HD Locals: Dallas-Fort Worth, TX

[Doug Brott]

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

DMA: Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
Established: 12/8/2005
Rank: 5

HD Locals available in this DMA

ABC - WFAA (8)
CBS - KTVT (11)
NBC - KXAS (5)
FOX - KDFW (4)
PBS - KERA (13)
CW - KDAF (33)
MNT - KDFI (27)
IND - KTXA (21)


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

[markandsusan]

We are about 90 miles NE of Dallas proper, in the Dallas DMA. We receive our HD locals via sat and, until recently, also received the HD NY feeds DNS because we're so far away. Anyway, we've noticed now that we're recording shows using Dallas feeds, not NY, that we have lots of problems on the ABC station: drop outs (sound and picture blacks out and then comes back slowly having skipped a few seconds), pixellation, etc.; usually several times per hour (6-10). The most recent episode of "Pushing Daisies" was almost unwatchable. We did not have weather in our area, so that wasn't it. Are we the only ones with this problem. We don't seem to have the issue on other HD locals, or our national channels. (USA and Bravo HD did this a lot, for a while, but seem fine now.)

[mbuser]

I've had several black screen recordings on channel 11 HD at 8:00 or 9:00 on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Seems like too many to be a coincidence. THere has never been a black screen on an off-the-air recording, just those from the dish.

[mickcris]

Has anyone been noticing audio dropouts on the locals? In the last week almost everything i recorded have been doing this. One example was the office on Thursday. It had quite a few. The picture stays great, but the audio goes away for a few seconds. on the screen on my receiver the Dolby digital icon disappears when this happens.

[tfederov]

I'll take a look around but to my knowledge we haven't had any issues here (Plano).

[absolutbob]

I am also having a problem with ABC's local feed on both SD (Tivo) and HD (HR20). As others have reported, I'm getting pixelization and audio dropouts. I'm located in northeast Richardson and I know it's not weather related.

I thought my dish had gotten out of alignment so I called DIRECTV and they said they're aware and working on it.

Bob

[767fr8dog]

Located in McKinney Tx
Having problems in the morning with NBC ABC pixelating. Happens on HR-20 and HR-21.

CBS has audio pop 24/7

[mickcris]

I have noticed it on cbs and nbc. fox seems to be ok. i am not sure that i ever watch anything on abc because i haven't noticed a problem on that channel. i have resorted to using ota to tape shows from cbs and nbc until they fix it.

[bware]

I've experienced Dolby Digital dropouts periodically at irregular intervals on Channel 11 both from DirecTV's feed and off-air.

[psychobabbler]

I've experienced Dolby Digital dropouts periodically at irregular intervals on Channel 11 both from DirecTV's feed and off-air.

I have experienced the same on Channel 11.

[spartanstew]

I don't have dropouts, but I have audio stutters (for lack of a better word). It's like when you slide the needle on a record for a second. As was mentioned in another thread, this happens across several local channels and on multiple DVR's.

[texasbrit]

I don't have dropouts, but I have audio stutters (for lack of a better word). It's like when you slide the needle on a record for a second. As was mentioned in another thread, this happens across several local channels and on multiple DVR's.
I also get this problem in DFW mainly on CBS...

[markandsusan]

Our problems with ABC (see initial post above) seem better, but now the local CW, which wasn't ever a problem in the past, is very, very bad. Lots of pixelation and dropouts, sometimes to the point of being unwatchable.

[texasbrit]

Over the last few days the problem on CBS seems to be solved - anyone still having problems?

[Doug Brott]

Added PBS - KERA (13) to the lineup

[ccr1958]

KDFW FOX4 News is now full 16x9 720p as of 5am this morn

[CindyJ]

HD local outage on channels 4, 5, 8, 11, 13 beginning today at approximately 1730 CDT.

cj

[rgraham541]

San Antonio having the same problem. Ch 4, 5, and 12 only

[mickmodt]

4,5,8,11,13 out since 17:40CST
Has anyone called DTV to report the problem. I called and was told that my dish was the problem the problem lies with the HD LOCALs on 103(a) there is not signal for that part of the system.

[gdn]

It is not a local dish problem - lost all locals in Dallas - near Coit and Campbell about 5:40 or so. Getting searching for satellite signal - ran checks - all transponders are posting very good reception - from 90's to 100 - all satellites all transponders good. Looks like it is locals only as I've got HGTV and other channels - but no locals. It is a DTV problem.

[vinhmen]

Same situation in Valley Ranch area. Happened shortly after 5:30 pm.

[Flugelman]

DFW locals on 103(s) transponder 21. My signal strength on transponder 21 usually 100, now 0.

[bobnewhouse]

Anyone having issues with DFW locals right now?

[texasbrit]

Anyone having issues with DFW locals right now?
No problems at the moment..

[texasbrit]

Getting freezing and audio dropouts on Fox 4 during primetime national programming. Signal strengths on DFW spotbeams are fine (98)

[susanandmark]

Anyone else having problems with KERA HD feed? I only get it via DirecTV. A few days back they had a channel banner saying they knew it was off. It came back on but we've continued to have brief dropouts/blackouts daily (probably 5-6 per hour). Anyone else?

[susanandmark]

I wrote KERA and they said they're not seeing a problem, though someone else responded in the main forum that they'd had the same issue. Seems to have gone away now anyway. I mostly see PBS in the morning, when my (toddler) son is watching "Curious George" or "Dinosaur Train," so that was my reference. I hadn't noticed it in any primetime PBS programs.

UPDATE: Oops, spoke too soon. The black outs are still there. I guess we were only watching older, DVR-ed content.

[susanandmark]

I got another email from KERA today and now I guess they ARE aware of the problem. This is what they said as of 9/24 ...

"Our engineers are aware of this issue and have ordered the needed part to correct the broadcast. We hope to have received this item and have the KERA broadcast back to normal by the end of next week."

By the way, the blackouts were very bad/longer during today's shows.

[susanandmark]

What satellite/transponder do the Dallas local channels come in on?

I'm asking because I wanted to check our signal strengths. We had a LOT of break-ups/pixillation during the OU-Miami game last night on WFAA. Then, after the game, the signal/picture on the same station seemed fine. During the game we were having it happen every few seconds. Very annoying for my husband, a big OU fan.

[etexlady]

Guess I'll toss in my 2 cents worth. I'm in Tyler and have DTV but KERA is not nor has it ever been to my knowledge broadcast in high def here. I recorded the Ken Burns documentary about the National Parks last week and tried to watch the first episode but the picture was so poor (too dark with no contrast) I'll probably just delete it all and wait for it to be available via Netflix.

[susanandmark]

DirecTV does have KERA in HD now. Make sure you're selecting the HD feed to record from, as it's also in SD. (I think the SD channels come up first; we have them hidden in our guide.)

[etexlady]

You know I thought about checking to be sure I had not deselected the HD feed so I just checked and see that the PBS station I'm receiving is named PBSNET in the guide. I just assumed it was KERA but maybe not? Still a lousy picture though and no high def.

[susanandmark]

It sounds like you're getting the national PBS feed and, as far as I know, it's not in high def.

[etexlady]

Yes, you are correct, getting the national feed and it's not HD. I dropped DirecTV an email complaining about it but I'm sure that's the least of their concerns. Wonder if the national feed is "on the list" for HD? I guess my only alternative is to try OTA antenna but I don't watch PBS enough to justify that.

[nerbe]

It might be my setup but The PBS NewsHour has so many audio dropouts (brrrrrp) it is almost unwatchable. This happens very occasionally with other locals & national programming but I would guess there are more brrrps in 1 hour of this program than occur in one week of watching all other shows. From reading this thread I guess it's time to contact KERA.

[texasbrit]

It might be my setup but The PBS NewsHour has so many audio dropouts (brrrrrp) it is almost unwatchable. This happens very occasionally with other locals & national programming but I would guess there are more brrrps in 1 hour of this program than occur in one week of watching all other shows. From reading this thread I guess it's time to contact KERA.

KERA has confirmed that these problems are caused by issues in their equipment chain which thay are trying to fix - see http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=17997561&postcount=5601

[sigma1914]

* Channel(s) affected - KTXA 21
* Date - August 2009
* Time - All the time
* Description of Issue - During shows, the audio is out of sync...slightly ahead of video. Cable & OTA versions are correct.