Huntsville, AL - HDTV - Page 57

Here's an AL.com article about the HSV stations and the delay:
http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletim...960.xml&coll=1


My opinion the delay is going to cause more problems than it solve. If the viewers aren't prepared by now, they won't be four months from now.

I agree, some people won't believe the change will occur until it happens. How long has the analog to digital change been an open discussion? I say do it.

Looks like if you change your zip code to 35801, you start getting updated content information about the programs.

I have a sinking feeling that those of using DirecTV equipment for OTA HD are going to have some rough times. The D* equipment can't scan for the OTA channels. It is dependent on accurate guide data to get the stations mapped correctly. The transition delay is just going to cause more hiccups in getting this data straitened out for DirecTV customers.

I wouldn't worry about that too much. Since 19 is the only channel moving, it will be the only one affected. I'm fairly confident WHNT is in touch with Directv about this. As it gets closer, I'll call Steve King (their chief engineer) to confirm they're in touch with Directv.

Actually, it's NOT DirecTV who creates the channel guide, but our ol' friend Tribume Media Systems. Many of us knew them indirectly because of their Zap2it free listing. The guys at Schedules Direct worked out an arrangement to purchase the listings...

You would not believe the trouble I went through in 2007 at both DirecTV and APTV trying to get us squared away here in Northern Alabama.
The dopeheads at D* Customer Service do not follow up on calls (although their lip-service would tell you they're working on it, or 'that ticket is closed'), their Engineering team is not linked into the CS group (independent, non-compatable databases) and Engineering does NOT create the channel lineup... they simply import it from their TMS feed.

I'll keep tabs on this myself... I still have the e-mails from the individual at TMS who fixed this issue within days!

I doubt the issue is anything that Tribune can deal with. The problem is not necessarily the guide data. It the mapping of the virtual channels to the physical channels. The boxes will probably have the correct program listings. The question is whether or not direcTV will keep the data up to date so that our boxes tune to the right frequency after the stations move channels.

If DirecTV had added the ability to scan or manually enter the channels this would be less of an issue.

BTW Isn't WAFF moving their digital channel to 48?

EXACTLY my point! IF the TMS --> D* fails to update WAFF to RF-48 then our D* HR20's will only be able to tune to RF-49... You'll see WAFF in the guide at 48, and as it is today the (hidden) info associated with that "listing" will be to tune to the HR20 to RF-49 thus the typical consumer may not understand WHY they can't get local OTA reception -- NOR will the D* CS folks you call to report it! They'll inform you it's an issue with your local affiliate and NOT an issue with your HR20... GUARANTEED!

It is TMS EXCLUSIVELY who can resolve this! PLEASE don't kid yourself... reread my posts from Spring of 2007. until I found "DA-MAN" at TMS in AUGUST who could actually effect the change in the TSM database, I had endured months-worth of contacting, speaking with, waiting, and anguish!

Is it TMS that provides the mapping info to D* for OTA? Or do they just provide programming information? It just seems weird to me that TMS would be responsible for making sure D*'s equipment tunes to the right RF frequency for OTA. It's not TMS's responsibility to make sure D* receivers are able to pick the right transponders and parts of the data steams to be able to tune HBO, ESPN, etc.

I live off Shoal Creek, with a tree covered hill to the east. There was already an old telescoping poll against my house so I attached a 15 year old, 4 poll antenna (half the size of a CM4228) just above roof top level. Antenna is aimed ESE or 110 degrees by sight. I have no amplifier (yet), have RG59 coax running from the antenna to a diplexer combining with one of the runs to my DTV HR20 then the diplexer separating the antenna to the OTA input on the HR20. I'm getting 45-60% reading on 19, 31, 36 and sometimes 54 (watched last half of the Bud Shootout with no drops.) Nothing on 48, but I understand they are at one-third power. 15 is 95%.

All that to say this, I'm confident that an 8-bay, with amp, and RG6 cable homerun to the tuner would probably give me great reception.

You might try Tennessee Valley Satellite in Killen (Center Star) as I picked up diplexers there and they quoted $79 for an 8-bay and $20 for an inside amp and said they would allow returns within 10 days in case it didn't work out. Don't know the brands or models of the equipment.

Just an FYI as to an earlier post - I was able to use a diplexer in line to my HR20 which includes the BBC for HDTV. Connection is: satellite multiswitch in attic>short jumper>BBC>diplexor>cable from attic down one story>diplexor>short jumper>HR20. Had to reset the HR20 after making the connection.

Yes. Just follow their logic: it's neither D* nor TMS's job to assure the OTA-tuner in your equipment actually tunes the right RF frequency -- D* will gladly have you subscribe to your locals via D* for an extra $3/mo. It is the local broadcaster's place to send notice to TMS to update the database; whether or not that gets effected is at the mercy of the viewer to track down the keeper which I've found to be TMS.

Oh, you're right: It's not TMS's responsibility to make sure D* receivers are able to pick the right transponders and parts of the data steams to be able to tune HBO, ESPN, etc. that is the core of D*'s business (just not anything FREE (e.g. OTA) that competes with them) and D* will agree!

Are you beginning to understand why it took me MONTHS to get this resolved in the Spring of 2007? APTV said they'd submitted the forms to TMS. D* said their "new" HR20 receiver can only tune what the TMS data says... no more scanning the locals. ONLY the consumer in the local broadcast area can verify whether the two are working together and able to tune the channel.

I agree that support for OTA is now the red headed step child as far as D* is concerned. I just was not clear on what role TMS played in the mess.

I guess it would have been too easy for D* to have their receivers be able to scan or manually tune to an RF channel then figure out the virtual channel (which every other OTA tuner I've dealt with can do).

Actually, their original ATSC boxes did scan... I can't figure out WHY they changed this, unless it makes it seamless when a station does change their frequency! Free OTA reception went away with their HR21 box, only to bump you an extra $3/mo for the locals they decided to carry, or SELL you an auxiliary OTA tuner so you can tune your locals including all sub-channels, just like the HR20 it replaced!

BTW, Did you see D* is raising their rates next month? Another $3 again this year for my Total Choice... nothing like leading the cost of living adjustment at >6% annually!

Who or what does the mapping on a ATSC tuner that is in the new TV sets? When 19 bcomes 46, 15 is 14, 31 become 32 , etc. what happens? Is it controlled by digital signals from the stations? Will 54 bill its self as the new 41? I have not moved up to DVRs yet, but do have Directv HD and OTA for locals.

Mapping to analog channels will continue as it does now. WZDX will be 54-1 on physical channel 41. WHNT will be 19-1 whether it's transmitting on physical channel 59, 19, or 46.

- Trip

Luckily I had one of the older boxes when I got stuck with an HR21 about 6 months before the AM21 tuner add on was released. Most of the older boxes will still function for OTA even if they aren't subbed to D*. So I was stuck watching DVRed OTA on the small screen in the living room but I could still watch live OTA on the projector using an old unsubbed box. I complained loudly to directv. I was told everything from HD is no availble in your area (despite the fact that I had been watching it for a few years using D* equipment) to a "software fix would be out in a couple of weeks." There were plenty of HR20's available at the time it was just that D*'s ordering system could not let them specify a certain model. I was able to get enough programming credits to offset the cost of the add on tuner.

Ironically I just got D* to give me another HDDVR for no charge and they sent me a refurbed HR20.

Directv is definitely not the same company it was when I originally signed on. They've been sold off a couple of times. Now price increases happen more often and their customer service is deteriorating (the sad thing is it's still better than most other companies though). I would be hesitant to sign up for them now as a new customer with the commitments required for advance equipment.

As far as I know about every station will still market themselves using their old analog channel number. 95% or more of the viewers won't know or care what frequency is being used for OTA.
With the tuner in your TV you'll just have to rescan or manually tune to the physical channel and it will fix itself.

With the DirecTV equipment we are dependent upon them and apparently Tribune Media services to get their stuff correct.

WHAT'S been up w/WHNT-19's digital broadcast all day? The audio is dropping out, popping, and lost seconds of broadcast entirely! It's repeatable and on both a .ts and D* recordings. I first noticed it on my HTPC earlier today (during the golf) and thought it was my system, but after seeing it persist through tonight I believe it's the station.

Update: It's also having pixelated display as well although my signal is steady & strong (85-88%). I sure hope the station is working on this eventhough they may have months more before it's primary!

I noticed it as well with the audio on 19 and thought it was my system so I tried OTA and switched to E* and same thing with the audio so WHNT definitely has a problem.

Have had occasional audio problems for months with 19.1. Center signal will come out of left speaker, etc. Will probably clear up when analog signal goes and the engineer only has one signal to watch.

Last night watching the Grammy awards was a pain in the ears, WHNT's digital audio was dropping out so much. I get it through Knology. After checking the analog channel, I could tell that it was dropping out as well, just not as noticible as with the digital signal. You would hope that CBS with the Grammies would have gotten the sound right. Watching football games on various digital channels this season showed me just how bad FOX was when compared to NBC, all due to the point of origin quality. Going digital is apparently going to make it real easy to see who tries to make digital TV work right and who doesn't.

Hi all. I live in Madison, just off Balch road. I currently have Knology Cable / Internet combination. I am debating switching to either DirecTV or DISH because I am just sick of Knology's terrible HD offerings.

My main concern is making sure I get HD locals on an HD DVR. Right now, I have the SciAtl 8300HD and it works pretty well. I know I will need to get an OTA antenna. I have a very large attic over my one story house, so running new coax everywhere will be fairly easy. I was even planning on hanging the antenna from one of the rafters since i have like 20' to my roof peak.

Reading the above posts shows some of the customer service issues with DirecTV and DISH. Is either of these two companies better suited for the Madison area?

I may or may not keep Knology internet, depends if I can get naked DSL at 6.0 speeds. Thanks for the help.

Your location doesn't make a difference re: Directv or Dish and locals in HD.

Currently Dish offers HD locals in Huntsville via satellite, minus WHDF and APT. If you plan on putting up an antenna, Directv and Dish would be the same, as you should have no problems picking up all locals in HD from Madison.

The question really comes down to what you want in programming, outside of locals.

Personally, I'm on Directv (and have been for 10 years due to the NFL Sunday Ticket), but others are just as happy with Dish.

If I went DirecTV, I would have to purchase that add on AM20 box, in addition to getting the HR20, correct? Does the DISH DVR have a built in tuner to fill in for the missing ABC HD?

I live up around Madison County High School and have DirecTV. I don't have a problem with the HD OTA because I'm just 6 or 7 miles from the towers, but I have antenna in my attic in one of the dormer windows. It works real good. I get the major networks all at between 95-100% on the signal test and I even get the CW out of Florence (45 miles away) at around 50% on the signal test. That 50% is good enough to get all the CW shows in HD without any problem. If it is bad weather I lose the CW channel, but that has only happened twice in the 4 months I've had the antenna.

Because Huntsville doesn't get the HD locals from DirecTV I told the DirecTV customer service rep that I wanted two free AM21 boxes for the two HD DVRs I have. They said ok and gave them both to me. I couldn't get them until after I started service with DirecTV because the local installers didn't have them. But DirecTV 2-day shipped them to me so I got them real quick and connecting them is easy (USB plug).

I kept my cable company Internet because Mediacom has a 8 mps service where as DSL's max is 6.

I also have Directv and two HD DVR's, I have AM-21's on both of them. The setup works great. Recording off the AM-21 works exactly the same as a recording off Directv.


Hey Taz remember a couple of years ago when you and I had an on line discussion at TennesseeValleyHD.net about Directv abandoning OTA on their receivers?

Yep, and you were 100% correct. I still don't understand why they did it, it's not like it cost much.


The HR20s have ATSC tuners, it's the HR21 and above that don't. I doubt they'd give you a HR20, though with most people getting the AM21 for free, I'd take that and the bigger hard drives of the newer DVRs.

Picking a Sat provider will become a preference choice Do alot of investigating on both Sat providers sites and what they offer and the cost. Programing wise they are pretty close with Direct having a large edge on the sports packaging. In my opinion Dish has the better DVR.

Check out some of the other forums and read what they say about both Sat providers and be informed.

Got this email reply to my question about WHNT/CBS supplying TVGOS guide data:

------------------------
We will not be transmitter the guide data. I do not know who will be.
---
Joe Kirby
Director of IT
WHNT-TV
(256) 535-9261

AT&T is now back to offering discounts when you get phone, internet, and/or cell phone service with them along with DirecTV so that might save you some money if it fits your needs.

You shouldn't have any problems getting the locals via antenna. When I lived off of Balch Rd. north of 72 getting the stations on Monte Santo with an antenna in the attack was trival. WHDF was a little tricky since it's off in a different direction but it should be doable with the right antenna and placement.