Greenville, SC - HDTV - Page 321

A recent post questioned plans for a WLOS translator on Paris Mtn. But no updated info has been provided so far. But if you have an antenna with decent VHF gain, then you should be able to receive it, and perhaps with a low gain amp of about 10-12db gain. The HBU-22 and HBU-33 antennas sold at Radioshack by Antennacraft should be able to pick up RF13 at most Upstate locations, despite its problematic signal. But no word yet on the possible RF31 and RF34 translators from Paris Mtn and Caesar's Head. But I do get WSOC signals from Charlotte a good bit of the time as well, but that requires a very good UHF antenna and low noise preamp, and a separate antenna configuration for GSP locals. But WBTV, WCNC, and WJZY are much easier to receive from NC. And ironoically, WBTV has a better signal than WLOS, and it is out of market.

tylerSC,

Long time since my last post. I'm thinking about replacing my AntennaCraft C490 outdoor antenna with a Winegard HD8200U outdoor antenna when I get my next paycheck this Friday. A few months ago when I tried my RCA preamp while using my current OTA outdoor antenna (C490) I only got one station, without the preamp I picked up more stations. Will I be fine with or without the Winegard AP-8700 Preamp? Since I can pick up GSP locals plus adjacents from Columbia, SC Augusta, GA and Charlotte, NC and sometimes Charleston, SC on Tropo ducting thing.

What do you think? Please reply soon. Thanks

WCCB in Charlotte will be Losing it Fox Affilate and it will be moving to WJZY 46 as WJZY and WMYT was sold to FOX Television Group.



http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/65069/wccb-charlotte-to-lose-fox-affiliation

http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/65069/fox-buying-charlotte-duo-of-wjzywmyt?ref=search

SpenceKarter,

I recently hooked up the Winegard AP 8700 and it is a very good preamp. With it hooked to my Winegard HD 8800 UHF, I am able to pull channels from Raleigh NC, 87 miles out every morning and evening with no sweat. During rainy conditions, I can pull them in during the afternoon. This amp is as good as or better than the channel master I had for years, and better than the piece of junk antennacraft that got killed by lightning way too easily that cost a lot more. I have it split to four different rooms for OTA service.

I was wondering if you had given up on your OTA reception SpencerKarter since you had not posted recently. Glad to hear you are still working on it. And I think Winegard is the way to go for antennas and preamps, as they are very good products. But I don't think you really need that oversized 8200 antenna, since you really don't have any LowVHF channels. I would get the 7698 HiVHF/UHF combo antenna and that 8700 preamp. Or perhaps the Antennacraft HBU-55 which may be cheaper. And there is an 8275 preamp which is more powerful, but I don't know if you need it. The 8700 is still $29 from Solid Signal, and they usually have good prices on the antennas. Only the 91XG would perhaps be better for UHF, but then you would need a separate HiVHF antenna.

I get a strong signal from both 46 and 55, so it looks like I will now be receiving 2 Fox affiliates. Which I like. But I hope they will continue Antenna TV on 46.2, although I am hearing Fox O&O stations are adding a Movie channel. But perhaps they could move Antenna TV to 55.2 instead of Soul of the South which has yet to appear. And I actually enjoy the gospel music from Jimmy Swaggart, but I don't know if they will keep SBN on 55.3. And will be interesting to see if they add local news on WJZY, since WCCB has a top rated 10pm news.

They could put the Movies! channel on 55-2 since WMYT will also be owned by Fox. My local Charter system has had Soul of the South listed on channel 84 since early December, but there is no channel 84 yet for obvious reasons. If it isn't going to launch, I hope Charter will use that space for the Movies! channel or perhaps another Charlotte subchannel like LiveWell or RTV.

They will probably carry the Movies! channel since it is being developed for the Fox O&O stations. I just hope they keep Antenna TV on either 46 or 55 subchannel.

I hope they Keep AntennaTV on 46.2 and put maybe the Movie channel on 55.2 and The Movie channel that Fox is planning is a partnership with the ME-TV Owners.

Moving Fox to 46(RF47) may help reception in parts of Spartanburg Co. and Enoree, SC where previous posters have reported difficulty receiving RF21 due to cochannel interference from RF22(WCNC). And WCCB RF27 reception is not quite reliable at that location. So to get Fox network programming this change can provide an alternative solution. But still an issue for local WHNS programming from Fox Carolina.

FYI ...

Due to the severe stormy weather today Fox Carolina
WHNS 21.2 is doing LIVE storm coverage periodically during the day on the .2 channel that usually has only doppler radar.

They are also Streaming on it website also.

Be careful in this area. Tornado warnings are close.

They hit Tennesee and parts of Georgia, but so far are passing through here uneventfully. Watching the GSP and Clt newscats, and the Clt channels have had good coverage since the 4pm newscasts. WSOC showed very heavy rains during a live shot hitting the NC mountains with the reporter being drenched and about to be blown away by the winds. WBTV3 and WCNC had good weather coverage, and WYFF4.

I was shocked to hear the shake up of WCCB-TV. First it loss their ABC affiliate after it went to WSOC in 1978, now they're losing the FOX.

Yes, it is a surprise, but they have very good people over there, so they will eventually overcome this latest challenge, whatever the outcome may be. But it was a bit of a backstabbing business deal. But unfortunately it is one of those cases where business is business. But when it is all said and done, it will be interesting to see Fox on 46 as I seldom receive WCCB on 18. (27).

Have you decided on a new antenna or preamp SpencerKarter? I still recommend the Winegard 7698 and the 8700 preamp. Check out Solid Signal.

WSPA had a report Sunday night about cutting your cable bill. They recommended an outside antenna and a Roku box. But ironically the homeowner was using a Clearstream 4 UHF antenna, which is not optimized for Channel 7. But that antenna can get 7-13 under good conditions, and it seemed to be working for him. And good to see them recommending the OTA antenna option.

tylerSC,

Instead of Winegard, I'm thinking about getting a Spectrum6 long range antenna that goes up to 150 miles. I've asked them questions yesterday, they said it is NOT a scam. http://www.antennahub.com/long-range-tv-antenna.aspx

Speaking of the WJZY Fox switch in Charlotte, NC there were similar in Charleston, SC years ago back in 1996 when WCIV 4 (owned by Allbritton) switched from NBC to ABC because their owners signed a deal with ABC while WCBD 2 (owned by Media General) switched from ABC to NBC. Plus WCSC 5 remained CBS and WTAT 24 remained FOX. WCSC's sister station is of course Charlotte, NC's CBS station WBTV 3. and Savannah, GA's WTOC 11 also CBS.

When then-ABC affiliate WGHP 8 was bought by FOX years ago and become a FOX O&O in Greensboro, NC Recently FOX sold the station. But Atlanta's WAGA 5 used to be CBS until FOX bought the station in 1994 and switch to FOX O&O til this day.

That is not a good choice SpencerKarter. Despite the appearance of a decent design, those cheaply made Chinese antennas have poor build quality and often break down. And the 150 miles is overrated. Spend your money wisely and get a Winegard 7698 antenna and an 8700 preamp. Or possibly an Antennacraft HBU55. That is the best choice unless you try a 91XG UHF antenna and a separate Winegard 7-13 antenna for VHF.

Any antenna vendor who advertises 150 mile range on their antenna should immediately be labeled as "fraudulent". Buyer beware.

SpenceKarter,

the antenna you have right now would be better than the one from the hub. Take tylers advice. I have seen good reviews from all the Winegard antennas in the line he mentioned. Even if you go with a slightly smaller one, it would be better than the link. The antennacrafts are decent too, just don't have the balun box.

why wouldnt the seller say its not a scam?????
hmmmm...maybe because they are trying to sucker errr sell them?

meanwhile I have some rabbit ears that can pick up 100 miles...no seriously it can. I wouldn't lie to you

tylerSC,

The current antenna I have (AntennaCraft C490) with a mast that's the same height as my house. Do you think I need a 30" to 40" inch mast with guy wires instead? I've tried my RCA preamp, I didn't work. With the preamp all I could get is just WNEH 38. Without the preamp, I can get many stations over the air. When I had my antenna pointing east of my direction, I could get the Columbia, SC stations, but I got a better signal of WOLO 25 than WIS 10, WLTX 19, WRLK 35, and WACH 57, I get signal drop-outs. Also when I used to point my antenna to NNW, I could get some Charlotte, NC stations during the nighttime.

You need to get the antenna above the roofline or the house couild be blocking reception. Perhaps put on the roof or chimney.

I've been searching for info on what channels I can get and which is the best antenna for me for what seems like forever...and I finally found this forum. YES!!

So I'm down in Greenwood just like SpencerKarter. I'm currently looking into dropping my local channels that I get through DISH and use an antenna to get them along with a PVR system so my wife can record some shows.

Not sure what all you guys would need to help me, but here's a link to the TV Fool's tv channel analyzer.
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d1ddac7902c9f9f

I'm really looking to get NBC, CBS, FOX, PBS, & ABC. ABC is really more of a stretch since it's up in Asheville (at least I think it's a stretch, I'm fairly new to the OTA realm).

Anyway, I'm not really sure if the antenna's and booster that were recommended to SpencerKarter would be right for me, but I'm open to suggestions and really need some advice.

EDIT:

Here's the image from TV Fool.


Edited by erock8303 - 2/12/13 at 12:40pm

I'm not sure what DISH package you currently have or if you're "grandfathered" by DISH with an old package. Assuming you have a currently-offered package like the Smart Pack (formerly Family Pack), AT 120, AT200, etc, locals are now included with these and all of DISH's standard packages. In other words, you can no longer drop locals from a base package and save a few bucks.

Eric

Well, looks like I had a conversation in my head before I typed all that.

I currently have just a locals package that I'm grandfathered into and it just seems dumb to me to continue to pay for it if I can get what I want OTA. Basically I would drop DISH completely and need to get my locals OTA and use my HTPC as a PVR to dvr shows.

Hopefully I can get some advise on what antenna to get.

You're probably already thinking this - but just in case - I would not drop that DISH package until you are assured you will be happy with OTA reception. Since you're grandfathered, there will be no going back to DISH "locals only" if you drop them.

I have an antenna I bought almost two years ago from Channel Master's website - I would recommend a purchase from them because they offer hassle-free-no-questions-asked returns if you're not satisfied. They even offered this on their open box-refurbished items. Their website states this and I even called to confirm. I bought this antenna: http://www.channelmasterstore.com/Digital_HDTV_Outdoor_TV_Antenna_p/cm-4228hd.htm
You can also check your predicted reception here: http://www.tvfool.com/

Random question. This may have been answered before, but I cannot find the answer anywhere. I live in Spartanburg, SC. I just moved here from Charleston where I was using Comcast. I have an HTPC running a Ceton InfiniTV tuner. When Charter came to install yesterday, they brought a red Motorola CableCard. They said it was a multistream card, and while I will agree that a 2 stream Cablecard can be branded as "multistream," it does not serve my needs when I have a tuner that can support 4 streams at once.

My Charter tech said the company only offers this type of CableCard. He said that the Company has not rolled out the technology to allow for more than 2 streams per CableCard. He then tried to sell me on a Charter DVR, which would of course record more than 2 streams at once. Currently, I have 1 tuning adapter installed. If I try and change channels, I often get an error about HDCP. I know the error is incorrect as my video card and TV (both of which were used on the Comcast network with no problems) are HDCP compliant. I wonder whether I need two (2) tuning adapters installed.

I told the tech that they are being left in the dust by Comcast (who offered a true multistream CableCard, albeit with a lot of complaining from me).

Does anyone on this forum use a Cablecard in the Spartanburg/Greenville area? if so, do you use Charter? Does anyone have a true multistream Cablecard in use? Without question, this process is absolutely painful. All I want is a CableCard that works. Yes, I have submitted a ticket to Ceton, but I wanted to check here and get your thoughts as well.

Thanks!