Pixel freeze on one local channel in Minneapolis

[Minge]

I have a brand new pre-amp and I do not know if it is happenstance of if I have a problem with my new Marantz or is it just D*.

On my local Fox channel here in Minneapolis I have been getting some really frequent pixelization and a brief freeze before the picture snaps back in to shape. Is this a D* issue or the local fox feed or is it in my system. I have not noticed it on any other channel but it just started when I put into my chain my new Marantz AV-7005 pre-amp.

It would seem to me the first thing to try is take the marantz out of the chain and hook up the sat box directly to my pioneer plasma.

Any other troubleshooting 101 ideas please.

 

[charper1]

1. Remove the new piece of hardware and test again; re-install it and test again

2. Call the local affiliate engineer

3. Call DirecTV (seeing its not other channels, don't think its here)

4. See if other area users have the same issues

 

[Mr Tony]

its not the station. I watch Fox9 during the day alot (TMZ, Judge Joe Brown, the morning news) and no issues on both D* and the OTA setup I have. I'm about 5 miles from Mistake Lake Casino

Once in a while (during the news) KARE 11 will have pixeling and breakups but thats the station. I think they FINALLY fixed that issue

What part of Minneapolis are you in? Suburbs or further out?

 

[Minge]

It was really bad during last weeks Twins game on Fox 9...It did it during American Idol a couple of times as well.

 

[Minge]

Congrats to the Dulldogs by the way...What a great year!

 

[Mr Tony]

I watched the Twins game last week and didnt see anything you describe
Idol? Sorry...dont watch anything on Fox prime time

 

[steve952]

I think this may have been happening to me too, I remember watching the Twins game some time last week and the picture was pixelating frequently for me as well, can't remember for sure now if it was FSN North or Fox 9, but I'm thinking it was Fox 9. I remember I kept checking signal strengths to see if something was out of wack but all looked fine (all in the mid to upper 90's). About the only time I watch Fox 9 is for baseball or football, I just flipped it on now and I'll see if it is happening for me.

 

[Minge]

It happened again last night allot while watching American Idol...I plugged the HDMI into the sat receiver direct and took the pre-amp out of the chain and it still continued to happen. This is the only station that does this? Do I need a new sat. receiver? The signal was nice and strong?

What is my next step?

 

[Mr Tony]

Are you watching it via OTA or from Directv?

 

[Minge]

Are you watching it via OTA or from Directv?

Directv and it seems to be just certain programming. Doing a search I see that others have complained of the very same thing about American Idol but it has not been this year.
Very strange that it does not happen to other programing?

 

[Mr Tony]

maybe its something with live shows and Fox 9?
Most of what I watch is syndicated stuff which is pre-taped...The news once in a while but dont see anything on that.

Maybe an handshake issue with Fox Network and Fox 9?

 

[Mr Tony]

It has to be something with Fox 9 and the Fox "master" (live) feed.

Just started watching the Nascar and saw pixeling and freezing at the beginning. This was on both OTA and the D* feed

 

[Mr Tony]

ok did some more "research" and yeah its an issue with Fox9 and Fox

I have access to KEYC-DT12 Mankato OTA and am not seeing any pixeling or freezing.
KMSP has had some major issues tonight with the feed. flipping between HD and blackbar hell (it will flip to BBH during a HD commercial) and the pixeling/freezing. Both on OTA and from D*.
KEYC-Fox Mankato only goes to BBH when they have a local commercial (which is normal) Only drawback is because its a subchanel its in 480i widescreen

 

[Mr Tony]

Channel 9 is SERIOUSLY having issues

Now they are friggin "box" the program...that is the old "box inside of the box" so on my 42" TV it looks like a 20" screen

1st is from OTA (hard to see with it being dark but the bar at the top goes completely across the TV
2nd is from D*
3rd is from KEYC-DT2 OTA which shows it full screen (they have it right)

edit: 10 minutes later they fixed it and its back to full screen

 

[charper1]

my local ABC has these issues from time to time; they claim its a "encoder issue" but never offer up many details.

 

[Mr Tony]

still issues on "live" programming
Twins are on today (rain delayed) and I keep seeing the pixeling once in a while

Will check with the race tonight