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Abilene, TX - HDTV - Page 26

post #751 of 1213
2/14/09 at 3:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by abileneguy2005 View Post

The sign outside of SUDDENLINK says that KXVA is on channel 706. I'm assuming that's digital and HD since that channel would be right next to the other locals in HD.

I am on DTV using an OTA antenaa to get my locals. Does anyone know how we will be able to pick up this signal and incorporate it in our program guide like all of our other locals? I'm guessing DTV is going to have to make the change because when I tried to re-do my locals via the antenaa, FOX was still not a choice.

There is no reason why we shouldn't be able to pick them up with a scan just like the others, provided they have a reasonable power output and of course they are indeed digital. Direct TV has nothing to do with our OTA, that capability is built into the receiver. However your card must be activated and the receiver needs to be capable of OTA. Yours obviously is since you are currently picking up locals.
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post #752 of 1213
2/14/09 at 9:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by adb View Post

There is no reason why we shouldn't be able to pick them up with a scan just like the others, provided they have a reasonable power output and of course they are indeed digital. Direct TV has nothing to do with our OTA, that capability is built into the receiver. However your card must be activated and the receiver needs to be capable of OTA. Yours obviously is since you are currently picking up locals.

Someone mentioned in an earlier post that Suddenlink would be getting KXVA digital before everyone else since they would have a direct fiber optic feed. KXVA may not be broadcasting digital over the air just yet..
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post #753 of 1213
2/14/09 at 10:10pm
Looks like we OTA people will have to wait until Tuesday. According to the new promos KXVA is currently running before the digital OTA signal starts broadcasting. I have no idea if it will be an HD signal or a digital (480) one, we will have to wait and see.
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post #754 of 1213
2/15/09 at 12:48am
From the FCC Advisory: While the June 12, 2009 deadline for ending analog broadcasts does not apply to low-power, Class A, and TV translator stations, the FCC will require these stations to convert to digital broadcasting sometime thereafter. More than 2,100 of these stations have been authorized to construct digital facilities and some are broadcasting in digital already. The FCC is currently considering the remaining issues involved with the low-power digital transition and will make decisions regarding these stations in the future. Interesting, that addresses exactly the KXVA translator in Sweetwater. Well, if they're analog for a while longer, at least with the parent station digital, the picture will hopefully improve. I'll be shocked if KXVA can push a watchable signal over that 60 some odd miles of hilly terrain that it is from Sweetwater to the KXVA tower. Thanks for the link T-bone.
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post #755 of 1213
2/15/09 at 9:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by abileneguy2005 View Post

I am on DTV using an OTA antenaa to get my locals. Does anyone know how we will be able to pick up this signal and incorporate it in our program guide like all of our other locals? I'm guessing DTV is going to have to make the change because when I tried to re-do my locals via the antenaa, FOX was still not a choice.


Should be on 15-1 since they did not have a paired channel.
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post #756 of 1213
2/15/09 at 11:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by adb View Post

There is no reason why we shouldn't be able to pick them up with a scan just like the others, provided they have a reasonable power output and of course they are indeed digital. Direct TV has nothing to do with our OTA, that capability is built into the receiver. However your card must be activated and the receiver needs to be capable of OTA. Yours obviously is since you are currently picking up locals.

So when KXVA finally goes OTA digital, we should be able to do a new antenaa setup in our DTV box and it will show up? I was under the impression that DTV had to do something on their end since we input our zipcode and then it tells us what networks are available. Does the DTV box tell us what locals are available or does DTV? I know we get our program guide from the Satellite...
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post #757 of 1213
2/15/09 at 2:13pm
Well, believe it or not mamoji is right on. I took my cable wire off my vhs/dvd and hooked it up to the rf input on the tv, rescaned the tv using the tv remote, went to video one and tuned to 81.2 and there was Fox in HD. Obviously the free pass through of some HD that some cable systems still have. Of course you need the tuner in your tv. I have Direct TV and just the basic cable channels and I just go back to video four and there is my satellite picture. There probably are local HD channels as well if someone knew the tuning numbers. Great work mamoji.
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post #758 of 1213
2/15/09 at 3:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by abileneguy2005 View Post

So when KXVA finally goes OTA digital, we should be able to do a new antenaa setup in our DTV box and it will show up? I was under the impression that DTV had to do something on their end since we input our zipcode and then it tells us what networks are available. Does the DTV box tell us what locals are available or does DTV? I know we get our program guide from the Satellite...

You will just have to rescan. Direct TV really doesn't do any thing. In the receiver the card has to be activated to get OTA. When the card is activated it simply lets the receiver be in a position to scan for locals if it is called upon to do it. Direct TV does pass down the guide information it receives. Putting in your zip code is simply a means of helping line up the satellite dish but really has no effect on the operation of the receiver. You can put in another towns zip code and it won't matter. The Direct TV receiver simply scans and picks local channels. If the signals are not fairly good sometimes it will not lock on to specific channels and they won't show up as being available and you might have to rescan.
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post #759 of 1213
2/15/09 at 8:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by abileneguy2005 View Post

The sign outside of SUDDENLINK says that KXVA is on channel 706. I'm assuming that's digital and HD since that channel would be right next to the other locals in HD.

I am on DTV using an OTA antenaa to get my locals. Does anyone know how we will be able to pick up this signal and incorporate it in our program guide like all of our other locals? I'm guessing DTV is going to have to make the change because when I tried to re-do my locals via the antenaa, FOX was still not a choice.


Suddenlink has FOX HD on 81.2 and KERA HD on 76.1. The daytona 500 looked pretty good today.
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post #760 of 1213
2/16/09 at 11:50am
Well, I never counted on this happening, but it looks like Abilene is actually one of the markets that has all locals digital before the extended cutoff date in June. For Suddenlink basic users we now get these channels digital/HD through a QAM tuner:
KTXS (ABC) 81.1
KXVA (FOX) 81.2
KRBC (NBC) 102.1
KTAB (CBS) 102.2

When I first moved here a couple years ago, KRBC and KTAB were the only digitals I could get QAM while KTXS required an antenna. I was correct in thinking that KXVA would wait until the last minute...but I am pleasantly surprised that they did it even though the cuttoff was extended to June. Now that everything is settled pretty much I won't be checking this thread as often...I'll still drop by occasionally though. Cheers
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post #761 of 1213
2/16/09 at 12:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by joemama127 View Post

Well, I never counted on this happening, but it looks like Abilene is actually one of the markets that has all locals digital before the extended cutoff date in June. For Suddenlink basic users we now get these channels digital/HD through a QAM tuner:
KTXS (ABC) 81.1
KXVA (FOX) 81.2
KRBC (NBC) 102.1
KTAB (CBS) 102.2

When I first moved here a couple years ago, KRBC and KTAB were the only digitals I could get QAM while KTXS required an antenna. I was correct in thinking that KXVA would wait until the last minute...but I am pleasantly surprised that they did it even though the cuttoff was extended to June. Now that everything is settled pretty much I won't be checking this thread as often...I'll still drop by occasionally though. Cheers

I wouldn't be suprised if suddenlink continues to spit out the an SD version since the switchover only applies to OTA. Speaking of which, hasn't happened yet for KXVA. I am pleased to hear reports that KXVA is HD on cable though... means the OTA digital that's supposed to happen tomorrow will likely be HD.

Anyone know when the cutover is going to happen... if it's at midnight on either tonight or tomorrow night I might stay up just to do a rescan and 'toast' having the big 4 in HD finally.
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post #762 of 1213
2/16/09 at 2:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tigepilot View Post

Anyone know when the cutover is going to happen... if it's at midnight on either tonight or tomorrow night I might stay up just to do a rescan and 'toast' having the big 4 in HD finally.

I might just join ya ...

I checked their analog channel earlier today and it was pretty snowy. Don't know if they had a crew on the tower and the power backed down or what.

Speaking of low power, anyone heard anything about the status of KRBC getting back to full power? When I was checking KXVA, I could not KRBC at all. Again, I'm only about 12 miles WNW from the tower site.
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post #763 of 1213
2/16/09 at 4:16pm
So I'm not sure how this is related exactly but today I have no analog kxva ota and fox on dish looks very bad. There is no channel 15.1 digital yet so I guess they are starting the changeover? Can't wait until the end of the week when we go all HD with dish and our locals will be over the air but still through dish. Hurry up friday.
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post #764 of 1213
2/16/09 at 4:18pm
On another note, we are right next to Abilene High School and we are receiving KRBC, KTXS, and KTAB at almost 100% in HD. They were not that strong a few days ago.
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post #765 of 1213
2/16/09 at 5:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tigepilot View Post

I wouldn't be suprised if suddenlink continues to spit out the an SD version since the switchover only applies to OTA. Speaking of which, hasn't happened yet for KXVA. I am pleased to hear reports that KXVA is HD on cable though... means the OTA digital that's supposed to happen tomorrow will likely be HD.

Anyone know when the cutover is going to happen... if it's at midnight on either tonight or tomorrow night I might stay up just to do a rescan and 'toast' having the big 4 in HD finally.

When KXVA goes OTA digital, they will be using the same HD encoder feeding Suddenlink.

In preparation for the switchover, they will be removing 1 or more of their final transmitter output stage amplifiers and installing a temporary low power 1 KiloWatt digital transmitter giving an ERP of 49.3 KiloWatts for a 92% coverage area compared to their analog. This is because they will be dropping their effective radiated power (ERP) from almost 4 MegaWatts analog to 165 KiloWatts for digital to give roughly the same coverage area radius when they receive and install their new full power transmitter later this Spring.

No tower work is needed. They will be using the same antenna and transmission line.

Should happen any day now. The FCC did not deny their request for their analog to go dark on or before 2/17.

http://www.fcc.gov/021609AttachmentA.pdf

Enjoy.
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post #766 of 1213
2/17/09 at 6:30am
seems to be Abilene area only, if the digital signal isn't stronger, the fringe is out of luck. Translator stations servicing some areas are going to be analog for an unspecified period of time, so it looks like no HD for the OTA fringe. Currently KXVA is still broadcasting a weak analog signal, no HD yet that I can tell. I wonder about KIDZ 42, anyone heard about a digital signal from them anytime soon?
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post #767 of 1213
2/17/09 at 6:42am
I did a scan this morning for 15.1 OTA and didn't get it so still no KXVA digital OTA at the moment.

On a more positive note, all this talk about Suddenlink having all the channels got me thinking Saturday night. I have Dish Network but I also have Cable Internet through Suddenlink. A friend of mine told me a few weeks ago that his cableco passed the basic cable channels to customers that were receiving cable internet, so I figured I would check Suddenlink. I hooked up the cable line to the TV and to my surprise there was over 60 channels that it tuned in. I went through and checked to see if anything but the locals were in HD and they were not so I deleted all of those but I could pick up all 4 major networks in HD.

The Daytona 500 looked pretty good in HD on Sunday, just wish they could have gotten this done before the Cowboys played this past season. Oh well shouldn't have to put up with that next year.

Come on FOX OTA!!!
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post #768 of 1213
2/17/09 at 6:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ricler View Post

seems to be Abilene area only, if the digital signal isn't stronger, the fringe is out of luck. Translator stations servicing some areas are going to be analog for an unspecified period of time, so it looks like no HD for the OTA fringe. Currently KXVA is still broadcasting a weak analog signal, no HD yet that I can tell. I wonder about KIDZ 42, anyone heard about a digital signal from them anytime soon?

I thought KIDZ was one of the low power stations that are exempt for now. Is it not?
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post #769 of 1213
2/17/09 at 7:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by sprint67 View Post

I did a scan this morning for 15.1 OTA and didn't get it so still no KXVA digital OTA at the moment.

On a more positive note, all this talk about Suddenlink having all the channels got me thinking Saturday night. I have Dish Network but I also have Cable Internet through Suddenlink. A friend of mine told me a few weeks ago that his cableco passed the basic cable channels to customers that were receiving cable internet, so I figured I would check Suddenlink. I hooked up the cable line to the TV and to my surprise there was over 60 channels that it tuned in. I went through and checked to see if anything but the locals were in HD and they were not so I deleted all of those but I could pick up all 4 major networks in HD.

The Daytona 500 looked pretty good in HD on Sunday, just wish they could have gotten this done before the Cowboys played this past season. Oh well shouldn't have to put up with that next year.

Come on FOX OTA!!!


You won't see a 15.1 until the 15 OTA is gone. They don't have a second frequency to broadcast two channels at once so you don't have to bother with a rescan until you see the 15 OTA gone.

I've got my TV set to 15 OTA waiting for it to go blank whenever that's going to be. It's the most I've ever seen of this station.
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post #770 of 1213
2/17/09 at 9:55am
Good question, I don't know. I have assumed that since they actually get as strong an analog signal over to Sweetwater as KXVA does, they're considered a full power station. Wouldn't think low power would reach much at all beyond Abilene.
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post #771 of 1213
2/17/09 at 10:38am
The precise time has had many people confused. All the people have heard is on the 17th there will be a digital switch. Actually the 17th was supposed to be the last full day of analog transmission. Look for KXVA, if all things go well, to switch over at midnight.

Best as I can tell the link 'mlmahon' posted shows the only station that will be digital only will be KXVA. It looks like the other stations will broadcast analog and digital until June.
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post #772 of 1213
2/17/09 at 11:36am
KXVA analoge went dead at 1:15pm.

No digital comes up in scan yet... don't know how long the switch takes. When people described it as 'flashcut' in the past I thought mabey it would be really quick. I real sorry for anyone that has to work out on top of that tower (if that's necessary?) on a day as windy as today.
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post #773 of 1213
2/17/09 at 12:28pm
Well, I got 15.1 now at 2:25pm so KXVA is up and digital. Picture is kinda grose though but the source material is SD, will have to wait until this evening to see any HD content on there I'm sure.
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post #774 of 1213
2/17/09 at 12:37pm
Yep, I have it too ... whoda thunkit
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post #775 of 1213
2/17/09 at 12:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TX Champ View Post

Yep, I have it too ... whoda thunkit

I'm only getting about a 69 on the signal meter which means I may have issues with this station. We'll see.

Can you tell what format you're recieving on this channel? My last TV would say 1080i, 720p, or 480i and would tell me DD5.1 or DD2.0. All this one will tell me is that the audio is stereo.

Visually, this looks more like 480i to me.
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post #776 of 1213
2/17/09 at 1:18pm
Channel scan got nothing. Now the translator station channel 35 is snow. Good grief, the only digital channels I get now are 12.1 and 12.2. Pathetic! I learned from the station engineer at KTAB today that repairs are taking longer than expected, and they don't expect to be full power for another three weeks. I'm just very disappointed with all of this so far, I hope it improves, but currently, if your on the fringe, it's waste $$ for cable/satellite or watch two channels and be happy with that.
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post #777 of 1213
2/17/09 at 1:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ricler View Post

Channel scan got nothing. Now the translator station channel 35 is snow. Good grief, the only digital channels I get now are 12.1 and 12.2. Pathetic! I learned from the station engineer at KTAB today that repairs are taking longer than expected, and they don't expect to be full power for another three weeks. I'm just very disappointed with all of this so far, I hope it improves, but currently, if your on the fringe, it's waste $$ for cable/satellite or watch two channels and be happy with that.

Keep checking, the signal is getting stronger. It's comming in at 73 here now. Also, the picture quality has improved a bit.

LOL, they're still running that warning scroll that they will be all digital... no one that needs to be warned is gona see that now.
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post #778 of 1213
2/17/09 at 1:50pm
The Dishnet signal for KXVA is gone, just a green screen. However, I'm picking up their ota digital signal at over 80% here in Brownwood.
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post #779 of 1213
2/17/09 at 1:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ejohn60 View Post

The Dishnet signal for KXVA is gone, just a green screen. However, I'm picking up their ota digital signal at over 80% here in Brownwood.

Dang man, I'm like 12 miles away from their equipment with straight line of sight from my roof to the antenna and all I can get right now is 76... still better than earlier. Picture quality has been improving. Audio sync is way off here right now and still in stereo.
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post #780 of 1213
2/17/09 at 2:10pm
I'm not sure but KXVA may have a repeater in this area. The signal through my DVR 722 is at 88% which is connected to an outside antenna at 30'. Another tv which just has an old uhf loop on top of the cabinet is reading 58%. KTAB and KRBC are still reading about 60% on the 722. I hope KTXS will eventually have a repeater down here.
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