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Albany, NY - HDTV - Page 61

post #1801 of 4974
During last night's episode of Lost (5/11) on WTEN-HD I experienced no audio problem. However, there were intermittent picture freeze-ups that were resolved by switching from the HD feed to the SD channel and then back. My assumption is this was caused by TWCs delivery of the HD signal using an SA8300HD-DVR through the HDMI interface. Did anyone else experience problems similar to this?
post #1802 of 4974
Thread Starter 
Quote:


Originally posted by optivity
During last night's episode of Lost (5/11) on WTEN-HD I experienced no audio problem. However, there were intermittent picture freeze-ups that were resolved by switching from the HD feed to the SD channel and then back. My assumption is this was caused by TWCs delivery of the HD signal using an SA8300HD-DVR through the HDMI interface. Did anyone else experience problems similar to this?

I had the exact same experience on the HD OTA feed. So it's not TWC's fault.
post #1803 of 4974
METS back on TWC!

I stumbled across tonight's Mets game on Sports Channel on TWC (26). MSG appears to be on 73 again as well. I wonder it there is any chance we could see an HD channel for the mets this year. Probably not.

Paul
post #1804 of 4974
MasterFX1 -

Any chance of seeing HD broadcasting on the local UPN feed in the near future?
post #1805 of 4974
Thread Starter 
Probably not anytime soon. The UPN coverage on 6-2 will likely never be in HD unless they go to MPEG4 (In which case you'll need a new OTA receiver.)

The original intention was for analog 51 to one-day become digital 51 (no cross-over transition, just an overnight change from analog to digital.) However, with the likely vacancy on rf4 (since WXXA should eventually land on rf7) WNYA will seek to get that as digital assignment.

So the short answer is: No time soon... And with ST: Enterprise now completely cancelled, there is nothing too compelling on UPN offered in HD for technophiles.
post #1806 of 4974
A ? regarding Albany Time Warner & CableCARD. I recently had a CableCARD installed in my DTV. The TV has a digital audio optical out interface, which I have connected to the audio optical input of my DD 5.1 receiver. Analogue sound output to the receiver works fine but as soon as it determines the incoming audio signal is DD the sound is disabled. I called TW regarding this problem and received an unhelpful response... "this feature is not supported."

Does TW believe it makes sense to provide 720p/1080i using a CC but no DD 5.1? What's it going to take to enable this audio signal to get passed to my receiver...?

To express my displeasure... I dropped $50/mo. worth of programming services yesterday and believe I will switch to DSL for Internet access in the near future.

TW... are you listening? If you want people to pay BIG $$$ for 'digital service,' provide the audio too!
post #1807 of 4974
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by optivity View Post

A ? regarding Albany Time Warner & CableCARD. I recently had a CableCARD installed in my DTV. The TV has a digital audio optical out interface, which I have connected to the audio optical input of my DD 5.1 receiver. Analogue sound output to the receiver works fine but as soon as it determines the incoming audio signal is DD the sound is disabled. I called TW regarding this problem and received an unhelpful response... "this feature is not supported."

Check to see if your TV's settings menu has an option to turn on/off digital output.
post #1808 of 4974
Quote:
Originally Posted by MasterFX1 View Post

Check to see if your TV's settings menu has an option to turn on/off digital output.

There is no on/off setting for the optical digital out with this TV. There is only one optical digital audio out connection from the TV to the receiver. Some excerpts from the manual:

"Amplifier Connection (TO AUDIO AMP)

Procedure
1. Select Speakers Off in Audio menu (see page 27).
2. Adjust the amplifier volume to the desired level.

Notes:
Depending on your DVD player and DVD-Audio software the copyright protection function may operate and disable
optical output.
External speakers cannot be connected directly to OUTPUT terminals.
When ATSC channel is selected; the output from the DIGITAL AUDIO OUT jack will be Dolby Digital. When NTSC
channel is selected, the output will be PCM.

Connection Terminals: DIGITAL AUDIO OUT PCM / Dolby Digital, Fiber Optic"

PCM passes through the audio optical connection but when the signal is NTSC I see the front panel of the receiver switch to "Pro Logic" mode and then the sound is disabled."


Why can Albany Time Warner Cable pass PCM but not DD audio through the optical interface when using a CableCARD, and deliver both audio signals through the RCA digital audio output of their HD STBs?
post #1809 of 4974
Quote:
Originally Posted by optivity View Post

Why can Albany Time Warner Cable pass PCM but not DD audio through the optical interface when using a CableCARD, and deliver both audio signals through the RCA digital audio output of their HD STBs?

I have had a CableCARD for almost a year, (my exploits are documented here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...92#post4832592 ) and the lack of technical support you've found is mostly due to ignorance of the CSRs (and often their supervisors, although the head-end techs are more knowledgeable). The CableCARD itself has little to do with the ability to pass/reject DD audio. Its job is merely to map the channels a la STB and decode encrypted channels.

I would recommend you look at your audio receiver input settings. On some units the optical input can be set to a fixed format (PCM, DD, or even DTS for DVDs) in case there are problems with auto-sensing.

Of course, there also could be a bug in the TV's firmware.
post #1810 of 4974
This was originally posted by someone in an other forum here on AVS. Thought it was kinda funny:

How to complain:

Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2005 9:30 AM
Subject: The Brits really know how to complain

We are not the only ones who get poor service from their ISP, cable and/or alarm companies. (NTL is a cable operator in Britain).

The Brits probably write the world's best letters of complaint.

Dear Cretins:

I have been an NTL customer since 9th July 2001, when I signed up for your four-in-one deal for cable TV, cable modem, telephone, and alarm monitoring. During this three-month period I have encountered inadequacy of service which I had not previously considered possible, as well as ignorance and stupidity of monolithic proportions.

Please allow me to provide specific details, so that you can either pursue your professional prerogative and seek to rectify these difficulties or more likely (I suspect) so that you can have some entertaining reading material as you while away the working day smoking B&H and drinking vendor-coffee on the bog in your office.

My initial installation was cancelled without warning, resulting in my spending an entire Saturday sitting on my fat arse waiting for your technician to arrive. When he did not arrive, I spent a further 57 minutes listening to your infuriating hold music, and the even more annoying Scottish robot woman telling me to look at your helpful website. HOW? I alleviated the boredom by playing with my testicles for a few minutes an activity at which you are no doubt both familiar and highly adept. The rescheduled installation then took place some two weeks later, although the technician did forget to bring a number of vital tools -- such as a drill-bit, and his cerebrum.

Two weeks later, my cable modem had still not arrived. After 15 telephone > > calls over four weeks my modem arrived, six weeks after I had requested it and begun to pay for it. I estimate your internet server's downtime is roughly 35% -the hours between about 6pm and midnight, Monday through Friday, and most of the weekend. I am still waiting for my telephone connection.

I have made nine calls on my mobile to your no-help line, and have been unhelpfully transferred to a variety of disinterested individuals who are, it seems, also highly skilled bollock jugglers.

I have been informed that a telephone line is available (and someone will call me back); that I will be transferred to someone who knows whether or not a telephone line is available (and then been cut off); that I will be transferred to someone (and then been redirected to an answering machine informing me that your office is closed); that I will be transferred to someone and then been redirected to the irritating Scottish robot woman. And several other variations on this theme.

Doubtless you are no longer reading this letter, as you have at least a thousand other dissatisfied customers to ignore, and also another one of those crucially important testicle moments to attend to. Frankly I don't care. It's far more satisfying as a customer to voice my frustrations in print than to shout them at your unending hold music.

Forgive me, therefore, if I continue, I thought British Telecom was ****; that they had attained the holy piss-pot of god-awful customer relations; and that no one, anywhere, ever, could be more disinterested, less helpful or more obstructive to delivering service to their customers.

That's why I chose NTL, and because, well, there isn't anyone else is there?

How surprised I therefore was, when I discovered to my considerable dissatisfaction and disappointment what a useless shower of bastards you truly are. You are sputum-filled pieces of distended rectum incompetents of the highest order. BT -- wankers though they are -- shine like brilliant beacons of success in the filthy mire of your seemingly limitless inadequacy.

Suffice to say that I have now given up on my futile and foolhardy quest to receive any kind of service from you. I suggest that you cease any potential future attempts to extort payment from me for the services which you have so pointedly and catastrophically failed to deliver. Any such activity will be greeted initially with hilarity and disbelief and will quickly be replaced by derision, and even perhaps bemused rage.

I enclose two small deposits, selected with great care from my cat's litter tray, as an expression of my utter and complete contempt for both you and your pointless company. I sincerely hope that they have not become desiccated during transit -- they were satisfyingly moist at the time of posting, and I would feel considerable disappointment if you did not experience both their rich aroma and delicate texture. Consider them the very embodiment of my feelings towards NTL, and its worthless employees.

Have a nice day.

May it be the last in your miserable short lives, you irritatingly incompetent and infuriatingly unhelpful bunch of twits.

May you rot in Hell,

Robert Stokes
post #1811 of 4974
Quote:
Originally Posted by ProTuber View Post

I have had a CableCARD for almost a year, (my exploits are documented here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...92#post4832592 ) and the lack of technical support you've found is mostly due to ignorance of the CSRs (and often their supervisors, although the head-end techs are more knowledgeable). The CableCARD itself has little to do with the ability to pass/reject DD audio. Its job is merely to map the channels a la STB and decode encrypted channels.

I would recommend you look at your audio receiver input settings. On some units the optical input can be set to a fixed format (PCM, DD, or even DTS for DVDs) in case there are problems with auto-sensing.

Of course, there also could be a bug in the TV's firmware.

Thanks for your response. I'm under the impression Time Warner has set the CCI bit to: Copy Never. This disables digital output for any digital interface (in my case the optical audio) on the host node. Of course I can't get any 'qualified' support for this issue from Time Warner. My 1st response has been to cancel $50/mo. worth of programming service. I'm now considering switching to DSL for Internet access; and hope to drop Time Warner completely after I find another source for program entertainment.
post #1812 of 4974
Thread Starter 
WRGB has made some "Behind-the-scenes" upgrades to their OTA setup.

1. WRGB has installed and tested a back-up DTV antenna. It is the directional antenna that they had used on their analog tower at 1620' above sea level from July-December 2003. It is mounted at 225' up the Community tower at 2005' above sea level. The ERP is 120 KW using the full power of the solid state transmitter.

2. WRGB is about to turn on a new high power transmitter. The system is rated at 600 KW. If all goes well, Monday June 20th should be the day. It is a new high efficiency design. WRGB will remain at 600 KW on rf-channel 39 until they revert to channel 6 after analog goes away.

Clearly, WRGB continues to lead the local HDTV transition.
post #1813 of 4974
From the WXXA website

WXXA Digital
Status of WXXA-DT as of 6/16/05

1- The FCC has assigned channel 7 as a DTV channel for Albany, NY. This assignment was challenged by broadcast stations in New York City and Watertown, NY. The FCC has dismissed the requests for reconsideration that had been filed against the commission decision to award channel 7 to Albany, NY.

2- WXXA-TV has submitted a construction permit application to operate on channel 7 at a power level of 10 kilowatts effective radiated power.

3- The approximate air date for WXXA-DT will be 120 days after the FCC approves our construction permit application.

4- WXXA-TV currently feeds a HD feed via fiber to Time Warner Cable where it is carried on channel 1808.
post #1814 of 4974
Any help regarding this issue... please respond.

Here is what I'm working with:

Albany Time Warner Digital Cable Subscriber

channel line-up of interest (1800 digital tier):



TH-50PX50U with optical digital audio output, SA PowerKEY Model PKM600 CableCARD, Onkyo TX-SR600 Receiver. I'm receiving Dolby Digital sound on channels 1806 - 1813 and ESPN-HD channel 1869 but only PCM sound on channels 1827 - 1867.

I'm under the impression that CCI is being passed differently on channels 1827 - 1867 which disables the TVs optical digital interface.
post #1815 of 4974
Quote:
Originally Posted by optivity View Post

At this point I'm not inclined to consider CCI to be the culprit. I'm getting DD with the 1200 digital tier and channels: 1801 - 1813. DD drops out and switches to PCM audio for channels 1827 - 1867 and then I get DD on ESPN-HD channel 1869. So I'm very confused!

Quote:
Originally Posted by optivity View Post

I'm under the impression that CCI is being passed differently on channels 1827 - 1867 which disables the TVs optical digital interface.

When I first looked at the CCI byte with the diagnostic screens on my TV, I only sampled a couple of the local broadcast and HD Tier channels and it seemed that all of the non-broadcast HDTV channels had a CCI byte value of 0x02. Since you mentioned ESPN-HD, I went back and double-checked all of the channels in the 1800 range and find that the CCI byte for 1869 is currently 0 (the same as the local stations) and all the others are 2.

I now believe you are definitely on to something with the CCI byte value.
post #1816 of 4974
Thanks for your response, I'll have to take a closer look at the diagnostic information my TV provides for CableCARD. I'm not sure if the diags reported vary by channel?

Time Warner contacted me last Friday and implied there may be some additional engineering required for their SA PowerKEYs to enable DD sound over the optical interface of my TV.

We'll see what (if anything) changes with their next firmware release.

The good news is... my PDP renders an excellent picture with the CableCARD, and I can generate a fake surround home theater effect when the incoming audio signal is PCM. In addition, I'm saving $50 per month by not using Albany Time Warner's HD-DVR or subscribing to their 700s digital tier.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CableLabs published 'this list' of certified, verified and self-verified unidirectional cable products on 6/20/05. Past generation PDPs manufactured by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. are certified so I doubt the current self-certified PX50Us are to blame. Most likely there is a response time-out occurring between the host CCI descrambling request being sent to the CableCARD and the authentication response; or perhaps the CCI_auth/CCI_value returned do not match and the CCI_ack is set to failure. The end-result is no digital sound output.

Most likely it is a head-end/SA PowerKEY problem with Albany Time Warner
post #1817 of 4974
For the first time ever I had a signal on 45.1 last night. My signal is usually in the low area of BAD(10-30%) on my SAT300 and I get no picture at all. Last night around 11:00 I had a picture and when I checked the signal meter it was way up in the GOOD section (probably around 90%). I figured that they had finally upped their signal power but today I am picking up no signal at all?
post #1818 of 4974
Thread Starter 
I have had wierd WB reception lately as well.... It went off the air for a few days, then came back, but for me, it was with worse signal. As of right now, I have no signal at all.

I would assume things are being "worked" on.
post #1819 of 4974
Same here for 45-1, no signal for past few days. Does anyone know what's going on?
post #1820 of 4974
45-1 has returned today with what appears to be full signal strength. I show them at 81% signal strength on MyHD and about 90% on my STB. Thank You WEWB!
post #1821 of 4974
Quote:
Originally Posted by ProTuber View Post

When I first looked at the CCI byte with the diagnostic screens on my TV, I only sampled a couple of the local broadcast and HD Tier channels and it seemed that all of the non-broadcast HDTV channels had a CCI byte value of 0x02. Since you mentioned ESPN-HD, I went back and double-checked all of the channels in the 1800 range and find that the CCI byte for 1869 is currently 0 (the same as the local stations) and all the others are 2.

I now believe you are definitely on to something with the CCI byte value.

I can verify the same information regarding CCI. For example on TNT-HD:



and for ESPN-HD

post #1822 of 4974
Quote:
Originally Posted by BreakStuff View Post

45-1 has returned today with what appears to be full signal strength. I show them at 81% signal strength on MyHD and about 90% on my STB. Thank You WEWB!


Im getting it with 8/10 bars here in southern Saratoga. Bout time.
post #1823 of 4974
anyone notice the sound being off on wewb-dt during the game?
post #1824 of 4974
Well... I discovered I've lost DD sound on ESPN-HD today. Albany Time Warner modified the CCI Byte value and changed it from 0x00 to 0x02, which disables the optical digital audio output from my TV to my receiver. Thanks Time Warner for your service of this digital subscriber. Someday if/when Verizon gets their FIOS network up and running in my area... I'll be sure to remember what a great job you're doing.
post #1825 of 4974
Quote:
Originally Posted by cliftonmets View Post

anyone notice the sound being off on wewb-dt during the game?

Sorry you had this problem. I just checked our off-air and lip sync appears to be normal. Was the problem only during the game?
post #1826 of 4974
Quote:
Originally Posted by optivity View Post

Well... I discovered I've lost DD sound on ESPN-HD today. Albany Time Warner modified the CCI Byte value and changed it from 0x00 to 0x02, which disables the optical digital audio output from my TV to my receiver. Thanks Time Warner for your service of this digital subscriber. Someday if/when Verizon gets their FIOS network up and running in my area... I'll be sure to remember what a great job you're doing.


I didn't get last nights Yanks/Mets game on ESPN-HD in Dolby. However, I still get INHD, HDNET, and DiscoveryHD in Dolby Digital. Did we ever get ESPN-HD in Dolby? I don't remember yes or no.

Tim
post #1827 of 4974
Quote:
Originally Posted by cliftonmets View Post

Im getting it with 8/10 bars here in southern Saratoga. Bout time.

Thank you all for your patience. We were off the air early last week while we re-tuned for full power and completed a proof of performance on our transmitter. We are now thumping along at 676kW ERP, our licensed full power vs. our original 1.3kW
post #1828 of 4974
Quote:
Originally Posted by timick1 View Post

I didn't get last nights Yanks/Mets game on ESPN-HD in Dolby. However, I still get INHD, HDNET, and DiscoveryHD in Dolby Digital. Did we ever get ESPN-HD in Dolby? I don't remember yes or no.

Tim

What's your set-up like? Unless we compare apples to apples this issue may not apply. I'm using an SA PowerKEY CableCARD in a Panasonic PDP that has an optical digital audio out connection to an Onkyo receiver. Local channels like 1806, 1810, 1811 and 1813 that pass CCI byte 0x00 permit dolby digital sound output. Channels like TNT-HD passing CCI byte 0x02 do not. Until a couple of days ago, ESPN-HD had the CCI flag set to 0x00 but it was just changed to 0x02 which has disabled DD sound output. Copy Control Information can/is used to disable digital interfaces on devices that are not authorized to decrypt the incoming digital content. Content/CATV providers may choose to enable a "copy once/copy never" bit to enable/disable digital sound output. Time Warner claims this is being done by FCC mandate. It's kind of hard to accept that content providers are so paranoid abut digital piracy they disable DD audio for programs like a rerun of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
post #1829 of 4974
Quote:
Originally Posted by optivity View Post

What's your set-up like? Unless we compare apples to apples this issue may not apply. I'm using an SA PowerKEY CableCARD in a Panasonic PDP that has an optical digital audio out connection to an Onkyo receiver. Local channels like 1806, 1810, 1811 and 1813 that pass CCI byte 0x00 permit dolby digital sound output. Channels like TNT-HD passing CCI byte 0x02 do not. Until a couple of days ago, ESPN-HD had the CCI flag set to 0x00 but it was just changed to 0x02 which has disabled DD sound output. Copy Control Information can/is used to disable digital interfaces on devices that are not authorized to decrypt the incoming digital content. Content/CATV providers may choose to enable a "copy once/copy never" bit to enable/disable digital sound output. Time Warner claims this is being done by FCC mandate. It's kind of hard to accept that content providers are so paranoid abut digital piracy they disable DD audio for programs like a rerun of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."


I am using a SA 8300HD DVR with an optical cable going to my Onkyo SR-600 receiver. I also have an HDMI cable going from my STB to my Sony KDF-55XS955 (RP-LCD) TV. In order to get DD to work, I need to go into the settings on the STB and change it from HDMI to Digital (when I want to use my surround system). I have a slot for a cablecard, but I can't give up (live without) my DVR. I know some of the shows I watch (before the reruns) on the big 4 were in DD. I haven't watched lately, though, so I don't know if it's still the case. I hope it is! I just remember thinking to myself last night while watching the game "hey, doesn't this channel broadcast in Dolby?"
post #1830 of 4974
Quote:
Originally Posted by flapietra View Post

Thank you all for your patience. We were off the air early last week while we re-tuned for full power and completed a proof of performance on our transmitter. We are now thumping along at 676kW ERP, our licensed full power vs. our original 1.3kW

Well, I'm certainly getting a strong signal now, but it's no longer watchable. Maybe it's just teething pains.

I'm in Delmar with a 4-bay bowtie in the attic and a distribution amp feeding 3 HD tuners: an LG LST-3410A and two computers with MyHD cards. Before the power increase I got weak but usable reception from WEWB-DT; the only issue was that recordings on the LG pixelated every 6 seconds, but just watching was OK. This afternoon the LG was pixelating every 2 seconds (watching; no point trying to record). Both MyHDs were pixelating regularly but randomly. This evening the LG is no longer pixelating, but the picture is freezing momentarily and often, making it jerky. The MyHDs are unchanged.

In the Chief Engineer Q&A forum on AlbanyHDTV, MasterFX1 reported trouble from his roof antenna but good indoor reception. He thought it might be a multipath issue. Maybe, but I think it's more than that. I put a variable attenuator before the DA and found no change in reception on any of my tuners until the signal was too low to use. And I have no trouble receiving the other digitals from the same location (6-2, WNYA, is also jerky on the LG but in a different way, and 6-1 is OK).

Were any changes made other than the power increase?
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