Wilmington, NC - HDTV

Seems there aren't too many Wilmington people on this board, could be we don't really have squat for OTA too...

I've been speaking with all the station engineers off and on for the past few months--they're all nice guys and generally know each other's business too...

UNC-PBS probably won't have HD content for another month or so...

I get ABC-DT sporadically (and the transmission itself is sporadic), with same issue as you probably, I don't want to re-aim my antenna, otherwise I'll lose Fox, since Fox is coming from their studio on Oleander at a massive 5kw effective radiated power.

NBC, because they applied for and got a channel change, has a reprieve on the FCC deadline to go live, so they won't be up until maybe June or July... they claim they'll be HD from the start...

I also get good signal strength from PAX in Jacksonville. I left a voice mail for their engineer, but no response--pretty christian of him, huh? I suspect they are only xmitting carrier, or their bitstream is messed up...

Who cares about CBS--sorry... I get the NY HD feed on Dish... I like to call them the poor ******* step-child of WRAL--they just aren't getting any money...

I have a Channel Master also, 3016? It's a combined VHF and UHF (yagi directional). Eventually all the stations will be xmitting from the south-west general area, so I think a directional will be ok eventually. If you want something better though, all the engineers pretty much agreed that the Channel Master 4 bay UHF is the way to go-not nearly as directional as the yagi. Oh yeah, forgot, I've got a Radio Shack amp on the antenna too...

I live maybe a 1/2 mi north of Monkey Junction... we are definitely a minority around here. While speaking to one station engineer, after telling him I could get Fox, said I must be the one Wayne (egr for UNC-PBS) was talking about... ha ha... They all like to get feedback about their signals...

The egr at NBC was a butt head though--at least in my conversation with him--they didn't really buy Fox I guess, but will have a contract to run the station? There's no telling when they will broadcast in "hi resolution"--Fox doesn't have the equipment. Oh well, it'll be too late to see the rest of 24 anyway... And ABC won't be HD until Alias is over too...

Well, I think I've answered most of your questions amid my rambling...

By the way, the HOA cannot restrict antennas unless they are a safety hazard, or if you're in condos, it can't be mounted on common property (which is usually the exterior of condo buildings)--the specific FCC rules are out there if you do a search. I didn't even ask if I could put dishes on my house (although they are almost completely hidden from view)--and we've got an HOA...

HD 4:3--now really, that's a contradiction in terms... I have a friend that opted for that route though, he's got a 65" 4:3 that does the squeeze for HD/DVD material...

I think I might have to finally go the 4221 route also... tonight I've got to re-aim to get Fox for 24.

What exactly is the gamma issue you referred to? ABC digital picture wasn't all that special Sun night for Alias--actually looked kinda crappy for digital...

I've got the Dish 6000 for HD and OTA--I guess it's only about a second generation receiver compared to the Samsung SIR series...

How do you like your MyHD card? At some point I might consider that option in order to record OTA HD--still can't get too excited about Tivo and the like, especially the subscription fees... OTOH, since my computer is so far from the tv, don't know how I'd solve that problem...

Now that my antenna is pointed towards ABC, PBS is very strong, I'm getting 75%+. Much below that and the picture is unstable. I also have the highly regarded (now discontinued) Radio Shack double bowtie, I've tried before to wire that together with the other antenna, but it didn't seem to help (or hurt either)--I guess it's hit or miss when wiring multiple antennas.

Well, eventually FOX will be on one of the towers toward the west...

I don't care if you cut me off, just make sure you go the speed limit!!!

Hi Guys.
I own a shop in Newberry, SC and I sell and install outdorr TV antennas, as well as the HDTV televisions and tuners.

I have read you posts tonight with interest, and would like to say a few things:

First, the channel master 9521 remote controlled rotor is one of the best inventions ever made. They work great.

Second, the 4-bay antenna really does have a lot of gain. However, installing any antenna inside the attic will reduce signal strength to the antenna by about 50%. I always try to install an antenna outside. A small antenna outside will work better than a larger antenna inside!

The 7777 is a great preamp. Ditto the 0064 and 0068 units.

And, if you really need a tripod, I have the channel master in stock. Let me know if you need it, and I will ship it to you.

Happy viewing,
Corey Brazell
Audio Video Electronics

FWIW, if you need to make the 4221 blend in better with outdoor surroundings, you can spray paint the antenna a different color. It will not affect the signal strength, according to a tech at ChannelMaster.

Eventually Fox will have their antenna in the same area as the other stations... "eventually"...

For the relatively low cost, I think I'll end up with the 4221 also...

Have you tried checking for NBC yet? I haven't lately... don't know what channel antennaweb has listed for them, but it did change to something like 45... can't remember, I wrote it down somewhere...

Any updates on when NBC-DT will come on the air??????

The FCC just approved their channel change and gave WECT-DT authority to proceed May 5, 2003.

WECT-DT filed another extension Monday, June 2 since their previous extension was to run out in July. According to the supporting documentation submitted to the FCC, the transmitter building construction is underway and the transmitter is being constructed by the manufacturer and when completed shipped to the site. WECT-DT is saying to the FCC that they hope to be on air by September 30th.

In all fairness, after looking at the FCC records, it is clear that RayCom has been pushing to get this channel change done and the FCC has dragged their feet and just green lighted them to start on May 5. FCC Rules state that UNTIL you get the OK, YOU WILL NOT START building or ordering ANYTHING in lieu of loosing the authorization. It takes 30-60 days to build the transmitter, another 30-45 days to install and check out. This takes us to August, which was beyond the July date of their current extension. The fact that they have stated to the FCC their desire to be on by Sept 30 and not Dec 30 shows that they are moving as fast as can be.

Now I am in no way connected with ANY station in the Wilmington Market, but I DO know what it takes to build a station and how long it takes and if they are asking till Sept 30, that is moving pretty good from first of May go a head. This time line is based on no problems, which NEVER EVER happens. Murphy has a field day with fast projects like this, but hopefully the TV gods will smile on them.

so fellas, i bought the samsung d* 160. i get nothing from OTA hd as of now. i get pbs 39.2 at 77%, but its just blank. when will we get hd content from this thing? i bought the silver sensor at circuit city on sale for $21.99.

i am looking forward to espn on july 1st. maybe that will hold me over till we get something off the ground in wilmington.

any info to pass along?


edit: channel 39.2 says HDTV demo on my D* tv guide. just getting a blank screen though. grrr.

None of the UNC stations are sending any HD OTA. They are sending HD on the fiber links to the cable companies though. I have personally emailed them and called their "help" number and the lady had no information and someone from their Engineering Department was to call me back and they didn't and still have not heard when the second channel is to be activated.

that second channel you refer to is 39-2? also no unc channels will be in hd OTA,only on TW cable?

what about PBS WUNJ-DT, is that the same channel as 39-2? its listed as channel 29 on antennaweb.org but i get nothing.is it in HD?

will those local channels carry an HD signal via sattelite? if so i will drop TWC all togeather. or at least hold out until i see if they get fox sports HD. tarheel's bball in HD will be the greatest thing ever. i'm sure espn will do dook vs. unc in HD next year, but fox sportsnet carries about seven unc games a year.

You are correct. The network was completed in March. Asheville was the last site to go up.

The DTV channel is remapped to the analog number. In WUNJ-DT's case, the actual channel is 39 but the PSIP data is sent as 29 so you the viewer do not have to remember the analog channel and digital channel numbers. Technically the virtual channel nomenclature is this:

Analog - Major channel number (29 in this case) and minor channel number - 0 ex - 29-0 or just plain ole 29
Digital - Major channel number (29) minor channel number -1 through as many as the station wants. example 29-1 through 29-xx

UNC uses the following as minor channel numbers for all 11 UNC stations:
-1 as a simulcast of the analog
-2 will be the HD channel
-3 is PBS Kids
-4 is PBSYou
-5 is CPB-Annenberg Channel


Currently PBS HD is only available through TWC and will sometime be available OTA. That is the date I have been trying to find out to no avail.

When UNC starts to do HD programming on the second minor channel, at least 2 of the three other minor channels will have to be turned off or put into a "barker mode" where their bandwidth is turned down to the point that only a visual announcement is left to keep the receivers from locking up since there is a definitive bandwidth limit of 19.39 mps and HD needs at least 10 mps to be usable. The -1 channel can use as little as 3.5 mps. It will be interesting to see how UNC divides up the bandwidth among the minor channels.

UNC-HD looks really good on TW since it's full bandwdith, I hate to see what it'll look like OTA. In any case, it's not going to be pretty . Speaking of your receiver "locking up", mine already freezes for a few seconds if I put it on 58-2 (WUNG). They need to at least put some sort of video even if it's just color bars so your receiver has something to display instead of freezing, or people could think their receiver has a problem.

My personal opinion is that UNC will only have 2 channels up when they do HD, -1 and -2. At this time I do not think UNC is sending a stream on -2 at all, just the PSIP data telling your receiver there is suppose to be something there and some receivers don't like being lied to so to speak. My Sammy 160 doesn't mind but I know other receivers do. I get WUNC-DT 59 (analog 4)and WUNL-DT 32 (analog 26) here in Greensboro. WUNG-DT 44 (analog 58) doesn't decode here, but I see the weak signal strength on it.

Thought I'd say Hello to some neighbors. I'm south of Monkey Junction near Ashley High School. I just finished reading throught the thread and ran up on my roof to re-direct my roof-top antenna. (It's an anti-cable monopoly kinda thing). No problems with my HOA.
I've had a rca DTC100 for a while now and gave up on getting any Digital OTA signals. I'd thought the local broadcasters were going to continue getting extensions forever and I'd never be able to justify my receiver to my wife.
I am excited to finally get the following:
PBS and ABC(wway).
I had pbs @ 94% but ABC was @ 23%.
I now get ABC @ 84% and PBS dropped to 64%. I am not getting anything else (but channel 8 now?). Any recommendations will be appreciated.
I'm truly looking forward to more DTV and eventually HDTV. Especially football. Talk about taking small steps in technology. Come on Wilmington, It's a new century lets get with the digital age.
Keep in touch
Incus