Rockford, IL - HDTV - Page 9

Regardless of how the end product is encoded, it's still the same frequency whether it's an analog or digital.

Reread post 237

Yeah, whether it's analog or digital, it doesn't matter. Two things broadcasting on the same channel closeby interfere with each other.

Incredibly, WIFR-DT still locks for me in Rockford! Now, when there's tropo or skip from the east, that won't happen. But at least for me this morning, WIFR-DT was a bit lower than usual on the signal strength meter, and higher on the packet error meter, but it's still decent enough to lock. Seriously though, if you aren't getting WIFR-Dt now, you do need to call WIFR and let them know. I wonder
if WOCH-LP is at full power.

I've never been able to watch 23 analog (WIFR/WWME) at all because I'm almost exactly in between both signals. But at least I could get WMME on 26.2. This WIFR/WOCH thing really sucks big time.

So far so good for me out in Gilberts receiving WIFR. I have not noticed any difference in my reception since WOCH moved to channel 41. I was very worried since WIFR is also my only source for CBS HD.

Actually, I have been busy so I didn't have time to post---they're only at 25 kw
right now, and they are most definitely broadcasting at that power. If they get approved to go to 150 kw as per their FCC application,
however, all bets are off. There is a null to the northwest so Gilberts isn't getting any significant interference with them. I drive by that community a couple of times a week, and I must say, I like the name!

It should. Fox 47.1 is VHF where most HD stations are UHF.

I have a JVC HD-52G886 and subscribe to Charter Digital. They don't offer FOX-DT, so I put a bow-tie UHF antenna on the roof to receive Fox 39-DT OTA from Rockford Illinois, 12.7 miles from my home in Rockton. I receive all Rockford analog UHF channels perfectly. I don't get any digital channels however. I scanned for digital ATSC channels but none come in. The signal meter says "weak signal." What am I missing?

Thanks for the help Jeff. I guess I should try reading the "User's Guide" a bit closer.

Omni directional antennas like the first 2 dont have very much range but we have had cases where they will pickup 47.1 out of Madison. The other two would be much better choices (if mounted outside)

Which model Terk do you have? I would like to give it a try.

Cool enjoy! Let me know which looks better the OTA or cable for the local HD's

Thats the way it should be but I was just curious. Thanks.

Last night - 02/11/06 - my reception of NBC Rocford 13.1
was VERY bad. Does anyone know if they are having transmitter
issues causing breakups and picture blackouts?

I think that was a national issue due to the snow storm in the northeast (which is supposed to continue through most of today.

I did read this post regarding the nascar race that's on NBC right now, and it looks like that is switching back and forth from HD to SD, possibly the same issue. My fingers are crossed that it gets better today.


http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=643804

Yeah, NBC has a KU-band HD-feed from New York, but they do have a C-band SD feed they can fall back on from Burbank. There's no such backup for the HD feed. KU-band transmission via satellite is more susceptible to outages from precipitation. In this case, the 22.8" of snow they've gotten so far in New York City, and counting!

But...what do I see on WREX-DT...oh no...not a transparent bug in the upper right hand corner! Say it isn't so...I hope that's just for the Olympics.

I am also in the rockford area can anyone help with which receivers are working the best in this area... I have not used the HD on my TV as of yet and would like to start!

I had the same picture breakups on both WREX-DT 13.1 and WMTV-DT 15.1 last night while watching the Olympics.

How much do you want to spend? Have you checked www.antennaweb.org for the distance and directions of the transmitting towers? If not, do that first.

I have the HD DVR from DirecTV. I was wondering in I got an antenna would I be able to receive the Rockford/Madison local channels in HD? Would I also be able to DVR those local channels? How much would it cost me roughly for the antenna and installation? Would I only be able to receive the antenna feed on the HD DVR box, or could I also get that on a second HD box that I have in the bedroom? How clear do the HD locals come in using the antenna?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Where in town do you live? I get all the Madison stations at my house. Which is by Rock Valley College. I use a pretty big antenna with a preamp/amp. I point my antenna NW and i can get everything but 39.1. I'd rather get 47.1 out of Madison because they do broadcast in HD. Do you have any antenna now? If you decide to do it let me know if you need help getting your HDTivo settup for both cities. I would imagine a setup like mine installed would be about $350 with parts and labor, maybe a little less. Of course if you can find a sweet spot like I did you could forgo the rotor which I included in my guestament. But it's nice if I do want to move to get 39.1. I may get 39.1 at my sweet spot if they ever start broadcasting at full strength/ HD. Email me if I can help you out/thru it.

I don't have any antennas now. I have called around town, but not sure who is the best to go with for the installation. Will I be able to use my Directv HD DRV to record the local channels?

Absolutely. You may be able to pick up Rockfords with a rabbit ears or a powered indoor antenna. If you want Madison or probably 39.1 til they boost their signal you will need to go to an outside model.

I was talking to a D* installer today, and asked him when he thought that D* would be offering Rockford locals in HD? To my surprise, he told me "in about a month." He said he has been installing the 5 LBN dishes for customers wanting to be ready for the local HD channels. He also told me that my HD DVR would not work with the new 5 LBN dishes. I called D* to get their take on these developments, and they told me they had no idea when Rockford would be getting HD locals. And that I would be getting a letter in the mail sometime in May regarding switching my current HD DVR box with one that would be compatable with the 5 LBN dish, at no cost to me. Does any of this make sense to anyone else? Do anyone else have any information about D* and Rockford Locals?

I would imagine(as a D* dealer) that it will be a couple years before Rockford gets its locals in HD from D*. I mean we only got SD locals in the last couple of months and how long have they been doing SD locals elseware? I also would be shocked if their replacement mpeg 4 DVR was out before the 3rd quarter. Their is no reason your HR10-250 wouldnt work with a 5 LNB dish. It just can't receive mpeg 4 information.

I live in Rockton and get all of the Madison and Rockford channels with a set of rabbit ears.

I'm 45 miles southwest in Crystal Lake and I can receive WTVO, WREX and WIFR digital with an amped indoor antenna (but no Madison - although I'm pretty sure I could with an outdoor antenna). Shouldn't be too hard for you, I would think.

what kind of indoor antenna do you have?

Low power TBN repeater W52BI has requested to change from channel 52 to
channel 19 and flash-cut to digital, possibly causing interference to
WGN-TV in DeKalb county on the same frequency during "DX".

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-serv...LD1123456.html

Also, W25CL, the low power TBN affiliate, requests channel 38 and a flash-cut
to digital:

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-serv...LD1123041.html

That should interfere with channel 38 in Chicago, which by that time would be
a spanish speaking station.

Right now I'm using a Radio Shack 15-1880 with the 24db amp maxed out. I get equal results with a Silver Sensor and an added on 24db amp. Tonight I was getting CBS-DT Milwaukee rock solid and was actually receiving WQRF-DT for the first time EVER (since they've been on)! Did they just up the power there or something?