digital signals on Boston TV stations

[alg2468]

Have the HDTV signals on Boston channels 25, 38, 56, and 68 off the air since Sunday? I have not received any of those station's digital signals since then. I'm on the Rhode Island-Massachusetts border east of Providence, and using a powerful outdoor antenna to receive signals. I can still receive channel 44 as well as channels 2, 4, 5, and 7 from Boston, as well as the regular analog signals of all Boston stations. Anyone else having trouble receiving these stations?

 

[alg2468]

After 3 weeks, I'm still receiving practically no signal from from these stations. Anyone notice any signal issues lately on their HDTV signals?

 

[bostonmediaguy]

No problems.

 

[necrat123]

Have the HDTV signals on Boston channels 25, 38, 56, and 68 off the air since Sunday? I have not received any of those station's digital signals since then. I'm on the Rhode Island-Massachusetts border east of Providence, and using a powerful outdoor antenna to receive signals. I can still receive channel 44 as well as channels 2, 4, 5, and 7 from Boston, as well as the regular analog signals of all Boston stations. Anyone else having trouble receiving these stations?

The weather conditions recently have been doing a number on the local signals. Where I am (East Providence), I 'reliably' get the same ones you get. 25 almost never comes in here. 38 is touch and go, 56 is about 75% of the time, and 68 about 60% of the time. I've seen similar reception reports at work too. It has to do with the radiation patterns and power of those stations, unfortunatley. Be paitent, I think some things will improve AFTER the 02/17/09 transition date.

 

[pqgeorge]

Have the HDTV signals on Boston channels 25, 38, 56, and 68 off the air since Sunday? I have not received any of those station's digital signals since then. I'm on the Rhode Island-Massachusetts border east of Providence, and using a powerful outdoor antenna to receive signals. I can still receive channel 44 as well as channels 2, 4, 5, and 7 from Boston, as well as the regular analog signals of all Boston stations. Anyone else having trouble receiving these stations?

The weather conditions recently have been doing a number on the local signals. Where I am (East Providence), I 'reliably' get the same ones you get. 25 almost never comes in here. 38 is touch and go, 56 is about 75% of the time, and 68 about 60% of the time. I've seen similar reception reports at work too. It has to do with the radiation patterns and power of those stations, unfortunatley. Be paitent, I think some things will improve AFTER the 02/17/09 transition date.

So far, this is my DTV roster. (Whitman, MA)
DigitalStream receiver, Radio Shack UHF long corner reflector (@ 20 ft)
18 db in line amplifier.

2-1 WGBH-DT (UHF 19)
2-2 WGBH HD
4-1 WBZ-DT (UHF 30)
5-1 WCVB-DT (UHF 20)
6-1 WLNE-DT (UHF 49)
6-2 WLNE-"NW"
7-1 WHDH-DT (UHF 42)
7-2 WHDH-WeatherPlus
10-1 WJAR-DT (UHF 51)
10-2 WJAR-WeatherPlus
12-1 WPRI-DT (VHF 13)
25-1 WFXT-DT (UHF 31)
27-1 WUNI-DT (UHF 29)
28-1 WLWC-DT (UHF 22)
38-1 WSBK-DT (UHF 39)
42-7 (Audio Only?!) probably a WHDH cue channel
44-1 WGBX-DT (UHF 43)
44-2 WGBX-World
44-3 WGBX-Create
44-4 WGBX-Kids
46-1 WWDP-DT (UHF 52)
56-1 WLVI-DT (UHF 42)
64-1 WNAC-DT (UHF 54)
64-2 WNAC (silent)
68-1 WBPX-DT (UHF 32)
68-2 WBPX-qubo
68-3 WBPX-ION life
68-4 WBPX-Worship

No sign of WMUR 9.1 or WENH 11.1, plus the DT low-powered stations on 26 or 40.
Qubo on 68-2 is not a bad kids channel. I got a kick of "Lamb Chop's Play Along". My kids used
to love to watch that show starring the late, Shari Lewis.

 

[necrat123]

"64-2" is back off again. We should only have "64-1" on now.

 

[pqgeorge]

"64-2" is back off again. We should only have "64-1" on now.

I did reset my DigitalStream box and sure enough, "64-2" is no longer available. However, "54-7" is still showing up, minus any video or audio. Is this some kind of "false positive" or is there some kind of "54-7" auxiliary feed on WNAC-DT. "42-7" is showing up on my RF directory on my box as well, posslbly a aux. for WHDH-DT. Any thoughts? Also, is 64-2 going to be used eventually for some other programming?

Thanks.

Pete (K1XRB)

 

[alg2468]

The reception problem I had is now solved. After purchasing and installing an Antennas Direct 8 bay HDTV antenna (which can be made into two 4 bay antennas) and using RG6 Quad shield cable, the reception improved considerably. All Boston stations, including chs. 25, 38, 44, 56, 68, 46, 62, as well as 27, 66 are really coming in crystal clear, even using this antena in an attic. No drop outs or fading, either. I'd recommend this antenna to anyone receiving OTA HDTV.

 

[someplacesomewhere]

When I pick up my digital converter for my antenna, can I expect better reception in the Fall River/SOmerset area of atleast the Providence area stations?

 

[alg2468]

I would strongly suspect that from the Fall River/Somerset area you should easily receive the Providence stations in digital, because of their nearby transmitters in Freetown (ch. 28) and Rehoboth (chs. 6, 10, 12, 36, and 64). A strong antenna and an amplifier should bring in most of the Boston and Worcester stations,m as well as Providence's ION affiliate, ch. 69, and the Hyannis Ion station on ch. 58. You may also want to go to antennaweb.org and tvfool.com to see the channels you can get from your specific location.