TWC Out of Sync!

[gb4fan92]

I have never seen this question posted so I am asking. Has anyone else noticed the local channels on digital 504,505,506 & 512 are delayed by 3 to 5 seconds over the analog channels? Often I watch the news on digital and when I go to the kitchen for supper and watch I can hear and see the delay. This is nothing new ss i noticed this long ago. I was just wondering if its only me or everyone? If everyone is TWC looking to get these channels in sync??

[Tom Snyder]

I have set up TV's so that I have one with An analog local on TWC, DirecTV and OTA, and the same Digital channel OTA and on TWC...  no two of them are identical..  some by as much as 4 seconds...

It takes a few seconds to process the digital signal, so I think the only way they could synch it would be for them to delay the OTA analog.. kinda like WTMJ radio does to make sure the radio play-by-play is in synch with the TV signal (they get vicous complainats whenever it doesn't match up from the people who turn down the sound on TV and listen to TMJ's coverage).

[mhz40]

There is an inherent 3-5 second delay when encoding analog pictures to digital.  TW may add an additional second or so during the processing of the mpeg stream.
Funny thing about what is actually considered live, huh?  My guess is 'live' feeds are about 10-12 seconds past live in most cases, due to satellite and encoding delays.  The DVR's & Tivos add another few seconds to the delay as well.

So is it live, mpeg or memorex?

[Gregg Lengling]

This is also true when comparing the same program from an standard Directv box to an HD Box.  I know when we have multiple tv's on in the house with the same local channel on from Directv that you can hear the delay between the two or more.

[Joel S]

I've noticed about as much as a 5 second delay between Direct TV and TWC.  I was on the phone the other night with a buddy watching the Bucks game and my TWC was 5 seconds or so ahead of his DTV.  I hit pause on the DVR so we would be watching the same thing.  

It really makes you wonder what is really live.

[uplinkguy]

Almost anything that is 'live' these days is delayed.  Unless the game or event leaves the venue by fiber, it starts out with a 1/2 second delay over a satellite.  Since almost every network is distributed at some point over satellite, this adds at least another 1/2 second.

The production of an event has its own delay.  Digital switchers take a frame or two to process all the cameras and other effects.  Even adding the 1st and 10 line in football adds delay to process where the line should be drawn.

Usually the audio is delayed to match the video to keep it all in sync when it reaches the network.

Even some local live shots are delayed a 1/2 second.  I know of at least one digital microwave truck used by WTMJ that delays the signal.  The reporter in the field  has to call in over the phone to hear the station and not listen off-air so not to be confused by hearing oneself with an echo.  The 'mix-minus' signal the reporter gets is every other audio source in a newscast except him or herself.

Other live events with the potential of aural or video censorship, i.e. live wrestling, are purposely delayed to block the offending signal.
So yes, somethings that are live, can be 10 seconds late or more.

Unfortunately, not enough time to place a bet with a bookie before they get the score.
andy

[John L]

My receiver gets both analog and digital and get them OTA. There is a couple second delay between the 2.  The analog is heard first, a couple seconda later you hear it on the digital.  This is normal and always will be because digital requires the signal to be processed.

So when yer watching the Packers in HDTV, when they score the touchdown the fans at Lambau Field get to see the TD before you get to see it 5 seconds later or so.  Thus the reason why its still better to go to Lambau Field to watch the Packers play instead of at home.

-John L.

[StarvingForHDTV]

Originally posted by uplinkguy
Unfortunately, not enough time to place a bet with a bookie before they get the score.
andy

Maybe one of those online bookies?  You would need a fast portable internet connection.  I'm not sure it would be possible even then.

Starving