HD Locals in DC [Archive]

uvamack

09-06-06, 10:10 PM

litzdog911

09-06-06, 11:04 PM

Check DirecTV's web site here http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/packProg/localChannels.jsp?assetId=900018 to find out which local HDTV channels are available at your zip code.

With the proper antenna you can probably receive most all of the stations shown at http://www.antennaweb.org. However, the HR20 DVR does not yet have its OTA tuners enabled.

Check out the "Local HDTV Reception Forum" at http://www.avsforum.com and find the thread for your nearest cities to find out what folks in your area are using for antennas and their reception experiences.

Newshawk

09-07-06, 12:01 AM

I have an appointment scheduled for Sept 16th and I live outside of Frederick, MD. I verified with the local installer that the HR20's arrived today and I would be receiving it on Sept 16th. My question is will I receive any HD channels outside of 4,5,7, and 9 with the AT9? If I had a large directional antenna with pre-amp installed which is suggested by Antennaweb, would I pull in any other HD channels, if so, what? Thanks

You'll also get Ch. 20, WDCA, which will become WDCW when the CW starts up on the 18th, as well as Comcra... er., Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic.

uvamack

09-07-06, 12:24 AM

Thanks Litzdog and Newshawk, I think I am leaning towards no OTA antenna right now since I will get the HD locals on the AT9. I can always upgrade later to an antenna if I think it is necessary

captain_video

09-07-06, 06:12 AM

You should also be able to get the various PBS stations like 26 and 32. If you've got a good antenna with sufficient gain you may also be able to pull in the Baltimore locals as well, but you'd need a separate antenna for them since they're in a different direction.

I use two Channel Master 4228's to get both markets. I'm in between both sets of broadcast towers at a distance of about 30+ miles in either direction, but being slightly closer to Baltimore. I get all locals via OTA with no preamp and get a good signal on all of them.

jasonblair

09-07-06, 06:52 AM

You'll also get Ch. 20, WDCA, which will become WDCW when the CW starts up on the 18th, as well as Comcra... er., Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic.Actually, channel 20 is becoming My Network TV. Channel 50 is becomming the CW.

danm2z

09-07-06, 06:54 AM

Of the DC locals, 26 is a bit weak. 4 is also weak, but not as weak as 26. 20 just upped thier power over the summer to full power, so you should have good coverage. 5,7,9,50,66, & 56 are all at full power, so should also provide good coverage. 56 and 66 are in NoVa, which may limit reception in Fredrick. You'd want to get a rotator for them, and any chance at Baltimore, since they're in completely different directions from each other. 62 is in Frederick and you should be able to get that with tin foil (or any other kind of TV Antenna).

As for Baltimore locals, I live in Sterling, and can get most of them with a directional antenna and a pre-amp, as long as I'm pointed in the right direction. The strongest ones are: 11,13,45,54, and 67. 2, like its analog signal is a little weaker on digital. 24 was at low power the last time I checked (a couple of months ago).

As for signal stregnth, my parents live in Rockville, and have similar experience with lower power for the channels mentioned above, so I would expect your experience to match that. I have a Dish HD receiver. My parents use the tuner in their TV.

As for programming, the CW will have HD programs, but is not in HD on satellite, so you'd be missing some programs there. Also, both MPT and WETA broadcasts additional sub-channels at various points during the day (i.e. at night, they have a 1080i feed, but drop PBS Kids). If you're in to PBS programming, you can't get that via satellite. ABC, NBC, & CBS all have some sort of weather programming on their sub-channels (varies by station). WBFF has started showing older sitcoms on their subchannel.

Newshawk

09-07-06, 10:39 AM

Actually, channel 20 is becoming My Network TV. Channel 50 is becomming the CW.
My mistake. I read my reference wrong. Boy, I hate it when two stations in the same market have such similar call letters! I thought that was against FCC rules... but that has seemed to go by the wayside in recent years!

BTW, my reference is the CW/MyNetwork Scorecard found here: http://users4.ev1.net/~chipk/CW.html

rbarthle17

09-08-06, 08:56 AM

I have an appointment scheduled for Sept 16th and I live outside of Frederick, MD. I verified with the local installer that the HR20's arrived today and I would be receiving it on Sept 16th. My question is will I receive any HD channels outside of 4,5,7, and 9 with the AT9? If I had a large directional antenna with pre-amp installed which is suggested by Antennaweb, would I pull in any other HD channels, if so, what? Thanks

How are you able to get the HR20 right now? I just checked and it has not been authorized to roll out to the DC area yet. It's still "a few weeks away" according to the rep I talked to.

Geronimo

09-08-06, 09:22 AM

My mistake. I read my reference wrong. Boy, I hate it when two stations in the same market have such similar call letters! I thought that was against FCC rules... but that has seemed to go by the wayside in recent years!

BTW, my reference is the CW/MyNetwork Scorecard found here: http://users4.ev1.net/~chipk/CW.html

We also have WJLA and WJAL. My understanding is that the FCC no longer approves call letters. they do act if someone comaplains about confusion but otherwise I don't think that they get involved.

HockeyKat

09-08-06, 10:20 AM

Like the others have said, you should be able to pick up some Baltimore channels as well. We have a crappy little indoor Radio Shack antenna that gets us (in Arnold, MD) all the Baltimore locals with no problem, and many of the DC locals, too. I just wish that 50 would up its signal so we could get it more reliably than we do now...