Greenville, SC - HDTV - Page 4

Ben: The Charter information, coming from your source, was new to most, if not all, of us. Most HDTV viewers have been given so many dates by WLOS that have come and gone that no one really has any confidence in Sinclair. This is the first time the Station Manager has been so candid.
So...in reality, you have provided us good, solid information that is appreciated.
As for Fox, the latest official announcement for the Fox O&Os is that they will start with an "enhanced" widescreen (digitally transmitted SD)sometime this year...and are still promising a HDTV network feed by Fall "04. This may or may not apply to Meredith owned WHNS.

Unfortunately most of the stations, both local and elsewhere, have not been forthright in keeping the public informed. The low power issue is a prime example. WLOS, until recently, was approximately 10% of authorized power; WSPA went to full power during the past year, WYFF is now (if memory serves me) at 60 percent power. People were investing in equipment and not finding the low power signals...and couldn't understand why. That was one of my main motivations for establishing a Western Carolinas HDTV forum.
Our mountains both block signals and cause multipath for analog signals, and at times play games with the DT signal. Therefore an antenna installation is somewhat trial and error...but for me it has been the difference between no watchable picture on analog for several stations, and a very reliable studio-quality picture on DT. I use a large all-band Radio Shack antenna on a rotor in my attic and it receives all local DT stations, although only two are line of sight. It was installed during construction. I have a second 4-bay Channel Master antenna that is remarkable, and CM makes an 8-bay--these are UHF only and simple to install. I don't have cable in my area, but do have DirecTV which I prefer although it has limited choices of HDTV programming. Between UNCTV-HD and SCETV-HD, NBC and CBS and DirecTV, I have almost no time to watch DVDs and I am a movie fan. As a old broadcaster, you can't imagine the thrill I have seeing a widescreen HDTV broadcast of a Baseball game or the New Year's Rose Parade, or a CSI--Miami series.
I know of many people who have HD cable that maintain an antenna system for OTA as a backup for cable outages.

As for the collateral uses of the DT channels, there are many possibilities. UNCTV is a national leader at present in this technology and I urge you to contact Wayne Estabrooks at Triangle Park. He can give you both the limitations and range of possibilities. At present, SCETV is pushing the envelope in broadcasting one HD and two SD-DT channels on its system. This causes artifacts duriing certain video scenes on both HD and SD broadcasts.
(More later)

foxeng
DTV Eng/Misfit
Some of the Fox O&Os describe the current and planned wide screen broadcasts as "enhanced." They carefully avoid the term HDTV. In Miami, DC, LA and Atlanta I have never seen a 480p broadcast that I could identify. I often watch 24, and sometimes stretch the picture for filling my 16x9 screen. It is acceptable, but not high definition. In that we get very little information from WHNS, can you offer any insight as to Meredith's plans?

All: Regarding UNC-DT PSIP:
Here is information received from Wayne Estabrooks:

Later this week if all goes well, we will shift our electronic program
guide (EPG) generation from Tribune to in-house. The EPG updates will be
dynamic and originate from our traffic department.
Our new traffic system, Meyers Pro-Track will automatically update the
program guide almost continuously. Last minute changes to the schedule
will be available on the EPG.
Hopefully it will not have any adverse effects on the PSIP.

This should be accomplished late this week and I will try to advise you
when it takes place.

Shaun: Re: PSIP/SCETV
It is really great to have access to your programming schedule and to be able to select viewing in advance. Is it necessary to go to "Regular Schedule" at 7:00 p.m.? Otherwise, it helps to have the time periods by half-hour increments so that receivers such as the Sam TS160 can be programmed for the day.

Fishman and new HD owners:
Do experiment with locations if you add an antenna. My Radio Shack all-band antenna is on a rotor in the attic, and fortunately receives all stations but must be aimed correctly for several. There is one sweet spot for receiving at least 6 stations. My UHF-only antenna is very easily moved around my 5 acres and I have yet to find a better location than the corner of my deck. I can neither increase the height nor lower it to improve the first placement chosen by accident/convienence. I have tried up to 150' higher elevation on the mountain, but lost stations in doing so. I just looked for an antenna placement for my son in Washington DC and found only one location that received the maximum number of stations and that was only 15' off the ground beside the house, with no place on top of the two story home working. I am convenced you must search for the best location. I do not like using the rotor, so usually expect to receive all stations on the fixed position deck mounted antenna, and use the high-gain RS and rotor only during bad reception days--usually weather related. Good searching.

Yes, I had the same audio problem with 7-1 today...but it has been that way frequently lately. I have sent Ron Peeler a note each time. He has not responded this week, but a couple of weeks back he said they are working on (or trying to find) the problem.

Didn't have the breakup...but it was a continuation of the frequent prime time audio problem for the past couple of weeks.

Although the sound was bad, I double checked for surround sound and it was only 2 channel here. (Samsung 160, digital coax into Onkyo receiver.)