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Harlingen, TX - HDTV - Page 5

post #121 of 640
4/4/08 at 10:37am
The full transision is with the turn off of analog TV. That is to happen (according to the FCC) February 17th, 2009. Most stations will still have the SD equipment and will also continue to transmit to cable via fiber optics the SD signal.

As for WX plus. It will be transmitted in SD. It would take too much bandwidth to do two HD signals in one data stream. KVEO is keeping it's HD signal as wide a bandwith as possible with out degrading it. The HD bandwith was not reduced to add the WX channel. The WX channel should start airing the Week of April 6th, baring any problems.

Signed Chief Engineer KVEO
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post #122 of 640
4/4/08 at 3:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by fixitman View Post

The full transision is with the turn off of analog TV. That is to happen (according to the FCC) February 17th, 2009. Most stations will still have the SD equipment and will also continue to transmit to cable via fiber optics the SD signal.

As for WX plus. It will be transmitted in SD. It would take too much bandwidth to do two HD signals in one data stream. KVEO is keeping it's HD signal as wide a bandwith as possible with out degrading it. The HD bandwith was not reduced to add the WX channel. The WX channel should start airing the Week of April 6th, baring any problems.

Signed Chief Engineer KVEO

Damn, that sucks for me, I'm moving to the Houston area in the winter so I won't get to see the full transition. Either way, it's fun tuning in and seeing something new in HD from you guys, even if it's as simple as a commercial or Station ID or something.
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post #123 of 640
4/6/08 at 7:52am
Although Analog of the Air Transmission ends on Feb. 17, 2009 it will not end on cable or satellite feeds. Also class A low power stations and translators can continue in analog SD. We will continue to feed the cable system in both HD and analog SD.

NBC's plans are to upgrade their satellite equipment in each of its affiliates to make it all HD digital capable. The next year will be interesting to see just how the different networks handle the changes.

These changes will also be in the big TV markets, so your move will still be interesting.

KVEO was the first in our corporation to do HD news. Although we were not first with HD promos and station IDs, we were first with a paid commercial in HD. We are looking for upgrades it that equipment to make it easier on our operators, (to have fewer errors and glitches) with the programming of the automation equipment.

Thank you for your comments.
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post #124 of 640
4/6/08 at 10:54am
That's awesome...buy why isn't NHL Hockey in HD right now?
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post #125 of 640
4/6/08 at 5:50pm
Two possibilities, one it is not being sent to NBC affiliates in HD, or two, the master control operator messed up. The third is that there has been a failure with the NBC receiver, and no one called me. I am on vacation for a week, although I have to go in tomorrow to correct one of those problems that has come up with the WX plus.
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post #126 of 640
4/6/08 at 8:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by fixitman View Post

Two possibilities, one it is not being sent to NBC affiliates in HD, or two, the master control operator messed up. The third is that there has been a failure with the NBC receiver, and no one called me. I am on vacation for a week, although I have to go in tomorrow to correct one of those problems that has come up with the WX plus.

Actually, it looked like it was that problem that Mla3710 was talking about. Because just before they came back from commercial during the second intermission report (and after I posted my initial comment), you guys showed the HD KVEO Station ID and Hockey came back in HD but was switched out less than a minute later. The game was for sure in HD and the NBC reciever is working just fine on the viewer end. No, from what I saw, it was a mix of the aforementioned problem and the master control operator messing up. Because it seemed like the same old problem of the playback server triggering off the HD signal, but at the same time, the master control operator could have very easily switched back into HD instead of leaving it in SD for it's entire duration as well as a portion of PGA Golf following that. It was in the middle of golf that it was switched into HD (where it remained) after being in SD.

Today I litterally sat at home all day and watched TV. This is how I spend my time when I'm not busy, and when I am busy, my DVR is ready to record what I can't catch live. Because I know you are on this form, if I find an error like this, I will report it as long as I find it.


EDIT: Medium was interesting tonight, it was mostly in SD with some random moments of HD
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post #127 of 640
4/21/08 at 8:59pm
So I've noticed something odd. The HD feed still gets switched off after local HD Bumpers, but it ONLY happens during the weeknights in Prime Time. It's fine during the weekends. Tonight the Only about half of Medium was in HD, the rest was in SD because the HD feed was switched off. Maybe it wouldn't be such a big deal if as soon as it switched off, the Master Control operator switched back into HD as fast as they could, but that is hardly ever the case. I have actually timed everything out. From the time the show starts after local commercials to the time the HD feed is switched off, it takes roughly 20 to 22 seconds on average. Usually as soon as the onscreen NBC graphics that say whats coming up next disappear and the regular NBC screen bug appears in the left corner is when the feed switches off. It seemed like it was starting to get better, but it really hasn't. It becomes difficult to watch knowing that there is a high chance the HD feed will switch off and I'll be stuck watching SD. That is especially scary now that the entire Weeknight Prime Time schedule is All New now that Law & Order is returning.
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post #128 of 640
4/23/08 at 1:21pm
I was wondering if this problem might be an NBC-related issue, as I've seen what appears to be the same thing here in Austin on KXAN.
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post #129 of 640
4/23/08 at 6:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by austinsho View Post

I was wondering if this problem might be an NBC-related issue, as I've seen what appears to be the same thing here in Austin on KXAN.

uhh..really? Interesting, what say you fixitman? Maybe we should contact people in other markets and see if they too have similar problems with their NBC HD Affiliate.
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post #130 of 640
4/24/08 at 8:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by vikmars View Post

uhh..really? Interesting, what say you fixitman? Maybe we should contact people in other markets and see if they too have similar problems with their NBC HD Affiliate.

We have issues with NBC HD in all of our Texas & Louisianna Markets. (El Paso, Brownsville, Tyler, and Baton Rouge).

The problem is that NBC supplies their satellite feeds on a KU Band satellite that is very susceptible to rain fades and inversions in the South.

At the present time there is no HD C-Band backup feed, so when the HD reciever fades there is no option but to switch to the SD KU or C-Band.

NBC anounced at the NAB convention Chief Engineers meeting last month that will be implementing a full time HD/SD satellite feed on both the KU Band and C Band satellites before the Summer Olympics this year.

Hang in ther guys, they're working on it!

Lou Strowger
Chief Engineer
ComCorp of America
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post #131 of 640
4/24/08 at 4:09pm
actually the HD triggering off is an easy problem to fix, but requires the MCO to be very detail oriented as there is a command in the playback server that switches the HD signal off. If this command is not deleted, the server switches back to SD. It is true that there is some NBC HD feed signal loss at times, but this is rarely the case.
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post #132 of 640
4/25/08 at 11:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mla3710 View Post

actually the HD triggering off is an easy problem to fix, but requires the MCO to be very detail oriented as there is a command in the playback server that switches the HD signal off. If this command is not deleted, the server switches back to SD. It is true that there is some NBC HD feed signal loss at times, but this is rarely the case.

Actually Mla3710-The HD OFF command that you are speaking of was eliminated by an automation system upgrade over a month ago...........................
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post #133 of 640
5/16/08 at 2:38pm
KVEO has added NBC Weather Plus in the KVEO-2 channel. Enjoy. We are still working with NBC on the reliability of the HD receiver.
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post #134 of 640
5/18/08 at 7:54pm
Well HD off thing hadn't been a problem for a while, but yesterday (Saturday) it was a problem all night during primetime (SNL ran smoothly with no problems), it also happened once on Thursday that I saw, but other than that, I've seen no problems since my last post, just rare spotty incidences here or there that were nothing major to complain about.

As a viewer, I'm pretty satisfied with the work everyone down there at KVEO has done fixing these problems. Now I'm just patiently sitting back and waiting for more local HD stuff from ALL stations down here.
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post #135 of 640
5/19/08 at 5:26pm
HD is off right now during American Gladiators, I guess this is becoming a problem again?
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post #136 of 640
5/21/08 at 1:29pm
Hello everyone

I live in Edinburg, and I'm having a hard time getting either of the azteca stations. My home faces east, and I have my antenna (outside) facing east/south east. I get good signal strength on all the other stations I receive.

I can get azteca 9 for short periods, with only 60% signal, and I get no audio with it...

Any help would be appreciated.
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post #137 of 640
5/21/08 at 2:35pm
I currently have Time Warner Expanded basic cable.
No digital box. Just the expanded basic service.

if i were to buy a new HDTV with NTSC/ATSC/QAM tuner, which channels would I expect to be able to get by simply plugging in my cable to the tuner on the TV. No antenna, no box.

I ASSume some people have done this? I really don't wanna have to deal w/ cable companies and renting boxes, etc. I dont need a bunch of the digital channels nor music channels - i have my own music I like.

thanks.
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post #138 of 640
5/21/08 at 2:38pm
You would get the same channels you can see now on your regular tv.
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post #139 of 640
5/21/08 at 3:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ydgmms View Post

I currently have Time Warner Expanded basic cable.
No digital box. Just the expanded basic service.

if i were to buy a new HDTV with NTSC/ATSC/QAM tuner, which channels would I expect to be able to get by simply plugging in my cable to the tuner on the TV. No antenna, no box.

I ASSume some people have done this? I really don't wanna have to deal w/ cable companies and renting boxes, etc. I dont need a bunch of the digital channels nor music channels - i have my own music I like.

thanks.

There is a post towards the middle of this threat that lists what channels you will get and their channel numbers.

You can expect to find the 4 local HD Channels (KVEO, KGBT, KRGV, XHRIO), ESPN HD and ESPN 2 HD, TNT HD, Mojo HD, HD Theatre and FSN SW HD. I have yet to pick up TBS HD, HDNet or HDNet Movies. Non HD channels you pick up are ESPNEWS, NBA TV, KGBT 24-7 Weather and the west coast feed of Starz Black. ....oh by the way, you also get ALLLLLL of the music channels too
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post #140 of 640
5/23/08 at 11:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ydgmms View Post

I currently have Time Warner Expanded basic cable.
No digital box. Just the expanded basic service.

if i were to buy a new HDTV with NTSC/ATSC/QAM tuner, which channels would I expect to be able to get by simply plugging in my cable to the tuner on the TV. No antenna, no box.

I ASSume some people have done this? I really don't wanna have to deal w/ cable companies and renting boxes, etc. I dont need a bunch of the digital channels nor music channels - i have my own music I like.

thanks.

Digital OTA (HD & SD) channels are required to be carried "In the clear" on all QAM cable systems. If you connect a TV with a QAM tuner to cable and do a full analog/digital scan you will pick up the local HD channels.

Of course, after the scan you need to go back and turn off the hundreds of scrambled channel that it picked up with no video.

If you can find out the local cable QAM channels. (92.1 - 92.2 - etc) you can enter them direcrly and they will stay in the line-up.
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post #141 of 640
5/29/08 at 8:28pm
Anybody notice that KMBH is now multicasting? Right now 60-2 and 60-3 are both airing v-me (spanish network) while 60-4 is airing other PBS shows.
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post #142 of 640
6/7/08 at 1:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ogonzz View Post

Hello everyone

I live in Edinburg, and I'm having a hard time getting either of the azteca stations. My home faces east, and I have my antenna (outside) facing east/south east. I get good signal strength on all the other stations I receive.

I can get azteca 9 for short periods, with only 60% signal, and I get no audio with it...

Any help would be appreciated.

According to Wikipedia, these are the channel numbers for the Mexican HD channels in your area.

XHREY TV Azteca 13
Analog 12
Digital 36

XHOR-TV Azteca 7

Analog 14
Digital 33

XERV-TV Canal de las Estrellas "HD"

Analog 9
Digital 19

XHAB-TV Televisa local

Analog 7
Digital 30
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post #143 of 640
6/14/08 at 11:39pm
i just bought an hdtv last week and did a scan and pick up a lot of channels. This board has helped a lot to figure out what channels were what btw, so thank you everyone for that. But, im not picking up NBC and Fox in hd, so im wondering should i get an antenna to "boost" the signal? if so does anyone recommend a certain one.... i have time warner extended basic with no digital box hooked up, just going straight from the wall to the tv.
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post #144 of 640
6/15/08 at 2:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by wazzaa01 View Post

i just bought an hdtv last week and did a scan and pick up a lot of channels. This board has helped a lot to figure out what channels were what btw, so thank you everyone for that. But, im not picking up NBC and Fox in hd, so im wondering should i get an antenna to "boost" the signal? if so does anyone recommend a certain one.... i have time warner extended basic with no digital box hooked up, just going straight from the wall to the tv.

I have personal experience with this here. I didn't pick up NBC or FOX either and it was my TV's fault. When it scanned for channels, it stopped scanning after channel 129, but the tuner goes all the way up to 150 or something like that. I don't know why it just stopped scanning like that. I am assuming this is what has happened to you and you don't realize it. It was an accident that I figured it out myself, and lucky for you I did, so I could attempt to help. I used the list of channels that was posted on this thread and used my remote to tune to those channels individually and that worked for me. Trust me, NBC and FOX are there and they don't need any "boosting". However, I still would get an antenna so you can do OTA stuff, after all, this is an OTA thread. www.antennaweb.org can help you pick out a suitable antenna for your location, but I myself over here in Harlingen pickup the bulk of the channels OTA with a basic RCA amplified antenna on my HDTV and the same channels with an even more basic antenna with my laptop's ATSC tuner

Oh, by the way, for future reference, these digital and HD channels you are getting on basic cable are called QAM Channels. It's like they are the channels cable companies don't want you to know about, but they are required to have them.
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post #145 of 640
6/15/08 at 9:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by vikmars View Post

I have personal experience with this here. I didn't pick up NBC or FOX either and it was my TV's fault. When it scanned for channels, it stopped scanning after channel 129, but the tuner goes all the way up to 150 or something like that. I don't know why it just stopped scanning like that. I am assuming this is what has happened to you and you don't realize it. It was an accident that I figured it out myself, and lucky for you I did, so I could attempt to help. I used the list of channels that was posted on this thread and used my remote to tune to those channels individually and that worked for me. Trust me, NBC and FOX are there and they don't need any "boosting". However, I still would get an antenna so you can do OTA stuff, after all, this is an OTA thread. can help you pick out a suitable antenna for your location, but I myself over here in Harlingen pickup the bulk of the channels OTA with a basic RCA amplified antenna on my HDTV and the same channels with an even more basic antenna with my laptop's ATSC tuner

Oh, by the way, for future reference, these digital and HD channels you are getting on basic cable are called QAM Channels. It's like they are the channels cable companies don't want you to know about, but they are required to have them.

the highest channel i get is 126.37.. if i manual try to enter 129.1 my tv doesn't recognize it. I have a DX-LCD32, when i had scan i have it scan cable and just an auto search, the other options are irc, hrc and std in the cable options. I am gonna try and get an antenna today. thanks for your help and if you got any more suggestions that would be great..
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post #146 of 640
6/16/08 at 4:35am
local HD programming....it's a reality.

I'm watching the repeat of Ron Whitlock Reports right now on KVEO-DT and although right now KVEO isn't showing it in HD at this moment for whatever reason, it was in HD earlier and I just can't help but smile that it is a locally produced program and it's in HD.


Progress.


On another note, i was looking at the Titan TV guide, and it showed the George Lopez show with a little HD logo, but not for today's showing, but with tomorrows and onward. I hadn't heard anything about George being the next syndicated HD show. Titan TV is usually pretty accurate when it says that something is in HD, I don't come across many errors, only omissions.
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post #147 of 640
6/16/08 at 5:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by wazzaa01 View Post

the highest channel i get is 126.37.. if i manual try to enter 129.1 my tv doesn't recognize it. I have a DX-LCD32, when i had scan i have it scan cable and just an auto search, the other options are irc, hrc and std in the cable options. I am gonna try and get an antenna today. thanks for your help and if you got any more suggestions that would be great..

You might want to look into getting a TIVO HD box. That is what I am using with TWC and OTA antenna.

I get TWC expanded basic. With a little searching, I can get all of the channels that I want, digital and HD for the price of the expanded basic. Unfortunately, there is no channel guide for those channels, but you can use the standard analog channel guide data.

The TIVO also allows you to receive all the local OTA channels in HD and integrates the cable and OTA into one very easy to use channel guide.

With TIVO, you can record, pause, skip, etc. like the box that TWC provides, except the TIVO is so much more user friendly.

You can get a TIVO HD on Amazon now for less than $200.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000RZDBM2?...FRKpxgodviBOXQ

The TIVO just makes watching TV so much more fun!
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post #148 of 640
6/16/08 at 2:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pilot20 View Post

You might want to look into getting a TIVO HD box. That is what I am using with TWC and OTA antenna.

I get TWC expanded basic. With a little searching, I can get all of the channels that I want, digital and HD for the price of the expanded basic. Unfortunately, there is no channel guide for those channels, but you can use the standard analog channel guide data.

The TIVO also allows you to receive all the local OTA channels in HD and integrates the cable and OTA into one very easy to use channel guide.

With TIVO, you can record, pause, skip, etc. like the box that TWC provides, except the TIVO is so much more user friendly.

You can get a TIVO HD on Amazon now for less than $200.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000RZDBM2?...FRKpxgodviBOXQ

The TIVO just makes watching TV so much more fun!


Wow, you sound like a commercial...but seriously, I was looking into Tivo and I wasn't sure how exactly it worked. I read something about setting your recordings online and thats something I really don't want to deal with...what is that all about? And what about monthly subscription fees?
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post #149 of 640
6/16/08 at 4:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by vikmars View Post

Wow, you sound like a commercial...but seriously, I was looking into Tivo and I wasn't sure how exactly it worked. I read something about setting your recordings online and thats something I really don't want to deal with...what is that all about? And what about monthly subscription fees?

You can learn about TIVO here...

www.tivo.com

I have two TIVO HD boxes, and for both I'm paying about $18/month. But, there are different subscription tiers based on number of years purchased. The more years, the lower the cost.

The TIVO subscription was about the same as the TWC box, but the TIVO blows it away.

You do need an internet connection for updates and guide data. You can connect the TIVO directly to your internet service or use the wireless adapter, which is what I use. That way, I don't need to run cable to the boxes.

I rarely watch live TV anymore. I just set up season passes for my favorite shows, and watch them when I want. The TIVO is very versatile, and easy to learn how to use.

I live in San Benito, and you are more than welcome to stop in to see the TIVO in action.

Pilot
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post #150 of 640
6/16/08 at 4:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pilot20 View Post

You can learn about TIVO here...

www.tivo.com

I have two TIVO HD boxes, and for both I'm paying about $18/month. But, there are different subscription tiers based on number of years purchased. The more years, the lower the cost.

The TIVO subscription was about the same as the TWC box, but the TIVO blows it away.

You do need an internet connection for updates and guide data. You can connect the TIVO directly to your internet service or use the wireless adapter, which is what I use. That way, I don't need to run cable to the boxes.

I rarely watch live TV anymore. I just set up season passes for my favorite shows, and watch them when I want. The TIVO is very versatile, and easy to learn how to use.

I live in San Benito, and you are more than welcome to stop in to see the TIVO in action.

Pilot

Thanks for the info...and the invite. I will really consider going to TIVO
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