I need my locals in HD!!

[redster68]

I live in a rural area in north florida.. I am able to get my locals in SD But here is the problem, I live in the area where my locals come from Tallahassee,Fl. If I lived
7 miles to the east I would get my locals from Jacksonville, Florida (which gets the major networks in HD). I am basically right in the middle of these two cities.
My question is How can I get the Jax channels without moving? Can I use a friends address that falls within the Jax zone? I don't understand much about the spot beam deal so I really don't know if this would work.Thanks in advance for any replies!

[apace]

How far are you from your local stations towers?
You might can get the NY network HD feeds until Tallahassee stations are HD

[krock918316]

Have you tried an antenna? I can get my locals from 55 miles away.

[redster68]

Have you tried an antenna? I can get my locals from 55 miles away.

I am like 80 miles from both cities (and at a low elevation).

[Tower Guy]

I live in a rural area in north florida..
My question is How can I get the Jax channels without moving?

Build a 100' tower.

[Parsonsbri]

My question is How can I get the Jax channels without moving? Can I use a friends address that falls within the Jax zone? I don't understand much about the spot beam deal so I really don't know if this would work.Thanks in advance for any replies!

Technically it should work, although against the rules. Many peoples "move" in situations like this. ;)

[rkjg24]

My question is How can I get the Jax channels without moving? Can I use a friends address that falls within the Jax zone? I don't understand much about the spot beam deal so I really don't know if this would work.Thanks in advance for any replies!

No. That's fraud.

[MIMOTech]

Did you try to set up the Jacksonille DMA as a secondary in your prefs.?

[Cybercowboy]

Only two of my locals are HD, CBS and PBS. I can't pick up CBS when the antenna is plugged into my HR20, but can get it when it is connected directly to the TV. PBS comes in fine. Fox, ABC, and NBC do not yet broadcast in HD in my area but are broadcast in digtal, and I can't pick them up when the antenna is plugged into the HR20. All digital OTA channels come in great when plugged directly into the TV. D* does not carry my locals (64804 zip code). I wish there was a recourse for me. It would be nice to be able to DVR my locals. :bang

All the PBS digital channels come in great no matter what. I've tried adding a pre-amp to my antenna, which is mounted in the attic, to no avail. Doesn't help, doesn't hurt. No other devices are connected to the antenna, no splitters, nothing.

[jrd4849]

Have you used DirecTV's form to test your address for DNS availability? Click here (http://directvdnseligibility.decisionmark.com/app/addressform.aspx). If it shows that you are eligible for any of the HD DNS networks then all it takes is a call to a D* CSR. Even if it shows a class A or B signal you may be able to get a waiver from them. D* will submit the request for you.

[lobo65]

You're lucky. I don't get locals at all in Biloxi, MS--SD or HD.

[apace]

I am like 80 miles from both cities (and at a low elevation).

You should be able to get the HD DNS from NY.

[Cybercowboy]

Have you used DirecTV's form to test your address for DNS availability? Click here (http://directvdnseligibility.decisionmark.com/app/addressform.aspx). If it shows that you are eligible for any of the HD DNS networks then all it takes is a call to a D* CSR. Even if it shows a class A or B signal you may be able to get a waiver from them. D* will submit the request for you.

Yes, and it's a total joke. The only channels it shows for me as eligible is PBS, and that's the only one that actually works! :lol:

Then it shows all my locals networks as digital HD. There is only one HD (CBS). Fox, ABC, and NBC are digital but not HD. The CBS and Fox tower is over 30 miles away yet it lists it as the same signal strength as ABC and NBC which are close by. I'm in a valley too. I would love to drag somebody from D* out to my house and show them. :lol:

But it still doesn't explain why my TV is better at picking up these channels, by far, than the HR20-700. My installer told me that the HR20 couldn't record locals too. I had to educate him. Then I went and connected the antenna cable later and said to myself "Technically, he's right. I can't record the locals I actually want to!" :bang

[lennon_68]

Have you used DirecTV's form to test your address for DNS availability? Click here. If it shows that you are eligible for any of the HD DNS networks then all it takes is a call to a D* CSR. Even if it shows a class A or B signal you may be able to get a waiver from them. D* will submit the request for you.

I was just wondering about when/if I'll be able to get my locals in HD when I stumbled onto this thread (and by stumbled I mean I searched and this came up ;) ). Could someone help me understand what this page means? When I put in my address it shows several channels as Class A. Is this supposed to indicate I can get these OTA? If so what do I need to get to make this happen?

Thanks,
Jake

[gully_foyle]

I live in a rural area in north florida.. I am able to get my locals in SD But here is the problem, I live in the area where my locals come from Tallahassee,Fl. If I lived
7 miles to the east I would get my locals from Jacksonville, Florida (which gets the major networks in HD). I am basically right in the middle of these two cities.
My question is How can I get the Jax channels without moving? Can I use a friends address that falls within the Jax zone? I don't understand much about the spot beam deal so I really don't know if this would work.Thanks in advance for any replies! The spot beams have quite an overlap, and fade gradually. Seven miles should not be anywhere near the boundary.

[gully_foyle]

No. That's fraud.Hurting whom? The broadcaster he can't get?

[Brandon428]

I live a little outside of Lafayette,La and its so frustrating pulling down HD locals out here. God knows when D* will ever offer HD locals to me.

[gully_foyle]

But it still doesn't explain why my TV is better at picking up these channels, by far, than the HR20-700. My installer told me that the HR20 couldn't record locals too. I had to educate him. Then I went and connected the antenna cable later and said to myself "Technically, he's right. I can't record the locals I actually want to!" :bang

BEcause DirecTV didn't want to spend all that much on an OTA tuner. After all, that's not their business. The TV manufacturer's are far more interested in OTA tuning.

[gully_foyle]

I was just wondering about when/if I'll be able to get my locals in HD when I stumbled onto this thread (and by stumbled I mean I searched and this came up ;) ). Could someone help me understand what this page means? When I put in my address it shows several channels as Class A. Is this supposed to indicate I can get these OTA? If so what do I need to get to make this happen?That means you get a UHF antenna (don't need those big VHF things any more, VHF is dead as of 2009) and put it on your roof, and run coax to the antenna input on your D* box. There are way$ (see "diplexing") to bring the signal down one of your D* cables if yet another coax cable is an issue.

UHF antennas are fairly small and can actually go in attics, balconies, etc rather than rooftop, if you must.

[lennon_68]

That means you get a UHF antenna (don't need those big VHF things any more, VHF is dead as of 2009) and put it on your roof, and run coax to the antenna input on your D* box. There are way$ (see "diplexing") to bring the signal down one of your D* cables if yet another coax cable is an issue.

UHF antennas are fairly small and can actually go in attics, balconies, etc rather than rooftop, if you must.

Thanks for the reply! I noticed the OP mentioned he was ~80 miles from where the channels are broadcast. It would be about the same for me for the channels listed as "A" Grade, and about 150 miles for the channels listed as "B" Grade. Should I be concerned about being able to get them at these distances? Also, where is a good place to get a UHF antenna (and by a good place I mean where can I get one on the cheap).

[gizzorge]

Join the club. My signal strengths fluctuate sometimes and causes a bit of frustration. I'd like a steady signal. But hey, I am not going to complain for a few months. I want to sit back and enjoy the new HD channels coming tomorrow. :)

[lennon_68]

Thanks for the reply! I noticed the OP mentioned he was ~80 miles from where the channels are broadcast. It would be about the same for me for the channels listed as "A" Grade, and about 150 miles for the channels listed as "B" Grade. Should I be concerned about being able to get them at these distances? Also, where is a good place to get a UHF antenna (and by a good place I mean where can I get one on the cheap).

I did some research (minimal) and it looks like 60 miles is the standard range. Does this sound right? If so why would the D* web page list the locals from 80 Miles as Grade A and the ones from 150 miles as Grade B?

[Kansas Zephyr]

That means you get a UHF antenna (don't need those big VHF things any more, VHF is dead as of 2009)

Urban myth. VHF isn't "dead". Channels 52-69's spectrum is going to be auctioned off, not any VHF.

Analog VHF stations have the "right", or option, to move their digital signals back to the old analog assignment after the analog cut-off 2/17/09.

The only reason most VHF stations were given UHF digital channels, was that no other VHF slots were available for dual broadcast without interfering with other, adjacent market, existing VHF stations.

It requires less RF power to achieve the same signal contour, at a lower frequency. Therefore, VHF stations would rather have lower electric bills/operating costs and the same/better coverage.

For VHF low (2-6), there is some concern from ignition noise and multi-path.

A call/email to your local VHF station's chief engineer will answer the question for your situation.

I've already verified that 3 of the 4 VHF channels in my local market will move back to their analog assignments. Channel 3 here has decided to keep digital 45, for the reasons mentioned above. But, the chief says that after looking at some of the "real world" VHF low performance he's not as concerned, if his owners would have told him to plan for a move back, rather than a permanent switch to UHF.

[ziggy29]

I did some research (minimal) and it looks like 60 miles is the standard range. Does this sound right? If so why would the D* web page list the locals from 80 Miles as Grade A and the ones from 150 miles as Grade B?
It largely depends on terrain, tall buildings in the area, directionality of the signal transmission and a few other things. Rarely is the contour map a clean circle around the transmission point in terms of the quality of signal you receive.

[donshan]

Only two of my locals are HD, CBS and PBS. I can't pick up CBS when the antenna is plugged into my HR20, but can get it when it is connected directly to the TV. PBS comes in fine. Fox, ABC, and NBC do not yet broadcast in HD in my area but are broadcast in digital, and I can't pick them up when the antenna is plugged into the HR20. All digital OTA channels come in great when plugged directly into the TV. D* does not carry my locals (64804 zip code) (http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx). I wish there was a recourse for me. It would be nice to be able to DVR my locals. :bang

All the PBS digital channels come in great no matter what. I've tried adding a pre-amp to my antenna, which is mounted in the attic, to no avail. Doesn't help, doesn't hurt. No other devices are connected to the antenna, no splitters, nothing.


This post is for you and also redster68 if it is applicable.

I can sympatize with your situation as I too live in a small DMA TV market. If I read your zip code correctly you are somewhere in DMA 145 and you have local network affiliate TV stations so D* is not permitted by federal law to give you locals from any other DMA, even though D* does not supply them. The FCC rules expect you to use an antenna for your local stations, and there is no FCC requirement that local digital stations broadcast in HDTV. I fought that battle and lost too, since I did not get local HD from our local digital stations until last year and it took since 2002 for the SD digital stations to convert to HD ( I am in DMA 125).

When I put your zip code into the antenna finder at antennaaweb.org I got( is this right?)

http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx

Call Sign Channel Network City State
CompassOrientation Miles Frequency
*
* yellow - uhf KSNF-DT 46.1 NBC JOPLIN MO 313° 3.4 46
* yellow - uhf KODE-DT 43.1 ABC JOPLIN MO 328° 2.9 43
* yellow - uhf KOZJ-DT 26.1 PBS JOPLIN MO 328° 2.9 25
* red - vhf KOAM-DT 7.1 CBS PITTSBURG KS 316° 16.5 13
Note:

One reason your TV tuner does a better job than the D* HR20 is that it actually scans for local channels whereas the HR-20 uses station data for your market to set the Guide programs that is downloaded from D*.

Two questions just to be sure about your setup.

1. You have done the HR-20 antenna setup for your local market and the secondary market in Kansas? If so your setup should show the four stations listed above if it works like my HR-20 does.

2. What kind of antenna are you using? The NBC, ABC and PBS stations require a UHF antenna, whereas the CBS is actually broadcasting on channel 13 and requires a VHF antenna. I have a similar mix of UHF and VHF stations and found the Channel Master model 3677 not only pulled in my local UHF from about 10 miles but also got a channel 8 High VHF Fox digital station from 66 miles away with signal strengths all above 85 on my earlier HR-10 Tivo DVR. D* did not include that VHF station in their data base for the HR-20 so I do not see it listed in the HR-20, but get it on my HDTV tuner. That is the reason to set a second market area if your CBS station is not listed in your setup. If it is then I think a combo UHF-VHF of the Channel Master crossefire series should work. You will need a third RG6 cable to the antenna input of the HR20.

Edit : link to antenna data:

http://www.solidsignal.com/channelmaster_antenna_chart.asp

I hope I have not misunderstood, and if so can correct this advice. I would be glad to share 9 years of experience with antennas in situations like yours

[lennon_68]

Thanks for the info, I see on the AntennaWeb site there are several locals available in my area but none are digital or HD. I had not realized the D* site was just referencing the availability of locals rather than locals in HD.

What really gets me is last August we moved 10 miles north and crossed a county line so rather than getting the Minneapolis locals (quite a few channels, many in HD) we are now stuck with the Duluth locals (only a couple channels, none in HD, and terrible SD quality on top of it). I'm thinking about "moving" back but we have our D* service bundled with Qwest now. Anyone know if there is added risk in "moving" when bundled with Qwest?