Anybody know what Belo or Sinclair gets from the satellite companies? You think it is less than what Belo or Sinclair wants from Charter?This is the $64 million question.

But best as I can tell, no one is talking about that.

Well, when DirecTV didn't carry KDNL, they charged $1 less than when they finally got KDNL,
but that is only when they were carrying the other 3 Big Networks. It didn't go up when
KPLR, PBS, or any of the other minor channels were added.

I'm still sick to my stomach eveyrone. I've never been so upset over a damn game. I am happy, however, that the Chargers kept Marty as the coach. As far as the rest of the playoffs, I could care less as long as the Patriots lose. If I had to pick one team, I would have to go with the ex-charger Brees and the Saints. Sorry Bill.

Scott

I finally got around to watching the first 4 episodes of 24. I am a little disappointed. The story line seems a bit unrealistic. I got over it very quickly though, so I'm hooked for the rest of the year. D* channel 88's showing was flawless except for a few times when some of the audio was doubled up meaning some words were repeated. This only happened on episode 4.

Scott

The Fox East Audio repeat happens all the time when I am watching that.

I'm a Bears fan since 84, but I have a feeling that Brees is going to pick apart the
secondary if the weather allows the passing game to have any affect.

....Craig Moffett, an analyst for Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., attended the CES EchoStar and DirecTV press conferences....."A merger has never looked feasible, and with a year of regulatory approvals looming for the Liberty-News Corp. swap for DirecTV, any further discussion of a merger will probably at last be put to rest for a while,” Moffett said....

....EchoStar Communications chairman Charlie Ergen last week finally sounded off on John Malone's pending purchase of DirecTV, dismissing the notion of once again trying to merge the two satellite platforms....But as for a potential EchoStar-DirecTV merger now, Ergen said: "I think there's a merger on the table, feasibly. It's not us, and I think that one's [Liberty-DirecTV] going to take all of 2007 to get done..."

Full Article HERE (http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6407418.html)

So, blah-blah-blah....but, does anyone know what this is referring to:

"It might be trickier for the two DBS providers to team up on a national high-definition platform, since DirecTV uses different HDTV standards than Dish Network, according to Ergen."?

If Charter would just use a box that could pick up the HD locals over the air, they wouldn't have to pay the locals anything and all of their customers would be just happy. I currently have Charter with the 10 meg internet service. I've called Dish and DTV to see what my options are. I don't have a home phone in my house because I have no use for one. ATT does have naked dsl now, but with Dish I will need a phone line. If I wait til Feb, I don't have to pay for the box. I called dtv last night and it will cost me $200 for the hd dvr that I will still only be leasing. If that HD tivo wasn't so much money, I'd just buy it and keep Charter. I don't know what I'm going to do, but not being able to watch CBS in HD is really driving me nuts.

When I inquired about naked DSL I was told it ran $45/mo for the 3mb package. The same sales rep told me I could get the absolute most basic metered phone line with the same DSL package for roughly $33/mo. At those costs, I see why no one would even consider naked DSL.

I consider it convenience for your customers and nothing more. They (the cable companies) don't garner substantial profit for the carriage of local channels. The profit is in the additional channels beyond the locals. This requires a tier beyond lifeline service (locals + 1-2 other channels).

I understand where you're coming from; but don't agree with what you're saying. If Charter only recoups their costs to carry then they aren't profiting from the arrangement.

Cheers,


Actually they are gaining substantial profit because of it. As the DBS companies found, their sub base did not take off until the offered the locals. Cable would not have the penetration it enjoys without locals.

Furthermore, all the cable networks use more of the public bandwidth than a TV station to distribute their signal to cable and dbs stations for retransmission - and that doesn't even include the backhauls of programming to their control rooms.

The ESPN Suite which cable pays just under $5 per sub for uses more public bandwidth for distribution than 12 ATSC Digital TV Stations and do not have any of the Public Affair committments and regulations (including Political Advertising at low cost) that the TV Stations do.

So ESPN can receive just under $5, use 12x the bandwidth of a TV Station, be exempt from government regulations and OTA TV has more program viewership than any of the cable networks can't get a measley 50 cents?

I don't think so.

....Craig Moffett, an analyst for Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., attended the CES EchoStar and DirecTV press conferences....."A merger has never looked feasible, and with a year of regulatory approvals looming for the Liberty-News Corp. swap for DirecTV, any further discussion of a merger will probably at last be put to rest for a while,” Moffett said....

....EchoStar Communications chairman Charlie Ergen last week finally sounded off on John Malone's pending purchase of DirecTV, dismissing the notion of once again trying to merge the two satellite platforms....But as for a potential EchoStar-DirecTV merger now, Ergen said: "I think there's a merger on the table, feasibly. It's not us, and I think that one's [Liberty-DirecTV] going to take all of 2007 to get done..."

Full Article HERE (http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6407418.html)

So, blah-blah-blah....but, does anyone know what this is referring to:

"It might be trickier for the two DBS providers to team up on a national high-definition platform, since DirecTV uses different HDTV standards than Dish Network, according to Ergen."?

The equipment is not compatiable.

The interesting thing about this Belo/Sinclair/Charter dustup is that we've collectively found about three dozen different ways to disagree on a single topic. And yet we're still on speaking terms... ;)

I'm going to add three more things here, and then I'm (probably) done:

* First, I think there's a strong, generally unstated, element running through this issue that the local broadcasters are unfairly benefiting from the fact that their product/service is dependent on the public airwaves, which they have access to at well below market cost. I can understand the foundation for that viewpoint, but I think the broadcasters have satisfactorily fulfilled their "public obligation" (at least as it's traditionally been defined) by making the resulting product/service available to anyone who wants for free via those public airwaves.

If it turns out (as it has recently) that there's still residual value in delivering that product or service through other means, there isn't any reason that they shouldn't be able to charge for it. It's not illegal, immoral or unethical.

What is arguable and could be part of the long-term endgame, is that maybe government takes the position that broadcasters in the 21st century are in a much better position to pay a larger part of the free market value of the public spectrum they are using. From there it logically follows, that if a broadcaster can't (or won't) pay a larger portion of the full market value of that spectrum, then maybe that spectrum should be diverted to more productive use.

While that might all seem a bit "pie in the sky," the fact is there is greater demand for spectrum than there ever has been, and that demand doesn't show any signs of getting smaller. Can we really continue to justify providing something this scarce at below market rates -- just because that's the way it's always been done?

Maybe (for me, a big maybe) you can justify that for PBS and NPR. But for broadcasters who are primarily focused on making the biggest possible profit for shareholders?

I don't think so.


As noted and detailed above, ESPN uses 12x the bandwidth of the public airwaves without paying a spectrum fee.

In fact, every cable network pays nothing for their bandwidth using the public airwaves.



* Third, I think this whole issue just demonstrates how archaic the "protected" nature of local broadcasting is, particularly the concept of protected, "exclusive" market distribution.

These are businesses that developed primarily as a way to relay national TV signals to all parts of the country at a time when it was prohibitively expensive to create a TV service. The only scale that made any sense was a national scale. And the only way to achieve national distribution at the dawn of the television era was through national-to-local distribution.

Of course, the other major justification for a national-to-local system of broadcasting was to create a feeder news network for national broadcast news operations. Remember, this was a time when the national news outlets of the day were a handful of major metropolitan daily newspapers, the two primary wire services (AP and UPI) and the national TV news networks. What a long, strange trip it's been since then.

None of this is true today. The fact that there are more than 200 channels available to viewers that want them clearly demonstrates that cost is not anything like the virtually insurmountable hurdle it was in 1940.

Likewise, getting national distribution is something that can either be bought or bestowed by nature of producing and controlling truly "must have" content.

As for TV news, the main broadcast networks are not much more than an afterthought when it comes not just to televised news, but particularly when you look at all the ways public interest information can be found today. The national TV networks' commitment to their news operations is lukewarm at best -- these are businesses where making money is the only thing that really matters, and network news isn't anything like the money-spinner it was even 20 years ago.

What's really needed is a completely fresh look at how public airwaves are used for broadcast television, and to figure out how to better regulate broadcast television business in a forward-looking way, because the past has little relevance to where we're now headed.



Unfortunately against your arguement, the biggest money maker for local TV is local news - not a few minutes an hour in network programming.

And thus far there are not real options in most markets for obtaining local news and information on a timely manner - and most importantly - as has been seen in every region of the Country - the Government needs these TV and Radio Stations in time of disaster when your newspaper plant and internet lines are under water or knocked out by hurricanes or earthquakes.

Until something else in place to take its place during time of local emergencies, you will never see politicians think about harming local TV - especially as they passed into law their sweetheart advertising deals that TV Stations must accept when they run for re-election.

As noted and detailed above, ESPN uses 12x the bandwidth of the public airwaves without paying a spectrum fee.

In fact, every cable network pays nothing for their bandwidth using the public airwaves.And what is the relevance here? ESPN does not use the public airwaves. They are using satellite capacity, provided and funded by private companies that build, launch and maintain satellites. Satellite communications is not something inherent in the airwaves, nor is it something that is finite (apart from the number of satellites you can usefully park in orbit).

And ESPN is most definitely paying for the use of that for backhauls of live events and for delivering their content to cable and satellite providers. And of course, satellite pays for the bandwidth it uses to deliver ESPN to its customers, either directly by launching its own satellites or leasing commercially available space. The fact that ESPN does not pay for carriage on cable or satellite systems speaks directly to my point about programmers who create and own compelling content. In effect, ESPN negotiates that free carriage -- it is not subsidized by taxpayers.

Maybe I'm missing your point here, but I think you're mixing up apples and oranges.

Unfortunately against your arguement, the biggest money maker for local TV is local news - not a few minutes an hour in network programming.

And thus far there are not real options in most markets for obtaining local news and information on a timely manner - and most importantly - as has been seen in every region of the Country - the Government needs these TV and Radio Stations in time of disaster when your newspaper plant and internet lines are under water or knocked out by hurricanes or earthquakes.

Until something else in place to take its place during time of local emergencies, you will never see politicians think about harming local TV - especially as they passed into law their sweetheart advertising deals that TV Stations must accept when they run for re-election.Local news makes money for local stations. Apart from the handful of locals owned by each network, they earn nothing directly from local news. My point is that national broadcast news is becoming a money pit, and that fact is one less justification for the broadcast networks to cling to the national-to-local system.

In my opinion, that affiliate system will die sooner rather than later, because there's less and less need/benefit for/by the broadcast networks.

I'm sorry, but I do not buy the argument that television is useful in a local or national emergency. The TV broadcasters want you to believe that, but it is a crock of ****. If you don't have power, you aren't going to be making much use of television, and most emergency situations prominently feature a loss of power.

Three times in the past 12 months, substantial areas of the St. Louis area were without power and while there's no doubt that local TV covered these events like white on rice, they were only seen by those not affected by outages. Rich in irony, but poor in utility.

Ditto Katrina, where the only role of TV news was to whip up anti-government hysteria, which by that standard was a success of truly historical proportion.

Radio is extremely important in emergencies, but TV during emergencies is important only in the minds of the people who work in that industry. Don't buy the hype.

So, my point remains that you cannot make an economic justification for subsidizing the cost of public bandwidth used by local TV stations. And I think the public service justification is growing razor thin. Case in point: KDNL and WRBU.

Here's some information that may be useful to anyone interested in directing comments about Charter services to the appropriate person in charge:

The following is from CED Magazine online:
____________________________________________________________ ____

Cable vet Joseph Stackhouse has been appointed senior vice president of customer operations for Charter Communications.

Stackhouse, who joins Charter officially on Jan. 22, will oversee the MSO's customer care and technical operations teams. He will report to Charter COO Michael Lovett.
____________________________________________________________ ____

How Will Cable Compete with HD Satellite? Spend, Spend, Spend

The following story is from today's SkyREPORT newsletter:
_______________________________________________________

One of the big stories to come out of CES last week was that with the expected launch of two new satellites, DIRECTV has plans to offer 100 national and 1,000 local high definition channels by the end of 2007. As company officials dropped this bomb on the Las Vegas crowd, and its aftershocks reached across the pay-TV landscape, many wondered how the cable industry would react and, better still, how would it compete with the expanded offering.

One answer, suggests a new study, is by spending massive amounts of money.

According to research firm ABI, as customers demand more high-definition content from their TV providers, and advanced services like multiplayer gaming continue to gain in popularity, the cable industry will be feeling increased pressure from a "bandwidth crunch." The company's new study says the only way cable operators can expand those types of services is to upgrade the capacity of their digital networks.

ABI estimates total revenues stemming from this necessary expansion will exceed $24 billion in 2012 and reach $80 billion in total investments from 2007 until then.

"The looming bandwidth crunch, which is more pronounced in the United States than elsewhere due to its deeper penetration of digital cable, will present different problems to different operators, and each will need to find its own bandwidth upgrade formula," ABI broadband analyst Michael Arden said.

"The severity of the crunch will depend on factors such as the speed with which HDTV is adopted in particular markets, and the extent to which cable operators add extra HDTV channels."
_______________________________________________________

The equipment is not compatible.
This part I was able to figure out. I was looking for more of a technical explanation of what differs in the equipment.
Perhaps no one here knows.

This part I was able to figure out. I was looking for more of a technical explanation of what differs in the equipment.
Perhaps no one here knows.


I personally took the statement to mean much less technically than you did, and maybe to not be entirely fact based. Charlie has been quite a maverick, shoot from the hip, wild west kind of guy in his life. In fact before he began peddling satellite dishes he tried his hand at professional gambling.

When I read the statement you are questioning I hear Charlie saying, "Our HD picture is better than theirs." I took it as a way for Charlie to talk up his product and talk down the competition's. Maybe I am wrong, but I took it as a way for Charlie to claim DirecTv was using "HDLite" and Dish is not.

Understand, I am in no way claiming one is "Liter" than the other, anyone who knows me knows I have nowhere near the technical knowledge to even guess at that. I just think Charlie found a way to say that, without having to prove it or base it on fact. I think he said we have decided to go with quality HD and they have decided to cut corners, so a merger wouldn't work at this point. I could be totally wrong.

But then a CEO would never do anything like that would they? Forgive me I just watched "The Smartest Guys in the Room" on HDNet Movies about the Enron collapse. Maybe I'm being a little skeptical this morning. ;)

But then a CEO would never do anything like that would they? Forgive me I just watched "The Smartest Guys in the Room" on HDNet Movies about the Enron collapse. Maybe I'm being a little skeptical this morning. ;)

I've watched it twice. I can't watch it again because it would probably kill me my blood pressure gets so high. The gentleman who worked for PG&E who watched his 401K go from $180K to $1.2K and then Skilling, that F**K, gives a $23MILLION retainer to his lawyers. This should be justification for homocide.

I'm sorry. This was just a company doing business...........chasing the devil.

rant off

Walt

I've watched it twice. I can't watch it again because it would probably kill me my blood pressure gets so high. The gentleman who worked for PG&E who watched his 401K go from $180K to $1.2K and then Skilling, that F**K, gives a $23MILLION retainer to his lawyers. This should be justification for homocide.

I'm sorry. This was just a company doing business...........chasing the devil.

rant off

Walt


The one that got me was the lineman whose 401(k) was like $348,000 at its highest and he ended up cashing it in for $9,200. Ouch. I have a business acquaintance whose wife worked at Enron. He said the whole way down everyone kept telling them to buy the stock, even when it was down at around 40 cents. They were saying it was a great time to buy. He told me they all believed it, because this was Enron, they were huge, there was no way ENRON could go bankrupt. What a story.

I am still having dropouts with KPLR OTA with a strong signal. Is that still everyone else's experience?

Before WorldCom filed, Global Crossing filed and it was second only to Enron. There was so much press on Enron, Global Crossing slid under the radar and was shortly eclipsed by WorldCom press. I will never get to see those Global Crossing crooks do a perp walk. When I topped out at a 6% annual raise based on performance I was given shares. I accumulated several thousand. Unlike the PG&E worker, I never purchased company stock. Even so, I worked hard for it and saw only around $1500 after it was all done.

The thing that ticked me off about Enron was the rolling black outs in California. Of course San Francisco was without power when it was very hot. Traffic was a mess and it was a PITA.

I personally took the statement to mean much less technically than you did, and maybe to not be entirely fact based. Charlie has been quite a maverick, shoot from the hip, wild west kind of guy in his life. In fact before he began peddling satellite dishes he tried his hand at professional gambling.

When I read the statement you are questioning I hear Charlie saying, "Our HD picture is better than theirs." I took it as a way for Charlie to talk up his product and talk down the competition's. Maybe I am wrong, but I took it as a way for Charlie to claim DirecTv was using "HDLite" and Dish is not.

Understand, I am in no way claiming one is "Liter" than the other, anyone who knows me knows I have nowhere near the technical knowledge to even guess at that. I just think Charlie found a way to say that, without having to prove it or base it on fact. I think he said we have decided to go with quality HD and they have decided to cut corners, so a merger wouldn't work at this point. I could be totally wrong.

But then a CEO would never do anything like that would they? Forgive me I just watched "The Smartest Guys in the Room" on HDNet Movies about the Enron collapse. Maybe I'm being a little skeptical this morning. ;)
Perhaps so, and I agree, it wouldn't be passed him, by any means.
As the article flowed, at that point, the statement seemed, at least to me, to genuinely refer to his previous comments regarding ways DBS providers, specifically Dish and Direct, could be helpful to one-another, without actually merging their businesses.

Unfortunately, I don't know enough to be able to say if there could be any difference in compatibility of satellite broadcast HD signals.

John K should know....John--can there be any difference, or was Charlie just being playful?

Perhaps so, and I agree, it wouldn't be passed him, by any means.
As the article flowed, at that point, the statement seemed, at least to me, to genuinely refer to his previous comments regarding ways DBS providers, specifically Dish and Direct, could be helpful to one-another, without actually merging their businesses.

Unfortunately, I don't know enough to be able to say if there could be any difference in compatibility of satellite broadcast HD signals.

John K should know....John--can there be any difference, or was Charlie just being playful?


I guess when I heard the words "different HDTV standards", I heard Charlie saying I have higher standards than they do.

KMOV-HD Broadcast:

Does anyone know why the when KMOV runs weather updates, they need to change the resolution? I know its important information, but its a little annoying. Can't they just run text at the bottom of the screen, without changing the resolution?

Just curious, THANKS!

All the stations currently have minimal HD gear so they typically upconvert their sd signal unless they're in network. At this point, they splice the HD net signal over. This being said, they do not have a peice of equipment to put crawls, squeezes, amber alerts, etc over their hd programming separate from the one used on their SD. (short answer: they're cheap, or they haven't gotten there yet.)

Is this really a KTVI engineer? If so, we have some questions for you.

Is this really a KTVI engineer? If so, we have some questions for you.

No, It's Elliot Davis, and You Paid For It! :)

Scott

Yes it is, and I thought you might have some questions. Granted, I'm mostly an operations engineer, but I can probably do a little research if nothing else. After all, I dont' like these problems either.

Well we have been talking on here about some problems with the transmission of the digital signal.

If you go to the link for this post it has some pictures of problems we are all seeing with
the OTA signal. We see this from Charter, DirecTV, DISH and just OTA.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9424116&highlight=fox+house#post9424116

I sent an email to the ktvitech@fox2ktvi.com email address and I also started a blog on
the myfoxstl.com website in hopes to get some visibilty to the issue.

Now that you are here...WOO HOO!!!!! I hope we can help track this down.

Well we have been talking on here about some problems with the transmission of the digital signal.

If you go to the link for this post it has some pictures of problems we are all seeing with
the OTA signal. We see this from Charter, DirecTV, DISH and just OTA.

Now that you are here...WOO HOO!!!!! I hope we can help track this down.

wmschultz-
I completely understand the problem since I just bought an HD set last week. (50" samsung). I too have noticed the noise on our DTV signal. Until I stumbled onto this thread, I had assumed it was my TV or antenna placement, but I have yet to see it on other signals.

I'll check into this when I'm at work on Saturday :cool:

wmschultz-
I completely understand the problem since I just bought an HD set last week. (50" samsung). I too have noticed the noise on our DTV signal. Until I stumbled onto this thread, I had assumed it was my TV or antenna placement, but I have yet to see it on other signals.

I'll check into this when I'm at work on Saturday :cool:I think if we can have an advocate for the viewers here from the technical staff at the stations, that is a win-win for everyone.

Thanks for participating and taking an interest. Your efforts to improve quality are appreciated.

Hope I can help....

I'm sort of amazed that as I scanned the last few weeks of posts that noone has complained about KSDK's hd/sd switching noises (both picture and sound noises). That drives me nuts as a master control operator and a viewer.

Oh, I have called KSDK and talked to the guys running the stuff and had to gently remind them to flip the switch.

It is better now than it was 6 months ago.

I'll check into this when I'm at work on Saturday :cool:

Pinch me, I think I'm dreaming :)

Seriously, we are all looking forward to a resolution to the problems during the local broadcasts. It's nice to know that a station representative has finally seen and is aware of the problems. If there's anything we can do to help troubleshoot the problem, just post.

Pinch me, I think I'm dreaming :)

Seriously, we are all looking forward to a resolution to the problems during the local broadcasts. It's nice to know that a station representative has finally seen and is aware of the problems. If there's anything we can do to help troubleshoot the problem, just post.

I'm off the clock, as in NOT a station rep by any means.

I'm just another one of you who happens to know the right questions to ask the right people.

And to be honest, I'll probably get the same response you've gotten.... "it's your tv, we'll look into it, etc."

Hopefully we'll get further than that though......... :)

Also, the HD switch at ksdk is a real pain in the butt, so be patient with the operators... :) Also, that should be changing sometime this year as they upgrade their master control.

I'm off the clock, as in NOT a station rep by any means.

I'm just another one of you who happens to know the right questions to ask the right people.

That's even better since you will have the passion to push for solutions to problems.

ktviengineering, welcome to the forum.

In regards to KSDK, I have refrained from posting about it because it would be yet another rant. There are many past posts here about them. IMO they run the weather or Amber alert crawlers excessively, forget to flip the switch back, have a boat anchor logo, cause audio popping and brief video distortion when it switches back to a program in HD and on & on.

[QUOTE=ktviengineering]

And to be honest, I'll probably get the same response you've gotten.... "it's your tv, we'll look into it, etc."

QUOTE]

First of all, welcome to our community. Secondly, I hope their response is not what it has been to the population at large, or we're really in for a long haul. I would hope they will listen to one of their own. TV stations need to know the value we place on HDTV, home theater, etc. I have more invested in home electronics than in both my vehicles, so it is important. Let your people know that due to audio drop outs I never watch the local ads becasue I'm busy watching the New York feed. Anyway, welcome to the forum and thanks for being so brave as to reveal yourself kinda. :)

Scott

You might be a videophile if...........
;)

I have more invested in home electronics than in both my vehicles, so it is important.

ktviengineering,

Couldn't be happier to see you here!!!

One thing you're going to find out pretty quickly is that we are very passionate about our HDTV. We've been through trial by fire as early adopters. You'll find this a very interesting place.

Welcome!

I have more invested in home electronics than in both my vehicles, so it is important.

Yeah, Scott, but how much do a moped and a skateboard really cost?

I've been informed that Charter now has HDTV boxes that can be picked up. I jokingly asked if they were new or recently turned in :)

My question to the bunch, since Charter can't tell me is:

1. Are the HDTV boxes HDMI or will I have to DVI/HDMI convert?

thanks.

Brent

Here in St. Peters, MO (St. Charles County), I've been having a problem lately with my local high definition channels. The problem is that when I turn on to watch like Fox HD, the HD reception/signal works fine for about 10 minutes then all of the sudden the picture is breaking into squares/pixels. Then the next thing I know is that I have a blank black screen as it says it is searching for a satellite signal. This has been happening the last 2 weeks. Last Sunday night, it seem like the problem was fixed up on its own without any problems, but it came back to haunt me the next day. I have no problem whatsoever with the HD cable channels with my dish. Is it maybe that the St. Peters area isn't getting good reception with local HD channels? On a side note, I have a DirecTV HD receiver, no rabbit antenna. Any input would be greatly appericated.

I've been informed that Charter now has HDTV boxes that can be picked up. I jokingly asked if they were new or recently turned in :)

My question to the bunch, since Charter can't tell me is:

1. Are the HDTV boxes HDMI or will I have to DVI/HDMI convert?

thanks.

Brent


This doesnt make much sense since a tech has to come "install" the HD boxes and activate them from your residence. They are not plug and play. Well they ARE really but AFAIK Charter always sends a service call. I don't know which box you are referring too, but the Moxi's have HDMI

This doesnt make much sense since a tech has to come "install" the HD boxes and activate them from your residence. They are not plug and play. Well they ARE really but AFAIK Charter always sends a service call. I don't know which box you are referring too, but the Moxi's have HDMI

I was told I can come into charter, return a digital cable box and pick up a HD receiver. I am not going to get a moxi box.

charter.com/Visitors/Support.aspx?SupportArticleID=18 - self install

Yeah, Scott, but how much do a moped and a skateboard really cost?

LOL, now you're giving me flashbacks of my younger days in Cali. Picture Spicoli on his moped carrying a surfboard under one arm heading down the PCH Highway.

Those were the days. :)

Scott

Is it maybe that the St. Peters area isn't getting good reception with local HD channels? On a side note, I have a DirecTV HD receiver, no rabbit antenna. Any input would be greatly appericated.

I live in St. Peters and I started having problems this year with OTA local signals getting weaker. The DTV installers originally put a bowtie UHF antenna on my deck and the reception was fine for the first year.
A few months ago I picked up a Channel Master 4228A from Skywalker Communications in O'Fallon. I set it in my attic and now I get 90's on all the main OTA channels.

Good luck,
Token

I live in St. Peters and I started having problems this year with OTA local signals getting weaker. The DTV installers originally put a bowtie UHF antenna on my deck and the reception was fine for the first year.
A few months ago I picked up a Channel Master 4228A from Skywalker Communications in O'Fallon. I set it in my attic and now I get 90's on all the main OTA channels.

Good luck,
Token


Token...

Do you have HD receiver that carries the local HD channels such as Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS without DirecTV giving you an antenna? DirecTV said I didn't need an antenna after they installed my LNB dish and HD receiver this past June. From that point on, everything went smooth until 2 weeks ago. Did your local HD channels signal work fine for like the first 10 minutes when you turned to that local channel then all of the sudden it just starts getting fuzzy with all those bugs coming to the screen then BOOM DirecTV searches for your satellite signal?

I'm not sure if I need the Channel Master 4228A ....how much did that cost?

Here in St. Peters, MO (St. Charles County), I've been having a problem lately with my local high definition channels. The problem is that when I turn on to watch like Fox HD, the HD reception/signal works fine for about 10 minutes then all of the sudden the picture is breaking into squares/pixels. Then the next thing I know is that I have a blank black screen as it says it is searching for a satellite signal. This has been happening the last 2 weeks. Last Sunday night, it seem like the problem was fixed up on its own without any problems, but it came back to haunt me the next day. I have no problem whatsoever with the HD cable channels with my dish. Is it maybe that the St. Peters area isn't getting good reception with local HD channels? On a side note, I have a DirecTV HD receiver, no rabbit antenna. Any input would be greatly appericated.

From the sounds of your post you have a H20 or a HR20 HD receiver from DirecTV
and you are receiving your HD locals utilizing a 5 LNB dish. If this is the case our HD locals
are received from either 103 or 99, ( i forget which one ). These signals are more susceptible
to signal loss due to the tighter pattern of the signal. I too was getting signal loss due
to my LNB having a 1/4 inch of ice on it.
So I guess the questions that need to be hammered out here are:

What is your signal strength on 99 or 103 ( I think we are on 103).?
What is your signal strength on 101?

The reason why you are seeing the other HD channels like ESPNHD & Discovery is because
they are carried on 119 and 110.

So post back and let us know.

playball1892, wmschultz gave you some good advice. Have you tried rebooting and or a re-scan? The CM 4228 is around $20 at Skywalker in O'Fallon.

With respect to "My HD's better than yours" on satellite services...

I don't have a definitive answer. I thought that D* (DirectTV) was filtering to 1280x1080 on all of the 1080 stations, and that E* (Dish) was filtering to 1280x1080 and 1440x1080.

But I don't have any tools to look at the data streams to grab the resolution info; and I don't have DirecTV.

Cheers,

Hope I can help....

I'm sort of amazed that as I scanned the last few weeks of posts that noone has complained about KSDK's hd/sd switching noises (both picture and sound noises). That drives me nuts as a master control operator and a viewer.

Oh yes, I too have e-mailed them about this. Sometimes it sounds like a gun shot it is so loud-coming through all speakers in beautiful 5.1 sound quality.

With respect to "My HD's better than yours" on satellite services...

I don't have a definitive answer. I thought that D* (DirectTV) was filtering to 1280x1080 on all of the 1080 stations, and that E* (Dish) was filtering to 1280x1080 and 1440x1080.

But I don't have any tools to look at the data streams to grab the resolution info; and I don't have DirecTV.

Cheers,

Dish does HDLite on HDNet and HDNet Movies at 1440x1080. All the Voom channels are 1280x1080. Everything else is still 1920x1080. At least that's the way it was a few weeks ago. I haven't done much checking lately. Been busy with other stuff. As far as I know, all the movie channels, etc., are still full 1920.

According to a good source (hi, Bob), D* started doing everything at 1280x1088 a couple of years ago. That is, except the locals, which they simply pass through. That 1088 (instead of 1080) may be why comments have been made about the transmission standards being different enough to cause problems.

Dish uses DVB, and DirecTV uses a self developed system.

This doesnt make much sense since a tech has to come "install" the HD boxes and activate them from your residence. They are not plug and play. Well they ARE really but AFAIK Charter always sends a service call. I don't know which box you are referring too, but the Moxi's have HDMI


Just an updated. I went into the South Hampton office and picked up a HD Receiver. NO HDMI ... could of went dvi but I woudl of had to buy a DVI>HDMI. I hooked up via component.

Called Charter support, supposedly I will have the signal back in 60 minutes. I have the guide now being updated.

FYI. If you unplug your box and want the guide back quickly. The tech over the phone said to tune into chn 100 or greater. Seemed to work.

Brent

ktviengineering,

Let me be the latest to welcome you to the Forum. It's always good to see HDTV newcomers here, but it's double bonus time when a someone new opens up an inside track (even if it's just semi-inside) with another local station operation.

Maybe you already know this, but Jim at KDNL (WRacer) regularly monitors the discussions here and pops in regularly to let us know the lowdown on any problem reports that surface here. I can't really speak for Jim, but it seems he finds our feedback helpful, even when we very occasionally go "over the top" in our perfectionism/enthusiasm. :) Also, Greg at KPLR monitors our discussions and he's been very helpful for many of us here, particularly in the early days of HD operations. Greg even hosted our first offline gathering at the KPLR studios, a few years back.

Of course, none of that is meant to put any pressure on you... ;)

Seriously, I hope that you'll find the conversations and exchanges here interesting. It's great to have you onboard.

playball1892, wmschultz gave you some good advice. Have you tried rebooting and or a re-scan? The CM 4228 is around $20 at Skywalker in O'Fallon.
He PM'd me.

Wait til this happens to your Satellite TV!

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/01/18/china.missile/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

It would save me about $150 a month.

A little update to my ksdk reception issues...
Background... set up in November with signal strength in the 80-90 range on HDTivo on all stations. Over a period of time only ksdk was getting bad. First jumping from 80 to 40 to 0 to 80 and so on. I assumed multipath. Lately, it just fluctuates in the 20 to 25 to 0 area.

So, since I am watching NBC tonight I think, why not try out my new TVs tuner. I split the signal to the hdtivo and tv. Scan for channels and viola, ksdk comes in at 80-95 steady on the sony tuner. I watched 1.5 hours and not even a blip, aside from the annoying switching. I go back and check the tivo'd recordings and they are partial at 1-2 minutes. I tune in to ksdk and constant pixels and dropouts.

So, question is, does my sony do a remarkable job with multipath, or is the tuner on my hdtivo going bad? Anyone with experience? I vaguely remember someone replacing the internal cables between the antenna input and the ota tuners, but I thought that would affect all ota and not just one channel. Every other channel is rock solid.

Thanks
Dug

Hope I can help....

I'm sort of amazed that as I scanned the last few weeks of posts that noone has complained about KSDK's hd/sd switching noises (both picture and sound noises). That drives me nuts as a master control operator and a viewer.

WELCOME Mr. KTVI.

The LEADER IN LOCAL HD having techincal issues????? Imagine that! You will have much interesting reading ahead of you as you peruse this forum. The switching noises at KSDK drive me nuts too. Especially when watching the TODAY show as it switches in & out of HD and SD during commercial breakss, weather cut ins, etc. But that's just the start. KSDK is notorious for out of sync voice and silent center channels when viewing certain HD shows in DD5.1 (Leno and Conan for example).

Putting all that aside, it would be great if you could fix the noise issues we see during 24 and other good Fox shows. While your image quality is great, the blips can be most distracting.

Welcome aboard, Mr. Fox2!

The main reason I haven't complained about KSDK lately is I haven't watched anything on that channel for a while. Have a bunch of MY NAME IS EARL's filling up the HD Tivo though, so when I get to watching them you can be sure I'll be b*tching up a storm. And don't even get me started on KSDK's sending out the 2 channel audio for Jay Leno flagged as 5.1 so our Dolby Digital receivers send the sound only to the left and right fronts -- no center, no rears, and no sub. Oops, too late. :D

Hope I can help....

I'm sort of amazed that as I scanned the last few weeks of posts that noone has complained about KSDK's hd/sd switching noises (both picture and sound noises). That drives me nuts as a master control operator and a viewer.

I'm surprised you didn't mention KMOV. It took them until 7:04 to flip the video switch to HD for CSI. Had great 5.1 sound. When they switch between SD and HD the snap is positively unnerving. I keep asking myself, how hard can all this be? Apparently a lot harder than I think it should.

And what is the relevance here? ESPN does not use the public airwaves. They are using satellite capacity, provided and funded by private companies that build, launch and maintain satellites. Satellite communications is not something inherent in the airwaves, nor is it something that is finite (apart from the number of satellites you can usefully park in orbit).



Wrong on every count. The public airwaves are not specific frequencies limited to TV and Radio.

TV is also provided and funded by private companies that build, launch and maintain them.

There is nothing different in TV vs Satellite frequencies except for the wavelength.



And ESPN is most definitely paying for the use of that for backhauls of live events and for delivering their content to cable and satellite providers. And of course, satellite pays for the bandwidth it uses to deliver ESPN to its customers, either directly by launching its own satellites or leasing commercially available space. The fact that ESPN does not pay for carriage on cable or satellite systems speaks directly to my point about programmers who create and own compelling content. In effect, ESPN negotiates that free carriage -- it is not subsidized by taxpayers.



Wrong again on all counts.

ESPN leases satellite time from Loral or Intellsat or one of the other companies that pays the money to obtain apply for the license, build the bird, launch it and maintain it.

There is no difference in that and the large numbers of TV and Radio stations that lease their Tower Space from American Tower Systems or another company - especially those that put a master panel antenna on the tower that they lease to TV and Radio stations.

Just as ESPN has no use (nor the expense - even if they could obtain a license) for a full satellite, most TV and Radio stations today have no reason to pay upwards of $5M plus to build a 2,000 foot tower when you can rent space for $2,500 a month.


Maybe I'm missing your point here, but I think you're mixing up apples and oranges.



No you are trying to say that the public does not own ALL THE AIRWAYS which the courts have proven they do - and the FCC has regulation over all of them in the public interest.

[/QUOTE=DroptheRemote]
Local news makes money for local stations. Apart from the handful of locals owned by each network, they earn nothing directly from local news. My point is that national broadcast news is becoming a money pit, and that fact is one less justification for the broadcast networks to cling to the national-to-local system.

[/QUOTE]

And I stated the local stations do make money - big money - from local news. They make much more from the Newscasts than they do from running 2 minutes of commericals in a network program in primetime. I never said the Networks made money from local news.


In my opinion, that affiliate system will die sooner rather than later, because there's less and less need/benefit for/by the broadcast networks.

And again, as I have stated, the Networks make literally very little money by themselves -even though they have upwards of $8Billion in Revenue a year. The money is made because of the distribution system.

Take the $28 Billion the Big 4 networks receive in Revenue, divide it by 113,000,000 television households and that $247 per household or slightly over $20 a month per household.

As soon as you and everyone else in the Country decided that you want to spend $20 a month to sub to CBS, FOX, NBC and ABC, then you will most likely be able to get them to change the system. Until that time, you don't have a prayer of changing it.

[QUOTE=DroptheRemote]
I'm sorry, but I do not buy the argument that television is useful in a local or national emergency. The TV broadcasters want you to believe that, but it is a crock of ****. If you don't have power, you aren't going to be making much use of television, and most emergency situations prominently feature a loss of power.


As has been shown in Miami, New Orleans and other markets in the last few years, if you believe that, you don't have a clue what you speak of. The TV stations are put on the radio in an event of emergency to make sure the news gets out.


Three times in the past 12 months, substantial areas of the St. Louis area were without power and while there's no doubt that local TV covered these events like white on rice, they were only seen by those not affected by outages. Rich in irony, but poor in utility.


Again, when the fault line that runs through St. Louis does it thing, you will find that most radio stations will simulcast TV stations.

And who will be the first politician to bring up getting rid of the Amber System - talk about Political Suicide.


Ditto Katrina, where the only role of TV news was to whip up anti-government hysteria, which by that standard was a success of truly historical proportion.


You are really showing an ignorance here - its been documented that the only reason help came when it did was because of the pressure the media had in showing what was going on.

Your ignorance on these things also show your underlying feelings of the Broadcast Stations and thus explain most of your posts on these things.


Radio is extremely important in emergencies, but TV during emergencies is important only in the minds of the people who work in that industry. Don't buy the hype.


Radio has no news departments for the most part - and announcers are voicetracked from other markets. Several morning show in St. Louis on radio come in from other markets. Fact is, they have no ability to cover the news any longer. Thats why the similucast TV in emergency situations.

You are really spreading bad information here that has no basis in facts.


So, my point remains that you cannot make an economic justification for subsidizing the cost of public bandwidth used by local TV stations. And I think the public service justification is growing razor thin. Case in point: KDNL and WRBU.

Again, ESPN uses the bandwidth of 12 TV stations - in other words - as much public bandwidth in St. Louis as all the TV Stations combine. Please let us know what they do for St. Louis - because anything from the TV stations is better than nothing from ESPN.

This part I was able to figure out. I was looking for more of a technical explanation of what differs in the equipment.
Perhaps no one here knows.

If you say so, however E* STBs such as the 921, 942, and 622 use the Broadcom chip as the main engine - just like the HR20 uses. That's where the similarities end as all other parts and software is different.

DirecTV support DVB-S2 for the new Ka birds and E* does not have it in any of their STBs.

They use different types of smarcards plus D* uses a security chip that E* doesn't.

Bottom line - the two are not at all compatiable.

I'm surprised you didn't mention KMOV. It took them until 7:04 to flip the video switch to HD for CSI. Had great 5.1 sound. When they switch between SD and HD the snap is positively unnerving. I keep asking myself, how hard can all this be? Apparently a lot harder than I think it should.

Yeah, I haven't watched anything HD other than letterman and even then I was watching leno and flipping between. I only do master at KSDK, KETC, and KTVI, so I'm mostly unfamilair with KMOV's HD setup. I am, however, planning on learning master sometime soon at KMOV. (And yes, I'm freelance if you were boggled, but I work mostly at KTVI.)

A lot of these types of problems will continue until Analog TV goes away and the digital signals become priority. KSDK will be upgrading within the year from what I've heard there. I'm not sure if KMOV or KTVI have any immediate plans to upgrade to HD/digital MC switchers or not, but I'd bet KTVI does it first since they'll be making other major upgrades in the near future (next few years.)

Also, for those fans of public television, sometime in the next 2-6 months, you can expect to see 9-1, 9-2, and 9-4 become actual channels instead of simple network feeds or loops of the morning programming as in the case of 9-2. KETC is upgrading to an automation system that will control all four channels.

Thanks for the welcomes to the group and hopefully I can help as much as possible...

Ok guy's .......Need advice on OTA antenna

Location: St. Peters (near st. charles community college on mid rivers)
Mount: Attic (perfect location no metal, no roofing, only vinyl siding)
LOS: Decent (down the street and over houses, no trees)
Amp'd: no preference (I have power in my attic)
Reason: Charter (gotta have CBSHD, ABCHD)

The boss gave me a budget of $50 bucks.

I was looking at the shack.... 40" boom U75R UHF only $25

or is something else better? ie...ChannelMaster & where to buy?

1st time poster!!! don't let me down guys!

~Dean
p.s. This thread is awesome! you guy's are fanatical about HDTV.

yellow - uhf KMOV-DT 4.1 CBS ST. LOUIS MO 131° 25.5mi 26
yellow - uhf KDNL 30 ABC ST. LOUIS MO 127° 22.0mi 30
yellow - uhf KDNL-DT 30.1 ABC ST. LOUIS MO 127° 22.0mi 31
yellow - uhf KPLR-DT 11.1 CW ST. LOUIS MO 127° 22.5mi 26
yellow - uhf KTVI-DT 2.1 FOX St. Louis MO 137° 22.4mi 43
yellow - uhf K59GP 59 TBN ST CHARLES MO 129° 2.2 mi 59
yellow - uhf KSDK-DT 5.1 NBC ST. LOUIS MO 129° 22.4mi 35

HDTV Fanatic,

My key point in this exchange is that local stations are using valuable, finite airwaves without paying for them. Spectrum fees have been proposed in recent years, and predictably the NAB has fought these suggestions tooth and nail. Yes, of course, TV stations incur some costs for the use of those airwaves (transmitters, tower fees, maintenance, etc), but they do not pay for the actual spectrum used, unlike, say, cellular telephone carriers.

And why should I (or you) care that ESPN uses 12 times the bandwidth that all of the local St. Louis TV stations use? ESPN is presumably paying market rates for the use of that spectrum -- for all I care, they can use 1,200 times the spectrum of local TV stations, so long as they are prepared to pay the going market rate and someone is prepared to sell it to them.

Local TV stations do not pay spectrum fees -- it is given to them free and the traditional rationale for this is that it is in the public interest to do so. I'm certainly not the only voice suggesting that this concept is increasingly outmoded and that TV stations should pay some fee that recognizes the value of the spectrum they are consuming. Yes, TV stations do pay license fees, which basically reflect the administrative cost of processing the license applications and renewals but come nowhere near the market value of the spectrum used.

Am I really spreading bad information? You may think so. You suggest that I'm ignorant, and you are certainly entitled to that opinion. But as long as we're making subjective evaluations here, I think you're completely ignoring market realities and clinging to a horse-and-buggy-whip view of broadcasting that has little relevance for the 21st century.

Or maybe you're just shilling for the NAB.

Token...
Do you have HD receiver that carries the local HD channels such as Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS without DirecTV giving you an antenna? DirecTV said I didn't need an antenna after they installed my LNB dish and HD receiver this past June. From that point on, everything went smooth until 2 weeks ago. Did your local HD channels signal work fine for like the first 10 minutes when you turned to that local channel then all of the sudden it just starts getting fuzzy with all those bugs coming to the screen then BOOM DirecTV searches for your satellite signal?


Sorry for the confusion. I thought you were getting locals via antenna and not sat. The 4228 wouldn't help ;)

Was it just ice causing the problem?


Good luck,
Token

DirecTV Overhauls Pricing, Raises HD Fee to New Customers

This doesn't seem too bad, though I think the big unknown is what happens to the HD programming fee when/if DirecTV opens up the HD pipeline later this year...

The following is from today's TV Predictions newsletter:
_________________________________________________________

DIRECTV is raising its monthly High-Definition programming fee for new customers from $9.99 to $10.99, effective February 6.

According to a letter sent to subscribers, new customers activating HDTV equipment will pay a flat fee of $10.99 per month, regardless of which programming package they choose. The fee will be charged whenever a HD receiver is activated on a customer's account.

Formerly, new customers could subscribe to DIRECTV's high-def package for $9.99 a month.

DIRECTV says it will make no changes to existing one and two year programming commitment requirements, which would seem to suggest that the $9.99 monthly fee will stay in place for current customers. (TVPredictions.com has asked DIRECTV for an explanation and will update this article when details are available.)

The satcaster is also bundling its high-def programming into base, premium and sports programming packages.

For instance, DIRECTV's 'Plus HD' package will cost $69.99 a month (not including tax) and will include HDTV programming, DVR service and more than 185 standard and high-def channels. (It's unclear this morning if the $10.99 HDTV monthly activation fee will apply to the Plus HD package; we have asked DIRECTV to clarify.)

However, subscribers will be able to get Plus HD for $59.99 for the first 12 months, plus three free months of HBO and Cinemax and 12 Pay Per View coupons. (The offer will require mail-in redemption for $10 a month bill credit for 12 months. After the promotional period, subscribers will be charged the regular rate.)

The Plus HD package includes all the current DIRECTV basic high-def channels -- and the premium HD channels if you subscribe separately to them. (Note: The price of HBO will increase by $1 a month for new and current customers.)

DIRECTV said last week that it plans to offer up to 100 national high-def channels by year's end. However, it's unclear if the new pricing plan will be used when the lineup is expanded. (DIRECTV now has less than 10 national HD networks.)

The new HDTV pricing plan is part of a larger overhaul of the satcaster's pricing structure. DIRECTV is raising average programming prices by about four percent.
_________________________________________________________

For more HDTV news, visit www.tvpredictions.com

Ok guy's .......Need advice on OTA antenna
Location: St. Peters (near st. charles community college on mid rivers)

I'm at Willott and Mid Rivers and I use a Channel Master 4228A from Skywalker Communications in O'fallon ($49 plus tax).

It is pretty big and it just fit through the opening in my attic. I just leaned it against the exterior wall and it works great.
I thought it might be overkill but I was getting tired of the dropouts with a smaller bowtie antenna.

Good luck,
Token

http://www.skywalker.com/Catalog/Images/Thumbnails/9614t.jpg
Part#: 4228A
Channel Master UHF 8-bay Bow-tie Antenna
Our Price: $49.99
Description
Model 4228A UHF 8-bay Bow-tie Antenna
Channel Master has long been recognized as the foremost designer of high performance antennas!

Features:
Steel Dipoles
Pre-Galvanized Mast
Galvanized Screen
High Gain
Narrow Beamwidth
The highest gain Channel Master UHF antenna!
Perfect for long range Digital and Analog UHF reception.
Type: UHF
Range UHF: 60mi
Length: 6.5in
Width: 39.5in
Turning Radius: 20in

Here is a quote from the paper this morning, regarding Charter's CEO, Mr. Smits:

Smit said Charter also is looking at ways to reduce costs, such as cutting the number of channels on its digital programming tiers. He had no specifics, but he said the company is "going to repackage the whole thing..."



Hmmmm...cutting channels (KMOV HD to start, I guess), no specifics, and gutting the "whole thing".....sounds promising!!!!

Wonderstud1000,

I live between Hwy K and Knaust and use the Terk TV32 in my attic.

http://www.audiovox.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=14176&langId=-1

I can't remember how much it cost, but it has performed perfectly. I got it at Ultimate Electronics. BTW, welcome to the forum.

Scott

Here is a quote from the paper this morning, regarding Charter's CEO, Mr. Smits:

Smit said Charter also is looking at ways to reduce costs, such as cutting the number of channels on its digital programming tiers. He had no specifics, but he said the company is "going to repackage the whole thing..."

Hmmmm...cutting channels (KMOV HD to start, I guess), no specifics, and gutting the "whole thing".....sounds promising!!!!Actually, this sounds promising from an HD perspective. There is an apparent bandwidth crunch at Charter and they cannot be blind to the fact that HDTVs are selling like hotcakes and that HD programming is in high demand. This sounds like a prelude to dropping existing, marginal standard-def channels to make room for more HD.

It was a few months ago, but I read (and think I relayed here) that Charter was polling customers in some markets about dropping public access programming in favor of HD, and I suspect that will be part of the solution for many other cable companies.

I'm not sure how many public access channels Charter makes available in this market, and in any case it probably doesn't add up to a lot (maybe the equivalent of one or two analog channel slots), but I think cable in general is in a situation where every bit of bandwidth that can be freed up will help get more HD to customers.

Since I seem to be the public interest naysayer these days, let me just say for the record I don't know if dropping public interest channels is a reasonable thing to do or not. But it makes sense that they would be candidates for the chop, since they are typically in the analog tier.

my opening to the attic is only 33" diag. I dont think the CM will fit. how big is the terk? #edit#

found-------UHF/VHF/FM Outdoor HDTV Antenna
13-element design
» durable, weatherproof construction
» 5-foot mast
» 22"W x 34-1/8"H (not including mast)

is it worth 50 dollars more than the CM for the UHF/VHF capability.

Follow Up -- it was Cox, not Charter, that was polling customers about a possible HD-for-public-access swap.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8945136&highlight=public+access#post8945136

Must have been the "C" in Cox that made me associate this with Charter. :) But again, I expect this action will be on the possibility list for any cable company facing a bandwidth crunch...

Actually, this sounds promising from an HD perspective. There is an apparent bandwidth crunch at Charter and they cannot be blind to the fact that HDTVs are selling like hotcakes and that HD programming is in high demand. This sounds like a prelude to dropping existing, marginal standard-def channels to make room for more HD.

It was a few months ago, but I read (and think I relayed here) that Charter was polling customers in some markets about dropping public access programming in favor of HD, and I suspect that will be part of the solution for many other cable companies.

I'm not sure how many public access channels Charter makes available in this market, and in any case it probably doesn't add up to a lot (maybe the equivalent of one or two analog channel slots), but I think cable in general is in a situation where every bit of bandwidth that can be freed up will help get more HD to customers.

Since I seem to be the public interest naysayer these days, let me just say for the record I don't know if dropping public interest channels is a reasonable thing to do or not. But it makes sense that they would be candidates for the chop, since they are typically in the analog tier.

I agree. The digital lineup on cable could be truncated to free up bandwidth for expanded HD programming. This would certainly be the desire of most consumers. Whether or not cable will rise to the challenge remains to be seen. Their track record in relation to meeting the needs of the consumer is marginal at best.

my opening to the attic is only 33" diag. I dont think the CM will fit. how big is the terk? #edit#

found-------UHF/VHF/FM Outdoor HDTV Antenna
13-element design
» durable, weatherproof construction
» 5-foot mast
» 22"W x 34-1/8"H (not including mast)

is it worth 50 dollars more than the CM for the UHF/VHF capability.

It is not VHF. It is UHF only.

Scott

Or maybe you're just shilling for the NAB.

Actually if you read any of his posts, he is always right and we, the morons, are always wrong.
I have found it best just not to respond to his posts if you don't agree because he just will
continue arguing with you until you bow in his presence.

Actually if you read any of his posts, he is always right and we, the morons, are always wrong.
I have found it best just not to respond to his posts if you don't agree because he just will
continue arguing with you until you bow in his presence.

IGNORE is a wonderful tool.

I know, but he actually posts some useful stuff in other threads, it is just when he offers his opinion
and starts arguing with people. I pretty much told him the same thing when he suggested I add him
to my ignore list.

For those of you with an HR20 from DirecTV, there will be another Release Candidate available for
download tonight and tomorrow night. See DBStalk.com for more info:
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=76919

Ok guy's .......Need advice on OTA antenna

Location: St. Peters (near st. charles community college on mid rivers)
Mount: Attic (perfect location no metal, no roofing, only vinyl siding)
LOS: Decent (down the street and over houses, no trees)
Amp'd: no preference (I have power in my attic)
Reason: Charter (gotta have CBSHD, ABCHD)

The boss gave me a budget of $50 bucks.



In the "for what it's worth" department, I live at Wolfrum & Hwy 94. I use a
Radio Shack VHF/UHF antenna in my garage attic.

However I needed an amplifier to receive the analog locals. I have the RCA 20db
amp I bought at the Home depot at MidRivers (by you and I). I receive all analog
signals and all the digital signals. I feed 3 TV and a media center PC through around 150 feet of coax.

Good Luck.

Rod

I know, but he actually posts some useful stuff in other threads, it is just when he offers his opinion
and starts arguing with people. I pretty much told him the same thing when he suggested I add him
to my ignore list.

Yes, he can have good information to share, but he has zero people skills. If he brought his information to a bar, they'd be buying him drinks. If he brought his attitude to a bar, they'd carry him out on a stretcher. I found it best not to respond to anything he has to say. It just became a futile exchange.

The $25 Shack-tenna will work just fine. And it's a lot cheaper than the rip-off "HD" Antennas out here. Just proof that people will buy anything.

Yes, he can have good information to share, but he has zero people skills. If he brought his information to a bar, they'd be buying him drinks. If he brought his attitude to a bar, they'd carry him out on a stretcher. I found it best not to respond to anything he has to say. It just became a futile exchange.Correct me if I'm wrong (no, not you, Mr. Fanatic), but I don't think anyone here "cuts to the chase" with more style and wit than Mr. Clark... :D

Yeah, I chuckled when I read that.

The $25 Shack-tenna will work just fine. And it's a lot cheaper than the rip-off "HD" Antennas out here. Just proof that people will buy anything.

Like Monster Cables.

Like Monster Cables.

What??!! I thought I had to have those. That is what the 16 year old at Best Buy told me.

Was I misled?

Like Monster Cables.

Nothing wrong with Monster cables. I've been using them for longer than I can remember and never had to replace one yet. Of course, I have ripped the jack out of the back of a few TV's becasue they grip too tight.

Scott

Here is a quote from the paper this morning, regarding Charter's CEO, Mr. Smits:

Smit said Charter also is looking at ways to reduce costs, such as cutting the number of channels on its digital programming tiers. He had no specifics, but he said the company is "going to repackage the whole thing..."



Hmmmm...cutting channels (KMOV HD to start, I guess), no specifics, and gutting the "whole thing".....sounds promising!!!!

When I read this it seemed like Mr. Smits did not care to add any new HD but merely to cut costs and increase profits. They are making our candy bar smaller and charging the same price. Corporate greed....sorry Doug. :o

Nothing wrong with Monster cables. I've been using them for longer than I can remember and never had to replace one yet. Of course, I have ripped the jack out of the back of a few TV's becasue they grip too tight.

Scott


There's nothing "wrong" with a marketed/branded "HDTV Antenna" either :rolleyes:

So Charter dumps CBS HD, doesn't offer ABC HD (and I don't care whose fault this is), will eliminate some digital channels, may or may not beef up HD, can't answer simple questions via CSR or techies and apparently is phasing out Moxi boxes just as Digeo releases 4.1 software to allow connection of USB hard drives. Perfect.

Meanwhile, the indoor RCA amplified antenna that worked pretty well for last weeks's Patriots game has been crap ever since, and a DB2 doesn't seem to be the answer either. Looks like I'm gonna have to hoist an outdoor antenna, but I still want to wait and see how the new Dish packages and the DTV DVR problems/HD expansion shake out before doing anything drastic. And, God help me, I love my Moxi.

Does DTV and/or Dish HD DVRs allow hard drive expansion via USB or any other method?
Does DTV and/or Dish allow a customer to have two HD DVRs?

Also, a public shoutout to Ken who kindly explained Dish setups to me via PM. Thanks! May your pixels be perfect!

barry

Actually Charter didn't dump CBS HD, Belo Corp wont allow them to retransmit the station.

Does DTV and/or Dish HD DVRs allow hard drive expansion via USB or any other method?
Does DTV and/or Dish allow a customer to have two HD DVRs?

barry

DirecTV's new HR20 has an external SATA port so you can plug in your external drive component.
But when you do this, it renders the internal drive useless.

The DirecTV HD-Tivo allows for bigger hard drives, but it is more of a process than the new HR20's.

Yes, I have 3 HD DVR's on my account.

Actually Charter didn't dump CBS HD, Belo Corp wont allow them to retransmit the station.

I know; I was in rant mode, but I'm paying Charter, not Belo. But point taken...

Yes, I have 3 HD DVR's on my account.

Can two be in the same room? I know some manufacturers have 2 code sets for remotes so 2 VCRs or 2 DVD recorders can be in the same room...

barry

Can two be in the same room? I know some manufacturers have 2 code sets for remotes so 2 VCRs or 2 DVD recorders can be in the same room...

barry

Yep. Same thing.

BTW everyone, I do have a job. I just happen to be at home with a sick child today.

BTW everyone, I do have a job. I just happen to be at home with a sick child today.

I have a job too, but I just get on every 20 minutes because I'm bored..... :p

Hope the child gets better for the snow that's supposed to be on it's way....

Does DTV and/or Dish HD DVRs allow hard drive expansion via USB or any other method?
Does DTV and/or Dish allow a customer to have two HD DVRs?barry
Dish has the software in their DVR menu to connect an external drive, though it remains disabled.
"it's coming....it's coming"
If I had to guess, I'd say it is something Dish will get done in 2007, probably in the first 1/2. Though, to what extent remains to be seen....i.e. proprietary drives (Dish only), interaction with current HDD, storage only, or streaming capabilities, etc.
Ditto on multiple DVR's. Dish software allows for 9 IR, and 9 UHF remote addresses per DVR.

Y'all got me beat.....I'm organizing the taxes.....Blech!!

Just got off the phone with Charter, and they have HD DVR boxes in stock again. We're going to try one for a while, but the price of the service is getting crazy after their price increases in Jan. We're in the 90's with no premium channels- just digital, HD tier, and DVR. That REALLY makes me want to look at dish next month when they start their new promotion.

Just got off the phone with Charter, and they have HD DVR boxes in stock again. We're going to try one for a while, but the price of the service is getting crazy after their price increases in Jan. We're in the 90's with no premium channels- just digital, HD tier, and DVR. That REALLY makes me want to look at dish next month when they start their new promotion.

what are they "giving" you: a Moto Moxi (9012/9022) or the Moto 64xx (I think that's the number) series?

For a reference point, for any interested, I currently receive DishNetwork's highest programming tier.

All channels SD and HD, Locals SD and HD, SuperStations SD, Voom HD, and all premium movie channels SD and HD.
2 HD DVR's (622)
2 HD Receivers (211)
-all receivers with OTA
$119.80/month

Everyone has different needs and preferences. If some others would post briefly their programming/equipment/provider, it will give readers some gauge :)

For a reference point, for any interested, I currently receive DishNetwork's highest programming tier.

All channels SD and HD, Locals SD and HD, SuperStations SD, Voom HD, and all premium movie channels SD and HD.
2 HD DVR's (622)
2 HD Receivers (211)
-all receivers with OTA
$119.80/month

Everyone has different needs and preferences. If some others would post briefly their programming/equipment/provider, it will give readers some gauge :)

And that includes all your "pron" channels right? :eek:

For a reference point, for any interested, I currently receive DishNetwork's highest programming tier.

All channels SD and HD, Locals SD and HD, SuperStations SD, Voom HD, and all premium movie channels SD and HD.
2 HD DVR's (622)
2 HD Receivers (211)
-all receivers with OTA
$119.80/month

Everyone has different needs and preferences. If some others would post briefly their programming/equipment/provider, it will give readers some gauge :)


Just got on a new promotion with Charter.. I get all the movie channels, hd tier, and moxi box for about 61-65 a month. Not sure exact number because I haven't seen my first printed bill yet with this price.

-Phatty

For a reference point, for any interested, I currently receive DishNetwork's highest programming tier.

All channels SD and HD, Locals SD and HD, SuperStations SD, Voom HD, and all premium movie channels SD and HD.
2 HD DVR's (622)
2 HD Receivers (211)
-all receivers with OTA
$119.80/month

Everyone has different needs and preferences. If some others would post briefly their programming/equipment/provider, it will give readers some gauge :)

Pardon my ignorance. Can you watch different channels in different rooms at the same time?
Thanks

Just got on a new promotion with Charter.. I get all the movie channels, hd tier, and moxi box for about 61-65 a month. Not sure exact number because I haven't seen my first printed bill yet with this price.

-Phatty

I put the over/under on his first bill at $95...any takers?

Just got on a new promotion with Charter.. I get all the movie channels, hd tier, and moxi box for about 61-65 a month. Not sure exact number because I haven't seen my first printed bill yet with this price.

-Phatty

How did you find this deal? Does this include HBOHD, CinemaxHD or ShowtimeHD?
Thanks

For a reference point, for any interested, I currently receive DishNetwork's highest programming tier........



Anything worth watching tonight? :D

Everyone has different needs and preferences. If some others would post briefly their programming/equipment/provider, it will give readers some gauge :)
Via DirecTV

12/25 01/24 TOTAL CHOICE PLUS Monthly 48.99
12/13 01/12 SHOWTIME 4 Months Free 0.00
12/25 01/24 HD Package Monthly 9.99
12/25 01/24 Network: FOX HD Monthly 0.00
12/25 01/24 DIRECTV DVR Service Fee Monthly 5.99
Fees
12/26 Additional Receiver 4.99
12/26 Additional Receiver 4.99
12/26 Additional Receiver 4.99
12/26 Additional Receiver 4.99
12/26 Additional Receiver 4.99
12/26 Leased Receiver 4.99
12/26 Leased Receiver 4.99

AMOUNT DUE $99.90

I took out the NHL Center Ice Package, the NASCAR package and NFL Sunday Ticket w/Superfan.

That's a very good question- the lady on the phone could not even tell me if it would have a DVI or HDMI out on it. I guess we'll find out Wed.

what are they "giving" you: a Moto Moxi (9012/9022) or the Moto 64xx (I think that's the number) series?

We're at about $85 with all that execpt the movie tiers. that would be a fantatstic deal if it is true, but I bet it's only available (if at all) to new subs.

Also, double check and make sure they did not add the "line insurance" to your bill. They did that to us the last time we dropped a service without asking. It's an extra $5.00 a month that pretty much gets you nothing.




I put the over/under on his first bill at $95...any takers?

I put the over/under on his first bill at $95...any takers?

Well it was 105 or so when my previous promotion that lasted a year expired so thats the retail price for it. It was a retention offer given to me when I called to complain about CBS as well as remove movie channels n' such because there was no way I was going to pay 105. My previous promotion was 73 or so with taxes for the same services. The price I quoted is for 6months.

-Phatty

Pardon my ignorance. Can you watch different channels in different rooms at the same time?
ThanksYes. The 4 receivers run 6 TV's, all can view different events at the same time, live or playback. Each TV has its own receiver remote.

And that includes all your "pron" channels right? :eek:Yes, and "Suruis" also.

Anything worth watching tonight? :DThe Pats/Chargers replay on NFL HD at 8:30 :D

Via DirecTV

12/25 01/24 TOTAL CHOICE PLUS Monthly 48.99
12/13 01/12 SHOWTIME 4 Months Free 0.00
12/25 01/24 HD Package Monthly 9.99
12/25 01/24 Network: FOX HD Monthly 0.00
12/25 01/24 DIRECTV DVR Service Fee Monthly 5.99
Fees
12/26 Additional Receiver 4.99
12/26 Additional Receiver 4.99
12/26 Additional Receiver 4.99
12/26 Additional Receiver 4.99
12/26 Additional Receiver 4.99
12/26 Leased Receiver 4.99
12/26 Leased Receiver 4.99

AMOUNT DUE $99.90

I took out the NHL Center Ice Package, the NASCAR package and NFL Sunday Ticket w/Superfan.

Uh, you have 7 receivers?

Scott

Nope. 8. 2 HD Tivos, 1 HR20, 1 SD Tivo, 1 SD DVR, 2 SD Receivers, 1 HD Receiver.

The Pats/Chargers replay on NFL HD at 8:30 :D

Are you trying to piss me off? I finally go a full day without a pain in my gut only to come home to find this post. :mad: I could never bear to watch it.

Scott

Nope. 8. 2 HD Tivos, 1 HR20, 1 SD Tivo, 1 SD DVR, 2 SD Receivers, 1 HD Receiver.

You Sir, are one sick bastard. ;)

Scott

Thank you. I try.

Are you trying to piss me off? I finally go a full day without a pain in my gut only to come home to find this post. :mad: I could never bear to watch it.

Scott
Come on Scott, maybe the Chargers will win this time. NOT!!!

GO COLTS! GO BEARS!!

Are you trying to piss me off? I finally go a full day without a pain in my gut only to come home to find this post. :mad: I could never bear to watch it.

Scott
Sorry...no.
The point was, there's absolutely Nothing on, worth watching.
Don't be so hard on yourself :)

We really need to have another get together or something. I have never been to one
and would like to actually meet some of you guys/gals.

I would love to host it but I only have a 65in RPTV in a basement that is still a work in progress.

Superbowl Sunday Scott????!!!

We really need to have another get together or something. I have never been to one
and would like to actually meet some of you guys/gals.

I would love to host it but I only have a 65in RPTV in a basement that is still a work in progress.

Superbowl Sunday Scott????!!!

I'm all for that. I have been to 2 meets so far. Had a good time both times. I usually have my wife's family over for the Superbowl which takes up most all of my theater, so that is really not the perfect day. Unless, of course, you all want to hang with my in-laws. We do need to have a get together soon.

Scott

Here is my wish list for a meet.

Blu Ray player present. HD DVD player present. If someone has DISH and DIRECTV
that would be awesome, too.

I have a XBOX 360 HD DVD I could bring, but the sound quality is not the same as a
standalone HD DVD player.

sorry if this has been covered, but does anyone know if Dish's offer of a free 622 feb 1st will replace the current programming offer? I wouldn't mind paying more up front if my monthly bill were lower...

-Matt

sorry if this has been covered, but does anyone know if Dish's offer of a free 622 feb 1st will replace the current programming offer? I wouldn't mind paying more up front if my monthly bill were lower...

-Matt
Matt,
The free 622 to new subs after Feb 1st, cannot be combined with the current 20/mo for 10/mo programming rebate offer.
It's a wash, and comes down to $200 now, or $200 over 10 months.

If you order pre-Feb 1st, DISH will charge your CC $200 now, and your monthly bill will be reduced by $20 for 10 months.

For a reference point, for any interested, I currently receive DishNetwork's highest programming tier.

All channels SD and HD, Locals SD and HD, SuperStations SD, Voom HD, and all premium movie channels SD and HD.
2 HD DVR's (622)
2 HD Receivers (211)
-all receivers with OTA
$119.80/month

Everyone has different needs and preferences. If some others would post briefly their programming/equipment/provider, it will give readers some gauge :)


As a reference, I have charter with a Moxi (HDDVR), Moxi Mate (downrezzed HD). and the most basic HD tier for I think right about $98. You clearly seem to have many more HD channels than I.

Here's my question (that I assume has been asked before but here goes). It bugs me that Direct TV and Dish downrezz the signals but... will I notice a difference? My Moxi only ouputs component (it has a DVI output that doesn't seem to be active). Can anybody who has had both compare the signal quality. It may end up being a mute point with lots o' tall trees in the yard I'm not sure I will be able to get dish anyway.

Well it was 105 or so when my previous promotion that lasted a year expired so thats the retail price for it. It was a retention offer given to me when I called to complain about CBS as well as remove movie channels n' such because there was no way I was going to pay 105. My previous promotion was 73 or so with taxes for the same services. The price I quoted is for 6months.

-Phatty


Ooh. thanks for the tip, though - silly question. Did you ask for the retention center directly (I have done this for ATT/SBC yahoo with some really great results) or did you just tell the first person who answered that you wanted to quit.

I'm looking for anybody out there who's willing to share a recording of Sunday nights episodes of 24. I was out of power and missed it. I have an HTPC with Fusion HDTV tuner card. With all the software I have I can probably handle about any format. If you have it in DVD format that would be okay. I'm in St. Charles. To keep the thread under control, PM me if you can help. Haven't watched Monday's episode yet because I was resetting clocks and everything after the power came back on @ 6:45 (just in time)! I noticed that David Palmer's brother was President. How the heck did that happen? Last year's vice president die? Was he the speaker of the house? I figure they must have ignored the constitution.

Thanks,

If you guys are patient; I will probably have a semi-portable solution for Blu-ray and HD-DVD.

Not the LG player which seems like it has quite a few problems.

Cheers,

Everyone has different needs and preferences. If some others would post briefly their programming/equipment/provider, it will give readers some gauge :)

I have a pretty basic setup, but here goes:

CHARTER Biggest Value Package ($50.99)
-Includes: Basic, Expanded, The Movie Tier, HBO Cinemax Pack, STARZ SuperPak, Interactive Integrated Service, Remote Control - Digital, HDTV Receiver
-HD HBO/Cinemax ($0.00)
-HD Showtime ($0.00)
-HD Service ($0.00)
-HD Tier ($6.99)
-Video On Demand Services ($0.00)
-Taxes ($2.50)

TOTAL $60.48

Mind you, this was a 2-year new customer contract I signed in June 2005, so it will be expiring this summer. Actually, I added HD to it in summer '06 with none of the "broken contract" repercussions others have mentioned. When I sign my next contract (with whoever), DVR will be added.

Needless to say, I'm happy that I am a teacher and have the summers off. I'll certainly be busy trying to figure out what to do with my TV service provider this summer.

edit - FYI, the programming descriptions / price allocations are straight from the bill. I have no idea what "Interactive Integrated Service" is...

I did a quick comparison using the "system builder" pages for each provider.
I tried to keep everything as equal as possible, so noted, available programming varies with provider.

Selecting all available SD channel tiers
Selecting all available HD channel tiers
Showtime, HBO, Starz.
1 HD DRV
1 HD Standard Receiver

Charter
-One Time Installation - $29.99
-Monthly Fees - $100.66*

DirecTV
-One Time Installation - $298.00
-Monthly Fees - $91.98/first 12months; $114.97 thereafter

DISH
-One Time Installation - $248.98
-Monthly Fees - $85.46/first 10months; $105.46 thereafter

*not stated if promotional monthly fee

I did a quick comparison using the "system builder" pages for each provider.
I tried to keep everything as equal as possible, so noted, available programming varies with provider.

Selecting all available SD channel tiers
Selecting all available HD channel tiers
Showtime, HBO, Starz.
1 HD DRV
1 HD Standard Receiver

Charter
-One Time Installation - $29.99
-Monthly Fees - $100.66*

DirecTV
-One Time Installation - $298.00
-Monthly Fees - $91.98/first 12months; $114.97 thereafter

DISH
-One Time Installation - $248.98
-Monthly Fees - $85.46/first 10months; $105.46 thereafter

*not stated if promotional monthly fee


Varies so much ... I pay that for Charter with 3meg internet (granted I don't have all the HBO stuff, but I do have all the HD + one added tier) and I've never paid an installation fee. That's with the Moxi HD DVR. So you'd have to add on DSL (or some other variation of internet) to the Sat prices.

I did a quick comparison using the "system builder" pages for each provider.
I tried to keep everything as equal as possible, so noted, available programming varies with provider.

Selecting all available SD channel tiers
Selecting all available HD channel tiers
Showtime, HBO, Starz.
1 HD DRV
1 HD Standard Receiver

Charter
-One Time Installation - $29.99
-Monthly Fees - $100.66*

DirecTV
-One Time Installation - $298.00
-Monthly Fees - $91.98/first 12months; $114.97 thereafter

DISH
-One Time Installation - $248.98
-Monthly Fees - $85.46/first 10months; $105.46 thereafter

*not stated if promotional monthly fee

And if you're a big NFL fan, the "only" choice is Directv. If you're not, all 3 providers offer different strokes for different folks.

Scott

First impressions of the new Motorola DCT3416 DVR from Charter:

Installers showed up today to swap out my Moxi box with the new DVR around 9:00, and left about 10:00. It's smaller and (I think) quieter than the old box was. We don't really care about that though, do we? :-P

HDMI was hooked up without a hitch (I prepped everything last night, because I didn't want them screwing with my stuff), and the sound is great. The picture looks great too, but I don't notice a huge difference between DVI-to-HDMI (old box) and HDMI-to-HDMI. It is nice to ditch some extra cables though. I didn't bother to ask them if they would have had an HDMI cable to give me, I just went and got my own yesterday.

160gb hard drive confirmed. The CSR I talked to said it was 180gb, but that's not a huge deal. Doubling the size was huge for us. We started watching so many new shows this year that we had to stop recording in HD. It will be nice to go back to recording in HD again.

So long Moxi, hello I-Guide? UGH! I knew there was a good chance I was going to hate losing the Moxi, and turns out I was right. I don't know what it was about that little piece of software that Digeo put together, but it grew on me. The new interface is as drab and dull as the standard Motorola (non-Moxi) boxes. The DVR features look to be thrown together at the last minute. Setting shows to record is horrible, and I'm not certain you can select a show that isn't going to be on for awhile to record. There is no title search. YUCK! Their are two ways to setup recording shows, but after I explain them you will probably agree with me there is ONE way. The "normal" way is to say you want to setup recording. You then have a menu where you have to select the day you want to record, and then the time to start and stop, THEN it will pull up the shows in that time frame. I know, just horrible. The other way is to just surf through the guide, get the show you want, and select it. Not ideal, and this is something the tech thought they should be fixing soon. No one likes it, especially them. They seemed a bit sad also to lose the Moxi. One positive though is how quickly you can scan channels, and change channels. The Moxi was notorious for being slow. I have not verified yet whether there is a 10 second auto-rewind after coming out of fast forward. That will suck to lose too. Something else with the Moxi that may not have effected other people as much, is that when I often changed HD channels, I would get a lot of artifacting at first before the channel would come in. This box switches seamlessly between all channels.

As the tech was explaining things I was in for a pleasant surprise. He told me the USB 2.0 port in the back of the box is fully functional, and we are free to hook up external hard drives for additional storage. He said it should be plug and play no problem. I don't have an external hard drive lying around, so I'll have to get back with you guys on whether it really does work, and if it's really that easy to hook it up.

One other thing was that I was expecting to get the DCT6400 Series Phase III box, not this DCT3416. Here's the PDF for the one they gave me:
https://www.whtvdigital.com/pdfs/DCT3400_web.pdf

Hope this helps answer some of your guys questions. Apparently I am the 4th person in St. Louis to get the new box. I was also the 4th person to get the Moxi box! EERIE!!! :-P

Tnx for the review. Did he happen to mention if the firewire port is functional ?

I wouldn't mind upgrading but I don't want to lose the firewire I have on the 6200.

Tnx for the review. Did he happen to mention if the firewire port is functional ?

I wouldn't mind upgrading but I don't want to lose the firewire I have on the 6200.

Howdy Dave.

I can't remember if he mentioned that. I know he said the USB and SATA ports in the back were active. However, I am probably going to experiment with a Seagate 300gb external drive, and the one I have been reading about has both USB and Firewire hookups, so I should be able to check that for you.

Thanks to all for the antenna advice!

Got the U75R from the shack. It fit through the hole in the garage nicely.
Install was a breeze, 300/75 transformer, 2 RG-6 connectors and I was in business.
Hardest part was poking the cable down the wall through the insulation.
I pointed the antenna in a general direction that "antennaweb" told me to and I never even had to adjust the antenna. I was able to haul in all the DT channels just fine!!!!

U-75R uhf antenna_______________$24.99
75-300 ohm xfmr_________________$4.99
2-pk gold RG-6 con._______________$2.49
1 aluminum sliced finger____________$0.00
1.5hrs of frustration _______________$0.00
Free OTA High Definition Broadcasting Pricele$$

2-1 94% HD
4-1 96% HD
5-1 94% HD
5-2 94% 480i
9-1 80% HD
9-2 80% 480i
9-3 80% 480i
9-4 80% 480i
11-1 96% HD
11-2 94% 480i
30-1 84% HD
46-1 72% 480i

Thanks to all for the antenna advice!

Got the U75R from the shack. It fit through the hole in the garage nicely.
Install was a breeze, 300/75 transformer, 2 RG-6 connectors and I was in business.
Hardest part was poking the cable down the wall through the insulation.
I pointed the antenna in a general direction that "antennaweb" told me to and I never even had to adjust the antenna. I was able to haul in all the DT channels just fine!!!!

U-75R uhf antenna_______________$24.99
75-300 ohm xfmr_________________$4.99
2-pk gold RG-6 con._______________$2.49
1 aluminum sliced finger____________$0.00
1.5hrs of frustration _______________$0.00
Free OTA High Definition Broadcasting Pricele$$

2-1 94% HD
4-1 96% HD
5-1 94% HD
5-2 94% 480i
9-1 80% HD
9-2 80% 480i
9-3 80% 480i
9-4 80% 480i
11-1 96% HD
11-2 94% 480i
30-1 84% HD
46-1 72% 480i

Sweet! That is about how easy mine was to aim. I had pre-run all coax to attic while building house, so it took me a whole 5 minutes to install and scan for channels. Got all channels on first try without worrying about the direction. Glad yours was the same. Now you can hopefully watch the freakin' Pats lose to the Colts in HD!

Scott

Now you can hopefully watch the freakin' Pats lose to the Colts in HD!

Scott

I do believe you have that reversed...

Off -Topic Question:

Does anyone know what will run on vacant Channel 4-02? Does anyone know WHEN? Just curious and something I am NOT looking forward to as I'm sure it will rob bits from the HD channel.

Off -Topic Question:

Does anyone know what will run on vacant Channel 4-02? Does anyone know WHEN? Just curious and something I am NOT looking forward to as I'm sure it will rob bits from the HD channel.
Along that lines....with nothing airing on it, does it still take bits from the -01 channel?
There has to be "something" being transmitted, or the tuner would go to the acquiring signal page, yes?
It stays locked with a blank picture :confused:

Yep, 4-2 is still stealing bits from 4-1 if my recent recordings of CSI and CSI Miami are any indication. Six months ago they averaged about 5 and a half gb in size. Nowadays they're closer to 4 and a half, and have quite a bit more pixellating than they used to.

First impressions of the new Motorola DCT3416 DVR from Charter:

Installers showed up today to swap out my Moxi box with the new DVR around 9:00, and left about 10:00. It's smaller and (I think) quieter than the old box was. We don't really care about that though, do we? :-P

HDMI was hooked up without a hitch (I prepped everything last night, because I didn't want them screwing with my stuff), and the sound is great. The picture looks great too, but I don't notice a huge difference between DVI-to-HDMI (old box) and HDMI-to-HDMI. It is nice to ditch some extra cables though. I didn't bother to ask them if they would have had an HDMI cable to give me, I just went and got my own yesterday.

160gb hard drive confirmed. The CSR I talked to said it was 180gb, but that's not a huge deal. Doubling the size was huge for us. We started watching so many new shows this year that we had to stop recording in HD. It will be nice to go back to recording in HD again.

So long Moxi, hello I-Guide? UGH! I knew there was a good chance I was going to hate losing the Moxi, and turns out I was right. I don't know what it was about that little piece of software that Digeo put together, but it grew on me. The new interface is as drab and dull as the standard Motorola (non-Moxi) boxes. The DVR features look to be thrown together at the last minute. Setting shows to record is horrible, and I'm not certain you can select a show that isn't going to be on for awhile to record. There is no title search. YUCK! Their are two ways to setup recording shows, but after I explain them you will probably agree with me there is ONE way. The "normal" way is to say you want to setup recording. You then have a menu where you have to select the day you want to record, and then the time to start and stop, THEN it will pull up the shows in that time frame. I know, just horrible. The other way is to just surf through the guide, get the show you want, and select it. Not ideal, and this is something the tech thought they should be fixing soon. No one likes it, especially them. They seemed a bit sad also to lose the Moxi. One positive though is how quickly you can scan channels, and change channels. The Moxi was notorious for being slow. I have not verified yet whether there is a 10 second auto-rewind after coming out of fast forward. That will suck to lose too. Something else with the Moxi that may not have effected other people as much, is that when I often changed HD channels, I would get a lot of artifacting at first before the channel would come in. This box switches seamlessly between all channels.

As the tech was explaining things I was in for a pleasant surprise. He told me the USB 2.0 port in the back of the box is fully functional, and we are free to hook up external hard drives for additional storage. He said it should be plug and play no problem. I don't have an external hard drive lying around, so I'll have to get back with you guys on whether it really does work, and if it's really that easy to hook it up.

One other thing was that I was expecting to get the DCT6400 Series Phase III box, not this DCT3416. Here's the PDF for the one they gave me:
https://www.whtvdigital.com/pdfs/DCT3400_web.pdf

Hope this helps answer some of your guys questions. Apparently I am the 4th person in St. Louis to get the new box. I was also the 4th person to get the Moxi box! EERIE!!! :-P

So the question is whether this unit is a replacement for the Moxi due to limited units or if this box will completely replace the Moxi because they are phasing it out.

Yep, 4-2 is still stealing bits from 4-1 if my recent recordings of CSI and CSI Miami are any indication. Six months ago they averaged about 5 and a half gb in size. Nowadays they're closer to 4 and a half, and have quite a bit more pixellating than they used to.

I saw it in the playoff game last weekend. Really bad picture quality anytime there was a lot of movement - not something you want to see for a football game.

I just watched a couple of eps of Smallville that I recorded from ch. 11 the last two weeks. My 622 timer recordings of the show were unwatchable. My MyHD recordings of the show had numerous image breakups, but the audio played cleanly enough. Something they've done has really fouled up the signal. Signal level still reads OK, but it's anything but.

HDTV Fanatic,

My key point in this exchange is that local stations are using valuable, finite airwaves without paying for them. Spectrum fees have been proposed in recent years, and predictably the NAB has fought these suggestions tooth and nail. Yes, of course, TV stations incur some costs for the use of those airwaves (transmitters, tower fees, maintenance, etc), but they do not pay for the actual spectrum used, unlike, say, cellular telephone carriers.

And why should I (or you) care that ESPN uses 12 times the bandwidth that all of the local St. Louis TV stations use? ESPN is presumably paying market rates for the use of that spectrum -- for all I care, they can use 1,200 times the spectrum of local TV stations, so long as they are prepared to pay the going market rate and someone is prepared to sell it to them.

Local TV stations do not pay spectrum fees -- it is given to them free and the traditional rationale for this is that it is in the public interest to do so. I'm certainly not the only voice suggesting that this concept is increasingly outmoded and that TV stations should pay some fee that recognizes the value of the spectrum they are consuming. Yes, TV stations do pay license fees, which basically reflect the administrative cost of processing the license applications and renewals but come nowhere near the market value of the spectrum used.

Am I really spreading bad information? You may think so. You suggest that I'm ignorant, and you are certainly entitled to that opinion. But as long as we're making subjective evaluations here, I think you're completely ignoring market realities and clinging to a horse-and-buggy-whip view of broadcasting that has little relevance for the 21st century.

Or maybe you're just shilling for the NAB.


Wrong on all counts....again, how much simplier can i make it - ESPN does not pay a spectrum fee as you state - ZERO - $0 - NONE - just like the TV stations do not - and ESPN has less regulation and uses 12x the spectrum a TV stations does.

ESPN Charges just under $5 for their suite on cable and has less viewers than the TV stations.

Actually if you read any of his posts, he is always right and we, the morons, are always wrong.
I have found it best just not to respond to his posts if you don't agree because he just will
continue arguing with you until you bow in his presence.

And in Doug's case, he was as ESPN pays no Spectrum fees - just like TV - and has no Public Affairs regulations or other regulations - meaning they have a cheaper ride than OTA TV - yet they are the most expensive package on cable.

If you want to push spectrum fees for everyone, great - but it must be for EVERYONE. I can't wait to see how a cable bill would go up $100 a month or so then.

And god only knows how much D* and E* would go up to pay for the fees from the first bounce from the suppliers and the second bounce to the customers.

KTVI-DT is horribly unwatchable this morning, both OTA and via cable.

Major macroblocking and audio dropouts.

Sure hope it gets fixed by game time.

Edit: That was quick ! Cleared 60 seconds after posting.

Another aticle about Charter and Belo (http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/stories.nsf/story/F4C70EF104681D498625726900167B5D?OpenDocument) in todays business section of the Post.

Tim

Personally, I wouldn't mind paying an extra couple of bucks per month to get back CBS-HD, but more importantly, to finally get ABC-HD. Watching the Rose Bowl on regular ABC was one of the most painful experiences of my life.

On another note, does anyone know why we get ESPN-HD but not ESPN2-HD? I don't watch it that much, but there were some bowl games on that I would have liked to watch in HD, and I know Dish has ESPN2-HD.

Another aticle about Charter and Belo (http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/stories.nsf/story/F4C70EF104681D498625726900167B5D?OpenDocument) in todays business section of the Post.

Tim

I love the end of that article:

"It's just a much better experience," said Buchanan. "You can see the grass and see the brand on the beer bottle" a fan is holding in the stands.

Because that's why I love HDTV, so I can tell what everyone is drinking.

...which cost him $8,000 to equip and $20,000 to remodel...
I thought it incredible an OTA tuner and antenna was the last thing to buy.

So the question is whether this unit is a replacement for the Moxi due to limited units or if this box will completely replace the Moxi because they are phasing it out.

I talked to both the CSR and the technicians about that, and they said Motorola has stopped making boxes with Moxi. He wasn't sure why, but to the best of their knowledge they will not be distributing boxes with Moxi anymore. Very sad, in my opinion, but maybe Digeo stopped providing updates? Not sure.

It took the guide a LONNNNNNG time to sync. So long, that I called to get the problem worked out. It was very sporadic. For instance, I went to find Heroes on Monday night so I could record it, but it showed as "To Be Announced." UGH! What a pain. There are ways around this. You just tell the box to start recording at 8:00 on Monday, and to stop after 9:00. Still, that is a quick, messy fix, so I called to find out what the heck the problem was. Of course they did their little "magic" of sending a reset to the box and all that good stuff, but nothing worked so they had to schedule a tech call. I decided to do the automated reset one last time before I went to bed, and when I got up this morning all the shows in the guide are displaying now. Tragedy avoided. ;-)

Still waiting to hear on whether or not I need some specific drivers for an external hard drive to be connected. I want to make sure I am giving myself a good 30 days to get it to work, so that I can return the drive if it doesn't work.

KTVI-DT is horribly unwatchable this morning, both OTA and via cable.

Major macroblocking and audio dropouts.

Sure hope it gets fixed by game time.

Edit: That was quick ! Cleared 60 seconds after posting.



During which programming?

I talked to both the CSR and the technicians about that, and they said Motorola has stopped making boxes with Moxi. He wasn't sure why, but to the best of their knowledge they will not be distributing boxes with Moxi anymore. Very sad, in my opinion, but maybe Digeo stopped providing updates? Not sure.

It took the guide a LONNNNNNG time to sync. So long, that I called to get the problem worked out. It was very sporadic. For instance, I went to find Heroes on Monday night so I could record it, but it showed as "To Be Announced." UGH! What a pain. There are ways around this. You just tell the box to start recording at 8:00 on Monday, and to stop after 9:00. Still, that is a quick, messy fix, so I called to find out what the heck the problem was. Of course they did their little "magic" of sending a reset to the box and all that good stuff, but nothing worked so they had to schedule a tech call. I decided to do the automated reset one last time before I went to bed, and when I got up this morning all the shows in the guide are displaying now. Tragedy avoided.

A year ago or longer Digeo announced that the next-gen box would be built by Samsung. Haven't heard any more about that, and now Digeo is going retail.

Re: programming the new box: Will it do series recording? If so, can it be told to skip repeats? Wondering how close to Tivo/Moxi it is.... thx
barry

KTVI-DT is horribly unwatchable this morning, both OTA and via cable.

Major macroblocking and audio dropouts.

Sure hope it gets fixed by game time.

Edit: That was quick ! Cleared 60 seconds after posting.

9:00-10:00 Fox News Sunday With Chris Wallace

I talked to both the CSR and the technicians about that, and they said Motorola has stopped making boxes with Moxi. He wasn't sure why, but to the best of their knowledge they will not be distributing boxes with Moxi anymore. Very sad, in my opinion, but maybe Digeo stopped providing updates? Not sure.

It took the guide a LONNNNNNG time to sync. So long, that I called to get the problem worked out. It was very sporadic. For instance, I went to find Heroes on Monday night so I could record it, but it showed as "To Be Announced." UGH! What a pain. There are ways around this. You just tell the box to start recording at 8:00 on Monday, and to stop after 9:00. Still, that is a quick, messy fix, so I called to find out what the heck the problem was. Of course they did their little "magic" of sending a reset to the box and all that good stuff, but nothing worked so they had to schedule a tech call. I decided to do the automated reset one last time before I went to bed, and when I got up this morning all the shows in the guide are displaying now. Tragedy avoided. ;-)

Still waiting to hear on whether or not I need some specific drivers for an external hard drive to be connected. I want to make sure I am giving myself a good 30 days to get it to work, so that I can return the drive if it doesn't work.

FYI. I am fairly certain that the external HD is "married" to that particular box. In other words if the box bites the dust and you have stored away 2 terabytes of archived shows your screwed as you will be unable to access that drive. Bummer

Off -Topic Question:

Does anyone know what will run on vacant Channel 4-02? Does anyone know WHEN? Just curious and something I am NOT looking forward to as I'm sure it will rob bits from the HD channel.

I posted information I had received from the KMOV engineer (Walt Nichol) on this back in November. Here is it again:

"We have initiated a 4.2 channel and will be using it to provide full time election coverage from 7 PM until conclusion on Tuesday.

We are planning for a local weather/news/business channel on 4.2 sometime before the end of the year. We will certainly adjust the bit rate given to the second channel to minimize its impact on 4.1."

Their plans are apparently running behind, but unfortunately they are still impacting the HD bit rate.

Mike

PS - On the contrary, I think this is very "On Topic" for this thread. It is a local HD issue, after all. ;)

Wrong on all counts....again, how much simplier can i make it - ESPN does not pay a spectrum fee as you state - ZERO - $0 - NONE - just like the TV stations do not - and ESPN has less regulation and uses 12x the spectrum a TV stations does.

ESPN Charges just under $5 for their suite on cable and has less viewers than the TV stations.I'm always open to learning new information, so please explain to me -- precisely -- what spectrum it is that ESPN is using without paying for it.

I posted information I had received from the KMOV engineer (Walt Nichol) on this back in November. Here is it again:

"We have initiated a 4.2 channel and will be using it to provide full time election coverage from 7 PM until conclusion on Tuesday.

We are planning for a local weather/news/business channel on 4.2 sometime before the end of the year. We will certainly adjust the bit rate given to the second channel to minimize its impact on 4.1."

Their plans are apparently running behind, but unfortunately they are still impacting the HD bit rate.

Mike

PS - On the contrary, I think this is very "On Topic" for this thread. It is a local HD issue, after all. ;)

Thanks, Mike. This is definitely on topic. I suppose KDNL is the last bastion of high quality HD locally, and I think I remember Jim saying they might be going that route, too. I can't remember ever seeing blocking artifacts on ch. 30. Fox, though they don't multicast, has had blocking artifacts (among other issues, especially lately) for some time. What's been puzzling about KTVI is that from the beginning they have never run a high enough bit rate to avoid blocking artifacts. Channel 11 had horrible blocking when they first started broadcasting in HD, then they straightened out their technical issues. I predicted they would start multicasting when I saw the blocking return, and sure enough a few weeks/months later they announced 11-2.

It used to be a pretty good bet that your local HD would be far superior to anything from satellite or cable, but that's not the case now. Last week's NFL playoff game on CBS had miserable picture quality. Ch. 4 used to be top notch, before they started multicasting.

Now, if I want first rate HD quality, my only choice is HD DVD (I won't bite on Blu-ray, yet), and the problem there is the lack of quantity, not to mention the format war.

These are sad times in the transition to HD. I do believe these issues will be sorted out, but it looks like it's going to take a few years for that to happen. Until the bandwidth issues are sorted out, we have more of this to look forward to.

FYI -- My Charter Pipeline connection has been out of commission for the past 48+ hours. Apparently there was a break in one of the trunk lines that took a while to repair, leaving 5,800+ customers in the Belleville area with Internet access.

However, when that trunk outage was fixed this morning, I was still down. In the end, I had to have a service call and one of the splitters was found to be defective. Giving credit where credit is due, the two Charter techs were here within 90 minutes of my requesting a service call. Color me surprised but appreciative.

Even better, during the hassles yesterday I reached the end of my patience and called the Charter Retention desk to complain about the outage and the continual poor problems I've had with Pipeline. With only a moderate amount of bellyaching on my part, the agent offered to reduce my monthly Pipeline fee from $43/month to $19.95, guaranteeing no increase in that fee for the next 12 months.

I specifically asked whether that implied a 12-month commitment, and was told that Charter never requires a commitment and that I could still cancel at any point without penalty.

Sounds too good to be true, but we shall see. I'm still planning to scale the wall for DSL on the very first day it becomes available in my area...

Man this FOX HD of the Bears game is horrible.

Man this FOX HD of the Bears game is horrible.
I agree. really bad video quality. I see dancing ants on the field. The commercials in SD are better.

Regarding picture breakups on Fox News Sunday, they must have been huge. My HD Tivo didn't record it. When I looked up the To Do list to see why not, it said "because there was no video signal detected."

I don't know, picture quality for the game looks pretty similar to what it usually looks like to me. But, more importantly, how did the San Diego Chargers steal the Saints uniforms and take the field?

Scott

Hmmm, the Bears and Saints don't look all THAT bad to me. Granted, the PQ is nowhere near what I take for granted from ABC/ESPN on Monday Night games, but then Fox HD football PQ never is.

And I agree with Joe's assessment of Fox bitrates. If KTVI were to start multicasting, I doubt we'd even notice a difference because its bitrate (as verified in the VideoReDo editing program) has never been above 12mbps. KMOV 4-1, even while multicasting, still manages to do 14-15mbps. And KPLR 11-1, also while multicasting, does 15-16mbps.

On the other hand, Fox's 5.1 channel sound completely and consistently blows away every other station in town.

9:00-10:00 Fox News Sunday With Chris Wallace

I'd bet they had ice or snow on one of the network dishes.... Then again, anything is possible.

Also, the other noise problems with KTVI's HD signal.... what programming do those fall in? Is it always during network or is it over local too? Do you see it during news?


Also, for those dealing with Walt Nichol, he's the chief engineer at KMOV... I'm always amazed that he deals with this stuff himself. :)

[QUOTE=DroptheRemote]

I specifically asked whether that implied a 12-month commitment, and was told that Charter never requires a commitment and that I could still cancel at any point without penalty. QUOTE]

Absolutely untrue. I went though the retention center about 1 year ago. Got a great deal for a 2 year guaranteed period. They even mailed me a document that I had to sign agreeing to stay for 2 years and I mailed it back to them before it became effective. May they no longer do that but they did!

Hmmm, the Bears and Saints don't look all THAT bad to me. Granted, the PQ is nowhere near what I take for granted from ABC/ESPN on Monday Night games, but then Fox HD football PQ never is.

On the other hand, Fox's 5.1 channel sound completely and consistently blows away every other station in town.

I agree PQ isn't all that bad, blocking/pixellation aside, I've chalked up much of the quality to high def seeing the precipitation. I think that's the ants on the field. You can make out the individual snowflakes on closeups!

Agree they seem to be the masters of 5.1 sound.

...I think that's the ants on the field. You can make out the individual snowflakes on closeups!....No, when I mentioned dancing ants, it was not the snowflakes. I can see those. It's different. The PQ just doesn't look that good today.

Man this FOX HD of the Bears game is horrible.
Is this the type of things y'all are seeing?
This is OTA, and lasted about 8 frames, less than a second.
http://members.aol.com/kdg454/bears2.jpg
http://members.aol.com/kdg454/bears1.jpg

BTW, today's game is not even close in comparison to the game FOX did with the Eagles/Giants. Huge difference!

Yep not to mention audio dropouts and horrible colors in the grass. Maybe some of it has to do with the weather *shrug*

Yep not to mention audio dropouts and horrible colors in the grass. Maybe some of it has to do with the weather *shrug*
I thought that also, but it didn't even rain down here...no snow, no ice...the ground is only slightly damp.
I suppose it could be related to the weather near the source?

Is this the type of things y'all are seeing?
This is OTA, and lasted about 8 frames, less than a second.
http://members.aol.com/kdg454/bears2.jpg
http://members.aol.com/kdg454/bears1.jpg

BTW, today's game is not even close in comparison to the game FOX did with the Eagles/Giants. Huge difference!

OMG! I don't think I've ever seen any TV do that before. Throw it all in the trash. :)

Scott

OMG! I don't think I've ever seen any TV do that before. Throw it all in the trash. :)

Scott
It's too heavy :(

I find it funny to see Jim Nantz advertise HDTV by CBS and Sony only to see a Samsung in the booth behind Phil Simms and Him.
Game looks good so far which is what I'v come to expect for CBS.

Scott

Am I the only who is not getting KMOV anymore at all. No charter and no OTA??? :mad:

Fine signal in mid-county.

Am I the only who is not getting KMOV anymore at all. No charter and no OTA??? :mad:No love from Charter. If you want CBS in HD you need use something else; actually, anything else.

I find it funny to see Jim Nantz advertise HDTV by CBS and Sony only to see a Samsung in the booth behind Phil Simms and Him.
Game looks good so far which is what I'v come to expect for CBS.

Scott

Scott...wazzup??? Your signature is gone... GO BEARS.....

What else for a San Diego fan to do, watch the play in the booth instead of what's on the field :D

Anywho.....GO COLTS.............................

It is really a shame, if it wasn't for Belidick, I might actually appreciate Brady and the rest of the offense.

Am I the only who is not getting KMOV anymore at all. No charter and no OTA??? :mad:

Looks good in unincorporated St. Chuckles!

EDIT: Except for the frickin' score!!!!!

[QUOTE=DroptheRemote]

I specifically asked whether that implied a 12-month commitment, and was told that Charter never requires a commitment and that I could still cancel at any point without penalty. QUOTE]

Absolutely untrue. I went though the retention center about 1 year ago. Got a great deal for a 2 year guaranteed period. They even mailed me a document that I had to sign agreeing to stay for 2 years and I mailed it back to them before it became effective. May they no longer do that but they did!

Are you speaking of Charter TV, or internet? I'm aware of contracts for TV, but not for internet (way too much competition now).

I haven't seen any breakups on the CBS game.

Maybe it's not my TV ;)

Strange, nothing here even contected my attic antenna directly to the back of the TV. No KMOV digital?????

I'm in Arnold, anyone got any suggestions? :confused:

Remove power from your receiver for a few minutes. Restore then re-scan.

Tnx for the review. Did he happen to mention if the firewire port is functional ?

I wouldn't mind upgrading but I don't want to lose the firewire I have on the 6200.

As I posted earlier, it is against the rules for a cable company to give you a box without firewire active. The link to the info on the box shows NO firewire port. How is Charter getting away with issuing first Moxi and now the DCT3416 boxes without active firewire? :mad:

Walt

Is this the type of things y'all are seeing?
This is OTA, and lasted about 8 frames, less than a second.
http://members.aol.com/kdg454/bears2.jpg
http://members.aol.com/kdg454/bears1.jpg

BTW, today's game is not even close in comparison to the game FOX did with the Eagles/Giants. Huge difference!

This is exactly what I've been seeing for the past year on 2-DT. It used to be a handful of glitches per hour. However, today is was HORRIBLE. Fox News Sunday was so bad the at times the picture just froze. My signal is pegged at 100 when this happens.

Yep not to mention audio dropouts and horrible colors in the grass. Maybe some of it has to do with the weather *shrug*

Weather can play a big part.... Mainly if it's snowing or raining very hard or if there's ice/snow on a dish at a tv station. It shouldn't, however, noticably affect your reception (July 19 type storms excluded).

And if anybody's putting anything in the trash, I'll need your address and exact time you put the trash out. :) :cool:

As I posted earlier, it is against the rules for a cable company to give you a box without firewire active. The link to the info on the box shows NO firewire port. How is Charter getting away with issuing first Moxi and now the DCT3416 boxes without active firewire? I can't speak for the DCT3416, but with regards to Moxi, the non-FireWire boxes were distributed before the current rule went into effect. All of the Moxi boxes manufactured after the rule took effect have FireWire.

I can't speak for the DCT3416, but with regards to Moxi, the non-FireWire boxes were distributed before the current rule went into effect. All of the Moxi boxes manufactured after the rule took effect have FireWire.

MoxiGuy,
What are you doing in St. Louis? :) Have not seen many of your posts lately. I figured its because the 4.1 firmware update is available but few of the cable companies have released it. :(

I really like my Moxi and I do not want the DCT3416. Any idea as to the reality of the retail Moxi? If I have to get rid of the Moxi at some point I will seriously consider the retail Moxi if its as advertised. Multistream CC, external HDD, firewire, hdmi etc... Otherwise Tivo 3 or satellite will likely be the way to go.

As I posted earlier, it is against the rules for a cable company to give you a box without firewire active. The link to the info on the box shows NO firewire port. How is Charter getting away with issuing first Moxi and now the DCT3416 boxes without active firewire? :mad:

Walt

You might want to take another look at the PDF.

I'm reading:

KEY FEATURES
[...]
Full range of industry-standard connectors
for video, audio, and data applications:
• USB 2.0
• HDMI digital audio/video interface
(replaces DVI)
• SATA connector
(provides additional DVR capacity with
an external hard drive)
• IEEE 1394

And, the rear view of the chassis has 2 firewire pots in the same place they are on the 6200.

You might want to take another look at the PDF.

I'm reading:

KEY FEATURES
[...]
Full range of industry-standard connectors
for video, audio, and data applications:
• USB 2.0
• HDMI digital audio/video interface
(replaces DVI)
• SATA connector
(provides additional DVR capacity with
an external hard drive)
• IEEE 1394

And, the rear view of the chassis has 2 firewire pots in the same place they are on the 6200.

Could be mistaken..but.......

Yes, the firewire connections are physically present....but...are they operational? Is it a mandate to have them or to have them and activate em'??

Could be mistaken..but.......

Yes, the firewire connections are physically present....but...no, the are not operational

That's what is yet to be determined.

They are active on the 6200. I would assume they would be active here but I'd like to know for sure before I call and ask for one.

That's what is yet to be determined.

They are active on the 6200. I would assume they would be active here but I'd like to know for sure before I call and ask for one.

I edited my post.

We are thinking on the same lines here. Unfortunately you know as well as I do that you will not get very far with accurate info from charter.

Also, I am still not entirely convinced they are phasing out the Moxi.

Scott...wazzup??? Your signature is gone... GO BEARS.....

What else for a San Diego fan to do, watch the play in the booth instead of what's on the field :D

Anywho.....GO COLTS.............................

It is really a shame, if it wasn't for Belidick, I might actually appreciate Brady and the rest of the offense.

I erased my signature when my stomach ache subsided.

Woohoo! Brady and the Pats luck ran out finally. What a game tonight. I am happy for the Colts and Manning. No, I really don't feel for the Patriots.

Sorry Bill, but I must pull for the AFC in the big game. Go Colts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Am I the only who is not getting KMOV anymore at all. No charter and no OTA??? :mad:

I live in Valley Park, and am using a $30 antenna on top of my entertainment center and get perfect reception. Guess I'm just lucky...

Did you see the dejected look on Tom Brady's face!!!!! I loved it.

I erased my signature when my stomach ache subsided.

Woohoo! Brady and the Pats luck ran out finally. What a game tonight. I am happy for the Colts and Manning. No, I really don't feel for the Patriots.

Sorry Bill, but I must pull for the AFC in the big game. Go Colts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ditto!!

not sure I understand the anti-Pats and anti-Brady hostility. They're not ***holes (ok, Bill maybe sometimes), they develop talent, they play hard; Brady's not a jerk.. oh, I forgot, they win a lot. Must be it :D
I'm glad for Peyton, too; if anybody had to beat the Pats ...
Hope they crush da Bears.

not sure I understand the anti-Pats and anti-Brady hostility. They're not ***holes (ok, Bill maybe sometimes), they develop talent, they play hard; Brady's not a jerk.. oh, I forgot, they win a lot. Must be it :D
I'm glad for Peyton, too; if anybody had to beat the Pats ...
Hope they crush da Bears.

I think it's two-fold:

1) Pats beat the RAMS in the SuperBowl.
2) The Pats D is known for mugging receivers past the 5yd mark.

I'm from New England and I have a hard time rooting for them...

Dave

Time Warner, Sinclair Agree to HD Carriage Terms

The following story is from today's TV Predictions newsletter:
_______________________________________________________

Time Warner Cable and Sinclair Broadcast Group reached agreement late last week for the carriage of Sinclair's local channels.

The pact means that Time Warner can begin offering Sinclair's local HDTV channels in several states. For instance, the cable operator on Friday added the high-def signal for WXLV, the ABC affiliate in Greensboro, North Carolina.

...Sinclair had been threatening to pull its standard and high-def signals from Time Warner lineups unless the cable operator paid it a fee. The broadcast group, and other independently owned stations, are having similar disputes with cable operators across the country.

Mediacom Cable, for instance, is petitioning Congress and the FCC to help end its argument with Sinclair.
_______________________________________________________

Hackers Say They've Cracked Blu-ray Copy Protection

From today's TV Predictions newsletter:
______________________________________________

Hackers say they have discovered how to make illegal copies of Blu-ray HDTV DVDs.

The same group that earlier this month published copies of HD-DVDs online say they have been able to decrypt and play a Blu-ray media file as well.

If true, the current anti-copying software in both high-def discs will apparently not prevent pirates from making illegal copies and distributing them online and the black market. And this could discourage film studios from releasing a larger number of titles in the new high-def DVD format.

"In less that 24 hours, without any Blu-Ray equipment, but with the help of Janvitos ( a fellow hacker), I managed to decrypt and play a Blu-Ray media file using my known-plaintext attack," hacker "muslix64" said in a statement posted at the Doom9 message forum.
______________________________________________

For the complete story, click here (http://www.tvpredictions.com/blurayhack012107.htm)

DirecTV "Close" To Exclusives for MLB Extra Innings, Baseball Channel

From today's TV Predictions newsletter:
__________________________________________________

DIRECTV is close to landing an exclusive deal to carry Major League Baseball's 'Extra Innings' package.

That's according to an article in today's New York Times.

The deal is expected to begin this season and will likely allow DIRECTV to air a large number of games in High-Definition TV. The satcaster is planning to expand its high-def capacity in the second half of this year and has been searching for programming partners to fill the space.

DIRECTV has offered regional MLB high-def broadcasts in the past as part of its Extra Innings package. However, the greater HD capacity should allow the satcaster to deliver those games nationally.
__________________________________________________

For more news about HDTV, visit www.tvpredictions.com

not sure I understand the anti-Pats and anti-Brady hostility. They're not ***holes (ok, Bill maybe sometimes), they develop talent, they play hard; Brady's not a jerk.. oh, I forgot, they win a lot. Must be it :D
I'm glad for Peyton, too; if anybody had to beat the Pats ...
Hope they crush da Bears.

I actually like Brady. I think he is arguably the best QB in history. The coach is obviously a mastermind to do what he has done this season after losing so many players. I'm just bitter because the Chargers gave 'em a trip to Indy. I have nothing really against them, and now that my bitterness has lessened, I will stop bashing them. But, go Colts!

Scott

Mediacom Says It Would Agree to Same Sinclair Terms as Time Warner

From today's Morning Bridge newsletter:
________________________________________________________

Late last week, Time Warner Cable and Sinclair Broadcast Group agreed to a three-year deal that allows the cable giant to carry the broadcaster's local signals. Now, Mediacom wants a similar agreement with Sinclair.

For weeks, both Mediacom and Sinclair have been at bitter odds concerning the MSO's carriage of the broadcast company's signals. On Sunday, Mediacom said it's willing to accept terms similar to those contained in the agreement completed between Sinclair and Time Warner Cable. Also in a statement, Mediacom said it already made a similar offer to Sinclair weeks ago.

In addition, Mediacom asked Sinclair participate in binding arbitration.

"For months, Mediacom, the Federal Communications Commission, and the public have been told by Sinclair that its ever-escalating financial demands on Mediacom are a result of improved market dynamics. Both Mediacom and Time Warner have been negotiating with Sinclair for essentially the same product over the course of the same period," the MSO said in a statement.

"Without price discrimination it should lead to a similar result. But because of Sinclair's discriminatory practices, Time Warner customers enjoyed the NFL playoff games this weekend, while Mediacom customers were left in the dark simply because it would not agree to Sinclair's exorbitant demands."
________________________________________________________

Sorry Bill, but I must pull for the AFC in the big game. Go Colts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, I'll probably be wearing my Bears hat rooting for Manning and Harrison.

I don't really care who wins now, because I like both teams.

Well last night, perhaps in reaction to the Patriots loss, my 3-month-old Olevia 537H LCD suddenly developed a geometry problem.
The top couple of inches of the screen bend to the right -- a straight vertical line looks like it's bending from 12 to 2 toward the top. This is only visible in SD, and in all aspect settings. HD looks OK.
I did nothing, tweaked nothing, changed no settings.
I thought only CRTs had this kind of geometry issue.
Any idea what's going on?
(I can take and post a photo when I get home tonight if that would be helpful).
thx

barry

Even better, during the hassles yesterday I reached the end of my patience and called the Charter Retention desk to complain about the outage and the continual poor problems I've had with Pipeline. With only a moderate amount of bellyaching on my part, the agent offered to reduce my monthly Pipeline fee from $43/month to $19.95, guaranteeing no increase in that fee for the next 12 months.
I specifically asked whether that implied a 12-month commitment, and was told that Charter never requires a commitment and that I could still cancel at any point without penalty.
Sounds too good to be true, but we shall see. I'm still planning to scale the wall for DSL on the very first day it becomes available in my area...
Thank You, Doug! I too called Charter this morning, and was able to get my stand-alone 5mb pipeline reduced from $59.95/mo to $32.95/mo. Price locked for 12 months, but I can cancel at any time.

FYI, I tried this exact same thing a year, or so ago, and all retention responded was "bundle-bundle-bundle." They seem a bit more flexible this go round. She didn't even hit-me-up on my phone service.

DirecTV "Close" To Exclusives for MLB Extra Innings, Baseball Channel

From today's TV Predictions newsletter:
__________________________________________________

DIRECTV is close to landing an exclusive deal to carry Major League Baseball's 'Extra Innings' package.

That's according to an article in today's New York Times.

The deal is expected to begin this season and will likely allow DIRECTV to air a large number of games in High-Definition TV. The satcaster is planning to expand its high-def capacity in the second half of this year and has been searching for programming partners to fill the space.

DIRECTV has offered regional MLB high-def broadcasts in the past as part of its Extra Innings package. However, the greater HD capacity should allow the satcaster to deliver those games nationally.
__________________________________________________

For more news about HDTV, visit www.tvpredictions.com

NASCAR, Sunday Ticket, MLB EI...
....I see a second dish in my future

She's already spending that Pipeline savings at Bed, Bath, and Beyoned....little does she know :D

Seven CP's were granted in the STL market last week:

Call Channel | Service Status City State Country File Number Docket FacilityID ERP DA? HAAT RCAMSL RCAGL Latitude Longitude ASRN Dist(km) Dist(mi) Azimuth Licensee/Permittee
KUMO-LP 10 LD CP ST. LOUIS MO US BDCCDVL-20061023ABK - 168604 0.3 kW 0. m 417.3 m 274. m N 38 34 24.00 W 90 19 30.00 1020785 4.75 km 2.95 mi 142.44° WPXS, INC.
K22HG 17 LD CP ST. CHARLES MO US BDISDTT-20060327ACC - 68065 15. kW 0. m 263.7 m 122. m N 38 45 7.00 W 90 37 22.00 1225623 28.06 km 17.44 mi 305.11° TRINITY BROADCASTING NETWORK
K23IR-D 23 LD CP ST. LOUIS MO US BDCCDTL-20061013AAM - 167724 5.01 kW DA 0. m 478.8 m 200. m N 38 21 39.80 W 90 32 54.60 1025602 31.97 km 19.86 mi 211.22° VENTANA TELEVISION, INC.
KPTN-LP 27 LD CP ST. LOUIS MO US BDCCDTL-20061005AAZ - 167688 3. kW DA 0. m 376.3 m 140. m N 38 25 0.80 W 90 25 58.56 1007157 22.11 km 13.74 mi 197.07° MAKO COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
K33GU 33 LD CP ST. LOUIS MO US BDFCDTT-20060309AAW - 68055 15. kW 0. m 312.3 m 169. m N 38 34 24.00 W 90 19 30.00 1020785 4.75 km 2.95 mi 142.44° TRINITY BROADCASTING NETWORK
K42IE-D 42 LD CP JEFFERSON MO US BDCCDTL-20061030AOX - 167293 15. kW 0. m 368. m 118.4 m N 38 45 41.80 W 91 25 6.40 1002995 93.82 km 58.30 mi 280.90° VENTURE TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, LLC
KDTL-LP 44 LD CP ST. LOUIS MO US BDCCDTL-20061027AAW - 167039 15. kW DA 0. m 302. m 161. m N 38 37 48.00 W 90 11 26.00 1005411 14.83 km 9.21 mi 80.09° WORD OF GOD FELLOWSHIP, INC.

I apologize for the lazy cut/paste. It's Monday. All units are metric, bearings and distances are from the doghouse.

The most interesting one is for CH 10. This VHF High translator for CH 13, WPXS, will be an interesting test case for the VHF High concept for DTV. 300 watts ERP at 274 meters. I can actually see the Resurrection Cemetery tower that it will be on from my back yard. Whether the rest of the market can see it is another question...The signal will cover WGEM from Quincy IL, just as the current analog VHF-LP on 7 covers KHQA.

The CP for CH 42 is actually for Hermann, MO.

CH 17 will cover both WAND Decatur IL (NBC), and KMIZ Columbia MO (ABC).

CH 23 will cover WBUI Decatur IL (Fox) and KBSI Cape Girardeau (Fox).

CH 27 will cover WCCU Champaign/Urbana (Fox?)

NASCAR, Sunday Ticket, MLB EI...
....I see a second dish in my future

She's already spending that Pipeline savings at Bed, Bath, and Beyoned....little does she know :DI just canceled my Sunday Ticket auto-renewal. Wife spent the savings on a new car, delivered tomorrow.

I just canceled my Sunday Ticket auto-renewal. Wife spent the savings on a new car, delivered tomorrow.
Cool...watchya getting?

Ya, I'd rather have a new car, than a chrome tushie paper holder :D

Cool...watchya getting?

Ya, I'd rather have a new car, than a chrome tushie paper holder :DCertified Pre-Owned
2003 BMW 330ci Steel Gray/Gray.

It's nice. I drove it Friday.

We Interrupt Your Normal AVS Programming...

...for the following St. Louis housekeeping break:

In the past, we used to begin each month of the St. Louis discussion with an entirely new thread and usually that started with a cut/paste of basic resource information that is now buried back on the very first page of this discussion thread.

Because of its location, a lot of that general, introductory information about HDTV and OTA reception is now easily overlooked, especially with the discussion here stretching back more than 3 years and exceeding 600 pages.

So, in order to this introductory information more accessible, I post an advisory/reminder note similar to this every couple of weeks. The idea is to make this general resource information more visible and easier to find for more readers.

With HDTV sales increasing every month, we're getting more and more newcomers here, which is a great thing to see. But like most of us when we took home our first HDTV, there's a huge amount to learn beyond where to point the remote and which buttons to push.

Hopefully, you'll find this information of some use...

Tower Maps, Your Satellite/Antenna Rights & Local Station Feedback (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=2995679&&#post2995679)

Using An Antenna to Receive Local HD Stations (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=2995718&&#post2995718)

Common Questions about HDTV (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=2995791&&#post2995791)

HD Programming Available in St. Louis (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9546301&&#post9546301)

Why Isn't KDNL-DT (ABC) Available via Charter? (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8072643&&#post8072643)

Why Isn't KMOV-DT (CBS) Available via Charter? (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9341270&&#post9341270)

New! St. Louis Blues in HD Schedule (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8678636&&#post8678636)

2006 Survey Results: HDTV in St. Louis

Part 1: Profile of Survey Respondents (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9075182&&#post9075182)

Part 2: Local Digital Stations (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9091629&&#post9091629)

Part 3: Digital Multicasting (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9127512&&#post9127512)

Part 4: Customer Ratings for Charter, DirecTV & DISH HD Services (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9157953&&#post9157953)

Part 5: Customer Ratings for Pay TV HD Channels (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9315435&&#post9315435)

Part 6: Best Picture/Sound Ratings & HD Wish Lists (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9402842&&#post9402842)

Finally, I want to remind everyone that you can access the St. Louis HDTV discussion here at AVS directly by using the shortcut URL that has been arranged.

The short-form URL also makes it very easy to remember and give the address to anyone you know who's just getting into HDTV.

The shortcut URL is: www.stlhdtv.info

Doug,

It's time to update your HD Programming availabilty chart to exclude KMOV from charter.

Also a link for Why isn't KMOV-DT (CBS) available via Charter.

Seven CP's were granted in the STL market last week:

Call Channel | Service Status City State Country File Number Docket FacilityID ERP DA? HAAT RCAMSL RCAGL Latitude Longitude ASRN Dist(km) Dist(mi) Azimuth Licensee/Permittee
KUMO-LP 10 LD CP ST. LOUIS MO US BDCCDVL-20061023ABK - 168604 0.3 kW 0. m 417.3 m 274. m N 38 34 24.00 W 90 19 30.00 1020785 4.75 km 2.95 mi 142.44° WPXS, INC.
K22HG 17 LD CP ST. CHARLES MO US BDISDTT-20060327ACC - 68065 15. kW 0. m 263.7 m 122. m N 38 45 7.00 W 90 37 22.00 1225623 28.06 km 17.44 mi 305.11° TRINITY BROADCASTING NETWORK
K23IR-D 23 LD CP ST. LOUIS MO US BDCCDTL-20061013AAM - 167724 5.01 kW DA 0. m 478.8 m 200. m N 38 21 39.80 W 90 32 54.60 1025602 31.97 km 19.86 mi 211.22° VENTANA TELEVISION, INC.
KPTN-LP 27 LD CP ST. LOUIS MO US BDCCDTL-20061005AAZ - 167688 3. kW DA 0. m 376.3 m 140. m N 38 25 0.80 W 90 25 58.56 1007157 22.11 km 13.74 mi 197.07° MAKO COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
K33GU 33 LD CP ST. LOUIS MO US BDFCDTT-20060309AAW - 68055 15. kW 0. m 312.3 m 169. m N 38 34 24.00 W 90 19 30.00 1020785 4.75 km 2.95 mi 142.44° TRINITY BROADCASTING NETWORK
K42IE-D 42 LD CP JEFFERSON MO US BDCCDTL-20061030AOX - 167293 15. kW 0. m 368. m 118.4 m N 38 45 41.80 W 91 25 6.40 1002995 93.82 km 58.30 mi 280.90° VENTURE TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, LLC
KDTL-LP 44 LD CP ST. LOUIS MO US BDCCDTL-20061027AAW - 167039 15. kW DA 0. m 302. m 161. m N 38 37 48.00 W 90 11 26.00 1005411 14.83 km 9.21 mi 80.09° WORD OF GOD FELLOWSHIP, INC.

I apologize for the lazy cut/paste. It's Monday. All units are metric, bearings and distances are from the doghouse.

The most interesting one is for CH 10. This VHF High translator for CH 13, WPXS, will be an interesting test case for the VHF High concept for DTV. 300 watts ERP at 274 meters. I can actually see the Resurrection Cemetery tower that it will be on from my back yard. Whether the rest of the market can see it is another question...The signal will cover WGEM from Quincy IL, just as the current analog VHF-LP on 7 covers KHQA.

The CP for CH 42 is actually for Hermann, MO.

CH 17 will cover both WAND Decatur IL (NBC), and KMIZ Columbia MO (ABC).

CH 23 will cover WBUI Decatur IL (Fox) and KBSI Cape Girardeau (Fox).

CH 27 will cover WCCU Champaign/Urbana (Fox?)


Can anyone translate?

Tim

Update: St. Louis Guide to HD Programming Availability

The guide has been updated to reflect the loss of KMOV-DT from Charter. No other major changes included in this update.

Doug,

It's time to update your HD Programming availabilty chart to exclude KMOV from charter.

Also a link for Why isn't KMOV-DT (CBS) available via Charter.Done. And Done.

Thanks for the reminder...

Can anyone translate?

Tim

I believe CP is an abbreviation for contstruction permit.
Basically, these are for new towers, with their azimuth location, what channel it is for, and power.

Feel free to correct me.

Can anyone translate?

Tim

(sigh) OK. Long version.

CP= FCC Construction Permit

Ch 10, KUMO-LD, a repeater for WPXS-13 Mt Vernon IL. 300 watts at 243 meters above ground level (797 feet above the base of the tower) of the Resurrection Cemetery tower in Shrewsbury/Affton. This gives it a *notional* range of forty miles based on height alone, but at only 300 watts ERP (effective radiated power), no one can say just how far the useable signal will reach. Certainly, outdoor antennas will be required at further than about five miles from the tower to pick them up. The signal will be too weak to penetrate indoors, and any local noise source will probably kill the signal. This is the station that will have the most appeal to non-religious or non-home shopping viewers.

FCC Query: http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=168604
Contour Map: http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=LD1156077.html

CH 17, K22HG is the Trinity Broadcasting religious outlet in St. Charles currently on CH 22 analog. 15 KW ERP at about 400 feet. Notional line of sight is 28 miles, but effective range will be much shorter. Once again, outdoor antennas will be required at anything over five miles (or maybe even less).

FCC Query: http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=68065
Contour Map: N/A

CH 23, K23IR-D is a home shopping channel, 15 KW at 656 feet on Larry Rice's KNLC tower.

FCC Query: http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=167724
Contour Map: http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=LD1153303.html

CH 27, KPTN-LD is the HSN channel currently on CH 7. 15 KW ERP at 459 feet on KEFN-CA's/KDHX-FM'S tower (the Catholic religious EWTN on CH 28).

FCC Query: http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=167688
Contour Map: http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=167688

CH 33, K33GU is the St. Louis Trinity Broadcasting outlet (religious). 15 KW ERP at 554 feet, giving it a notional range of 33 miles line of sight. This is the same tower and antenna they are currently using for thier analog signal, and so they will flash-cut on analog shutdown. They are also on the Resurrection Cemetery tower. This UHF LD may well outperform the VHF on CH 10 that is 150 feet higher on the same tower...

FCC Query: http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=68055
Contour Map: http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=LD1118186.html

CH 42, K42IE-D. I have no clue as to what these guys are doing...

FCC Query: http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=167293
Contour Map: http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=LD1155649.html

CH 44, KDTL-LD. Religious. Looks to be on top of the Metropolitan Square, Mercantile Bank buildings downtown. Lots of multipath from all the buldings downtown.

FCC Query: http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=167039
Contour Map: http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=LD1157080.html

Well it was 105 or so when my previous promotion that lasted a year expired so thats the retail price for it. It was a retention offer given to me when I called to complain about CBS as well as remove movie channels n' such because there was no way I was going to pay 105. My previous promotion was 73 or so with taxes for the same services. The price I quoted is for 6months.

-Phatty

So... when charter dropped the local HD channel, you guys got me hooked up with OTA, it cost me a whopping $25 for the antenna, and I could not be happier. Thanks!

Then you started talking about monthly fees and I again followed your advice. I called charter today. I chose option #5 (I think) on the automated phone service. The dreaded "I am cancelling my service" option. And what do you know! I was immediately connected to a very knowledgable, friendly, and articulate individual. Long and short of it....I am paying $40 less per month...No commitment..etc THANKS AGAIN!!!!!!

For all you cable customers. For what its worth I did ask the guy if they were phasing out the Moxi. His response was that they are not. He indicated that its a supply/demand issue and supply is short.

not sure I understand the anti-Pats and anti-Brady hostility. They're not ***holes (ok, Bill maybe sometimes), they develop talent, they play hard; Brady's not a jerk.. oh, I forgot, they win a lot. Must be it :D
I'm glad for Peyton, too; if anybody had to beat the Pats ...
Hope they crush da Bears.

Just nice to see a team other than the Patriots in the Superbowl. They have won 3 of the last 5 bowls I think

Can anyone translate?

Tim

More channels to have to delete after a re-scan :)

Oh I see now.

Belo needs the money so KMOV can pre-empt prime time network programming to bring us programs such as ...

Go Red for Women
7:00 PM, 30 min
Mon 01/22/2007
KMOVDT1 4.1 (56)
Other/How-To
English, 2006

An examination of women's cardiac health includes personal risk factors, awareness and prevention of cardiovascular disease. Hosts: Robin Smith and Dr. Jane Chen of Barnes Jewish Hospital.

Since I have Charter I understand that I would need an antenna to pick up CBS HD and ABC HD. Does this antenna need to be in my attic or on my roof, or could I just place it next to a window? What do I attach the antenna to? The Moxibox or directly to the TV? How would I access these channels on my plasma? It does not have a tuner. Thank you.

From my understanding the Moxi box does not have an OTA input, so you would need to
hook it to an external ATSC tuner since you stated your plasma does not have a tuner.

As far as the type of antenna you need, check out www.antennaweb.org and see what
kind it recommends. Doug has more information in the post above.

You will have to buy a tuner and as far as the antenna goes you just need to try different locations to see what works the best for you.the tuner picks up hd over the air you would have to input the the cable from your tuner to your tv along with your sound.I just switch a hdmi cable from my charter box to my tuner when I need ota hd and just leave my digital sound on the seperate tuner.I am a novice at this so maybe the pros will chime in to.

Since I have Charter I understand that I would need an antenna to pick up CBS HD and ABC HD. Does this antenna need to be in my attic or on my roof, or could I just place it next to a window? What do I attach the antenna to? The Moxibox or directly to the TV? How would I access these channels on my plasma? It does not have a tuner. Thank you.


Its true you need to get a tuner if your TV doesn't have one built in, the Moxi has no OTA input (I have one too.) My TV does have a tuner and I've lived in several places in the city and my indoor Silver Sensor has always picked up everything pretty well. Also keep in mind you cannot record OTA programs on the Moxi.

Oh I see now.

Belo needs the money so KMOV can pre-empt prime time network programming to bring us programs such as ...The programming director for KMOV has an immense hatred for "How I Met Your Mother". For the umpteenth time it is being broadcast at 2:05 am.

You might want to take another look at the PDF.

I'm reading:

KEY FEATURES
[...]
Full range of industry-standard connectors
for video, audio, and data applications:
• USB 2.0
• HDMI digital audio/video interface
(replaces DVI)
• SATA connector
(provides additional DVR capacity with
an external hard drive)
• IEEE 1394

And, the rear view of the chassis has 2 firewire pots in the same place they are on the 6200.


Theanks Dave. The port MUST be active.

Walt

not sure I understand the anti-Pats and anti-Brady hostility. They're not ***holes (ok, Bill maybe sometimes), they develop talent, they play hard; Brady's not a jerk.. oh, I forgot, they win a lot. Must be it :D
I'm glad for Peyton, too; if anybody had to beat the Pats ...
Hope they crush da Bears.

Let's see. Brady has 2 hands on the ball and fumbles. Ref invents the tuck rule so Al Davis and the Raiders get screwed. No one cares, its the Raiders and it would be REALLY COOL if a team named Patriots play in the Super Bowl after 911.

Pats change bump and run to grab and tackle. Beat rams in Super Bowl. With the help of stubborn Mike.

"Let em play Corollo" fails to call mugging of Indy tight end by McGinnest and Tom JacKson says "You're not going to get a call like that in a game like this." WHY NOT??? NFL films doesn't show series in highlights of the game.

League vows to enforce the 5 yard rule. Reporters call it the Patriot rule. Only teams that they call it on are Green Bay and Panthers.

If you don't enfoce the rules, then the cheaters win. All the crying about guys taking steroids in baseball and teams are allowed to cheat in big games with the blessing of the NFL.

I have just about had it with football. Going back to golf where the players call penalties on themselves. If they don't know the rule, someone watching will call it for them.

Rant off

Walt

not sure I understand the anti-Pats and anti-Brady hostility. They're not ***holes (ok, Bill maybe sometimes), they develop talent, they play hard; Brady's not a jerk.. oh, I forgot, they win a lot. Must be it :D


There's also the ridiculous hype that comes from the various northeastern based media outlets (read ESPN) that treat people like Tom Brady and Derek Jeter as if they are examples of perfection on earth that must be universally adored by all the sports world.

Any other Dish customers having trouble tuning into KMOV-HD and KDNL-HD? SD is fine for those two channels. I haven't been able to get either of those channels for the past couple days on my ViP622.

Maybe the recent weather screwed something up? I can the switch test a few times because I kept getting an error. It finally completed successfully but I still can't tune to those 2 stations. I'm about to call Dish technical support but I'd thought I'd check here first for suggestions, etc.

Any other Dish customers having trouble tuning into KMOV-HD and KDNL-HD? SD is fine for those two channels. I haven't been able to get either of those channels for the past couple days on my ViP622.

Maybe the recent weather screwed something up? I can the switch test a few times because I kept getting an error. It finally completed successfully but I still can't tune to those 2 stations. I'm about to call Dish technical support but I'd thought I'd check here first for suggestions, etc.

Those 2 are good on my 622. My problem channel is 11-1

Any other Dish customers having trouble tuning into KMOV-HD and KDNL-HD? SD is fine for those two channels. I haven't been able to get either of those channels for the past couple days on my ViP622.

Maybe the recent weather screwed something up? I can the switch test a few times because I kept getting an error. It finally completed successfully but I still can't tune to those 2 stations. I'm about to call Dish technical support but I'd thought I'd check here first for suggestions, etc.
We watch them both, on both 622's, everyday...no new issues.

I did see an old stutter/jump-on-pause today, while watching a playback. Just once, but it was weird....a flashback to the early days.

KPLR still bites here too, on both the 622's and 211's. Something Dish needs to get fixed.

I'm looking for anybody out there who's willing to share a recording of Sunday nights episodes of 24. I was out of power and missed it.

Thanks,

For what it's worth, Circuit City is offering a DVD with the first four episodes of the new season of 24 -- only ten bucks.

So why cant Charter and Mediacom? umm.

http://multichannel.com/article/CA6409025.html?display=Breaking+News

Time Warner Cable’s new retransmission-consent deal with Sinclair Broadcast Group covers all of its subscribers in markets that carry Sinclair TV-station signals, not just those where Time Warner acquired systems from now-bankrupt Adelphia Communications.

Time Warner said Monday that it will carry the analog and digital signals of 35 TV stations owned or operated by the broadcaster in 22 markets for the next three years.

The cable operator and Sinclair finalized a new retransmission-consent pact Friday just hours before an extension of their old agreement was set to expire.

The new retransmission-consent deal expires Dec. 31, 2009, according to Sinclair and to.....


Mark

So why cant Charter and Mediacom? umm.

http://multichannel.com/article/CA6409025.html?display=Breaking+News

Time Warner Cable’s new retransmission-consent deal with Sinclair Broadcast Group covers all of its subscribers in markets that carry Sinclair TV-station signals, not just those where Time Warner acquired systems from now-bankrupt Adelphia Communications.

Time Warner said Monday that it will carry the analog and digital signals of 35 TV stations owned or operated by the broadcaster in 22 markets for the next three years.

The cable operator and Sinclair finalized a new retransmission-consent pact Friday just hours before an extension of their old agreement was set to expire.

The new retransmission-consent deal expires Dec. 31, 2009, according to Sinclair and to.....


Markhttp://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9543317&&#post9543317

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9544141&&#post9544141

Everyone....help a bro out...please pray (or whatever you choose to do) that the sun todays melts some more snow.

At 3:30 the D* installer is coming. He's going to have to bury a cable, less snow will make it easier, easier will make it faster, faster means the sooner I get rid of Charter. :cool:

I managed to get the D* DVR (H-20 or whatever) in less than two weeks, I'm hoping the bugs have mostly been worked out...or will be soon.

So why cant Charter and Mediacom? umm.

http://multichannel.com/article/CA6409025.html?display=Breaking+News

Time Warner Cable’s new retransmission-consent deal with Sinclair Broadcast Group covers all of its subscribers in markets that carry Sinclair TV-station signals, not just those where Time Warner acquired systems from now-bankrupt Adelphia Communications.

Time Warner said Monday that it will carry the analog and digital signals of 35 TV stations owned or operated by the broadcaster in 22 markets for the next three years.

The cable operator and Sinclair finalized a new retransmission-consent pact Friday just hours before an extension of their old agreement was set to expire.

The new retransmission-consent deal expires Dec. 31, 2009, according to Sinclair and to.....


Mark

I don't know, but at least someone (JP Morgan analyst) thinks it improves the chances of a Charter/Sinclair deal

Blackledge also said the Time Warner deal bolsters Sinclair's chances of making similar agreements with other cable-TV carriers, including Cox Communications Inc. and Charter Communications Inc.

Full article here (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aGQL_WZXmPiU)

Everyone....help a bro out...please pray (or whatever you choose to do) that the sun todays melts some more snow.

At 3:30 the D* installer is coming. He's going to have to bury a cable, less snow will make it easier, easier will make it faster, faster means the sooner I get rid of Charter. :cool:

I managed to get the D* DVR (H-20 or whatever) in less than two weeks, I'm hoping the bugs have mostly been worked out...or will be soon.

It's the HR20 and for the most part they have been worked out.

When you hook up the DVR as soon as it turns on and you see the WELCOME screen
press 0 2 4 6 8 to download the newest firmware. You will see a screen that says
downloading firmware.

This way you should be able to set up your OTA if you have one and experience the joys of leasing.

Oh I see now.

Belo needs the money so KMOV can pre-empt prime time network programming to bring us programs such as ...

There are only a few shows that I regularly watch on CBS (How I met your mother, being one of them) and they have to pre-empt it for a local show. If anybody knows if/when they will re-air "How I met your Mother" please let me know.

Edit: Oops, I posted too soon. I see it will re-air at 2:05 AM Thanks

Everyone....help a bro out...please pray (or whatever you choose to do) that the sun todays melts some more snow.

At 3:30 the D* installer is coming. He's going to have to bury a cable, less snow will make it easier, easier will make it faster, faster means the sooner I get rid of Charter. :cool:

I managed to get the D* DVR (H-20 or whatever) in less than two weeks, I'm hoping the bugs have mostly been worked out...or will be soon.

Well at least the sun is out. Hope it goes well.

If anyone else is thinking of getting D*, let me know first as they are offering a referral deal that benefits us both.

Everyone....help a bro out...please pray (or whatever you choose to do) that the sun todays melts some more snow.

At 3:30 the D* installer is coming. He's going to have to bury a cable, less snow will make it easier, easier will make it faster, faster means the sooner I get rid of Charter. :cool:

I managed to get the D* DVR (H-20 or whatever) in less than two weeks, I'm hoping the bugs have mostly been worked out...or will be soon.

Pray, heck, you don't need us to pray. Don't you know? As soon as you order Directv, you have a direct path to The Man Upstairs. :D

It's good to see another person speaking with their checkbook by not supporting a terrible company.

Scott

Pray, heck, you don't need us to pray. Don't you know? As soon as you order Directv, you have a direct path to The Man Upstairs. :D Scott
Guess he's off on the 14th. :eek:

Guess he's off on the 14th. :eek:

Oh, I know you don't mean what I think you thought you meant. You're too funny Ken. I guess he did work on the 21st thankfully. Although, he must have taken the morning off.

Scott

Please be so kind continue this thread in the following new thread....

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=793006

(Just needed to help the server with all the posts on one thread.)

Reminder, you will need to re-subscribed to the new thread to continue to receive update if you would like.)

Thank you.