Raleigh, NC - HDTV - Page 51

kd4pbs-

Assistant Chief Engineer? I think I once talked to someone by the name of Romeo, was that the chief engineer?

Anyway, as you can tell by my location, I'm pretty far away. Last check I was 90 or so miles away, but most nights if I spin the antenna around I can receive the Raleigh stations including all of the full-powered digitals. My question is, and I know this will upset the HD freaks here (no offense), but would it be possible to turn 22-2 back on and rebroadcast WRDC-SD on it once you go to full power, at least for the time being? Where I am, I currently have no UPN service (estimate on SD UPN digital from WDRL in Danville is Christmas, the latest is February) digitally, and my analog is beyond disappointing. Assuming both WLFL-DT and WRDC-DT go to full power at the same time, it'll be of little help because I happen to have Fox on channel 27 analog, and I've only received WRDC-DT in its current state once during very intense tropo ducting (my picture is on nchdtv.com). Fox on 27 also causes a floating image of 27 over 28 when trying to watch 28 analog.

I just want to be able to SEE Enterprise, quality/HD is not an issue...

- Trip

The program content is not different on cable from OTA. They either receive the station's signal OTA, or over fiber, and retransmit it for your convenience on another channel. The stations can usually pick which channel they are located on cable, if available.

I know that cable channels (like ESPN for example) have some advertisement spots for the carrier (say DISH Network or the local cable company) that are inserted at the appropriate time in the feed. However, I'm guess that with OTA this is not the case. True/

Anyone else having problems with NBC 17-1 OTA? No matter how I aim my antenna I get signal dropouts. I have zero problems with all the other digital stations in our area, but 17-1 continues to be a royal pain in the a$$.

A problem I have with Sinclair asking the cable companies to pay them to carry their local HD channels is that advertisers pay Sinclair stations based on the number of potential customers they reach. The more people who watch the commercials on a Sinclair TV station, the more they can charge advertisers and Sinclair stations reach more potential customers by being on cable and OTA.

Jeremiah

I switched from 17.1 to 12.1 Greensboro because of the dropouts. I get a strong consistent signal on ABC, CBS and Fox Raleigh stations.

I agree -- if Sinclair was offering to let the cable companies take some of those advertising spots for their own revenue I could see the cable company paying for content. Asking them to pay for something which doesn't generate extra revenue for TWC, but does for Sinclair, seems a bit inane.

Erik

I'm also having issues with NBC 17-1, unfortunately. Decent signal (65-70%) most of the time, however still getting random audio and signal dropouts. Originally thought it due to multipath since my antenna (CM 4228) is in my attic, but other people having having the same type of issues makes me wonder.

NBC17ENG,

Since NBC's new shows will be in DD5.1 will WNCN-DT be passing the DD5.1 feed. I'm just asking because lastnight Joey was still DD2.0.

I got an email reply from a station engineer today. He seems pretty sure the problem is at the station. They are not sure exactly what the cause is yet and are in the process of troubleshooting. Among other things, he said they had the transmitter aligned this week and installed a lot of new gear and could have disturbed a cable or patch panel connection. They rebooted all the equipment this morning and are checking everything connector by connector.

Thanks for the info. I've been using my LG LST-3510A for OTA only. I've disconnected my OTA antenna today and connected cable up to it to try that over the weekend. Your right. I'm getting no PSIP at all. Here's the channels I'm getting off of the Raleigh/Durham/Fayetteville devision just south of Fayetteville.

84.3 TNT-HD [no audio]
85.2 WRAL-HD (CBS)
85.3 WRAL News Channel
85.4 WRAL-DT (CBS)
85.5 Blank (WRAL's extra channel)
85.6 Blank (WRAL's extra channel)
87.151 Music Choice Americana
90.1 PBS DT
90.2 PBS HD [90.1's audio]
90.3 WUNC Kids
90.4 WUNC Educational
90.5 WUNC North Carolina
93.1 Discovery HD Theatre
104.1 League pass in demand preview loop
106.3 Icontrol preview loop
106.9 Indemand preview loop
111.2 WNCN HD (NBC)
111.3 WNCN DT (NBC)
111.4 News 14 Carolina (SD)
113.1 WTVD HD (ABC)
113.2 WTVD DT (ABC News Now)
113.3 WTVD DT (ABC)
113.4 WRAZ HD (FOX)
113.5 WRAZ DT (FOX)
113.6 WRAL/Z Weather

Anyone getting NBC HD over direct tv?

I think we're suppose to (since NBC17 is owned and operated by NBC corporate), but I'm showing that the channel isn't authorized even though it shows up in channels I recieve. There have been some posts on the TiVo Community board that DTV is having some problems getting folks properly authorized. Some folks have gotten it fixed by calling, others haven't. Since I get a good OTA signal (and won't watch anything on NBC until West Wing starts), I haven't bothered to call yet.

When I went to pay my bill online at DirecTV and NBC HD was listed under my programming. I hadn't checked on my HD tuner yet to see if it comes in.

Also, can anyone recommend a local company to mount my Channel Master antenna on the roof of my house? About how much am I looking to pay to get that done.

I'm also getting the x721 message - when I called in, they said my account had the channel authorized, but that the Raleigh area feed wasn't ready yet, which I took to either mean he had no idea what I was really asking for or that D* hasn't authorized the feed to be shown in the Raleigh area yet.

As far as mounting your antenna - I can do it. I run a local HT company called Carolina Home Theater. Send me PM if you're interested and we can discuss a quote.

Are others still having problems with audio & video dropouts with their HD-DVR? They installed "TX15" cable from the street to my house which boosted the signal strength significantly but the problems persist. The higher signal played havoc with my cable modem and so I had to buy an attenuator to lower the signal and now it works fine. I wonder if the signal strength is too strong for the HD-DVR too. The room with the HD-DVR also has an amp which TWC installed to initially address the problem. The HD-DVR has an FDC reading of 17 (was 7 before the new cable). I can't remove the amp or all the signal goes down to -17 and all other outlets stop working.

Any advice or suggestions welcome. I'm also curious if others are still having the problems and what you are doing (i.e. giving up and accepting the problem, pursuing with TWC...etc).
Thanks,

I'm getting NBC-HD from D*. Are we eligible, here in the Triangle, for CBS-HD from D*?

Ok, so as I stated in a previous post, I asked TWC to bring me a new HD DVR, which they did on Wednesday. I recorded a few things, including the NC State game, with no problems...Audio dropouts are rare unless Im trying to watch two HD programs, and they all recorded to their full length. Today, I recorded the Panthers game, extended by a half hour. It ended at 420, so I hit stop about 426....the recorded ended at 358. Both NFL Primetime and SNF ended early (730-810 and 830-902 respectively). Its just very frustrating...at least with the audio dropouts I can see reasons why its happening...but with this I just have no clue....am I the only one having this problem? There is plenty of room on the DVR, about half full...Im wondering if the DVR THINKS its full though?

Mark-
I was told by TWC that your what matters is your signal level on each tuner and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).

What are your levels on the digital channels?

I stopped using the optical out on the HD-DVR and switched to analog. That helped the audio drop-outs tremendously. I read somewhere that there's a bug in one of the DVR software components (PassPort maybe?) that makes the audio drop-out when you're using the optical connection.

Sal

Endcontra & Supersalo,

Thanks for the responses. The signal levels on each tuner tend to run about 11-15. The SNR's tend to be about 35. When you state that you use the analog audio, do you mean the 2-channel audio outs (red & white) or the digital coaxial (black) out? I'm using the digital coaxial out, not the optical output. I'll have to try the 2-channel audio out and see if that helps.

The audio dropouts aren't consistent. Some days everything is fine and other days all channels are bad.

I've heard Scientific Atlanta is coming out with a new model. Maybe some of these bugs will be fixed with the newer model and we can swap.
Thanks again.

WNCN is owned by NBC and that is what makes you eligible. If ABC ever gets on D*, since WTVD is owned by ABC, you would get that also. CBS and FOX are owned by Capital Broadcasting so WCBS and WNYW are not available to the Triangle market. Those who live in the Triad though will get WNYW since the Triad FOX station, WGHP is owned by FOX.

Mark-

Yes, the audio is the 2-channel (red/white) output.

I'll have to look at the back of my box. I don't remember seeing a coax digital output, just optical.

Sal

I'm still having serious problems with picture freezes, audio dropouts and pixelization. I have not had the DVR stop recording in the middle of anything, but would not be surprised, as the DVR seems VERY flaky. For example we'll be watching a show and for no reason, in the middle of the show it will jump to the beginning and start playing again. The only way to get through the affected portion is to fast forward through. Very strange. I could probalby live with this, but if the picture and audio problems cant be fixed, I'll be going back to my non-HD Tivo, which was always rock solid.

You do not say what DVR you're using or whether you're having these problems with cable/satellite or OTA programs. Since you mention your non-HD TiVo, I'm guessing that you may be using the HR10-250 DirecTiVo. I have this unit, and have not experienced any of the problems you describe, so it would seem that your unit is faulty. I would recommend calling DirecTV and having it replaced.

What kind of way is this to run a business. I ordered a HD DVR for install this morning and took today off work. My wife received call this morning Time Warner completely out of HD PVR's and no idea when they will be in. I called back and got the don't call us we will call you to reschedule routine. You would think TWC could say "I have 200 box's need 15 spares so no more DVR's after next 185 orders". So now I sit missing a day at work.... I pay them $150 a month for this level of professional service? Thanks venting complete

Audio dropouts and wierd pixel glitches were pretty bad last night while I watched MNF. I wasn't even recording anything. Sure wish TWC had a fix for these DVRs (SA8000HD). I find it hard to believe it is a signal strength issue since the two previous boxes I had (SA3250HD and SA3100HD) were always rock solid.

So has anyone with audio dropouts had the problem corrected by an amplifier?

Haven't had any problems with recordings ending in the middle though.

Somebody a few posts up mentioned SA is coming out with a new HDDVR. Got any links? On the SA website I only found the SA8300HD, which looks like more than just a DVR, so I'm thinking that is not the new model you were speeking of.

Thanks,

Sooke

If you're using the optical output, switch to analog and see if that helps with the audio drop outs.

Sal

Thanks for the tip. I had DirecTV add NBC HD last night. I wish I could add Fox though. I don't always get a good signal from my indoor antenna. The dropouts during football were excruciating.

Uh Hmm - if you're having issues holding with your indoor antenna, there is always outdoor ones...

Besides, right now WRAZ-DT is having some problems that they're working on. Even at the reduced powerlevel, they're doing more than the Sinclair stations...

Strengthening the signal didn't help me. I did mention a new HD-DVR was supposedly coming out. I have a relative who lives in Phoenix and they have been waiting for their cable co. to provide the 8000HD for a while and were recently told it was postponed indefinitely. The reason that was given was that Scientific Atlanta no longer manufactures the 8000HD as they have a new model coming out. Sorry I don't know any more detail than that.
Regards,