Waco / Bryan, TX - HDTV

elspankdog · 04-03-04, 03:13 PM

Quality, not quantity, right?

Currently Available

KAMU-DT - PBS
12-1/15-1 (12) 1080i - national PBS feed
Tower - 3.2 kW, Hensel Park
Contact - Jon Bennett, Station Manager
Ph# 845-5611

KBTX-DT - CBS
3-1 (50) 1080i - mirroring analog 3
3-2 480i UPN
Tower - 25 kW, Carlos
Contact - David Cooper, Chief Engineer
Ph# 846-7777

KYLE-DT - FOX/WB
28-1 (29) 480i - mirroring analog 28
28-2 720p - mirroring KWKT-HD/Waco
Tower - 1 kW (soon to be 5 kW), N Bryan
KWKT-DT (720p) will soon be a subchannel for KYLE-DT, and the power increased to around 5 kW. KYLE splicer acquisition pending.
Contact - Lou Strowger, Chief Engineer, Duane Sartor, General Manager.
Ph# (254)776-3844

Temple/Waco - Central TX HDTV Status

Houston - Tower Power - This should give some idea of what it takes.

Cox Cable
700 KAMU - PBS-HD
705 KWKT - FOX/WB-HD
710 KBTX - CBS-HD
720 KRHD/KXXV - ABC-HD
730 KCEN/KMAY - NBC-HD
732 ESPN-HD
734 Discovery HD Theater
735 Universal HD - rebuild
736 INHD1
738 INHD2
740 HBO HD
742 Showtime HD
744 Starz HD - rebuild
Cox's HD-DVR is now available in the B/CS market.
Contact Form

The Not So Near Future

KRHD - ABC
Digital broadcasting from the local Bryan tower is under consideration.
25-1 720p - mirroring analog 25
25-2 480i - Telemundo
25-3 480i - Weather loop
Tower - 250 kW, Moody
Contact Form
Ph# (254)754-2525

KMAY-LP - NBC
This KCEN translator station will most likely be upgraded when the switch date is put into play.
Tower - N Bryan
Contact - Gerald Richmond, Engineering
Ph #(254)859-5481

Cox Cable
ABC(KXXV/KRHD) should be on Cox in time for the Super Bowl.

Verizon - FiOS TV
We're still not on their list.

Old pseudo-College Station thread

Please let me know about any new or bad info.
-Brian

dave99ag · 04-03-04, 05:45 PM

Excellent work, Brian.

Nothing new to add just yet, but I am anxious for today's Final Four games.

jagouar · 04-03-04, 08:50 PM

I agree... it was time to give the old thread a rest. Great Work!

labmansid · 04-05-04, 11:12 AM

You may have forgotten, but KAMU shows up on 15-1 and15-2 with guide data on the Samsung360.
Sid

dave99ag · 04-05-04, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by labmansid
You may have forgotten, but KAMU shows up on 15-1 and15-2 with guide data on the Samsung360.

Yep, that's what my 360 does also.

labmansid · 04-05-04, 11:44 AM

Dave, how is your 360 holding up, none of the problems a lot of other members are describing? I wish the OTA meter actually worked. I also wish there was an easier way to manually add a single channel. Did you vote in this poll yet?
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...hreadid=369178
Sid

dave99ag · 04-05-04, 11:53 AM

This is my second 360 and it's working pretty well after 2 weeks. My first one wouldn't even find any satellites so I sent it back to D*.

Yeah, the OTA meter is very sporadic. The highest I get for KBTX with my Silver Sensor is ~69 and then it drops to zero.

Hopefully I won't have the problems others are having.

labmansid · 04-05-04, 12:35 PM

Good news, Dave, fingers crossed!!

Sid

elspankdog · 04-05-04, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by labmansid
You may have forgotten, but KAMU shows up on 15-1 and15-2 with guide data on the Samsung360.
Sid

It's updated for you $99 deal people. You know, the Waco PBS (KWBU) has the same guide problem as KAMU on my Zenith 520. I get video on 20-x with no guide data, while 34-x has guide data with no video. This is going to be a problem if and when I get the HD-TiVo and try to record Okie Noodling

.

labmansid · 04-05-04, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by elspankdog
You know, the Waco PBS (KWBU) has the same guide problem as KAMU on my Zenith 520. I get video on 20-x with no guide data, while 34-x has guide data with no video. This is going to be a problem if and when I get the HD-TiVo and try to record Okie Noodling .

Yeah, it's nice to have a copy of shows you are in!!

Sid

labmansid · 04-05-04, 04:38 PM

E-mail from KBTX:

Thanks for your e-mail. As you know there is more coming down the DirectTV path this summer from KBTX. With reference to an additional sub-channel, we have discussed uses such as radar and other programming, but at this time no decisions have been made.

Regarding HDTV closed captioning, I will look into that one . . . I'm surprised that our CBS HDTV receiver isn't passing through programs with CC information.

Again, thanks for your e-mail and comments.

Chief Engineer
KBTX-TV
4141 East 29th St\
Bryan, Texas 77802
979-846-7777

-----Original Message-----
From:Sid
Sent: Monday, April 05, 2004 12:55 PM
Subject: KBTX-DT

I just wanted to thank you and let you know that I noticed recently guide data is now showing up for KBTX for those of us using DirecTV HD boxes on channel 3-1. Previously there was program info only on the analog channel.
Also, a couple of questions. I was wondering if there were any plans to have another subchannel broadcast along with the main feed, such as a weather/radar screen as some other stations do. Although that feature has some appeal, many viewers have reservations about how that might affect the quality of the Hi-Def feed, causing signal degradation due to sharing bandwidth.
Last question is regarding Closed-Captioning of the Digital channel. I have noticed you have CC only on the upconverted (non HD) portion of your broadcasts. Hi-Def shows, such as CSI, Cold Case, etc. do not have CC enabled, although their analog counterparts on channel 3 do. Are you working on getting CC working on that channel also?
Thanks again.
Sid

jagouar · 04-05-04, 05:00 PM

They better not put some stupid weather loop on.... Unless they want to use .01% of the 19 mbs HD feed. Many people have said how bw hungry 1080i CBS feed is and the slightest reduction in BW causess alot of issues. You can look at KAMU (who uses only 12.4 (its 12 or 13.something)... I emailed the KAMU people when they first started broadcasting and asked what bw they were giving to the HD feed and you can notice the PQ not being as good as it should be.

labmansid · 04-05-04, 05:06 PM

I have to say I have noticed the PBS feed doing some major "pixellating" during scenes with lots of movement, that's one reason I asked KBTX about it.
Sid

jagouar · 04-05-04, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Aaron, Thanks for your letter. We have been exploring quality vs. bit rate to find the best service we can deliver. Our engineers have determined that a 14 Mb HD stream / 12-1, 3.5 Mb SD stream / 12-2 and approx 2 Mb data stream are producing best results at this time. They tell me we are generating full output power of 4.5 KW. Does not take much to replicate our analog coverage. I'd be very surprised if your Houston friends can see us. We can expect to see more HD programing in the Fall and a significant increase in January 04. We are all anxious to see the HD succeed. We do not have a separate support system for HD. Currently our fund-raising supports programming for all of our broadcast products.
Thanks for watching and thanks for writing. Stay in touch.

Theres the email reply I received back from Jon Bennett (Jon.Bennett@tamu.edu) about KAMU-DT.

mwesson · 04-06-04, 04:20 PM

Thanks for this Brian. I've been busy lately and haven't had a lot of opportunities to post, but have done my best to keep up with things.

I hope this thread continues - let's keep each other up to date with findings as they occur.

elspankdog · 04-06-04, 04:35 PM

Sometimes it's hard to find your way through all the Voom posts.

mwesson · 04-06-04, 04:49 PM

HAHAHAHA - yep, that was a bad day

Freakin' Voom salespeople all over the place...

By the way, I e-mailed KBTX to see if they were passing the Master's feed in HD through on Thursday and Friday afternoons... I'll let you guys know if/when I hear back.

Michael

mwesson · 04-08-04, 11:09 AM

FYI... KBTX-DT will be showing the Master's in HD today and Friday from 3 to 5:30. This will only be on the HD channel. (You can see the programming forum for more general information.)

elspankdog · 04-09-04, 04:07 PM

Well, my new screen finally came in. You guys let me know when you want a viewing.

jagouar · 04-09-04, 04:54 PM

Ill take mine.... dont have to wait for mine to be open

I am watching the masters... very nice.

mwesson · 04-09-04, 05:00 PM

You also don't have to tear down the east side of your house to fit it in your living room...

labmansid · 04-09-04, 05:47 PM

Watched a little of the Masters a while ago, looked good, but, after all, it is golf. Am watching the Astros whoop up on the Brewers now!!

Sid

labmansid · 04-09-04, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by elspankdog
Well, my new screen finally came in. You guys let me know when you want a viewing.

Maybe someone has a little screen envy!!

Sid

labmansid · 04-12-04, 05:31 PM

I was just wondering if anyone else has seen HD-NET's program "HDNet This Month", I believe it is, which highlights, oddly enough, shows coming up on HD-NET. The hostess of the one I saw was none other than a local product of KBTX, Candace Krueger. I thought it was kinda cool to see someone from our local market show up on a national broadcast like that. She was also in a segment about the Miss USA-Texas Pageant, of which she is a former, the name of that program escapes me. All I can say is Mr. Cuban sure knows how to pick 'em!!

Sid

jagouar · 04-12-04, 06:59 PM

His wife is an aggie and he did attend a few football games this past fall so its possible they were introduced there. That said he does know how to pick the ladies... That other blond chick and the brunette were both very easy on the eyes.

dave99ag · 04-14-04, 11:13 PM

With the latest news about NFL games on Fox in HD, I wonder if our local station will have enough power by the fall?

My wife hates it when I mention that I had journalism classes with Kandace.

I believe the show is Across America.

elspankdog · 04-15-04, 12:51 AM

I guess it's time to start harassing Lou at KYLE/KWKT again. I emailed him a couple of weeks ago asking for info about increasing the power and the May 1 live date listed on www.titantv.com for KWKT. I never got a reply. Oh well, there's always the possibility of D* adding FoxHD via 7S before football season. Come on May 4.

Brian

mwesson · 04-15-04, 08:29 AM

Even if D* adds FoxHD via 7S, our Fox station is not an "owned and operated" station is it? (I'm relatively certain that it's not.) Which means that we will NOT get the Fox HD feed through D* (I guess if you have Sunday Ticket, you might get some of the football).

I can promise you that if Fox is broadcasting HD by Fall and KYLE does not have their act together - the Fox station in Houston IS "owned and operated" if you catch my drift.

dave99ag · 04-15-04, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mwesson
I can promise you that if Fox is broadcasting HD by Fall and KYLE does not have their act together - the Fox station in Houston IS "owned and operated" if you catch my drift.

Yes it is among other networks.

mwesson · 04-15-04, 08:40 AM

MNF baby! That's only if ABC and D* can come to the same agreement though...

04-03-04, 03:13 PM	#1 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a4ac4393' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:30&n=a4ac4393' border='0' alt=''></a>
elspankdog HD Junkie Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Montgomery, TX Posts: 1,464	Bryan / College Station HDTV 2005 Quality, not quantity, right? Currently Available KAMU-DT - PBS 12-1/15-1 (12) 1080i - national PBS feed Tower - 3.2 kW, Hensel Park Contact - Jon Bennett, Station Manager Ph# 845-5611 KBTX-DT - CBS 3-1 (50) 1080i - mirroring analog 3 3-2 480i UPN Tower - 25 kW, Carlos Contact - David Cooper, Chief Engineer Ph# 846-7777 KYLE-DT - FOX/WB 28-1 (29) 480i - mirroring analog 28 28-2 720p - mirroring KWKT-HD/Waco Tower - 1 kW (soon to be 5 kW), N Bryan KWKT-DT (720p) will soon be a subchannel for KYLE-DT, and the power increased to around 5 kW. KYLE splicer acquisition pending. Contact - Lou Strowger, Chief Engineer, Duane Sartor, General Manager. Ph# (254)776-3844 Temple/Waco - Central TX HDTV Status Houston - Tower Power - This should give some idea of what it takes. Cox Cable 700 KAMU - PBS-HD 705 KWKT - FOX/WB-HD 710 KBTX - CBS-HD 720 KRHD/KXXV - ABC-HD 730 KCEN/KMAY - NBC-HD 732 ESPN-HD 734 Discovery HD Theater 735 Universal HD - rebuild 736 INHD1 738 INHD2 740 HBO HD 742 Showtime HD 744 Starz HD - rebuild Cox's HD-DVR is now available in the B/CS market. Contact Form The Not So Near Future KRHD - ABC Digital broadcasting from the local Bryan tower is under consideration. 25-1 720p - mirroring analog 25 25-2 480i - Telemundo 25-3 480i - Weather loop Tower - 250 kW, Moody Contact Form Ph# (254)754-2525 KMAY-LP - NBC This KCEN translator station will most likely be upgraded when the switch date is put into play. Tower - N Bryan Contact - Gerald Richmond, Engineering Ph #(254)859-5481 Cox Cable ABC(KXXV/KRHD) should be on Cox in time for the Super Bowl. Verizon - FiOS TV We're still not on their list. Old pseudo-College Station thread Please let me know about any new or bad info. -Brian Last edited by elspankdog; 02-03-06 at 10:29 AM..

04-03-04, 08:50 PM	#3 \| Link
jagouar AVS Special Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: College Station, TX Posts: 5,446	I agree... it was time to give the old thread a rest. Great Work! __________________ AggieFans.com http://www.bundyology.com/bal2.jpg "Pretty women make you buy beer. Ugly women make you drink beer." -Al Bundy-

04-05-04, 04:38 PM	#11 \| Link
labmansid SD-Buster Join Date: May 2002 Location: Bryan, TX Posts: 1,521	E-mail from KBTX: Thanks for your e-mail. As you know there is more coming down the DirectTV path this summer from KBTX. With reference to an additional sub-channel, we have discussed uses such as radar and other programming, but at this time no decisions have been made. Regarding HDTV closed captioning, I will look into that one . . . I'm surprised that our CBS HDTV receiver isn't passing through programs with CC information. Again, thanks for your e-mail and comments. Chief Engineer KBTX-TV 4141 East 29th St\ Bryan, Texas 77802 979-846-7777 -----Original Message----- From:Sid Sent: Monday, April 05, 2004 12:55 PM Subject: KBTX-DT I just wanted to thank you and let you know that I noticed recently guide data is now showing up for KBTX for those of us using DirecTV HD boxes on channel 3-1. Previously there was program info only on the analog channel. Also, a couple of questions. I was wondering if there were any plans to have another subchannel broadcast along with the main feed, such as a weather/radar screen as some other stations do. Although that feature has some appeal, many viewers have reservations about how that might affect the quality of the Hi-Def feed, causing signal degradation due to sharing bandwidth. Last question is regarding Closed-Captioning of the Digital channel. I have noticed you have CC only on the upconverted (non HD) portion of your broadcasts. Hi-Def shows, such as CSI, Cold Case, etc. do not have CC enabled, although their analog counterparts on channel 3 do. Are you working on getting CC working on that channel also? Thanks again. Sid Last edited by labmansid; 04-06-04 at 03:53 PM..

04-05-04, 05:00 PM	#12 \| Link
jagouar AVS Special Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: College Station, TX Posts: 5,446	They better not put some stupid weather loop on.... Unless they want to use .01% of the 19 mbs HD feed. Many people have said how bw hungry 1080i CBS feed is and the slightest reduction in BW causess alot of issues. You can look at KAMU (who uses only 12.4 (its 12 or 13.something)... I emailed the KAMU people when they first started broadcasting and asked what bw they were giving to the HD feed and you can notice the PQ not being as good as it should be. __________________ AggieFans.com http://www.bundyology.com/bal2.jpg "Pretty women make you buy beer. Ugly women make you drink beer." -Al Bundy-

04-06-04, 04:20 PM	#15 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a591f81a' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:36&n=a591f81a' border='0' alt=''></a>
mwesson P. HD. Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: College Station, TX Posts: 488	Thanks for this Brian. I've been busy lately and haven't had a lot of opportunities to post, but have done my best to keep up with things. I hope this thread continues - let's keep each other up to date with findings as they occur.

04-03-04, 05:45 PM	#2 \| Link
dave99ag Advanced Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: College Station, TX Posts: 858	Excellent work, Brian. Nothing new to add just yet, but I am anxious for today's Final Four games.

04-05-04, 11:12 AM	#4 \| Link
labmansid SD-Buster Join Date: May 2002 Location: Bryan, TX Posts: 1,521	You may have forgotten, but KAMU shows up on 15-1 and15-2 with guide data on the Samsung360. Sid

04-05-04, 11:44 AM	#6 \| Link
labmansid SD-Buster Join Date: May 2002 Location: Bryan, TX Posts: 1,521	Dave, how is your 360 holding up, none of the problems a lot of other members are describing? I wish the OTA meter actually worked. I also wish there was an easier way to manually add a single channel. Did you vote in this poll yet? http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...hreadid=369178 Sid

04-05-04, 11:53 AM	#7 \| Link
dave99ag Advanced Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: College Station, TX Posts: 858	This is my second 360 and it's working pretty well after 2 weeks. My first one wouldn't even find any satellites so I sent it back to D*. Yeah, the OTA meter is very sporadic. The highest I get for KBTX with my Silver Sensor is ~69 and then it drops to zero. Hopefully I won't have the problems others are having.

04-05-04, 12:35 PM	#8 \| Link
labmansid SD-Buster Join Date: May 2002 Location: Bryan, TX Posts: 1,521	Good news, Dave, fingers crossed!! Sid

04-05-04, 05:06 PM	#13 \| Link
labmansid SD-Buster Join Date: May 2002 Location: Bryan, TX Posts: 1,521	I have to say I have noticed the PBS feed doing some major "pixellating" during scenes with lots of movement, that's one reason I asked KBTX about it. Sid

04-06-04, 04:35 PM	#16 \| Link
elspankdog HD Junkie Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Montgomery, TX Posts: 1,464	Sometimes it's hard to find your way through all the Voom posts.

04-06-04, 04:49 PM	#17 \| Link
mwesson P. HD. Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: College Station, TX Posts: 488	HAHAHAHA - yep, that was a bad day Freakin' Voom salespeople all over the place... By the way, I e-mailed KBTX to see if they were passing the Master's feed in HD through on Thursday and Friday afternoons... I'll let you guys know if/when I hear back. Michael

04-08-04, 11:09 AM	#18 \| Link
mwesson P. HD. Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: College Station, TX Posts: 488	FYI... KBTX-DT will be showing the Master's in HD today and Friday from 3 to 5:30. This will only be on the HD channel. (You can see the programming forum for more general information.)

04-09-04, 04:07 PM	#19 \| Link
elspankdog HD Junkie Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Montgomery, TX Posts: 1,464	Well, my new screen finally came in. You guys let me know when you want a viewing.

04-09-04, 04:54 PM	#20 \| Link
jagouar AVS Special Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: College Station, TX Posts: 5,446	Ill take mine.... dont have to wait for mine to be open I am watching the masters... very nice. __________________ AggieFans.com http://www.bundyology.com/bal2.jpg "Pretty women make you buy beer. Ugly women make you drink beer." -Al Bundy-

04-09-04, 05:00 PM	#21 \| Link
mwesson P. HD. Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: College Station, TX Posts: 488	You also don't have to tear down the east side of your house to fit it in your living room...

04-09-04, 05:47 PM	#22 \| Link
labmansid SD-Buster Join Date: May 2002 Location: Bryan, TX Posts: 1,521	Watched a little of the Masters a while ago, looked good, but, after all, it is golf. Am watching the Astros whoop up on the Brewers now!! Sid

04-12-04, 05:31 PM	#24 \| Link
labmansid SD-Buster Join Date: May 2002 Location: Bryan, TX Posts: 1,521	I was just wondering if anyone else has seen HD-NET's program "HDNet This Month", I believe it is, which highlights, oddly enough, shows coming up on HD-NET. The hostess of the one I saw was none other than a local product of KBTX, Candace Krueger. I thought it was kinda cool to see someone from our local market show up on a national broadcast like that. She was also in a segment about the Miss USA-Texas Pageant, of which she is a former, the name of that program escapes me. All I can say is Mr. Cuban sure knows how to pick 'em!! Sid

04-12-04, 06:59 PM	#25 \| Link
jagouar AVS Special Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: College Station, TX Posts: 5,446	His wife is an aggie and he did attend a few football games this past fall so its possible they were introduced there. That said he does know how to pick the ladies... That other blond chick and the brunette were both very easy on the eyes. __________________ AggieFans.com http://www.bundyology.com/bal2.jpg "Pretty women make you buy beer. Ugly women make you drink beer." -Al Bundy-

04-14-04, 11:13 PM	#26 \| Link
dave99ag Advanced Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: College Station, TX Posts: 858	With the latest news about NFL games on Fox in HD, I wonder if our local station will have enough power by the fall? My wife hates it when I mention that I had journalism classes with Kandace. I believe the show is Across America.

04-15-04, 12:51 AM	#27 \| Link
elspankdog HD Junkie Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Montgomery, TX Posts: 1,464	I guess it's time to start harassing Lou at KYLE/KWKT again. I emailed him a couple of weeks ago asking for info about increasing the power and the May 1 live date listed on www.titantv.com for KWKT. I never got a reply. Oh well, there's always the possibility of D* adding FoxHD via 7S before football season. Come on May 4. Brian Last edited by elspankdog; 04-27-04 at 09:07 AM..

04-15-04, 08:29 AM	#28 \| Link
mwesson P. HD. Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: College Station, TX Posts: 488	Even if D* adds FoxHD via 7S, our Fox station is not an "owned and operated" station is it? (I'm relatively certain that it's not.) Which means that we will NOT get the Fox HD feed through D* (I guess if you have Sunday Ticket, you might get some of the football). I can promise you that if Fox is broadcasting HD by Fall and KYLE does not have their act together - the Fox station in Houston IS "owned and operated" if you catch my drift.

04-15-04, 08:40 AM	#30 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a591f81a' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:36&n=a591f81a' border='0' alt=''></a>
mwesson P. HD. Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: College Station, TX Posts: 488	MNF baby! That's only if ABC and D* can come to the same agreement though...