Detroit, MI - HDTV - Page 15

Looks great. Should be a good game.

WWJ had a problem with their UPCONVERTER yesterday. They had to fix it then they had to get it setup correctly. Any thing that does not come off satellite in HD is run through the upconverter for air on WWJ-DT.

Not doubting you or challenging you, just curious: How did ya find this out? Phone call? E-mail? To whom?

I have several personal friends that work at a number of local staions including that one.

Whoops, missed a few days of avsforum. Been busy at work!

I think the more people at the cable commission meeting, the better. With people having poor DVR results, no UPN or WB, an often broken QAM signal for ABC, and one of (if not THE) most expensive cable services in the Detroit area they really need to be faced with the complaints.

Like I said earlier, they dont get the complaints because people switch to satellite, and the complaints drop off the books. I dont like being ripped off on my monthly bill, and I dont like the city-sponsored cable monopoly. You'd think Kwame Kilpatrick was running the Livonia cable commission based upon our service! Remind again, what was the benefit was of having an exclusive provider for the next 15 years?

Kind of silly that they're trying to launch local phone service and authorizing several-thousand dollar AVID editing equipment on our dime instead of fixing the problems and encouraging competition.

....and there's always the opportunity for burgers at Masons after. Isn't that incentive enough to attend?

I didn't think it was an exclusive agreement. What is your source for that? Get used to the monopoly. It seems these days no cable co. is going to go into an existing area and build out their network in the hopes that they can attract some customers. Livonia (and even other communities throughout the US) have tried many times to attract other companies. Livonia came close with Americast several years ago but due to issues with both sides it never happened. The best bet for competition (sans satellite) is Fiber. SBC is doing FTTN which will help but it seems they will be limited in bandwidth unless some compression comes into play. But they will at least get the attention of Brighthouse and other local cable cos. Too bad Verizon doesn't serve this area with their FTTP plans.

The disclaimer: I didnt live here through the TimeWarner era. A DetNews article "Metro Cable Rates to Rise by January" describes an exclusive contract. I'm still trying to find primary literature sources (haven't had time to hit city hall's records) to figure out what the deal is; all my knowledge is secondhand from printed material and people's comments. I'd like to hear your take on it.

...and RE Americast, I'm not sure the city should be allowed to brag about making an effort. Didn't that company fizzle and get bought-out? Why do most other communities have WOW but not Livonia? (seriously?)

City hall gave me the counter-argument: companies are welcome to string wires in the right-of-way, but we cannot make the existing wires available to alternative providers through leasing or otherwise.

If I can get alternative local phone service, alternative long distance service, then why not alternative cable? Is the law and regulation really that much different? Did TimeWarner privately develop and own the wires in the right-of-way? Is Livonia being properly compensated (annually) for wires in the right-of-way?

My understanding is that Plymouth has TWO cables systems with seperate wires. Even if the law doesn't provide for alternate providers to lease the existing lines, why can't Livonia make this happen?

No, SBC sold Americast when Ameritech was bought out by SBC because they didn't want to deal with video at the time. SBC chose WideOpenWest as the suitor for that network.

Livonia and Ameritech couldn't work out a franchise agreement, and that is why you don't have WOW in your area. WOW has no plans right now to expand into any other communities. They are too small of a company to start building out, they are trying to focus on getting their current customers the most of their money, such as adding HD channels when they can, adding VoIP, and hopefully in the near future adding VOD.

I live in Canton, MI and I cannot get WDIV channel 4 (NBC) in HD. I have an indoor RCA antenna and I am able to get Channel 2 (Fox), Channel 7 (ABC) and Channel 20 (WB) in HD at their respective .1 channels, but I can't get anything from Channel 4. Is anyone else having this problem? If you are getting NBC in HD what channel are you getting it on? Thanks for the help.

45.1 is where I get WDIV -- and with no problems at all. It's actually one of the easiest for me to get (but I'm using a big ol' rooftop antenna) Maybe it's a little farther from you than the others?

Just curious - you don't mention CBS (62; or 44 digital), PBS (56; or 43 digital), or UPN (50; or 14 digital) : are you able to get all those, too?

I'm having Comcast HD-DVR installed in 10 days. Heard essentially the same thing re: A/B. One potential area of hope: CableDataNews.com is reporting the Comcast expects to upgrade its systems to digital for 95% of its customer base. Not sure of timing, or whether Huntington Woods is in the 5% or 95%.

The way I look at it is, I presently have DISH with SD-DVR. I have an HDTV that I have never piped HD through because of the significant up front costs via DISH (or Direct). Some HD (Comcast) is better than no HD.

Has anyone heard a definate on the 6412 for us dual line cable systems folks.

I know the CSRs are saying multiple things, like Soon or Never. But does anyone have contacts that has the true technical reason and the true resolution timeline?

Thanks

Well, today I made the leap to HD. Had D* bring out the new box but I did not have them install a ant. for OTA reception. Maybe my installer was lazy, but he was very convincing that the unit he had was a peice of junk (Winnguard?) and had not worked in this area. So now I need an antenna. The receiver is in the w/o basement. Anybody have any good recommendations? There is no way I can get on the roof, so I would prefer something indoors if possible.

Thanks,
Dave

Do you have an attic with a tall ceiling? If so you can install the OTA antenna there.

You say there is "no way" to get on the roof. Is this because you simply don't want a big ugly antenna on the roof or because it's not feasable to install one, even by a professional?

The attic sounds like a viable option, BUT it's three stories above the television. I would have to have that professionally done as I have no interest in fishing wire that far. The attic is huge. That is what prevents ME from getting on the roof. It's a hip roof (12-12) pitch and I do not do heights! I am sure I could get a pro install, but what I was hoping is that I could get something that sits on the TV or could go into the closet next to it. I would prefer to experiment before I shell out a lot more for a pro job. Maybe I'm being a little naive, but it can't hurt to ask.

I would not recommend buying a set top antenna. I don't know of any set top antennas that are strong enough to get a decent signal. Maybe someone else knows of one. I tried one a couple of years ago before getting my Winegard OTA antenna and I took it back the next day.

And I don't what kind of Winegard antenna that D* installer had but it sounds like he doesn't know what the hell he's talking about. The reception and PQ for all the local OTA stations from my antenna is perfect!
Unless you live in an area where there is a lot of interference, a quality OTA antenna should work just fine.

I just talked to Brighthouse (Livonia) a few days ago about the dual tuner upgrade and they had no time table at all. Personally I think it's ridiculous that I've had this box since November, well after Comcast has had it working and we can't even get an estimate.

When I first got the box, they told me it was going to get the upgrade "in a few weeks".

It'd be more tolerable if ABC and NBC didn't have their goofy overlaps on the schedule (Alias 9-10:02, ER 9:59-11, etc). We have to watch the first two minutes of CSI:NY in SD, then go back and watch Alias that's recorded...

I'd be willing to add volume to the collective voice, but I don't see what the cable commission could do. Anyone think that (or anything else) will get the BH folks moving a little faster? Any other suggestions?

I can confirm this.

There are plenty of folks who get by with an indoor antenna for DTV reception. Novi is a lot closer to the transmitters than Macomb, so there's no reason not to audition a few indoor antennae first. That said, proximity is not the only factor, and an antenna that works fine for one location might not work at all for another location. If the installer has experience in the area, he may know that the particular model antenna he has available to him doesn't work well there. OTOH, he may just be lazy

I'm doing quite well from Oxford with the Radio Shack amplified antenna (the $50 one) from my walkout basement. Channel 50 has been weak but everything else is fine. It helps on 50 if I turn the antenna a bit since it's 10-15 degrees away from the bulk of the antennas for me.

Newbie question: Here's my dilema, I have Comcast HD, stb to Plasma is connected w/DVI, stb is set to 16:9 1080i and every so often around 830pm the picture on ABC, CBS, FOX (all HD) are (what I call) pixelating, the picture stalls & the picture flickers, same w/audio, very annoying. I'll change channels to PBSHD or HBO HD and those problems are non-existant.
I suspect the signal, but does anyone else have a clue?? Thanks....

For those in the Detroit area receiving WJBK-DT over-the-air, here is an update, 1/28/05.

Around 8pm, WJBK-DT re-mapped PIDs. Now the main HD channel is on UHF 58.3
Some receivers may need to re-scan, power cycle, etc.

As a bonus, they also added an SAP channel, possibly the first in the market to bring a second audio service to DTV. It's only 64kb/s mono, but it sounded decent in testing. It duplicates the SAP which is mostly a mono simulcast, but some programs have video descriptive service and a few network shows have Spanish language audio available.

Call Comcast.

Unless you can identify what happens every day at 8:30pm, and stop it.

Thanks for the heads up on WJBK-DT Ken...

I got my Comcast cable bill this week and in it was an insert regarding re-mapping many of the channels for a more consistant lineup on March 8th,

Does anyone know if we will get more HD when we get remapped?,

Pete

There is more coming, but I don't know if it will directly follow the remapping.

Ken,

As a newbie to this site, please pardon my ignorance. When you indicate that more HD is coming, what is the basis for that? Perhaps it's common knowledge, but being new, I'm still trying to understand where all the data/rumors/speculation comes from.

Any mention of specific channels?

Thanks in advance.

I'm sure Ken will do a better job of answering when he gets a chance, but just thought I'd let you know that he appears to be one of those guys with a million inside connections. Whether they're personal or through his position here, I have no idea -- but when he says something you can pretty well take it as fact.

That's great to know, thanks. I wasn't challenging him. Rather, as you no doubt know, on every website there's a "Ken" and a bunch of purported "Kens." By helping me to understand he's the real deal, you saved me months of reading postings and determining credibility. I'll look forward to his insights!

Thanks for the reply.