Raleigh HD locals...no FOX..no CBS

[eyedoc]

WRAL's side of the story:

However, at this time DirecTV has only offered to provide the
WRAL and WRAZ HD signals to less than 75% of the market which we find
unacceptable.

I had my AT-9 installed yesterday along with a HR 20 DVR. I was unaware of this "no WRAL or WRAZ" issue prior to the installer turning on the box.

Is this truly a lack of spot beam to the entire service area or is it a financial/contractual issue with Capitol Broadcasting? If a spot beam issue - shouldn't that be easily fixable?

 

[charper1]

It is a well known contract issue, there is nothing wrong with your or DirecTV's setup.

 

[nzone]

Anybody have info yet on when the CBS and FOX will be turned on? Hard to find any information about this topic for the local area in Raleigh NC. I love having the HR20 but not having HD locals is a bummer

 

[eyedoc]

Anybody have info yet on when the CBS and FOX will be turned on? Hard to find any information about this topic for the local area in Raleigh NC. I love having the HR20 but not having HD locals is a bummer

I'm wondering that as well. I haven't contacted the stations involved because I figured I'd get the same BS as was referenced above. I guess when D* coughs up enough $ we'll see the channels. Until then we can write our congressmen

 

[jpn]

I'm wondering that as well. I haven't contacted the stations involved because I figured I'd get the same BS as was referenced above. I guess when D* coughs up enough $ we'll see the channels. Until then we can write our congressmen

Last week an installer explained it to me. The CBS affiliate wants a larger spotbeam to cover some communities to the southeast of Raleigh (I've forgotten which, but they are out of Wake county). The installer said that enlarging the spotbeam would likely cost "billions" and his suspicion is that there won't be any settlement any time soon.

While I'd like to see those HD channels, I'm getting them OTA in HD with a better signal than D* using a pair of rabbit ears indoors. I strongly suggest checking-out http://www.antennaweb.org and trying the least-expensive OTA antenna you can find.

 

[eyedoc]

The installer said that enlarging the spotbeam would likely cost "billions" and his suspicion is that there won't be any settlement any time soon.

Well that is interesting. Can any technically savvy members on this forum shed a light on the difficulty of enlarging a spot beam on a particular geographic area? Is this something that requires another satellite - because that is the only option I can think of that would cost "billions".

 

[nzone]

Last week an installer explained it to me. The CBS affiliate wants a larger spotbeam to cover some communities to the southeast of Raleigh (I've forgotten which, but they are out of Wake county). The installer said that enlarging the spotbeam would likely cost "billions" and his suspicion is that there won't be any settlement any time soon.

While I'd like to see those HD channels, I'm getting them OTA in HD with a better signal than D* using a pair of rabbit ears indoors. I strongly suggest checking-out http://www.antennaweb.org and trying the least-expensive OTA antenna you can find.

When I had the H20 I was doing this and it was great picking signals with OTA since I was close to the transmission towers. With the HR20 there is no OTA functionality so right now I can only hope for the OTA functionality or the HD locals to come in

 

[noneroy]

Instead of complaining to the these two channels, you should complain to their parent company, since they are both owned by the same people.

Capitol Broadcasting Company
URL: http://www.cbc-raleigh.com/

2619 Western Blvd
Raleigh, NC 27606
Phone: (919) 890-6000
Fax: (919) 890-6095

HD Channels Not Carried:
Raleigh/Durham - WRAL (CBS) & WRAZ (FOX)

Enjoy.

 

[Pakbackr]

I sent an email to WRAL's general manager asking about the problem, and I got a reply back which said basically the same thing. Its a contractual dispute relating to the coverage area. He said they are continuing to negotiate, but no predictions on when they may reach agreement.

WRAL also offered to give me a free OTA, which I accepted. It was delivered right to my house! And it isn't a cheapo version. Had it installed and my reception of WRAL and WRAZ are great...and I live in Holly Springs. I can carry their OTA HD signal during a heavy rain, even when I lose my sat signal.

At this point, I have chosen to remain on the Tivo HD until D* turns on the OTA tuner. They say this will happen by Dec 1st...some think earlier. But until they get some new HD channels, I guess I will stay where I am since my OTA signal is great.

 

[jpn]

At this point, I have chosen to remain on the Tivo HD until D* turns on the OTA tuner. They say this will happen by Dec 1st...some think earlier. But until they get some new HD channels, I guess I will stay where I am since my OTA signal is great.

If you don't already have a HR20, it's not much of an issue. The HR20 units are wait-listed (at directv.com). Even if they come availalbe in the next couple of weeks, that's only a couple of weeks before December.... so a new HR20 could sit idle until the OTA enablement is announced. If you're a good enough negotiator to get the HR20 free, then it's not costing you anything to have it sitting-idle.

 

[eyedoc]

At this point, I have chosen to remain on the Tivo HD until D* turns on the OTA tuner. They say this will happen by Dec 1st...some think earlier. But until they get some new HD channels, I guess I will stay where I am since my OTA signal is great.

Thanks for this info. I emailed the GM as well and I am impressed by the response I am getting to enable me to get an OTA solution.

I apologize for not doing a further search - but are you saying that the HR20 will not integrate an OTA signal at this time?

 

[Pakbackr]

Thanks for this info. I emailed the GM as well and I am impressed by the response I am getting to enable me to get an OTA solution.

I apologize for not doing a further search - but are you saying that the HR20 will not integrate an OTA signal at this time?

The HR20 has an OTA tuner, and a fine quality one from what I hear, but it has not been activated yet. Activation would come with a simply software download from D*, which comes with the Daily Call. I spoke with a D* advanced tech support rep this weekend (on another issue) and asked when they planned to activate the OTA tuner on the HR20, and he said this is one of their priorities. The tuners (and the software) are going through final test and are scheduled for activation by Dec 1st...but it could be earlier.

Glad you had an equally good experience with WRAL. I had trouble with my signal early on, and they even sent out a technician to my house and he checked the signal and helped me align the antenna perfectly. Can't ask for better service than that!

 

[netPOSER]

Doesn't look like it yet: http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/packProg/localChannels.jsp?assetId=900018 Enter 27601.

Last week when I was on the phone with D I asked them why WRAL and WRAZ did not have an "HD" icon in the HD Channel column--they told me that's because they don't broadcast in HD 24/7 and the other 3 do.

That struck me as odd that the other 3 would have nothing but HD content.

Well now I know they were wrong since I got my new HD DVR installed yesterday and no HD for CBS or FOX--that really sucks.

Update:
Called DirecTV and they are sending WRAL/WRAZ a waiver request.
Has anyone had any luck with this?

6 years ago I lived in Atlantic Beach, NC and had to do the same for the local stations there. Some granted the waiver and other's did not. I got some great propaganda from a couple of the local stations though.

 

[jpn]

I'm using OTA for whatever I can get. CBS multicasts HD on 5-1 and sometimes 5-3 with off-programming on 5-2. FOX usually has HD on 50-1 and 50-2 with 24x7 weather on 50-3 (I think). The CW channel has better HD picture on 22-1 than the D* channel. NBC has a bunch of multicast channels, at least 2 HD, plus 24x7 weather in HD.

If you can do it, use OTA. Even rabbit ears may work well, although my wife didn't like them in the living room so I installed a square shooter outside.

 

[netPOSER]

I'm using OTA for whatever I can get. CBS multicasts HD on 5-1 and sometimes 5-3 with off-programming on 5-2. FOX usually has HD on 50-1 and 50-2 with 24x7 weather on 50-3 (I think). The CW channel has better HD picture on 22-1 than the D* channel. NBC has a bunch of multicast channels, at least 2 HD, plus 24x7 weather in HD.

If you can do it, use OTA. Even rabbit ears may work well, although my wife didn't like them in the living room so I installed a square shooter outside.

So by using an OTA antenna you get decent reception? I live in Spring Hope, NC (at least 40 miles from WRAL).

 

[raoul5788]

So by using an OTA antenna you get decent reception? I live in Spring Hope, NC (at least 40 miles from WRAL).

Maybe. Check this website for a better idea of what you can get.
www.antennaweb.org

 

[eyedoc]

So by using an OTA antenna you get decent reception? I live in Spring Hope, NC (at least 40 miles from WRAL).

I live right down the road from you (Wilson) and I actually received a fairly good signal from a UHF antenna in my attic. I need to put it on the roof though to get a consistent signal. The broadcast tower containing 5,11,17 and 50 is actually in Clayton and it is closer than 40 miles to you most likely.

 

[netPOSER]

I live right down the road from you (Wilson) and I actually received a fairly good signal from a UHF antenna in my attic. I need to put it on the roof though to get a consistent signal. The broadcast tower containing 5,11,17 and 50 is actually in Clayton and it is closer than 40 miles to you most likely.

I think those 2 super tall tv towers are a bit further away but I guess I can try the antenna until I can get WRAL and WRAZ HD via D.

 

[jpn]

So by using an OTA antenna you get decent reception? I live in Spring Hope, NC (at least 40 miles from WRAL).

I'm in Wake Forest, close to Raleigh and without any major obstructions. I've had good reception just using indoor rabbit ears. The SquareShooter (without amp) is getting a better picture than D*. The other thing is that an antenna will give you all of the multicast channels; D* will give you just one. Might not matter much, but it can be nice to check weather on one of the 24x7 weather channels.

By all means check www.antennaweb.org for your home address. It should recommend an antenna and a direction to point it.

 

[Pakbackr]

Update:
Called DirecTV and they are sending WRAL/WRAZ a waiver request.
Has anyone had any luck with this?

WRAL and WRAZ will not grant you a waiver...period. They are independently owned by Capital Broadcasting, thus not held to the agreements that D* has with stations owned by the networks. Granting waivers simply isn't their best interest, as it reduces their negotiating power and takes advertising revenue out of their pockets.

That said, they both generate the absolute best local HD signal and you should have no troubel locking in on them with a decent OTA. You will be happier anyway as the OTA picture is noticably better than D*'s compressed signal.