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TuxCoder

Supporting Founder

Last reply Sep 30, 2004 · posted in DISH Network Support Forum

dead local = color bars

Just out of curiosity, is it E* putting the color bars test pattern in place of a local when it goes dead, or is it the local source that's feeding E*? It has a black horizontal text bar across them reading the call letters, "WKEF-TV". I was watching the station limp along for about 5 minutes before it completely went off air. I verified with OTA, the weakening interference patterns were the same with my 522 (after its 5-or-so second delay due to the latency from the impressive retransmission path). Then the OTA signal went out entirely, and through the dish I got the color bars. While it was weakening, the color bars would flash briefly. I also happened to be talking on the phone with someone that has cable, and the station was just fine there. Apparently their cable feed is fine.

I'm thinking it's Dish Network putting the color bars pattern there. Anyone else had experience with a dead local channel (and not from lousy 105 reception)?

And my apologies if this post bored the hell out of most of you, I'm just interested in this kind of thing, how it's all connected and works, etc.

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jenkinswoody

Sep 29, 2004

Hey......im in Enon (between spfld/dayton) and all of my locals just went to crap. I saw the wkef too- now they are hit and miss. Are your locals still down (every once and a while they'll pop up, but if i change the channel- good bye molly). First time that this has happened!?

TuxCoder

Sep 29, 2004

DanB33 said:
The Color Bars come from Echostar equiptment at the POP in the local market. When they loose the local signal the color bars come up automatically.

That's cool, I should have guessed E* would have some equipment sitting over here for their feed. It's over fibre, right (since you called it a POP, anyway

)? And would it be just one location here, for all stations? See, I warned you I was interested in this stuff.

jenkinswoody said:
Hey......im in Enon (between spfld/dayton) and all of my locals just went to crap. I saw the wkef too- now they are hit and miss. Are your locals still down (every once and a while they'll pop up, but if i change the channel- good bye molly). First time that this has happened!?

Hi neighbor!

All the way over here in Kettering, I'm just seeing WKEF as being out (still, as of 9:50pm). My other locals are fine. We really shouldn't be seeing different results...

BTW, user 'hall' is a Daytonian too.

jenkinswoody

Sep 29, 2004

TuxCoder said:
Hi neighbor! All the way over here in Kettering, I'm just seeing WKEF as being out (still, as of 9:50pm). My other locals are fine. We really shouldn't be seeing different results... BTW, user 'hall' is a Daytonian too.

I had a weak signal to begin with (never lost it though). Maybe the wind as of late moved it? I don't know. Guess I'll have to check tomorrow :no

Nice to meet you though....

DanB33

Sep 30, 2004

TuxCoder said:
That's cool, I should have guessed E* would have some equipment sitting over here for their feed. It's over fibre, right (since you called it a POP, anyway )? And would it be just one location here, for all stations? See, I warned you I was interested in this stuff.

POP is Point of Presents. the place where the local signals are picked up. They are then sent to Cheyenne via Fiber.

Bobby

Sep 30, 2004

DanB33 said:
TuxCoder said:

That's cool, I should have guessed E* would have some equipment sitting over here for their feed. It's over fibre, right (since you called it a POP, anyway )? And would it be just one location here, for all stations? See, I warned you I was interested in this stuff.

POP is Point of Presents. the place where the local signals are picked up. They are then sent to Cheyenne via Fiber.

Click to expand...

It's Point of Presence, a present is something you get for your birthday. Presents are what you get at Christmas...

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Scott Greczkowski

Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge

Last reply 7 minutes ago · posted in The Chit Chat Club

Song Name Game Part 3!

Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!

So let the game continue!

The last song was added by Bobby who posted...

One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters

CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!

Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game

Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.

Example:

Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow

Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio

Another example:

Ride the Lightning -- Metallica

Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne

Get it?

An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....

68634 Replies · 2679076 views

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Reactions: c-spand

gms49ers

Today at 1:17 PM

Dancing Days - Led Zeppelin

Reactions: dishstaller and FTA4PA

dishstaller

Today at 2:34 PM

Dancing in the Street - Van Halen

long_time_Dish

Today at 3:47 PM

Bakers Street - Gerry Rafferty

Reactions: gms49ers

Bobby

Today at 4:09 PM

long_time_Dish said:
Bakers Street - Gerry Rafferty

Let me fix that for you:
Baker Street - Gerry Rafferty

EatMyVolts

7 minutes ago

The 59th Street Bridge Song -- Simon & Garfunkel

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MartyDe

Last reply 32 minutes ago · posted in Over the Air Television By RabbitEars.Info

ATSC 3 converter boxes

Interesting article about the work being done to develope an ATSC 3 converter box. Yes it does mention affordable.

Pearl TV Issues Progress Report on Low-Cost 3.0 Converters in Advance of NAB Show New York

Group has secured lower pricing from key tech players to make less costly boxes available

www.tvtechnology.com

10 Replies · 541 views

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navychop

Oct 20, 2026

DEATH TO NEXGEN!

Reactions: primestar31, RaVo68, gms49ers and 1 other person

primestar31

Wednesday at 7:29 PM

navychop said:
DEATH TO NEXGEN!

It's dead, they just don't know it yet. They killed it by forcing DRM on it, and that TOTALLY botched implementing it.

There is absolutely NO compelling reason for anybody to switch to ATSC3.0. They only want it as a total and complete money grab.

Reactions: slow_poke_pete, FTA4PA and navychop

navychop

Wednesday at 10:37 PM

I truly hope you are right.

Reactions: FTA4PA

Mister B

Thursday at 7:43 AM

What bothers me is the total waste of broadcasting spectrum in this very crowded market. It has been almost three years now since KFOX converted their broadcast tower to ATSC 3.0 and moved all of their channels to other towers causing noticeable degradation of the picture quality.
I have a Sony TV with 3.0 capabilities but still use the 1.0 version of locals due to the fact that one or all of the 3.0 channels are often missing or unwatchable. In this city of 800K I doubt that more than a few hundred even know about ATSC 3.0.
The only thing that could motivate me to be interested in 3.0 would be if all of the minor networks (diginets) could be in at least 720P rather than blurry ultra-compressed 480i.
Three years is long enough to waste one of the few available RF frequencies in the area for this trial.
It is time to either move on with this experiment or call it quits.

navychop

Thursday at 4:31 PM

Mister B said:
In this city of 800K I doubt that more than a few hundred even know about ATSC 3.0.

They might notice the hand going into their pocket for their wallet.

Reactions: FTA4PA

navychop

Thursday at 4:31 PM

Mister B said:
It is time to either move on with this experiment or call it quits.

QFT. Of course, my preference involves a curb and some kicking.

Reactions: FTA4PA

slow_poke_pete

32 minutes ago

primestar31 said:
It's dead, they just don't know it yet. They killed it by forcing DRM on it, and that TOTALLY botched implementing it.

There is absolutely NO compelling reason for anybody to switch to ATSC3.0. They only want it as a total and complete money grab.

WHAT ABOUT THE INTERNET PART OF IT. NO ONE WANTS A BOX CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET EITHER.

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TRG

Pub Member / Supporter

Last reply 34 minutes ago · posted in Local Radio Discussion

House Passes AM Radio For Every Vehicle Act

House Passes AM Radio For Every Vehicle Act

(Washington, DC) - The U.S. House has passed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, marking a major step forward for broadcasters and listeners who have pushed to keep AM radio available in new cars and

wabcradio.com

21 Replies · 600 views

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dishdude

Sep 18, 2026

It's probably been 2 decades since I've listened to an AM radio station. Very rarely listen to FM any more.

Reactions: reubenray and Jimbo

Jimbo

Today at 8:35 AM

I am 1 that wants the AM to Stay ....
That said, since '08 I have had Sat radio available to me ... I think I have turned on AM 3 or 4 times, just to see if its still there.

Fwiw, if theres a Major disaster or bad weather or whatever, the chances of me finding out about it by going to the AM side of the radio is SLIM and None.
Even FM, I haven't really had on since '13ish, I may turn it on from time to time, just to see if its still there.

harshness

Today at 10:10 AM

Jimbo said:
Fwiw, if theres a Major disaster or bad weather or whatever, the chances of me finding out about it by going to the AM side of the radio is SLIM and None.

Automation has seen to that. You can't get evening drive traffic reports where I live, much less disaster reports.

dishstaller

Today at 10:41 AM

dishdude said:
Very rarely listen to FM any more

That goes for a lot of people. I've been advertising on radio for more than a decade now and am very familiar with this subject. While it is still a valuable tool, it has far less impact than it did just a few years ago. The best reaction I get is from a local Country music station....they play a mix of older and newer music and have a very big footprint.

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Jimbo

Today at 11:03 AM

dishstaller said:
That goes for a lot of people. I've been advertising on radio for more than a decade now and am very familiar with this subject. While it is still a valuable tool, it has far less impact than it did just a few years ago. The best reaction I get is from a local Country music station....they play a mix of older and newer music and have a very big footprint.

Do you do any Ad's on Satellite ?

If Not, why not, because it's not Local ?

dishstaller

Today at 12:29 PM

Jimbo said:
Do you do any Ad's on Satellite ?

If Not, why not, because it's not Local ?

No, just regular FM stations. One is the country station I mentioned and the other is a Talk Radio station which used to get fantastic results but honestly, since the death of Rush Limbaugh, talk radio just doesn't do as well. There were two guys who had an early morning show which was hugely popular here in the southeast but one of them retired a couple years ago and the show just doesn't garner the same numbers as it used to.

slow_poke_pete

34 minutes ago

Haven't listened AM or FM in years

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TWiT Tech Podcast Network

Today at 5:02 PM · posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network

Security Now 1101

Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ4Z4zafNLI

Direct YouTube Link - Security Now 1101
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed

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osu1991

Pub Member / Supporter

Last reply Today at 5:01 PM · posted in The Chit Chat Club

Susan Saint James, Emmy-Winning Star of 'Kate & Allie' and 'McMillan & Wife,' Dies at 80

Susan Saint James, Emmy-Winning Star of ‘Kate & Allie’ and ‘McMillan & Wife,’ Dies at 80

Susan Saint James, the Emmy-winning actress who starred in "Kate & Allie," died Monday after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She was 80.

variety.com

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Bobby

Today at 5:01 PM

Rest in peace.

JSheridan

Lifetime Supporter

Last reply Today at 4:58 PM · posted in DISH Network Support Forum

All DMA's now Western Arc

I know HipKat said that they were working on conversions but we got the official news yesterday right from Dish that starting next month all DMA's will be on the western arc, and all customers will be assigned to that. That's gonna mean a lot of customers around here aren't gonna get Dish unless there are exceptions. Too many mountains and trees.

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Reactions: That American Girl, MikeD-C05, AkaDoubleG and 6 others

Strega

Friday at 10:01 PM

Even if you are broadcasting old SD-only shows, I would think advertisers would still want their commercials to look good.

Reactions: charlesrshell

Jimbo

Friday at 11:17 PM

Strega said:
Even if you are broadcasting old SD-only shows, I would think advertisers would still want their commercials to look good.

Advertisers on SD channels are probably Far and Few, very hard to find, they have very few viewers to watch them.

Reactions: charlesrshell

Mister B

Saturday at 7:35 AM

Jimbo said:
Advertisers on SD channels are probably Far and Few, very hard to find, they have very few viewers to watch them.

I watch mostly SD channels (H&I, Start and ION, etc.). There are plenty of advertisers, this time of the year it is mostly Medicare Advantage plans, auto extended warranties and the occasional walk-in-tub. They know who is watching.

Reactions: Almighty1, savarese04 and charlesrshell

slow_poke_pete

Yesterday at 10:40 AM

Mister B said:
I watch mostly SD channels (H&I, Start and ION, etc.). There are plenty of advertisers, this time of the year it is mostly Medicare Advantage plans, auto extended warranties and the occasional walk-in-tub. They know who is watching.

can't forget the little blue m&m's

Reactions: Almighty1, charlesrshell and telstar_1

charlesrshell

Yesterday at 11:23 AM

slow_poke_pete said:
can't forget the little blue m&m's

That's what my wife calls my Viagra!!

Reactions: Almighty1, slow_poke_pete, MikeD-C05 and 2 others

telstar_1

Yesterday at 8:12 PM

Why didn't Charlie end up launching starlink

Reactions: charlesrshell

Foxbat

Yesterday at 9:01 PM

telstar_1 said:
Why didn't Charlie end up launching starlink

Because he didn't have a fleet of reusable rockets. Starlink works because SpaceX is able to launch hundreds (thousands?) of their Starlink satellites for what a single geostationary Internet satellite costs to build and launch on a disposable launcher.

Reactions: MikeD-C05, dishstaller, HipKat and 2 others

telstar_1

Today at 12:08 AM

But how is it reusable if it's disposable

Reactions: charlesrshell

slow_poke_pete

Today at 2:09 AM

charlesrshell said:
That's what my wife calls my Viagra!!

My gf is 29 years younger than me :shh

Reactions: MikeD-C05, charlesrshell and HipKat

Almighty1

Today at 4:04 PM

telstar_1 said:
Why didn't Charlie end up launching starlink

He does not have the resources aka $$$ compared to Elon Musk as in reality, Elon can eat Charlie for lunch or even mop the floor with Charlie if he wanted to.

Reactions: charlesrshell

slow_poke_pete

Today at 4:58 PM

ment to 20 yrs dam phone

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Marques Brownlee

Today at 4:42 PM · posted in Marques Brownlee

This can SEE Sound!

Time for another AWESOME video from Marques Brownlee!

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ai1gIWacf0I

Direct YouTube Link - This can SEE Sound!
The official MKBHD Website!
The MKBHD Store

0 Replies · 4 views

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iJustine

Today at 4:12 PM · posted in iJustine

New Dive Computer! Oceanic’s o.i 🤿

Time for another AWESOME video from iJustine!

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/roM3DlRf5Gk

Direct YouTube Link - New Dive Computer! Oceanic's o.i

The official iJustine Website's Website
Buy her book!

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osu1991

Pub Member / Supporter

Last reply Today at 4:03 PM · posted in Movie Talk

Dune (2020)

53 Replies · 10078 views

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long_time_Dish

Jun 4, 2024

Also watched part 2 about a week or so ago after rewatching part 1. It's not as faithful to the book as I was hoping for. Part 1 stayed fairly faithful to the novel, but part 2 took some liberties that I felt were rather excessively non-novel. It looks like a prequel series will happen before part 3. My issue is: there's no prequel that was written as a novel, so what will it be pulled from? Or will it just be "based loosely" on the novel?

klang

Jun 4, 2024

long_time_DNC said:
Also watched part 2 about a week or so ago after rewatching part 1. It's not as faithful to the book as I was hoping for. Part 1 stayed fairly faithful to the novel, but part 2 took some liberties that I felt were rather excessively non-novel. It looks like a prequel series will happen before part 3. My issue is: there's no prequel that was written as a novel, so what will it be pulled from? Or will it just be "based loosely" on the novel?

There is a bunch of other Dune written by Kevin J Anderson and Brian Herbert (Franks son). I think the series in production is taken from one of their books about the Bene Gesserit.

long_time_Dish

Jun 4, 2024

klang said:
There is a bunch of other Dune written by Kevin J Anderson and Brian Herbert (Franks son). I think the series in production is taken from one of their books about the Bene Gesserit.

Correct. I've read all of them (yes, it took awhile, better part of a year, in my spare time). And they can't really consider or classify a series about the Bene Gesserit as a prequel. Sure, I suppose they can call it that, if they want to, because it begins before the time of Paul Atredies, but it's still a stretch. It's a Dune-related novel, not a prequel as we generally think of prequels...

klang

Mar 17, 2026

View: https://youtu.be/3_9vCamtuPY

Reactions: Howard Simmons, Foxbat, long_time_Dish and 1 other person

klang

Today at 3:41 PM

Big finish coming:

View: https://youtu.be/uJqaGLmZpGo?si=WBhK28F4HiSVI-qx

long_time_Dish

Today at 4:03 PM

Well, it looks good! I just hope they stayed close to the trilogy, but it doesn't look like it.

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TWiT Tech Podcast Network

Today at 2:32 PM · posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network

MacBreak Weekly 1048

Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AqVr7wezCQ

Direct YouTube Link - MacBreak Weekly 1048
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed

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dead local = color bars

Song Name Game Part 3!

ATSC 3 converter boxes

Pearl TV Issues Progress Report on Low-Cost 3.0 Converters in Advance of NAB Show New York

House Passes AM Radio For Every Vehicle Act

House Passes AM Radio For Every Vehicle Act

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