Tyler, TX - HDTV

[gbranch]

Originally Posted by BillDR

This is reply I recently received from KETK. Nebulous at best. I believe the local NBC affiliate and the local Fox affiliate are owned by same people.

I think that KETK and KFXK actually have different owners, but are managed by the same group - Television of East Texas. They also manage the (soon-to-be not) UPN triplets (54/48/58) and KWTL, the local WB cable outlet.

It's unfortunate that here in East Texas, we are served by probably the two worst NBC affiliates in the country, KETK and KTAL. I am afraid that neither will get their full power HD signals up before the July 2006 deadline.

[mtrot]

"When I first started trying to view KLTV-Dt the voice and picture were not Synchronized"

That is the case as well at my house, viewing via my Mitsubishi HDTV's built-in tuner. I do not have this problem on KYTX.

Unfortunately, they are having to wait on some new equipment that ABC is now using in their HD signal path. ABC is doling them out to the stations, and it is not clear when KLTV will get the equipment.

It appears their signal will be SD for some time.

[RickInTyler]

Thanks to all of you who mentioned that it was possible to pull in signals from Shreveport or Dallas. It motivated me to beef up my antenna a little and see what I could catch... I hope I can help others who may have had the same frustrations that I *used* to have...

IMHO, once you watch an NFL game in HD, nothing else will do. I'm a Sunday Ticket subscriber frustrated by the policy of disallowing games in HD if they're carried by the local affiliate.

I've been pulling the AFC games in from CBS-19 (18) since it came to town, but as a fan of the Cowboys and, the NFC conference in general, I usually have to watch the muddy FOX51 local channel provided through DirecTV's local channels package. Until today...

I'm located on the ESE end of Loop 323 in Tyler, in a duplex, with my backyard facing East. I've been using the DB4 UHF from Antennas Direct mounted on a 10' pole on my patio (bracketed to the patio fence for support). I've been able to pick up the CBS-19 station by pointing the antenna South.

I tried this morning to pick up KMSS Fox33 (34) out of Shreveport but couldn't get any signal. I went down to Lowes today and picked up another 5' mast extension and a cheap Preamp from Channel Master - the Spartan 3 Model 3041.

Those two things did the trick for me... I'm able to get a very clean signal with only occasional pixelation during the middle of the day by pointing the antenna East and slightly North. I assume the signal will be even better at night, but I could care less about watching Fox for anything other than the NFL.

I can also confirm that KLTV-7 (10) comes in great if I rotate my antenna to the North. They're currently broadcasting Standard Digital, but I can't wait for Monday Night Football in HD - finally.

So far, no luck pulling in the Shreveport NBC affliate KTAL-6 (15)

[mtrot]

Originally Posted by RickInTyler

I've been pulling the AFC games in from CBS-19 (18) since it came to town, but as a fan of the Cowboys and, the NFC conference in general, I usually have to watch the muddy FOX51 local channel provided through DirecTV's local channels package. Until today...

I'm located on the ESE end of Loop 323 in Tyler, in a duplex, with my backyard facing East. I've been using the DB4 UHF from Antennas Direct mounted on a 10' pole on my patio (bracketed to the patio fence for support). I've been able to pick up the CBS-19 station by pointing the antenna South.

I tried this morning to pick up KMSS Fox33 (34) out of Shreveport but couldn't get any signal. I went down to Lowes today and picked up another 5' mast extension and a cheap Preamp from Channel Master - the Spartan 3 Model 3041.

Those two things did the trick for me... I'm able to get a very clean signal with only occasional pixelation during the middle of the day by pointing the antenna East and slightly North. I assume the signal will be even better at night, but I could care less about watching Fox for anything other than the NFL.


So far, no luck pulling in the Shreveport NBC affliate KTAL-6 (15)

Wow, that is great news! I live roughly at Rieck and Copeland, and I have a rather large outdoor antenna with a rotator. I might try to make a run at KMSS. I have the antenna pointed to KLTV now, but it now appears they will not have a HD signal for some time. I agree KFXK looks horrible on Cox cable. It was a real drag during the World Series knowing it was actually produced in HD, but getting such a washed-out picture. Even channel 4 out of Dallas had a great picture after 10pm when the game came on after the blackout ended.

[gbranch]

Originally Posted by RickInTyler

I can also confirm that KLTV-7 (10) comes in great if I rotate my antenna to the North. They're currently broadcasting Standard Digital, but I can't wait for Monday Night Football in HD - finally.

If you can get KMSS, you should have no problems getting KTBS-3 (28). They carry Monday Night Football in HD and Dolby Digital, and easily have the most powerful digital signal in this area.

Originally Posted by RickInTyler

So far, no luck pulling in the Shreveport NBC affliate KTAL-6 (15)

You can forget about getting KTAL-DT until Nexstar decides to upgrade their signal to their allocated 1 MW. They are currently only running at 15 kW, and their signal barely makes it into Shreveport.

[gshamill]

I'm very happy to read about everyone elses success getting the HD channels in Shreveport. However, I can not report nearly as good success. Once again, I live near of 346 and 756. I have the radio shack vu190 around 10 feet above my chimney. This weekend I installed a rotar & the same pre amp that Rick did. Here are my results, I still only get 18.1, 22.1 watchable. I can tune 10.1 up to around 68% on my hdtivo and thats good enough for pixalition every 20 seconds or so. I don't seem to be sniffing the Shreveport stations, not even a beep. I have a Sony hd300 in my bedroom and with it 10.1 comes in a little better.
I've tried going through my 5x8 multiswith & I even wired direct from the antenna with not much difference in reception. I just don't get it! (Pun intended) Oh well, I hope Marcus Crouch can find some time for me next week. In the meantime everyone else enjoy the games! I might just listen to 'em on the am radio!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gshamill]

A glimer of hope. After reading MTrot's post I noticed that antenna web has the locations of the Shreveports digitals wrong. So I found the 28.1!!! Hurray it's coming in steady at 70% very watchable, I hope I get it during daytime as well. So I also checked the 34.1 (Listed incorrectly at antenna web as 33) It was coming in strong(60%) for a little while but now its weak(40%).
So, here is my question, those of you who aim your antenna's at Shreveport do you have the same exact aiming location for both 28.1 & 34.1?

[gbranch]

Originally Posted by gshamill

So, here is my question, those of you who aim your antenna's at Shreveport do you have the same exact aiming location for both 28.1 & 34.1?

KTBS, KSLA, KPXJ, and KMSS all broadcast from towers near Mooringsport, LA, which is NW of Shreveport on the east side of Caddo Lake. You should be able to use the same direction for all of them.

KTAL's tower is farther north, near Vivian, LA.

[mtrot]

Well, I've been scanning for these Shreveport channels tonight, and the only one my TV is "memorizing" is 28. It finds and memorizes it, but when I go to that channel, the blue screen appears that says there is no such channel, or it is off the air.

Perhaps I need a pre-amp, or I just may not be able to receive it from here.

[BillDR]

Is there something wrong with KLTV/DT signal? Strange things happening with the signal at my house. I have a RCA TV with built in digital tuner. I also have a Panasonic TV HDTV monitor with a samsung digital tuner attached. With the Samsung tuner I can watch the KLTV/Dt signal without any problem but with the RCA with built in tuner, the signal is just not viewable. My signal strength wildly fluctuates from 1-62 (85 being the highest I've ever seen) Have been able to get a steady signal for short periods, up to a couple minutes and then starts fluctuating again. Sometimes I can fine tune my antennae direction and bring in stonger signal and then a few minutes later it fades and I have to move the antennae again to get signal. I can view 18.1 perfectly with a very strong signal along with 22.2 and after dark can pick up the ABC affiliate from Shreveport and sometimes the Fox affiliate from Shreveport. The KLTV transmitter is only about 6 miles further away from me than the CBS transmitter (27 miles v. 21 miles) Anybody else having the problem with the wildly fluctuating signal strength or inability to view KLTV/DT? Why can I view the signal with one tuner and not the other?

[gshamill]

Bill- I've been having the same thing happen with my 7.1 signal. I have an hdtivo & a sony sat200. I've been able to lock on to the 3.1(28) ABC from Shrevport much more consistant than 7.1(10) from Tyler. I thought it might be trees in the line of sight that I'm on from KLTV. It seems as close as I'm to the KLTV towers I would be able to pick it up with some aluminum foil and a spagetti strainer but no suck luck.

[BillDR]

[quote=gshamill]Bill- I have an hdtivo

What's an HDTIVO? Is it something I need to put on my Christmas list? All I have is a plain ole Tivo.

[mtrot]

My TV doesn't have a signal strength meter, but I do seem to have a pretty solid signal from KLTVDT. I don't even have to have the antenna pointed right at the tower to bring it in.

Mind you, that doesn't mean the picture is good. Compared to KYTXDT's SD image, KLTV's is "soft" and sort of washed out looking. And another issue is that the audio seems out of sync with the video.

[BillDR]

I am happy to report that KLTV has apparently tuned their signal. I am now receiving a powerful, steady signal, actually stronger than I get from 18.2 with the closer tower. Now if they would just give us some HD.

[gshamill]

Bill- It's the High Def Direct tv tivo. It is a must have for the Direct tv- high def- junkie. It has all the features of tivo series 1 with hd compability. I love mine I would bet there is an non-directtv version out there as well but I've never look into it. I do think the hd tuner is a little finicky I have been able to get more channels consistiantly on my sony tuner & the tuner built into the tv in my bedroom. But I'm just really getting into the over the air stuff. I have not perfected everything yet. I've learned a ton from this site! I appreciate it and all the helpful people who have been posting.

[gshamill]

I have a grounding question.
I just installed my antenna-pre amp & rotor to my chimney and need to ground the whole set up. I understand I need to use a grounding block at the nearest point of entry.
Here is my problem, there is no direct route to the ground from my chimney. The grounding wire would have to lay on my roof. Actually my chimney lies in two valleys so the ground wire would have to go up before it could go down to the ground.I know this would be look bad but would it be safe?
The second option would be to run the ground wire into the attic then ground to a pipe or possibly back outside at a less conspicuous place. Is this second option safe? If so do I then need to use a covered wire?
Thanks in advance!

[mtrot]

I have finally been able to receive KTBSHD today and tonight, although it does cut out occaisionally. I don't know if the signal is better, or if the atmosphere is just right. It is sure nice to be able to see ABC in HD.

The tuner also stored channels 17 and 21, but when I tune them, nothing comes in. I don't know what stations those are. It still did not pick up 34.

[gbranch]

Originally Posted by mtrot

The tuner also stored channels 17 and 21, but when I tune them, nothing comes in. I don't know what stations those are. It still did not pick up 34.

17.1 KSLA-DT 12.1 CBS-HD
17.2 Tube 12.2 The Tube Music Videos
21.1 KPXJ-HD 21.1 UPN-HD
21.2 KPXJ-DT 21.2 UPN Standard Def

All from Shreveport.

[BillDR]

Any one have any information about when KLTV-DT will actually broadcast high definition programing?

[gbranch]

Originally Posted by BillDR

Any one have any information about when KLTV-DT will actually broadcast high definition programing?

An earlier post in this thread stated thay KLTV was waiting on some equipment from ABC that would allow them to pass the HD signal. There was no timeframe given.

[gbranch]

SPECULATION - KFXK-DT soon to put up their full power HD signal.

Apparently, KFXK is currently installing equipment on their tower near Overton for their full power HD signal. A friend sent an email to KTYL asking them why their signal has been so intermittent the last couple of weeks. Here was the reply:

"Thanks for letting us know. We are told that the tower work should be finished today. We rent tower space from FOX 51, and they are having to do work to install equipment so that they can broadcast in HD. Since we rent the tower space from them we are pretty much at their mercy when they have to do maintence."

KTYL has been having to periodically move their signal over to the KKTX tower south of Kilgore to make way for the KFXK tower work.

[gshamill]

Originally Posted by BillDR
Any one have any information about when KLTV-DT will actually broadcast high definition programing?

I noticed on my tv in my bed room that the HD light was highlighted when I tuned to 7.1. This light is not highlighted when I'm on 22.2 or 7.2 or 7.3.
There has not been a highdef program on while I've been at home for me to see but I wonder if KLTV hasn't received it's missing equipment?

SPECULATION - KFXK-DT soon to put up their full power HD signal.

Speculation is what makes these sites so interesting!!

[gbranch]

More on KFXK-DT. Speculation busted.

I contacted the chief engineer at KFXK and asked him about the work that they were doing at their tower site. He said that it was not for HD, but work to support their new digital antenna. He went further to state that they would be on the air with their full power SD signal "sometime next year", but gave no timeframe for when they would get HD up.

IOW, we don't really want to do this "digital" stuff, but will do it minimaly to meet the FCC's cutoff date.

Looks like I'll be watching KMSS for a long time.

[gshamill]

I'm glad he's not in charge of the fcc. We'd be discussing when we are going to get color.

[BillDR]

KLTV-DT is showing a Harry Potter Movie and it is in HD.

[gshamill]

Thank you KLTV. Now if only the Fox & NBC stations can follow CBS & ABC's lead!!! Preferably before some government edict.

[Dozer_Fan]

Where exactly is KLTV's tower located? I am 5 mi. south of Palestine and pick up CBS perfect but was unable to get anything on 7.1.

Thanks

[BillDR]

Originally Posted by Dozer_Fan

Where exactly is KLTV's tower located? I am 5 mi. south of Palestine and pick up CBS perfect but was unable to get anything on 7.1.

Thanks

Latitude: N32.5389°
Longitude: W95.2210°

Bearing 24 deg 58.91 miles from Palestine

About 25 miles farther from Palestine than the CBS tower

Actually it's 10.1, 10.2 & 10.3

[BillDR]

We finally get a Cowboy game on CBS so we can watch in HD and what happens? CBS digital signal is off the air!

[Dozer_Fan]

Originally Posted by BillDR

We finally get a Cowboy game on CBS so we can watch in HD and what happens? CBS digital signal is off the air!

Yeah that really made my day.

Thanks for the location info, I'll try fine tuning my rotor and see what happens.