AVS › AVS Forum › HDTV › Local HDTV Info and Reception › Portland, OR - HDTV
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Portland, OR - HDTV - Page 132

post #3931 of 8581
7/14/05 at 3:04pm
Quote:


I wonder what would be different between KGW and KING that results in problems in Portland and not in Seattle?

The equipment your station has, you guys have DD5.1 and local HD that we don't have too.
Reply
Reply

AVS Top Picks

post #3932 of 8581
7/14/05 at 3:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Moorebid View Post

I decided to record tonight's episode of Smallville (which, it turns out, I don't even remember missing the first time it aired), and was rather aghast at how bad the picture quality was. For the entire 60 minutes of the recording, it averaged about 14mbps, but there were times when it looked like a bad SD upconvert. *shrug*

Smallville is a very soft looking show. They use tons of filters and the HD versions don't look that much better than the DVD's.

Quote:


One of the things I noticed was that they don't appear to be employing 3:2 encoding. Stepping through frame by frame, it's obvious that every 4th frame is encoded in duplicate. If they'd switch the 3:2 flag on, they could achieve quality comparable to the likes of HBO, Showtime and Starz not perfect, but noticably better than what they're currently achieving. Their encoder is new enough, surely it must have a setting for that built in.

KOIN is the only OTA station I've seen use the MPEG flags correctly. All the rest send complete duplicate frames for no reason. You would think at least FOX wouldn't be doing this but they are.
Reply
Reply
post #3933 of 8581
7/15/05 at 12:08am
LOL, see what happens when everyone writes in to complain about the out of sync audio on HD, they turn it off and give us SD instead. hahaha!!!
Reply
Reply
post #3934 of 8581
7/15/05 at 12:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by scowl View Post

Smallville is a very soft looking show. They use tons of filters and the HD versions don't look that much better than the DVD's.

I would agree to a certain extent, but this was looking worse than usual (as if I'm qualified to classify what "usual" is ), and certainly worse than what HDNet provides. It can look good; this most definitely did not.
Reply
Reply
post #3935 of 8581
7/15/05 at 8:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by scowl View Post

Smallville is a very soft looking show. They use tons of filters and the HD versions don't look that much better than the DVD's.


KOIN is the only OTA station I've seen use the MPEG flags correctly. All the rest send complete duplicate frames for no reason. You would think at least FOX wouldn't be doing this but they are.

I'm using Microsoft Media Center Editiion and I've noticed that HD shows recorded on KOIN are considerably smaller than those recorded on KGW or KATU (5.5GB vs 8.5GB). I wonder if that comes from KOINs more appropriate use of the MPEG flags as you state? Makes sense...
Reply
Reply
post #3936 of 8581
7/15/05 at 9:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Moorebid View Post

I would agree to a certain extent, but this was looking worse than usual (as if I'm qualified to classify what "usual" is ), and certainly worse than what HDNet provides.

Oh, you're talking about the episode "Scare", aren't you? Glen Winter said that they shot all of the "nightmare" scenes on 16mm to give them a "more than usual" unreal appearance. The last one with Lana "discovering" Clark is Superman was ridiculously underexposed on purpose. That's why it looks so grainy.

I've seen episodes on HDNet and other than the WB's trademark pixelization, I haven't noticed any significant difference. This is not the show where you would see much difference!

I should point out that KWBP has solved all of their recent problems. The 13 Mbps bitrate is, well, what is was before (just adequate) and the wacky black bar on the right is gone.
Reply
Reply
post #3937 of 8581
7/15/05 at 7:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by scowl View Post

Yes there was absolutely no lag in the BSG special. Leno goes through extra steps in production since it's taped, I guess I mean recorded, in L.A. and sent to NBC via phone line before it gets broadcasted.


NBC nor any of the networks have used phone lines for transmission for ten or fifteen years. Everything is on satellite. (NBC uses AMC 1)
Reply
Reply
post #3938 of 8581
7/16/05 at 6:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by scottcorinna View Post

NBC nor any of the networks have used phone lines for transmission for ten or fifteen years. Everything is on satellite. (NBC uses AMC 1)

The version of the Leno show that NBC receives isn't intended for transmission until after NBC has added commercials and their bits to it. Many studios use high speed data lines these days which mostly go through satellites anyway. The landline costs have dropped to where it's a lot cheaper than renting time on a satellite.

The WB was feeding some of its affiliates via phone line, at least for a while. That's why KWBP looked so terrible for a while.
Reply
Reply
post #3939 of 8581
7/16/05 at 8:12pm
Anyone know how to get ahold of someone at KATU (ABC) at this hour. Two weeks in a row the Disney movie that is available in HD is being show in SD by KATU. Anyone know what the deal is?

Thanks
Reply
Reply
post #3940 of 8581
7/16/05 at 9:54pm
If I feel the need to contact them after hours I call the news tip number and ask them to please forward a message to the control room. Sometimes they are friendly and sometimes, well, they're not.
Reply
Reply
post #3941 of 8581
7/19/05 at 12:02am
well, the audio is in sync on KGW tonight...
Reply
Reply
post #3942 of 8581
7/19/05 at 11:29am
I just got HD setup this week with my HDTV Wonder and can get reception in an apartment in Tanasbourne on all the networks as long as I adjust the antenna for certain channels, but I have a couple of questions that hopefully someone can answer.

1)I have a green vertical line on the far right of the screen only on KATU. Is this part of their signal or can I get rid of it somehow?

2)If I got a better ampified indoor antenna than the one that came with the HDTV wonder, can I avoid having to adjust the antenna to get the different towers? I can get good reception(70+) on each channel, it's just that it would be nice to know if it's even possible to avoid having to keep adjusting the antenna.
Reply
Reply
post #3943 of 8581
7/19/05 at 11:35am
Was PBS 10 KOPB-Digital down all weekend??

I put up a new antenna on Friday and afterwards all my channels were stronger signal but I couldn't pick up 27-1 or 27-2 at all. This morning I was surfing and saw a very week KOPB on 27-1.

Are they doing something with their transmitter??
Reply
Reply
post #3944 of 8581
7/20/05 at 10:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by toenut View Post

1)I have a green vertical line on the far right of the screen only on KATU. Is this part of their signal or can I get rid of it somehow?

KATU sends that green line. ABC often makes the line thicker. KOPB sends a similar yellow line on the other side. Overscan on normal HDTV's usually chop it off.

Quote:


2)If I got a better ampified indoor antenna than the one that came with the HDTV wonder, can I avoid having to adjust the antenna to get the different towers? I can get good reception(70+) on each channel, it's just that it would be nice to know if it's even possible to avoid having to keep adjusting the antenna.

Maybe, maybe not. You don't say what kind of antenna you got. Go to antennaweb.org and it will tell you what kind of antenna you need.
Reply
Reply
post #3945 of 8581
7/20/05 at 10:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by scowl View Post

KATU sends that green line. ABC often makes the line thicker. KOPB sends a similar yellow line on the other side. Overscan on normal HDTV's usually chop it off.

Thanks, I was able to fix this last night by adjusting the aspect ratio setting in the HDTV wonder software. It was set to strictly 16:9 and I changed it to auto. This fixed it and everything looked great last night.


Quote:
Originally Posted by scowl View Post

Maybe, maybe not. You don't say what kind of antenna you got. Go to antennaweb.org and it will tell you what kind of antenna you need.

The antenna I have came with the HDTV wonder. It looks exactly like the silver sensor. It works great in my apartment when I point it in the right direction for specific channels. I'm hoping that there is an antenna for me that I don't have to adjust for different channels.
Reply
Reply
post #3946 of 8581
7/20/05 at 4:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by toenut View Post

I'm hoping that there is an antenna for me that I don't have to adjust for different channels.

Like I said, go to antennaweb.org, enter your location and the web site will tell you what antenna you need.
Reply
Reply
post #3947 of 8581
7/29/05 at 3:14pm
I sent an e-mail to Eric Dausman at KGW two weeks ago, inquiring about DD5.1 audio and KGW, and have yet to receive a response.
Has anyone else made the same inquiry and received an answer?

Earl
Reply
Reply
post #3948 of 8581
7/29/05 at 7:11pm
No, but Eric was very responsive to the complaints about the lip sync issue a couple weeks ago. Although, the reply was a canned one that several of us received, it seemed.

What are you asking about 5.1? KGW is not the only digital that doesn't have it here. I can appreciate the expense to the stations who need to upgrade their equipment after being early providers of the HD experience. Sooner or later (probably later) the digitial viewership will justify the expense.

I know, after watching NASCAR on FOX ("crank it up!") the KGW experience is just not quite the same.
Reply
Reply
post #3949 of 8581
7/29/05 at 10:00pm
Quote:


What are you asking about 5.1? KGW is not the only digital that doesn't have it here.

I asked because even though I have never seen KGW send out DD5.1 there have been several people in this thread that have said they do have the capability. In fact the master list of stations broadcasting in HD at the top of this forum even lists it.

So I wanted to know, do they or don't they, and I knew of no better way to find out.
Reply
Reply
post #3950 of 8581
8/4/05 at 2:26pm
Hi- I am new to AVSforum. Building an HTPC currently with MCE 2005.

I live in Dallas, Oregon, west of Salem on the way to the coast. Any Signal tips for my area? HDTV and Analog... I just cancelled dishnetwork. Don't want Charter until they can offer internet too.

I just ordered a Winegard GS-2000 that was recommended to me by TitanTV with the idea that if it didn't work well I could sell it to my friend who is moving to Tualatin from Hillsboro.
Reply
Reply
post #3951 of 8581
8/4/05 at 3:08pm
That antenna might not be quite directional enough for the Portland channels but its worth a try. I live out toward the coastals farther north than you (37 miles from most of the transmitters) and went with a ChannelMaster multi-segment bowtie design with a mast amp for the UHF part because of the distance and because of minor aiming differences even at this distance. I also have a traditional 11 segment with a Yagi for the VHF side of things. The HD comes in good now and the SD is decent for the distance (I mostly rely on DirecTV for the SD side of things).
Reply
Reply
post #3952 of 8581
8/4/05 at 3:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ConanTroutman View Post

Hi- I am new to AVSforum. Building an HTPC currently with MCE 2005.

I live in Dallas, Oregon, west of Salem on the way to the coast. Any Signal tips for my area? HDTV and Analog... I just cancelled dishnetwork. Don't want Charter until they can offer internet too.

I just ordered a Winegard GS-2000 that was recommended to me by TitanTV with the idea that if it didn't work well I could sell it to my friend who is moving to Tualatin from Hillsboro.

Welcome to the forum, Conan. I helped a buddy of mine install an antenna in Dallas and he received most signals OK. I think the only one he had problems with was Fox back before they switched channel assignments. He used a 121" combo VHF/UHF/FM Rat Shack with a Dish 6000. If you point toward Eugene, you should also be able to pick up some of their stations.
Reply
Reply
post #3953 of 8581
8/5/05 at 9:32am
UPS notification tells me that my antenna will show up on Aug 10th. So I will try the little one then and post the results here for other Dallas people. If it doesn't work well I will probably get the PR 7015A and an amp, which was my other recommendation from TitanTV- except that it said it would be good reception if I mount it indoors - not going to do that.
Reply
Reply
post #3954 of 8581
8/5/05 at 11:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ConanTroutman View Post

UPS notification tells me that my antenna will show up on Aug 10th. So I will try the little one then and post the results here for other Dallas people. If it doesn't work well I will probably get the PR 7015A and an amp, which was my other recommendation from TitanTV- except that it said it would be good reception if I mount it indoors - not going to do that.

You might check www.antennaweb.org for your address and see the sorts of antennas it suggests for your address..
Reply
Reply
post #3955 of 8581
8/5/05 at 12:30pm
I installed an OTA antenna last fall when Voom was a good idea. We tried a variety of items starting inside, moving to the attic and eventually ended up with a large Channel Master antenna on the gable end extending about 8 feet above the roof line. On this pole I have the large CM 3620 and a CM 4228 with CM 7777 amp on only the 4228.

This did work all winter until about April, as the stuff got greener the channels faded into the ether. At one time all of the local channels worked. Today PBS does not work and NBC is marginal, UPN is worse than NBC. ABC, CBS and FOX are OK, WB is good enough.

I think I am close but not close enough to function well.

Does anyone know of a Vancouver or Portland based OTA installer who could install something taller or bigger? I have plenty of room but the appearance may be a WAF discussion item.

nater

this is actually an addiction, maybe treatment would be cheaper
Reply
Reply
post #3956 of 8581
8/5/05 at 4:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by nater View Post

I installed an OTA antenna last fall when Voom was a good idea. We tried a variety of items starting inside, moving to the attic and eventually ended up with a large Channel Master antenna on the gable end extending about 8 feet above the roof line. On this pole I have the large CM 3620 and a CM 4228 with CM 7777 amp on only the 4228.

This did work all winter until about April, as the stuff got greener the channels faded into the ether. At one time all of the local channels worked. Today PBS does not work and NBC is marginal, UPN is worse than NBC. ABC, CBS and FOX are OK, WB is good enough.

I think I am close but not close enough to function well.

Does anyone know of a Vancouver or Portland based OTA installer who could install something taller or bigger? I have plenty of room but the appearance may be a WAF discussion item.

nater

this is actually an addiction, maybe treatment would be cheaper

With those big antennas and amps, you may be suffering from too much signal. (And / or multipath from the second antenna?) I don't know what receiver you're using but with my MyHD card, too much signal has a similar effect as too little. The 'signal strength' meter on the MyHD isn't really based on 'signal strength' but rather error rates. Anyways, I ended up removing the amps from my large RS Yagi and adding about 12db of attenuation and my 'signal strength' improved dramatically. At least in my case, less really was more.

Dave
Reply
Reply
post #3957 of 8581
8/8/05 at 8:51pm
Has anyone else lost KPDX?
Reply
Reply
post #3958 of 8581
8/8/05 at 9:49pm
yeah, i've lost UPN too (KPDX?) -> but then I'm using my VOOM box as an OTA receiver, and it only tunes to Channel 49 - and from the first page of this thread, it appears that UPN has moved to Channel 48 - unless thats a typo.

-Y
Reply
Reply
post #3959 of 8581
8/8/05 at 11:16pm
I just did a rescan on my Voom box and it did not change from 49 to 48, it's still trying to pull in 49.
Reply
Reply
post #3960 of 8581
8/9/05 at 7:50am
I was barely getting any signal from KPDX last night. It would flash a pixelated picture every few seconds.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Local HDTV Info and Reception

AVS Top Picks

AVS › AVS Forum › HDTV › Local HDTV Info and Reception › Portland, OR - HDTV