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Washington, DC / Baltimore, MD - HDTV - Page 120  

post #3571 of 8537
6/13/04 at 6:54pm
DAMN ALBRITTON!

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post #3572 of 8537
6/13/04 at 7:07pm
Thread Starter 
I'm putting that number on the front page for future use.
post #3573 of 8537
6/13/04 at 7:18pm
Quote:
Originally posted by BBobley
I just called WJLA. I dialed the number on their website, 703-236-9552.

I managed to get to a human and told her that WJLA-DT was down. She said "let me transfer you to engineering." I spoke to someone in engineering and told him about DT being down. He confirmed that they were aware of the problem and "were calling an engineer right now." I reminded him that the NBA finals were on and he agreed they needed to get if fixed quickly. He didn't give me any kind of an idea of how long it would take.

Brett
BBobley, thanks for making the call and trying to get it fixed for all of us.

What I find particularly disturbing is that the people *in engineering* needed to "call an engineer right now." If no other time, you would think that they would have someone available during one of the biggest ABC sports presentations of the entire year. But hey, that's just me I guess.
post #3574 of 8537
6/13/04 at 7:38pm
I still don't see anything!
post #3575 of 8537
6/13/04 at 11:36pm
Same problem in Charles Co. WJLA finally turned off the signal. Thank goodness for Balt. OTA. Perfect picture and sound the entire game.
Go Pistons. Great game
post #3576 of 8537
6/14/04 at 5:26am
Pardon my naiivite but since WJLA is either unable or unwilling to fix their multiple HD problems wouldn't it help to contact the FCC? Yes, I know that they don't "have" to get HD up for some time. but if they know they are building a list of complaints with the FCC about their HD broadcasting perhaps someone will raise the priority to get tham back off the FCC's radar.

Just my $.02

Rich
post #3577 of 8537
6/14/04 at 5:37am
Its just so maddening. With the onset of VOOM, some of us have no way of seeing the local channels except for the digital feeds. So, if WJLA's digital feed is down, I get no ABC.

VOOM really needs to speed up the release of their new FW so I can completely remove WJLA and add WMAR.
post #3578 of 8537
6/14/04 at 6:28am
What a disappointment! I was really looking forward to watching the game last night, and I end up watching it in SD via D*.

If this continues I may have to crawl back into my attic and re-point my antenna towards Baltimore.
post #3579 of 8537
6/14/04 at 7:21am
Thread Starter 
Looks like someone (*cough* Chris Pausch *cough* :D ) has tipped off DCRTV about WJLA-DT's problem. Our thread here has been linked on their news headlines. hehe. I hope WJLA-DT knows now that people are noticing their relaxed attitude towards their HDTV signal.

I can see WJLA-DT dismissing Joe regular OTA viewer, but I would think that Comcast and COX would be getting an earful from their customers, and passing that grief along to WJLA.

BTW: What was the duration of the outtage? I want to start keeping track of that too in the news.
post #3580 of 8537
6/14/04 at 7:32am
Attention folks from DCRTV:

With it's repeated and ongoing technical snafus and lack of 5.1 audio, WJLA-DT lost me as a viewer a long time ago. They clearly have utterly no commitment to digital television in any way shape or form. Fortunately, WJLA-DT's loss is WMAR-DT's gain. WMAR-DT does it right with a stunning 720P DD 5.1 main channel and multicasting to boot!

It has earned my respect and loyalty with it's technical excellence.
post #3581 of 8537
6/14/04 at 7:39am
I just got off the phone with Comcast. Unfortunately, I am in So. Calvert and have the DC ABC affiliate as well. The good news is that I was able to use this thread as a barometer to see if everyone was having this problem with JLA. Comcast was UNAWARE of any issues at all.

Just wanted to say thanks for the sanity check. I've had Comcast HD since September and only lurked here. Great info is abound!
post #3582 of 8537
6/14/04 at 8:08am
Quote:
Originally posted by azhagan
Yeah, I am having the same problem with WJLA in Gaithersburg MD what the heck is happening here?
I go no signal myself for the entire game yesterday! Was such a disappointment. I have an outdoor antenna on deck..usually not a problem at all...only this time when I had over 10 people over at my house! I was fuming. Dunno what happened...
post #3583 of 8537
6/14/04 at 8:12am
Anyone check this morning if ABC had the signal?
post #3584 of 8537
6/14/04 at 8:27am
Meh, I watched ESPN-HD. Dont get many Red Sox games in HD here so I gotta watch em when I can. I flipped it to ABC-HD and noticed it was out, I chuckled and then flipped it back to ESPN-HD.

Same Story Different Day for WJLA.
post #3585 of 8537
6/14/04 at 8:44am
Sasha,

So, you get a good reception of WMAR out of Sterling? Isn't that a Baltimore station?

I ask because I live in Leesburg and am in the process of switching to D* with OTA reception of the HD locals. Should I set up to get the Baltimore stations? If you have D*, how is the picture quality of the other HD stations available?

Thanks much!

rob
post #3586 of 8537
6/14/04 at 9:07am
Quote:
Originally posted by Hoopnoop
So, you get a good reception of WMAR out of Sterling? Isn't that a Baltimore station??
Yes, indeed it is a Balt station. As the crow files the differences in tower distance is not that great in my area.

Quote:
Originally posted by Hoopnoop
Should I set up to get the Baltimore stations? If you have D*, how is the picture quality of the other HD stations available?
I'm sure most of the forum members are sick of me writing this over and over, but yes, definitely, you should set up your OTA system to get Baltimore channels. For me, they are every bit as usable as DC channels. And obviously, my ABC usage is Baltimore only.

I don't use D*. I use digital OTA only with timeshifting and media streaming over my network.

With my Channel Master 4228 8-Bay UHF on rotor compass orientation 59 degrees I'm picking up these Baltimore stations:

WBAL-DT 59 NBC (11-1) with 93% signal lock
WMAR-DT 52 ABC (02-1) with 87% signal lock
WBFF-DT 46 FOX (46-1) with 75% signal lock
WJZ-DT 38 CBS (38-1) with 93% signal lock
WMPT-DT 29 PBS (29-1) with 75% signal lock
WNUV-DT 54 WB (54-1) with 45% signal lock
WUTB (analog) 24 UPN with (unknown) signal lock

All results from MyHD 120 card, v1.63 software. All stations rock solid coming in on a common compass heading. If I use the rotor, I can also get DTV and HDTV from Front Royal Va, York Pa and Hagerstown Md. Attached is the same pic of the roof line of my home I have posted before. I also have a fixed Winegard VHF/UHF combo and a fixed Winegard UHF on a common mast. These are aimed to the major DC transmission towers in NW DC.
LL
post #3587 of 8537
6/14/04 at 9:08am
Never was I more glad to have an antenna that gets both WJLADT and WMARDT than last night. As a matter of fact, I just don't watch WJLA anymore due to their bush league, incmpetent HDTV efforts. It's no coincidence that WJLA's news has been in the ratings doghouse for as long as I can remember. Things won't improve until Albrittion sells the station.
post #3588 of 8537
6/14/04 at 9:20am
Thanks Sasha, I'm impressed!

As one of those who suffered watching the NBA finals on SD last night, I will definitely be adding the Baltimore stations!
post #3589 of 8537
6/14/04 at 9:31am
I also forgot to mention that for your location of Leesburg, you should have a good chance of getting Baltimore. A friend of mine at work lives on Barksdale in LB and gets good reception.

As always, I would recommend a pro install with site survey to get the job done right the first time.
post #3590 of 8537
6/14/04 at 9:54am
Who is the GM currently at WJLA? I'd love to complain - I just want to complain to the right person and not the rats running master control.

Sadly, I cannot get WMAR except on rare occasions.
post #3591 of 8537
6/14/04 at 10:06am
Thanks again Sasha!

A quick follow-up as I am new to getting HD ota.

I take it from your email that you are able to get both the DC and Baltimore stations without changing the angle of the antenna. For the other stations you mentioned, how do you go about rotating the antenna? Is it something that you can do from inside the house?

I'm thinking particularly of football season when different local stations carry different games.

rob
post #3592 of 8537
6/14/04 at 10:12am
Thread Starter 
Hoop, If you have a few bucks and are going to hire someone to install the antenna. Then by all means, get a Antenna Rotator. This allow you to rotate the Antenna at will from inside you house. If fact you can get a rotator control box that uses a IR remote control.
post #3593 of 8537
6/14/04 at 10:16am
Quote:
Originally posted by mallu2u
Anyone check this morning if ABC had the signal?
No, but I did catch their analog feed of their morning news via D*. They ran a commercial for the NBA finals with the HD logo prominently displayed. The irony.

Chris
post #3594 of 8537
6/14/04 at 10:27am
Great games. It was wonderful flipping between the NBA Finals on WMAR and the Red Sox on ESPN-HD. I didn't even notice WJLA was out. WMAR is programmed into my ABC Favorite button. The only time I watch WJLA is to get the doppler radar on 7-2.
post #3595 of 8537
6/14/04 at 10:40am
Quote:
Originally posted by sasha_j
Yes, indeed it is a Balt station. As the crow files the differences in tower distance is not that great in my area.



I'm sure most of the forum members are sick of me writing this over and over, but yes, definitely, you should set up your OTA system to get Baltimore channels. For me, they are every bit as usable as DC channels. And obviously, my ABC usage is Baltimore only.

I don't use D*. I use digital OTA only with timeshifting and media streaming over my network.

With my Channel Master 4228 8-Bay UHF on rotor compass orientation 59 degrees I'm picking up these Baltimore stations:

WBAL-DT 59 NBC (11-1) with 93% signal lock
WMAR-DT 52 ABC (02-1) with 87% signal lock
WBFF-DT 46 FOX (46-1) with 75% signal lock
WJZ-DT 38 CBS (38-1) with 93% signal lock
WMPT-DT 29 PBS (29-1) with 75% signal lock
WNUV-DT 54 WB (54-1) with 45% signal lock
WUTB (analog) 24 UPN with (unknown) signal lock

All results from MyHD 120 card, v1.63 software. All stations rock solid coming in on a common compass heading. If I use the rotor, I can also get DTV and HDTV from Front Royal Va, York Pa and Hagerstown Md. Attached is the same pic of the roof line of my home I have posted before. I also have a fixed Winegard VHF/UHF combo and a fixed Winegard UHF on a common mast. These are aimed to the major DC transmission towers in NW DC.
Sasha, what is the compass orientation for getting the baltimore channels. Live in sterling too and therefore should be close to same for me as well.
post #3596 of 8537
6/14/04 at 11:15am
Quote:
Originally posted by Hoopnoop
I take it from your email that you are able to get both the DC and Baltimore stations without changing the angle of the antenna.
No, that is not correct for my situation. I can't reliably (ie, dropout-free) get DC and Balt on any one antenna at the same time. Forum member Belcherwm in Haymarket is the only one I know of to accomplish this rather remarkable feat. His home is situated exceptionally well for OTA though and not everyone should expect this kind of result.

Since I have 3 OTA antennas with structured wiring in my home, among other things, I can take advantage of MyHD's dual RF input design with both of the MyHD equipped PCs. "A" channel is fixed DC UHF and "B" channel is whatever I have my remote controlled rotor set to, which is normally Baltimore. MyHD can set up "favorite" stations on both RF inputs, making channel selection very painless.

Quote:
Originally posted by Hoopnoop
For the other stations you mentioned, how do you go about rotating the antenna? Is it something that you can do from inside the house?
Yes, the CM UHF is on a IR remote controlled rotor set up with all the presets I need. You DON"T need to climb on the roof to rotate........

Mallu, please re-read my post where I clearly state the compass orientation. For me, Balt is about 59 degrees.
post #3597 of 8537
6/14/04 at 11:22am
Thanks Cyclone and Sasha!

I was going to get the CM 4228 installed by Fairfax Antenna. Will that be sufficient to get both Baltimore and Wash DC stations? How much extra is the remote rotation?

Looking forward to seeing how it works!

rob
post #3598 of 8537
6/14/04 at 11:23am
Quote:
Originally posted by sasha_j
Forum member Belcherwm in Haymarket is the only one I know of to accomplish this rather remarkable feat.
Really, this surprises me. I have one Winegard antenna installed by FX. Ant. and before VOOM when I used the Sam 165 I could get every channel from both DC and Balt, with the exception of DC20. And this is with the smaller antenna than the huge ones you used to see in the 'olden days'.

I am in Alexandria, on a hill, basically at the intersection of Rt 1., Ft. Hunt Road and the beltway.

I guess I should consider myself lucky.
post #3599 of 8537
6/14/04 at 11:35am
Quote:
Originally posted by Hoopnoop
I was going to get the CM 4228 installed by Fairfax Antenna.
If any company and any antenna can do it, that combo can, assuming your home site is suitable.

Quote:
Will that be sufficient to get both Baltimore and Wash DC stations?
A site survey will be needed to confirm this, but I would say your chances are good.

Quote:
How much extra is the remote rotation?
About $150 extra installed. Worth every penny.
post #3600 of 8537
6/14/04 at 12:27pm
A manual rotator will run you about half a remote controlled one at Radio Shack

I guess the combination of height of antenna (45' at the base of Bull Run Mt.), distance to stations, and angle between DC and Balt have contributed to my success.

http://titantv.com/ttv/AntennaSelect...toredId=170835
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