[3DCadman]

Hi Everyone,


I'm experiencing problems receiving the Detroit locals since Monday night. Sunday, I was happily watching all channels beautifully.


All of a sudden, every channel except UPN50 is gone.


My Equipment:

Winegard 8-bay bowtie antenna

Winegard UHF amp

Samsung '160 STB.


I live about 50-55 miles away from the towers (Marysville to Southfield)


All channels were working properly Sunday night. Nothing except UPN 50 right now. I can't figure it out.


I've looked at the antenna and nothing looks amiss. Besides, I get UPN ok, along with a bunch of off-the air analog channels.


The only thing I'm missing are the rest of my digital channels.


Has anyone heard of this kind of thing?


Are the local Detroit channels running on low power or something (except UPN50)?


Can it be my Set top box? I don't know how it could be if I am recieving one channel.


My only guess is for some reason the other Digital channels are at low power since Sunday.


Any body have a clue (I don't).

 

[Ken H]

A quick check shows all of the Detroit digital channels with normal signal strength, with the exception of WADL-DT, which is apparently off the air at this time.


Sounds like something went wrong with your hardware/cabling/install. I would start checking the basics (terminations) and go from there.

 

[3DCadman]

Ken,


Thanks for checking.


I'll do what you suggest. But what I don't understand is why I'm able to recieve UPN50 and other off the air analog like I did before?


If my equipment is bad somewhere along the way, wouldn't everything be gone?

 

[3DCadman]

Hi,


I seemed to have found my problem, but I don't know what to do about this either!!!!!


I have discovered that my Channel Master rotor (which was installed in February '03) has got some kind of problem.


I did a "sync" with the remote and the antenna (which should reset the zero position) to see if anything improves.


I tried to get channel 4 (WDIV Detroit) and all of a sudden it was back!!


I then tried to get the rest of the channels, and all were there (except WXYZ ABC which I always have a problem with). Everything was going ok until I noticed that the postion I saved for channel 4 seemed to drift from it's 270 locaton to 320 to peak the signal.


Then every other channel seemed to drift about 50 points. I tried to resync it agan and ran outside to see what happens.


The antenna got about 1/2 way thru the cycle and stopped. I ran downstairs again and the counter was still going even though the antenna was stopped.


I have no idea what's going on, but in retrospect, my signal locations have been drifting on me ever since the install. I had it professionally installed, but they guy retired this year !!! DOH! He was a nice guy, so maybe he'll come out and fix it anyway.


Well, I'm stuck here, but at least I found my problem!


****Sigh******

 

[Andrew Y]

I'm new to HDTV as of yesterday---HDTV looks amazing!! I do have some problems with the OTA local channels--maybe some of you experienced guys could help me out.


I have the DVI Samsung D* receiver and the Channelmaster 4 bowtie outdoor antenna. I live in Livonia, near 8-mile and middlebelt.


When I scanned the locals I got 2,4,7,38,50,56 and 62. I have two problems:


1.) when watching a local HDTV channel the picture will go black for a seconds and then come back. The Samsung signal strength for say channel 62-1 will hover anywhere between 79-100 and then all of a sudden go to zero. The same thing happens on 56-1, 52-2, etc.


2.) Channel 7-1 has a picture, but 7-2 and 7-3 are black, however the signal strength is locked in at 100 for all three.



Do these sound like antenna positioning problems? I'd like to figure this out before permanently mounting the antenna on the outside of my house.


Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Matt L]

2.) Channel 7 does have info on the sub channels, 7-2 is weather radar, good info, and 7-3 is sky cam, kind of worthless. Your receiver may have problems with the way WXYZ encodes the info. On my RCA unit I can't get them unless I turn off remapping, which I did long ago.


Are you experiencing the drop outs only on 56-1, 56-2, 62-1? It may be due to your antenna positioning, before permanently mounting it try it in several locations on your roof, often times this will solve your problem. I have problems with those stations but it's due to co-channel interference, something I doubt you'd have down there.

 

[dick Castanie]

I'm sorry, but as chief engineer at WZPX, there are a few points I need to make.

The problem you have is due to what I consider a channel assignment screw up at the FCC.

My analog channel 43 has been on the air for 7 years, long before the DTV sign on, and in effect, I do not interfere with them they interfere with me!

My digital channel is actually operating at slightly reduced power, and the interference level with Detroit will never get any better. Again this assignment was made by the FCC not WZPX and I am just as prone to their interference as they are to mine.

My DTV has been on the air for over two year and the stations in Detroit could have measured my signal levels and requested either a channel reassignment of other remedies had they wanted.

The transition from analog to digital is not easy for any of us, either viewers or operators.

I understand your investment in equipment and your desire for perfect pictures, however we as broadcasters, have a considerable investment in the technology also, and remember, the DTV assignments were for the most part given to us and not requested so until the analog signals are turned off, these problem will only get worse, not better.

My signals, are checked for frequency accuracy monthly, and my power is calibrated semi annually.

Please do not blame my station fr the interference, put the blame on the source..... our regulators in Washington, who made these channel assignments.


Dick Castanie CE

WZPX TV 43 DTV 44
[email protected]