Roanoke-Lynchburg locals

[twostepc]

Anyone happen to know if I will have my Roanoke-Lynchburg locals as promised?????

I switched over from E* because Direct promised them by June...but it looks like E* is going to beat them on this.
:mad:

[JohnH]

Actually, I did not see an announcement about them on last evening's Charlie Chat. Must be in limbo.

[twostepc]

My neighbor is a sales manager over at the local CBS station. He said that Dish has been putting in equipment for the last couple of weeks and had already gotten things set up at the other local stations. On top of that he says that Direct hasn't even started working on their equipment. I don't know how long it would take to get all of your hardware in but I am sure it takes longer than a couple of weeks.

I love my DTV system....can't wait 'till NFL starts up again, but it would be nice to see my networks clearly instead of getting the fuzz with rabbit ears.
:shrug:

[Greg Bimson]

I used the timers trick to see the channel identifiers. Roanoke will be at:

658 RN5
659 RN7 WDBJ CBS
660 RN10 WSLS NBC
661 RN13 WSET ABC
662 RN15 WBRA PBS
663 RN24 WDRL UPN
664 RN27 WJPR FOX

It is only a matter of time, now.

[Rick P]

timers trick???

[Greg Bimson]

Yes.

I try to set a timer. Instead of setting it, I surf the channels, which show the channel idenitifier. For example, trying to set channel 231 will show (FOOD) as the channel, which, of course, is Food Network.

Well, surf that puppy to channel 658, and you see (RN5), and the rest of the Roanoke locals.

[twostepc]

DISH BEATS DIRECT....I Don't Believe it!

[Greg Bimson]

Yes, but I wouldn't worry. Whenever it seems that DirecTV and Dish Network are fighting for subscribers by adding the same new market, the channels generally show up within a month of each other.

[Inundated]

Just a note. "RN5" up there could very well be "WBVA/WB5", the currently over-cable WB Network affiliate run by the Fox 21/27 folks. "WB5" runs over the digital signal of WJPR/21 and on Cable Channel 5 in most of the Roanoke Valley.

[ARKDTVfan]

it looks like those of you in the Roanoke DMA can now get the locals on DirecTV

[BrandonH]

Does anyone know what satellite and what transponder these are on? I know D*'s web site says you need an oval dish to receive them but I am wondering if they are on the main sat for now and are planning on moving them when the new spot beam gets up. If that's the case I'd like to go ahead and sign up for them now and worry about getting the oval dish when they actually go to a side slot..

[spanishannouncetable]

Originally posted by BrandonH
Does anyone know what satellite and what transponder these are on? I know D*'s web site says you need an oval dish to receive them but I am wondering if they are on the main sat for now and are planning on moving them when the new spot beam gets up. If that's the case I'd like to go ahead and sign up for them now and worry about getting the oval dish when they actually go to a side slot..

Just call Directv. If you live in an area that requires the multi-sat dish to get locals they will upgrade for you at a very reasonable price.

I've read posts that it costs $14.95, and other posts that say the upgrade can even be had for free :)

[Karl Foster]

I believe that it was Richmond DMA that was to start on with the 18" dish and then move to the oval dish later.

[Greg Bimson]

Roanoke is currently on a CONUS beam at the normal 101 slot.

Channel 999 listed these markets that were to be served in the first half of 2002, which will start at 101, and require a multi-sat dish later:

Richmond
Jackson, MS
Roanoke
Des Moines
Shreveport
Scranton
Louisville
Tucson

The other two markets slated for the first half of the year will stay where they have been placed currently. Colorado Springs was placed on the Denver area spot-beam on DirecTV 4-S satellite at the 101 slot, while Green Bay has been placed at the 119 slot.

Supposedly, if you call DirecTV and ask for your locals, they will upgrade your receivers (if needed) and your dish. You'll pay shipping charges, and probably have to commit to a year of TC programming, but you'll also get a professional install.

[spanishannouncetable]

I just got off the phone with Directv.

Roanoke locals are currently at 101 and can be received with a standard 1-slot dish pointed at 101. They will be moving Roanoke locals to 119 later this year and will require the multi-slot dish then.

If you live in the Roanoke DMA you can sign up for the locals now regardless of the type of dish you have. Directv will schedule you to receive a FREE multi-slot dish upgrade if you need it :D

[BrandonH]

I called and signed up last night. They did offer me a free dish upgrade. I will say the PQ is a little lacking compared to the DC locals I was getting by 'moving'. Also WB5 only displays channel coming soon, but there is program information in the guide for the channel.

[TNGTony]

Channel 5 is up now. New locals generally start off looking crappy and as customers complain, they improve a little.

See ya
Tony

[BrandonH]

Tony, Channel 5 is still not up, in fact they changed the screen from "This channel is coming soon" to "This channel is not currently broadcasting"- whatever that means.

[TNGTony]

Oops! I was thinking of channel 13. Sorry.

See ya
Tony

[Inundated]

Shouldn't be a big deal to get WB5 going... they send it out via the digital over-air signal of WJPR/21 (the "21" half of Fox 21/27). Perhaps Fox 21/27 hasn't installed the DTV receiver at DirecTV's headend yet? ;) WB5, FYI, is a 24/7 station so it should be "broadcasting". They program it much like they program Fox 21/27, and use many of the same syndicated shows (but in different time slots).