Another Digital "Revolution" Piece of Junk

[landtuna]

I've been dropping in on KPHE (44.4) this past week - It's one of the much heralded by-products of the digital TV age. Not so much, it appears.

As a MyFamily affiliate most of the shows on KPHE are old public domain potboilers. They could be interesting if only:

1. KPHE didn't pop on with a "scrambled" signal (whatever that means). This seems to happen mostly in the evening.
2. The PQ was even close to watchable (they transmit in 480i but it doesn't come close to normal analog PQ). Either that or the prints they are transmitting were found in a dumpster.
3. They frequently preempt scheduled programming for infomercials. This seems to be done locally as the scheduled program will begin and seconds later the infomercial will kick in.

I keep looking for a benefit to the many sub-channels we have now but except for 8.3 (PBS World) they are virtually worthless.

 

[KeithE4]

Being a 15 kW LPTV on RF 16 sandwiched between high-powered KNXV (15) and KPHO (17) doesn't help them. Neither do those SLP-speed VHS tapes they seem to be using for their programming.

 

[dhett]

1. KPHE didn't pop on with a "scrambled" signal (whatever that means). This seems to happen mostly in the evening.

I've tuned them frequently and have never experienced a "scrambled" signal.

 

[landtuna]

I've tuned them frequently and have never experienced a "scrambled" signal.

It's happened here two evenings in a row. There is just a blue box in the middle of the screen that says "scrambled signal" (and something else I can't remember). It also happened very briefly this afternoon while I was watching an old John Wayne oater.

I'd never seem the "scrambled signal" message before. Usually my Channel Master converter box just says "no signal" if it can't be received.

What has your PQ been lately? Mine has been very fuzzy - almost out of focus.

 

[ykw]

I keep looking for a benefit to the many sub-channels we have now but except for 8.3 (PBS World) they are virtually worthless.

7.2 is good for well-produced (if often mindless) fare for the 30-65 crowd. (And the PQ on their oldies is superb.) 3.2 is very hit-or-miss with its MGM film fare leaning heavily on made-for-TV and D2V product, but it does turn up some forgotten gems on a reasonably regular basis. 12.2's weather service is useful, as is 15.1's traffic. And 38.3 is a ripe source for some well-deserved MST3K-style mockery. (Their VO guy is a particular hoot.)

 

[ykw]

as is 15.1's traffic

That, of course, should read "15.2's traffic".

 

[landtuna]

I keep looking for a benefit to the many sub-channels we have now but except for 8.3 (PBS World) they are virtually worthless.

7.2 is good for well-produced (if often mindless) fare for the 30-65 crowd. (And the PQ on their oldies is superb.) 3.2 is very hit-or-miss with its MGM film fare leaning heavily on made-for-TV and D2V product, but it does turn up some forgotten gems on a reasonably regular basis. 12.2's weather service is useful, as is 15.1's traffic. And 38.3 is a ripe source for some well-deserved MST3K-style mockery. (Their VO guy is a particular hoot.)

I watched 7.2 (RTV) when it first debuted but quickly became disappointed. While its PQ was acceptable, all too often the video and audio didn't sync. And while I am a fan of old TV shows that are its staple I don't find the current offerings very interesting. Watching RTV is the exception rather than the rule for me.

3.2 (ThisTV) is better in both PQ and audio but I haven't found many of their movies to be worthwhile. 'B' grade at best. I do get a kick out of their between-movie offerings such as the Pink Panther cartoons.

The .2's of the major network affiliates (excepting Fox 10.2) are worthless to me. I don't travel around the metro area at rush hour and can get all the weather info I need by looking out any window of my house. This is Phoenix, after all. I depend on the online Arizona Republic for news of weekend road closings as these are hit and miss on TV.