the channel station call sign in the PSIP data match what is listed in the tribuion listings on services like zap2it.com, it should be WJLADT (no dashes)

My girlfriend had a problem yesterday with both her TiVo HDboxes. In the Guide WJLA is now listed as WJLA-HD instead of WJLA-DT. So there isn't any guide data for it and none of her 8 ABC recordings were made.

I checked on my HD tivo and see the same thing, anyone have a telephone number for them that works on the weekend? I just sent the following to WJLA using http://cfc.wjla.com/contact.cfm I suggest you do the same thing.

UGENT:

Please forward to your digital engineering department

Please reverse the PSIP channel identifier change you made to the 7-1, 7-2, 7-3. You have broken TIVO's ability to record HD shows over the air.

TIVO matches its guide data to the channel using the station identifier listed in the PSIP information included with the digital channels. Someone made a change the PSIP information is listing WJLA cahnnels as

7-1 WJLA-HD
7-2 WJLA-SD
7-3 WJLA-SD

This is incorrect and breaks TIVO's ability to record shows from WJLA
The channel identifiers should be

7-1 WJLADT
7-2 WJLADT2
7-3 WJLADT3

This channel call sign needs to match the channel identifier in the tribune guide data and also listed on zap2it.com. If you look at all the other channels in the area you will see their PSIP channel identifier matches the channel identifier listed on zap2it.com

My guess is that you wanted to update the friendly channel name in PSIP data and updated the channel call sign as well, which still raises the question on why you have two channels called WJLA-SD with different programming.

I have been working with WHUT on this very issue and they have just corrected their PSIP data to allow my HD tivo to record their programming again.

Thank you

The data I have dating back several months has the WJLA-HD and WJLA-SD call signs.

- Trip

Comcast To Carry MASN-HD On 4/1, Also Adding MPT-HD In DC Area

- 3/12 - Area cable TV giant Comcast will be adding the new fulltime high-def channel from the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network on 4/1. On channel 247. MASN carries both the Orioles and the Nationals. Also, we hear that Comcast will be rolling out the HD and digital standard-def subchannels of Baltimore-based Maryland Public Television to its DC area subscribers this spring. Including Spanish public TV network v-me. Currently, only the main SD signal of Channel 22/WMPT is carried south of the Patuxent River. Does this mean that Comcast will start carrying rival DC-based public TVer WETA's HD and SD digital subchannels in the Baltimore metro? Stay tuned.....

http://dcrtv.com/

They probably will add WETA HD in Baltimore, since, as I posted before, it's listed in the lineup at Comcast.com.

The data I have dating back several months has the WJLA-HD and WJLA-SD call signs.

- Trip

Does your data list
50-1 as CW50 or WDCWDT
45-2 as ThisTV or WBFFDT2

There seems to be 2 identifiers in PSIP one has the call sign and the other is a friendly name. When you do a channel scan on the Tivo all the channels are listed as XXXXDT, XXXXDT2, XXXXDT3 etc, with the exception of WJLA, Mhz and 44-1 which is listed as KWTKT-DT. Mhz on 57 is off air at the moment, and i am sure i remember 44-1 being discussed before, but I don't get it so it hasn't bothered me. I tried looking at the PSIP spec, but it was less than informative about the different fields.

Does your data list
50-1 as CW50 or WDCWDT
45-2 as ThisTV or WBFFDT2

WJLA-HD. http://www.rabbitears.info/screencaps/dc-dca/1051-0_0.htm

CW50. http://www.rabbitears.info/screencaps/dc-dca/30576-0_0.htm

My WBFF data is outdated and thus has "Good TV." I'll have to get new data on it.

There seems to be 2 identifiers in PSIP one has the call sign and the other is a friendly name. When you do a channel scan on the Tivo all the channels are listed as XXXXDT, XXXXDT2, XXXXDT3 etc, with the exception of WJLA, Mhz and 44-1 which is listed as KWTKT-DT. Mhz on 57 is off air at the moment, and i am sure i remember 44-1 being discussed before, but I don't get it so it hasn't bothered me. I tried looking at the PSIP spec, but it was less than informative about the different fields.

The stream contains a "call sign" and some of them contain an "extended call sign." Most receivers use the standard call sign, though my WinTV-D prioritizes the extended call sign if it's available.

I see no extended call sign in either WJLA or WDCW (granted, the data is a few months old).

- Trip

so is WJLA fixed now?

We have a DirecTV HD-DVR (non-TiVo) with an external antenna. We have a season pass set to record Emergency! at 3:00 PM every day on channel 7-1, as of Wednesday it is no longer recording, nor can I tune into any of their over-the-air channels. I just checked a few minutes ago and the channel is blank.

Mark,

Is there any reason why the daily Simpsons and Family Guy episodes between 6 and 8 on WNUV seem to start about two minutes before the top and bottom of the hour? The 6pm Simpsons ends and then Family Guy is supposed to start at 6:30, but I notice that it seems to begin at around 6:28. The 7pm Simpsons seems to start around 6:58. I noticed this when I tried to record a few with my DVR. My DVR records all the prime time shows on WNUV fine and on other channels so I think it's just these shows between 6 and 8.

Thanks!
Rich

Hey Rich -

You know, I've noticed that, and meant to ask the master control manager about it, but I never remember to do it... I'll send myself an e-mail as a reminder.

.

I'm getting the guide information for both stations just fine even though the signal strength is about 55% for 54.1 and 80% for 45.1. What's your signal strength for these stations?I will post my information with some supporting pictures and hopefully Mark and anyone else can lend some edification. About signal strengths (SS): the WMC (Windows Media Center) lists both 45 and 54 at 100 percent. The ATSC tuner in my TV lists WBFF at 8 out of 10 bars and WNUV at 5 out of 10. On a related issue, I am also unable to tune WBAL through WMC. I can through my TV tuner. SS is 1 out of 10. SS for WMAR is also 1 out of 10 but WMC receives it solidly. Some of these glitches may be related to this period of flux before the digital transition is completed in June. Isn't it true that WBFF and WNUV are the only two major channels that actually went all-digital? I don't know if that has anything to do with the glitch in the WMC information or not. WMC gets its programming from Zap2it and their listings are fine when I access them online.
About the attached pictures: Notice in the one named List the lack of identifying info for WBFF and WNUV. Also note that WJZ is showing up at channel 38. In other words, they are identified as both 38 and 13. I wonder why? In the one named WBAL, note the discrepancy in their info compared to the other channels. Is this affecting my ability to tune them? The last picture is self-explanatory showing no data for WBFF and WNUV.
Any help would be appreciated. :)