Do my local affiliates broadcast in HD?

[GypsyChimp]

Question about HD broadcasts.

I live about 35 miles away (Kingsville, TX) from the city that broadcasts local channels (Corpus Christi, TX). I have an HR20 HD receiver. I called D* and asked them about my desire for local HD. They suggested that I use an antenna to pick up local HD broadcasts. I didn't want to have to pay for an antenna, hook it up, only to find that I can't receive HD channels because my research at HDTV Pub.com says "Sorry, no reports have been made of Over The Air reception in your Zip Code, City, County or DMA. This might mean you are too far away from all broadcast towers, or more likely, nobody in your area has submitted a report to us yet."

When I asked for a waiver to get East or West Coast HD broadcasts they said that my local Fox automatically said ok! So I got Fox right away.

I had to wait for a postcard to find out if ABC, NBC, and CBS would say ok, which they did not.

I am left with the question, do the CC, TX affiliates broadcast in HD? If not, how can I get them?

 

[raoul5788]

Question about HD broadcasts.

I live about 35 miles away (Kingsville, TX) from the city that broadcasts local channels (Corpus Christi, TX). I have an HR20 HD receiver. I called D* and asked them about my desire for local HD. They suggested that I use an antenna to pick up local HD broadcasts. I didn't want to have to pay for an antenna, hook it up, only to find that I can't receive HD channels because my research at HDTV Pub.com says "Sorry, no reports have been made of Over The Air reception in your Zip Code, City, County or DMA. This might mean you are too far away from all broadcast towers, or more likely, nobody in your area has submitted a report to us yet."

When I asked for a waiver to get East or West Coast HD broadcasts they said that my local Fox automatically said ok! So I got Fox right away.

I had to wait for a postcard to find out if ABC, NBC, and CBS would say ok, which they did not.

I am left with the question, do the CC, TX affiliates broadcast in HD? If not, how can I get them?

Have you checked the websites for the stations in question? That is the first place I would look.

 

[GypsyChimp]

HD Broadcasting for Corpus Christi

I have just sent an email to all the local stations asking if they broadcast in HD. I will keep everyone informed.

Thanks for the suggestion. It's always best to get it straight from the station.

 

[atp1313]

Gypsy - check this AVS Forum link for local CC,TX HD issues. It appears from reading the first few posts (dating back to 2004) that CC currently (again as of 2004) offers CBS, NBC, and PBS. Since this was three years ago, things have most likely improved.
Corpus Christi, TX - HDTV [Text View] - AVS Forum

 

[atp1313]

As for FOX: dated Dec 22, 2006 12:32 PM

When will KDF-FOX be available in HD?

We get a lot of e-mail from our viewers asking when KDF-FOX will be available in HD. The short answer is: It's still a few years away. Read on for the explanation why...

KDF is licensed as a Class A low-power station. During the summer of 2006, the FCC began the process to accept applications for low-power stations to apply for a digital channel. KDF has applied for its digital companion channel (FCC Database) and is awaiting approval for a construction permit.

That process is also underway for our low-power translator sites near Kingsville and Refugio. Once all the construction permits have been approved, KRIS Communications will have three years to upgrade our infrastructure for Digital TV.

The other issue is we have yet to hear from FOX Broadcast Network when KDF will receive the hardware required to receive the FOX HD signal.

KRIS Communications is committed to providing you with quality FOX programming in High Definition. Check back here often for updates as we continue our transition to digital television.

HERE IS THE LINK TO THIS STORY: Corpus Christi, TX | KRISTV.COM |When will KDF-FOX be available in HD?

 

[Jimbo]

Question about HD broadcasts.

I live about 35 miles away (Kingsville, TX) from the city that broadcasts local channels (Corpus Christi, TX). I have an HR20 HD receiver. I called D* and asked them about my desire for local HD. They suggested that I use an antenna to pick up local HD broadcasts. I didn't want to have to pay for an antenna, hook it up, only to find that I can't receive HD channels because my research at HDTV Pub.com says "Sorry, no reports have been made of Over The Air reception in your Zip Code, City, County or DMA. This might mean you are too far away from all broadcast towers, or more likely, nobody in your area has submitted a report to us yet."

When I asked for a waiver to get East or West Coast HD broadcasts they said that my local Fox automatically said ok! So I got Fox right away.

I had to wait for a postcard to find out if ABC, NBC, and CBS would say ok, which they did not.

I am left with the question, do the CC, TX affiliates broadcast in HD? If not, how can I get them?

Try this site :
AntennaWeb

Jimbo

 

[GypsyChimp]

Response from KRIS-TV Engineer

Well, I emailed every station with the same letter asking if they broadcast in HD. So far only KRIS-TV (NBC) has responded (quite quickly).

Here is exactly what he said,
"We are broadcasting in HD on physical channel 13. It will show up on you HDTV as channels 6-1 and 6-2. 6-2 is CW South Texas and is in SD. If you have an HD ready set (it has a HD tuner) you should not have any problems. You should not need a large antenna........and keep in mind an antenna is an antenna. They are not HD or SD. That is all marketing.

Everything we get from NBC is passed through in HD. We do not originate any local HD."

Well, it looks like I'm going to my local antenna store to make my house look like a 1960's nuclear-family home with my aluminum antenna.
Any suggestions on which antenna to buy?

 

[GypsyChimp]

Antenna Web is great. Thanks!

 

[Jimbo]

Antenna Web is great. Thanks!

No Problem,
When you looked at antennaweb, it also told you what directions your towers are from your physical address, it also tells you how far away they are and what direction.

You did not leave your zip so we cannot help entirely.
If your towers are under 50 miles, MOST antennas will do fine.
Are you looking at OUTDOOR or indoor ?
Outdoor are overall better and more reliable, but it depends on your situation.

I put my outdoor at the end of the house and mounted it with a rotor so I can change direction at any time, other cities in my area that I can also pick up. Keep the rotor in mind if it applies.

Jimbo

 

[Jimbo]

After doing a bit more research, your towers are all pretty close, if you decide to do the indoor antenna type that would probably work well for you as well.
Your only about 20 miles away, although they are not exactly in the same area, they probably are close enough together to not have to adjust the antenna when you want to change channels.
With an outdoor style you would most certianly be ok.

Jimbo

 

[GypsyChimp]

The Next Step

I'll probably start with an indoor antenna to see what kind of reception I get and work my way up from there (if necessary).

It's funny, because I've had this setup for about a year now and blindly accepted the fact that I couldn't get local (ABC, NBC, CBS) broadcasts in HD. It wasn't until I downloaded and installed that Google Desktop (with an RSS feed reader) that I started looking around for feeds that interest me. I thought of my directv and this forum came up.

I am so glad I did. Thanks to all who helped. :up

 

[atp1313]

It is very important that you stay away from TERK antennas. They are overpriced peices of junk. Silver Sensor would do you well (indoor) or any outside antenna will do you just fine. You might also consider a larger outdoor antenna and mount it in your attic (if you have space). I can relate to your 1960's comment, but an updated version. I have a Philips 51 Element antenna (approx. 8'L x 3'H x 6'W) and 4 dishes (2 D*, 1 E* and 1 V*). My neighbors are certain that I work for the NSA.

 

[GypsyChimp]

Well, I went and did it. I am now receiving all networks (and a few Spanish stations I've never heard of) in High-Definition. Thanks, atp1313.

 

[atp1313]

What was your final buy?

 

[GypsyChimp]

I went to Radio Shack and I bought an outdoor antenna. I had always had a pole attached to the house with no antenna. It was a 160" long, 57 element antenna which retailed for $99.99.

When I connected it directly to the TV, it worked like a champ. Picked up all the HD channels. But when I ran it through the H20 and did the antenna setup, it did its search for channels, found them, but now they won't show up on my H20. It just says SEARCHING FOR SIGNAL ON THE OFF-AIR TUNER (771). I have no idea what to do next.