South Bend, IN - HDTV - Page 9

Wow. Receiving Chicago HD broadcasts (relatively low power versus analog)in Niles? You are an inspiration. Key questions are
1. How does ABC HD look
2. What time should we come over for the superbowl party in HD?

Anyone have Comcast running through a QAM HD receiver?

What channels, if any, can you receive without subscribing to the comcast HD package?

Is there someone specific we can email or call? Maybe we can get some sort of petition started to get OTA ABC-HD going here. This is very frustrating, since I also do not want to start a cable subscription to compliment my DirecTV subscription, just to get one channel. Let us know. I'll be the first to sign!!

Mike

Any word on WBND in HD and if so, what digital channel # would it be on?

Currently the ABC-DT signal is only available via Comcast. As I understand it, the FCC is preventing WBND from transmitting an OTA digital signal because of the type of license they have (low power license). The FCC has rules in place about Low Power Stations and Digital OTA transmissions (restricted). The FCC is stating this area already has it's allotment of regular station licenses so WBND/WNWB can't upgrade either.

The last communication, on this discussion board, from a guy I believe works for or has knowledge of WBND/WNWB has hoped to get HD content ready (again, via Comcast cable only) by 1/13. That would be channel 187 on your Comcast digital tuner.

I don't know the current status of that.

Hope that helps.

I agree, very frustrating. I am in the same situation, I just can't justify a cable subscription for one channel. I am a DirecTV customer who has applied for an HD Waiver(twice) for national broadcasts, but was denied by WBND. According to DirecTV, I should qualify for the national ABC feed due to the LP classification and no OTA source for ABC-HD. That was what I was told by the CSR @ DirecTV. They said contact the local affiliate.....but who do I talk to? Any input as to why or who to talk to would be appreciated.

All:

We should have true HD for network back again for WBND and WMWB in a day or so. It works and looks great, however something is causing the switcher to breakway audio during the standard def hours when the system is online causing no audio. In another words, give us another day or so and it should be back in service. Sorry for the delay. I want it solid before we flip the switch.

By the way, according to Avid, we're the first station group to purchase HD master control graphics! WBND-HD and WMWB-HD will have "coming up" graphics in true HD in a few weeks...

I am receiving WB on 80.1 and ABC on 80.2 on my QAM tuner but was not able to locate the other ones yet.

So, if anybody else can help out, I'd greatly appreciate the information.

Once WBND/WMWB are pushing HD will the signal be available for Dish Network folks too or just Comcast?

Are those the true HD pictures or what?

I have the Sony kdfe55a20 with QAM on the cable input. I have been getting WB on 80.3 with what my TV tells me is 1080i and WBND on 80.4 as 720p. The only thing I'm trying to figure out is why the audio on 80.4 is off by about 1/3 of a second and the picture isn't shown in 16:9. Besides football, the only thing I ever watch on ABC is Lost, and because of the sound issue with 80.4, I usually end up watching it on Cable 7.

As far as my OTA digitals, I get the whole kit and kiboodle just fine, and that's running some Coax with a few couplers outside and 3/4's of the way of the side of my apartment building to the antenna that came with my ATI HD card for my computer. Jerry-rigging at it's finest

Well, just as yours, my TV tells me WMWB is 1080i and WBND is 720p. Whether these are "true HD" or not, they appear to have higher resolution than SD.

Do you get local NBC, CBS and PBS on any of your QAM channels? I have not been able to locate them, as my Toshiba 37HL95 is slow tuning in, and I haven't had the time to manually try to add all potential QAM channels.

I spent two evenings talking to Comcast service guys, and they both said they were not aware of QAM tuners. Moreover, one of them kept telling me that local stations are not available in HD.

I get WNDU (16.1/.2/.3),WSBT(22.1/.2/.3),WNIT(34.1/.2), & WHME(46.1) all OTA. For the (lack of) equipment I'm using, I get around an 80 signal on all of those in the diagnostics menu on my TV. Every once in a blue moon, the WNDU signal will get pretty choppy, although I haven't had time to diagnose if its weather realted or what.

As far recieving any of those QAM, I have't found them either. Right now, I am only subscribing to basic cable. I am receiving a bunch of Audio only channels, and quite a few digital channels up in the 132 range, haven't spent the time to figure out what they all are exactly, most of them seem to be the digital tranmissions of all the standard channels coming through at 480i. I don;t bother with them especially since I didn't expect to get them.

With todays news that the WB and UPN Networks will merge into one network my question is what will happen to WMWB 25 and UPN Michiana?

The networks will merge right before the fall tv season.

Hi,
I complained to the FCC about WBND not being able to broadcast in HD on their low power station, not being able to get a waiver and got a simplistic 3 page PDF form document about HDTV. I don't think they even read my letter, just fired off the PDF.

I wonder what penetration comcast has in the HD local market? It just seems unfair that WBND blocks us from getting a waiver when they can't put product on the air. After the superbowl my tuner won't see that channel for a long, long time.

I just read this in the SBT this morning. It depends if WSBT gets the new CW network. WMWB could be used for WBND-DT. That's our only hope for ABC-HD folks. If WSBT loses out to Weigel, the only advantage we might see would be better CBS-HD since WSBT-DT wouldn't have a need for 22-2. But we wouldn't see ABC-HD for years under that scenario.

tvmicrowave2002

Do you have an update for us? It looks like WBND is still not pushing HD programming yet.

Please advise,

Thanks
Adam

By "basic cable", do you mean the $15 / month package?

Yeah, I think what happened was when I moved into the apartment I live in, Comcast must have never come out to disconnect the service. When I moved in, I had called called Comcast to order service before I even had the chance to plug anything in. A couple of days later, when I finally got around to it, I noticed I had reception and was getting a lot more than the limited basic package said I should be getting. I did call to verify that I had only signed up for the limited basic, the lady said that was correct, and that a tech would probably take care of the problem the next time there was a service call in the area. That was about 6 months ago...

I didn't get my HDTV until about 3 months ago. I was always intending to get my HD feeds from OTA, like I do. It wasn't until about a month ago that I even bothered with scanning the cable input on the TV: It came up with something like 62 analog channels and 68 digital channels. Like I said before, a majority of those seemed to be audio only channels (a lot of mexican polka music), some 480i channels up between 120-132?, and for whatever reason, occasionally the Speed Channel (analog) comes in all scrunched up, but if I hit the WIDE button on the remote, it takes up the whole screen and looks pretty damn good, especially for being analog.

If there ever was the time I actually decided to order HDTV service through comcast, it wouldn't be while I'm still living in this apartment. I'm pretty sure they ran RG-59 cable through the walls (poor shielding), not to mention the fact that for as little TV as I watch, $50 a month is a tough pill to swallow.

I bought my HDTV (Sony kdf-e55a20) primarily to watch movies, the knowledge that I could jerry rig a small antenna to the roof of the building without it sticking out too much to get the locals, and the fact that a friend of a friend was able to get it for me for about 66% of what it would have cost at Best Buy, Circuit City, or ABC Warehouse with a warranty program better than most of the chain stores.

About HD cost from Comcast: I was surprised to learn that as long as you have at least
Basic cable that they will rent you a STB that allows you to get the SB HDTV stations for only $5 per month. You need not subscribe to digital cable! This gets you the 16, 22, 28, 34, 57, and the WB stations from SB digital feeds, so HD whenever they broadcast that mode. A $5 "pill" is lots easier to swallow than $50 per month. They even supplied the
component video + audio cable! I signed up & picked up the box at their office so paid no installation fee. If you want more HD then you must subscribe to a digital package to get that. My Slimfit has no QAM tuner. If these feeds are not encrypted I believe with a QAM
tuner you could pick them up off the cable w/o the STB, for free.

I have comcast high speed internet with basic service. Currently have dish network hd receiver on one of my tv's and get OTA HD Locals, but like many of you, I get very upset that I can't get ABC HD. Which is superbowl, and some of my other favorite shows. So I have another Hd tv that I currently have no hd hooked up to so I'm in for $5 a month to get get ABC HD and other HD local channels. It looks like it's going to be a while before we get ABC OTA. Thanks for the tip Kevin

To my knowledge, ABC on Comcast is digital (channel 187) but not yet providing HD shows in HD.

All:

Thanks for your patience. WBND is airing all network HD programming on WBND's HD signal via Comcast as of prime time tonight (Saturday). Sunday's Superbowl and all ABC network programming that is in HD will be passed, with very little compression, to Comcast.

WMWB will begin HD network programming sometime next week.

More good news, last week the FCC announced a filing window coming up in May of this year to allow existing low power stations to apply for a companion low power digital station on another channel other than the existing analog channel. Obviously, once we obtain a grant from the FCC to broadcast over the air digital, we will be broadcasting DTV literally days or weeks after the grant. We're ready, just waiting for the FCC.

There is hope for ABC and WB HD over the air this year.

All is well receiving Chicago HD in Niles, MI. the Super bowl looks great in HD on 7.1 I receive most of the Chicago HD. I currently do not get 2.1 due to a antenna problem which I hope to fix in the spring.

It sounds hopeful to get ABC OTA this year.

The game looked great in HD on WBND. I can hardly wait for my weekly shows.

THANKS!!!!

Finally, some good news! If Dish started providing ABC-HD to "digital white areas", I was going to bug the heck out of you guys to get a waiver for WLS-DT. Now the chances are you'll have your signal up before Dish will reach an agreement with ABC.

I'm still not getting surround sound on ABC (including the Super Bowl). All the other HD channels on Comcast are in surround so I know it's not my setup. What's up?

Why is Boston Legal not in HD? I thought TVMicrowave2002 said it was turned on. Hope it's on for Lost tomorrow night!!

Mike

I'm getting seriously interested in HDTV. If I have read the recent posts correctly, I should be able to get the 4 majors plus PBS and WB with an HD box and Comcast (expanded) Basic service, correct?

The Comcast site currently does not show Fox (ch 28) as being available. Is it out of date?

Other questions: can I get the OTA HD channels with an antenna pointing south? I'm in a wooded sub just west of UP Mall. Will the trees interfere with reception?

Thanks for the help.

You should be able to get the local HD channels with any level of cable service and a HD tuner. Fox28 HD is on channel 190. As close as you are to the towers, I think you should get a good signal on OTA even with the trees, I would definitely give it a try. If you can get a clear signal with the analog OTA, you should get the digitals.

Al

ABC on Comcast was in HD for the Superbowl but not since. Anybody else have this problem?