HD Locals: Portland-Auburn, ME

[Doug Brott]

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

DMA: Portland-Auburn, ME
Established: 10/25/2006
Rank: 76

HD Locals available in this DMA

ABC - WMTW (8)
CBS - WGME (13)
NBC - WCSH (6)
FOX - WPFO (23)


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

[bobkatF]

Around mid-September, I started getting 771's on my Portland/Auburn Maine Local HD channels.

My current dish was installed in Sept. 2006, so my assumption was that the trees in my yard are growing. I called DirecTV to schedule a service call.

Before the service date, I got a call from DiercTV (automated message) saying that there has been a "weather related event" in this area recently and asked if I would like to cancel or keep my appointment. I kept the appointment.


The weather has been clear, so I know of no "weather related event".
I thought sun caused problems are in October.


DirecTV Serviceman came, re-aligned dish, signals were okay, he said trees were not a problem, yet.

Starting yesterday, Sept. 29, I'm getting 771's every 5 mins., for about 5 secs. each time. Fortunately, I get 3 out of 4 Locals via OTA on my HR20-700, but no OTA on bedroom TV.

On what satellite & transponders are the Portland / Auburn Maine HD Locals located? I would to check the signal strength, before calling again.

[sawCME]

Yup, it's back.

I suspect this is preparation for the move to D11 from the current Spaceway sat.

Really making a mess of my recordings, though.

[bobkatF]

I'm (somewhat) relieved to hear that - Thx.

My fear was that the alignment might have loosened.

[sawCME]

Not sure if the switch was made to D11, but the 771 errors are worse this morning than they have been.

[texasbrit]

Not sure if the switch was made to D11, but the 771 errors are worse this morning than they have been.

You need to check your 99c signal strengths (99a if you have a receiver). They should be at least 70s, preferably 80s and 90s. Those signals are national HD from the same satellite (D11) so if they are not good you have an alignment issue and will get 771s on your HD locals.

[mattmill]

Not sure if the switch was made to D11, but the 771 errors are worse this morning than they have been.

I have seen this as well. I also am havind terrible audio stuttering only on the locals. Called in tonight and was told we will be transfered to case management until this is resolved.

I'll keep you posted.

matt

[AccidenT]

I've experienced the terrible audio stuttering all day today. It's bad enough that the audio is almost non-existant. It happens on every local HD channel: 6, 8, 13 and 23. If I pause live TV (even for as little as 1 second) and watch it slightly delayed, the audio is fine. Playback of recordings seem to be fine as well. My neighbor's receiver exhibits the same problem and the workaround works for him, too. His stuttering doesn't seem as severe, but he's listening to his TV speaker via RCA cables while I'm listening through a home theater receiver via digital coax, so that could be the reason for the more severe stuttering on my setup.

We both put in a call to D* tonight to report the issue, and were both told the issue had been escalated.

[mattmill]

the quick pause worked for me as well.

Thanks
matt

[texasbrit]

Reports are that the audio problem is fixed this morning.

[sawCME]

Yup, no stuttering on Fox23 this morning. I didn't check any of the others.

[AccidenT]

I did a quick check of all the locals this morning and didn't hear any stuttering. My neighbor reports the same thing.

[bobkatF]

It's Friday noon and "All is well" with our local HD channels.

Thanks!

[twistedT]

Channel(s) affected: NBC - WCSH (6)
Date: 11/16/08
Time: 10pm
Description of Issue: Channel 6 NBCHD keeps going black every few minutes. No sound or picture for a minute or two and then it returns. I checked other recievers and the same thing is happening with them. Makes it real hard to watch Sunday night football!! :lol:

[mattmill]

Channel(s) affected: NBC - WCSH (6)
Date: 11/16/08
Time: 10pm
Description of Issue: Channel 6 NBCHD keeps going black every few minutes. No sound or picture for a minute or two and then it returns. I checked other recievers and the same thing is happening with them. Makes it real hard to watch Sunday night football!! :lol:

I was out last night but am having it happen Monday am around 7:00.

matt

[CathyR]

From an email reply "Our WCSH-DT transmitter has had equipment failures of late. It started about 3 weeks ago. The signal fluctuates randomly. We tracked the problem piece down and ordered the part. The part we received was defective. During this time period we've run the transmitter at a lower power that would affect homes 50-55 miles from our transmitter. DirecTV's pick up site is in Auburn and (theory being) shouldn't be affected. so that doesn't make sense AND they haven't called to tell us of the problem, which they certainly would do. This weekend the transmitter had a massive failure. it was off the air early this morning and repaired enough to get back on air around 12:30pm. It's stable, but still needs work. Does that help you understand what's happening?"

[sawCME]

Frequent intermittent video and audio breakups on Fox 23 HD (WPFO).

I have seen this for the past week, or so.

[bobkatF]

I receive Fox 23 HD on both DirecTV and OTA. The audio and video dropouts occur on BOTH methods of reception. I conclude that the problems are at the Fox 23 transmitter.

[mattmill]

Anyone else lose locals last night? I was watching 23 (Fox) and 6 (NBC) last night until about midnight. Woke this morning and have lost all locals (6,8,13, & 23) on both receivers (HR22-700 and HR23-700). RBR didn't help.

matt

[bobkatF]

Locals are gone here, too. Fortunately, I get them via OTA.

[mattmill]

Thanks. We have AM21 on one receiver. Glad it's not just us.

matt

[mattmill]

Just got off the phone with DTV and the woman I spoke with at 8:10 said I was the fourth call about the Maine Locals being out, some in Bangor and all in Portland. The ticket is being escalated and hopefully we are all back on this evening.

matt

[CathyR]

New software downloaded , Portland HD locals gone..........

[bobkatF]

HD Locals are now working - Thx

[CathyR]

Looks like they fixed it..........working for us too

[kevinturcotte]

Has Directv added 35 (WPME) in HD since I last had service (Been like 18 months)? If not, anybody have any idea why it's not available in HD?