Little Rock, AR - HDTV - Page 5

Ok well Broadway's coming out tomorrow. They are going to put me up a "batwing" antenna that will be anchored to the dish, but not directly on it, since it is really an independant antenna. They told me this will be an upgrade to the standard terk that they normally put on the dishes when people want an OTA antenna.

It will be a stationary antenna (no rotor), but they agreed to allow me to "try it out" and see just what i can pick up with it. I wont have my HD tv set up by then, but i'm going to assume if i can get a clear picture on abc and cbs, that I should be able to get a strong enough HD signal from those networks.

Azanon

I didnt tell Broadway i intended to get a HD receiver, but i did make sure that they'd install a multi-satellite dish. I agree with your initial suggestion to "KISS", and just call DirectTV later when i'm ready to swap in my HD receiver, and add the HD package.

I'm glad you told me about the amp for the anternna, because i told them i didnt want it. Antennaweb told me i didn't need amps cause i'm not far from the towers, but i'll go ahead and add the amp based on your advise.

Well, I guess i wont know for sure whether I can get the HD signals then based on what you're telling me. But, heck, im practically centered (slightly offcentered) between shinall mountain and Redfield, so i cant imagine a much better location to be in, so hopefully with this decent outdoor antenna i wont have any problems. I grew up in Brinkley Arkansas (60 miles away from LR), and darn it if i can pick up cbs and abc there (which we can), SURELY i can pick them up (comparitavely) sitting under the tower.

I'll make sure and get the Zenith or Sony STB.

Azanon

Just taking a cursory glance at this guys test, the stealthantenna look like the top performer, given that you install the amp: http://www.projectorexpert.com/Pages/antout.html

Now lets just hope that's what "Rickie" meant by "batwing". I swear i talked to the "son" today (that's on TV). How could one mistake his voice?

Azanon

Yeah i love those ads too, though the dad seems senile.

I'll post back here after i get everything hooked up and all to let you know how its going. I just broke the news to the wife about how much the STB is going to cost. Looks like Circuit City is out of the Zeniths, but they have the Sony's in stock. I'll wait and buy it after I get the TV and SD STB running.

I get no audio. On the banner on my SamsungOTA HD broadcasts usually say "digital/AC 3".

On 7-1 it only says "digital". All other channels are working fine, including 7-2.

Is it my receiver or KATV?

I'd rather buy locally. Unless there's major issues with the Sony, i'll just go with it.

Your screenshot is exactly like mine.

I have the Samsung T-160 also.

I will call Mr. Tidwell.

Sam- I just corrected the EPG problem with KASN & KLRT. The computer that grabs guide info from Tribune was hung. Tried emailing you, but email kept bouncing.

Hey guys, I live in Hot Springs and was wondering if the OTA signals from the Little Rock stations are strong enough to be received down here. I'd like to make the jump to HDTV, but not if I can only get it off of DirectTV.

Also, whats the deal with Dish Network? No one has mentioned them as an option for HD. Is it even an option?

thanks for any advice

I removed the zip code from my Local Network configuration and now I have audio on 7-1, but no guide data for KATV. So I decided to put the zipcode back to see if the problem would return but the receiver says it is receiving data and goes to 100%, waits a few more minutes and never sets the location to Little Rock or retains the zipcode setting.

I have tried a variety of zip codes and all produce the same results. Maybe DirecTV is having a problem with guide data?

Any thoughts?

Arxaw,

Well, broadway's coming back out again today... they didnt have a tall enough ladder yesterday (my house is quite tall, and on a mountain). I'm going to just have them point the batwing towards Shinall. CBS is the highest quality one of them (cause my tv is native 1080i), so i'd just prefer i get a solild hit on it. I'm just hoping i'll be able to get ABC, UPN, and the others when they eventually go to full power with HD down the line.

I've seen at least one person here actually getting ABC HD with just an indoor antenna, so surely i can get it with an outdoor antenna with me being on this mountain and my tall house sitting on it, regardless of which way i have the antenna pointing.

I was delighted to see the sony HD receiver will come with a DVI cable. I thought i'd have to pay another century note for that cable, but i guess i wont.

Oh, and the technician was laughting at me, asking me "are you sure you want this batwing antenna in this neighborhood? I have this much more visually pleasing terk that goes right on the antenna". I smiled and answered.... "YUP!, i want the batwing!".

Azanon

arxaw,

I spoke with Mr. Tidwell yesterday and he suggested the same procedure you did.

Have you changed your zipcode since the firmware upgrade that came out last May? I don't think I have. Maybe there's a bug in the code.

hpb

arxaw,

Thanks for the info. I'll give it a try tonight. I don't have a favorites list or have any special configuration so it shouldn't be that big a deal.

If it were my TiVo that would be a different story !

hpb

arxaw,

That did the trick. Everything is back the way it should be.

Thanks,

hpb

I wound up getting the Zenith 520. They had it mispriced for 499 (instead of 599) and gave me the lower price, weee!

The antenna they installed for me was a Wineguard GS-1000, without a preamp. They call it a batwing, and that's what it looks like, but Wineguard GS-1000 is the official name. As i mentioned before, it is an outdoor VHF/UHF antenna installed, attached to my satellite dish.

I'd say my reception was a success. I decided to point it towards Redfield, and i'm getting in both 7 and 11 DT, afaik without dropouts (see radar screen on 11-2, and 7-2 comes in perfect but just stretched shows so far). Naturally, 7, 38, and 2 are almost crystal clear on non-digital. Channel 4 on non digital is pretty good, but channel 11 is unwatchable (SD). Fox is also unwatchable ND, and i dont believe the DT for 16 is coming in either.

So far, my HDTV viewing has been stunning, watching mainly a mix of HD Disc, HDnet, and HD movies. I havent had the chance to see a real OTA HD show yet so I look forward to that.

Azanon

Well, on your list i'm not getting 4-1 or 16-1. All i can say about channel 4 is, as i understand it, local NBC digital is being transmitted really low power and is also not HD yet, so I dont see that as being my antenna's fault nor do i really care anyway since it isnt HD. Furthermore, the NBC tower is also opposite direction my "directional" antenna is pointed.

Fox is also simply the other direction and whether my antenna was good or bad, it is definitely a directional antenna pointed the opposite direction of this tower. Like NBC, it isnt HD yet anyway, and wont be for at least another year. I cant remember if you said Fox is transmitting digital full power yet. Hopefully they arnt and i'll be able to get it when they do.

I installed the HD box myself after broadway finished their work. It went pretty painless, and i had it installed, up, and running in an hr or so.

I'm crossing my fingers on one potential problem that i guess i'll have the answer for tonight when abc and cbs broadcast a couple HD shows. Right now, both 7-1, and 11-1 are making my tv show a 4:3 image when i am in i1080 mode (my tv's native resolution). On those 2 channels, I have to put it on 480p to get it to fill my widescreen. I'm hoping that is just because they are showing 480i programming now, but i guess i'll find out tonight. My TV's ability to adjust the various widescreen modes is disabled since both my satellite video and OTA antenna is running through my STB and the input of video to the TV is via the DVI cable.

Azanon