Lubbock, TX - HDTV - Page 3

It does, slightly. It should affect KJTV less since they're using 720p, which takes less bandwidth, if and when they start doing it.

Wow, that sucks. I thought you guys were at least getting CBS, but now I see that only Midland and Abilene are. I guess I'm hoping that early on the locals might not be encrypted even though Cox seems to encrypt their locals in other areas.

If you're lucky CBS will eventually offer to pick up the tab like Fox has.

I would also be interested in this info, as Cox is beginning HD service here in Tyler in June as well.

I am in Lubbock and have analog Cox cable. My STB is QAM compatible and if I run a branch off my analog cable coax to it, I am able to receive NBC in HD. All the other Cox HD offerings in Lubbock are scrambled. Since Cox does not offer PBS or Fox as HD or psuedo HD, I do not receive them via this method. As Wilmo said previously, CBS and ABC are in limbo until TexasSize steps up to the plate. One funny thing is that recently on the NBC HD, I have been experiencing a lot of drop outs. Not sure if this is happening OTA also.

Thanks manpig (and I thought elspankdog was bad), that's what I wanted to hear.

Brian

I have DirecTV and was wondering if you can qualify to pick up the CBS HD Feed from LA or NY on DirecTV since the local affiliate has no intention of upgrading.

Does anyone know if this qualifies or if not if the local station will sign a waiver letter?

It depends on how far you are from the towers. I called and asked the guy at ABC (same company) and he said I was too close to get a waiver. No one in the entire company will give any sort of answer on when they plan to even increase digital signal. There is some talk on other avs threads that Congress might allow HD feeds to unserved HD areas, but it is very unlikely. If you can't get a waiver, you can always go through a Canadian DBS, but it's VERY expensive. Call and see. The worst they can say is no.

I heard via a radio sportstalk show (KKAM), that one of the local sportsbars was broadcasting Monday Night Football in HD last season. I can't recall the name of the bar but it seems like it was Jake's. Can anyone verify this? If this is true, then there has to be a way to get a satellite feed from CBS and ABC in HD in Lubbock.

Note to elspankdog: I forgot to tell you that with a QAM STB, you should be able to pull in some of the digital offerings that are on a higher tier with Cox. Exp: Golf channel, and Chicano MTV, Soccer and Tennis channels, IFC, all the music channels, and a few others.

Is anyone interested in getting an ISF calibration done in the Lubbock area? There is a highly regarded calibrator in DFW area named Steve Martin. He will travel to Lubbock, but his travel costs must be covered. I was hoping to get some others involved to help share these travel costs. If you're interested, PM me. Here is Steve's website www.smartcalibration.com

Cox downloaded new firmware to their boxes last night to enable the DVI and firewire ports on the back of the box. Finally! Now I gotta find me a DVI cable.

Squicken, I would love to have my set calibrated, but I really don't think I could afford it right now. About how much is it going to be?

It depends on your set and how many inputs. If you have a DLP or LCD, prices start at $300. Plasma and CRT-RPTV can get $500+ in some cases.

I would be interested in a calibration sometime later this year. How many calibrations would we need to schedule in order to make this worthwhile?

Any news on additional HDTV channels from Cox? I keep checking the website and I keep being disappointed. The firmware news is very nice to hear. I will be interested to hear if you see any improvement using DVI collven.

Jason_J

I think 3 or 4 total will be enough. It depends on exactly what is required. I'm still waiting on additional information from Steve. Round trip airfare would be about $80, and assuming he doesn't require a hotel (if all done in 1 day) or rental car, it would only cost us each $20-$30 for travel.

My DVI cable is on order. I'm really not expecting much of an improvement in quality. I mainly just need an available component input.

2 months since the last post here???? is there no new news on HD and Cox?

I am still using OTA, and have to say that last weeks Dallas and Minnesota game on Fox was out of this world. I could see sweat bubbling on the arms of the players. Too bad Dallas lost tho.

I have been having some problems with NBC OTA. The Olympics were great but since have had times where a HD program is not being displayed in HD. Then at other times other shows do come in as HD. I sent an email to the station asking if they were having some problemos and got no response. Can anyone else confirm this? Are Cox customers getting NBC, PBS, and FOX in HD yet? Any word on ABC and CBS getting any public pressure to get their act together?

Wilmo,

I have heard alot about Bill Gambrell. Not suprised you were pleased with his efforts. Which Hitachi do you have and what was the cost of the isf?

In Lubbock, they temporarily had NBC-HD for the Olympics. But now it's gone. No networks, and nothing else added. They told me their trying to work out deals with the networks and are out of bandwidth for the others. If you can get OTA, I think you're better off. FOX in HD was OK this past weekend, and is supposed to keep getting better.

Cox does have PBS in HD now. That's still it as far as anything local. I still think, as far as KCBD, they are trying to force Cox to carry all of their multicast channels.

Thanks wilmo. Good news Collven. It will be great for you Cox customers when you get the Fox also. Regarding KCBD, I can tell you that at least OTA, that the HD offerings were better this week so far. I received Father of the Pride in HD this week and it was unbelievable. I also received Vegas and one of the Law and Orders in HD.

Sidebar: I was wondering the other day just how many HD sets have been sold in Lubbock thus far. It has to be a pretty large number by now.
I would also conclude that those people who own a HD set are big spenders and as such should be the target of the advertisers spending their marketing dollars with the television stations in Lubbock. As a HD television owner, I find myself gravitating to the HD offerings. I don't think I am alone in this. I guess I just don't understand why our TexasSize ABC and CBS stations are not getting on board. I've called them several times and voiced my displeasure, and I would guess maybe some of you others have as well. Maybe I should start my focus on their advertisers. Maybe then they will wake up and smell the coffee if they lose their revenue source. JMHO.

Good idea manpig.

So, did KJTV turn on their signal yet? I heard someone say they have, but according to the official Fox thread, it's still pending.

You'll be able to tell by the placement of the bug during network programming. You'll see a KJTV bug at the very edge of the 16x9 screen.

The official fox thread at avs in the programming area does show KJTV as pending. I called Fox and one of their people confirmed they are broadcasting in HD. I asked him if it was 720P and he said huh? He said I would have to talk to the head engineer to find that out and I said ok put me thru. I got voice mail and left a message. I will confirm if he calls me back. I agree with wilmo that they are indeed broadcasting in 720P and on my Denon Receiver the audio stream comes in at Dolby 5.1.