Tucson HDTV Locals

[dbandersen]

I'm moving to the Tucson (Green Valley) area from Portland, Or. in a few months and plan to upgrade my D* system to HD when I get there. Does D* pickup and broadcast the Tucson station local channels in HD? Can I get the Phoenix locals in HD?

[Earl Bonovich]

Tucson isn't currently carried in HD:

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=54698

Phoenix is, but I don't know if you would be allowed to receive those or not.

[PackFan]

I just moved to Tucson a couple of weeks ago and had DirecTV installed yesterday. The main reason I chose DirecTV was for the NFL Sunday Ticket.

Right now - I get only non-HD locals. The installer is coming back tomorrow or Wednesday to try out an antenna. I hope it works, as I would really like to record HD programming from the locals.

Interesting thought to ask for them to give the Phoenix HD locals...

[dbandersen]

Thanks for the info. Let me know if they give you the Phoenix HD locals tomorrow. That would be great!

Dave

[PackFan]

Thanks for the info. Let me know if they give you the Phoenix HD locals tomorrow. That would be great!

Dave
Well, it's not that simple... First I'm going to try the antenna. Then, if that doesn't work well, I could try to ask them to give me the HD locals from Phoenix.

BUT - even if they agreed, I would need the 5 LNB dish, and they only installed the 3 LNB dish yesterday because the 5 LNB dish is incompatible with the current HD DVR... :nono:

[bobnielsen]

Well, it's not that simple... First I'm going to try the antenna. Then, if that doesn't work well, I could try to ask them to give me the HD locals from Phoenix.

BUT - even if they agreed, I would need the 5 LNB dish, and they only installed the 3 LNB dish yesterday because the 5 LNB dish is incompatible with the current HD DVR... :nono:

When Tucson HD locals become available (maybe next year) you will need the 5 LNB dish but the MPEG4 DVR will be available by then. If you have a clear view of Mt. Bigelow, you should be able to get the HD locals. Before I left Tucson in 2000, I heard that the CBS local was moving its HD transmitter back to the Mt. Bigelow site. I lived in the Catalina foothils and probably wouldn't have had any luck there.

If you can't receive the locals, you may be eligible for the L.A. HD locals, but that would require a waiver from the Tucson stations (most stations automatically refuse and nobody with deep-enough pockets has taken them to court yet)

[PackFan]

I live near Oracle just south of Catalina. Any idea of my chances?

[JLucPicard]

I'm not "in-the-know" or anything, but I can't think of a reason that they would give you the Phoenix locals just because they aren't offering the Tuscon locals yet. As was mentioned, the only HD feeds you could get from the satellite aside from your own locals (Tuscon - which aren't available yet) would be the LA HD feeds, and that almost takes an act of God. And won't happen if the Tuscon locals are broadcasting in HD - then you are relegated to an OTA antenna until D* lights up your area with MPEG4.

[Wolffpack]

For Tucson HD coverage check out http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=131829

[bobnielsen]

I live near Oracle just south of Catalina. Any idea of my chances?

Pretty close to zero. That far north your path to Mt. Bigelow is probably blocked by Mt. Lemmon.

The poster from Green Valley shouldn't have any problems, however.

[MikeW]

If you are in the Tucson DMA, you will not get Phoenix HD channels. Green Valley is a good place to live to get HD locals OTA. Plug you address into www.antennaweb.org to see what type of antenna you'll need.

[PackFan]

Well, I've tested a couple of antennas - not good.

All I seem to be able to get is 27.1 (PBS) and 40.1 (UNI).

So, it looks like I'm stuck watching Boston Legal, Grey's Anatomy, Smallville, etc. in standard def until DirecTV gets the Tucson HD stations available via satellite... :(

And the HD locals from Phoenix are a no-go - Apparently they are bound by law to stick to the local markets as they are laid out. They are looking into getting me a "waiver" so that I can get the national stations in HD. That would be helpful for all my main shows except Smallville.

[bigbw]

I live near Oracle just south of Catalina. Any idea of my chances?

should you happen to use comcast for internet access, you can get an hd receiver from them and you will get all network locals in HD.. I did this and it wound up costing me $3 a month over what i was paying..

[stevesns69]

Anybody know when Tucson will have HD locals on D*? I can't get OTA in my area. I got shot down on my waivers except for ABC LA. Do they even have a target date? I've checked and there appear to be smaller markets than us that already have HD locals. I heard that Pima county is over a million people now and yet we don't get HD locals.

[bigbw]

I would not look for it this year.. most likely after the next sat goes up and starts working..

[stevesns69]

Thanks for the reply. You're probably correct. I'm looking forward to it.

[rowat]

Looks like they are up in test right now, I'm getting 4/9/11/13 in HD.

[RAD]

Looks like they are up in test right now, I'm getting 4/9/11/13 in HD.

Not test, they went live on 12/12 according to D*'s press release.