Richmond, VA - HDTV - Page 20

This is the one I have. It is actually a 15 db gain and I went upstairs to check it probably about half way up, so 7db.

http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...5Fid=15%2D2507

thanks for the info, will head to RS this week end.

I thought the World Series has looked outstanding on Fox HD via OTA. Kudos to Fox, who hit the ground running with HD.

I've had no dropouts with my Silver Sensor on the first floor in Glen Allen. BTW, if anyone is getting marginal reception with one of these antennas, I turned it 90 degrees in the base to a vertical orientation (vs horizontal), and reception improved. This is probably a more directional position as I lost NBC, but all the other channels who share a tower now come in with virtually no dropouts.

Bump.

No one else has posted for 4 days? Perhaps we're all just enjoying our HD with no problems. Other than the Fox and CBS going to Comcast questions, I am enjoying all 4 major networks in HD in addition to Comcast's offerings. Lots of HD Football and Baseball to watch.

Next up: waiting on the local deployment of the dual tuner HD DVR box from Comcast.

I wouldn't say no problems, I would say no NEW problems. WWBT-DT and WRIC-DT both had glitches in the past few days.

The NASCAR race on 12-1 started in upconverted 16:9, switched to 4:3, then stretch-o-vision, then back to 16:9. It was interesting to compare the PQ back-to-back on my Comcast HD PVR. The 16:9 upconvert was not HD, but very good. The 4:3 SD was also pretty sharp. The stretch suffered a noticeable softness, most obvious in the in-car shots where the previously clear writing on the hood was almost unreadable, and in the scrolling running-order graphics where the text of names and numbers was fuzzy. It's not just the distortion that bothers me with the stretch, the picture just isn't as clear.

Monday Night Football on 8-1 has been excellent, but during the last game they lost the HD signal for part of the second half. The SD feed looked poor, not just in comparison to the HD, but even compared to the SD highlights of other games and SD from other networks I watched over the weekend. Long shots of developing plays looked out-of-focus.

Not criticising anybody, just passing on my observations. When everything is right, PQ is great on both stations. Obviously DTV is having some growing pains. Hopefully honest feedback will help resolve some of these issues.

Also waiting on word from WCVE on going to HD and UPN going to full power. Otherwise, things are finally settling down.

I did experience a noticable difference in volume between the commercails and the game, during the NFL game this week-end. (The HD feed was much quieter.) Very annoying. I don't recall if that was during Sunday Ticket or OTA.

Sorry to say this was a network problem 2 weeks in a row. Hopefully, this will not happen again. Did anyone notice WCVE broadcasting the Broadway Music show in HD last week? It looked pretty good.

Wow, that's the first I've heard of WCVE offering HD. I'll have to pay more attention to the listings.

Meanwhile, whatever happened to 44-1? WCVW-DT just disappeared a couple of weeks ago and hasn't been back.

Titan TV has WCVE on the list for HD on and off although the list is not accurate, what is the scoop on that. I know for sure that richomnd deserves some fulltime PBS HDTV, Hampton road has WHRO (15-1)as fulltime HD with 4 sub-channels, am I dreaming?

Got a letter in the mail today from Comcast stating that on December 7, Cinemax and More Max are "moving to an all digital platform". I guess this means you will have to a digital box to receive these stations. But more importantly, could this forecast the addition of more HD channels around the same time? And what the approximate bandwidth formula, 1 analog channel = 8 digital = 2 HD? Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Does anyone know when WCVW-DT (44) will be back online?

I guess I'd like to take this opportunity to commend all of our local broadcasters who have made the investment to broadcast in high definition.

I've been known to complain, but I do appreciate the investments and efforts of our local broadcasters in this technology.

Thanks, guys, and you do have viewers.

I definitely concur with JohnFR and appreciate how far we have come.

But, there is one small matter that I have noticed this week.

DCheney,

I recorded "Lost" from Wednesday night and watched it Friday night. Not a smooth transition in the audio between the local breaks and back to the programming. One time it was so jarring in the surround speakers (load static) that my wife actually jumped. Just wanted to let you know and see if there was anything you could do to make this small improvement.

And also, I have seen no HD on 23-1 (PBS). They have only been broadcasting 704x480i in 4:3 as far as I can tell.

Rod319

I agree. Getting all the major networks in HD OTA is awesome. No cable company to worry about, just set up a good antenna and dial 'em in.

I've noticed these loud pops too. It's nice that we can be so nit-picky, isn't it? I mean, at least now we HAVE transitions consistently and aren't left cursing because someone forgot to flip the friggin' switch!

DCheney,

First off, as always thank you for your time and participation in this active forum.

But no HD after local break during Monsters, Inc. (Sat. night) for the last 40 minutes of the movie, and no HD at the beginning of the Desperate Housewives rerun afterwards.

My little girl was watching Monsters, Inc., and I kept hoping HD would appear before I could get up and put the DVD in, but it was not to be. But the upside, my wife didn't need to get hooked on "Desperate" and didn't thanks to me changing channels.

And I know that the answer in the past has been to call the News line, but I didn't this time. This problem is not totally isolated to WRIC, but is there not better monitoring of the signal being sent out?

Also, still loud pops of static coming back to program from local commercials or local news promos (which sometimes have seemed a little late).

Sorry to sound so critical, but I hope that I can provide enough details to be helpful in some way.

Rod319

You guys had every right to be ticked off on Saturday. I wasnt home most of the night and when I did get home and turn on the HD I found it also not in HD but by that time we were already in Desperate Housewives. I already have the operator working on an explanation of why this was left this way for so long. There was no excuse. I do have the switching automatic but they have to select the correct feed in order to autoswitch the HD feed. When they select the wrong net feed it leaves all in upconvert. The popping audio at switch points I am already aware of and working on a resolution. It is the Dolby 5.1 encoder that is having to auto determine the mode it must be in when the switch happens. I am working on a remote mode switching setup to do this with the switcher so bear with me please. Also folks we were down for about an hour and a half today due to an encoding multiplexing problem but it is up now.

Darrell Cheney
WRIC TV

Honest explanations guarantee forgiveness ;>)

Of all the reasons cited for problems with network HD signals on local affiliates around these forums, someone falling asleep at the switch is among the most common. Nice to know good old human error is still possible in this technological era.

It's also nice to know that the night and weekend crews will occasionally get a wakeup call when they doze on the job.

Anyone catch that the X-Files movie was in HD on Fox last night? Even though the quality was not stellar, it's good to see more network shows and movies in HD. I'll take so-so HD over SD any day.

Michael Park -

I was wondering if there were any plans for WWBT to receive HD feed from the WB for your late night rebroadcasts? My HDTiVo would love to see Kristin Kreuk (Smallville) in all her HD glory! Thanks.

Short answer is No. Currently we do not have a WB HD receiver. We are certainly open to broadcasting the WB in HD but nothing definate for now.

Hello all,

Just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Charles Rouse, the new Chief Engineer for WRLH - Fox 35. Although the position is new, I have in fact, been working to bring Fox's HDTV signal online for about a month now - glad to see someone is actually watching it...

Any itenerant readers may know me from the Hampton Roads OTA thread, where I occasionally posted, and frequently read as Assistant Chief Engineer for WTVZ - WB 33 in Norfolk.

Welcome to Richmond & the forum. I'm actually a WRLH alumnus where I was Operations Manager about 4 years ago before I went to WRIC for 3 years. I'm sure we'll meet up here in the next couple months. Give me a call or PM me if you want to check out Fox Richmond's News Operation.

Welcome to Richmond, Charles!
I think I speak for many on the Forum when I say how much we appreciate you taking the time to participate here. Most of us are interested to learn what's going on behind the scenes at WRLH, and we hope to be of use to you by providing feedback and user reports from the field.
It bears repeating that I think it's impressive how quickly Fox has rolled out HD nationally, and I've really enjoyed watching NFL and MLB on WRLH-DT via OTA. These sporting events have looked fantastic.

OK, so first question. What can you tell us about adding the HD Fox channel to the local Comcast lineup?

Thanks.

Welcome aboard the Richmond forum Charles. My name is Darrell Cheney, Chief Engineer at WRIC TV. I am your neighbor at the digital site. Trust me, the folks here in Richmond do indeed watch the HD signals and get very vocal at times of problems.
On that note, folks, we are having an issue with the HD encoder for WRIC HD22. We are arranging a loaner to be shipped in but hopefully we can keep it up and running for Monday Night Football. It has only been crashing during upconversion and not in prime so cross your fingers. It has dropped 3 times since this morning.

Darrell Cheney
Chief Engineer
WRIC TV

Great to see you posting here, Charles. Been watching a fair amount of your HD sports broadcasts OTA and it's nice to be able to pass along some compliments. Your signal is strong and PQ is very good.

Like Keller, I'd like to see it added to Comcast's lineup. I know it's a corporate decision and I'm aware of Sinclair's policies. But from a viewer's standpoint it would bring your HD programming to a lot more people and encourage them to see more of your local content and commercials.

Great job on HD for Fox. I have a question... Will the 35-2 ever be used for anything other than the SD feed of Fox?

Folks, let me know if you had any issues with MNF on WRID 8-1 tonight.

Darrell Cheney
WRIC TV

This is being handled at a level higher on the food chain than I am.

We've talked about this, but there are no definite plans at this point.