News 4 TV Tech Talk

Moving to a new home...

2008-12-09T19:27:00.001-05:00

We are migrating posts from this site to a new one. Please follow the links on wivb.com's DTV information page to TV Tech Talk.

If you're a fan of statistics...

2008-11-13T13:57:00.001-05:00

New consumer research from Leichtman Research Group found that 34% of U.S. households have at least one HDTV set, about double the percentage of households that had such TVs two years ago.

See the entire story from Multichannel News.

Flat panels slipping

2008-11-11T09:23:00.002-05:00

It has been reported recently that delivery of Flat Panel television sets to retailers has declined during the third quarter of 2008. This includes plasma and LED displays. While it’s not surprising that, given the current economic conditions there is a tapering off of demand for these products, what is of concern is that most of the data collected came from before the late September melt-down. Has the blush worn off?

See the full story here.

Counting down...

2008-11-05T12:17:00.003-05:00

We will reach a significant milestone on Monday, November 10, 2008. On that day we will be 99 days away from the end of traditional analog television.

As a reminder on Monday, and every day until the analog shutdown, you’ll see a graphic on your screen at times during the day showing this countdown as we progress towards February 17, 2009.

The purpose, of course, is to raise awareness about the transition to digital television. There are still many households in the area that are unprepared for the switch for whatever reason: be it a lack of a converter or digital TV set, an untested converter, inadequate antenna system, or simply being unaware of the coming change. WIVB, WNLO, and all the local stations, are trying hard to get the information out there.

This is a test...

2008-11-04T13:08:00.002-05:00

You should know that all local television stations in the Buffalo market will cooperate in a "soft" analog shutdown test in December and again in January. While not actually turning off our transmitters, the analog channel of each station will broadcast a graphic message saying in effect, "If you can read this message, you need to take steps to be able to use your television after February 17, 2009." The digital signal will not be affected and if you see normal programming, you need not worry.

The tests will run on December 15, 2008 at 6:28 PM and on January 15, 2009 at 7:58 PM. All the local stations are participating along with local cable companies and satellite providers.

There will be a phone bank set up to field questions from concerned viewers.
The telephone number to call will be broadcast during the test.

It is critical to contact your provider, and us, if you see the test message and are a cable, FIOS or satellite subscriber. If you do indeed see the message and are a subscriber to any of these services and DO NOT use an antenna on your set it indicates there is a problem with delivery of the proper signal at your provider's end.

Antenna tips

2008-10-23T16:39:00.004-04:00

If you are a cable customer temporarily using an antenna with a DTV converter, you may want to look at these tips.

There are several ways to attach an antenna and DTV converter to your set depending on how it is wired right now:

- Do you have an HD cable set top box presently? If so, you are probably using a cable called “HDMI” to connect to your set. If that is the case, you can leave the wiring in place and simply attach the rabbit ears cable to the “antenna” connector on your set. Then use your remote to select between HDMI and Antenna. You must then do a channel scan to find the channels available to your set.

- Do you have a non-HD cable set top box? If so, you may be using the audio and video (or S Video) cables to feed your set for the best quality picture. Here again, just attach the rabbit ears to your set’s antenna connector. Use the remote to select between Video In and Antenna and do the channel scan. If you do not use the audio/video cables but instead use the "RF" cable output, see the next paragraph.

- The most basic connection you may have is just the cable company's cable going directly into your set’s antenna connector. If this is the case, you will want to purchase an “A-B Switch” to make selecting the rabbit ears or cable TV easier. The switch will have three connectors on it: “Input A”, “Input B” and “Output” or sometimes labeled “To Set”. You would connect your cable TV wire to Input A, the rabbit ears to Input B and a short wire from the output to the antenna connector on your TV. You can then select which you want to watch by the switch, remembering that you must do the channel scan when you initially install the switch.

- One other thing to watch for is the setting for your set's tuner. If you previously had cable connected to your TV without a set-top box, you likely had to go into your set's menu and make a selection called "CATV" or "Cable". This will have to be changed to a setting that may be called "Antenna" or "Standard" or something like that. This is necessary because cable TV channels in the UHF range are not the same frequency as over-the-air broadcast channels. We've heard from several viewers who couldn't find WNLO, Channel 23 for this reason. Remember to change this setting again when returning to cable TV.

As you can see, we keep stressing the channel scan. This ultimately will enable you to watch the local stations with your rabbit ears so it is important that this is done.

Turn on those converters!

2008-10-17T14:51:00.002-04:00

One of the most frequent questions we hear is, "Are you transmitting in digital yet?". The answer is a resounding yes. WIVB as well as the other major stations in Buffalo have been operating with the new digital transmitters for several years now (WIVB since June of 2002).

Surprisingly, a lot of people have converters in their homes that have never been tested. We always encourage everyone we talk to about converters to get the coupon, get the converter and get it on line as soon as possible. You don't want to be scrambling to fire it up on February 18th when you get nothing but snow on your analog set. And if you are in need of an outdoor antenna, you certainly don't want to be on your roof when the real snow is flying.

Viewer awareness

2008-10-17T13:28:00.002-04:00

A new study from the Consumers Union shows that 93% of consumers are aware of the upcoming DTV transition but many are unaware that more action is needed on their part to continue to watch TV after February 17th. Read the article here.

We are making progress with the DTV education campaign but there is more work to be done.

Lessons learned

2008-10-14T16:50:00.002-04:00

By now you may have heard that Wilmington, NC has turned off the analog transmitters in an early test of the preparedness of the market's viewers. For the most part all went well but a couple of lessons were learned in the process.

Apparently the weakest link in the transition was with antennas. Related to this was the fact that many viewers had their converter boxes but never turned them on to test them.

We've been suggesting all along that viewers get the converters early and get accustomed to using them. If an outdoor antenna is found to be needed, it would be more pleasant to put one up in good weather than in the cold of February.

So, make sure you are ready for the conversion. Get your coupons, buy your converters, test your equipment and antennas.

Thanks for stopping by

2008-08-21T09:22:00.002-04:00

We had a great time talking to all the folks who stopped in the Channel 4 building at the county fair. There were some interesting questions and comments. It's good to see our viewers are taking the digital transition seriously.

CBS News makes digital transition

2008-07-29T00:34:00.001-04:00

"Taste of DTV" a success

2008-07-22T10:10:00.003-04:00

We were pleased by the interest shown in digital television at the DTV booth during the Taste of Buffalo event. We spoke to many people who were looking for information and wanted to see the stunning images on the HDTV display as well as an operating digital converter box. Many were reassured that as cable or satellite subscribers they didn't have to worry about the transition next February.

Digital converter boxes are in demand

2008-07-22T10:05:00.000-04:00

Do you have your digital converter set top box yet? Apparently they are flying off the shelves in some communities.

Read more here.

Beware of digital converter scams

2008-07-11T13:39:00.002-04:00

This is interesting. It seems that a company is offering free DTV converters. The catch? You have to purchase a "warranty" for $59 and pay shipping and handling, bringing the cost of the "free" converter to about $100. Complete details here.

It reminds us that as consumers we have to look at the fine print and be aware.

Canadian regulators get tough on broadcasters

2008-06-27T16:15:00.002-04:00

Canadian officials are reminding broadcasters and viewers alike that the end of analog broadcast TV is coming. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has set August 31, 2011 as the drop-dead date for analog to go dark and they are taking a firm stand on that date. (See http://tinyurl.com/6ahazv for a more complete discussion. Scroll down to “Digital Transition”.)

Since we have so many Canadian sports fans in this area, over-the-air (OTA) reception using your analog set WILL be affected. After the 2011 date your choices will be limited to digital OTA reception via an HD set (or converter) or cable subscription. You should be aware, however, that the Canadian broadcasters seem to be running lower power on their digital transmitters and reception in the Buffalo area will be difficult. The dedicated OTA sports viewer will likely need to put up a large rooftop antenna. For the time being, watching Canadian TV with a digital converter will require one with an analog pass through.

How to find a converter

2008-06-23T13:52:00.002-04:00

Some of us here at the station have noted that there is not an overwhelming supply of DTV converters in stores around Buffalo. If you’re having difficulty finding a converter locally, please remember that you are not limited to brick and mortar stores. There are a number of online retailers that sell coupon-eligible converters.

While we will NOT recommend any particular brand (we have not had hands-on experience with more than one or two), searching the internet will point you to several sites that rate and compare models, including Consumer Reports.

Here is a link to a chart showing where to find converters online: http://tinyurl.com/38mobj. Again, we are not recommending a retailer or manufacturer but simply providing a link to information.

Happy hunting.

Some disturbing facts

2008-06-18T14:44:00.002-04:00

We’re hearing that the transition to DTV is not progressing as everyone had hoped according to some government agencies.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) said that nearly half of the households that could lose TV service when analog service goes away are still unprepared for the switch. About 84 percent of consumers are aware of the coming transition but many don’t know what they need to do to maintain uninterrupted service. More than half surveyed knew of the converter coupon program but two-thirds of these people didn’t know how to obtain a coupon.

The Washington Post reported that some viewers who didn’t need converters said they were ready to apply for coupons. Confusion exists even though we and other broadcasters have been trying to raise public awareness of the issue.

As far as the coupons go, the agency responsible for the program said that of the 800,000 coupons distributed so far, about 40 percent have not been redeemed.

Here’s where you can help your family and neighbors by spreading the word. Help us make them aware of the coming changes and take them seriously. Those needing converters should apply soon and remember that they carry an expiration date.

Viewers are concerned

2008-06-03T16:40:00.003-04:00

It's encouraging to see that our viewers are taking the digital conversion seriously. We are averaging about 10 calls and emails a day with inquiries, usually regarding the digital converters. And we expect this to increase as we get nearer to February 2009. Below is a quick guide to setting up your converter:

Tips for receiving digital signals from WIVB and WNLO with a converter

- The digital signal for channels 4 and 23 are actually on channels 39 and 32 respectively. These are UHF channels, so make sure your antenna is compatible.
- An old antenna generally is not desirable. If there are broken elements or the cable is in poor condition, you will not have good results with a digital signal.
- Point your antenna at our tower in Colden NY for WIVB. The transmitter site is directly south of East Aurora.
- Point your antenna at our tower in Grand Island NY for WNLO. This is slightly NW of the city of Buffalo.
- After aiming your antenna and powering up the converter and TV, you must perform a channel scan. Instructions for this are in the owner’s manual that came with the converter.
- If you are suddenly missing one or more channels a channel scan will most likely restore them.

Coupon program corrections

2008-05-21T14:43:00.002-04:00

There are two areas where the DTV converter coupon program has failed over-the-air TV viewers: people using Post Office boxes and residents of nursing homes. Neither has been able to take advantage of the program because of the way the law was written. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration is now addressing these shortcomings. The NTIA has started the process of making this right and is seeking comment from interested parties to correct the law.

As is stands now, nursing home residents are not considered heads of households and therefore disqualified from the program. The new guidelines would change this and also allow persons other than the applicant to obtain the coupons. Currently, people can apply only on their own behalf. This would help those in nursing homes.

The proposed ruling would also tackle the issue of PO boxes and allow proof of residency from a utility bill, for example, to verify home addresses and allow these residents to receive coupons.

Did you apply for your converter coupons yet? As of today, May 21st, there are slightly over 272 days left to the analog shutdown.

Stayed tuned, we’ll pass along more information as we get it.

Not ready for prime time?

2008-05-15T14:12:00.002-04:00

If you recall we recently praised the promise of better HD displays with sets using the organic LED (OLED) technology. It turns out that the accolades may be a bit premature for at least one manufacturer. Tests by an independent research firm called DisplaySearch have revealed that the Sony XEL-1 model has some problems.

There is noticeable degradation of brightness after about 1000 hours of use. This projects to losing about half of the original quality by 17,000 hours which is about five years of typical use. Sony says that the brightness issue has been addressed in its latest version of the TV.

Given the current high cost of the technology, it’s pretty safe to assume that these won’t be finding their way into local family rooms anytime soon.

Early warning

2008-05-12T17:01:00.001-04:00

In a full scale test of Digital Television readiness, it was announced recently that the Wilmington, North Carolina market will make an early transition to all digital TV. The analog shutdown will occur on September 8, 2008 instead of next February. The only circumstance that would prevent the early cutover would be weather. September is in the middle of the Atlantic hurricane season.

Wilmington is one of many markets where all stations are on their final channel and at full power. The area is heavily promoting the coming DTV transition so the public should be totally aware of the coming changes.

One aspect of the early transition will be to reveal any unforeseen problems in the cutover. We will all be watching closely to see how it goes in Wilmington.

We get calls and letters

2008-05-09T15:45:00.001-04:00

We are hearing from a lot of viewers lately who are having difficulties receiving WIVB or WNLO with their new DTV converter boxes. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Depending on your proximity to our transmitter towers, you may get away with an indoor antenna but in a lot of cases you’ll need to install an outdoor one. Obviously, if you live in the city or immediate suburbs, an indoor antenna will most likely suffice. The farther you get from our towers, however, the more likely you’ll need an outdoor antenna. An antenna professional can help with this.

I’ll pass along an interesting story. I had a viewer call recently where the caller had trouble receiving WIVB-DT with an indoor antenna in an area where reception should have been solid. I went down the list of likely remedies but nothing worked. I finally handed off the call to our transmitter engineer and he discovered that the caller lived in an aluminum sided house with a steel roof. There was no way the over-the-air signal could penetrate that kind of shield!

The moral here is to be aware of what you are trying to achieve. If you’re 30 miles or more away from the transmitter an indoor antenna may not work well enough.

New features

2008-04-28T15:57:00.003-04:00

At least one television manufacturer has announced some interesting features in upcoming high definition models.

LG is equipping some future models with a built-in DivX player and a hard disk to use in time-shifting.

The DivX feature will play back legally encoded movies through a USB port making it handy to plug in a thumb drive and enjoy a movie.

The 80 Gigabyte hard drive will allow for time-shifting programs and also backing up recorded material via the USB port.

Look for more unique features popping up in future HDTV sets.

Get your coupons

2008-04-25T14:38:00.003-04:00

We're hearing from a lot of viewers these days who have already obtained their digital set-top converters. If this is any indication of nationwide activity, the coupons are going fast.

If you are planning to apply for a coupon, don't wait too long. Remember it takes at least a month to receive the coupons and then you have 90 days to redeem them.

Get help and apply online for your coupon here: https://www.dtv2009.gov/ or call 1-888-DTV-2009.

More HDTV sets in homes

2008-04-25T14:32:00.002-04:00

Multichannel News is reporting an upswing in HDTV sales.

It’s said that 5.5 million households have purchased their first HD set in December and January, during the 2007-2008 holiday and Super Bowl season. An online survey says that 28 million households in the US now own at least one HDTV set. Also more than 3 million homes have added a second HD set bringing the total of homes that have 2 or more HDTV’s to about 10 million.

Frank N. Magid Associates, who conducted the survey, credits falling prices and the coming digital transition for the surge in sales.

Another tidbit: 4 out of 10 current HDTV owners plan to purchase an additional HD set in the next year.