News:

If your having any issues logging in, please email admin@milwaukeehdtv.org with your user name, and we'll get you fixed up!

Main Menu
Menu

Show posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.

Show posts Menu

Topics - ArgMeMatey

#1
On/Off Topic Chit-Chat / RDS CT on Milwaukee FM radio
Sunday Oct 02, 2016, 02:55:30 PM
I got a new car stereo for my old car.  It's a Kenwood and offers HD and analog reception of FM.  

However the "Time Sync" function has not "synced" yet to automatically set the clock.  Supposedly this looks at the RDS CT field and sets the clock based on what it sees there.  I can't find any specifics about whether any Milwaukee stations using RDS are filling the CT field.  Or, whether local HD Radio broadcasters are providing the digital equivalent.  

If you can shed some light on this, please post.  Thanks.
#2
Latest News / Signal ISP Wireless - anybody got tech details?
Wednesday Jun 01, 2016, 07:28:36 AM
100 Mbps for $50, presumably plus tax, in the Milwaukee area, from Ethoplex (Germantown) aka Signal ISP.  

Do they charge installation or deposit, radio rental?  

I'm interested in exactly what they are installing for residential customers, as well as the tower locations to determine azimuth.

Please post if you have any technical details on the radios, electrical power, and transmission medium from the radio to my router.  

http://www.jsonline.com/business/local-firm-launches-ultrafast-residential-internet-service-b99735427z1-381423881.html

http://www.signalisp.com/urban-internet/

http://www.ethoplex.com/

The FAQs are definitely consumer grade ... :)
http://www.signalisp.com/customer-support/faqs/
#3
Will a DPC2100r2 cable modem work with Time Warner's Extreme Internet in this market?

I've had the 15 Mbps "Standard" Internet service from Time Warner for years.  I've been doing my annual "retention" calls lately, and today accepted their offer of an upgrade to "Extreme" 30 Mbps for $39.99 per month plus tax.  

I was assured by the retention rep that my old DPC2100r2 cable modem would work with Extreme.  I am loathe to invest in a new cable modem until there's some resolution with the corporate acquisition.  

The new rate goes into effect near the end of this month when my previous program rate expires, so presumably I've got some time to prepare if anybody can answer with experience or knowledge.  Thanks in advance.
#4
Just wondering if getting a newer modem with better channel capacity, for example SB6183, would have fewer slowdowns in this market during peak evening hours, than my relatively old DPC2100r2.  If I remember correctly, the DPC2100r2 is only good to 25 or 50 Mbps but the SB6183 is rated up to 300 Mbps.  

If you have any experience, please share.  Thanks.
#5
On/Off Topic Chit-Chat / Time Warner backup power standards
Friday Aug 30, 2013, 08:32:15 PM
Does Time Warner have any standards for backup power in SE Wisconsin?  

Have you ever had a "total neighborhood" power failure and NOT had your TW internet go out?  

Earlier this week we had a neighborhood outage that lasted a bit less than two hours.  My wireless router & cable modem are on a UPS and never lost power, but my cable modem could not communicate with upstream equipment at Time Warner for the duration.  

That led me to wonder whether they have backup batteries in any of the Alpha power supplies and any other utility-powered equipment located in the field.
#6
Milwaukee HDTV Technical Issues / WITI (Fox 6) Tower Work?
Friday Aug 30, 2013, 09:53:59 AM
I noticed barricades and equipment laid out on the grass at the WITI tower site at Capitol Dr & Estabrook Pkwy this morning.  What are they up to?
#7
On/Off Topic Chit-Chat / DOCSIS 3 modems in MKE market
Wednesday Apr 17, 2013, 03:40:33 PM
Looking for your opinions and info.  

I read something about DOCSIS 3 modems giving better performance at peak hours due to better channel bonding capability.  Is this a relevant factor in the Milwaukee market?  Currently I've got an old Cisco that I bought to replace my leased Cisco.  

Previous threads have mentioned arcane technical problems with the SB6141 while asserting that the Ubee as well as the Zoom 5341J are superior.  

Another concern is that if problems do arise with the firmware of the CPE, neither the manufacturer nor Time Warner will upgrade it.  

Thanks in advance.
#8
I re-scanned today and found that my WMVS channels (10.1, .2, .3, .4) appeared to be duplicated on 10.11, .12, .13, .14.  This is on both my Samsung TV and Windows Media Center.  Any idea why?  

On WMC the PSIP names are

10.1 WMVS-DT
10.2 WMVS-DT2
10.3 WMVS-DT3
10.4 WMVS-DT4

10.11 WMVS HD
10.12 World
10.13 V-me
10.14 Weather
#9
On/Off Topic Chit-Chat / MPTV tower work in progress
Saturday Jun 09, 2012, 07:22:57 PM
I noticed this week that there is some yellow latticework and what looks like a new antenna going up on the SW leg of the MPTV/American Tower Company tower on Humboldt.  

Who can tell me what they're doing and what the yellow thing is called?  Thanks.
#10
On/Off Topic Chit-Chat / Cable modem TW is supplying?
Friday Mar 16, 2012, 04:29:58 PM
What cable modem is Time Warner currently supplying in the MKE area?  

I am considering switching to TW internet (no TV, no phone) and after the six months "free" modem deal is up I might buy a modem.  TW supports the SB6141, which is DOCSIS 3.0, but it's not widely available and about $90.  

What's the cheap alternative that just works, no frills?
#11
On/Off Topic Chit-Chat / Faster reception than standard RG6!
Tuesday Oct 18, 2011, 08:22:11 AM
I noticed in this week's Menards ad that they are selling 100' RG6 Quad Shield that offers "3 times faster reception than standard RG6 coaxial".  (301-3777, page 9)

Impressive.  How exactly does that work, by the way?  ;)

http://menards.inserts2online.com/loadServletXml.jsp?adId=38747&showFlash=true
#12
I am wondering how many of you Time Warner subscribers still find value in their analog service, even if you have HD from them.  

And does anybody have any idea what percentage of TW subscribers use analog in addition to HD?  

I've figured that Time Warner's niche, which other providers can't touch, is that you can subscribe to their HD on one or two TVs and get by with analog (and HD locals) on the rest of the TVs in the house.  I would have thought that this keeps some unknown number of people from moving to UVerse or satellite.  

As we've discussed before, as the number of analog-only subscribers dwindles, they have been re-allocating bandwidth from analog to other services.  Just wondering if subscribers are saying "uncle".  

I got a cynical chuckle out of TW's PR person quoted in Dudek's column earlier this week.  I commented there.  
http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/tvradio/123205893.html
#13
Latest News / TMJ4 - Dish negotiations
Saturday Apr 30, 2011, 11:15:08 PM
In their FAQs (http://jbganswers.com/faq.html), TMJ says Dish is paying TMJ about $0.01 per day per sub.  TMJ proposed an increase so the aggregate would be under $0.03 at the end of the new agreement.  

Any guesses on Dish's subscriber counts in this market?  All of the Journal Broadcast Group markets?  Can somebody check my math?

Assuming Dish subscribers are all paying $6 per month for locals:
Per sub:  $6 per month * 12 months = $72 per year
$72 per year / 365 days = $0.20 per day

Now JBG is getting:  $0.01 per day

Under JBG's proposal: $0.03 per day

So how many Milwaukee (for profit) broadcasters?
4, 6, 12, 18&24, 55, 49&58 = 6

Let's say they're all getting $0.01 per day now.  

6 owners * $0.01 each = $0.06 per day, 30% of Dish's gross

Let's say they all propose going from $0.01 to $0.03:

6 owners * $0.03 each = $0.18 per day, 91% of Dish's gross

Uh oh.  That ain't gonna work out too well.  Somebody's gonna have to take less money, or somebody's gonna have to pay more.  I wonder who will lose out in this deal?  ;)
#14
Milwaukee HDTV Programming / TW Lineup changes
Thursday Oct 21, 2010, 01:21:50 PM
From Time Warner SE WI's legal page
http://www.timewarnercable.com/Wisconsin/learn/programming/legalnotices/legalnoticeSE.html

Starting on or about November 16, 2010, digital equipment will be needed to view Oxygen.  Oxygen will continue to be part of the Standard Cable package but will only be viewable with digital cable ready equipment such as a digital set-top box or a CableCARD-equipped Unidirectional Digital Cable Product ("UDCP"). At that time, the channel location for Oxygen in the standard lineup will change to 73, Bravo will move to channel 45 in the Metro Milwaukee and Racine/Kenosha lineups and BET will move to channel 45 in Plymouth and Cleveland lineups.

So here's what I'm wondering.  Currently on Ch. 73, 516-522 MHz, I don't think there's anything, but I haven't checked recently.  They are not trapping that range out for Basic subscribers even though they won't tell anyone that.  

So if it's part of "standard cable" but does require "digital equipment", are they saying they're putting Oxygen on Clear QAM?  Or that they're changing it to 73 and encrypting it?  I thought "standard" could go straight into the back of the TV.  

Does standard just mean "You get all the analog stuff, you get locals in Clear QAM, and you get a bunch of digital stuff that you won't be able to see unless you pay monthly $7.95 for a converter or $2.50 for a cable card"?
#15
Milwaukee HDTV Equipment / DigiTenna Metro soffit mounting?
Saturday Oct 16, 2010, 01:26:47 PM
Anybody got a review of the DigiTenna Metro (aka DUV-Metro, DUV-M)?  

I am 0.6 mi SE of the WITI-6 tower.  Looks small enough to try on the soffit (18.5 x 33").  Closest trees are probably 35 feet away.  The spec sheet says 4.9 dB on Ch. 10 and 5.5 dB on Ch. 51.   Plan B is to put it on the roof, where I have clear line of sight to all towers.  

I thought maybe the indoor rabbit ear/UHF loop combos would be good enough but the WAF is below threshold.  

What about lightning?  I am thinking I would use an RG-6 with ground and connect the ground wire to my electric ground which is right next to the TV amp in the basement.  

Any comments or suggestions welcome.  Thanks.
#16
So much for full rate HD from MPTV.  

http://onmilwaukee.com/movies/articles/mptvshuffle.html
#17
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2009/data/AB-721.pdf

Requires more support from providers for PEG programming.  

Allows up to a 1% fee collected by municipalities, "for the purpose" of supporting PEG.  This appears to be different from other fees currently collected by municipalities, which can go into the general fund.  

I haven't read through the whole thing yet.
#18
My neighbor has suddenly lost MPTV 10-1 & 36-1 thru 36-8 audio & video on Time Warner Clear QAM.  All other Clear QAM and analog are normal.  

Her TV is automatically receiving the channel info for all of the MPTV channels when scanning ("10-1 MPTV-HD" etc.).  So when tuning to those channels, she sees the proper channel number and channel name, but a blue screen and no audio.  

We both have the same "Basic" cable plan and mine is working fine.  
I can't see if the traps on the aerial splitter are the same, but they are right next to each other in those plastic sheaths.  
She had a guy out from Time Warner who told her she'd only get those in digital if she got a digital converter, so besides being unable to find her house with the address and a GPS unit, he seemed clueless about Clear QAM as well.  He did not check on the pole, he just ran auto scan on the TV and got the same result I did.

I tried a factory reset and re-scan but got the same results.  

Does anybody know what RF channels Time Warner is using for Clear QAM channels?  Any other ideas?
#19
Latest News / Wisconsin Assembly Bill 606 introduced
Wednesday Dec 09, 2009, 11:29:16 AM
Let your rep know if you have an opinion on AB606, which was introduced in Madison yesterday.  It changes a bunch of regulatory, PEG and other stuff, although I haven't read it yet.  Please post any interpretations you have.  

http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2009/data/AB-606.pdf
#20
I'm not sure if this still qualifies as news among this group, but I noticed on the back of this week's TV Cue that the Journal Sentinel is making TV Cue an extra-cost a la carte option.  I didn't do an exhaustive search but I hadn't seen this mentioned anywhere.  

"The new and improved TV Cue will be will be provided free of charge to current TV Cue subscribers for the remainder of 2009.  Beginning January 3, 2010, you can continue to receive TVCue for just an additional 25¢ per week."


I guess they'll get a useful statistic, at least:  The percentage of current takers who are willing to pay extra for it.