HD Locals: Washington, DC-Hagerstown, MD

[Doug Brott]

Please post broadcast issues with DIRECTV satellite delivered HD Local Channels only

DMA: Washington, DC-Hagerstown, MD
Established: 12/8/2005
Rank: 9

HD Locals available in this DMA

ABC - WJLA (7)
CBS - WUSA (9)
NBC - WRC (4)
FOX - WTTG (5)
CW - WDCW (50)
MNT - WDCA (20)


For instructions, please visit this thread (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=137643)

[Rob-NovA]

Anyone see/hear pixelation and audio stutter (staccato clipping, 1-2 sec in duration) during any WRC-4 broadcasts last night? I've had this all yesterday evening and into this AM. Was curious to see if it's just me (and my receiver) or a more widespread issue. Thanks!

[Golfman]

I have had numerous instances of audio stutter/staccato audio bursts of ~ 1-2 seconds for the past several days on LIL channel 4 WRCHD live and recorded broadcasts. I have not observed video breakup or pixalation simultaneous with these audio occurances but I have also seen several instances of short periods, 1-2 seconds, of pixalation on this same channel.

I do not see this occurring on any of the other HD LILs or HD channels. This may be a problem with the WRC HD broadcast or their feed to D*. I remember a similar problem, known as the "green puke" or "green pixalation" several months back with the WJLA HD ABC channel feed to D* that was also occuring on several other ABC LILs and was caused by faulty equipment provided by D* to the stations. Once the faulty equipment was changed out the complaints ceased.

[Golfman]

HR21-100
Diagnostic key #: 20080909-2514

Watching News At Noon on LIL ABC channel 7 WJLA HD live and experiencing excessive video pixalation. There is no problem with audio during these video pixalation incidents.

[jrodfoo]

I have had numerous instances of audio stutter/staccato audio bursts of ~ 1-2 seconds for the past several days on LIL channel 4 WRCHD live and recorded broadcasts. I have not observed video breakup or pixalation simultaneous with these audio occurances but I have also seen several instances of short periods, 1-2 seconds, of pixalation on this same channel.

I do not see this occurring on any of the other HD LILs or HD channels. This may be a problem with the WRC HD broadcast or their feed to D*. I remember a similar problem, known as the "green puke" or "green pixalation" several months back with the WJLA HD ABC channel feed to D* that was also occuring on several other ABC LILs and was caused by faulty equipment provided by D* to the stations. Once the faulty equipment was changed out the complaints ceased.

yea I've seen this on Channel 4 has well. it has to be some sort of equipment isssue. hopefully it's fixed before a few of my shows come back on in a few weeks. :)

[Golfman]

HR21-100
Diagnostic key #: 20080916-3662

Watching LIL Channel 4 WRCHD NBC Washington DC live and screen has gone completely black several times while watching 6:00 pm local news. I checked this channel on the directly tuned OTA input to my HDTV and while it was black on the D* feed it was fine on the OTA input to the HDTV. I'm using the HDMI output.
__________________

[Golfman]

HR21-100
No Diagnostic key due to 1 an hour restriction

I have been seeing an odd kind of pixelation/interference on LIL channel 4 WRCHD NBC Washington DC that's not like any I've seen before. I've been seeing this ever since I downloaded this CE. It has occurred numerous times. I'm using the HDMI output.

See it here:

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?p=1796211&posted=1#post1796211

[erict]

FWIW, I'm having the same problems in Michigan. Many are reporting this issue in many states.

[Golfman]

HR21-100
Diagnostic key #: 20080918-3312

Watching LIL channel 4 WRCHD Washington DC around 5:53 pm and screen went all black with no audio for 10-20 seconds. Using HDMI output. Switched HDTV to direct OTA WRC input and video and audio were fine. This has happened before with this CE 0x0279.
__________________

[DeWolfe]

The HD locals that come down from the satellite?

OTA on the AM21 seemed to be fine.


thanks
dave

[joshrroberts]

Yes, it was extremely annoying. I could not watch Fox at all. I did not see this happen on any other channel, just Fox.

[cody21]

Yes Yes Yes ... I am SOOOOO angry about this starting up again. Things had been pretty stable for a long time for us. Then over the last cople of weeks, the DROP OUTS are making our favorite HD shows unwatchable. What the hell is going on? We can't rely on getting a good recording anymore of the LIL's. And you're right - the OTA does not have this issue. Unfortuntately, we don't have the OTA hooked up on the HR20 -- only the H20..

We are seriously reconsidering whether to stay with DTV after our contract expires in 2009. Just paying too much for such lousy reception.

[cgn9]

Yes, it was extremely annoying. I could not watch Fox at all. I did not see this happen on any other channel, just Fox.

This is the first time I have seen audio drop outs on recorded programs. It started last week. and its only happening on Fox broadcasts. Its interesting that recorded late night news on Fox does not have the audio drop outs.

I have not seen this problem on any other program. It only happens on recorded FOX programs. It does not happen when viewing FOX programs real time.

I have Comcast in Maryland.

[Golfman]

HR21-100
Diagnostic key #: 20080922-20A0

Watching "NBC Nightly News" live on LIL channel 4 WRCHD NBC Washington DC and am experiencing severe lip sync problems as well as bursts of green pixelation that fill up half the screen from the middle to the bottom. I'm using the HDMI output.

Also getting audio stutter.

[Rob-NovA]

HR21-100
Diagnostic key #: 20080922-20A0

Watching "NBC Nightly News" live on LIL channel 4 WRCHD NBC Washington DC and am experiencing severe lip sync problems as well as bursts of green pixelation that fill up half the screen from the middle to the bottom. I'm using the HDMI output.

Also getting audio stutter.

Golfman: Are you seeing this on OTA as well or just LIL? FWIW, I have only one noticed incident with the latest CE code (0x27D) installed and not the multiple issues as noted previously.

I also got a response from an engineer at WRC (Mr. Bill Nardi, PM me if you want his email address. I don't want the spambots to grab it here.) He wanted to know if I saw it OTA or only on D*.

[PapaL]

All my local HD channels are not coming now (other HD channels are). WTH?

Slimline 5
HR21-700
0x26C was the last software I grabbed

Tuners comes in at 100% and 97%

[jasonaltima]

All my local HD channels are not coming now (other HD channels are). WTH?

Slimline 5
HR21-700
0x26C was the last software I grabbed

Tuners comes in at 100% and 97%

Mine too. tried to call wait time was to long so i hung up

[lucky13]

Same here--no HD locals in DC

Switched to show SD dupes, and SD comes in fine.

Changed recordings for tonight to SD.

Signal strengths on 103s are fine--90-100 on 8 of the TPs.

Same problem on 5 DVRs.

[PapaL]

Back working. I restarted when everything first happened, that didn't work. Came back by itself moments ago.

[theantidote]

Came back right in time for House. Funny huh? They were trying to scare me.

[patsrule316]

Came back right in time for House. Funny huh? They were trying to scare me.

Mine went out last night too, went out at around 6:15, and came back a little before 8. In the meantime, I called DTV, and they said there were no reports of any problems with the locals and wanted me to pay 80 dollars for them to come out and take a look.

[Golfman]

HR21-100
Diagnostic key #: 20081013-30D4

Watching a recording of "Terminator: The Sara Connor Chronicles" made on 10/06 off of LIL channel 5 FOX WTTGHD Washington DC. Experiencing excessive pixelation, skips, freezes and bursts of staccato audio. Tried REW and REPLAY but didn't correct the problems.

[theantidote]

ABC is not in HD for me. I thought it was just the programming but Jeopardy is usually in HD and it isn't either. I don't think I've seen any HD ads either. Anyone else having this issue? They better fix it before the Penn State game!

EDIT: Just called WJLA. They say they're open 8am-8pm but nobody was there to pick up, I dialed the emergency extension they provided and had the same issue. Is there any other option?

[mosoccer]

ABC is not in HD for me. I thought it was just the programming but Jeopardy is usually in HD and it isn't either. I don't think I've seen any HD ads either. Anyone else having this issue? They better fix it before the Penn State game!

EDIT: Just called WJLA. They say they're open 8am-8pm but nobody was there to pick up, I dialed the emergency extension they provided and had the same issue. Is there any other option?

I'm currently getting the Penn State @ Ohio State game (well the pregame) in 720p. Are you still having problems?

[tonyd79]

ABC is not in HD for me. I thought it was just the programming but Jeopardy is usually in HD and it isn't either. I don't think I've seen any HD ads either. Anyone else having this issue? They better fix it before the Penn State game!

EDIT: Just called WJLA. They say they're open 8am-8pm but nobody was there to pick up, I dialed the emergency extension they provided and had the same issue. Is there any other option?

If I recall correctly, WoF and Jeopardy are not in HD on weekends on WJLA. That used to be the case. Not sure if it still is.

[theantidote]

I'm currently getting the Penn State @ Ohio State game (well the pregame) in 720p. Are you still having problems?

I got through to someone about 2 minutes before the game and they said they'd take a look. Either they forgot to flip the switch or I was just imagining that it wasn't broadcasting in HD. Jeopardy is in HD, WoF isn't. It wasn't in HD that day and that got me worried because I was looking forward to the PSU game.

[Golfman]

HR21-100
Diagnostic key #: 20081231-42D4

I'm experiencing very low volume levels on several of the Washington DC LILs. I'm currently watching LIL channel 4 WRCHD NBC and I have had to crank the HDTV volume level all the way up to 65 on a 0-100 scale to hear whats going on. I'm connected via HDMI and set for Dolby Digital audio.. This problem also affects the other major network LILs, ABC, CBS and FOX.

Watching any of these channels on a direct OTA antenna input to the HDTV and I can hear everything fine with the audio level set to 20-25.

[mark44]

Lip Sync issue on HD FOX 5 washington DC locals. Is this a known issue?
All the other network HD channels seem okay, just FOX 5 with series content such as House. HR22 DVR and SWM SL3 Slimline antenna....

[lucky13]

Lip Sync issue on HD FOX 5 washington DC locals. Is this a known issue?
All the other network HD channels seem okay, just FOX 5 with series content such as House. HR22 DVR and SWM SL3 Slimline antenna....

Had the same problem on yesterday's NFL game.

[Golfman]

Lip Sync issue on HD FOX 5 washington DC locals. Is this a known issue?
All the other network HD channels seem okay, just FOX 5 with series content such as House. HR22 DVR and SWM SL3 Slimline antenna....

I have the same problem with LIL WTTGHD FOX channel 5 Washington DC. I do not have this problem with WTTGHD OTA directly fed from external antenna to HDTV ATSC tuner.

[mark44]

Yes, same station. WTTG 5
OTA doesn't have the issue.
Is this an issue of the local feed to Directv?

[Golfman]

HR21-100
Diagnostic key #: 20090106-3658

Trying to watch "NBC Nightly News" on LIL channel 4 WRCHD NBC channel 4 Washington DC and the video and audio are dropping in and out for several seconds at a time. The screen goes black and the audio is silent during these dropouts.

Switching the HDTV input to the direct OTA feed from an external antenna indicates that the OTA broadcast is normal during these D* dropouts.

[bighoopla]

THE TITLE SHOULD SAY,
"AM I GETTING HD LOCALS?"

I guess I'm getting local HD, but I'm unsure. Here's an example:

I have 2 CBS stations listed in my guide labeled as follows:

9 WUSA - This one shows HD programs in the guide. It is clearly a superior 1080i picture compared to the 480i picture mentions below.

9 DC9 - This one shows the same programs but at 480i SD resolution.

I ask because Oprah on ABC says "HD" in the guide on my ABC HD channel but it has the black bars on the sides, and even though it says 720p, it's very fuzzy and doesn't appear to be HD to me.

Also, my 99 degree(s) satellite says "Not Aquired". It has ZERO signal strength, and I was told satellites 99(s) and 103(s) are used for local HD's. My 103(s) has one transponder that reaches 92% and one transponder that reaches only 22%.

I ask these newbie questions because some shows that say "HD" in the guide, don't look HD to me, and I'm getting picture stuttering and 2-10 second blackouts with loss of sound more often than I think I should.

[Golfman]

HR21-100
Diagnostic key #: 20090131-43B0

Getting intermittant video pixelation and audio stutter while watching COPS live on LIL channel 5 WTTGHD FOX Washington DC.

[smokes20]

HR20
Channel 9, horrible pixels and audio dropping/studdering starting with NCIS.

[hoos51]

Same here, started right after stations came back around 4:30. Also pix elation. I called DTV at 10:15 last night and reported. I always get the response no one else has called.I know tons of people had the issues yesterday. Am I the only one that calls in the whole country?:)

Will monitor channel this morning and update around 10 am.

[hoos51]

No need to wait, still stuttering. This is getting old, fast!

[Golfman]

HR20
Channel 9, horrible pixels and audio dropping/studdering starting with NCIS.

HR21-100
Diagnostic key #: 20090219-268A

I have the same ongoing problem of severe pixelation and audio stuttering/woodpecker effect with LIL channel 9 WUSAHD CBS Washington DC. First noticed last night on 8:00 pm recording of "New Adv-Old Christine". Also problem is present on last night's 9:00 pm recording of "Criminal Minds" from same channel.

Seeing the same intermittent problem on live broadcasts from same channel today.

[Golfman]

HR21-100
Diagnostic key #: 20090222-20FA
Software: 0x2D7

Watching "PGA Tour Golf: Northern Trust Open" on LIL channel 9 WUSAHD CBS Washington DC this afternoon from 3-6:30 pm and had excessive video pixelation. There was no audio distortion associated with this. Now watching "60 Minutes" on same channel and having the same problem.

[hoos51]

I'm on my fifth or 6th day of this. Audio seems to be fixed but picture breaking up big time on CBS channel 9.

Have begun to see audio stuttering on fox 5 now and then.

[Golfman]

HR21-100
Diagnostic key #: 20090301-30E5

Watching "60 Minutes" live on LIL channel 9 WUSAHD CBS Washington DC and getting many instances of staccato audio bursts. This has been an ongoing problem. The show is also being recorded and is a repeating series link.

[hoos51]

See this frequently on Fox 5 and CBS 9. Saw it watching House this week on Fox, 2-3 times in the hour.

From 8-12 on any given day on CBS 9.

Now , with that being said, 1 month ago I was having audio stuttering ( motor boating ) every 5 mins 24x7!

[Golfman]

HR21-100
Diagnostic key #: 20080406-21E2

Experiencing severe lip sync problems with LIL channel 5 WTTGHD FOX Washington DC while watching live shows from 4-5 pm.

[gazzie4]

anyone else notice fox 5 for american idol and fringe was in sd not hd...why am I paying for HD and getting my shows in SD?

[axl]

Has anyone had a problem with NBC4 audio lately? Almost none of the commercials have audio since about last Thursday and on Sunday around 12noon I had no audio at all for about an hour and a half. All other channels are working fine.

[deraz]

Channel 26 PBS is now in hd!!!

[Lefky]

Is anyone else having trouble with the DC locals this morning? Mine are breaking up bad, but other HD stations are fine. Thanks

[Lefky]

While watching the Rose Bowl my local HD stations started breaking up real bad. The signal strength is fine and OTA is also fine. Anyone else having issues?

[jasonblair]

Same thing here... Signal levels are good. HD nationals are fine. HD locals are badly breaking up.

I switched over to SD locals to finish the game.

I'm glad I'm not the only one with the problem!

[coreese]

I am having the same problem.

[lindappel]

Same problem here. We had been having some problems with our receiver so we weren't sure it wasn't that again. Glad to know it is not the receiver although losing the channels is not good.

[jrodfoo]

yeah i was just going to post about this.... just started doing this about 10 minutes ago for me..

[difficultrun]

Having the same problem with DC locals. ESPN is fine. OTA for ABC is also fine. Hope they fix it before the Sugar Bowl!

[beestea]

Same issue here....

[DC_SnDvl]

Same problem.

[2dogz]

Me too. Checked signal strength, all okay. Must be a problem with the uplink.

[DC_SnDvl]

Update, I spoke with CSR it is a problem with the uplink we can expect a fix between 20 minutes to a few days ;-)

[Lefky]

Came back just in time for the Sugar Bowl.

Thanks

[jrodfoo]

nice, thanks for the update! all good now..

[HDTVsportsfan]

I had the same problem. It seemed to get fixed about 10 minutes ago.

[dzeedavid]

Anyone else's HD locals in the DC Area go out about 15 minutes ago. I get the channel banner but no picture.

[DC_SnDvl]

Pixelization on NBC - WRC (4)

I am having a lot of severe pixelization and on NBC - WRC (4) during the Sunday night football game 9:00pm local time.

I have switched back and forth between OTA and Sat and it is only occurring on the SAT feed.

[dbaser]

I had the same issue in Mobile, AL (WPMI NBC 15) as well as the rest of the HD locals. SD feeds were okay.

[Golfman]

HR21-100

For the past several weeks I have experienced continual intermittent video pixelation and skips on WRCTV HD ch 4. This does not effect the audio however there is a continual severe lip sync problem. These issues are not present in the SD for ch 4 or in the OTA broadcast.

I have called D* customer support about this problem more than once but there has been no indication that it is getting better. I will try to contact WRCTV engineering to see if they can work this issue with D* engineering.

[Golfman]

Spoke to D* csr again about lip sync problem and was told it was a WRCTV problem and had been reported to WRCTV Engineering. Called WRCTV Engineering and was told that this was a D* problem and that WRCTV had notified D* Engineering to that effect. WRCTV Engineering told me they would call D* and find out what was going on.

WRCTV Engineering called me back after they spoke with D* Engineering and said that D* indicated that they thought the problem had been corrected this morning. Will check to see if it has been fixed when I get back home this evening.

[leesweet]

This thread seems to get little traffic once things stabilized, but I thought I'd note this here, since it's a locals issue.

Seems like every weekend, the WTTG broadcast of the Redskins (don't start) game has had no CC (closed captions) on the D* feed. On the 5-1 OTA HD signal, it's been fine. All other HD locals at the time are fine, and so is WTTG other times (early morning net feed, nighttime, etc.).

I have no clue why only the Fox feed for the games to D* would be bad, when OTA is always good. I'm about to report this to D*'s CC address and then to the FCC if I don't get a response. I assume the issue is D*'s problem, as it's not my hardware or even WTTG's, unless someone is sabotaging the D* feed itself and leaving the OTA alone.

(And people say you/we don't need OTA nowadays...)

Any comments? Anyone get this quick enought (Now!) to test CC on the game today?

Thanks!

[Golfman]

HR21-100
No diagnostic report

Still having this issue after several weeks of reporting it to D* CSRs multiple times.

WTF is going on? How long should it take to correct this problem? If D* engineers/techs are monitoring this thread why cant you correct this problem?

I'm on the verge of suspending my service over this and activating my Verizon FIOS service. D*s CSRs think that offering the extra HD channels for free makes up for this but it doesnt. WRCTV is an important local in the DC area. I cant beleive that other subs arent complaining about this.