Norfolk, VA - OTA - Page 217

Both OTA and FiOS and on 2 different sound systems.

Last night during Wheel of Fortune (I never watch this, but had it on last night so can't compare to other nights), there was rear audio. I'm assuming that is because it was 2.0 (at least I'm assuming they aren't natively 5.1) and WVECs equipment converts to 5.1 and sends the signal that way.

Anything that originates in 5.1 (primetime programming, NBA games, etc) does not have rear audio.

I should mention that once they discovered that they were sending 5.0 and not 5.1 the audio became remarkably better, just w/o the rear ambient audio you get with all other locals.

One last question, are you set to Dolby Digital mode on the receiver, not simulated/enhanced/etc surround? If I set a receiver to Dolby Digital I am noticing lower rear channel, but have not had a session with true 5.1 source, only stereo cross-converted to 5.1.

Direct decoding, no enhancements, etc.

For the record, no rear audio on WVECHD or SD during SEC finals today. I can flip to WTKRHD and SD and both have rear audio. I know the SD channels aren't 5.1, but odd that WTKR would have it and WVEC wouldn't.

And, I get rear audio during the commercials.

I wish I cold test another ABC station.

WVEC rear channel issue is resolved.

Thanks, I'll check it out tonight. Much appreciated.

Edit: Just flipped over to the tennis match, and sure enough, there is rear audio.

Thanks again.

Is anything wrong with WSKY's transmission? I normally get steady signal strength in the low 60s but for the past day I'm getting zero signal strength. Is this happening to anyone else?

Watching them now... 95% on DirecTV's meter and SNR of 27.5db (WTKR had 31.25) according to my Sammy TV...

I must be getting some kind of interference. If I cut off the amp WSKY comes in fine but I can't get a steady signal on ION. I can't find a workable compromise so I'm just hoping it clears up soon. Thanks for the response, Robert.

Is WTKR having equipment problems? I was watching it last night and again this AM on FIOS and noticed many commercials were in 4:3 SD. I switched to OTA and have seen the same thing. Some of the commercials look like they were filmed in 16:9 as they are squished.

I wonder who's at the controls of WTKRs studio right now......they just set a bunch of commercials right over the show. That, with the commercial issue I noted earlier, something seems to have gone awry over there.

Hello, can someone point me to some directions on how I can get:

1) WGBS "Retro TV" digital 7.1

2) "Antenna TV" digital subchannel 27.2 (which is apparently a digi subchannel of WGNT)

I live in the Salem Rd. area; I currently have a new Toshiba tv, and few older analog tvs, with Cox cable starter service.

I have no idea how to tune my my Toshiba to digital "subchannels."

I suspect I need to go OTA, but as of now I have no antenna of any kind, just the cable hooked up (although that does seem to act as a limited kind of antenna).

Thanks very much for any help!

^ Welcome to the forum, zpf. You are correct that you need an antenna to get WGBS and Antenna TV, they are not available on Cox Cable. To get these channels you need to connect an antenna and run a channel scan on your TV. Good luck with WGBS, hardly anyone can pull that one in, at least not with an indoor antenna. Antenna TV should be pretty easy to pick up.

Agree... GBS will be hard. I'm a little farther east than Salem Rd with a CM4228 in my attic. I've never have gotten them...

If you are a starter service customer you can save yourself $180 a year by getting an outside antenna and actually get more channels.

There are actually a lot of channels on the starter service that are not available OTA. These incluce UNC TV, TBS, Animal Planet, QVC, HSN, C-Span, WGN, TV Guide and three local government access channels.

Wow, thanks for all the great info everyone. I was going to try putting an antenna on the side of the house, but I guess I'll put that off for now and settle for Antenna and whatever else I can pull.

I've seen a couple maps online indicating I'm within the WGBS coverage area (I'm near the Amphitheater), but I guess it's not quite realistic.

Also is there a way to combine cable and antenna service via a splitter and a hardware switch or something, so I can switch from on to the other? I actually do get a lot of channels I do watch from my $15/mo. Cox service--not sure what the name of the package is; I've had it for several years.

Thanks again all.

It is hardly realistic. From my home just east of Ward's Corner My reception of WGBS is "streaky" at best. What I mean is, I can recieve that station for a few to several days, then will disappear for several days. I have a UHF only antenna, but RF ch 11 (where WGBS is physically located) is close enough in frequency I should have little problem, especially since I am about 7 miles from the transmitter in the West Norfolk section of Portsmouth. That has not been the case. Remember, this is a low power station, its ERP is only 300 watts.


You can buy an A/B switch. CATV could be coming in on the "A" port, an antenna on the "B" port for example, then the common would feed the antenna port on your TV.

Thanks KC4JGC for the info on the switch. Can anyone recommend a good local retailer for OTA gear? Thanks again everyone.

Why has WAVY-DTV had a big black bar across the bottom of the screen all day today? You'd think they would notice this and fix it...

Everytime someone posts this, it gets fixed!

Is something wrong with Sky4? I can't pick it up anymore in Portsmouth.

I'm getting them OTA at 10:43A...

This thread has just about died, hasn't it?

It's been quiet...

Well, it's been a good run. 217 pages but not much to say now.

I think this is the 4th or 5th continuation of the thread. Back in the day :-) when HD was new to the area, the thread was archived monthly or so.

Since you guys don't want this thread to die I guess it is time for me to stop lurking and join so I can ask a question!

Has there been any word of Sky4 getting back on D*? I thought I read that must-carry applications were sent every 3 years so I am *hoping* that Sky4 gets back on DirecTV in January 2012. I just can't seem to consistently get it OTA and it drives me nuts during football and basketball season.

WSKY in SD is VERY likely... HD? dunno...

Is it just me or is WVEC not broadcasting OTA today? All of my TVs are getting no signal off the antennas for channel 13.1 and 13.2 today.