Why is there no automation for "the switch?"

[Joseph S]

Of course, once again the switch wasn't flipped for Alias on time this week. Yes, it was only 15 seconds late, but the week before the Superbowl it was about 6.5 minutes late. Another time it was around 7.5 minutes late. The show actually started later than the 8PM set time by about 5 minutes thanks to the ProBowl, yet the "switch" still it wasn't flipped before the show started.

Given that the ABC schedule is pretty easy to follow why is there such a difficulty here? Why can't the switch always be "flipped?" and Why isn't there an automated solution in place? I haven't ever seen this with CBS. I've only seen it a few times on NBC and only  in the middle of a show. Yet, nearly every Sunday from now on it looks like I'll have to be prepped to send out the email for the switch to be flipped. Why?

[P a u l]

I've said this several times before. This equipment may seem high-tech to you, but it was simply designed to get some sort of signal over the air to you the viewer. In the scramble for the manufactures to get the HD equipment into production,in as few years as they had, they had to skimp out on some of the bells and whistles like automation. Who do you send e-mails to? The FCC? Obviously they don't what the stations are doing out there because I have still yet to hear about any station getting slapped with any fines. I guess they realised this still is experimental. You guys should feel lucky. I have heard of stations that are transmitting black signal. After all the FCC just said that some sort of signal was to be transmitted, they didn't say any pictures or video or sound had to be included.

[P a u l]

now I know why this is the "cheese" state, because theres plenty of whining here.

[Kevin Arnold]

Paul, I don't understand your response.  Joseph S. has a point about the problem of passing through the HD signal.  Most stations would welcome the feedback to help improve the presentation of their product.  Becoming angry at your viewers helps no one and causes bad feelings that need not be there.  I am truly sorry that you think this is whining but this board strives to be as fair and accurate as possible and the first post is just that.  If you check some of the other threads you will find that Todd W. has offered to be a contact person for just this type of thing.  Please look at this posting as constructive, not whining.

[Todd Wiedemann]

Paul, and everyone else ...

Regarding the email Joe S. sends; it's to me. If you refer to this link, you'll see that an e-mail to my alpha pager is one of the methods of contact for technical issues.

It seems that you have some sort of chip on your shoulder regarding technical issues. No one is pointing fingers; assigning blame in any way. Joe says:

Why can't the switch always be "flipped?" and Why isn't there an automated solution in place?

I've seen the switch myself, when I toured last month. It's just that, a switch. Master control is responsible for that, as well as about a million other things. That's why Dave Kaylor, Director of Engineering at WISN12, asked for this group's help. Master control can be a crazy place, at times.

Perhaps there is a way to automate the process. Reality is that WISN12 doesn't have it, yet.

Paul, if you take issue with something a member of this group posts, please notify myself or one of the other admin/mods. All of my contact info can be found in the above referenced link. Please, let's refrain from 'playground' commentary.

Joe, thanks for the page last night. I was dialing MC when the picture flipped.

I've been holding off on the story of my tour last month, first due to the Super Bowl, and have been just plain busy.

Quickly, and not to get off-topic, Dave Kaylor and WISN12 are doing a fine job delivering ABC's HD to us. Glitches occur.

Let's just smile and enjoy the fact that it was 'switched' for the pool scene

[Joseph S]

Thanks for the response and thanks Todd for taking and explaining the emails. What exactly is the switch for?

For example, last night the Pro Bowl was on. My assumption was that this came from a national feed. Why would this not be on the same side of the switch as Alias and Dragnet? I guess I'm confused as to what's on side A and what's on side B. My thoughts were A is all local such as news and syndicated programming whereas B is all national + HD passthru.

NBC(TMJ) used to turn on the HD signal around the time of the  5-6pm news, but I never heard of a "switch" besides that being involved. I guess it boils down to the question of: Does ABC nationally only have HD on switch B whereas NBC and CBS nationally have analog on side A and both on Side B?

[Todd Wiedemann]

My non-broadcast engineer understanding is this:

SD programs and HD programs come from two different places.

Since the Pro Bowl was not HD, the switch was on the 'upconvert SD material' side. They had to throw it over to broadcast the HD source on the HD channel.

I believe that all the broadcasters function this way. If you look over at some of the other 'local' threads on AVS you'll see that many of 'us' are contacting Master Control and asking for switch flippage.

:cool:

Here's an example, toward the bottom of the page ...