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Dallas, TX - HDTV - Page 223

post #6661 of 6921
8/22/12 at 11:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by tylerSC View Post

Fry's also carries Terk HDTVi and HDTVa which are very good indoor antennas.

I like the HDTVi. It's a good indoor antenna if you're reasonably close (<20-25 miles, depending on terrain) to the towers. It has rabbit ears for VHF channels, but the UHF section is like the Silver Sensor - much better than the simple loop that's typically combined with rabbit ears in most cheap indoor antennas.

The HDTVa is the same antenna but with an RF amp. Unfortunately the amp is pretty useless unless you're splitting the output and/or feeding a long cable run - but if that's the case, you probably need a bigger antenna than the HDTVa anyhow. So I'd stick with the HDTVi if you live close enough to use it.
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post #6662 of 6921
8/27/12 at 10:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kevin120 View Post

They are still tweaking 55.1. Time Warner Cable has it in the guide now on channel 399 in 720p also Greenville TX (Time Warner Cable also) should have it on channel 722.
Azteca America is in HD I think they might not have activated 16:9 passthrough on 55.1 until they finish tweaking the statmux device.
Just talked to channel 55 staff and they said that tommorow hopefully they will have the Network in HD fulltime. right now they are just doing an upconversion. Also they are aware of the ads causing the screen to bounce when they go from local ads to national programming.

55.1 is in true HD now! Looked pretty good last night too. Apparently their tweaking was effective.

The only subchannel where I saw serious "blockiness" was 55.2, but that's an infomercial channel so it doesn't really matter.
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post #6663 of 6921
8/27/12 at 1:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JHBrandt View Post

55.1 is in true HD now! Looked pretty good last night too. Apparently their tweaking was effective.
The only subchannel where I saw serious "blockiness" was 55.2, but that's an infomercial channel so it doesn't really matter.

Just noticed that I see that the network still has advertisements for programming in SD so that could change in the future right now they have some snazzy side bars on a program that was not shot in HD smile.gif

I am betting the sporting events and Azteca News programs produced in Mexico are true HD as well as some Tele Novelas.
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post #6664 of 6921
8/28/12 at 1:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kevin120 View Post

Just noticed that I see that the network still has advertisements for programming in SD so that could change in the future right now they have some snazzy side bars on a program that was not shot in HD smile.gif
I am betting the sporting events and Azteca News programs produced in Mexico are true HD as well as some Telenovelas.

I saw them last night too. Sidebars with grey-scale logos, similar to KTXD/47.1. Apparently much of their content is still SD 4:3, in which case we get the sidebars; when the content is HD 16:9 (as was the case Sunday evening) it fills the screen, so no sidebars.

By the way, 55.5 (the Vietnamese channel) is 16:9 even though it's SD. All their other subchannels are SD 4:3.

One little gripe: their EPG isn't working (at least not yet) so you can't see what's on next.
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post #6665 of 6921
8/30/12 at 1:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kevin120 View Post

Just noticed that I see that the network still has advertisements for programming in SD so that could change in the future right now they have some snazzy side bars on a program that was not shot in HD smile.gif
I am betting the sporting events and Azteca News programs produced in Mexico are true HD as well as some Tele Novelas.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JHBrandt View Post

I saw them last night too. Sidebars with grey-scale logos, similar to KTXD/47.1. Apparently much of their content is still SD 4:3, in which case we get the sidebars; when the content is HD 16:9 (as was the case Sunday evening) it fills the screen, so no sidebars.
By the way, 55.5 (the Vietnamese channel) is 16:9 even though it's SD. All their other subchannels are SD 4:3.
One little gripe: their EPG isn't working (at least not yet) so you can't see what's on next.

KAZD/55.1 had a soccer game on last night in SD frown.gif 16:9 smile.gif Baby steps, I guess
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post #6666 of 6921
9/6/12 at 12:27pm
I'm a TWC Dallas customer. I called them last week and wanted to see if they are feeding me a line of bull. I subscribe to the Digital tier package but am using cablecard, not the TWC box. Disney Jr has not been available since last Sunday. The TWC rep says it is system wide and nobody is getting Disney Jr (chan 135) right now. Is that true? Anyone else with either TWC box or TiVO w/cablecard not getting Disney Jr? Has Disney Jr moved from chan 135? I did a rescan and it still says it should be at chan 135 but when I go there - No Service, channel is unavailable, try again later. Let me know if anyone else is having this issue or not. I really need a reason to put my foot in TWC Dallas' a$$.
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post #6667 of 6921
10/19/12 at 6:05pm
More Classic TV appears to be headed our way.

NBC announced that Nonstop will in fact stop on Dec 31st. In its place NBCUniversal plans to launch a new Classic/Retro channel called Cozi-TV (Jan 1). Wiki has already posted a lineup, a rather solid lineup at that featuring something rarely seem on Retro channels, a variety show (Red Skelton). So KFDW - Classic TV fans, looks like we are getting one back.
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post #6668 of 6921
10/25/12 at 1:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr L View Post

More Classic TV appears to be headed our way.

NBC announced that Nonstop will in fact stop on Dec 31st. In its place NBCUniversal plans to launch a new Classic/Retro channel called Cozi-TV (Jan 1). Wiki has already posted a lineup, a rather solid lineup at that featuring something rarely seem on Retro channels, a variety show (Red Skelton). So KFDW - Classic TV fans, looks like we are getting one back.

When this was posted, the show lineup at Wikipedia looked quite impressive; but today, not so much. In fact, only 17 shows are listed now; hardly enough to fill out a 24/7 TV schedule. (The Red Skelton Show is still listed, however.) It appears many folks added shows to the page merely because NBC Universal owns the rights. NBC Universal hasn't yet announced an official schedule for Cozi TV, and the only shows listed in their press release were Magnum, P.I., The Bionic Woman, Charlie’s Angels, Highway to Heaven, Lone Ranger and The Six Million Dollar Man. (An NBC trailer for Cozi TV also shows a scene from Magnum, PI.) Hopefully a more complete listing will appear soon.

Also, the main NBC Nonstop article claims that "Cozi TV's programming will feature classic television series and movies ... along with original lifestyle programming. Stations would also be allowed to preempt select programs from the network's national schedule to air newscasts, sports events and other local interest programs." So it looks like Cozi TV will be more like KTXD's 47.1 (which airs a mix of Me-TV, local, and religious programming) than its 47.4 (which airs Me-TV 24/7).

A few of the shows listed at Wikipedia - Lassie, Ozzie & Harriet, and Highway to Heaven - also air on RTV, so they'd be obvious choices for preemption, depending of course on when they are scheduled and what local programming the folks at KXAS want to air instead.
Edited by JHBrandt - 10/25/12 at 1:26pm
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post #6669 of 6921
11/16/12 at 12:51pm
I just checked out the FCC site and it appears that KTVT wants to file another STA to continue dual operations on channels 11 & 19. The difference with this is that they want a one week extension. Could this mean the end of KTVT on RF 11 is near the horizon?? Here's the STA reasoning notice. Also, the station filed a license to cover on its new RF 19 facilities today as well.
Edited by csworldwide1 - 11/16/12 at 12:59pm
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post #6670 of 6921
11/16/12 at 1:16pm
Sure sounds like it. They want a 1 week extension past Nov 19 original date to get past sweeps week and the Thanksgiving holiday football games before shutting down RF-11 on Nov 26. Probably have to rescan TVs and DVRs .
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post #6671 of 6921
11/18/12 at 10:31am
Has anyone heard when the actual cutoff of TVGOS for the DFW area will be? The guide says it will be somewhere between now and next April. Is there anything in the works to replace it?
I have two LG plasma Tv's and would hate to lose the on-screen guide.
Edited by LMickey - 11/18/12 at 10:46am
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post #6672 of 6921
11/19/12 at 11:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by csworldwide1 View Post

I just checked out the FCC site and it appears that KTVT wants to file another STA to continue dual operations on channels 11 & 19. The difference with this is that they want a one week extension. Could this mean the end of KTVT on RF 11 is near the horizon?? Here's the STA reasoning notice. Also, the station filed a license to cover on its new RF 19 facilities today as well.

And the one week extension was quickly approved today. Now lets see if CBS 11 will be doing promos when they finally light up the new RF 19 fac. and kill RF 11 for good next Monday Morning.
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post #6673 of 6921
11/19/12 at 12:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by LMickey View Post

Has anyone heard when the actual cutoff of TVGOS for the DFW area will be? The guide says it will be somewhere between now and next April. Is there anything in the works to replace it?

I have two LG plasma TV's and would hate to lose the on-screen guide.

This is the first I've heard of it. I tried Google and Rabbitears.info, but couldn't find anything beyond this: Trip (Rabbitears webmaster) said he's looking into it but is currently out of contact.

I too will hate to lose it. My DVR uses it to supplement EPG info, which is often absent or doesn't go far enough into the future.
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post #6674 of 6921
11/19/12 at 6:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by csworldwide1 View Post

And the one week extension was quickly approved today. Now lets see if CBS 11 will be doing promos when they finally light up the new RF 19 fac. and kill RF 11 for good next Monday Morning.

And now the Channel 11 has posted this message to remind viewers to re-scan their tuners to receive its new 'one million watt transmitter' at around 1pm next Monday afternoon. Say goodbye to channel 11 and enjoy the new RF 19.
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post #6675 of 6921
11/25/12 at 4:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JHBrandt View Post

This is the first I've heard of it...
I too will hate to lose it. My DVR uses it to supplement EPG info, which is often absent or doesn't go far enough into the future.
Like my two DTVPal DVRs.


Quite a bit of discussion about it here http://www.avsforum.com/t/537711/sony-dhg-hdd250-500-official-thread/25680#post_22596273 and here http://www.avsforum.com/t/1099071/the-official-avs-dish-dtvpal-dvr-topic/15120#post_22624465

Sony guys are in deep doodoo with theirs sounds like.
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post #6676 of 6921
11/26/12 at 12:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by csworldwide1 View Post

Say goodbye to channel 11 and enjoy the new RF 19.

Just for the record, KTVT's service on RF-11 ended sometime during the wee hours of Monday morning, 26 November 2012. The more than three-year simulcast has come to a close.
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post #6677 of 6921
11/26/12 at 2:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by re_nelson View Post

Just for the record, KTVT's service on RF-11 ended sometime during the wee hours of Monday morning, 26 November 2012. The more than three-year simulcast has come to a close.


So can you measure any difference with their 1 Megawatt of power? What were they ... 750 kW? 250 kW more is about 1 dB difference. Day to day atmospheric changes can cause more of a change than a dB at app'x 30 miles from Cedar Hill.
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post #6678 of 6921
11/26/12 at 5:23pm
Tonight, I think for the first time, I'm getting a lot of signal variation sometimes briefly to 0 and back, dropouts, freezing, pixels, intermittent on KDAF Ch 33.1, and 33.2 same thing. I've watched hours of AntennaTV 33.2 and never a problem until now. I wonder if Ch 11's changes had an effect? Looking now at weaker K31GL-D 31.3 at 38-50% signal, but it is 100% solid reception. 33's signal is varying from 49 to 93 to 60 to 0 to 52 and on and on. Anyone else seeing this?

EDIT: 11 hours later, 8:40 AM and Ch 33.1 is rock solid, 93-95 sig strength. Must have been atmospheric conditions, maybe some tropo bringing in a distant station to interfere? Back in the analog days you could see co-channel interference.
Edited by ed_in_tx - 11/27/12 at 6:42am
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post #6679 of 6921
11/26/12 at 8:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ed_in_tx View Post

So can you measure any difference with their 1 Megawatt of power? What were they ... 750 kW? 250 kW more is about 1 dB difference. Day to day atmospheric changes can cause more of a change than a dB at app'x 30 miles from Cedar Hill.

I hope that what I'm seeing is atmospheric related because a series of POWER readings made tonight on the Sencore are rather stunning. The caveats are that tonight's readings are point in time and, of course, all made at night. That said, KTVT on RF-19 is now reading consistently from 25.4-26.5 dBmV. Measurements taken over a longer period of time from October ranged from 22.2-23.7 dBmV.

At face value, this would appear to look like nearly a doubling of power instead of a mere 250 kW increase. It would be prudent for me to take more measurements over the next few days to make sure I'm not seeing an anomaly.
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post #6680 of 6921
12/3/12 at 11:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ed_in_tx View Post

Like my two DTVPal DVRs.
Quite a bit of discussion about it here http://www.avsforum.com/t/537711/sony-dhg-hdd250-500-official-thread/25680#post_22596273 and here http://www.avsforum.com/t/1099071/the-official-avs-dish-dtvpal-dvr-topic/15120#post_22624465
Sony guys are in deep doodoo with theirs sounds like.

Thanks for the links. I have the Channel Master version of the PAL and found quite a bit of useful info over there (including your posts).

At least the PALs will still be usable w/o TVGOS. There may be some issues with the clock, though frown.gif

As for a solution, I posted my disappointment on Rovi's Facebook page but that seems unlikely to change their minds. Looks like the best solution is to nag stations into sending more EPG info in their PSIPs. We already have that problem with KTXD since TVGOS apparently doesn't include them, and they only send 12 hours of EPG frown.gif

Stations seem to have some reluctance to do this, possibly due in part to concerns about some converter boxes not being able to handle too much guide data, particularly in big markets like DFW, although I've only heard of one converter box mfg. with this problem (ironically Echostar, who also made the PAL DVRs). Perhaps stations could increase their EPGs gradually, 12 hours at a time, as long as they aren't getting any complaints.
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post #6681 of 6921
12/5/12 at 11:59am
Some good news for DFW music fans: After a long absence TheCoolTV has returned to the DFW airwaves, this time on KHPK-LD, channel 28.2.

KHPK is a low-power station but still has a pretty good signal over most of the DFW metroplex.
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post #6682 of 6921
12/5/12 at 12:12pm
Well DANG! Welcome back! Good to know. I emailed them a couple of years ago when they went away. They replied they were working on getting another affiliate in DFW. I hoped they wouldn't go out of business first.

Now showing a Time-Life "Singers and Songwriters" infomercial.

KHPK-LD comes in at "86" vs KERA at "85" signal strength.
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post #6683 of 6921
12/5/12 at 1:33pm
hmmm... at 3:30 pm KHPK 28.2 switched to Jimmy Swaggart SBN .

And at 3:35 pm TheCoolTV is back.
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post #6684 of 6921
12/6/12 at 6:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ed_in_tx View Post

hmmm... at 3:30 pm KHPK 28.2 switched to Jimmy Swaggart SBN .
And at 3:35 pm TheCoolTV is back.
I would rather watch Jimmy Swaggart. His rockabilly, boogie woogie southern gospel music is still very good after all these years. The SBN network is carried as an OTA subchannel on WMYT 55.3 in Charlotte, NC. But good that you got Cool TV back. Still missing in Greenville, SC after Sinclair dropped in from 13-WLOS in Asheville, NC.
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post #6685 of 6921
12/6/12 at 8:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by tylerSC View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by ed_in_tx View Post

hmmm... at 3:30 pm KHPK 28.2 switched to Jimmy Swaggart SBN .
And at 3:35 pm TheCoolTV is back.
I would rather watch Jimmy Swaggart. His rockabilly, boogie woogie southern gospel music is still very good after all these years. The SBN network is carried as an OTA subchannel on WMYT 55.3 in Charlotte, NC.

We can watch SBN on 28.1. Putting it on 28.2 was probably just a momentary mix-up at KHPK.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tylerSC View Post

But good that you got Cool TV back. Still missing in Greenville, SC after Sinclair dropped in from 13-WLOS in Asheville, NC.

Sinclair dropped TheCoolTV from all their stations. I suspect that's what convinced TheCoolTV to rethink their business strategy and go back to leasing time on LPTVs like KHPK.
Edited by JHBrandt - 12/6/12 at 10:52am
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post #6686 of 6921
12/6/12 at 11:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by csworldwide1 View Post

And now the Channel 11 has posted this message to remind viewers to re-scan their tuners to receive its new 'one million watt transmitter' at around 1pm next Monday afternoon. Say goodbye to channel 11 and enjoy the new RF 19.

Is this new transmitter working well for everyone else? I'm in the north part of Frisco and my reception of NBC, ABC, CBS, and Fox has always been good enough, but just barely (I get signal levels of 40-55 on my Tivo). I'll get occasional pixelation, but it's mostly fine. CBS was always the weakest for me, so I was hoping that this change would improve things, but it's actually gotten worse. After rescanning, I have two 11-1 channels. One has a 0 signal level no matter what I do with the antenna (so I assume it's the old transmitter) and the other I can get to 20-30 by moving the antenna around, but that's not good enough for a solid picture. According to everything I've read (but admittedly I don't know much about it), channel 11 should be roughly as good/bad as 4 and 5, but it's clearly a notch worse for me, bad enough that I just don't get the station anymore.

I have 2 antennas: a Antennas Direct C5 ClearStream 5 Extreme Range for VHF and a Antennas Direct ClearStream4 HDTV Antenna for UHF with the cables going through a combiner. I've just put the antennas on the ground next to my house - they seem to work better there than in the attic (apparently because of the heat shielding?) I've tried just hopping up on a ladder with the antenna and holding it 10' or so above the ground, but that doesn't seem to make much difference. I'm at a bit of a loss on what else to try.

Any suggestions? I only care about CBS/ABC/NBC/Fox, so I'm trying to avoid cable.

Thanks!
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post #6687 of 6921
12/6/12 at 1:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dirkp View Post

Is this new transmitter working well for everyone else? I'm in the north part of Frisco and my reception of NBC, ABC, CBS, and Fox has always been good enough, but just barely (I get signal levels of 40-55 on my Tivo). I'll get occasional pixelation, but it's mostly fine. CBS was always the weakest for me, so I was hoping that this change would improve things, but it's actually gotten worse. After rescanning, I have two 11-1 channels. One has a 0 signal level no matter what I do with the antenna (so I assume it's the old transmitter) and the other I can get to 20-30 by moving the antenna around, but that's not good enough for a solid picture. According to everything I've read (but admittedly I don't know much about it), channel 11 should be roughly as good/bad as 4 and 5, but it's clearly a notch worse for me, bad enough that I just don't get the station anymore.

I have 2 antennas: a Antennas Direct C5 ClearStream 5 Extreme Range for VHF and a Antennas Direct ClearStream4 HDTV Antenna for UHF with the cables going through a combiner. I've just put the antennas on the ground next to my house - they seem to work better there than in the attic (apparently because of the heat shielding?) I've tried just hopping up on a ladder with the antenna and holding it 10' or so above the ground, but that doesn't seem to make much difference. I'm at a bit of a loss on what else to try.

Any suggestions? I only care about CBS/ABC/NBC/Fox, so I'm trying to avoid cable.

Thanks!

I agree the dead 11-1 is probably the old VHF signal. Delete it if you can. And you're probably right about the attic too. If you have a radiant barrier, it's usually conductive and will reflect TV signals away from the interior of your attic just like it reflects heat.

The ClearStream 4 is a pretty good antenna, but it's very directional. It has to be aimed properly at the Cedar Hill antenna farm, so I'd expect the signal to fluctuate quite a bit if you try to hold it with your hands. You'd probably have to bolt it to a mast to keep it oriented correctly.

The ClearStream 5 antenna you're using for VHF shouldn't be as picky, so you might try just removing the CS 4 and the UHF/VHF combiner and just feeding everything from the CS 5. Although built for VHF, it does pick up some UHF, so it may do the job all by itself.

Some parts of Frisco get very good reception, but you may be in a low spot. Can you check your address at TVFool.com and see?
Edited by JHBrandt - 12/6/12 at 1:49pm
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post #6688 of 6921
12/6/12 at 2:52pm
So, just got back from vacation and learned the hard way that 11-1 is gone. ok. it is now on 19.1 ok.
I run vista windows media center. I added 19.1 as a channel, strong signal, but no picture. says the typical tv signal issue when I wait long enough. did I miss something? shows 1191 as my channel. programs are still showing on channel 11, and I can add them to channel 19, but just dont have a picture on 19, any thoughts? All other channels are ok, and I added 5.2, 8.2 8.3 etc. but nothing for 19.
please help. I miss big bang theory, lol.
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post #6689 of 6921
12/7/12 at 7:16am
Quote:
Originally Posted by xrusian View Post

So, just got back from vacation and learned the hard way that 11-1 is gone. ok. it is now on 19.1 ok.
I run vista windows media center. I added 19.1 as a channel, strong signal, but no picture. says the typical tv signal issue when I wait long enough. did I miss something? shows 1191 as my channel. programs are still showing on channel 11, and I can add them to channel 19, but just dont have a picture on 19, any thoughts? All other channels are ok, and I added 5.2, 8.2 8.3 etc. but nothing for 19.
please help. I miss big bang theory, lol.

First let me admit my ignorance about WMC. That said, it's true that KTVT is now broadcasting solely on RF 19. Their virtual channel is still 11, though; so if WMC is showing "channel 19" I'd say it's mixed up. I'd expect it to show channel 11, just as it shows channel 4, 5, etc. even though those are also on different RF channel numbers.

HTH
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post #6690 of 6921
12/7/12 at 7:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JHBrandt View Post

First let me admit my ignorance about WMC. That said, it's true that KTVT is now broadcasting solely on RF 19. Their virtual channel is still 11, though; so if WMC is showing "channel 19" I'd say it's mixed up. I'd expect it to show channel 11, just as it shows channel 4, 5, etc. even though those are also on different RF channel numbers.
HTH

Strange... my DTV Pal converter has shown KTVT as virtual 70-1 ever since they started simulcasting and I just accepted it. Oddly enough, however, is that it still comes up between virtual 8 and virtual 13, and if I hit "11" on my remote, it comes up. It just displays it as "70-1".

HOWEVER, I just checked it a minute ago for the hell of it using my "add a channel" function. This uses RF channels as opposed to virtual ones, and I found that RF11 has the signal and the picture (signal strength in the mid 90s), and RF19 has only a strong signal (also in the mid 90s), but "no service" text on a black screen. No, I don't have it backwards either...I double checked. What's up with that? Sounds like what "xrusian" is reporting.

Just to be clear concerning my DTV Pal converter box, when displaying, it still shows the virtual channel (or 70-1 in KTVT's case), but when manually adding a channel, you add it by RF channel. For example, if I want to add KERA, I would add it by using RF14, it will show 2 services on that channel, and I would add it to my channel lineup. It still shows 13-1 or 13-2 when I tune to it while watching.
Edited by K5ING - 12/7/12 at 7:37pm
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