WEWB-DT (WB) Now Broadcasting

[MasterFX1]

I'm told that WEWB-DT is now up and running OTA-only on 43-2.

[Skaggs]

MasterFX1 said:

I'm told that WEWB-DT is now up and running OTA-only on 43-2.

I have it on 43-1. The Mets game is on now. I have yet to see any HD content.

[Skaggs]

While I have yet to see any HD content, the signal strength has been moving between only 25% to 33%. I am able to pick up the station without any problems here in Guilderland.

[MasterFX1]

It seems the channel mapping has been moved to 45-1, however when I get weak signal it sometimes maps to 43-2.

I've seen some HD content on, the PQ looked real good. The Mets coverage was not HD though.

[budgetguy]

Are they broadcasting at full strength yet??? I'm not getting good reception at all...generally 20-25% signal strength and poor signal quality.

[MasterFX1]

No high power yet, just low power for now...

My indoor antenna, in my basement theater can get WRGB-DT, WNYT-DT and WMHT-DT just fine, I can see WEWB-DT register on the signal strength meter, but there's just not enough signal in the basement to pull it in.

Based on my results with the other broadcasters, I would guess it will come in when they switch to high power.

I haven't put up a real antenna yet (which will probably pull in the signal at low power), because I'm going to have VOOM do it for free when I get the nerve to sign up with them.

It's worth noting that WEWB-DT is the only local broadcaster that is not currently dividing its digital bandwidth.

[budgetguy]

Hey Master:
Speaking of splitting the digital signal are you aware of USDTV and the efforts by Emmis Broadcasting Corp that basically would allow OTA stations to utilize their extra channels to broadcast a signal that when decoded at home by consumers would provide a significant number of "cable channels" (e.g. CNN, ESPN, TNT, USA etc etc)..as well as all local OTA HD signals? When I learned about this I realized that the Ch 6 and Ch 13 issues with TWC will not end soon....justifiably these stations are gonna hold out to see if they can effectively "monetize" their multicast capabilities in some other way and perhaps even attempt to compete with TWC....can't blame 'em one bit. I've actually changed my mind on the subject...if anyone's the villain here its the laisezz faire clowns in the Bush administration/FCC that are unwilling to establish parameters for the digital TV transmisstion market...if you don't have rules and you have a new/evolving or not well understood product you basically have NO MARKET!!!

Anyway, enough economics...check out the USDTV website (you can google for it) this service currently offered only out west in two or three cities, also check out the Emmis Broadcasting Website and look for the press release associated with that Co's "broadcast initiative"...Interesting stuff!!!

[MasterFX1]

Way off thread topic, but OK...

I'm quite aware of USDTV. I have mixed feelings about it. Any network affiliate choosing to rob bandwidth from thier HD feed to provide other channels is doing their viewers a great dis-service in knowingly not providing the best PQ available to its customers on the primary HD feed. Currently, only WEWB-DT is passing the HD feed through at Maximum Bandwidth.

It's worth noting that bandwidth alone is not the final say in PQ, every station uses a different encoder, they all have different compression results. WMHT's encoder is very expensive, so even though they only give the HD around 15Mb/s (Out of total of 19.3Mb/s) it looks very good because of their really high end encoder. Another station, using a cheaper encoder, could give their HD more than 15Mb/s but still not look as good.

Getting back to USDTV's scheme, stations like PAX stations, for the most part, have no intention of offering a PAX-HD... these types of stations and other independents (no network affiliation-none at High-Power in this market) seem to have unutilized bandwidth. I would love to see our local PAX stick it to TWC by offering ESPN-HD OTA.