New York, NY - OTA - Page 77

Im really depressed about the combiner....or the lack of a combiner. I know its difficult to coordinate projects in NYC.....but really, does anyone expect the combiner to be done this year? Nobody really knows for sure...you can say they are trying to get something done by the olympics or they are going to have it finished by september and the new tv season. But I have settled back into the mindset that it wont be done. Maybe I'll be suprised one day. I live in Staten Island and cant get NBC, WPIX, or WNET. And it looks like it will staY that way.

Did anyone every find out who is responsible for managing the project? Maybe there isn't anyone and that's the problem. I believe George said that there was a problem moving some antennas around or some "crap" with the building owners, but I can't believe they would spend all a lot of money on buying such an array without sorting that stuff out first. Or maybe that is really the case and the projects is just a mess. Would be great if there was someone for us to speak to about what the real issue here is. At this point there is no one for us to complain to. I mean they been saying this thing is going to be done for the past 18 months...

Do you have DTV? The rumor is that D is adding all the networks over the next 2 months.

It is frustrating. I'm in Lodi, NJ and pickup all that's being broadcasted except NBC 4. My analog is perfect on all channels, just can't get 4 in HD/Digital. From what I understand, DirecTV is adding HD for ABC, and FOX, but haven't heard about NBC. In any case, to be so close to the city and can't pickup NBC is rather frustrating.

FYI, have a RS (really a Winguard) outdoor antenna in attic. (Not allowed to put on roof.) With 777 preamp. Like I said all the analogs come in crystal clear.

I've heard a lot of rumors but never that one.

Anyone else been getting pixelation again on PAX while SS is high? It was fine for a while, but is up to its old tricks again! The D* feed unwatchable on Ch 31 (although 255 is much better). I'd prefer the "digital" station!

You would be surprised!

See this thread from the HDTiVo Forum:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb...ht=20+channels

I'm getting PAX without any pixelations.

Great, another forum feeding the rumor mill.

I have heard that FOX is coming...but I havent heard of any other HD Local ch's on DTV until a while. Certainly not as early as Sept of this year. I would certainly take the Local ch's on DTV but I would rathr pick them up via OTA....I have DTV now and I do a comparison of CBSHD on DTV and CBSHD OTA...and the OTA wins in my book. DTV's CBS doesnt look bad...it looks really good....in my opinion you cant beat OTA.

Sorry if this has been discused already but I just got a HDTV tuner for my PC,
I just got WNYW-DT the this week and I notice on all programming there
has analog grain noise on the video, even the FOX wide screen programming.
My tuner software says the video is 720P.

When I watch non HD shows on WCBS-DT and WNBC-DT they look a bit better then the non HD channels but it's not the same case with FOX.

Anyone else notice this?

Haven't made this specific comparison but speculate it might be differences in all the conversions taking place. The source for non-HD broadcasts is 480i. Fox locally is now upconverting to 720p. Previously is was 480p for some primetime shows. The other networks, except for ABC's 720p, are upconverted 1080i for non-HD transmissions. If your STB/set is upconverting Fox's 720p to 1080i, that's another stage where artifacts and noise can be introduced. A native 720p display might handle Fox better, but unless it was a CRT-based multiscan front projector for either 720p/1080i (or a computer monitor), a native-720p display couldn't present some details in some true-1080i shows, especially live 1080i HD programming. Also, not sure if Fox is still sharing 44 UHF with WOR, but multicasting on H/DTV channels can't really help H/DTV fidelity, although suspect Fox and WOR aren't stressing the 19.39 Mbps of a HD channel. Rarely caught Fox daytime shows when they went out at 480i H/DTV, but recall they were mostly fuzzy video to start with. -- John

Which HDTV card do you have. I have a Fusion QAM. Fox always seems a bit less sharp to me, too. It might be the particular program. Some seem better than others.

I am using an HDTV Tuner PC card and WNYW-DT comes in at 720p.
The card does not let you change the resloution of the video.

Here's something to really get you depressed from Andy (WPIX):


"We (WPIX) like our peers are waiting for the combiner project to be completed. That work is picking up speed as the combiner itself is done (a very unique piece of engineering), and installation of it will commence soon. But like everything else we have done at the Empire State Building this project is complicated by having to work around other broadcast tenants and the age of the building itself. Consequently my best guess is we will be back to channel 33 just prior to the holidays. I wish it could be sooner."

Andy


Heres the link: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...hreadid=420631

Tony

Hey, George, if you're out there, have you heard anything that would lead you to believe that we are in for ANOTHER delay, based on what the WPIX guy is saying? This is getting ridiculous. I thought it would be done by now.

I never believed that the end of June begining of July deadline would ever happen. Any deadline that anyone gives you now is really just an estimate and should be taken with a grain of salt. I could wait...as I have no choice but to wait...WPIX doesnt have anything that I am missing a great deal. I would like to catch an occasional Met game in HD but I guess that will be in place for next season. NBC has a couple of programs that I like to watch...but Im really going to miss the olympics...even if the HD is delayed.

I've searched this forum, and I have read alot of messages ABOUT the combiner, but for someone new, what exactly is a combiner?

Thanks

In this instance a combiner allows several stations to share a single antenna array. Instead of having individual antennas for each station, with individual feedlines. A single broadband antenna is fed by half a dozen station transmitters that are combined and fed with a single feedline.
It cuts down on mast space, feed lines running up the mast and interferrence with other antennas.
I have not heard the latest on obstacles to project completion. One source, a VP at CBS called it the "Project from Hell". I'll let you know what I can when I hear any updates.
George


http://www.andrew.com/products/fdc/brdcst_pssv_pwr.aspx
http://www.broadcast.net/pipermail/s...ry/000004.html
http://www.mcibroadcast.com/pdf/5504..._combiners.pdf
http://www.broadcastpapers.com/tvtra...0-%20print.htm
http://www.rfrep.com/pdf_tw2/combiners.pdf

Thanks for the info and references. I would imagine that getting all those networks to agree, then getting the feeds, then tweaking the equipment, would be quite a challange. Hope it works out!

Is anyone having problems locking WNYW in Northern NJ ? I was able to lock this station without problems before but after it went down (a couple of weeks ago) for maintenance, the reception has been rather poor and erratic. I'm looking forward to see the All-Star Game in WS tonight but with this reception problem my chances are slim. ABC, NBC and CBS are coming in strong as always.

Just being curious, what will be the degree of the combiner...312, 315 ?

The Olympics is coming and I just wanted to know if anyone has heard anything about NBC increasing their power or finding somewhere else to house their Ant.
I would really like to grab NBC to watch the olympics. I heard from this forum that they going to try and have something in place for NY by the beginning of the olympics. I dont think the combiner will be ready by the beginning of the olympics....and NBC was waiting for the combiner and figured that it would be done in time. Does NBC have a plan B or are they just going leave everything the way it is now ...I would hope they had a plan B.

I doubt you're going to see any change. They are at max power for their current location. It just doesn't make sense for them to move to a different location when the combiner is right around the corner (supposedly). I don't think you'll see any change until the combiner is done.

The quote below is from George Thompson this pretty much answers your question.

"The main signal lobe is centered for Fairfield.... within the projected grade A signal strength. Any more power would fry the Rainbow room and the observation deck when it is remodeled and opened.
GT"

Ok, moving my indoor antenna to another spot in the house helped the WNYW reception but I can't see ABC, NBC or CBS from that spot. Does anyone know if WNYW moved its physical location in NYC ?

no

The weather may have something to do with the signal anomalies; I have noticed when heavy cloud cover and heavy rain come through WNYW-DT's signal drops off dramatically, but so do the others but at least to me it's not as noticeable as say WCBS-DT's signal.