Channel 58 HD

[chure]

If I add a Antenna-Mounted Signal Amplifier will that help me receive 58-1?

Again as previously said, I can get 4-1, 12-1, but no 58-1.  I tried to rescan to get 1-1 but it doesn't even show up on the guide.  I have an element roof mounted antenna.

Will reaiming the antenna do anything for me?  Or should I try an amplifier?

It's too late now, but would a double bowtie do what I need?

I'm getting desperate to get this to work for the game tomorrow.

[digdugm]

In Tosa, I'd say yes. But I'm no expert. If you don't have a rotor, and don't plan on getting one. I'd go with the amp.

[Arby]

Is the CBS 58 digital station (46) always broadcasting a signal?  I rarely can view anything on 1-1.  When I switch to that channel, it usually just shows the last digital channel that I was watching.  But the last couple of nights, I was able to watch digital CBS (on 1-1) for the first time since I got my HDTV a month ago.  Now during the day, today, I'm not getting it again.  I live in Muskego, and I can get a signal strength of around 60 to 66 for channel 46 (attic antenna, with a pre-amp).  Am I getting a strong enough signal?  Do they up their signal during prime time?  Are they going to be upping their signal during the Super Bowl?

[Gregg Lengling]

They transmit 24 hours a day...but are running on a STA for low power...The full licensed power is 1,000kW and right now they are only running 10kW so it's a low power signal.  Without a good outdoor antenna you probably won't get a reliable signal right now.

[Arby]

Thanks for the info.  So do you have any guesses as to why I was able to see the programs last night, but not today?  The signal strength was about the same both times.  Could it have been because it was so cold outside?  Maybe the below zero temps helped provide a cleaner signal(?)...

[Gregg Lengling]

Because it's a marginal signal...weather will make a big difference.  The lack of moisture in the air will allow the signal to go further without attentuation.  Plus changes in weather tempature layers can duct the signal in and out of the path you need to your home.  If you have a rooftop antenna, when the weather gets warmer you can try aiming it more directly. If you only have an indoor antenna you really have to play with it and then when you get the signal and sitdown you may find that where your sitting can cause signal distortion and the picture goes away.  So good luck...

[JimHall]

Dear HDTV Super Bowl Viewers:

For those of you who live in Muskego & Tosa, you should be able to pick-up our DTV signal, but there are a couple of points worth noting if you are having problems.

As Gregg has posted, we are operating at a lower power level, but I myself pick-up our station with just rabbit ears, and I live in the southwestern part of New Berlin.  However, I do need to adjust the antenna to a certain position, that  if not correct, will still allow me to pick up WTMJ & WISN, but CBS-DTV.  Your antenna needs to be perpendicular to the direction of our tower and the antenna should be parallal to the ground.   I have found that using just a plain old rabbit ear antenna fully extended and adjusted as described works best for all stations.   DTV signals are also subject to ghosting.  Ghosting in the DTV world causes the signal to go black.  You may have a good signal rating on your on-screen meter, but the ghosting signal will cause the set to go black as most receivers cannot handle two streams of data-bits.

Also, when you are adjusting the antenna, there is a lag time in when the picture may appear and very small antenna positioning changes can make a big difference in reception.

Lastly, some of you may have noticed that WYTU Telemundo-Wisconsin is off the multicast feed.   WMLW will remain on the multicast feed as well.  This is due to the fact that we must feed TWC the multicast feed for the systems in Racine and Kenosha where WMLW is now on digital channel 507.

For the Big Game today, the sound will not be in 5.1 surround sound.  We had hoped to get this worked out, but not all of our equipment arrived in a time frame that would have allowed us the time to install and test properly.  

On behalf of our station and the employees of WDJT, WMLW, & WYTU, I thank you for your viewership.

Enjoy today's game.

Jim Hall
General Manager
WDJT-TV CBS-58 & HDTV
WMLW - Means Milwaukee
WYTU Telemundo Wisconsin

[Tom Snyder]

Jim:

Thanks for your participation in our forums and using our site to communicate with your viewers.

Do you know what is causing the popping in the audio that people are reporting, and will it/can it be fixed?

[chure]

This morning 58-1 is flickering in and out with signal strength bouncing from 0 to 45 to 54% and back again.  With the roof top antenna that I have, what's the best way to get a higher signal stength?  Should I go up on the roof and adjust the direction?  Get an amp?

I really appreciate all the help.

[JimHall]

Chure;

If you live in Tosa, you should be able to receive our signal.  Amps can sometimes help and other times hurt.  If you try an amp, please make sure its for UHF channels.  Sometimes people end up buying cable amps and then end up loosing the higher end UHF channels.

If you end up with too much signal with an amp its bad too.   Also, the way the cable runs from the antenna to the set can cause problems especially if its perpendicular to the signal and has long horz. runs.

Antenna aiming is critical, and I might try using an indoor antenna in the event you cannot adjust your outdoor antenna.

As far as the audio issue, we had numerous issues yesterday with the Amber Alert.   TWC's digital boxes mute all channels audio and key in the Amber Alert.

Also, TWC picks up our DTV signal via over-the-air.  Thus, over-the-air and TWC should be the same bandwidth.  If anyone has the ability to switch between the two sources, TWC and over-the-air, I would be interested in your opinion if there are any differences.

Jim Hall
General Manager
WDJT- CBS HDTV
WMLW - Means Milwaukee
WYTU Telemundo Wisconsin

[Tom Snyder]

Jim:

I have both TWC HD and OTA...  and I can never tell the difference between the two.. audio quality and picture quality are identical.

But that means that audio popping as well... happens on both signals. Although it seems to be gone today...

Do we know when the the HD feed from CBS starts today? I find it curious that the stuff I'm watching now is on widescreen, but with black borders all around... Even if it's not in HD, it seems odd that they wouldn't just expand it to widescreen...

[SRW1000]

Jim,

I'd also like to thank you for participating in this forum, it shows a commitment and concern for your supporting viewers - which sets you apart from most of yor local competition.

I would like to know when you plan on mapping to channel 58-1, 58-2, etc.  I have a Dish Network receiver which prevents from watch your stations under the current channel 1-1 mapping.  I came up with a temporary work-around, which isn't working for me today.  Sadly, this means missing the Super Bowl, which I've been looking forward to for months.

Scott

[Tom Snyder]

Hey SRW... can you just turn off the mapping and select channel 46?

[chure]

Jim, Tom, and all others that helped,

I'm up and running... I went up on the roof (in snow and cold!) and replaced the old antenna transformer that connects the antenna to the cable and I also adjusted the direction of the antenna.  I just bought a amplifier and had that connected, and when I turned the tv on I got nothing for 4,12, and 58. So I took the amp off and now at 100% on 4-1, 12-1 and 58-1!  I'm not sure whether replacing the transformer or adjusting the direction of the antenna did the trick, but it looks awesome! Bring on the game!

Thanks for all the help guys I really appreciate it.  I (and many others I'm sure) would be lost without this forum and help of the moderators and other knowledgable people here. Thanks again.

[SRW1000]

Tom,

Unfortunately, the 811 doesn't allow for this, it's assigned channels 1-1 and 1-2 to the rear inputs of the receiver.  I don't think the Dish people were aware of the channel 1-1 problem (along with a lot of other 811 problems).  

People that have called Dish to complain have been told it's a local station issue, and that viewers are SOL.

Scott