Hartford, CT - OTA - Page 9

Same audio problem here yesterday with WFSB. The 3-1 subchannel/HD feed had some garbled audio issues. Really pissed me off, because the SD sub-channel 3-3 audio was fine. Wondering if they forgot to turn off the SD feed during the game so the audio was getting squeezed out or something. The better figure that out for the Superbowl.

Also just got confirmation that Fox is behind schedule. Late Feb. at best. They have not even gotten their construction permit yet.

Has WFSB-DT gone full-power today? From the time I first got my HDTV until last night, I always had very low audio on WFSB-DT, and had to crank up the volume whenever I watched it. But this morning I tuned it in, and low and behold, the audio on WFSB-DT was blaring, actually louder than WFSB through satellite. This is not my only reason for beleiving they've gone full power. The other is this. Up until last night, the highest siganl I was able to get was 72% on clear days with no rain or snow, but in bad weather conditions, like today (freezing rain, low clouds) my signal would drop down to around 37%, borderline watchability. But today, with all the nasty weather outside, my signal is at 72%, and has been there all day. So, I guess I'll know for sure if they're full power when it eventually clears out here, and if the signal jumps up over 72%. Anway, does anyone here have any way of confirming that WFSB-DT is at full power? Thanks.

Seeing that there appears to be no progress at Comcast in gaining information regarding WFSB in HDTV for the SuperBowl, I have started inquiring via the WFSB website feedback in hopes that interest will provoke a response (or even better, a reaction). I'll share any response I get. Others may want to do the same.

Paul
(I want my Comcast CBS for the SuperBowl!!!!)

Thanks to all for your help.

From Long Island, New York.

I got my Dish 811 installed today and my OTA reception of Connecticut stations was right on target. ABC 93% in the rain. UPN, WB, PAX, PBS all looking great in the high 70's. Hopefully "Castaway" will be in HD to see how that looks. I have CBS via the Dish. Couldn't get that one at all OTA. Now I just need NBC and Fox and I should be even happier.

I'm liking this HD stuff

Brad

I say we all send e-mail feed back to both WFSB and Comcast about HD broadcast on cable.
The e-mail address for WSFB is wfsb@wfsb.com

The web address to send feedback to Comcast is:

comcast.com/ContactUs/customerservice.asp

Lets put some pressure on them to get the ball rolling in time for the Superbowl!

So, has anywhere here other than me noticed the difference that I talked about in my previous post?

I don't think that the audio was related to signal strength. The audio wasn't bad on the 3-2 channel, just the 3-1 channel.

I just installed a $35 Channelmaster antenna and an amp, and I am quite please with what I can pick up. Here is the list....

WUVN-DT (1)
WFSB-DT (2)
WTXX-DT (1)
WWLP-DT (3)
WTNH-DT (1)
WGBY-DT (4 during the day 1 HD at night)

Overall not a bad selection. I think. I do have to rotate the antenna if I want to get WTNH, but there is no more Monday Night Football for a while, so no big deal. I just can't wait until all of the content is in HD.

I did notice the audio problem was corrected last night on WFSB. Not only was it cleared up from the previous day (playoff game issues), but as you noted, the volume was normal even during HD broadcasts last night - this has never happened before. So either they fixed or replaced something to fix the volume problem. Can't help you with the signal strength. I live close to Avon Mt., my signal was 100% last night, but thats what it usually is.

I'm from Long Island and I haven't been getting WFSB-DT (CBS) for a long time. However the last couple of nights, I have been able to get it at about 60%. I also noticed the better audio. Since I'm from Long Island, I can only assume they boosted the power. Hope this is true.

Well, I'm pretty sure now that they have done something significant, most likely going full power. Right now, and it's not even completely clear outside, and my signal strength is currently at 100%, in the town of Prospect, about 24 miles from the tower. The highest I ever got before Sunday, was 72% on perfect, clear days. The only other station I get at 100% is WTNH, which is also at full power. I'm assuming WFSB is now, too. And what perfect timing, just in time for the Patriots vs. Titans!

I'm in Prospect also and have seen my signal increase to 100%!!Hope it last,now just get WVIT going and I'll be happy!!! Jim

I got this from WFSB yesterday:

Audio problems will be addressed this week. We have been waiting for a
certain part that unfortunately has taken a long time to arrive. I
promise you that we are in the process of correcting the problem

Please let me know when you notice a difference. Feedback like this is
very valuable to me

Victor
=====================================================

I got another email this morning:

I was wondering how your WFSB-DT audio was last night? We made some modifications to our audio stream. We are still working on it. It would be nice to hear from outside viewers.
Thanks
Victor
=====================================================

I'll check with him on the full power issue and also see if he has an update on 5.1.

What's Victor's e-mail address, I'd like to send him some observations also.

So can anyone confirm that WFSB-DT is now broadcasting at full power and what towns are receiving it?

Just got off the phone with Victor from WFSB. They did install new audio equipment this week. As noted above, it fixed the low audio issue. They expect the DD5.1 decoding chip from CBS later this week, after that it's DD51. on CBS!!!! Yahoo!!

A piece of not so good news, they have not yet completed their tower upgrades (steel reinforcement), so no timeline on full power yet. Weather dependent at this point.

The audio is definitely better, but the signal strength is the same for me.

Here in Tolland I am still receiving WFSB at only 15-20 %. This is not enough for a watchable picture. It is the same as they always have been. I can remember only one time back in November when the signal went to 40%. I would say it is still not full power and is weather dependant.


Pete

Same here in western mass. Been waiting for the audio fix forever...DD5.1.....priceless!

Thanks to WFSB.

WFSB has definitely taken giant steps forward over the last week. I complained to them about the sound and picture quality in an email.

Last night I sat down to watch NCIS and I didn't even have to bring my antenna out of it's storage place, whereas last week I had to bring it out, rotate it to exactly the right place and still get dropouts every 30 seconds. Last night . . . perfect. The sound was better also. I would like to think that our efforts (forum members) were responsible for improving the situation. Thanks.

Dorran

A little off the subject:

Tele-Media cable has received their HD converter boxs. The only thing holding them back is that the engineers are having some trouble with the HD head equipment. Once that is resolved they will begin offering the service. The costumer service reps are updated every Friday in their company meeting. If you are in their service area, feel free to call and let them know that you are interested in HD service and maybe that will light a fire under the engineers to get this done by (dare we say) Superbowl sunday.

Tele-Media's phone number is (203) 735-9504. I just thought people in the valley would like to know.

Has anyone heard anything from Comcast about getting CBS in HD (and / or ABC in HD) within the near future for CT. I've given up on the prospect of getting a HD DVR from Comcast anytime soon (only the non-HD DVR is rolling out).

I just want more than ESPN (it's nice for the games it does cover), the 2 iNHDs (not much on them but eye candy, IMO) and NBC-HD (To me I'd rather have ABC/CBS [Super Bowl, etc..]).

I have called several times to the very local comcast and the 1-800 comcast phone lines and both seem clueless as to a time-line or if it's in the works for more HD channels. I have noted that Boston (in the city) Comcast already has a boat load more HD channels than us CT folks. *Shrug*

BTW I'm in New London County, Groton area. Any information from those of you with better luck on the phones with Comcast would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

I'm in the same area (Mystic) and in the same boat. I hate Comcast.

Anyone getting CBS-HD from anywhere OTA in the City of Fairfield or Bridgeport. I installed a RadioShack 32 elements with rotator but can not get CBS-HD from anywhere. I am thinking of adding the Channel Master 7777 to see if that makes any difference. Please let me know as I am desperate to get the SuperBall on HD....

Thanks

Are you talking about WFSB-DT out of Hartford, or WCBS-DT out of NYC? Being in the Fairfield/Bridgeport area, you should be able to at least pick up one or the other. FYI, incase you didn't know: WFSB-DT is channel 33, WCBS-DT is channel 44.

Beaker, in the Hartford/Windsor area we already get ABC in HD from Comcast, still waiting on CBS though... I heard directly from them on a response to an email I sent about CBS. I'll post it in a few...

This is the response I got from an email yesterday. Note my original message below. Thanks

Thank you for writing.

The information we have is that we anticipate having CBS HD available in
most CT. communities by the big game, but it isn't guaranteed, and we do
not have additional details at this time. I apologize for the
incomplete answer, we are making every effort to provide our customers
the services that they desire.

If you have any future questions or problems, please feel free to email
us again. When replying to this address, please include this message as
well as all previous correspondence regarding this issue.



Sincerely,
Rich

Comcast Electronic Customer Care

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Comments:

I would like to know when we are to receive WFSB-HD(CBS-HD) in
High Definition? As I understand, Comcast is supposed to carry this
station shortly. Please let me/us know. This station is in High Demand
considering the football playoffs and of course the superbowl. It seemed
unfair that parts of western MA would receive this station while, the CT
residents were unfortunately out of luck. Thanks for your time.

I get WFSB on 3 OTA channels. Channel 3, channel 3-1 and channel 3-2. I used to think that all 3 of these channels were transmitted from Hartford. However this morning I was watching the local news and noticed that channel 3-2 was from Springfield, MA. Channel 3-1 was from Harford. I can't believe I am pulling in a station from MA. Can this be true. Is anyone else experiencing this.

What you are seeing in Western Mass is WFSB's new Springfield service which is an attempt to capitalize on Springfield as an advertising market. WFSB purchased a defunct low-power religious channel in Springfield, and has converted it to a "Springfield" station. You can find it "OTA" in Springfield on channel 67 analog. It rebroadcasts most of WFSB's programs, but WFSB promises that there will be some exclusive Springfield programming. Apparently, WFSB is using one of their DT sub-channels to relay the new station, whose transmitter is in Agawam, but whose signal comes from WFSB's Hartford studios. This is probably their answer to WVIT putting studios in New Haven and Mystic!

I recently e-mailed Charter customer service to inquire as to when them would introduce addtional HD channels to the 3 they currently offer. Here's their response:


Sounds kinda rude to me, a supposed valuable customer spending $150 a month with them!

Here is the reply I recieved from Comcast regarding my request for info on if we would see CBS in HiDef before the Superbowl. It sounds like a canned response.

Thank you for writing.

Thank you for your channel request, we are working to provide as many
high definition channel broadcasters as possible. Here are some of the
factors involved with expanding our high definition lineup:

-the negotiation and contract process required to obtain the rights to
carry a specific high definition broadcast, such as Discovery-HD.

-the increased bandwidth resources that are required

-the relatively low subscribership (currently only a small minority of
customers have high definition compatible television sets)

We appreciate your channel requests, we hope to expand our high
definition channel lineup as fast as we can. Unfortunately we are unable
to provide specific details regarding the launch of new channels at this
time, please keep an eye on your monthly billing statement as the
announcement of any channel additions will appear on those statements.

You can also sign up for our HDTV newsletter at the following URL:

comcast-ne.com/hdtv.html