[DoubleDAZ]

Local Digital TV Listings can be found at a couple of websites:


-- Rabbit Ears . This site contains a list of local channels, plus added information for those interested in more detailed data.


-- Silicon Dust . This site also contains a list of local channels. One option in the upper left displays the Actual Channel Number, Virtual Channel Number, Name, Resolution, and Aspect Ratio. A second option displays Cox Cable QAM256 channel informations for those, like me, who don't use a Cox tuner on all TVs.

Cox Cable Channel Lineup can be found at the Cox Communications website. This list denotes channels that are High Definition, those that are switched digital video (SDV) and those that are available with just a clear QAM tuner.

Qwest and DirecTV Channel Lineups can be found at the DirecTV website.


An HDTV DVR Comparison Chart can be found in this AVS thread .


Some Points of Contact are listed below, but the information may be outdated and is intended only to give you a starting point to get answers to questions/concerns.

KTVK-DT (IND 3) POC:

Jim Cole: [email protected] (602-207-3369)
http://www.azfamily.com/on-tv/contact/

KPHO-DT (CBS 5) POC:

General Manager: [email protected]

Technical: [email protected]

Seth Parker (Programming Director): [email protected]

Jon Thorwaldson (Engineering Supervisor): [email protected]

Ed Sutton?? (Head Engineer): [email protected]

KAET-DT (PBS 8) POC:
[email protected]

Viewer Services: 480-965-2308

Reception Problems: 480-965-8888

Reception Problems (after hours): 480-965-0155

KSAZ-DT (FOX 10) POC:

Gerry Grunig: [email protected] (602-262-5106)

Jim McDermaid: [email protected] (602-262-5122)

Tom Lewis: [email protected]

Master Control: 602-262-5119/5128

KPNX-DT (NBC 12) POC:
http://www.azcentral.com/12news/contact/

Karl Voss: [email protected] (602-261-6148)

KNXV-DT (ABC 15) POC:

Ryan Stewart: [email protected]

Programming - [email protected]

Engineering - [email protected]

Charles Whitlatch (Transmission Systems Engineer): [email protected]

KUTP-DT (MN 45) POC:

Gerry Grunig: [email protected] (602-262-5106)

Jim McDermaid: [email protected] (602-262-5122)

Tom Lewis: [email protected]

Master Control: 602-262-5119/5128
http://www.upn45phoenix.com/about/contact.shtml

KASW-DT (CW 61) POC:

Jim Cole: [email protected] (602-207-3369)
http://www.quick6.com/

NOTE: If program is not in HD, try calling the main number (602-207-3333, press 1 to get to the newsroom, then ask to be transferred to engineering.

 

[AFH]

OMG, there is a Phoenix hd thread on AVS.

Glad to see this thread. Bill I also leave in Chandler near Queen Creek Rd and Alma School. I'm in an apartment using Directivo but no Directv hd. I had Directv hd in Jacksonville where I lived a couple of months ago and I had the Samsung TS360. The TS360 is weird in the way the digital channels load so you may have to play with. Have you tried to load the channels digital channels yet?


I got a new Mits CRT about a month ago and I'm using the OTA tuner in it to get the OTA channels. I had to move the antenna around from spot to spot but I do get all of the available channels, but not all at the same time.


Have you tried to go to antennaweb.org and enter your address so that it gives the correct orientation that the antenna should be at? Try that b/c you should be able to get be able to at least get 10,15 and 61. You may have to turn the antenna a bit. I'm able to get those channels using a settop antenna connected to a amp and I live in an apartment, but I if I get 61 I may lose 15 and I have to turn the antenna again to get 15 so just be aware of that.


Also, if you want some suggestions for a indoor antenna, Home Theater Magazine did a test of the best indoor antennas a couple of months ago. I still have that issue if you're interested in what antennas they tested. Are you using and outdoor or indoor antenna? You also may want to try a variable gain amp depending on what antenna you get. I know Rat Shack has a couple of antennas that already have built in amps.

 

[SheerLuck_Homes]

Glad to see this Pheonix thread as well. I currently live in St Louis, but plan to retire to the Prescott, Az area. Any one know what the OTA reception is like North of Phoenix?

 

[phxbruzer]

This is great, a HD antenna thread specific for Phoenix. Exactly what I needed. PatrickM, I live in Gilbert too, I was looking at that Radio Shack antenna but the local Radio Shack didn't have it this weekend. If it works good for you, I'll give it a whirl. Gotta love this forum.

 

[MatthewKH]

I too am excited to see this PHX HD thread! I am expecting delivery of my first HD set on Saturday (Sony KDF-50WE655) and can't wait to try my hand at digital OTA reception! I have been researching the Winegard SquareShooter and I am also considering the use of a diplexer in order to avoid running another RG6 to the roof... Does anyone have experience with the SquareShooter?, any downside to using diplexers? I have a dual LNB dish feeding my Tivo Sat receiver - do I need to purchase a diplexer designed to combine the signal into both lines from the dish or can I just combine the OTA signal and one of the lines from the dish? Would love to hear about anyone elses experiences with the above. Thanks -- I'll post as I begin this new experience... Oh, I live near FLW and the 101 and have a generally clear view of S Mtn with exception of Camelback Mtn mid valley.

 

[frankie d]

Sheer Luck I live in dewey, about 16 miles south of prescott and am picking up 3-1,5-1,8-1,10-1,12-1,15-1 with just a cheep outside antenna, 4 ft. long and 12 elements and the antenna is a vhf. I do get some micro freezing on 15-1 when watching lost and mnf in HD, could be the wind shaking the antenna or I need a better one. frankie d

 

[ned215]

There is no Phoenix Cox thread so I'm posting my question here. I apologize if this is the wrong place.


My question is what is the minimum package that Cox offers that includes HD? Just the locals would be fine. Also, does it require digital cable or is analog sufficient?


btw, this will be for N. Scottsdale


Thanks

 

[CPanther95]



Quote:
Originally posted by ned215
There is no Phoenix Cox thread so I'm posting my question here. I apologize if this is the wrong place.


My question is what is the minimum package that Cox offers that includes HD? Just the locals would be fine. Also, does it require digital cable or is analog sufficient?


btw, this will be for N. Scottsdale


Thanks

For future reference "HDTV" threads are for all HD issues in an area - OTA, Cable, etc. - so this is the right place.

 

[crashairlines]

I'm glad to see this thread too.


I'm no expert on any of this HDTV stuff, but it's been my observation that the Samsung TS360 is not as good as other receivers for picking up OTA broadcasts. Maybe that is the problem for a few of the other posters in this thread too.


I originally had a Sony SAT-HD300 HDTV receiver, and I was able to get all the digital stations no problem with a pair of rabbit ears on top of my set. But that receiver had a malfunction trying to get HDTV satellite signals, so DirecTV sent me the Samsung TS360 to replace it with which fixed my satellite problem, but it seems real finicky with OTA signals.


The TS360 couldn't lock onto some of the stations with rabbit ears, so I now put a Channel Master 4221 4-Bay antenna in the attic and locked onto 10 stations, but it still drops out of Fox 10, WB 61, and channel 5 on occasion. The weird part about channel 5, is that I got it strong all week without a problem, but when the HD football game was played on Sunday it would constantly lose the signal. Then after the game when normal SD was broadcast on channel 5, it picked it up no problem the rest of the day.


Is an HD signal somehow harder for a receiver to lock on and pick up compared to a regular SD signal? I wouldn't think so, but I can't figure out why channel 5 has been fine all week and all day today except during the HD football game when it constantly lost the signal and made it unwatchable. The weather didn't seem any different to me.


The signal strength meter on the TS360 is pretty much useless too compared to the Sony SAT-HD300 receiver, as the TS360 bounces around all over the place. So it's hard to tell what's going on there.


I live in Chandler near Alma School & Elliot, about 12 miles from all the towers. You'd think since most of the towers are in the same spot on top of a mountain, and close by, that we wouldn't have any trouble getting signals over the air. But I'm having grief with this TS360 that I wasn't with my Sony. I don't really want to spend money on a better receiver at the moment either to try to pick up OTA signals. I also wonder if we have some kind of interference in the area? Because I would think we should be able to pick up stations no problem with all the towers so close and on top of the mountain.


I was curious if anyone knew if we in the Phoenix area will eventually be able to get CBS HD and NBC HD over the satellite any time soon? It's offered in other markets, but for some reason it's not currently offered in the Phoenix market.

 

[LarryInAz]



Quote:
Originally posted by crashairlines
I was curious if anyone knew if we in the Phoenix area will eventually be able to get CBS HD and NBC HD over the satellite any time soon? It's offered in other markets, but for some reason it's not currently offered in the Phoenix market.

The way I understand it Phoenix will only be entitled to FOX HD since KSAZ Channel 10 is a Fox O&O station.

 

[crashairlines]

Do all of you who get digital Fox 10 OTA get the picture cut off at the top and bottom of the screen? At first I thought my GWIII was setup wrong, but it's the only station that does it, even when I shrink the picture.


Fox seems to have some problems. I also get some sound quality problems at times too with Fox for some reason.

 

[LarryInAz]

I'm not seeing what you're describing at this moment [presently watching the Dodgers v Cards game in HD]. The framing of the picture looks good on my 1080i. However about two weeks ago I did see a similar picture that was clipped on the top and bottom - turns out when the station returned from a local station break they did not return to HD but a streched out SD signal.

 

[crashairlines]



Quote:
Originally posted by LarryInAz
The way I understand it Phoenix will only be entitled to FOX HD since KSAZ Channel 10 is a Fox O&O station.

Thanks for the info, but I don't understand why that makes a difference for being able to get Fox HD but not CBS HD or NBC HD over the satellite.

 

[crashairlines]



Quote:
Originally posted by LarryInAz
I'm not seeing what you're describing at this moment [presently watching the Dodgers v Cards game in HD]. The framing of the picture looks good on my 1080i. However about two weeks ago I did see a similar picture that was clipped on the top and bottom - turns out when the station returned from a local station break they did not return to HD but a streched out SD signal.

I should have clarified. It doesn't happen to me when they do HD or widescreen format, but the bottom gets chopped off in Fox in when they show SD. I notice it mostly during the news, as the Fox logo gets chopped off on the bottom.

 

[LarryInAz]

I will try and pay closer attention to the non HD broadcasts - though to be honest I rarely watch OTA 10.1 unless it is a HD broadcast. The nonHD stuff I usually watch the Sat feed.


As to your question about the audio - is this a recent issue you're asking about? For nearly 2 weeks last month after KSAZ got their splicer going they had major audio problems. About every 5-10 seconds the audio would drop out and then return. It made the channel unwatchable. This is the only audio problem I'm aware of but it has sounded good to me the last few weeks.

 

[Inundated]



Quote:
Originally posted by crashairlines
Thanks for the info, but I don't understand why that makes a difference for being able to get Fox HD but not CBS HD or NBC HD over the satellite.

The networks can only allow the satellite providers to offer the HD feeds in markets where they own the station. Fox owns their Phoenix affiliate. NBC and CBS do not own their Phoenix affiliates. (The owned stations are usually called "O&O's" in the business...stands for "owned and operated".)


Since Fox controls Phoenix's Fox 10, they can pave the way for satellite subscribers to view the network feed in HD.

 

[crashairlines]

Thanks for the info guys.

 

[muldoonaz]

hey guys. I'm new to this HDTV thing. I just picked up a HDTV Monitor (Sony KP51WS520) and I signed up for the Cox HD service. Overall, im quite happy with the reception I get. However, being a deep down geek im attempting to build an HD PVR out of a spare PC I have with the ATI HD Wonder. The difference is that the HD Wonder doesn't support cable transmissions of HD signals, just OTA.


My question is how good is OTA reception compared to Cable? I live on the corner of Alma School and Chandler, but my apartment faces east (away from south mountain). Is investing in an OTA solution a good idea since I don't have any windows or openings facing south mountain or should I just stick with my cable provider for now? Are there any good indoor antennas that I could possibly use that I can look into?


Thanks for your help.

 

[bobaphx]

Hi everyone.

I've also just found this thread.

I'm looking to purchase A Panasonic plasma in the next couple of months and would like to take advantage of the built in ASTC tuner. I have Dish Network, but not HD yet (still want to use my current Dish 508 PVR a little while longer). It seems like most of you live in the southeast valley. I live in central Phoenix (Central & Missouri) and I'm wondering about OTA reception in this part of town. Does anyone have any feed back?

 

[phxbruzer]

shoot! need another post so I can post urls