Central PA flunks "DTV Test"

[catnapped]

Well it looks like Dish gets another stick in the eye tonight with the much ballyhooed "DTV Test". Of the three major networks that did the test, we got a big fat zero. So come February does that mean those of us with SD locals are screwed?

[scooper]

No - it just means that DIsh (and likely DirectTv and MAYBE cable) haven't converted yet. Patience - they have until the full power analog are turned off and their job is much more difficult. You will NOT be left in the dark on your locals - but if you want to make sure - start setting up your own OTA rig with a convertor box now.

FYI - there have been two "tests" of this nature in the last two months here in NC. In both cases BOTH DBS providers FAILED on SDTV versions. We've been told it should be fixed in December. I don't really care if it happens (well , not too much), since I'm well prepared to get locals in digital (and mostly HDTV) with a better picture than DBS provides. I normally watch local news in at least OTA digital, and often in HDTV.

[arxaw]

Well it looks like Dish gets another stick in the eye tonight with the much ballyhooed "DTV Test". Of the three major networks that did the test, we got a big fat zero. So come February does that mean those of us with SD locals are screwed?Dish flunked the local DTV tests here, too. It just means they haven't finished converting all of their receive centers from analog to DTV broadcasts. They should be finished by the analog shutoff date.

[BattleZone]

There's no "flunking" something when you haven't even made an attempt. Dish has a schedule for switching locals to their digital feeds, and your market hasn't been converted yet. Thus the results of this "test" are exactly as expected.

The "tests" aren't for cable or satellite customers anyway; they're for people who get their signals OTA.

[phrelin]

These tests are for OTA viewers which should cause those who still don't understand to fume for a few hours and then go on as usual until February. Most of those folks will buy a new TV or converter box then, complaining to the WalMart clerk about how no one told them. Some also will have to buy a different antenna. Some will be very happy afterward. Some will just call the cable company in frustration.

The best discussion of this whole subject is the "Forget it, old people. No more TV for you starting in 2009. (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=143506)" thread (after some of my age peers got over being insulted). I think this post on that thread should be repeated everywhere: What I have done (and I ask that everyone consider):

I have posted a flyer at my church and at every local supermarket stating that I will help anyone who needs help with their TV after the transition, and I will do it for free.

Think about this as what we used to do, neighbor helping neighbor.

And yes I will be 60 next March.

[braven]

I wouldn't worry about it. E* will obviously have things straightened out by the deadline.

[catnapped]

Looks like they might have the digital feed up for WGAL this morning but now some people are going to wonder why the heck the picture is squished. No zoom feature in the 625 from what I can tell either.

[catnapped]

WGAL looks to be back to SD again

[ch3]

I noticed this happen on Monday night during Chuck. WGAL started out as letterboxed like it has been all this season. Then suddenly at around quarter after or so, the picture snapped and for about 30 seconds the sound was echoing about 10 seconds (repeated). After it straightened out it wasn't letterboxed any more (neither was Heroes or My Own Worst Enemy, which had been up to this Monday). I much preferred the letterboxed so I could zoom to full picture on my HDTV. NBC on WGAL was the only local (except PBS/WITF) to be letterboxing.

Oh, and I tried to order a DTVPal DVR today so I could time shift the local HD, but they go a problem with there web site - it doesn't allow Dish customers to order one - say to call a number for help. After spending almost an hour on the phone (first with some guy an India and later someone who could actually speak English), I learned that there was not suppose to be any restriction on who could order and they were have a problem with the web site. Sucks, I wanted to be early on the list to get one.

[dishlover2]

I'm told that another test will be run again 625 pm monday im not sure if it s just channel 8 doing it

[dishlover2]

Looks like they might have the digital feed up for WGAL this morning but now some people are going to wonder why the heck the picture is squished. No zoom feature in the 625 from what I can tell either.

ah sd units cant handle the compression i hated the 625 setup because of splitting two tuners up one room with a tv2 remote which acts yout reciever im so gllad they came out w the dual tuner geared 4 one room technically a triple tuner but those 2 room one reciever units is worse with the hd vip models

tv 2 unit sd
tv one box hd

[dishlover2]

my tv passed due to 2 things 8 wgal I Now I Have the 1000.4 last nights dtv test was a success it will appear that cable customers wouid fail the test even on the digital box unless you put their digital channel they are in 3 digits but if your tv has that decoder built in that means it accomodates digital channels the way analog cable ready tvs used to until addressable analog descramblers came out in mid 80s so mpeg 4 fix must tie into to sd customer passing that test for non hd recievers


thats why mpeg2 recievers need to be swapped out for these recievers with mpeg4

[audiomaster]

How does Dish pick up the locals Do they have direct feeds from the stations transmitter feed (seems that would be best, especially for HD). Or do they have to pick it up off air from an antenna near the transmitter site ? Does that then go up from there to a Sat or by landline or fiber to Cheyenne or an uplink site?

Especially wonder about Charlotte, where we have towers all over the map not just on on mountain

[BattleZone]

It depends. Some stations have fiber links, some ATM (IIRC), and some Dish picks up via OTA. Locals are uplinked from an uplink station in the area that the spot-beam covers, so there will be an uplink somewhere within 300 or so miles of you.

[audiomaster]

It depends. Some stations have fiber links, some ATM (IIRC), and some Dish picks up via OTA. Locals are uplinked from an uplink station in the area that the spot-beam covers, so there will be an uplink somewhere within 300 or so miles of you.

I wonder if the audio dropout problem with 622/722 is only occuring where they pick up the DBS signal off-air rather than direct?