Little Rock, AR - HDTV - Page 8

Got this from AETN today:
QUOTE:
AETN Engineering staff is anticipating receiving an extension from the FCC for delayed sign-on until May 2004. We are currently in the process of installing digital microwave links between the production center in Conway and the five transmitters across the state.

The data is supplied by Tribune Media Services. They sell programming guide info to DirecTV.
http://www.tms.tribune.com/products.html
http://biz.zap2it.com/

Send complaints to:
listings@zap2it.com

They are also incorrectly showing NBC HD programs for KARK-DT as being in "HD". Of course, KARK is too cheap to buy HD equipment and has no HD broadcasts.

Has anyone else noticed audio problems lately on (CBS) KTHV-DT, 11-1? It's a sort of "stuttering" sound on CBS network programming. Local seems to be OK.

If you have noticed this problem, please report it to:
technicalservices@todaysthv.com

During the day, you can call 501 376-1111
At night, call the 24 hour news line. I think it's 501 244-4565 (if not, it's in the book).
They *will* let the MCO know.

I heard from a friend that the problem is coming from a new satellite receiver that KTHV recently received from CBS. Probably for the DD 5.1 conversion. Hopefully, they can get the problem resolved soon, because channel 11's analog reception sucks at my house.

Unless you're in a valley surrounded by hills:
If you get a good fringe antenna and low noise preamp (CM 7777), you can probably get this full power station:
(FOX) KLRT-DT 16-1 (RF ch 30) (FOX has no HDTV, only "digital"). 1,000 kW ERP

You may also be able get these stations:
(CBS) KTHV-DT 11-1 (RF ch 12) (HDTV) 27.5 kW ERP
(Radar)KTHV-DT 11-2 (RF ch 12) (Live local radar) 27.5 kW ERP
(UPN) KASN-DT 38-1 (RF ch 39) (HDTV) 1,000 kW ERP Pine Bluff

I doubt seriously if you can get these low power stations as far away as Hot Springs:
(NBC) KARK-DT 4-1 (RF ch 32) (No NBC HDTV and very low power - 4kW ERP)
(ABC) KATV-DT 7-1 (RF ch 22) (HDTV) 30kW ERP Pine Bluff

http://antennaweb.org is a good starting point for station reception probability and an antenna aiming map, but is not always accurate.

bump edit

[I'd be pissed if I dropped thousands on an HDTV and couldn't get any locals]

If you're referring to the CM 3020, it's a good antenna. Just don't pay any attention to the "mileage" rating that it, or any other antenna lists. Ask Lowes if you can return it if it doesn't work for you.

You will need a good high gain LOW NOISE preamp. A preamp is an antenna amp that connects outside on the mast, near the antenna. One that many people in this forum have had good luck with is the CM 7777 VHF/UHF preamp. You can get one from Warren Electronics or Solid Signal online for about 60 bucks. Don't bother with the cheaper models sold at Lowe's or Rat Shack. Many of them don't work well, and are a crap shoot at best.

Do you live in a valley? Are there tall hills between you and the stations' transmitters? This may affect reception a lot. Does your TV have a built in OTA tuner?

You may also want to contact the stations and ask if they have "digital" viewers in your area. Call and ask to speak to Master Control Op or an engineer.

Not really BS, assuming a digital station is broadcasting at sufficient power. Digital is more efficient, so it only takes a fraction of the power needed for a comparable analog station, other things being equal. It's a very rough estimate, though.

Sometimes the opposite is true. A digital station may be receivable, while the analog is unwatchable, due to ghosts or snow. That is true at my house, where multipath ghosts make some analog channels unwatchable on my big screen tv. However, the digital channel on the same antenna comes in perfectly. Here are some screen grabs of analog vs digital on my TV. They are from a cheapie digital camera, so the quality isn't too great, but you can see the difference.

About the only way to find out for sure if you can receive DTV is to try it at your house. You can purchase OTA tuners at Best Buy, Sears or Circuit City - they all take STB returns. If you can't receive anything, just can return the box for a full refund. Lowe's may take the antenna back that you mentioned, if it's in good condition. You can buy a CM 7777 preamp at warrnelectronics.com or solidsignal.com. They may not take returns, but you could easily sell the preamp on eBay or on the links at the top of this page.

You'll have to ask Dish folks about their STB return policy though. I would call some of the local Dish installers in Hot Springs, or Custom Satellite in LR.

Azanon,
It may have been during KTHV's DD 5.1 upgrade attempt. The sat receiver they got was defective. They've switched back to their old equipment, so the problem should be gone now. Here's a portion of an email I received from them re the problem:


>From: "Wilson, Russell"
>Subject: KTHV-DT audio


>.... CBS recently delivered a
>new HD decoder to KTHV. This decoder has some intermittent audio
>problems and has been removed form service. The old equipment is back
>on line.
>
>If you continue to have problems please let me know by email or give
>me a phone call at
>501 376-1111
>
>Thanks for you help.
>
>Russell Wilson
>KTHV

allenf,

I noticed y'all have been doing HD promo ads on KASN UPN38-1.
Nice to see your station promoting HDTV

In terms of PQ, Jake 2.0 is better, IMO.
They both seem a bit "soft"; a bit too filmlike for me.

They still look a helluva lot better than Standard Def!

Yep. Had to jump to the ANALog channel, but flipped back later during a break and noticed y'all had it fixed. Thanks!

S**t happens

Azanon,
When katv forgets to "throw the HD switch", go here:
http://www.katv.com/contact.hrb

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