New Orleans, LA - HDTV - Page 5

I applied for a waiver today. I was told it would take up to 45 days for a response and that 1 in 5 waivers are granted. Notification will be by mail. I'll post back if the stations become enabled.

Thanks.. I may as well give it a go as well...

I didn't recieve a response from the FCC.

Bulldogger, how did you apply for the waiver? Just called DTV?

BuddhaDSS

I just spoke with DTV. Filed for the waiver. The good news is that if the locals don't respond in 30days the waiver is granted for the NY HD feed. I wish I'd done this sooner.

Yes, just call Direct Tv and ask for the HDTV rep. Explain the situation and he'll asks you some question and then apply for he waiver.

Just got my answer to Directv's request (on my behalf) for waivers. They was DENIED by every station!!!!!!!!!

Don't get you hopes up.

Denied for Texas or New Orleans..? Seeing as the mail I'm getting is 2 months old right now I highly doubt that anyone here is responding to anything.

Didn't think this would happen, but here is the response:

From: "Carl Bonura" Add Address
Date: 2005/11/09 Wed AM 10:20:01 EST
To: "'Vince Bonura'" , "'C&C Bonura'" , "'Bryan Bonura'" , "Carlo Maniglia"
Subject: FW: PROBLEM01655466 - Local Channels in New Orleans Area

I received an interesting reply to my email to the FCC regarding allowing
satellite companies to provide the HDTV service from the national feeds
while the local HD towers are inoperative. Apparently, they have the
authority to allow it and do not need permission from the FCC as they told
me over the phone. See below... I am calling DirecTV again.

-----Original Message-----
From: FCCInfo@fcc.gov [mailto:FCCInfo@fcc.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2005 9:10 AM
To: carl-bonura@cox.net
Subject: PROBLEM01655466 - Local Channels in New Orleans Area

You are receiving this email in response to your inquiry to the FCC.

Dear Sir:

The Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act (SHVIA) gives no authority to the
FCC (or any other entity) to compel a TV service provider to provide - or to
withhold/block - any particular service, including satellite provision of
network programming whether local-into-local, distant station, or the HDTV
component of either.

Thank you for contacting the FCC Consumer Center.

Rep Number : TSR41

From: "Carl Bonura" Add Address
Date: 2005/11/09 Wed AM 10:46:01 EST
To: "'Bryan Bonura'"
CC: "'Vince Bonura'" Add Address, "'C&C Bonura'" Add Address, "Carlo Maniglia" Add Address
Subject: RE: FW: PROBLEM01655466 - Local Channels in New Orleans Area

I just spoke with someone at DirecTV in the HD eligibility department. She
told me that they must get a waiver of customer from each of the local
stations before they can allow me the national feeds. They also said each
person has to apply for this individually. I went ahead and asked them to
start the process that they say takes 30 to 45 days!!!

So, I sent the FCC the following question:

Will you please answer one more question for me? I called my satellite
provider and they said they have to have a waiver of customer from each of
the local stations in my area in order for them to allow me to get the
national feeds of High Definition TV. Is this accurate information, or is
it just another tactic they use to deny me that service?

Thanks. Carl Bonura

Denied for New Orleans. I am working in Houston temporarily due to Katrina. I also have a house in the New Orleans area.

ok.. time to open a can of whoopass.. I just drove back from Lakeview.. street after street of total devastation. I hope these desk jockeys sleep soundly in their comfy beds tonight while we deal with the daily stress of life in NO.. if they deny me I'll put a guilt trip on them bigger than Katrina.. hope you are doing ok in Houston.. sorry but for me I'll take NO on a bad day over Houston anyday.. no disrespect to Houston but its just not for me..

Don't get your hopes up for a waiver. I live in Slidell and applied for a waiver through Direct TV on September 19. I was denied by ALL the stations. I can understand WWL denying waivers because they are proving the only HD service. But it makes no sense for all the other stations to deny reception of the national feeds since they don't provide an HD signal. I think we need to send letters/emails to the stations( WDSO, WGNO,..) saying that we will only watch Ch 4 news until they either provide an HD signal or waivers for the national feeds. Perhaps, a temporary waiver could be established that disappears when a particular station re-establishes their HD signal.

Bayou-7

Has anyone spoken to any of the station engineers for WVUE, (FOX) WGNO (ABC) WNOL (WB) or WDSU (NBC) to see when they will be back up and running?

There's gotta be something we can do until the time OTA HD returns in NO with the exception of WWL as stated....

I called a few of the stations today; only WDSU had a person I could speak with about the HD signal. He reported that the subject was presently under discussion at the station. The good news was that they are considering putting up an entirely new facility for HD broadcasts----presumeably more powerfull. The bad news-----new capability would require a new building. Bottom line---their HD signal probably won't be operational until at least Spring. I explained to him the situation about waivers being denied for the national HD feeds. He was sympathetic and promissed to look into the situation. So, if anyone actaually receives a waiver from WDSU, please report it so that others may take advantage of this policy change.

As for the other stations, I'm even less optimimistic. The number for WGNO doesn't even result in a message identifying the number as WGNO. They may not be local for a while.

The FOX station produced no live contact either.

Doesn't look good.

Bayou-7

The other week WYES (PBS) wrote me back in an email saying they hope to be back up in Jan. With only WWL showing any local HD, I purchased a new antenna to replace my damaged RS antenna. With the CM 3671, I have no problem receiving both Baton Rouge and Biloxi stations. Only major network, I have problems is with WGMB (FOX) from B.R. I receive the signal but only a distorted picture. Maybe an outside antenna would help til DirectTV gives the local access.

Has anyone seen any activity at all from Directv? I am moving into a new house next week in Pearl River and have the Movers Program setup already. The problem is no one will tell me the install will take place and I will only be there a week before having to head back to Texas.

RxpSGR, where in New Orleans are you located? I am off Airline right by the Sam's. Just curious to see whether or not it would be worth getting that antenna you speak of. I just don't know if I want to install it since my nice Terk indoor worked great for the NO stations....

BuddhaDSS

I live in Kenner by W.Esp and Power. This is an UHF/VHF antenna that can be bought from Warren Electronics for just over $100. I also use a rotator and a pre-amp to boost the signals. I had the RS 190 antenna which worked fine for Baton Rouge for the past 4 years til it was blown down in the storm. Once, last week, I even picked up the Lafayette station channel 56 (CBS) one night. Biloxi is a hit and miss. Usually it works fine,but last night I had to aim to B.R. to watch HD.

Thanks for the info!

Can anyone advise what stations are currently (post Katrina) broadcasting HDTV in the New Orleans area?
Thanks,
Ben

WWL - CBS

That's it for HD broadcasting in New Orleans.

BuddhaDSS

Direct Tv reconnected me on Oct. 19. It took a month to do so.

Wached saints today in hi def via fox 44 in BR. NBC 33 is also recevable in HD.

Thanks for the information. I should have checked here before asking my question. I also just replaced my RatShack 190 that went down during Katrina, today. I bought a Channel Master 4228 from Warren Electronics. I'm using an old (all-band) preamp from RatShack and a rotator, but we're only up about 30 ft (2 miles south of MSY). Even though I'm about 15 ft. lower than before, this antenna is picking up Lafayette 56 (10.1 spotty at best), PBS 27.5 in B.R. and of course, 2.1, the strong ABC station in B.R. Also, on 49.3 is the WB station for us Smallville fans, although I don't know if they're broadcasting in HD. UPN is on 54.1.

Now if someone knows of a NBC station out there, we'll have them all!

I think it will be some time before DIRECTV offers HD Locals to us in the New Orleans area, so an outside antenna seems like a worthwhile investment for reception of HD network programing.

Thanks again for the info.
Ben

I finally got Charter to come bring me an HD box. I got lucky and picked up a rca 50" DLP from target for 75% off (ended up paying $700 for it)

needless to say the only # we have watch till charter came out was WWL

Anyone on the northshore having luck with BR stations? I'm thinking about getting an outdoor antenna if it is worth it. I have one in the attic but i only get WWL with it.

I would like to know about the BR stations also. Just moved into a new house in Pearl River.

Glad to see some Northshore guys in here...I just got a Panny 42" plasma and am thinking about a CM 4228 on 20' of mast...right now I am on rabbit ears and I get WWL at about 50 percent signal. I have an old RS 190 OTA all channel antenna that Katrina ripped all the VHF elements off, I just wonder if I cut the VHF stuff off and just keep the UHF elements...

I've got a RS 190 and a CM 4228 sitting in my storage shed. I use a Zenith silver sensor ($20 online) mounted on a 20' mast with a 16 DB signal amp and rotor. I get WWL at 90% and Biloxi ABC at 70-85%. THe Baton Rouge Fox just plain Sux for signal.

PS.

I'm in lacombe.

Did you ever try the 4228?

Inquiring minds wanna know...