Miami / Ft. Lauderdale, FL - HDTV

Gireesh finally gets a lucky break.

WPBT-DT clear at 88 in West Kendall before 9 p.m. or so. Did they stop transmitting after 9 p.m.? Got absolutely no signal after that. I was watching some documentary on Japan and its culture. Brilliant HDCAM work, some of the best stuff I've seen yet in OTA. That's 4 digital channels (ok, 3 good HD channels and 1 well... 480i)

NBC is next. I hope CBS will transmit some NFL games in HD. Tonights primetime was clear and no lip-sync issues that I could detect. Also the title Family Law showed up in the off-air guide with a description of "HD Broadcast" on a DTC-100. My friend's Sony DTV Plus receiver did not show the title "Family Law" Did anybody else get the title listed in their off air guide?

Well, I'm finally going to post about my luck. HD100, LARGE antenna 20 feet off the chimney, but I'm not sure of the brand, rotor on the antenna yesterday. All fairly new equipment. I'm located between Atlantic Ave and Commercial Blvd on the intercoastal. According to one of the maps I'm 18 miles from the main WFOR antenna almost due north. 70's on the signal meter with it locked in. VERY broken up signal watching this channel. So bad I can't watch it for more than a few minutes. I get channels 7 and 10 well. I haven't tried the new PBS one yet. Ideas or questions? I would REALLY like to get this working.

Tim

Check out the article in Sun-Sentinel:

WPBT, WFOR join ranks of broadcasters with HDTV signals

Thanks so much for the link, hardrock!

I guess I'll have to endure my newly acquired dropouts on WFOR-DT until September, when they get their full-power rig going. Everything was rock-solid until they tweaked their antenna panel to dump more RF into the deadspot to the south of their tower. I suspect that this is why my signal is less stable, though this has not been verified by w4guy.

Meanwhile, I called WPBT and thanked them for all their efforts with WPBT-DT. Watching the PBS travel/demo HDTV material on WPBT-DT is by far the most thrilling HDTV experience I have ever had. What a great way for demonstrating the potential of this technology to people who have never seen HDTV, or even those who have seen lackluster setups in stores and walked away unimpressed.

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HiDefDave

STOP HDCP!

WHDT-DT - Channel 59 - MIG
Status as of April 28 - Several weeks away from completion.
Translation - More than 2 weeks but less than many.
Technical problems reported by WHDT as of April 18.
Phone: (561) 471-9200
Email: info@whdt.net

WBZL-DT - Channel 19 - WB39
June 29, 2001 - Anyone's guess
Work remaining - unknown
Phone: (954) 925-3939
Email: wbzl@tribune.com

WTVJ-DT - Channel 31 - NBC
July 1, 2001 per TitanTV - Anyone's guess
Work remaining - unknown
FCC Extension granted until October 5, 2001
Phone: (305) 379-6666
Email: WTVJ Feedback Form

WFLX-DT - Channel 28 - FOX
July 1, 2001 - Anyone's guess
Work remaining - unknown
Rumored intention to broadcast 480p - a welcome improvement over WSVN's 480i.
Phone: (561) 845-2929
Email: rsanluis@raycommedia.com
Email: bfigurella@raycommedia.com

[This message has been edited by hardrock (edited 05-16-2001).]

Dear Moderator,

I think I just submitted a posting, but I am not sure if it went through. Can you please confirm? If not, then I obviously have to type it again.

alejim@aent.com

Thank you!

Alex Jimenez

Sorry about the previous posting folks!! First time on this forum!!

Since I can see that my first message didn't get through, I will repeat it below.

I am a Dish HD subscriber, and have been thrilled to death with the little programming that is available. Kudos to WFOR for finally bringing CBS to South Florida!! Now I read in today's Sun Sentinel(Where I learned of this forum) that PBS is HD ready!! Please confirm that I need to tune to channel 18 on the Dish setup to get WPBT's signal? I can't wait to see what everybody is raving about, seeing as how I think that the new Dish Demo loop (with the Turtles and Bees, etc) kicks butt in showing what HD has to offer!! This brings me to my next question - what guide are you folks using to find out when show are available in HD? I've been basically stumbling on them (as I did with NYPD Blue last night!). Since we just missed The Masters broadcast down here, does anybody know when there is other programming that is of a live nature, or at least direct to "tape" as opposed to film? I am dying to watch a sporting event in true HD.
I was wondering how many of us are in South Florida, since it seems that anybody and everybody that I talk to at the retail level says that there are only a handful of us!! I doubt that! Most of them don't seem to know what they are talking about most of the time.

Thanks for this forum. I will be checking it regularly!!

Alex

Alex,

WPBT is channel 18; but, their signal has been down since last night at 11 PM.

Alex,

This is the best place to start:
www.hdtvgalaxy.com

Good luck...Chris

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Mits WT46807
RCA DCT-100
Radio Shack Bow Tie

Alex,

Dish PPV

HBO

HBO's Program Guide for May

Showtime HDTV

http://www.titantv.com

PBS:
PBS WPBT Programming Schedule http://www.pbs.org/digitaltv/dtvsched.htm

CBS has most of its prime time shows in HD:
http://www.cbs.com/hdtv/ http://www.cbsbroadcastcontrol.com/hdtv.htm

ABC broadcasts NYPD Blue in HD; and, HDTV movies are broadcast irregularly on Saturday, Sunday and/or Monday nights at prime time:
http://www.dtv720p.com/ http://www.click10.com/entertainment/hdtvschedule.html
ABC - San Francisco - KGO http://www.wfaa.com/hdtv/programming/1,1033,,00.html http://www.gist.com/tv/progdesc.jsp?pid=MV0410290000&cid=11780&gid=30&u=20010331200 0&gmt=-5 http://tv.excite.com/station/?statio...31&time=200000 http://www.kxtv.com/program/hdtv.htm http://www.komotv.com/hdtv/hdtvprog.html

FOX only broadcasts 480i in South Florida.

[This message has been edited by hardrock (edited 05-16-2001).]

OK, who's going to dive into the pool?



WHDT-DT - Channel 59 - MIG
Status as of April 28 - Several weeks away from completion.
Translation - More than 2 weeks but less than many.
Technical problems reported by WHDT as of April 18.
Phone: (561) 471-9200
Email: info@whdt.net

WBZL-DT - Channel 19 - WB39
June 29, 2001 - Anyone's guess
Work remaining - unknown
Phone: (954) 925-3939
Email: wbzl@tribune.com

WTVJ-DT - Channel 31 - NBC
July 1, 2001 per TitanTV - Anyone's guess
Work remaining - unknown
FCC Extension granted until October 5, 2001
Phone: (305) 379-6666
Email: WTVJ Feedback Form

WFLX-DT - Channel 28 - FOX
July 1, 2001 - Anyone's guess
Work remaining - unknown
Rumored intention to broadcast 480p - a welcome improvement over WSVN's 480i.
Phone: (561) 845-2929
Email: rsanluis@raycommedia.com
Email: bfigurella@raycommedia.com

After a few days of suddenly poor reception from WFOR-DT things got a lot better yesterday: back to DTC100 bit error rate meter readings in the low 70s (mostly 76 with brief dips as low as 66) and quite stable, as before.

w4guy informs me that they did some feedline repair work and had been down to only about 10 kw for a while but since repairing some of the line they have increased power.

'Bra, how's your signal? It should be better now.

------------------
HiDefDave

STOP HDCP!



[This message has been edited by Dave McRoy (edited 05-17-2001).]

Hardrock:

1) You forgot the pics for my AVS bash!!!

2) What deadline for WHDT.They have none??

3) "adelphia cable".....when will i escape thooose dreaded curse words.Because of them i can not get local or distant networks.

4) Hardrock.You could try to find out if they are in violation of certain FCC laws.I doubt their "papers" are in order!

Dave --

Yes, something has happened at WFOR. My meter had been reading an adequate 65. Last night, it soared to 93!, with a high of 100! So far today, it is holding at a solid 79.

I hope this change helps our friends to my south.

I also note that the local broadcast lip synch is now as good as that of the network programming. Way to go, w4!

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Bill Brenner

FYI, I have to agree. I am finally enjoying a very stable signal of 65 from WFOR-DT here in Pinecrest. Kudos! Oddly enough, I'm getting nothing from WPBT-DT. Yesterday 0-6 signal. Today 0. Oh the humanity!

Bob --
The good news is that WPBT was not yet on the air when you posted. It is on now, but I know not when they started today. They did not begin broadcasting yesterday until 5PM.

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Bill Brenner

Any ideas on why with WPBT I am having to turn my antenna to get a lower signal reading to get the audio to work? If I adjust it to get a steady 83 (great pic) the audio quits. If I then move it until the signal drops t around 67 the audio will start but then the picture breaks up. I am using a DTC and a RS double bow tie.

[This message has been edited by FrankP (edited 05-17-2001).]

Bill,

Thanks for the info. With all the digital troubles I've been having lately I feared the worst. It wouldn't have taken much more for me to start refering to myself in the third person like the prolific Bra. So I caved and in a moment of weakness/clarity I went to the Shack and bought the largest antenna they had. The VU-210XR rated at 210 miles for VHF and 135 miles for UHF. I think hardrock had mentioned it in a previous post. On sale $99. Took me about an hour to set it up. I now get WPLG and WSVN and WPBT at 100 level signal. WFOR at about 90. I'm sure I could do better if I raised the thing as high as I could, but it's an eyesore. I've been able to hide it pretty well. Anyone want to buy a Terk TV-42 cheap?

I hit guide today and hollywood squares showed up on WFOR today. Now I see the whole evenings schedule.

I guess they have PSIP turned on?

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You are reading my signature.

[This message has been edited by fecund (edited 05-17-2001).]

I've been on a business trip for over a month and have been following this thread with excitement. I live in Weston and have a MITs HD-5 with a Mits WS-65903.
Could some give me a short list of the HD channels that I can key in manually when I return this weekend? this way I don't have to deal with the the scanning issues I read about!
Thanks, Stu

WHDT-DT - Channel 59 - MIG
Phone: (561) 471-9200
Email: info@whdt.net

Just spoke to Brian at WHDT. He indicated that they are currently under a self-imposed deadline of July 31, 2001 to begin broadcasting OTA. Prior to Adelphia Cable's appeal of the FCC's "must carry" ruling WHDT had intended to roll-out on cable before OTA. It is apparent that the appeal has upset the business model that WHDT had envisioned; and, they have only now began focusing on providing their signal over-the-air. According to Brian, they are currently bulding an antenna with their own personnel and could begin broadcasting as early as June 1. Based on the past history of their projected completion dates, it would appear that June 1 is highly speculative at best.

[This message has been edited by hardrock (edited 05-17-2001).]

BobR,

You now have the same antenna I have: the Radio Shack VU-210. I'm also using their 15-1113C antenna preamp.

FrankP,

I wonder whether your WPBT-DT audio problems, which seem to be affected by antenna orientation (very strange) could be due to tuner front end overload from adjacent NTSC channel 17, WLRN-TV? Just a thought. Where are you located relative to WLRN-TV and WPBT-DT?

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HiDefDave

STOP HDCP!

Stu --
Subject to correction by the other contributing HD-5 users, it will be necessary to scan in order to access the new channels. The past scanning problems were caused by the presence of a zip code and have been solved by omitting said zip code..

The new channels are WFOR-DT, which is channel 22 but will show as 4-1; and WPBT-DT (18=2-1). To access them:

Go to Area 1 and delete your zip code.

Go to Local Area, Clear, Scan and uncheck unwanted analog channels. The new channels should be there.

When you exit the menus, the guide should download automatically and you are ready to go. Do NOT re-enter the zip code.

Best do this in the early evening. WPBT has been going on the air late in the afternoon and off at about 11PM. If it is not on the air, it will not scan.

Another tip: I had a power outage earlier this week and discovered that the guide download that appears on the screen following an outage will not work without the zip code in place. I entered it and then deleted it after the download.

Enjoy!

------------------

Bill Brenner

WHDT-DT - Channel 59 - MIG
Anticipated Debut - June 1, 2001 to July 31, 2001
Work remaining - Build & Install Antenna
Phone: (561) 471-9200
Email: info@whdt.net

WBZL-DT - Channel 19 - WB39
June 29, 2001 per TitanTV - Anyone's guess
Work remaining - unknown
Phone: (954) 925-3939
Email: wbzl@tribune.com

WTVJ-DT - Channel 31 - NBC
July 1, 2001 per TitanTV - Anyone's guess
Work remaining - unknown
FCC Extension granted until October 5, 2001
Phone: (305) 379-6666
Email: WTVJ Feedback Form

WFLX-DT - Channel 28 - FOX
July 1, 2001 per TitanTV - Anyone's guess
Work remaining - unknown
Rumored intention to broadcast 480p - a welcome improvement over WSVN's 480i.
Phone: (561) 845-2929
Email: rsanluis@raycommedia.com
Email: bfigurella@raycommedia.com

Will,

WPBT has a very strong and stable signal. You should be able to receive it without any problem. Their antenna is located on the Broward - Dade border between 441 and the turnpike. They don't go on the air until about 5 PM every day. Can you receive WFOR channel 22?

Dave I now think that even though I see a steady 85 on the DTC's signal/bit rate error meter it does not react quickly enough to show the signal dropping momentarily. I am located in FT. Laud very near Okland PK. Blvd. and U.S.1. I do get channel 17 but no clearly. When the DTC is trying to lock on to the audio stream the (dolby digital) message on the info screen will blink on and off rapidly. Last night once I did get a lock I had a few hours with good sound until WBPT switched from one program to another. When that happens the sound goes away for up to 5 minutes or so. I used to adust the antenna at that point to attempt to get the sound back, lsat night I just waited and at some point it would regain lock. This pattern would repeat until they signed off.

Sorry if this has been covered before but where is the tower for WPBT located and is it full power? I am wondering if I will have to buy a new antenna to receive it. I receive WPLG and WSVN just fine now (85 signal strength) with an RCA indoor antenna. Will this work for WPBT? I live in NW Coral Gables BTW. Thanks.

Will

Anyone else receiving pixelation on all South Florida OTA?