Philadelphia, PA - Comcast - Page 8

Hi everyone. I'm alittle new at repling but I've been doing alot of reading in this site for awhile now. I'm currently looking into buying a STB and an OTA .I live about 7miles east of phila, Maple Shade,NJ .In buying an OTA is it better to buy a higher gain antenna or just buy one that I only need to do the job?Would it be good to have a pre-amp or rotor ?I appreciate all advise,Thanks.

Where you are with a direct line of site and flat terrain, you have no need for a pre-amp. Probably any decent UHF antenna will do for you.

Hello, everyone!

I've recently purchased a digital tuner (Samsung SIR-T165), which arrived last Monday, so I am joining you on the frontiers of DTV. This thread has been very informative in explaining why I have been receiving all of the local OTA digital channels except WCAU (NBC). I'm looking forward to receiving their signal when their new transmitter comes online.

In case you are curious, I live in Center City (a bit Southwest from Rittenhouse Square) and have a rooftop antenna (no cable, no satellite). My TV is a recent HDTV model (Sony 34" widescreen: 34XBR800 ).

I have a question about the sound portion of the digital broadcasts. I understand that digital TV stations are CAPABLE of broadcasting Dolby Digital 5.1 signals. However, so far I have not received any 5.1 audio (as far as I can tell).

Can anyone say whether the local Philly OTA digital channels are broadcasting Dolby Digital 5.1? I AM successfully getting Dolby Digital 2.0 as appropriate (PCM digital on the analog channels), but I cannot tell whether I am not getting 5.1 because of a problem with my digital tuner (or other configuration), or whether there is no 5.1 signal present to receive so far.

I do have my digital STB configured for Dolby Digital 5.1 and I have my STB connected with a digital (optical) cable to my receiver. My receiver has an indicator that lights up when Dolby Digital 5.1 signals are processed (e.g., from the DVD player).

Thanks to anyone who can shed some light on this issue.

Only ABC (WPVI) broadcasts in dolby digital 5.1 in the Philadelphia area. Every show that I have seen on ABC that is HDTV, my dolby digital 5.1 indicator light comes on on my receiver. Not every show utilizes the surround speakers though. Mainly the ABC movies that are in HDTV (like A Bug's Life, a few weeks ago).

Eric

Thanks, caesar1.

Naturally, a few hours after posting my message, I was flipping around the digital stations and noticed that the Dolby 5.1 indicator came on for the first time since I hooked up my HDTV tuner. The channel was WPVI, and they were broadcasting the film "Jingle All the Way."

If there is only one channel broadcasting 5.1 in our area so far, I'm glad it's ABC, since I was looking forward to the Paul McCartney concert on Wednesday night. I assume (hope) that it will be broadcast in 5.1. So what if he's a dinosaur. So am I!

Thanks for the response.

WCAU-DT NBC was down Saturday night, but back on Sunday. Maybe they moved or were testing.

Hopefully, they will be up and running at the new location and power by 11/30 as estimated.

I've been checking (rescanning) Channel 10 and 67 every night. So far nothing from E. Brunswick. I'm still a little puzzled as to why TitanTV has dropped NBC from the list of digital stations in my area. I always used to get the listing.

Alright, here goes....philly summary and questions!
all info according to fcc website.

Antenna 1 @ 40d2m33s, 75d14m33s
-------------------------------------------------
CBS(KYW) @ 770 kW at 440m above sea level
**ABC(WPVI) @ 500 kW at 456m a.s.l.


Antenna 2 @ 40d2m30s, 75d14m11s
-------------------------------------------------
WB(WPHL) @ 500 kW at 419m a.s.l.
UPN(WPSG) @ 250 kW at 462m a.s.l.
**NBC(WCAU) @ 560 kW at 441m a.s.l.
??PBS(WYBE) @ 500 kW at 408m a.s.l.
??PBS(WHYY) @ 337 kW at 323m a.s.l.


Antenna 3 @ 40d2m26s, 75d14m19s
-------------------------------------------------
**FOX(WTXF) @ 1000 kW at 345m a.s.l.


**I think these are not actually on the towers yet, soon to come!!
??Not sure if these are at full power yet or even on the designated tower yet!!


I'm in Egg Harbor, NJ, about 50 miles from the towers and i'm getting the following on my t151 w/ roof mounted radio shack uhf antenna and 10dB signal amp.

CBS with 8 bars
UPN with 5 bars
WB with 4 bars
breakouts are minimal to non-existent!


QUESTIONS:

Why am I not receiving ABC right now...is it running at full power on the antenna shown on the FCC website?

If not already, when will the following stations be up and running at full power on the FCC designated antennas? FOX, PBS, NBC, ABC

Fox is not at 1 megawatt. They are at 300kw and won't be at one megawatt until they are up at their new location in the spring. ABC is not at full power due the possible interference with channle 65 in New Jersey. I do not know when PBS will be at theur full power allotment. Also, NBC will be at one megawatt, not 560 kw. I ws told by their engineer three weeks ago that, weather permitting, they would be on at their new tower with UPN and WB as of 11/30. Have not heard anything since.

JWhip, are you currently receiving NBC WCAU's digital broadcast up in Wayne? I cannot tune it in down here in Center City, but I get all of the other digital channels, loud and clear.

WCAU has been assigned to channel 67, correct? I hope you will post here if you become aware of any changes to their signal. Thanks!

No Tim, I do not. I only get WCAU-DT via Comcast cable. Due to terrain problems, I can only get KYW and WPSG, not surprisong given that they are channels 26 and 32 on the UHF band. WCAU-DT is at 67. I do not have to scan for it as it is in the Direct TV guide. I check it every so often and will let you know if I can pick it up. At 1 megawatt at their height, I should be able to pick them up as should everyone else who cannot now. Same should be true for Fox 29 as they are on 42. They need more height for me to get them.

I'm just 4 miles from the Roxborough antenna farm -- I live in Lafayette Hill, PA. With a radioshack indoor antenna attached to a Samsung T151 set top box, I could not get NBC (WCAU) -- with some rare brief exceptions.

I recently had an outdoor antenna installed (Channel Master 3023) -- probably overkill for only 4 miles -- but now get all of the local digital stations (including WCAU) with no problems.

The outdoor antenna install cost me $200.00 -- but I think it was worth it.

Eric

I'm in Chestnut Hill, about 3 miles from the farm. Anyone around with reception experience for my neighborhood?

Caesar:

I also have a rooftop antenna with a rotor (on top of a three story row house) and receive all of the other stations with a strong signal, including Fox.

Have you (or anyone else) tried pointing your antenna Northeast to see if you could tune in any of the NYC stations? There are several broadcasting from the top of the Empire State Building. (Several other digital transmitters were lost in the twin towers tragedy.) From our area, it might be possible to receive 44 (WWOR Fox) or 56 (WCBS).

I have not been able to tune in anything from NYC or northern New Jersey so far, but I have gotten a couple of digital channels from Atlantic City: channel 44 (independent) and 49 (Telemundo). There does not seem to be any programming on either that makes is worth turning around the antenna, though.

Does anyone know if there are any digital stations on the air yet from Reading or Allentown?

WFMZ, channel 69 in on in Reading at UHF 46. So is PBS Wltv at 62.

It's after 11/30 and still no WCAU on the new tower, right? I was hoping to get a nice Thanksgiving weekend gift! Anyone know anything about WCAU's move?

Rob

Hi All,

I am in Royersford, PA. I have a Radio Shack yagi on the roof and am currently receiving:

3-1 KYW STRONG Never a problem
6-1 PVI " "
10-1 WCAU Often get a lot of pixelization, sometimes drops.
12-1 WHYY VERY GOOD, Rarely a problem. Stuning albeit repeated shows.
12-4 Great signal. Just a color bar pattern. What is up with that?
17-1 PHL Usually strong. Sometimes drops.
29-1 TXF (Fox) - Very strong. Rarely a problem

Oddly, when the antenna was sitting on a box inside my garage I was getting UPN but not PBS or NBC. I have not seen UPN since the antenna moved outside.

Prior to the Yagi I tried a Terk stick antenna. Waste of time and money out this way.

I am considering a professional install with rotator and a one of those UHF panel style antennas. I suspect I could then pull in Reading and maybe Allentown.

Can anyone recommend a good installer in the Collegeville area? Someone who is willing to get on top of a high roof (higer than I am willing to climb. It is currently on the garage, I want it on top of the house).

Amphicar770:

You can read more about WHYY's digital broadcasts at this link:

http://www.whyy.org/tv12/dtv/index.html

That page also includes a .pdf (Acrobat) file with the current month's schedule of digital programming. 12-1 simulcasts the WHYY analog channel's programming in the morning and afternoon, and then they switch from their standard-definition digital signal to their high-definition digital signal in the evening. Whenever there is no special program scheduled to be broadcast in the evening (see schedule), they run a continuous cycle of short documentary films produced in HDTV as a "demo loop." It's tedious stuff after you have seen it a few times, but it's a great reliable way for us to show off our HDTV tuners to visitors!

One big advantage to digital broadcasting is that the station controlling the channel can split the signal into sub channels. 12-4 is one of those subchannels. (Why it is not 12-2 or 12-3 is a mystery to me.) I actually saw content broadcast on 12-4 when I first got my HDTV tuner. It was probably on November 18 or 19, and the show was some medical education program.

WHYY can potentially lease time on that subchannel to corporate or institutional entities to earn some extra $$ for the station. I've read elsewhere that some PBS digital stations use a subchannel to broadcast PBS Kids shows on a continuous cycle.

I have also not yet gotten a signal on 67 for WCAU (NBC). I realize that the November 30 date must have been a goal rather than a deadline. I hope if anyone here is on friendly terms with the good people at WCAU, you might ask about the status of their new broadcast facility. I for one am looking forward to it greatly!

FOX is almost unwatchable (from Hamilton). Sunday was the first chance to see the Eagles in "Widescreen", every 5 seconds the pix would break-up. Signal never got above 45. I glad the Superbowl isn't on FOX for a couple of years, it may take that long to get a stonger signal from 'TXF.

Philly Tim,
It looks like the other PBS channels, 12.2 and 12.3 are used by NJN on 43.2 and 43.3 or 80.2 and 80.3. Try these channels.

As for WCAU, it is my weakest signal, but I do get it, however some days are better than others.

Luckily I have Comcast for WCAU.

Last night was the first time I was able to receive WCAU for long stretches of time althought the signal, being in the high 40's, would brake constanly. I am hoping that they were testing their new facilities and were not broadcasting full strength.

Any one has some info on this ?

I scanned for channel 10 and 67 last night, but got nothing.

43.3 and 43.4 are the signal from WNJT, which shows up as 52.1 when the HDTV loop is on. I think they have PSIP problems with the subchannels. The transmitter is in Lawrenceville, NJ.
Oddly, I get FOX 29.1 fine in Hamilton with a silver sensor antenna in my family room. Not that it's worth it ....

I'm about 30 miles from the antenna farm and use a CM 3023 with pre-amp as the only way to pick up WCAU. Antenna is on the roofline, pointed through some monster pine trees. Lately, I get fewer drop outs on WCAU than on CBS which is a supposedly stronger signal. It's all very odd and tweaky, this OTA stuff.

I had no signal yesterday, but, tonight, I am getting constant signal from WCAU-DT in the high 40's and low 50's. Right now I am getting Leno in Hi-Def with no signal loss. It's just beautiful !!!

I just don't understand the change. Maybe it's because of the cold ???

Here's to more low temperatures

That's rather frustrating, Franzius. I'm closer to the transmitter than you are, have an unobstructed signal path, receive all of the other digital stations clearly, but still get nothing on channel 67. Maybe yours is bigger than mine. (Your antenna, I mean!)

As for weather conditions, I can never remember which conditions favor different broadcast signals. For instance, I think that AM radio travels a lot farther under cloudy conditions for some reasons, but FM signals do better in clear conditions? I don't know how weather affects TV-band signals. I think it was just as cold in Philly last night as in Jersey. )

Philly Tim: Based on where you are, you are probably getting multipath -- which keeps you from getting WCAU. What type of antenna are you using? A Yagi (directional) is better for multipath.

I'm only 4 miles from the antenna farm, but occasionally have problems obtaining PBS (WHYY), I believe due to mulit-path coupled with their weak signal. Once I lock it though, it stays -- but sometimes I have a little trouble locking onto it -- which means I then have to change to another channel and then go back to PBS.

I usually lock onto the other stations within 1 to 2 seconds. PBS can take up to 5 seconds -- sometimes a little longer.

My rooftop antenna is a large Yagi (Channel Master 3023). All the other stations lock up a lot faster than PBS. My signal strength meter (on my Samsung T151) shows 9 curved bars steady for all stations, except for PBS. PBS varies from 5 to 7 bars. 9 bars is really 100% for the Samsunt T151 -- it never goes higher.

Eric

Haven't kept up with this thread for a while. Anyone here using a DirecTV HD receiver? Are you getting the proper schedule/program titles for WB & UPN? I only get "regular schedule" in my DirecTV Guide.

Brajesh,

Same with me. I only get "Regular Schedule" for 17 and 57.
I just sent DirecTV an e-mail about it, but I'm not expecting much.