Montgomery, AL - HDTV

Just received a reply from WSFA. TitanTV lists them as going live 5-1. The station manager e-mailed in reply to my e-mail that they have just received their construction permit and hope to be on the air by October or November. I guess PBS still plans to be on the air in May. Other than that,
not much happening here (except faux HD Fox says they will be on the air in June--I guess widescreen 480p is better than nothing). Stan

Fox network doesn't have any HDTV programming.

Some Fox network affiliates upconvert Fox's 480p to 1080i, but it certainly isn't HDTV quality.

That's what I meant by faux HD Fox. At least I get NBC and CBS high def
(on a hit and miss basis) via antenna from B'ham. I'll have to be satisfied with that for the forseeable future.

I am on the far side of Lake Martin from Montgomery and just bought a Mits 65813. What can I expect in OTA signal from Montgomery. TitanTV keeps giving me Bhm stations and I just don't think I can get those channels from here.

What is the status of the Montgomery stations?

What antenna will I need if it is possible? I live near Stillwaters and the Blue Creek Marina.

Thanks

WNCF--ABC (32-1) is broadcasting at apprx. 58kw. They are passing through the ABC HD signal (all of ABCs primetime dramas and sitcoms are in HD) as well as DD 5.1 (that was a pleasant surprise). Their tower is
south/south west of Montgomery. I am about 15 miles north of Montgomery and I am receiving a strong signal from the backside of my antenna (oriented towards B'ham for CBS and NBC). You might or might not be able to get WNCF--you'll just have to try. I am getting a very strong signal from APT (100% on my receivers signal strength meter). They have one channel (27-1) dedicated to HD programming, and one channel (27-2) which is a mirror of their analog channel (26). WSFA should be on the air at full power around February. WAKA (CBS) is not even on the radar screen. You should have no trouble with the APT signal and possibly receive the ABC signal. If WSFA-NBC comes on the air at full power, as planned, you should have no problem receiving that signal. With a good deep fringe antenna you might be able to have the best of both worlds (I get B'ham from the front side of my antenna and Montgomery from the backside. (WCOV-FOX is broadcasting but at a very low power--my receiver has locked onto that signal only once. They are not passing FOX's
480p signal.)

I am picking up both FOX 20-1 and ABC 32-1 up fine, very strong signal. I am not getting PBS, but I really don't watch it at all so I'm not trying to find it. I am anxiously awaiting WSFA coming on the air. WAKA is worthless. I am in Millbrook the antenna is in my attic and is pointing S/SE at about 160 degrees. Good luck snagging signals.

Where are you located? I am in Elmore (between Wetumpka and Millbrook)
and get strong signals from both WNCF (32-1) and APT (27-1). APT registers 100% on my signal strength meter and WNCF is 69% I've only gotten FOX one time (but FOX doesn't do HD at this time-only 480p with plans to start HD next Fall). WCOV doesn't even pass on the 480p signal.
(The HD on APT is outstanding--although, for the most part it is a demo loop
with some different programming thrown in--the PBS national feed.) I'm looking forward to WSFA also. I'm getting NBC and CBS from B'ham on a very irregular basis (depending on atmoshperic conditions).

(From all indications WAKA is holding out as long as possible.)

I live in Millbrook off of Browns Rd right off Hwy 14. I could probably snag PBS but I really don't watch it. I have picked up FOX and it is coming in strong, but I know the picture is 480p.

APT is good demo material if nothing else. The nature documentaries are great eye candy. I guess I could get FOX if I oriented my antenna towards Montgomery but then I would loose the HD signals from the NBC and CBS stations in B'ham. If WCOV would increase their power I should be able to get it from the backside of my antenna (like WNCF and APT)-but I watch very little on FOX anyway. Initially, WNCF was low power and I didn't get them, now they are up to 58 kw--still low but I get a strong signal now. At least, us in central Alabama have something to talk about finally. I've gone from two channels when I first got my HDTV two years ago to 10 channels (of course, 6 of those are satellite).

but I didn't want to hang a big antenna outside my house. If I was more isolated I probably would do it. I am looking forward to WSFA coming online early next year (2-1-04??) Maybe one day FOX will go HD and start showing programs in at least 720P. I'll probably have moved back to Birmingham before WAKA gets off their butt and does something.

That surprised me too. I thought WSFA would be the first. I get CBS from B'ham, but only at night (and not all the time). You're right it hurts to know AL is in HD on CBS and we've got to watch a crappy standrad def signal (and we still will not have it next year if WAKA sticks to their plans--and maybe not even the next year). But, we are moving slowly into the digital
age. (ESPN HD is our saviour this year--wish they could work out a deal with the SEC for next year's games).

I'm not getting 32-1 tonight. I assume it's weather related. Anybody else having problems? Also, I lost the APT digital signal a few nights ago. Is there a problem with them or is it just me? I was getting the APT signal at 100% on my receiver's signal strength meter. Thanks.

32-1 was back this morning. Still no APT.

I had no issues picking up 32-1 last night. I did notice PBS was off early yesterday morning but was back on by the evening when I got home. I don't know what the issue was w/ that.

The next morning 32-1 was fine but I'm still not getting APT. Apparently, they must have reduced their power. As it was I was even able to get it with an indoor antenna.

They must either be dropping power at night or shutting down, it was on last night when I went to bed and was off this morning before I went to work.

I'm going to send an e-mail and see what's going on (if I get a response).
I wish somebody from APT would browse this board to keep us up to date.

APT is only on from about 10:30am to 10:00pm.

Since about last Wednesday, I haven't gotten a signal at any time of the day or night. Up to that time I had been getting a signal at 100% on my signal strenght meter. Thats why I think they must have lowered their power.

I received a reply to my e-mail to APT from Charles Grantham, Director of Engineering for APT. The problem was with thier PSIP signal. He said that they had entered it into the system correctly now. When I rescanned,
I once again had APT digital (27-1, 2).

Is there power down low again. I have not been able to pick up anything at 26-1 or 27-1 in the last couple of days.

I'm not getting them either. I e-mailed them but I haven't heard back. It may still be a PSIP problem. I'm showing 26-1 and 27-1 now. My signal strength is showing 100% but there is no picture or sound. (I'm also showing the channel numbers for several APT stations that were added to my guide after that reset this PSIP signal a few day ago. Hopefully, they will get things worked out soon.

Antenna Web is now showing PBS as being under review, they must have dropped power when they switched to 26-1 from 27-10 and 27-1. Have you heard anything back from them yet?

No, I still haven't heard anything. I've gotten a brief signal a couple of times when I have checked the channel, but, generally, I'm not getting picture or sound (but 100% on my signal strength meter). Not sure what's going on. I'll send another e-mail and see if I can get a reply. I have to hand it to WNCF, except for one time when I lost it, their signal has been solid as a rock. Hopefully, I can say the same thing about WSFA when they finally get on the air, hopefully, in February. Not much I can say about WAKA.

I got a reply from Charlie Grantham, Director of Engineering. He said a board went out in their PSIP generator and they are waiting on a replacement to arrive in the next day or so. At least the power hasn't been lowered, and we should have the signal back in a few days.

32-1 ABC (Channel 51) Avearage about 75%
20-1 FOX (Channel 16) Average about 98% - been 100% when fine tuned
26-1 PBS (Channel 27) Average about 100%
26-2 PBS (Channel 27) Average about 100%

I had the Samsung tuner SIR 160 OTA and a Yaggi. I was able to sometimes pull in Dothan's Channel 4-1 CBS But traided the SIR with my dad because I got a Toshiba SAT receiver with built in OTA tuner. I must say I miss my Samsung SIR 160 OTA. I cannot pull in Birmingham or Dothan with the Toshiba. I also upgraded my outdoor antenna. I now use a Channel Master 4228 type hybrid with preamp. I can now pull in Fox 20-1 at 100% with it drop down to 95% every now and then.
I live on a side of a hill so I cannot pull any Birmingham stations. But I wonder if I could have with the Samsung SIR 160. Might just get me another one.

I live in Deatsville behind Holtville High School. I pointed my antenna (Per antenna web) to channel 30 out of Bham. It says I should be able to pull it in but like I said I live on the side of a hill. I think it is my receiver. It is one of the 169 time com mods. I might could see if my dad will let me borrow the SIR 160 again to see what I can pull in. I really wish the SIR 161 (for sat and local) had not taken out the firewire port or I would have snapped it up. That SIR 160 was a nice box.

Update
After trying to get best signal by turning my antenna I still cannot get enough signal for 32-1
32-1 has been very weak the past week. Have not gotten a good lock the past few days. 17-23%
20-1 has been a little weak but can lock on. 53%
26-1 has been broadcasting something that has thrown MYHD and my set top box out of wack for that past few days. That's two receivers getting 100% but something wrong with the signal. It was ok last night tho. 100%
26-2 has been fine. 100%

Slapout/Holtville

32-1 has been very strong and stable for me for a while. This week it has been almost perfect with only a very rare audio dropout. I can't get 20-1 at all. My receiver locked onto it one time but that has been it. 26-1 is good now although for a while the picture was unwatchable. They seem to be having problems keeping a stable signal on the air. I would probably get 20-1 if I oriented my antenna towards Montgomery instead of B'ham but I only watch one program on Fox anyway.