Memphis, TN - HDTV - Page 3

I haven't checked since I don't have my sound system completed yet. I'm with you, I hope they have it figured out before I finish building my speakers and subs.

-Robert

I'm using a Dish6000 with OTA to receive the local digitals.

Is anyone else having trouble mapping WPTY-DT? When it works (most of the time) it maps to ch24 with no subchannels. Picture quality doesn't compare favorably to WREG-DT though.

Sometimes it maps to ch 25 with 20 subchannels, no picture, no audio... Also, I get a green haze over the whole picture many times right after I tune to the station then it goes away. Anyone else?? Signal strength is always 90 plus.

All except WPXX and FOX come in fine when they're on the air. WPXX is weak and the signal breaks up.

By the way, no one broadcasts in 5.1 locally...

I'm not familiar with the way the E* 6000 inputs channels, on E86 all ATSC are listed as sub-channels, ie 24-1. To tune to the actual channels I have to input 25-1, then it maps back to 24-1, but this has something to do with the broadcasters becaue when they arent broadcasting and you input 25-1
nothing happens, ie. dosent map back to 24-1 as when recieving the signal.

Dirk, you asked this a while back but I thought I'd mention the difference between WPTY-DT and the ABC-DT national feed. The ABC feed off satellite is every bit as good as the best WREG-DT HDTV; it's Sharp, crisp, vivid and just plan WOW, along with 5.1 digital audio... When I switch over to WPTY-DT OTA the picture and sound are a drastic disappointment. WPTY is doing something, maybe lowering bit rate or down rezzing in some other manner but whatever it is, it's real obvious...

Does anyone know if any of the engineers or other people "in the know" about HD at the stations are freindly to us AV types??

All the emails I have sent have been replied to with canned responses or the very insulting "not that much HD programing out there anyway, why should we care" type answers.

It would be nice to actually know what is going on with each station, what format they are broadcasting when not 1080i/720p, why they have problems switching to the HD feed sometimes, what audio problems they have...........If I knew that they had actuall issues and not just laziness or cheapskate, I would feel alot better.....

Who knows, since they are in the station and we are out in the field, we might even be able to help with some of their problems, I for one would be glad to do anything I could!!

It depends on the attitude of the station and the people working there.

Two locals in my area are *very* interested in talking to viewers to find out what tuner, TV, antenna, etc. they are using, and what problems they are having.

Another station won't even answer emails. And if you call the station, it's impossible to talk to an engineer - your call is routed to voicemailhell. They're probably tired of complaints about their low power and 480i format.

You said it! WPTY has NEVER let me speak with anyone and every email I've sent them has bounced with a bad address...

I'm beginning to wonder if my problem with WPTY-DT is my Dish6000; although one guy here in town knows a bit about their setup and said their encoder is crap...

All the Best,
Dan

Hey, guys.

I got a Hughes E86 to try out. With the same video settings, CBS shows looked much better (not as dark). Still Standing was great (I remember, with the SIR-T151, the main living room shots were much darker). Jay Leno was great, and much brighter.

Can't wait for some live ballgame.

Robert, and anyone else using this HD STB: how is the signal steadiness? The Hughes showed signal strength of 100 steady for CBS, but I kept getting the little squares (don't know what to call them), and sound skips every 5-10 seconds... The Samsung was much better at signal sensitivity...

Later,
Radu

Radu,
My signal strength jumps between about 70 and 90 on CBS. I'm using a Radio Shack Double Bow Tie sitting on the top of my TV. I have not replaced the antenna wire with coax either. My house sits in a small valley and I think that getting the antenna up in the attic will give it a better signal.

I also get a blocky picture but no sound drop outs. I'm hoping my tweaks will improve the picture. If not, I'm upgrading to a Channel Master antenna.

-Robert

radu,

I get 100% on CBS with no problems on my E86. ABC is also good with no pixelation (although some programs do not have sound transmitted in digital e.g The Practice). NBC frequently jumps from 60-90% during Leno and giant pixels appear with occasional loss of signal.

I haven't tried the Samsung box, but I am very happy with the E86. Sat pm football and basketball games are incredible on CBS with the Panny plasma. Just hoping the Superbowl will be transmitted (with sound!) in HD.

hey, thanks, Robert and ppotter.

On CBS when I check the signal strength, the bar never moves below 100, and the signal strength pitch sound it at its highest. Still, every 5-10 seconds I get what I see called by one of you guys pixelation... and sound drops...

Anyway, I need to ask you guys this. First, I am much happier with the E86, even though I am going to have to take it back unless I want DirecTV to charge my credit card who knows how much if I don't sign up for service within 30 days. Now: even though I am much happier with the E86, I still feel like the picture is too dark sometimes. CSI: Miami, for example. I was switching back and forth between the HD signal on 28-1 through the E86 and the CBS channel 3 (I think) on my TW Digital Cable Scientific Atlanta box. Obviously, the detail and the quality of the pic was not comparable. But the show was much darker (even in outside shots) on the HD feed. Why is that? I have the same settings on all lmy inputs (about 30 contrast, and 50 brightness). Digital Cable is using S-Video, by the way.

Oh, I forgot to mention: I am using an RCA antenna that has the rabbit ears and a circle thing in between (about $13 at BB)...

ppotter, you say you get ABC pretty well. Every time I see it, it looks pretty bad (Family Affairs, for example)...

THanks,
Radu

I don't remember, have you calibrated your TV? I had to calibrate each input separately. CBS-HD is the same brightness as CBS-SD over DirecTV. There is a difference in color on my Mitsu because I haven't corrected the red push on the component inputs yet.

-Robert

Robert,

Forgive the ignorance, but how do you calibrate each input individually (especially, how did you calibrate the input that the HD STB goes in)? Just use the AVIA or whatever DVD and stick it in each input, including S-Video, in my case? I also noticed you can switch to another input's video settings through the remote...

Thanks a lot,
Radu

Radu,

I have not checked all of ABC's broadcasts but only ones that cleary indicate the HD is available (or sports). Monday Night Football and The Practice have been my programs of choice. Whilst I know MNF is not transmitted in HD, the component output of the E86 coupled at 1080i with the Pana 42PWD5UY gives a better picture than the S-video with 480i.

With The Practice the picture is superb with the component/1080i setup, but I do not get voices due to the lack of 5 channels on the transmission. There is very clear difference when ABC goes from SD to HD transmission. (Try checking at 8.55 on Sunday night and watch the change to HD ~9).

By the way I am just using a powered omnidirectional antenna that came with my (old round) satellite dish. I hope when the power get ramped up on the digital channels I wont need to install a custom UHF antenna to get all the locals in HD.

Radu,
That's what I did. I used my progressive scan DVD player on my HD & DVD inputs. I used the s-video out of the DVD player on the other inputs. I know it's not 100% accurate but it's closer than eyeballing it. I still need to convince the wife to go for a full ISF calibration.

-Robert

Robert,

I think I can see why you are getting the same brighntess. LOL. I am as confused as ever. No, really: I am guessing you are using one box (the E86) for DirecTV SD, and for OTA HD. When you switch to CBS -SD on DirecTV, are you staying on the same Mitsu input (I'm guessing you are using the DTV input for the OTA HD), or are you switching to another TV input (like S-Video)? In my case, I am using two separate boxes: the TW digial cable box through Mitsu S-Video for locals and all the other digital cable channels, and the E86 for OTA HD through the Mitsu "DTV" input.

Anyway, are all broadcasts supposed to use SMPTE-compliant stuff? (I think that's what it's called: the people on the S&V HTT DVD said that the color pattern was made by SMPTE). Well I used those supposedly standard patterns on all my inputs, but something is cookie, because HD feeds are much darker than SD.

Guys, if you have any ideas, please let me know. This is making me crazy.

Ppotter, I will look at The Practice sunday night. thanks.

THanks everyone,
Radu

All of my SD programming comes through a DirecTivo on a different TV input.

-Robert

There are lots of variables to consider.

Even if you calibrate the inputs using a DVD, etc., the TW cable box may have a brighter output than the E86. OR, your DVD player may have different brightness levels on its different output jacks.

Bottom line, if the picture is too dark when using the E86, slowly adjust the contrast & brightness controls until the picture looks right to you.

thanks, Robert. Is your brightness about 50 even on HD shows?

Arxaw, your solution makes a lot of sense. For me to get the pic looking like I want on some HD shows, I have to get the brightness up to around 80-90 percent... I know upped contrast reduces the life of y CRTs. How about high brightness?

Is there a time of day, or probably night when there is a pattern aired on any of the digital stations?

thanks,
Radu

Radu,
Are you watching TV with a lot of lights on? I normally watch with all of the living room lights off and just some ambient light coming through from the kitchen.

-Robert

Robert,

I always watch in either total darkness or as in your case with some dim light coming from the kitchen or porch light outside...

Thanks,
Radu

ppotter, and anyone else: how does ABC look? I haven't seen The Practice yet, but "My Wife and Kids" and other shows are stretched horizontally, and the pic is not too good at all...

Radu

I noticed that the last time I tried watching NYPD Blue. I figured that someone forgot to throw the switch to the HD feed. I gave up after about 5 minutes and switched to the DirecTivo. The picture looked the same.

-Robert

Thanks, Robert. In my case every single time I have tried ABC, it was ugly and stretched...

Has anyone heard updates on the TW locals in HD? Their website is a pain to navigate.

Thanks,
Radu

hey, guys.

Trying to watch stuff on 52-1, like AMerican Dreams. My Hghes E86 says 100. Nothing... Also, 28-1, CBS, I can't get any siganl: zero... Finally what seems to be HD on ABC (very grainy, though), but no diaslog sound, just background sound, music... Any of you guys experiencing the same?

I got a new screenname on AOL Instant Messnger. For example right now I would love to talk to some of you about what's going on... If you are ever on, and want to talk to someone in Cordova about HD, my screenname is:

cordovahd

Thanks,
Radu

Daniel,

How do you get the National ABC feed?

Thanks,
Radu

radu,
I am having the same problem with NBC, I am not really a fan but I wanted
to see the quality of the Faith Hill concert and got nothing.

Also having the same problem with dialog on ABC.

Hope they get them both fixed soon.

Omar

Is there anyway for us all to get together and put the pressure on the local stations to get things right (i.e. email, phone, etc)? The more contacts they get, the sooner things will be done.

I would be for that. I finally took the plunge and got a new zenith stb for Christmas. ABC on Tuesday night didn't have an audio track, they had music and laugh tracks, but that was it. FOX still isn't transmitting!! I haven't gotten anything on NBC yet. I would love to start putting pressure on the local networks to get this stuff right, and up and running. Thats actually why I waited so long to get an STB. BTW I am over in Collierville and seem to get a decent signal with a radio shack set top antenna that I bought. I am going to go see if I can find a silver sensor this weekend, seems to be one of the better indoor antennas. Whats everyone else in Memphis using?

Gut

radu, I have a UM1000A satellite receiver that I use through a BUD to receive the national feeds... Bought it a few years ago in their bankrupcy sale and have never regretted it.

dd