I'm curious as to where they have the antenna for that? It would need to be well northwest of DC to avoid co-channel interference from Richmond.


I know exactly where the transmitter is at. At Clear Spring, Md West of Hagerstown and north of I-70. On top of a mountain with 575KW of Power.
Some station use more power, but they do not have the elevation. The height of the antenna allows for great coverage.

I just checked my Sunkey SK-801ATSC CECB and WHAG-DT is broadcasting Oprah with CC1. I'll have to check the other programs and CECB's for more information later.

UPDATE: The Insignia -APT and APEX DT502 see it as "CC1," although I had to go into the menu on the APEX DT502 to activate it (the keypad button only allowed Auto and Service options). The Zinwell 970A sees it as "Caption1."

Does the station have the ability to put information in the PSIP stream to tell the CECB which options are available? I would have thought the "Auto" option on the APEX DT502 would have found the CC1 stream.

WJAL-DT was sending their content to all the cable systems throughout the area via fiber (and may still be), when their facilities went up in smoke at the tower.

Now THAT really surprises me. I would suspect that the money is in short supply at that station. Who is paying for this?? Fiber rental is not cheap.

WHAG-DT's antenna is 559.4 Meters AMSL here (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1247333.html).

What's going on with WBFF-DT sub-channel .2? I can see the ThisTV logo in the lower right corner, while the content is breaking up. I thought it was my reception at first, until I realized that I shouldn't be able to see the logo.

What's going on with WBFF-DT sub-channel .2? I can see the ThisTV logo in the lower right corner, while the content is breaking up. I thought it was my reception at first, until I realized that I shouldn't be able to see the logo.

No issues here (10mi from tower). The quality of that program that's on now is pretty rotten, though :)

Is it still happening? Are the colors in the logo changing (since it's semi-transparent) or is it static for you? It sounds like a reception issue, I've seen where portions of the screen look OK with the rest garbage. Depends on the decoder and of course how they're encoding it. Or, I missed what you were seeing and it's all better now ... Mark is pretty quick fixing things up there!

We're having bad weather up here tonight. At this moment, there's a storm between me and the tower, but we're still drop-out free.

I know exactly where the transmitter is at. At Clear Spring, Md West of Hagerstown and north of I-70. On top of a mountain with 575KW of Power.Thanks,

I was referring to where FIOS was getting the signal from, but it appears to be a fiber feed.

I'm watching KDFW-4 out of Dallas/Ft. Worth right now (night light service) pointing at the Southwest.

If I point to the North & NE, I am hearing Canadian TV (in French and English on 2, 3, and 4 (mostly audio only).

Is it still happening? Are the colors in the logo changing (since it's semi-transparent) or is it static for you?
It was happening earlier this afternoon. During the movie "At The Earth's Core." Yes, the logo was still changing colors. The current movie is coming in fine.

WRC-4 went dark at 12:00 noon.
WMPT-22 went dark at 12:31 pmWow, I thought you were wrong about channel 22, but there appears to be another analog station on that same channel in Frederick Md. Now that WMPT-22 is gone, WBOC-DT 16 (RF 21) seems more stable than before.;)

I'm watching KDFW-4 out of Dallas/Ft. Worth right now (night light service) pointing at the Southwest.

If I point to the North & NE, I am hearing Canadian TV (in French and English on 2, 3, and 4 (mostly audio only).
I can confirm your report -- I just went upstairs and turned on my good ol' PXL-2000-TV, and using the built-in antenna (!!!), I was able to get French audio on channel 2. I don't know enough French to know what the hell they're talking about though. :) Also found ABC on channel 12, I assume that must be a low power station?

I am relatively close to Annapolis High School.

W22DA in Frederick is operating at 37.3Kw.

I can confirm your report -- I just went upstairs and turned on my good ol' PXL-2000-TV, and using the built-in antenna (!!!), I was able to get French audio on channel 2. I don't know enough French to know what the hell they're talking about though. :) Also found ABC on channel 12, I assume that must be a low power station?

I am relatively close to Annapolis High School.

That channel 12 that you are getting is WMAR leakage from Comcast. I get it too where I live. I'm on the Annapolis system down here in South County.

I was actually able to see the CBC symbol at the lower right of the screen around 7. Now that the storms have gone through, Canada is gone :-(

W22DA in Frederick is operating at 37.3Kw.

I'm able to pick up WRIC 8.1 on channel 22 now at my house. The signal isn't real stable though. It gets strong then fades off the cliff for a minute and then comes back again. Should be a good station to watch during tropo periods.

Wow, I thought you were wrong about channel 22, but there appears to be another analog station on that same channel in Frederick Md. Now that WMPT-22 is gone, WBOC-DT 16 (RF 21) seems more stable than before.;)

WBOC-DT is now my strongest, most stable CBS station. 9 is still relatively weak at my location. During the storms tonight, the lightning was making 7 and 9 pixelate every couple of seconds.

For Fox, 5 and 45 come in great here. No need to watch WBOC-DT's SD Fox channel.

Now that the front has gone through, I'm watching a French Canadian show on channel 2 right now (9:30 PM). It's coming in quite clearly. Just saw some nudity too. Not something I've seen over-the-air since i left Europe.

I'm getting WBAL really strong tonight OTA, which I hadn't since the transition. Is anyone else seeing this? I suppose it could just be the weather, but I'm seeing no change on WJZ (weak, breaking up), WUSA or WJLA (too weak to tune).

Cool to see WHAG on Fios, but I'm hearing some problems with the audio that aren't present on WRC (or WBAL, for that matter).

I'm getting WBAL really strong tonight OTA, which I hadn't since the transition. Is anyone else seeing this? I suppose it could just be the weather, but I'm seeing no change on WJZ (weak, breaking up), WUSA or WJLA (too weak to tune).

Cool to see WHAG on Fios, but I'm hearing some problems with the audio that aren't present on WRC (or WBAL, for that matter).

WBAL is still as weak as it has been around here. I have it at 43 on a scale of 100 and I have to aim my antenna precisely at Baltimore. I get a few breakups from time to time too. In comparison, WJZ is at 93/100 since they tripled their power.

Now that the front has gone through, I'm watching a French Canadian show on channel 2 right now (9:30 PM). It's coming in quite clearly. Just saw some nudity too. Not something I've seen over-the-air since i left Europe.
Where's the jpeg?

Where's the jpeg?

Was just watching and flipping channels on my living room TV. I have an HDHomerun box that's capable of screenshots, but that thing doesn't do analog, unfortunately.

It's interesting seeing what's on VHF-Low now that most US stations have left those channels. Reminds me of being off the coast a couple of hundred miles and catching blips of this and that.

Where's the jpeg?

Here's the type of jpeg's that I can snap...

http://i875.photobucket.com/albums/ab315/steve_aa_co_md/vlcsnap-5430251.jpg

Thanks to WMPT turning off their night-light station today, here's a screenshot of WRIC now semi-receivable on RF 22 in Southern AA County.

http://i875.photobucket.com/albums/ab315/steve_aa_co_md/vlcsnap-5439224.png

I'm also now able to receive WNJN from Jersey. They are also on RF 22 (PSIP 23.1-23.3).

All the Richmond stations are coming in well tonight. Even the 6kw channel 12 is decent.

I tried for the New Jersey RF 22, but WRIC is way too strong. About 75% off the back of the 91-XG (Ouch)

Wow! Tonight rules! I was able to actually see WHAG on a DC-pointed antenna for the first time, AND WBOC for a very brief few seconds on my Baltimore antenna! I had WHAG for almost 3 whole minutes without a drop-out, which is amazing considering I'm in Elkridge and that antenna is pointing nowhere near where it should be for that, AND it's in my attic.

Also, I noticed tonight that WMPT has moved their bug to the extreme lower right of the 16:9 screen. It doesn't look CRT safe, but it's a welcome change that I hope other stations follow now that the transition is complete (and I've gotten rid of my old HD CRT, so I have no overscan - lol) :cool:

All the Richmond stations are coming in well tonight. Even the 6kw channel 12 is decent.

I'm getting Richmond and Philly tonight. Can you receive 17 or 18? WPHL-17 is very strong right now. WMCN-18 is a little on the weak side.

I'm getting Richmond and Philly tonight. Can you receive 17 or 18? WPHL-17 is very strong right now. WMCN-18 is a little on the weak side.No, I see nothing past Baltimore in that direction. I'm staring right into a ridge and other houses when pointed towards DC/Balt/Philly. They are all in the exact same direction from here. Richmond is pegging the meter on all but channel 12. Good view to the south only from here.

No, I see nothing past Baltimore in that direction. I'm staring right into a ridge and other houses when pointed towards DC/Balt/Philly. They are all in the exact same direction from here. Richmond is pegging the meter on all but channel 12. Good view to the south only from here.

I still haven't been able to see WWBT on 12. My noise-floor is high here on VHF-high due to Comcast line leakage. I can see WTVR, WRIC, and WRLH right now. Pre-transition WWBT on 54 used to be my strongest Richmond station.

Seeing hints of Charlottesville now too...

Seeing hints of Charlottesville now too...WNVC (RF 24) is in the same direction as Charlottesville from here. I doubt it will ever come in here. WNVC is sooooo strong. You can see the tower from street level when the leaves are gone.

WNVC (RF 24) is in the same direction as Charlottesville from here. I doubt it will ever come in here. WNVC is sooooo strong. You can see the tower from street level when the leaves are gone.

I have the same problem with WMPT now that they've raised their power. It takes out the two adjacents so bad that I'll never be able to watch WUTB on 41 or any channel that occupies 43 during tropo.

I can pick up WMPT with a paper-clip antenna (literally).

Got RF 19 out of Charlottesville via tropo.

http://i875.photobucket.com/albums/ab315/steve_aa_co_md/vlcsnap-5473436.png

19.1 is CBS19
19.3 is FOX27

WUTB is much better here now, but only registers 2 out of 10 bars. Surprisingly enough, it is much more stable than WBAL, even though WBAL reads 7 out of 10 bars. VHF just seems too glitchy, even @ only 40 miles out.

Now I'm getting Norfolk, VA. WHRO and WAVY are coming in strong.

http://i875.photobucket.com/albums/ab315/steve_aa_co_md/vlcsnap-5487630-1.png

WUTB is much better here now, but only registers 2 out of 10 bars. Surprisingly enough, it is much more stable than WBAL, even though WBAL reads 7 out of 10 bars. VHF just seems too glitchy, even @ only 40 miles out.

The VHF stations need to have their power increased quite a bit if people are going to be able to really use them reliably. The only VHF channel that comes in fairly well for me now is WJZ. The rest of them are too susceptible to varying types of interference.

I was trying to watch 7.2 to see the radar during the big storm that came through earlier this afternoon. Lightning in the path was causing all kinds of glitches in the signal.

WPSG-DT (57.1) RF 32

http://i875.photobucket.com/albums/ab315/steve_aa_co_md/vlcsnap-5494538.png

Also seeing KYW-DT 3.1 (RF 26), WTVE-DT 51.1 (RF 25), and WHYY-DT 12.

Where you are located, I assume, is pretty flat. Being very near to the Bay, you are close to a great conductor, salt water. DX reception should be easy or much easier that being inland. I can imagine how DX analog signals on VHF must have flooded your locale regularly.

Where you are located, I assume, is pretty flat. Being very near to the Bay, you are close to a great conductor, salt water. DX reception should be easy or much easier that being inland. I can imagine how DX analog signals on VHF must have flooded your locale regularly.

I've lived near the water for most of my life. I started this hobby on my own in the 1970s when I was about 6 or 7 years old. I used to live on the South end of Tampa Bay and could receive TV from far away cities (and one communist country) on many mornings with a 1966 black and white (tube) tv with rabbit ears.

I've spent lots of time at sea and have watched NTSC and PAL TV from hundreds of miles out at sea as well.

I lived in a mountainous area for a couple of years and could receive stations from 100+ miles away on a regular basis. I hated the multipath issues though.

The most distant DTV reception that I've had from my place in Maryland was WGBH-Boston a few years ago. The most reliable "kind of far away" DTV station that I could watch before June 12th was WRAL-53 (5.1) in Raleigh. They've now moved to 48 and of course WRC shares the same channel.

The longest distance radio reception that I've ever had was driving down I-26 in South Carolina when the FM dial filled with stations from Spain. The second longest was hearing Denver on FM while in Fort Walton Beach, FL during an intense storm.

These past couple of weeks has been interesting since most VHF-Low stations have been shutting off (and now their night-lights). I am happy that I can still watch analog tv for a couple of years from Canada if it's a hot summer day and cold front is moving this way. Today was the first day that I've seen Canadian TV.

Very impressive reception for pre-transition DTV. Now, we all have to get used to the post-transition and the low power for VHF. I'm having a very difficult time getting any DTV reception at all on VHF-LO or VHF-HI outside of 7, 8(47), 9, 11, 12(60), and 13 locally.

BTW, the day before yesterday, I was receiving a choppy but steady analog night-light signal on analog Channel 2 around 7PM. Reception from the antenna was best aimed towards the SW. I am located in central Montgomery County. Any ideas about where it was located?

A DT-DXer! Interesting!

A DT-DXer! Interesting!

I've been doing it for years! I'm actually working on a feature for my website that allows one to record DTV DX in a public manner!

Whoops, did I say too much? ;)

- Trip

Thanks Digital Rules, that explains why the stations didn't come in a little while ago. Guess I'll be putting in my order for my DB2 and AC C5 today.

You can always check the Tropospheric Ducting Forecast

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

to see if conditions will be favorable.

I used to check this forecast regularly in the early 2000's when WJLA wasn't broadcasting HD yet. When conditions were favorable I was able to get a nice signal from the ABC station in Baltimore. So the forecast determined if I would set up my digital HD recordings of Alias, Philly, and other ABC shows I watched in HD back before WJLA started broadcasting in HD.

Very impressive reception for pre-transition DTV. Now, we all have to get used to the post-transition and the low power for VHF. I'm having a very difficult time getting any DTV reception at all on VHF-LO or VHF-HI outside of 7, 8(47), 9, 11, 12(60), and 13 locally.

BTW, the day before yesterday, I was receiving a choppy but steady analog night-light signal on analog Channel 2 around 7PM. Reception from the antenna was best aimed towards the SW. I am located in central Montgomery County. Any ideas about where it was located?

I've been seeing that one almost every evening. It's KPRC-2 out of Houston, Texas.

I've been doing it for years! I'm actually working on a feature for my website that allows one to record DTV DX in a public manner!

Whoops, did I say too much? ;)

- Trip

I started DXing DTV after I purchased a Samsung SIR-T351 ATSC tuner about 5 or 6 years ago. That started a whole string of tuner purchases including the legendary LG LST-4200A. I'll admit that I had that tuner set on QAM mode more than ATSC.

I've seen that or similar ideas applied to radio DX applications, but not to TV. If you need a beta tester, please let me know.

If you ever want me to do a TSReader look into any of the DX stations that I can get via tropo, send me a PM.

WDCA has a TS for RF20 at 957Kw. What's this about?

If you ever want me to do a TSReader look into any of the DX stations that I can get via tropo, send me a PM.
Trip will take any info you can supply him. :)

If you ever want me to do a TSReader look into any of the DX stations that I can get via tropo, send me a PM.

Absolutely! I love having HTML Exports of just about everything. (All boxes checked except EIT and Thumbnails.) cpldc already sends me data for some of the local stations which he can receive, though there are some that he cannot see. I don't have any data on WNVT or WNVC yet, and I'd like to see new data for WPXW which I recall he has trouble receiving, in case they've started running the Mobile DTV stuff.

Any DX you see, I would love to have. (Though I already have data on most of the Richmond stations since they're so close to me.) Are you able to see WMDO-LD 8?

- Trip

Absolutely! I love having HTML Exports of just about everything. (All boxes checked except EIT and Thumbnails.) cpldc already sends me data for some of the local stations which he can receive, though there are some that he cannot see. I don't have any data on WNVT or WNVC yet, and I'd like to see new data for WPXW which I recall he has trouble receiving, in case they've started running the Mobile DTV stuff.

Any DX you see, I would love to have. (Though I already have data on most of the Richmond stations since they're so close to me.) Are you able to see WMDO-LD 8?

- Trip

I've never seen WMDO-LD. Comcast's line leakage in my neighborhood prohibits me from receiving weak VHF signals.

No worries then. But yes, any DX, plus if you can see WNVC/WNVT, I'd love to have those. :)

- Trip

Absolutely! I love having HTML Exports of just about everything. (All boxes checked except EIT and Thumbnails.) cpldc already sends me data for some of the local stations which he can receive, though there are some that he cannot see. I don't have any data on WNVT or WNVC yet, and I'd like to see new data for WPXW which I recall he has trouble receiving, in case they've started running the Mobile DTV stuff.

Any DX you see, I would love to have. (Though I already have data on most of the Richmond stations since they're so close to me.) Are you able to see WMDO-LD 8?

- Trip

Here's WNVC and WPXW ... can't get WNVT right now, maybe after the sun goes down :) I'd be happy to send you HTMs for all the channels I get, but they're not anything out of the ordinary.

Thanks. :)

WPXW has started Mobile DTV already, it would seem.

If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to see if any of the other stations denoted as having Mobile DTV "coming soon" on my website might have started already. WRC, WUSA, WDCA, and WHUT. And WBFF or WNUV in Baltimore, I can't remember which at the moment.

What stations do you receive?

- Trip

Thanks. :)

WPXW has started Mobile DTV already, it would seem.

If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to see if any of the other stations denoted as having Mobile DTV "coming soon" on my website might have started already. WRC, WUSA, WDCA, and WHUT. And WBFF or WNUV in Baltimore, I can't remember which at the moment.

What stations do you receive?

- Trip

No trouble at all. Everything I could think of attached in new zip.

I can't get WJLA/WUSA/WNVT at the moment, but pretty much all the other major Balt/Wash stations.

<rant>
It seems when looking at these that I have a number of stations to complain to about their bitrates :mad: No offense to anyone that likes the idea, but I still hope mobileDTV falls flat on it's face and dies a painful death. I swear the primary channels will be down to 6Mb/s before too long here. The FCC needs to put regulations in place NOW for quality, this is out of control.
</rant>

Thanks! :)

Which station bitrates are you referring to specifically? I'm sure you already know about the Fox stations having their bandwidth pre-set by Fox, and I think My is going that way as well.

Some of these stations are on statistical multiplexers that will juggle bandwidth around based on usage. The station I work for, WDBJ, has a statistical multiplexer. If you look at TSReader, it reports an average bitrate of around 14 Mbps, but if you watch the analyzer we have at the studio which gives the instantaneous bitrate, you find that the HD can go up to 17.1 Mbps if required during high motion, but on still scenes the bitrate is often quite a bit lower.

I know that MPT has a very aggressive stat muxer, as I've watched those bitrates fluctuate all over the place with TSReader even. ION does stat muxing as well, except I think Worship.Net is fixed at 1.95 Mbps on most stations. I think the CBS O&Os all have them too.

- Trip

Picking through that data, I note that WHUT-DT has added UpdateTV. So if anyone asks about blank subchannels on 33-8 and 33-9, that's what it is.

- Trip

Anytime! I poked around with the channels that upset me, specifically WJZ, and you're right it does bounce around. Right now it's 15Mb/s on WJZ, I could swear when I looked earlier it was 8, which really ticked me off. My bad :D <--- Doh!

I'm still definately against mobileDTV and anything that will take away from the primary channel bitrates. The quantity of bandwidth that seems to be allocated for nothing more than NULL data is really annoying too, if those streams really are just NULL packets and don't contain anything worthwhile.

For mDTV, my idea is still that if they really want to do this after the trial period they should get together and license a single/couple frequencies per market and put all of the mDTV content on that frequency. It would seem to be a win/win, in that they're not taking up bandwidth, and all of the channels would be located at the same physical location. That would have to make reception easier, or if not easier at least more uniform for the consumer.

Just my $0.02, all this stuff is pretty much free, I suppose I don't really have much right to complain - lol

Anytime! I poked around with the channels that upset me, specifically WJZ, and you're right it does bounce around. Right now it's 15Mb/s on WJZ, I could swear when I looked earlier it was 8, which really ticked me off. My bad :D <--- Doh!

No worries. :)

Stat muxing just means that when stations do have subchannels, it limits the impact on the HD picture. Which raises the question of why CBS O&O stations have them.

I'm still definately against mobileDTV and anything that will take away from the primary channel bitrates. The quantity of bandwidth that seems to be allocated for nothing more than NULL data is really annoying too, if those streams really are just NULL packets and don't contain anything worthwhile.

Null packets just stuff the stream to get it up to 19.393 Mbps, as required for the signal to decode. A stat muxer takes unused bits from the feed that doesn't need them (the HD) and contributes them to the null packets, which can then be pulled from to feed other streams, or the primary if it demands those bits.

Using a few separate licenses likely isn't an option because the standard does not support dedicating the entire 19.393 Mbps to Mobile DTV. The standard caps it at 7.33 Mbps for Mobile and leaves the rest for other services.

Ideally, I would think WHUT might be the best possible place for it, with only a single SD, plus now UpdateTV (which takes up 2 Mbps from time to time). It'd be nice if they'd move some of WETA's subs over there...

- Trip

Does all this bit rate stuff have anything to do with the quality of reception for 45.2 and 7.3 being inferior to 45.1 and 7.1/7.2?

Another thought, coiling up cords can cause some funny problems. if you have the power cord coiled up or tied in a bundle of cables, try straightening that out.

So, for those that have been following this saga about my computer producing interference with channels 7-1 through 7-3, I finally this afternoon found the culprit. My case has two built in 120mm fans that have switches on them to select speeds, L/M/H. My goal for this pc when I built it was for it to be a quiet machine, even though I use it for gaming, so I had them set to the slow speed. As I was removing different parts to find out which was causing the EMI, I noticed that when I booted up, the fans didn't always start up, even though power was going to them. So, I disconnected them and the interference immediately went away. I reconnected and changed the speed to medium and got no interference. But back on slow and it came back. This is out of my area of knowledge, but it makes sense that there would be some EMI generated when the stator kept trying to get the rotor moving and it stayed motionless. Thanks for everyone's ideas.

Does all this bit rate stuff have anything to do with the quality of reception for 45.2 and 7.3 being inferior to 45.1 and 7.1/7.2?

I'm no expert (obviously!), so take this with a grain of salt, but there is no real 'reception' difference between the primary and secondary channels. If your signal is good, as in you're not getting any errors at all (TEI, Sync, CRC, whatever they all are), you're getting what they're sending. It's still just one channel.

With my old TV, a Philips 30" HD CRT, I used to see that problem. On Sunday mornings, we would watch "GoodTV" on 45.2 and it would break up, but switching to 45.1 would reveal no issues at all. Turns out in the end that I had imperfect reception (multipath issues), and that TV just couldn't deal with it. A newer TV (and newer generation ATSC tuner) on the same antenna was fine. Our newest TV can decode amazingly weak/screwy signals, it blows my mind how much the reception technology has improved in just 4 years.

My guess is that your reception isn't perfect, and it just manifests at the decoder on the subchannels more than it does on the primary channel. Maybe there isn't as much error correction built into the subchannel streams (seems likely) or something like that.

If you have the capability of hooking something up to your PC, that tool TSReader is really great at capturing reception issues. It doesn't work with every PC-based tuner, but it does work with a lot of them. Granted, the tool doesn't really help you fix anything, but it does expose the effects of any changes you might make. I love it. But of course, I love all things PC and ATSC, so I'm not the best judge :) I have 3 USB ATSC tuners, one older PCI card tuner, and 3 HDHomeRuns. I'm a bit of a freak.

I'd be happy to loan you a USB tuner, too. Let me see if the spare (Pinnacle 800e) works with TSReader or not. I'll PM you if it does, just reply back if you would want to borrow it.

So, for those that have been following this saga about my computer producing interference with channels 7-1 through 7-3, I finally this afternoon found the culprit. My case has two built in 120mm fans that have switches on them to select speeds, L/M/H. My goal for this pc when I built it was for it to be a quiet machine, even though I use it for gaming, so I had them set to the slow speed. As I was removing different parts to find out which was causing the EMI, I noticed that when I booted up, the fans didn't always start up, even though power was going to them. So, I disconnected them and the interference immediately went away. I reconnected and changed the speed to medium and got no interference. But back on slow and it came back. This is out of my area of knowledge, but it makes sense that there would be some EMI generated when the stator kept trying to get the rotor moving and it stayed motionless. Thanks for everyone's ideas.

I guess I should brag a little as I did mention a case fan in post 9729. Of course, I mentioned every other possibility too and I sure did not highlight the case fan. The Fans sure can cause trouble, but you had about the worse case I ever heard of. You have the cause figured out. I have seen a case fan cause interference to electronic stuff before, but normally it is when the fan is wore out and normally it will be making some audible racket that allows you to hear that the fan is failing. Yours was different in that the fans were struggling to start and not making any audible noise that would lead you to think that they were bad.

Anyway, glad you figured it out. I knew it could be fixed. It is just a case of elimination by replacing one part at a time, Just like mechanics sometimes do when you car stalls and leaves you sit only to run fine when the mechanic arrives. The mechanic quite often will replace the part he thinks is most likely the problem. If he fails to guess right, he replaces the next likely suspect.

Tis good you found this problem as your case was probably close to overheating.

Absolutely! I love having HTML Exports of just about everything. (All boxes checked except EIT and Thumbnails.) cpldc already sends me data for some of the local stations which he can receive, though there are some that he cannot see. I don't have any data on WNVT or WNVC yet, and I'd like to see new data for WPXW which I recall he has trouble receiving, in case they've started running the Mobile DTV stuff.

Any DX you see, I would love to have. (Though I already have data on most of the Richmond stations since they're so close to me.) Are you able to see WMDO-LD 8?

- Trip

Trip,

Here's the HTML export for WNVT.

Steve

Trip,

Here's one more...

Steve

Enjoy.

All,

I could use your help please. I am having problems picking up many channels that antennaweb.org reports as close as 12 miles away. I am in zip 22151 (Springfield, VA) and have had a CM4228 and a DB4 for over 3 years. Both antennas have been a mixed bag since the transition of which channels I receive.

The DB4 only picks up 4.1, 5.1, 7.1 and 20.1.
The CM4228 only picks up 4.1, 9.1, 20.1, 30.1, 33 and 66.

I want to tune all channels on one antenna to include channels I am not receving now like 8.1 (WMDO), 14.1 (Univision), 25.1 (Telemundo) and 26.1 (WETA PBS).

What antennas do you suggest and which ones have had the most success for you guys? Thanks.

The DB4 only picks up 4.1, 5.1, 7.1 and 20.1.
The CM4228 only picks up 4.1, 9.1, 20.1, 30.1, 33 and 66. OK, 1st of all, both of those antennas are UHF-only, unless I don't understand what they are from the picture. Since the transition, both 7 and 9 are back on their former analog channels in the hi-VHF band. You really need a VHF antenna to pull them in.

IMHO a 4-bowtie antenna is overkill for our local UHF channels. The 4228 is even worse, and we might guess that you are overloading some tuners with excessively high signal strength. (Note that the so-called signal strength meter on ATSC tuners may read an inverse digital error rate, and not true SS. So "100" is obviously good, but "60" might be marginal, breaking up, and due to an excessively high signal rather than a weak signal. Gotta love those misleading meters!)

Anyhow, Springfield is not far away from me here in Annandale, and I had nothing but grief when WNVC RF24 channel 30.1-5 came back on June 12th. It was overloading several of my tuners, and I could not reliably receive several channels, most particularly WETA RF27 channel 26.1-4. Only by carefully nulling out (as best I could) WNVC by rotating my Winegard batwing antenna (approximately a dipole) could I get most of my channels back.

Perhaps you are having the same problem, and excessive signal strength is the root cause of the problem. Of course a VHF antenna would also help on 7 and 9. ;)

Ok, understood on the VHF front.

What about 14 and 26? Does the overly aggressive signal the reason for not pulling these in as well?

So with a good VHF antenna I should be able to get everything from difgital 4.1 through 26.4, which are the channels I am most interested in?

I'm getting WBAL really strong tonight OTA, which I hadn't since the transition. Is anyone else seeing this? I suppose it could just be the weather, but I'm seeing no change on WJZ ...

Same here in Landover Hills, and it's coming off of the VU190 aimed at the DC stations! It barely would come in off the Baltimore antenna before. Plus a couple of blank sub-channels, too.

and what's with 47.2 and no audio?

Same here in Landover Hills, and it's coming off of the VU190 aimed at the DC stations! It barely would come in off the Baltimore antenna before. Plus a couple of blank sub-channels, too.

I noticed that WBAL was quite a bit stronger here in Southern AA County earlier today (and still is now). I no longer need to point my antenna towards Baltimore to receive it. The FCC database still has WBAL at 5 KW. Wonder what they did.

I could use your help please. I am having problems picking up many channels that antennaweb.org reports as close as 12 miles away. I am in zip 22151 (Springfield, VA) and have had a CM4228 and a DB4 for over 3 years. Both antennas have been a mixed bag since the transition of which channels I receive.

The DB4 only picks up 4.1, 5.1, 7.1 and 20.1.
The CM4228 only picks up 4.1, 9.1, 20.1, 30.1, 33 and 66.

Unless you have local obstructions, you should be able to get all the DC stations except for WJLA 7 and WUSA 9 with the DB-4. The CM 4228 is a long range directional antenna. The CM 4228 should be able to get some of the Baltimore stations from Springfield as well as WJAL 7 and WUSA 9. I would expect the DB-4 to get the stronger Baltimore stations as well.

Where are the antennas located? In the attic or on the roof? How long is the cable run from the antennas to the TV? Are you using a pre-amp?

Ok, understood on the VHF front.

What about 14 and 26? Does the overly aggressive signal the reason for not pulling these in as well?

So with a good VHF antenna I should be able to get everything from difgital 4.1 through 26.4, which are the channels I am most interested in?The Winegard HD7694P is probably the best antenna for your situation. It is nearly impossible to overload a tuner with an antenna, especially now that the analog stations are gone. No amplification is recommended for your close in location.

WMDO-DT 47 may be tough to get depending on your exact location. With only 198 watts, theres not much you can do once you get about 15 miles outside of DC. The antenna must be outside for any chance of getting WMDO.

I noticed that WBAL was quite a bit stronger here in Southern AA County earlier today (and still is now). I no longer need to point my antenna towards Baltimore to receive it. The FCC database still has WBAL at 5 KW. Wonder what they did.
Probably just atmospheric conditions. I don't see any change tonight in WBAL 11 signal strength from here. I was able to get WBAL on Friday night for a hour or 2 for the 1st time since June 12, then back to no lock.

Trip,

I was able to capture WPHL for you. There is fair tropo to the Northeast tonight.

Steve

Trip,

I was able to capture WPHL for you. There is fair tropo to the Northeast tonight.

Steve

Thanks! :D

- Trip

Probably just atmospheric conditions. I don't see any change tonight in WBAL 11 signal strength from here. I was able to get WBAL on Friday night for a hour or 2 for the 1st time since June 12, then back to no lock.

There is a little bit of an atmospheric enhancement tonight, but WBAL was stronger at 1 PM this afternoon. It's still not as strong as WJZ, but not right on the cliff like it was before.

Edit at 11PM: WBAL is now weak again like it was before. Oh well :-(

WUTB is now coming in for the first time since June 12th. WMPT usually drowns it out.

I had most all the major DC AND BALT stations strong ysterday afternoon 2 4 5 7 9 11 13 24 45 54 and so on I am in South Central PA. The antennea was pointed east of the BAltimore towers. But just as I got cozy and comfortable with them all 6 PM or so they were gone. man this stuff is tricky and frustrating up this way


Dish 622 HD tuner
YA 1713
XG 91 @ 55" 675 AMSL

thanks digital rules will do that.

finally found a spot where 7, 9, and 13 come in.
So here's what I get (third floor, Terk HDTVa):
2-1, 2, 3
4-1, 2, 3
5-1
7-1, 2, 3
9-1, 2
13-1
14-1
16-1
20-1
21-2
22-1, 2, 3
26-1, 2, 3, 4
30-1 through 30-10
32-1
45-1, 2
50-1, 2
54-1
66-1, 2, 3, 4

More tropo tonight. WPVI is running 2 HDs and 1 SD on VHF channel 6.

http://i875.photobucket.com/albums/ab315/steve_aa_co_md/vlcsnap-147253-1.jpg

More tropo tonight. WPVI is running 2 HDs and 1 SD on VHF channel 6.How does it look?

Have you tried anything from the south? WWBT-DT 12 is coming in nicely tonight. Richmonds only local HD newscast.

KYW 3.1 (RF 26)

http://i875.photobucket.com/albums/ab315/steve_aa_co_md/vlcsnap-155183.png

How does it look?

Have you tried anything from the south? WWBT-DT 12 is coming in nicely tonight. Richmonds only local HD newscast.

WHYY-12 is coming in very strong. I still haven't been able to catch WWBT. Do you think they'll petition the FCC for a power increase? I can receive just about every other Richmond station.

WPVI's second HD channel looks worse than WETA-26.1 HD. Very soft and compressed looking.

WHYY is one I really need, can you get me that one?

- Trip

WHYY-12 is coming in very strong. I still haven't been able to catch WWBT. Do you think they'll petition the FCC for a power increase?Hopefully they will. They lost a ton of OTA viewers since moving from UHF 54 to VHF 12. What a shame to spend all that money on such a good local HD news operation, and then lose so many viewers.:(

Hopefully they will. They lost a ton of OTA viewers since moving from UHF 54 to VHF 12. What a shame to spend all that money on such a good local HD news operation, and then lose so many viewers.:(

After Baltimore's analog 54 shut off and before June 12th, 54 was my strongest Richmond station.

WHYY is one I really need, can you get me that one?

- Trip

Here ya go trip...


12:04 AM EDIT: Whoa! I just got WHYY on channel 44 too. I didn't know that they were running on UHF too.

Wow, getting WPSG-DT 57 (RF32) for the first time. The tropo must be pretty strong to overcome RF33 only 4 miles away in the same direction.

I just received WMGM on RF channel 36. I'm only 28 miles from WTTG-DT and this Atlantic City station is coming in rock solid.

http://i875.photobucket.com/albums/ab315/steve_aa_co_md/vlcsnap-175623.png

Trip,

I'm picking up MyRTv9 on RF 31 (31.1). Their TSReader PIDs don't ID what city it's coming out of. Any ideas?

Looks like the same programming that 7.3 has on it. RTV is the only program on this entire channel!

Steve

Trip,

I'm picking up MyRTv9 on RF 31. Their TSReader PIDs don't ID what city it's coming out of. Any ideas?

SteveWTNH-DT9 New Haven, Ct???

Capture it! That's WRDE-LD in Ocean City MD!

Correction: Rehoboth Beach MD.

- Trip

WTNH-DT9 New Haven, Ct

That's what my Google search came up with too, but I don't think it's WTNH. They don't air that retro tv programming do they?

Capture it! That's WRDE-LD in Ocean City MD!

Correction: Rehoboth Beach MD.

- Trip

Rehoboth is in Delaware.

It's not a real clean one. Just faded out too, so this one will have to do.

I just caught an LD from 90 miles away. :-)

You guys are having way too much fun. You're seriously making me consider another roof-top with a rotor here. Or a 40 foot tower in the backyard! (Yeah, the wife would go for that!) lol.

Amazing what you're picking up. Color me extremely impressed.

You guys are having way too much fun. You're seriously making me consider another roof-top with a rotor here. Or a 40 foot tower in the backyard! (Yeah, the wife would go for that!) lol.

Amazing what you're picking up. Color me extremely impressed.

I should be in bed too. I have to get up at 5:30 for work.

This is fun. I didn't know the tropo was going to be this good tonight.

Trip,

I'm seeing a WZTD-LD 45 & W39CO from Richmond. Do you kow how much power thay are broadcasting.

Thanks!!

Be happy that you don't live in AC. The NBC station there is in 480i SD.

Trip,

I'm seeing a WZTD-LD 45 & W39CO from Richmond. Do you kow how much power thay are broadcasting.

Thanks!!

I'm seeing a religious program on analog 39 (pointed South). Guessing that's the same one you're seeing. 45 is too weak for me to decode.

I'm seeing a religious program on analog 39 (pointed South). Guessing that's the same one you're seeing. 45 is too weak for me to decode.Yeah, thats it. I can't figure out from the FCC website how much power thay are using. 45 is very weak here also. It's a Telemundo affiliate.

First time catch for WWBT-VHF 12 for me!!

First time catch for WWBT-VHF 12 for me!!
Uh oh, looks like you may be calling in sick tomorrow morning.:D

Uh oh, looks like you may be calling in sick tomorrow.:D

Nah, I'm done I guess. I have a busy day tomorrow. Hope the tropo gets even better for you guys that stay up even later. Take care! Steve

The PQ on WHRO-DT 15 is simply amazing. I have never seen WETA look this good.

The PQ on WHRO-DT 15 is simply amazing. I have never seen WETA look this good.They do a great job over there..

Was it just me or were others having problems getting WBAL 11 last night (Mon)? They are usually not terribly strong at my location (at least not compared to WJZ) but they are usually better than 50 on the strength meter and watchable with only moderate pixilation. But not last night. It was down around 20 on the meter and definitely not watchable. WJZ 13 was still up around 75 and WMAR 2 was in the 80s so it couldn't be my antenna which hasn't moved and is pointed at the right place since all 3 are on the same tower (but albeit with VHF vs. UHF vs. different power levels). Thanks.

Was it just me or were others having problems getting WBAL 11 last night (Mon)? They are usually not terribly strong at my location (at least not compared to WJZ) but they are usually better than 50 on the strength meter and watchable with only moderate pixilation. But not last night. It was down around 20 on the meter and definitely not watchable. WJZ 13 was still up around 75 and WMAR 2 was in the 80s so it couldn't be my antenna which hasn't moved and is pointed at the right place since all 3 are on the same tower (but albeit with VHF vs. UHF vs. different power levels). Thanks.

Probably just the atmospheric conditions last night. Another channel 11 from a distant city (NYC?) may have been trying to step on WBAL. I lost WTTG-DT last night to a station in Atlantic City.

Where in MD are you?

Hi can someone tell me the difference between 22.1 (PBS) and 67.1 (PBS) in Baltimore. Two separate towers according to antenna web.

Hi can someone tell me the difference between 22.1 (PBS) and 67.1 (PBS) in Baltimore. Two separate towers according to antenna web.

The WMPT-22 tower is near Crownsville, MD (along I-97 North about 3 or 4 miles North of Rt.50). the WMPB tower is up in Baltimore County.

The WMPT-22 tower is near Crownsville, MD (along I-97 North about 3 or 4 miles North of Rt.50). the WMPB tower is up in Baltimore County.

oh so just sep towers, same programming, both just normal pbs?
thanks a lot.

oh so just sep towers, same programming, both just normal pbs?
thanks a lot.

Both stations are set up the exact same way with regards to programming. One HD and two SD subchannels on each. I can also receive channel 28 from the Eastern Shore. It's also set up the same way.

.1 is the HD version of MPT (not necessarily the National PBS-HD program). .2 is MPT2 is different from .1 and has a variety of PBS-type programming. The .3 is a Spanish language channel called V-Me. From wikipedia: "V-me pronounced veh-meh, Spanish for “see me., is one of America's largest Spanish TV networks. V-me entertains and informs Latino families in Spanish with primetime drama, music, sports, current affairs and Latin cinema, along with world class kids, food, lifestyle and nature. The 24-hour network launched in March 2007, and is currently available in over 70% of all Hispanic homes, making it the fastest-growing, and 4th-largest, US Hispanic TV network."

http://www.mpt.org

Hey folks:

Sorry I vanished on you, I got too tired and went to bed.

Rehoboth is in Delaware.

Yes, turns out I'm an idiot. What else is new? :D

It's not a real clean one. Just faded out too, so this one will have to do.

I just caught an LD from 90 miles away. :-)

I can't post it on the site, but I can still extract useful data from it. Thanks! :)

Trip,

I'm seeing a WZTD-LD 45 & W39CO from Richmond. Do you kow how much power thay are broadcasting.

Thanks!!

W39CO is transmitting at 31 kW. WZTD-LP is transmitting at 72.6 kW. However, they're transmitting from different locations, which could explain the difference in reception.

Steve_AA: you were wondering if V-Me was related to PBS or not. To the best of my knowledge, it is.

- Trip

Hey folks:

Sorry I vanished on you, I got too tired and went to bed.

Yes, turns out I'm an idiot. What else is new? :D

I can't post it on the site, but I can still extract useful data from it. Thanks! :)

W39CO is transmitting at 31 kW. WZTD-LP is transmitting at 72.6 kW. However, they're transmitting from different locations, which could explain the difference in reception.

Steve_AA: you were wondering if V-Me was related to PBS or not. To the best of my knowledge, it is.

- Trip

You're definitely not an idiot. Hope I didn't offend.

Wish there was a good DX chat room (other than the one on mIRC manned by that guy in New England that wants you to pay to be in the "club"). This is probably not the appropriate forum for all of our fun.

Probably just the atmospheric conditions last night. Another channel 11 from a distant city (NYC?) may have been trying to step on WBAL. I lost WTTG-DT last night to a station in Atlantic City.

Where in MD are you?

Millersville - right off I-97. Other than the usual pixilation and weak signal from WUTB 24, all the other stations were fine last night including ION 66 out of VA and WETA 26. But not WBAL.

You're definitely not an idiot. Hope I didn't offend.

Nah, I'm kidding. I should have remembered something like that, considering I was looking at my own listings at the time which listed it as being Rehoboth City, DE.

Wish there was a good DX chat room (other than the one on mIRC manned by that guy in New England that wants you to pay to be in the "club"). This is probably not the appropriate forum for all of our fun.

The WTFDA? I'm a paying member. I get the monthly newsletter by snail mail and I really like the group of people involved in it. The fee is mostly to cover the cost of the newsletter.

If you prefer, I've got some forum software set up on my site for odd things that don't really belong here, if you'd like me to set up an area there to discuss this sort of thing. Because you're right, it really doesn't belong here.

- Trip

Millersville - right off I-97. Other than the usual pixilation and weak signal from WUTB 24, all the other stations were fine last night including ION 66 out of VA and WETA 26. But not WBAL.ION 66 has abandoned their transmitter site in Burke, VA (RF 43). They are now broadcasting from NW DC on WUSA's former UHF trannsmitter(RF 34-1000kw)

The WTFDA? I'm a paying member. I get the monthly newsletter by snail mail and I really like the group of people involved in it. The fee is mostly to cover the cost of the newsletter.

If you prefer, I've got some forum software set up on my site for odd things that don't really belong here, if you'd like me to set up an area there to discuss this sort of thing. Because you're right, it really doesn't belong here.

- Trip

WTFDA's forum (http://www.wtfda.info/) is free and open, even if the club itself isn't. The club also has a e-mail list for members that is more active than the forum. I'm sure they would appreciate more DTV DX'ers on their site in any case.

There's a short WBAL bit in this B&C article (http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/307121-Boise_Station_Gets_Power_Boost.php) today, via DCRTV:

WLS Chicago got permission for a two-week power boost, while WBAL Baltimore got permission to test some new equipment before deciding whether it will have to invest in it, said the spokesman.

I lost WTTG-DT last night to a station in Atlantic City.
That might explain why I've been having such a hard time with WTTG-DT over the last 12 hours or so. :(

watching KYW 3 on RF 26 at 50-60%

watching KYW 3 on RF 26 at 50-60%

update: just lost it! fluctuating between 8 and 40 %

KYW is back at 45% and CW Philly 57 is at over 50%

KYW is back at 45% and CW Philly 57 is at over 50%

gone now. still get WBOC

Unless you have local obstructions, you should be able to get all the DC stations except for WJLA 7 and WUSA 9 with the DB-4. The CM 4228 is a long range directional antenna. The CM 4228 should be able to get some of the Baltimore stations from Springfield as well as WJAL 7 and WUSA 9. I would expect the DB-4 to get the stronger Baltimore stations as well.

Where are the antennas located? In the attic or on the roof? How long is the cable run from the antennas to the TV? Are you using a pre-amp?

Sorry didnt see your post earlier.

The antennas are on my deck. The cable run is about 50-feet and then a signal splitter to various 4 locations, ranging from 10 to 25 feet.

The Bmore chaneels are being picked up during scan, but I cant tune them.

There's a short WBAL bit in this B&C article (http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/307121-Boise_Station_Gets_Power_Boost.php) today, via DCRTV:
Not 100% sure about that. WBAL 1090 got an STA to operate at reduced power omni at night for equipment tests. Didn't see anything about WBAL-TV.

The antennas are on my deck. The cable run is about 50-feet and then a signal splitter to various 4 locations, ranging from 10 to 25 feet. Hmmm. With a 4-way splitter and no amp, my WNVC overload theory is probably underwater. Though I do still claim (even without an amp) that I had trouble on multiple tuners, even with a 4-way splitter and a low gain antenna, until I nulled out WNVC via antenna rotation. I am 2.5mi away from WNVC.

You aren't combining those two antennas onto one coax, are you?

Not 100% sure about that. WBAL 1090 got an STA to operate at reduced power omni at night for equipment tests. Didn't see anything about WBAL-TV.

I saw that in the DCRTV mailbag. Apparently there are no recent WBAL-TV filings with the FCC. Looks like B&C reported incorrectly.

Both antennas have been a mixed bag since the transition of which channels I receive.

The DB4 only picks up 4.1, 5.1, 7.1 and 20.1.
The CM4228 only picks up 4.1, 9.1, 20.1, 30.1, 33 and 66.
What did you get with these antennas before June 12?


The cable run is about 50-feet and then a signal splitter to various 4 locations
Passive signal splitter? Not something you have to plug in, right?

Hmmm. With a 4-way splitter and no amp, my WNVC overload theory is probably underwater. Though I do still claim (even without an amp) that I had trouble on multiple tuners, even with a 4-way splitter and a low gain antenna, until I nulled out WNVC via antenna rotation. I am 2.5mi away from WNVC.

You aren't combining those two antennas onto one coax, are you?

No the 2 antennas are not combined. They are on separate splitters.


What did you get with these antennas before June 12?


Passive signal splitter? Not something you have to plug in, right?

Before June 12:

CM4228 with Samsung T451 tuner: 4.1 (hit and miss), 5.1 (always strong), 9.1 (always strong), 14.1 (rarely), 20.1 (always excellent), 26.1 (never) and all the rest I didnt care about.

DB4 with Samsung tuner: 4.1 (consistently strong), 5.1 (always strong), 7.1 (consistently strong), 9.1 (rarely), 14.1 (rarely), 20.1 (always excellent), 26.1 (consistently strong).

The splitter is passive.

No the 2 antennas are not combined. They are on separate splitters.




Before June 12:

CM4228 with Samsung T451 tuner: 4.1 (hit and miss), 5.1 (always strong), 9.1 (always strong), 14.1 (rarely), 20.1 (always excellent), 26.1 (never) and all the rest I didnt care about.

DB4 with Samsung tuner: 4.1 (consistently strong), 5.1 (always strong), 7.1 (consistently strong), 9.1 (rarely), 14.1 (rarely), 20.1 (always excellent), 26.1 (consistently strong).


The splitter is passive.


Does it look like directionality issue? Are both aimed in same direction and how do they react on rotation by few degrees ....

So, today was coming home from Poconos day, and I decided to stop at the rest stop on I-81 in West Virginia right next to the Maryland state line.

Now, you have to imagine me with the VHF bowtie set up on the roof of the car as I try to find a spot where the 0.3 kW signal of W08EE-D will decode.

20 minutes and multiple tries with and without the CM7777 amp later, I gave up, having failed to get it. It was very disappointing that I couldn't get it into the decoding range since WWPX-DT 12 had me maxed out on the bowtie.

I hope West Virginia PBS is thoroughly enjoying channel 8 for digital. I had their channel 50 analog completely pristine at the same time I couldn't lock the digital...

- Trip

Thats why I hope they can get W34DW up on some channel some day soon. WWPX comes in great 35 miles away with rabbitears, W08EE is hit and miss with a rooftop antenna.

Trip, did you ever catch WTAJ?

Trip, did you ever catch WTAJ?

No, and I forgot to PM system2000 about it before I left this morning...

- Trip

No, and I forgot to PM system2000 about it before I left this morning...

- Trip

What about Harrisburg channels?

I was impressed by W34DW for the few days it was on untill WJAC complained about interference. I find it funny that after W34DW applied for displacement to CH30 WJAC has applied for a translator on CH 30 in Bedford 40 +- miles away, although it would be nice to have a real NBC besides WHAG

I got them while in Harrisburg. Actually, WHP went from impossible catch on channel 4 to easiest catch on channel 21. I had their digital locking in while in motion at more than 25 miles.

WGAL: Never observed.
WLYH: Watched it while moving.
WHP: Watched it while moving.
WHTM: Locked it with rabbit ears, but finicky.
WITF: Managed a clean TSReader capture while moving.
WPMT: Managed a clean TSReader capture while moving.
WGCB: Not decoded while moving, but captured from atop a mountain near Bethel.

- Trip

I lost both WHP and WVPY now that WHP went back to 21. If I set the antenna just right I can get a bounce off the mountain for both, but its hit and miss, I wish WHP would have stayed on 4, never had to many problems with that.

Who do we contact at WRC to get them to air Early Today in HD weekdays at 4:30am? The show apparently went HD this past Monday with the launch of MSNBC HD, but WRC has not been airing it in HD.

I don't know the mechanics, but I'm a little surprised we have this "someone forgot to flip the switch" issue in a post-transition world.

Early Today is in HD on WBAL.

Does anyone know if the now digital PBS stations are still transmitting time information to automatically set the clock in a TV?

tnx
jtm

Trip,

djp952 has offered to loan me a USB tuner. As soon as I get it installed, I'll send you the information for W08EE-D and WTAJ-DT.

Also, I wasn't home most of the day yesterday.

Trip,

djp952 has offered to loan me a USB tuner. As soon as I get it installed, I'll send you the information for W08EE-D and WTAJ-DT.

Also, I wasn't home most of the day yesterday.

Ooh, thanks! I can't wait. :)

Well, then I guess it didn't much matter whether I PMed you or not. Maybe next time.

- Trip

Not really an HDTV question, but does anyone live around Germantown and use Verizon FIOS internet service?

I am trying to figure out which service provider to go with. I will get HDTV through them too, but I am more concerned about the internet service right now. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Does it look like directionality issue? Are both aimed in same direction and how do they react on rotation by few degrees ....

After reading your post I got out my compass and it turns out my directionality was off by about 15-degrees. Not sure how, but it was. I turned them to point at about 43-degrees (use antennaweb.org for positioning).

The signal strength has gotton better on the channels I was getting before. 9.1 comes and goes. 14.1 comes in, but the signal is weak and so you get picture breakup quite often. Still nothing on 26.1. Interestingly, the signal strength on 20.1 went down after the rotation. Go figure.

Since the 6/12/09 DTV conversion with Channels 7 & 9 in DC switching to VHF has anyone else noticed picture freezes as a result of Comcast not having a strong enough antenna to receive these channels in Southern Md. I thought they said if you were hooked to cable there would be no problems. The freezes
are bad enough if you have an OTA setup but this is ridiculous.

Spoke to a Comcast CSR today. She said that we were going to all digital (at least almost all) , in August. I know they are unreliable, but it makes sense since they are sending all of the channels in digital already. She also said they were going to scramble most of the channels. Hope she got that one wrong.

Finally received my Y10-7-13 (VHF Only) yesterday and actually climbed up into my sauna of an attic in the evening to get it rigged up. I had lost, 11, 13, 9 & 7the other week after the transition. Existing setup was 2 CM4228's stacked vertically in the attic about 25ft up with a 7775 preamp. Used to be able to get all of DC and Baltimore stations (MPT on 22 would come and go though) very reliably. New setup takes the 4228's into the UHF input of a 7777 and the new Y10-7-13 into the VHF only. Switches on the 7777 set for separate and FM Trap off (wanted FM for some receivers in the basement). Went with the Y10-7-13 due to its narrowness as I've had previous experience with large VHF installations in an attic. Needless to say I don't venture down that road any longer.
Anyway, do have it mounted (not much room due to the 4228's and ducting) and pointing towards Baltimore just like the 4228's. Good news is that 7 and 9 are back with anywhere from 76-90 on the signal strength meter. (I'm about 44 miles from the DC transmitters and 70 from Baltimore, standard 3rd story attic with asphalt shingles) Bad news is that I still don't get 11 and 13, but now I've now lost every Baltimore station after some adjustments this morning (just a bit cooler up there). With the temporary setup yesterday evening, I still had all Baltimore stations with the exception of 11 and 13. If anything, the last adjustment this morning was able to get the VHF further from the UHF's than last night, so don't think their spatial relationship is to blame, but other than a very slight pointing difference with VHF, I'm at a loss as to why I lost the rest of the Baltimore stations without touching the UHF's... Anyone have any ideas?

Thx, Bob

I'm at a loss as to why I lost the rest of the Baltimore stations without touching the UHF's... Anyone have any ideas?

Thx, BobThe UHF & VHF antennas need to be at least 3.5' from each other to avoid interaction between them.

Dig,

Thanks for the input... but my setup last night had the VHF about 2ft from the UHF's.... now it is about 3ft with worse results... Don't understand why a 2ft distance seemed to work ok, but a 3ft spacing doesn't... I'm assuming that I'll spend some time back in the attic tweaking that VHF this weekend. Sure would like to get all of the Baltimore stations back...

Bob

Hopefully you will be able to find a sweet spot that will work for the Baltimore channels.

Let me know if you have any luck with WBAL-DT 11. 40-50 miles seems to be as far as their 5kw signal can reach reliably. WJZ-DT 13 is much better(For now anyway)

Dig,

Quick jaunt up into the attic again. Had the wife on a walkie talkie guiding me this time... I've now got 2, 45 & 54 back from Baltimore and all the DC stations are still there as well. What I believe my issue was.... the VHF, even though it wasn't "in front of" the UHF, it was "forward" of it... As soon as I moved it a bit back, I'm where I'm at with the channels...

Bob

Good to hear!!

Since the 6/12/09 DTV conversion with Channels 7 & 9 in DC switching to VHF has anyone else noticed picture freezes as a result of Comcast not having a strong enough antenna to receive these channels in Southern Md. I thought they said if you were hooked to cable there would be no problems. The freezes
are bad enough if you have an OTA setup but this is ridiculous.

Have not noticed freezes, but I have noticed that there is no more of the venetian blind effect on channel 7 and channel 9 used to have a slight ghosting effect that is no longer there. Now they just look kind of fuzzy compared to the other channels.

Hopefully you will be able to find a sweet spot that will work for the Baltimore channels.

Let me know if you have any luck with WBAL-DT 11. 40-50 miles seems to be as far as their 5kw signal can reach reliably. WJZ-DT 13 is much better(For now anyway)
wish i could get wbal up here in harford county after june 12 it went away.

Comcast PG has done the strangest thing with their qam channels. They used to have SD versions of the broadcast channels in the 83 and 84 range. Now, they remapped them to where they would be on regular TV. 4 is on 4-11, 5 is 5-12, 7 is 7-31?, 9 is 9-32 and so on. In the midst of all of this they got rid of truTV which was on 83-8. That was only available through clear qam since they deleted the analog version on channel 66 a few years ago.

Who do we contact at WRC to get them to air Early Today in HD weekdays at 4:30am? The show apparently went HD this past Monday with the launch of MSNBC HD, but WRC has not been airing it in HD.

I don't know the mechanics, but I'm a little surprised we have this "someone forgot to flip the switch" issue in a post-transition world.

There's a contact form here:
http://www.nbcwashington.com/about_us/

I know someone over there and will e-mail them directly.

Anyone else having issues watching "A Capital Fourth" on WETA-HD via D*? Same macroblocking, sound issues and such as on Memorial Day. I could not have cared less when Manilow was on, but I'd like to see the fireworks!

wish i could get wbal up here in harford county after june 12 it went away.
to what i had previously posted. i rescanned today and moved the antenna a couple of clicks and voila in pops wbal, wish some of my other channels were that easy.

to what i had previously posted. i rescanned today and moved the antenna a couple of clicks and voila in pops wbal, wish some of my other channels were that easy.
Your original comment of "wish i could get wbal up here in harford county after june 12 it went away" is a scathing indictment of DTV on VHF. You shouldn't be having these problems as close as you are to Baltimore. It wasn't so long ago that some people could watch WBAL-TV11 analog from nearly 40 miles away with rabbit ears.

BTW, WPBT-TV2 analog in Miami, FL came booming in this afternoon with their night lite program. I guess that after July 12th, that too will be history. After that, Canadian DXing on analog will be all that's left except for Mexico and Cuba for the adventurous. On the bright side, we in the U.S. will have all of these totally clear analog channels in which to play around with.

FIOS now has Spike HD. Comcast needs to get it ASAP! :mad:

Your original comment of "wish i could get wbal up here in harford county after june 12 it went away" is a scathing indictment of DTV on VHF. You shouldn't be having these problems as close as you are to Baltimore. It wasn't so long ago that some people could watch WBAL-TV11 analog from nearly 40 miles away with rabbit ears.

BTW, WPBT-TV2 analog in Miami, FL came booming in this afternoon with their night lite program. I guess that after July 12th, that too will be history. After that, Canadian DXing on analog will be all that's left except for Mexico and Cuba for the adventurous. On the bright side, we in the U.S. will have all of these totally clear analog channels in which to play around with.
wbal had always been hard for me to get, even when it was on uhf. if they had been able to keep their transmitter power up when they moved to vhf we would not had any problem. i don't have any problem with any other stations. btw i get three versions of public tv washington baltimore and annaoplis.

Hopefully someone here can give me advice on my problem.

I currently have a Channel Master 4228 on my roof. Before the digital switch I was able to receive the Baltimore locals 2, 11, 13, 22, 45, and 54 on my three directv boxes (HR-100, HR-600, and H20-600).

Since the switch the HR20-100 is picking up all the channels and the DC locals. The HR20-600 won't pick up the DC locals and is missing 11 WBAL. The H20 brings both locals as well.

If I run the antenna to any of the TVs without any splitters, I can receive the channels I want, but once I split the feed it doesn't work. My antenna was installed by Fairfax Antenna and I do not have a ladder to reach my roof. Is there anything I can do on the ground to boost my signal so I don't lose stations when I split?

Hopefully someone here can give me advice on my problem.

I currently have a Channel Master 4228 on my roof. Before the digital switch I was able to receive the Baltimore locals 2, 11, 13, 22, 45, and 54 on my three directv boxes (HR-100, HR-600, and H20-600).

Since the switch the HR20-100 is picking up all the channels and the DC locals. The HR20-600 won't pick up the DC locals and is missing 11 WBAL. The H20 brings both locals as well.

If I run the antenna to any of the TVs without any splitters, I can receive the channels I want, but once I split the feed it doesn't work. My antenna was installed by Fairfax Antenna and I do not have a ladder to reach my roof. Is there anything I can do on the ground to boost my signal so I don't lose stations when I split?

Replace your splitter with a distribution amplifier.

Hopefully someone here can give me advice on my problem.

I currently have a Channel Master 4228 on my roof. Before the digital switch I was able to receive the Baltimore locals 2, 11, 13, 22, 45, and 54 on my three directv boxes (HR-100, HR-600, and H20-600).

Since the switch the HR20-100 is picking up all the channels and the DC locals. The HR20-600 won't pick up the DC locals and is missing 11 WBAL. The H20 brings both locals as well.

If I run the antenna to any of the TVs without any splitters, I can receive the channels I want, but once I split the feed it doesn't work. My antenna was installed by Fairfax Antenna and I do not have a ladder to reach my roof. Is there anything I can do on the ground to boost my signal so I don't lose stations when I split?

The CM-4228 is a UHF antenna:

http://www.channelmaster.com/product-overview.php?proID=34&catID=33

I am using a CM-3679 VHF/UHF antenna with a rotor:

http://www.channelmaster.com/product-overview.php?proID=26&catID=33

This CM-3418 distribution amplifier works for me:

http://www.channelmaster.com/product-overview.php?proID=75&catID=40

I connected the single lead down from the CM-3679 to the main input of the CM-3418. My 8 amplified signals then go to a basement TV and an a main floor TV. Each floor receives 4 separate amplified leads and has a receptacle plate of four RF female connectors. All wiring is RG-6.

You are using a primarily UHF-only antenna. That is your main problem. Also make sure that the installer used quad shield RG-6 instead of RG-59. Replace all RG-59 wherever possible. The signal loss using RG-6 is negligible but not so with RG-59.

Right now from Olney, MD, which is 15 miles from the Washington channels and 25 miles from the Baltimore channels I receive either an 85 to 95 minimum signal or a 100 plus maximum signal on every major channel in the region. Hagerstown, York, and Salisbury are received and locked in much of the time. I can receive low power analog and digital channels from the District.

Change your antenna to a VHF/UHF model with a rotor and use a distribution amplifier. I promise you that you will be amazed at the results.

The CM-4228 is a UHF antenna:
...
You are using a primarily UHF-only antenna. That is your main problem. Also make sure that the installer used quad shield RG-6 instead of RG-59. Replace all RG-59 wherever possible. The signal loss using RG-6 is negligible but not so with RG-59.
The CM-4228 8 Bay (original model) has some gain for upper VHF (with a notch for VHF 8). A lot of people brought the CM-4228 in recent years before the transition because they hope it would work for upper VHF. See the gain chart "Using a UHF antenna for VHF" at http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/comparing.html. The UHF bowtie design is useful in our markets because it can pick up stations in different directions without a rotator with some luck. The problem with WBAL 11 is that at 5 kW on VHF 11, the signal is going to be marginal or flat out too weak for a lot of people further away until they get a high gain upper VHF antenna (and even then WBAL may still be gone). I would hope that Fairfax antenna would have used RG-6 co-axial, but it worthwhile to double check.

Weird how the HR tuners are working differently but the tuners are likely right at the edge of the cliff effect for the marginal stations at that point in the split distribution path. A good quality distribution amp such as the Channel Master should do the trick. If they have not been cleaned out of stock in the post 6-12 period, solidsignal.com or warrenelectronics.com are reliable on-line vendors. If the distribution amp does not solve the problem, then the next step may be to keep the CM-4428 and get a upper VHF antenna and a UVSJ.

I live in Montgomery County. Before the switch I could get all the channels locally and WMAR and WBAL just fine but not WJZ. Now i can get just WMAR but not WBAL. I have tried scanning and re-scanning since the switch and still nothing. If people are not able to get WBAL or WJZ, this might be good news for WMAR. But I don't know how i can get all Wash/Balt channels.

make sure that the installer used quad shield RG-6 instead of RG-59. Replace all RG-59 wherever possible. The signal loss using RG-6 is negligible but not so with RG-59.While RG-59 is certainly not the best choice, it really only makes an appreciable difference with UHF frequencies. Since the problem is with VHF only, the recommendation of a distribution amp would be the best first approach. If this doesn't work, then the antenna will need replacement, or augmentation.

I live in Montgomery County. Before the switch I could get all the channels locally and WMAR and WBAL just fine but not WJZ. Now i can get just WMAR but not WBAL. I have tried scanning and re-scanning since the switch and still nothing. If people are not able to get WBAL or WJZ, this might be good news for WMAR. But I don't know how i can get all Wash/Balt channels.I thought I was able to get WJZ and WBAL before but WMAR was hard to get. Now, I can get WJZ and WMAR but I get no signal at all from WBAL. I went to http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Stations.aspx and for my address that is the situation they say I should be in. WBAL requires a different level of antenna than the other stations.

WBAL requires a different level of antenna than the other stations.Correct, in most cases rabbit ears and compact antennas will not receive WBAL well. You will need antenna that is 5'-6' in length.

I live in Montgomery County. Before the switch I could get all the channels locally and WMAR and WBAL just fine but not WJZ. Now i can get just WMAR but not WBAL. I have tried scanning and re-scanning since the switch and still nothing. If people are not able to get WBAL or WJZ, this might be good news for WMAR. But I don't know how i can get all Wash/Balt channels.

Sorry, but you haven't told us anything about your antenna. Try and be more specific about where you live. Is it an apartment or a house or a condo? Reception of DTV is correlated to location, terrain, trees, buildings, and of course your choice of antenna. Where in Montgomery Co. do you live. I live in Montgomery Co. and I can reasonably assure you that receiving just about any DTV channel out of Baltimore is extremely difficult without an outside antenna or attic antenna. Receiving VHF DTV RF 11 and 13 with a small indoor antenna will be practically impossible. Even Washingtonians are having great difficulty with VHF DTV RF 7 and 9.

Would be interested to get folks opinions on whether it is better to combine UHF/VHF upstream of a CM7777 Preamp, then feeding the signal into the combined port or leaving them separate and discretely feeding them into their appropriate ports on the CM7777. Combining on the first option would be with the UVSJ from Solid Signal... I've assumed that bringing in each band by itself and combining in the CM7777 would be better than combining with a $4.00 item...

Thanks, Bob

Would be interested to get folks opinions on whether it is better to combine UHF/VHF upstream of a CM7777 Preamp, then feeding the signal into the combined port or leaving them separate and discretely feeding them into their appropriate ports on the CM7777. Combining on the first option would be with the UVSJ from Solid Signal... I've assumed that bringing in each band by itself and combining in the CM7777 would be better than combining with a $4.00 item...

Thanks, Bob

I could be wrong, but I believe the 7777 splits the combined input out into VHF/UHF for separate amplification and then recombines them again on the output. If that's true, you're probably better off using the separate inputs on the 7777, but it really shouldn't matter too much either way, UHF/VHF diplexers incur almost no loss at all.

Correct, in most cases rabbit ears and compact antennas will not receive WBAL well. You will need antenna that is 5'-6' in length.

WBAL is on H-VHF channel 11. A tip-to-tip length of rabbit ears of around 30" is appropriate, not 5-6'.

WBAL is on H-VHF channel 11. A tip-to-tip length of rabbit ears of around 30" is appropriate, not 5-6'.I was referring to a yagi stlye antenna like the Antennacraft Y5-7-13. That certainly would be one top heavy set of rabbit ears.:D

Regis and Kelly is in HD on WBAL.

Regis and Kelly is in HD on WBAL.

It has been in HD on WBAL since at least 6/15 (I was out of town the week before, maybe they went HD that week).

Oh, Man!

My wife is going to be pissed when she finds out that CBS time shifted Y&R to 11:00am so that they could air the STUPID MJ special.

Oh no! She'll be totally lost after missing one day of her STUPID soap!

She will not consider the Special STUPID, I do.

I agree about the STUPID Soap comment, but she'll still explode about it.

She just came in the door and went ballistic. Called it. :)

Oh, Man!

My wife is going to be pissed when she finds out that CBS time shifted Y&R to 11:00am so that they could air the STUPID MJ special.This was a CBS network decision? Interesting... ABC just shelved their shows for tomorrow but it does throw off those Friday cliffhangers...

Oh, Man!

My wife is going to be pissed when she finds out that CBS time shifted Y&R to 11:00am so that they could air the STUPID MJ special.

If you have cable, Y&R is shown several times during the evening on SoapNet. I also think that CBS puts complete episodes of Y&R on their website for viewing.

Kensington is only a few miles from the towers in Tenleytown, correct? That antenna should be adequate for such a location. I have something similar (CM 2001) and it works fine here, six miles away.

Unless you have some sort of terrain obstruction, the signals you are receiving there should be extremely strong. Since you said 'inside' for your amp, I'm assuming you have the antenna outside. You don't need a preamp, and probably don't need a distribution amp either. How many devices are you connecting? One thought I have is that the second harmonic from an FM station could be affecting channel 9, and the preamp is making it worse. Channel 9 is 186-192mhz, and if I recall correctly WTGB 94.7 is close by. Its second harmonic at 189.4mhz is in 9's range. Unfortunately, that kind of thing isn't as easy to see and test in the digital world. How did analog 9 look?
Yeah, I'm about 5 minutes outside the Beltway.

I have the signal split four ways, to two HDTV tuner cards in each of two HTPCs.

No idea about analog 9...never watched analog TV at this location. :)

Antenna is outside, attached to a piece of black iron pipe that's U-bolted to a stack coming out of my roof, maybe 3' off the roof. Preamp signal goes into distro/amp box inside by the computers.

I'm in Haymarket and I was wondering what Antenna would everyone recommend for me out there. AntennaWeb is saying I'm max 32.5 miles away from any of the Major Locals. I'm just looking for DC locals and nothing else. I would really like an Indoor Antenna if possible, since I would have to check with my HOA about outdoor antennas. Our HOA is very very Picky, Dominion Valley.

Anybody with some info would be great.

Thanks!

HOA's can't restrict outside antennas for television viewing per the FCC (it also applies to satellite dishes of 1 meter or less). There is a thread, in the HDTV Technical section, that is dedicated to indoor antennas.

Can anyone tell me what the Channel 8 is that I saw referenced during a channel 7 newscast the other day.

Can anyone tell me what the Channel 8 is that I saw referenced during a channel 7 newscast the other day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newschannel_8

- Trip

OTA only. I don't have cable.

So, it's a cable channel. OK, another piece of news to ignore. Nothing like making advertisements sound like news. :rolleyes:

I'm in Haymarket and I was wondering what Antenna would everyone recommend for me out there.Is an attic antenna an option for you? Rabbit ears are pretty much out of the question at your distance.

Yeah, an attic antenna would work just fine for me. I was thinking that, but then read somethings that they are not that good. So I was just looking for some feedback.

DCRTV reports that the low-power analog TV Azteca America affiliate, analog Channel 69, WQAW-LP in Lake Shore, MD, has asked the FCC to allow it to move its transmitter to Crofton, MD, to digital UHF channel 20, in order to offer digital coverage to the DC and Baltimore metro areas.

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getattachment_exh.cgi?exhibit_id=767034&formid=346&q_num=5000

The application to the FCC read, in part:

DISPLACEMENT EXHIBIT:
THIS APPLICATION PROPOSES TO CHANGE THE CHANNEL OF WQAW-LP FROM OUT-OF-CORE CHANNEL 69 TO IN-CORE CHANNEL 20, AND TO CONVERT FROM ANALOG TO DIGITAL OPERATION. AS SHOWN BY THE ATTACHED EXHIBIT, THE NEW F(50,90)51 DBU PROTECTED CONTOUR OVERLAPS THE LICENSED F(50,50) 74 DBU CONTOUR. WQAW-LP WAS GRANTED A CP TO CHANGE FROM CHANNEL 69 TO CHANNEL 8 (BDISTVL-20060310ACY) BUT IT HAS BEEN DISPLACED FROM CHANNEL 8 BY THE DIGITAL OPERATIONS OF FULL-SERVICE TELEVISION STATION WGAL-DT, CHANNEL 8, LANCASTER, PA. ON DECEMBER 1, 2008, APPLICANT FILED A DISPLACEMENT APPLICATION TO SHIFT WQAW-LP FROM CHANNEL 69 TO CHANNEL 20 (FILE NO.BDISDTL-20081201ATE). THAT APPLICATION WAS DISMISSED ON MARCH 27, 2009 DUE TO PRE-TRANSITION INTERFERENCE TO THE ANALOG SERVICE OF STATION WDCA, CHANNEL 20, WASHINGTON, DC. THE INSTANT APPLICATION PROPOSES THE SAME FACILITIES AS THE DECEMBER APPLICATION.

DCRTV reports that the low-power analog TV Azteca America affiliate, analog Channel 69, WQAW-LP in Lake Shore, MD, has asked the FCC to allow it to move its transmitter to Crofton, MD, to digital UHF channel 20, in order to offer digital coverage to the DC and Baltimore metro areas.Not that I am interested in their programming, but that would be right on top of me.

Yeah, an attic antenna would work just fine for me. I was thinking that, but then read somethings that they are not that good. So I was just looking for some feedback.

You'll probably be dissapointed with the performance of an attic-mounted antenna. Another good option may be a UHF/VHF marine (aka boat) style antenna. They are about one foot in diameter and look like a classic UFO shape. An antenna of this type can prove to be more hidden than the yagi style UHF/VHF higher gain antenna. The receive pattern is fairly omni-directional. I used one of these antennas in a mobile installation atop a rental car while performing a DTV survey of the Boise Idaho market. I was amazed how well it worked.

Depending on how far you are from the transmitter sites of choice, I recommend the non-amplified marine antenna, although the one with the amp seems to work pretty well vs. booster amps with conventional antennas even located a couple miles from transmission sites.

Here are links to a couple choices from West Marine: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/40165/377%20710/0/TV%20antenna/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377%20710&Ne=0&Ntt=TV%20antenna&Ntk=Primary%20Search&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&Nao=0&Ns=0&keyword=TV%20antenna&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=5003&subdeptNum=3&classNum=667

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/60492/377%20710/0/TV%20antenna/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377%20710&Ne=0&Ntt=TV%20antenna&Ntk=Primary%20Search&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&Nao=0&Ns=0&keyword=TV%20antenna&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=5003&subdeptNum=3&classNum=667

Just hang on to your receipt in case it doesn't work. Granted they're a little pricey, but like I mentioned, the performance for DTV is pretty impressive. Just mount the antenna as high as possible above the roof line to minimize reflections from buildings and passing vehicles.

Good Luck!

Not that I am interested in their programming, but that would be right on top of me.
Looking at the WQAW-LD application, they will be on the same tower as WMPT 22 (DT 42), but using a side mounted antenna. In an earlier filing, WQAW-LP 69 shut down on UHF 69 on June 12 because of interference with "'PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST RESPONDER RELAY NETWORK (800 MHZ BAND)". Looking at their analog coverage map, they probably had very few OTA viewers. Maybe boaters with digital TVs? :p Like many other low power stations, they are using forced displacements to try to get much improved broadcast coverage. Although at 6.5 kW on UHF 20, WQAW-LD's coverage map strikes me as rather optimistic.

You'll probably be dissapointed with the performance of an attic-mounted antenna. Another good option may be a UHF/VHF marine (aka boat) style antenna.I seriously doubt "any" compact antenna will have a chance with the weak signals from WUSA-DT 9, & WJLA-DT 7 in Haymarket. You will need a "real" yagi style VHF/UHF antenna to get those VHF stations any further out than Fairfax. The Winegard 769x series is the highest gain compact yagi out there. You may also need a quality pre-amp depending on the signal strengths at your location.

My house is situated in Orange, VA, 73 miles SW of the towers in DC. Two years ago I installed a CM4228 and CM7777 in my third story attic with asphalt shingles.

Before the transition, I was able receive 4.1 rarely, 5.1 95 % of the time, 7.1 and 9.1 99.9% of the time. Post transition, WTTG is rock solid, but I rarely get a lock on the other three. Odly enough, even though I am not interested in them, I do solidly receive the Richmond networks 58 miles away with my CM4228 still pointed toward Washington.

My question is, what yagi style VHF antenna can I purchase to augment the CM4228 that will enable me to reliably receive WJLA and WUSA at 73 miles out?

The Winegard YA-1713 is your best bet to augment the 4228. Nothing is guaranteed to be 100% reliable, but since you are getting Baltimore, I would think you have a pretty good shot.

Nothing is 100% guaranteed to work for your situation, but the best separate available for VHF-Hi is the Winegard YA-1713. If reception is not reliable with the 1713, theres not much else you can do other than mount the antenna on the roof.

Thanks! I like the fact that the 1713 is only 8 ft. wide. I should be able to get it in my roof. My only concern is how far away I can get from the 4228 because of limited vertical attic height. I quess I'll have to move it to the otherside of a dormer.

3.5' is ideal, but you can experiment with various placement options if you don't have the room.

DC Broadcasting filed applications last week to transmit 15 kW digital on channels 14 and 32 from the WRC/WFDC/WMDO tower at WFDC's height. The channel 32 signal would be reduced to the southwest to protect WVIR in Charlottesville. The channel 14 signal would be non-directional.

Asiavision filed last week to transmit 12 kW digital on channel 44 and 3 kW analog on channel 4 from the WRC/WFDC/WMDO tower at approximately WMDO's height. The digital signal would have a deep null to the northwest to protect WWPB in Hagerstown. The analog signal would be non-directional.

Predicted service contours:
Analog 4: http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=TX1319551.html
Digital 14: http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=LD1319988.html
Digital 32: http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=LD1319980.html
Digital 44: http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=LD1319559.html

The FCC's digital coverage comparison maps for DC ( http://www.fcc.gov/dtv/markets/maps_current/Washington_DC.pdf ) now include coverage for WETA and WWPX's proposed moves to channel 51, on pages 9 and 51, respectively.

Note that WWPX is proposing to transmit from the same mountaintop location as WINC-FM 92.5, which will extend their coverage beyond DC proper into Maryland, to include most the population of the DC DMA. I think it's obvious that WWPX is not interested in serving Martinsburg, WV, but is instead positioning the station for must carry on DC cable and satellite systems, in order to facilitate sale of the property separate from WPXW.

Looking at their analog coverage map, they probably had very few OTA viewers. Maybe boaters with digital TVs? :p Like many other low power stations, they are using forced displacements to try to get much improved broadcast coverage. Although at 6.5 kW on UHF 20, WQAW-LD's coverage map strikes me as rather optimistic.
WQAW is widely carried on Comcast, even in Virginia.

Like WWPX and many other stations, I think they view their broadcast operation primarily as an entry to cable and satellite carriage.

The FCC's digital coverage comparison maps for DC ( http://www.fcc.gov/dtv/markets/maps_current/Washington_DC.pdf ) now include coverage for WETA and WWPX's proposed moves to channel 51, on pages 9 and 51, respectively.

Note that WWPX is proposing to transmit from the same mountaintop location as WINC-FM 92.5, which will extend their coverage beyond DC proper into Maryland, to include most the population of the DC DMA. I think it's obvious that WWPX is not interested in serving Martinsburg, WV, but is instead positioning the station for must carry on DC cable and satellite systems, in order to facilitate sale of the property separate from WPXW.

IS that coverage map for real or a joke? WUSA doesn't have anywhere close to the coverage it shows.

Ragin, I'm a bit further out than you are here in Warrenton. I've got a CM4228 (UHF) along with the Y10-13-7 (VHF) into a CM7777 both in my attic with asphalt shingles. I get all of the DC stations just fine and can even get 2, 45 & 54 out of Baltimore. With the same type of setup, I'd be surprised if you didn't get about the same results or better. Keep the longer VHF antenna as far away as you can from the UHF, I had to make many trips to the attic to adjust the VHF as it was hampering my UHF... I used to get 11 and 13 from Baltimore before the transition when they were UHF, but no longer! (at least for now anyway)... Good luck... Bob

IS that coverage map for real or a joke? WUSA doesn't have anywhere close to the coverage it shows.

I'd like to see how they define 'coverage', to be honest. I'm in Howard, MD and 7 and 9 are a lot closer to 'fringe' here than these maps certainly indicate. Other sources, like tvfool are far less optimistic and IMO closer to accurate for the H-VHF coverage right now.

I'm no RF engineer, but there's no way that's right for WJLA and WUSA with their current power levels. I'm outside the circles for the Hagertown channels and can get them on UHF if I try from my attic. I used to be able to get 66 from time to time on their old frequency, and I was WAY outside that circle. But yet 7 and 9 are still MIA (still waiting for my YA-5713). On analog I had them both very clearly (admittedly some snow) with just a cheesy folded dipole DB2-style beast I whipped up.

I'm still hopeful that people are seriously looking at the alotted VHF power levels as we speak and realizing they miscalculated something pretty badly :)

I don't believe any of the coverage maps I've seen. I'm way outside the circles by 15 miles (minimum) and get both WJLA and WUSA (maybe not solid) viewable.

What's going on with the "Aspect Ratio" of "Late Late Show?" It has a frame even in 4:3.

Does anyone know how cable must-carry rules apply to digital subchannels? RCN, in their infinite wisdom, decided they weren't going to carry MHz-5 anymore after it switched from BVN to Al Jazeera English on July 1, and I'm really unhappy about that decision. So we've got MHz 1-4 and 6-8, but no 5. :mad:

Does anyone know how cable must-carry rules apply to digital subchannels?

They don't.

- Trip

I hear a lot of talk from folks that say they can not get signals or that DT signals are not usable more than 40 miles out. Just for reference,

I live 15 west of Winchester, Va. and receive with a 98 signal quality the digital signals of channels 5, 9, 14, 20, 26, 32, 66. I have less signal on the others out of D.C. because of local interference from low power transmitters on top of digital channels 4, 7, and 50, but I do get very stable signals from them all out of D.C. 70+ miles away.

I also get stable signals from Baltimore digitals 2, 24, 45, 54 and even 67.
I can receive channel 13, and once in a while channel 11, but not reliably. Those Baltimore signals are about 91 miles from me.

Guys, do your home work and invest a little time and money. Digital TV while not perfect works. I could not get a snow free picture on anything out of D.C. or Baltimore before Digital. I also have a home in Charles town that receives everything out of both towns including channel 11 reliably at about 62 miles out.

What do I use for an antenna? My VHF antenna is about 20 years old and a combo like the CM 3679 with the UHF reflector taken off.

The UHF antenna system is 2 vertically stacked and directly connected CM 4228s. both of these feed a CM 7777 preamp.

I feed the house distribution system with RG 6. The antenna in Charles town is just a plain CM 3020 with the CM 7777 preamp.

Before channel 8 digital in Martinsburg, Wv. went on the air, I could watch the 198 watt signal of WMDO. While it sat right on the digital cliff, it was there. Yes, I do have a little higher look angle than others, I also have 1000+ foot ridges in the way of Baltimore and Washington. We also receive WTAJ-TV Altoona, Pa. with a reliable signal even with Cacapon mountain at 2600 feet in the way.

Glad to see there's a fellow CM3020 user at 70+ miles (with edge-diffraction reception) getting good DTV also.

WTAJ-DT is one of my strongest stations. I e-MAIL'ed them about incorporating Franklin County into their weather forecast. Not sure if it'll happen, because they didn't seem to interested due to this area is not in their DMA.

Keep an eye on WRC-DT with TSReader, I hear that Mobile DTV is supposed to show up there "by the end of the week."

- Trip

Picking through that data, I note that WHUT-DT has added UpdateTV. So if anyone asks about blank subchannels on 33-8 and 33-9, that's what it is.

- Trip

Getting WHUT's UpdateTV sub-channels over Cox cable should work, shouldn't they? The UpdateTV web site seems to indicate it works OTA and with digital cable. However, my Sony TV failed to pick up a firmware update I know for a fact was broadcast over UpdateTV. I was able to update the TV by putting the update on a USB stick, I'm just not sure why the UpdateTV method didn't work.

I'm not sure if it's sent over digital cable or not. It's not something I'd thought about. I'm almost tempted to say that in general it would not be without special considerations by the cable company, but I'm not certain of that at all. It's purely a guess.

- Trip

Dish Network added MSNBC HD.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1158996&page=3

Getting WHUT's UpdateTV sub-channels over Cox cable should work, shouldn't they? The UpdateTV web site seems to indicate it works OTA and with digital cable. However, my Sony TV failed to pick up a firmware update I know for a fact was broadcast over UpdateTV. I was able to update the TV by putting the update on a USB stick, I'm just not sure why the UpdateTV method didn't work.

Well I went back to check my Cox channel lineup (I'm in Fairfax County, VA), and they do claim to carry WHUT-DT. However, I only have Extended Basic cable, and while I get many digital stations with this service, WHUT-DT is not one of them. Cox switched WHUT over to digital only in June.
I also had the TV re-scan for digital stations, just to be sure, and still don't get 33.8 and 33.9. Does anyone know if these channels are maybe mapped to other oddball channel numbers (I'm not using a cable box)?

Anybody if there is a local company that sells the Channel Master Antennas? I'd like to maybe go get one this weekend if I could.

Channel Master's web site only provides on-line sales - no local distributors listed. RS only carries Winegard. You might try calling them: 877.746.7261

Anybody if there is a local company that sells the Channel Master Antennas? I'd like to maybe go get one this weekend if I could.JE Rice in the Manassas shopping center carries a few Channel Master models, but they may not accept returns. I wouldn't recommend Channel Master unless you can mount it outside. The gain on their antennas is low when size is a consideration.

I would personally recommend this antenna from Radio Shack if you need something right away. They have it in stock at the Manassas Mall store, and if it doesn't work satisfactorily for you, you can easily return it.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?currentTab=summary&productId=3537124&tab=custRatings#showReviews

Anybody if there is a local company that sells the Channel Master Antennas? I'd like to maybe go get one this weekend if I could.

If you're in Maryland try Mark Electronics in Beltsville.

Not sure if this is the correct place to ask this, but here goes. I live in Baltimore County, MD and about 2 weeks ago my Comcast Motorola digital HD box stopped picking up any channels. Worked fine when I ran the cable straight into the TV.

Today the Comcast tech came and he said the problem was caused due to the signal being too strong from the Motorola Signal Booster I was using. He took the old box to the truck and came back with what he said was another box. After disconnecting the Signal Booster and connecting the new Digital HD box everything seems to be working fine.

My BS detector came on when he said problem was due to the signal being too strong. So is this possible or was the cable box more likely the problem and he was feeding me BS?

Not sure if this is the correct place to ask this, but here goes. I live in Baltimore County, MD and about 2 weeks ago my Comcast Motorola digital HD box stopped picking up any channels. Worked fine when I ran the cable straight into the TV.

Today the Comcast tech came and he said the problem was caused due to the signal being too strong from the Motorola Signal Booster I was using. He took the old box to the truck and came back with what he said was another box. After disconnecting the Signal Booster and connecting the new Digital HD box everything seems to be working fine.

My BS detector came on when he said problem was due to the signal being too strong. So is this possible or was the cable box more likely the problem and he was feeding me BS?


he's the one with the meter, I'd go with his opinion.

Cable boxes typically will have a lower signal overload threshold than TV receivers and you probably overloaded it.

He probably installed a newer one with a higher threshold...

Tried to upgrade my Baltimore signal replacing a CM4220 with a CM2016 on my roof. I am in Odenton, MD and used to get all Baltimore stations, 2, 11, 13, 45, 54 and others. With the digital transition lost 11 and 13 to the switch to vhf. With the new CM2016, I set the FM trap correctly on my radioshack preamp to allow for vhf and get most channels but not 11 (NBC) and 13 (CBS) is marginal at best (30% signal and unwatchable). I am wondering what should be next to troubleshoot the problem or is this is related to the power issues for 11 and somewhat 13 and not much can be done. Can it be a direction issue even though the 2016 is omni-directional on vhf and I should tweak the direction of the new antenna or upgrade my pre-amp or get a better antenna such as the winnegard HD7694P?

Can it be a direction issue even though the 2016 is omni-directional on vhf and I should tweak the direction of the new antenna or upgrade my pre-amp or get a better antenna such as the winnegard HD7694P?Unfortunately, the Channel Master 2016 is not a very good VHF antenna. The 7694 is much better, even on UHF.

I'm also thinking you would be better off without a pre-amp. It is likely doing more harm than good. If you must use a pre-amp, the Winegard HDP-269 is the only one worth considering. I would try a new higher quality antenna first.

Did you try raising or lowering the antenna? You will have a plus or minus 32" elevation range for reception strength of VHF-Hi (UHF will be a lot less).

. . . . . . . lost 11 and 13 to the switch to vhf.Have you tried the 2016 without the pre-amp? You've got local TV & FM stations right on top of you.

Can I run the 2106 through the preamp on the roof but not through the amp that plugs into the outlet? Will that suffice trying without the amp?

I also can't really move the antenna up or down. The 2106 is in the same place as the old antenna. It is a 1 ft J-joint that is bolted down on the very top of the roof. The 32" delta height change on top of the roof could affect the signal drastically?

[QUOTE=BGAGG;16811822]Can I run the 2106 through the preamp on the roof but not through the amp that plugs into the outlet? Will that suffice trying without the amp?QUOTE]

No, you will have to bypass both the preamp at the antenna and the power supply.

The 32" delta height change on top of the roof could affect the signal drastically?Height shouldn't be an issue for VHF at your distance. I just installed an un-amplified antenna just 3 feet off the roof of a 1 story house yesterday. At 45 miles out channel 11 & 13 come in just fine, although an FM trap was needed to receive WBAL due to strong FM from less than 2 miles away.

What kind of FM trap and antenna did you use for the setup at 45 miles away?

Thanks for everyone's feedback. I am heading back on the roof to test without the pre-amp.

What kind of FM trap and antenna did you use for the setup at 45 miles away?

Thanks for everyone's feedback. I am heading back on the roof to test without the pre-amp.We used a VHF-HI only YA-1713. http://www.summitsource.com/winegard-ya1713-yagi-tv-antenna-reception-aerial-prostar-1000-10-element-offair-vhf-broadband-ch-713-high-definition-signal-outdoor-local-channel-blue-zone-part-ya1713-with-50-ft-coax-cable-p-4589.html

An HLSJ was used to trap FM. http://yhst-18278607509093.stores.yahoo.net/pico-0144.html. It makes for an inexpensive and very effective trap if channels 2-6 aren't needed. The HLSJ is especially useful if there are any strong FM stations in the 88-91 MHZ area. Many FM traps do not work as well on these frequencies.

As far as I can tell, the recently added FIOS channels still haven't been posted. These are:

Spike HD 554
Comedy Central HD 690
MTV HD 710
VH 1 HD 717
CMT HD 721
Nick HD 752

the party's over...

The last analog nightlight in the DC/Baltimore area, WTTG-5 just went dark at 11:59 pm.

No fanfare. Just snow in the middle of the NAB loop.

the party's over...

The last analog nightlight in the DC/Baltimore area, WTTG-5 just went dark at 11:59 pm.

No fanfare. Just snow in the middle of the NAB loop.
Actually, that should be the end for all of them, right? So now it's just Mexico and Canada? And the US Low Power stations.

To the various folks running TSReader:

Any chance you could post captures now and again at the end of the week of:

- WRC
- WUSA
- WDCA
- WHUT
- WNVC
- WPXW
- WNUV

I'm looking for evidence of Mobile DTV transmission and the difference in bandwidth usage. It's scheduled to launch on July 15 though I think WPXW and WRC have already launched it.

Thanks. :)

- Trip

Analog modulated VHF/UHF television stations left will be Low-Power, Translator, and Class "A."

Ragin, I'm a bit further out than you are here in Warrenton. I've got a CM4228 (UHF) along with the Y10-13-7 (VHF) into a CM7777 both in my attic with asphalt shingles. I get all of the DC stations just fine and can even get 2, 45 & 54 out of Baltimore. With the same type of setup, I'd be surprised if you didn't get about the same results or better. Keep the longer VHF antenna as far away as you can from the UHF, I had to make many trips to the attic to adjust the VHF as it was hampering my UHF... I used to get 11 and 13 from Baltimore before the transition when they were UHF, but no longer! (at least for now anyway)... Good luck... Bob


Thanks for the info.

So, on Saturday, I just decided to try out an indoor antenna to just see what would happen. I purchased the HDTVa model from BestBuy, and I was quite surprised with it.

I put it on top of my Receiver inside the middle of the house. The antenna faced the correct direction and had to go through a lot of wall, stairs, garage, etc to get out. It picked up all the UHF channels super well. VHF channels, not so much. I couldn't even get a signal. These were channels 7 and 9. So I found a long RG6 cable, and connected the antenna next to the window, and I was able to pick up 7, 9 and everything else really well. With this test, I know I should easily be able to pick up everything I need and want from an Attic antenna. I mean the HDTVa is super small and not powered a lot. The CM7777 and a good UHF/VHF should be plenty in my eyes.

Hi all. Newb to the forum here and just checking in/passing my OTA info on for what it's worth. I'm in a tough location (in a bit of a valley w/lots of tall trees 360) in White Oak, MD; about 8 mi from all of the DC stations & 27 mi from Balt. Been chasing good reception of all OTA digital since about last spring. Indoor even w/amps has been only sporadic and (obviously) very directional. Since about last summer I've been using a RS outdoor VHF/UHF/Yagi in the attic and got mostly viewable DC with 5, 7, 9 (of the 4 majors) the worst. Frequent dropouts and especially in poor weather.

Post transition signals seemed to get worse, so I just installed an amplified RS Omni (cat# 15-1634) w/20db advertised gain in the attic split to 3 cables, and it's been excellent so far. Not perfect, but only rare dropouts on 5-7-9, and got me 2 in Balt and a strong 22. Considering 2 is 180deg from DC & my location and 22 is 90deg, I've stopped cursing digital and finally have analog quality (uninterrupted!) sound.

I'm going to try some roof placements and heights eventually, but wanted to pass on that the RS amplified omni seems to work pretty well in the attic, even with tall trees & LOS only to ch 50 for my height/location. Everything else here (at my current height) is 1 edge & 2 edge. Toughest channel picked up that's still watchable is 30.

Anyone here know who makes this RS model? Thanks for listening.

So I have a Insignia and a DigitalStream DTX9950. The advantage of the DTX is: if you set it for Composite output, the RF out is pass-through, even when on. That way I could watch one thing, and record another. So it goes antenna->DTXin, DTXout->Insignia.


Lately, the DTX feeding my VCR has had zero use. (And what have you been watching that was worth recording???) But I decided to rescan it anyhow.


To make a long story short, in doing so I found that while the DTX does pass through; when on, it eats enough signal to turn both WUSA and WJLA on the Insignia from very solid to totally flaky. This was invisible to me prior to D-day.


Sigh, I guess I really need to spend a dollar at a hamfest and buy a splitter.... Who knows; next fall there might be something worth recording!

So I have a Insignia and a DigitalStream DTX9950. The advantage of the DTX is: if you set it for Composite output, the RF out is pass-through, even when on. That way I could watch one thing, and record another. So it goes antenna->DTXin, DTXout->Insignia.


Lately, the DTX feeding my VCR has had zero use. (And what have you been watching that was worth recording???) But I decided to rescan it anyhow.


To make a long story short, in doing so I found that while the DTX does pass through; when on, it eats enough signal to turn both WUSA and WJLA on the Insignia from very solid to totally flaky. This was invisible to me prior to D-day.


Sigh, I guess I really need to spend a dollar at a hamfest and buy a splitter.... Who knows; next fall there might be something worth recording!

Just curious - I have a Digital Stream box which I am very happy with. It does a great job of bringing in channel 11 on VHF using a UHF antenna and a signal strength only in the mid 30s and does a great job on the stronger stations. Have you compared the Insignia and Digital Stream boxes on capture ability? I read a review a long time ago that gave the nod to the Digital Stream box which is why I bought it. But given that time has marched on, the transition has occurred, etc I wonder how the other boxes fare?

The last analog nightlight in the DC/Baltimore area, WTTG-5 just went dark at 11:59 pm.
Actually, that should be the end for all of them, right? So now it's just Mexico and Canada? And the US Low Power stations.
As of 4 am ET this morning, yes.

But when I posted that, at midnight ET, nightlights might still have been receivable by E skip from time zones to the west.

To the various folks running TSReader:

Any chance you could post captures now and again at the end of the week of:

- WRC
- WUSA
- WDCA
- WHUT
- WNVC
- WPXW
- WNUV

I'm looking for evidence of Mobile DTV transmission and the difference in bandwidth usage. It's scheduled to launch on July 15 though I think WPXW and WRC have already launched it.

Thanks. :)

- Trip
I didn't see anything late last night on WRC... what exactly do you want? Record the mux, do the HTML export, or what?

I have a standard ATSC BDA tuner (USB) and TSReader Standard (whatever the paid one is that's not Professional, which is the expensive one)

I didn't see anything late last night on WRC... what exactly do you want? Record the mux, do the HTML export, or what?

I have a standard ATSC BDA tuner (USB) and TSReader Standard (whatever the paid one is that's not Professional, which is the expensive one)

Yeah, just an HTML export.

You're looking for an "Unknown Usage" stream chewing up a bunch of bandwidth, particularly a multiple of 0.917 Mbps. There's one on WPXW-DT at 0x1eee, though I've also seen it at 0x1ff9.

- Trip

Yeah, just an HTML export.

You're looking for an "Unknown Usage" stream chewing up a bunch of bandwidth, particularly a multiple of 0.917 Mbps. There's one on WPXW-DT at 0x1eee, though I've also seen it at 0x1ff9.

- Trip
Found one on WRC just now at 0x1ff9.

Separately, sending you a PM.

Found one on WRC just now at 0x1ff9.

Separately, sending you a PM.
The one on WPXW seems to be 3.668 Mbps (x4) and the one on WRC seems to be 1.834 Mbps (x2). Of course, if I understand correctly, we can't watch these yet or really analyze them too much.

I'll collect whatever info you need, although I should warn you that some channels are elusive at my location -- I'm not exactly using professional equipment over here. ;) Just some bunny ears tossed up in a closet on the 2nd story of our Annapolis suburb house. Also a little home-built fractal antenna, but it's nothing too spectacular either.

Also, the video on WPXW's "HD" channel is pretty amusing at 8.8Mbps. Let's just say the picture quality is suffering a wee bit...

The one on WPXW seems to be 3.668 Mbps (x4) and the one on WRC seems to be 1.834 Mbps (x2). Of course, if I understand correctly, we can't watch these yet or really analyze them too much.

You catch on quickly. :)

I'm somehow expecting to see 7.33 Mbps (x8) on WHUT-DT, but we'll just have to wait and see if I'm right or not.

I'll collect whatever info you need, although I should warn you that some channels are elusive at my location -- I'm not exactly using professional equipment over here. ;) Just some bunny ears tossed up in a closet on the 2nd story of our Annapolis suburb house. Also a little home-built fractal antenna, but it's nothing too spectacular either.

Thanks. As long as it works, that's what matters. :) I'm guessing that WNVC-DT 24 (30-1) is out of reach for you?

I wish it was possible to decode these transmissions, but as far as I know, nothing is available to the public to do so.

- Trip

has anyone gotten all 10 MHz channels to work?

for me, i've gotten the WNVC channels (RF 24) to work but not the WNVT ones (RF 30). the microsoft digital terrestial epg shows a digital channel 30-1 and maps it correctly to RF 24, so when i add 30-2, 30-3, 30-4, and 30-5, they all work. i cannot add the rest, of course, because they are on a different RF channel, 30. so i pick an unused logical channel (say 31, i've tried multiple) and start adding missing channels with RF 30. but none of those channels play when i click on them. :( when i use the Digital Signal Strength thing in MCE, the RF 30 channels are even stronger than the RF 24 ones, a full 6 bars.

i can get the RF 30 channels fine using the software that came with my tuner card and with the WatchHDTV.exe program.

so has anyone gotten MHz1 through MHz10 working over the air in MCE 2005?

thanks!

I'm somehow expecting to see 7.33 Mbps (x8) on WHUT-DT, but we'll just have to wait and see if I'm right or not.
That's about what they allocate to the video, but it is SD.

Thanks. As long as it works, that's what matters. :) I'm guessing that WNVC-DT 24 (30-1) is out of reach for you?
Most of the time yeah. I used to get it pre-transition with a Phillips MANT510 indoor antenna, but I lent that to a friend so all my post-transition playing has been with bunny ears and other smaller passive antennas. It often shows up in my TSReader channel scan, but I get constant sync errors and never anything viewable.


I wish it was possible to decode these transmissions, but as far as I know, nothing is available to the public to do so.
Yeah, it seems strange that there'd be no way at all to use these. Aren't these public airwaves? ;)

That's about what they allocate to the video, but it is SD.

That's why I'm thinking it. They've got a single SD video feed, plus 2 Mbps reserved for UpdateTV (the reservation is not shown in TSReader, though the artifacts of UpdateTV are), plus null packets. Makes perfect sense to me.

Yeah, it seems strange that there'd be no way at all to use these. Aren't these public airwaves? ;)

Right now, it's in testing. I've heard consumer receivers are targeted for the beginning of next year. I plan to have one ASAP.

- Trip

That's why I'm thinking it. They've got a single SD video feed, plus 2 Mbps reserved for UpdateTV (the reservation is not shown in TSReader, though the artifacts of UpdateTV are), plus null packets. Makes perfect sense to me.



Right now, it's in testing. I've heard consumer receivers are targeted for the beginning of next year. I plan to have one ASAP.

- Trip
Regarding the bitrate, I suppose that's not unreasonable... how much of the Mobile DTV feed is used for error correction and how much is content? What is it, MP4 video?

On the mobile DTV units, well I provided more info in a PM, but let's say that yes, those tuners are coming soon. I've never seen one in person myself, but I've seen pictures of them. ;)

Regarding the bitrate, I suppose that's not unreasonable... how much of the Mobile DTV feed is used for error correction and how much is content? What is it, MP4 video?

It varies. The station is in control. They could, in theory, have one video feed stretched across 8 groups (7.33 Mbps) which is the maximum number. I'm not certain, but I think the stations are going to mostly use two groups per video feed. And yes, it's in MPEG-4 at a specific resolution. I forget what resolution that is, exactly, but it's smaller than 480x272, as I remember being corrected.

On the mobile DTV units, well I provided more info in a PM, but let's say that yes, those tuners are coming soon. I've never seen one in person myself, but I've seen pictures of them. ;)

I've seen a picture as well. http://www.pixtree.com:8001/product_01.asp?P_NUM=58

I'll be answering your PM in a few minutes. I have about three to answer suddenly. :)

- Trip