The Old PBS HD

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Diamond Jim

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Aug 18, 2004
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The Boilermaker State (#19)
A few years back, lets say around '05 or '06 the was a channel on AMC 3 Ku, now SES 2 that was a channel called PBS HD. This channel was different than the regular PBS channels that had childrens programing in the mornings and afternoon. It had more adult oriented programs such as the American Experience, Scott Houston The Piano Man, BBQ U, Tavis Smiley, Ken Burns productions and auto show just to name a few. When PBS moved to AMC21 this channel disappeared, or at least I lost it. Does anyone know if this channel still exists? If it does where is it located?
 
You may also be interested in a feed that PBS supplies specifically for us BUD people. AMC1 @ 103W 4090 V 14029 DVB-S/QPSK. There is an HD as well as an SD channel on that transponder.
 
Jim
When PBS moved to 125W they were in the process of dropping the SD feed that you speak of. This is when HD wasn't as mainstream as it is now. When they moved to 125W they told affiliates to carry the HD feed or to chop the sides off of HD programs for SD.

Here is a pdf that was around back in late 08-early 09 when the changes were happening. I'll help decipher some of it for ya
it shows the timeline of the changing stuff. Dec 08 is the date
K-21 doesnt exist anymore (everything on that TP was in SD)
K-22 is the 12140 V transponder (the HD feeds as we know them)
K-23 is the feeds (12162, 12169, 12177 H)
K-24 is the 12180 V transponder
It also has some info at the bottom of each page
 

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Thanks guys. I'll check out AMC1. I sure do miss that programing. Don't get me wrong, the childrens programing is great, my kids grew up on it, but they are gone now and I am looking for something a little more mature.
 
According to Sat Hint and LyngSat the PBS HD feeds on AMC21 and AMC1 both have the same video (49) and audio (52) PIDs, which tells me they are the same channel.
 
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I watch World, but is doesn't seem the same. Maybe they are not showing the progams that I watched anymore. I can't remember the last time I saw Ameriencn Experience.
American Experience comes on for about 3 months then they have another program I think it might be History Detectives (but could be wrong) that replaces it. American Masters is another one like that. IOW's not shown all year long. In fact most of the programs no longer show all year long but rotate quarterly or for half a year.
 
Seems like we have lots of ku PBS choices between the 3 regular PBS Louisiana channels on 87w and the full set of PBS on 125w (PBS HD E, PBS HD W, Montana, 2x Oklahoma, World, Create and the KCET + other feeds.). Perhaps the DBS2 will be an issue for some to get them all.
 
According to Sat Hint and LyngSat the PBS HD feeds on AMC21 and AMC1 both have the same video (49) and audio (52) PIDs, which tells me they are the same channel.
But with two important differences: The C-Band/103W feeds are both SD and HD versions of PBS-East with main audio of Musicam/MPEG with AC3/DD an option on the HD feed as opposed to HD and AC3/DD only with both PBS-East and PBS-West on Ku-Band 125W. This makes the C-Band feed friendlier to those with older DVB receivers or situations where AC3 is not an option.

I would assume that if and when the Ku-Band feeds go MPEG-4/DVB-S2, the C-Band feeds will remain as they are, since they are meant for us, as opposed to the Ku-Band feeds which are meant for affiliate stations.
 
But with two important differences: The C-Band/103W feeds are both SD and HD versions of PBS-East with main audio of Musicam/MPEG with AC3/DD an option on the HD feed as opposed to HD and AC3/DD only with both PBS-East and PBS-West on Ku-Band 125W. This makes the C-Band feed friendlier to those with older DVB receivers or situations where AC3 is not an option.

I would assume that if and when the Ku-Band feeds go MPEG-4/DVB-S2, the C-Band feeds will remain as they are, since they are meant for us, as opposed to the Ku-Band feeds which are meant for affiliate stations.
Wouldn't bet on that. They may be for sat viewing but that doesn't mean PBS won't go MPEG-4/DVB-S2 then they can put other 24/7 program net on the tp as well and say they are now giving everyone the ability to access all the PBS programming.
 
Since Wikipedia mentioned PBS's Ku services, does that mean 12140V and 12180V are for us as well because they are prepackaged with breaks, etc? Ku dish antennas are easier and cheaper for people to install, where C is more expensive and harder, but much more reliable when it comes to rain fade, which is almost nonexistant. This is the latest information I could find: http://www-tc.pbs.org/producing/med...a/41/TOS-22-2010 (Satellite Transmission).pdf
 
The C-Band signal was never an option for me and my 6' C-Band setup. Everything else on 103W came in fine though.

PS - I don't need anyone pointing out that I have an "undersized dish". Thanks.
 
I could never receive it in my 6 footer, no matter how hard I tried. I do want to get an 8 foot ground mount. Anyone recommend a source for a Fortec or equivalent with a ground mount that will support a sponsor and this this forum?
 
Since Wikipedia mentioned PBS's Ku services, does that mean 12140V and 12180V are for us as well because they are prepackaged with breaks, etc? Ku dish antennas are easier and cheaper for people to install, where C is more expensive and harder, but much more reliable when it comes to rain fade, which is almost nonexistant. This is the latest information I could find: http://www-tc.pbs.org/producing/med...a/41/TOS-22-2010 (Satellite Transmission).pdf
I can't say for sure. That doc is just standards for x-mit & receive of the signal. In fact it has a form attached to it to file for a temp uplink to PBS. To me it is doubtful that the doc confirms "it's for FTA or home users". If the breaks are empty (black) then it is really for PBS. Most likely tween to programs you will have test pattern showing what will be uplinked next. It's not against the law to receive them but they aren't built for home use. I will hopefully know more by end of this week when I get my tracking Ku system up and running.
 
The breaks on 12140V are previews of upcoming shows and PBS advertisements. No black, no test pattern, it's as if everything is completely packaged for home viewing. When it shows previews for upcoming shows, it even gives a time for them which match when they show them. The TV listings are on Titan TV. I don't watch the children's programming during the day, but I'm hooked during primetime and at night. I think the east feed, HD01, is the same thing on AMC1, except musicam audio and AC3, so it must be for home use also. I remember reading PBS docs somewhere saying it's function is for recording or simulcasting, but I'm not 100% sure.
 
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The breaks on 12140V are previews of upcoming shows and PBS advertisements. No black, no test pattern, it's as if everything is completely packaged for home viewing. When it shows previews for upcoming shows, it even gives a time for them which match when they show them. The TV listings are on Titan TV. I don't watch the children's programming during the day, but I'm hooked during primetime and at night. I think the east feed, HD01, is the same thing on AMC1, except musicam audio and AC3, so it must be for home use also. I remember reading PBS docs somewhere saying it's function is for recording or simulcasting, but I'm not 100% sure.
If it has the promos then it is for public viewing. It will very likely be 1 week behind local station presentation.
 
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