[satpro]

Hello everybody,



Barry928 has asked me to start a new bi-monthly thread.

This will be the thread to address Orlando/Central Florida issues for April and May,2002.



Sorry I couldn't make it to the WKMG meeting.

Hope to see everyone at any future meetings.


Here is the link to the previous thread:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...hreadid=120230

 

[Barry928]

The second Central Florida HD Society meeting was held today at WKMG TV. Our special thanks go out to our host chief engineer Frank Torbert who gave a great tour of the station complete with hand outs explaining the complex world of PSIP. You can download a pdf version of the PSIP flowchart here .


The tour was very informative with Frank doing a nice job explaining the facility in layman's terms and answering questions on a variety of topics. A special treat was the original transmitter for WDBO AM on display and sections of the actual tv transmission antenna brought in from the transmitter site for our tour. Frank said a lot of nice things about the early digital adopters and we appreciated the special permission he had to get for our tour post Sept. 11.


I will post more info soon with links to the WKMG tour pictures and dates and times for our next meeting.


Thanks to all who took time out of their busy holiday weekend.

 

[Chris White]

Did anyone have problems recording CSI last night?


When I got home last night around 10pm, my wife informed me that when she checked at 915pm, the computer (accessdtv card) was not recording and was on the wrong channel.


I double checked the recording schedule and it is correct. I thought of two other possibilities:

1) A random IR stopped the recording and changed the channel. (very unlikely)

2) WKMG-DT was off the air at 9pm.

 

[wafafa]

Hi Chris


My wife recorded for me last night. I am watching it with no problem.

WkMG was on.


Sam

 

[Barry928]

Everyone,


The next meeting of the Central Florida HD Society is taking place at the WESH transmitter site on April 26th at 3pm.


Complete details are posted here.

 

[Barry928]

WFTV seems to be off the air tonight. Anyone know when they went off or why?

 

[satpro]

I noticed the same thing this evening good thing I had my satellite back up for ABC HD! Maybe WFTV-DT is preparing to add WRDQ-DT to the tower. If they aren't up by Monday Afternoon I will send John an email to see what is going on. In case anyone is interested in sending comments to these stations related to technical issues here is the list of emails I have compiled. I thought I would post them again since it has been awhile. Barry, maybe you could add the Orlando ones to the orlandodigital website.

Tonight, I sent WRBW an email about picture quality (41.1 is too bright and overcompressed). I also have found out recently that UPN is preparing to begin distribution of new satellite equipment to affiliates. The new equipment consists of 2 DSR 4810 digicipher 2 4:2:2 satellite receivers the same kind CBS currently uses for HD. Could mean UPN is gearing up to do some HD next season. CBS will be handling UPN distribution beginning this summer and so there is a good chance if the UPN program master is available in HD CBS will distribute it to UPN affiliates that way.



Orlando station's emails:

WFTV/WRDQ: [email protected]

WKMG: [email protected]

WESH: [email protected]

WOFL: [email protected]

WRBW: [email protected]

WKCF: [email protected]

WMFE: [email protected]

WCEU: [email protected]

WBCC: [email protected]


Tampa:

WFLA: [email protected]

WEDU: [email protected]



Jax:

WTLV/WJXX: [email protected]

WJXT: [email protected]

WTEV/WAWS [email protected]


Miami/WPB:

WFOR, WBFS, WTVX: [email protected]

WFLX: [email protected]

WPBF: [email protected]

WTVJ: [email protected]


Ft Myers:

WINK: [email protected] .

 

[Barry928]

I will also be interested to see if the new CBS affiliate equipment recently announced allows us to receive 5.1 audio from WKMG.

 

[rich21]

I was under the impression the reason WKMG (and other CBS stations) don't do DD5.1 is because CBS can't provide it or distribute it. CBS needed to do a lot of upgrading of the NY studios and equipment in between. I think I read this in a magazine interview with Lee Wood last year. I believe the article said the stations could pass DD5.1 if they received it.


Good news for UPN, WRBW has some work to do to get ready.

 

[satpro]

Barry + Rich,


The new equipment I referred to is not for CBS affiliates it is for UPN affiliates. CBS and UPN are both owned by Viacom and now CBS will be handling the UPN satellite network distribution using the current CBS satellite distribution infrastructure which is HD capable. The current UPN satellite distribution system is not HD capable. This is why this is such big news!


______________

WRBW's Robert Fusco says:


As far as CBS's plan for HDTV distribution, the equipment will be in place, but no word yet on program distribution.


____________________


In other words he doesn't know what UPN programs if any will be available in HD. To soon to tell I guess. The good news is that they will at least have the capability for next season.


As far as the other picture quality issue with WRBW, Robert Fusco says:


"I recommend you watch 41-2 until we start airing true HDTV programming. The up-conversion from analog to SDI then to HDTV is pushing it, also the format fits better. "


I guess he doesn't plan to fix the real problem! Not much of a solution. I guess he has finally confirmed that they don't have an all digital STL since he uses the dreaded "analog" word.



CBS is also investing in new equipment from what I have read so perhaps then they will be doing 5.1. Here is a link about that.
http://www.tvtechnology.com/dailynews/one.php?id=158


In other news I have just received email from WEDU-DT 54 PBS Tampa. Here it is, as I have mentioned elsewhere fringe reception of this signal should be good since they are doing 1000 kw and they are up at 1500'

Here is the email:


_______________________

Monday, April 29th, we are shooting for a pretty full day.

During the subsequent days following, we may be on and off as we

connect things like remote control, monitoring, protection circuits, etc...


Regards,

Frank V. Wolynski

VP Engineering & Operations

WEDU-TV


________________

 

[satpro]

Just got word from John at WFTV:


"We've had a transmitter failure on DT. Parts should be here Tuesday.


WRDQ-DT is scheduled for Installation in June. My best guess is Mid-July for on-air.


Sorry for the problems with WFTV-DT."

 

[ctbjr1309]

WFTV-DT is back on the air tonight.

 

[satpro]

Yes, they are back, but it seems that they are not transmitting at full power anymore. I am only getting a 60-70 BER and I used to get a 90. hopefully john will bring them back up to full power soon.

 

[wdcoy]

To change the subject a little, has anyone in the Central FL. area contacted Time Warner to see if they are working on carrying the new Discovery HD channel?


Don

 

[Barry928]

Sounds like a job for gmclaughlin. greg?

 

[gmclaughlin]

I'm still off fighting the war, but I'd be really surprised if we didn't pick it up. I'll see what I can find out.

 

[satpro]

Great night for prop from the south.

Tonight I am showing the following readings

WSVN-DT 8 88 %

WFLX-DT 28 94 %

WFOR-DT 22 91 % That's right it is blowing WOFL-DT 22 away.

WBZL-DT 19 88 %

WPLG-DT 9 and WPBT-DT 18 both jammed by analog Orlando stations.

 

[satpro]

Conditions for tonight look incredible. Last night I was able to see:

Mobile stations 5,15,33,21,44, 55 from 490 miles away even WALA-DT was there but jammed by WFTV.

Also could see:

ch 7 Panama City 360 miles away,

Houston channels 48,49,67 975 miles away,

and Lake Charles ch 29 850 miles.



Here is the forecast page:
http://www.iprimus.ca/~hepburnw/tropo_car.html

 

[rich21]

Satpro,


I see WEDU-DT is supposed to be on the air. http://100kwatts.tmi.net/

Have you had any luck picking them up ??

 

[satpro]

Rich-


No and I haven't even seen even a trace of channel 54. I don't think they were OTA when I checked otherwise I would have locked it. I will check again tonight. Conditions from Tampa were awesome last night but no WEDU-DT!