KFOR-DT in the Ice Storm
Brandon Black writes:
Does anyone have any information on why KFOR-DT 4-1 in OKC is on the fritz the last 3 weeks? I can get a signal every once in awhile but as of last night and this morning there is nothing coming from the tower. I live 5 miles from the antenna farm and have a large antenna in the attic. Just want to make sure its not my equipment.
Note: I’m not sure if this is the problem Brandon is talking about, but KFOR-DT hasn’t shown any HD programming since the ice storm started about 10 days ago.
KFOR has been showing closings ad nauseum since the ice storm.
I was stuck in Kansas City for 5 days during the storm with my Macbook and EyeTV Hybrid, and noticed a few interesting things about the state of DT there (and illustrating the sad state of DT in the Oklahoma City market):
1. If a program was in HD, they showed it in HD during the storm, only showing closings during commercials with the commercial in a shrunk screen. During non-HD programs closings ran all the time.
2. Any syndicated programming that is available in HD (Wheel of Fortune/Jeopardy, etc) is shown in HD there. This shows more commitment to HD than here in Oklahoma City.
3. ALL stations were transmitting complete PSIP programming and guide information. Several OKC stations still refuse to put this in their signal even though I think the FCC requires it. Again showing more HD commitment.
4. KC’s TBN station’s programming, subchannels identical to the ones they show here, had audio that was coming from the CORRECT speakers, not only from the rear channels or one channel only. With all the billions TBN has at their disposal, you would think they would end this silly practice.
5. The major stations’ subchannels are still there, they haven’t turned them off like Sinclair has in the OKC market.
I won’t even start on the whole “Ice Storm 2007″ thing. I think the stations need to pony up and buy some HD character-generation equipment so they can show whatever it is they feel they need to show IN HD over their DTV signal.
I know here in Oklahoma we have some sort of weather map or crawl 7 out of 12 months of the year. Given all the money they spend on upgrading their doppler radars and everything else, it would seem they were keen on getting the same thing for their HD signals.
BTW ggore, are you going to be at the NCTC conference in Vegas next week?
No, I can’t make it to Vegas this time. I went to Macworld in SF to check out new HD tuners for Macs this year instead. Seems that Miglia is coming out in February with a new tuner that does ClearQAM and analog. Finally an alternative to the EyeTV500. Give the folks from HITS and Motorola hell for me this time, it’s about time they get HITS QuickTake Plus out to market, they’ve tested it long enough!!!
I’ll sure do it. QT+ is just a joke. Two years now and still going….
Yes, there’s NO WAY I can afford $40,000 for the NAS-RAC setup. I’m really interested in the total digital thing that Bill Bauer is working on that is much cheaper.