DISH Network won't resolve issue with Hawaii NBC local

[psedwar]

I get all Hawaii locals through DISH. The only one having problems is KHNL. Since there are complaints from other on the KHNL website -- especially about the PROBOWL broadcast being screwed up -- I assumed the problem was KHNL. However, I just received this email from KHNL about DISH network blowing them off. They have repeatedly called DISH to try to resolve the broadcast problem only tyo be routed around like they do to all of us!!!!

Dish network has basically said they don't care about the Hawaii subscribers. DISH SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here are the emails:

From: Fink, [mailto:jfink@khnl]
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 9:43 AM
To:
Cc: (removed to protect poster)
Subject: DISH and KHNL/KFVE

Paula-

Sorry about the issues with DISH. In actuality, the problems are coming from DISH, as they have no presence locally, and we simply can’t get anyone to work with us to figure out the technical problems. We have offered a short-term solution, but no one will allow us to install the equipment for that at the DISH downtown site. We expect to move our transmitter to higher elevation at Palehua Ridge (Makakilo) this spring, and that should help, but we have been passed around to at least five different people (technical, field rep, customer service) on the mainland, with no resolution right now. We continue to work on getting the situation handled. We, too, are frustrated by the apparent lack of interest shown by DISH in the local customer base.



From: (removed for protection
Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 10:20 AM
To: (removed)
Cc: dishquality@echostar.com; tech@echostar.com
Subject: broadcast problems


Hey –

I have Dish Network and get all the locals via Dish. Your channel is THE ONLY one I am having problems with and I see other complaints from people on your website about this same problem.
So I know it is your station and not Dish Network or my dish/cabling. This has been consistently happening since you switched to digital and I am fed up with it. It affected the ProBowl throughout the ENTIRE broadcast and it was VERY irritating to try to watch it when the audio and video kept cutting out every few minutes and you get that STUPID pink screen. The pink screen/ loss of audio video happens every day – not just when there is rain or bad weather. Friday Night Lights and The Office are two other shows that I like to watch as well and I am just about to the point of not recording anything on your channel because it is almost unwatchable.


Fix your broadcast!! I am sending this to Dish Network as well so that they know you are not broadcasting a quality signal.


Name Removed
for protection
Kailua HI 96734

 

[Laddyboy]

If the other stations are getting their signal to E*, why isn't this one? I'm guessing E* picks up the signal at the PoP over-the-air given the reference to moving their transmission tower to a higher elevation. Do you know whether this station is available on D*? It may be a problem on E*'s end or it may be a self-serving email from the station. I don't know which.

 

[Pepper]

OP, you might want to edit out the personal information from that post.

 

[MilDad8]

More an issue with KHNL then with Dish...

psedwar -

This really isn't an issue with Dish as DirectTV is also having issues with KHNL. The main issue is that the only KHNL xmitter is sitting on the Makakilo ridge, and it's a flat panel direct shot straight towards Honolulu. I believe the signals are just real weak for the Dish and DirectTV PoP's (on Bishop Street) to pick up a reliable HD signal. But not to worry as I have been told that sometime in April / May KHNL will be setting up on the PBS tower (i.e. if you get 11, you will be able to get KHNL). I too had to suffer with the ProBowl in SD.


MilDad8

 

[Slamminc11]

psedwar -

This really isn't an issue with Dish as DirectTV is also having issues with KHNL. The main issue is that the only KHNL xmitter is sitting on the Makakilo ridge, and it's a flat panel direct shot straight towards Honolulu. I believe the signals are just real weak for the Dish and DirectTV PoP's (on Bishop Street) to pick up a reliable HD signal. But not to worry as I have been told that sometime in April / May KHNL will be setting up on the PBS tower (i.e. if you get 11, you will be able to get KHNL). I too had to suffer with the ProBowl in SD.


MilDad8

So I guess if we follow the mantra of the OP...

...Dish network has basically said they don't care about the Hawaii subscribers. DISH SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!...

then we have to believe that Direct doesn't care about the Hawaii subscribers eithers and thus they SUCK just as much!

 

[MilDad8]

So I guess if we follow the mantra of the OP...

then we have to believe that Direct doesn't care about the Hawaii subscribers eithers and thus they SUCK just as much!

May not be completely true - I have read on another board that they were able to get a "waiver" between the Local NBC KHNL station and DirectTV for NBC local DMA out of the west coast, so as to get the Super Bowl in HD - How true this is, I cannot verify (I have Dish).

 

[Stargazer]

psedwar -

This really isn't an issue with Dish as DirectTV is also having issues with KHNL. The main issue is that the only KHNL xmitter is sitting on the Makakilo ridge, and it's a flat panel direct shot straight towards Honolulu. I believe the signals are just real weak for the Dish and DirectTV PoP's (on Bishop Street) to pick up a reliable HD signal. But not to worry as I have been told that sometime in April / May KHNL will be setting up on the PBS tower (i.e. if you get 11, you will be able to get KHNL). I too had to suffer with the ProBowl in SD.


MilDad8

When you say that they are using a flat panel do you mean that they are using a flat panel like they use with wireless broadband connections and communications to receive the signal? If so then a parabolic dish / mesh would be better used since it would pick up less interference and have more gain. I didnt think they used flat panels to pick the signals up.

 

[MilDad8]

When you say that they are using a flat panel do you mean that they are using a flat panel like they use with wireless broadband connections and communications to receive the signal? If so then a parabolic dish / mesh would be better used since it would pick up less interference and have more gain. I didnt think they used flat panels to pick the signals up.

The "they" I was referring to was KHNL (as in the transmitter), Not the PoP.

MilDad8

 

[PEDROJOSE]

can any anyone explain whats a PoP and how does it work? tx

 

[Laddyboy]

can any anyone explain whats a PoP and how does it work? tx

point of presence, where signals are received by (fiber optic, microwave, telephone, or other OTA means) from one communications entity by another entity. So for D* and E*, they collect signals at their PoP for a geographical area and then transfer the signals to an uplink center which in turn transmits to the satellite.

 

[civicbeater]

KHNL and KFVE come off the same transmitter correct?

 

[mike123abc]

Some stations provide a fiber feed to DBS/Cable. Some it is OTA.

 

[djmaui]

I don't know if this applies to other outer islands and Oahu, but here on Maui, since the early digital switchover, KHNL is broadcasting a beautiful HD signal from the new transmission area above Ulupalakua Ranch. The signal is UHF and my 722 OTA tuner pulls it in at level 100+ via a home-made coat hanger antenna in my attic. I'm at the Pukalani end of Kula, about 12 miles from the towers.

I also get the other network channels in HD, but not KFVE. The OTA tuner in the 722 is awesome.

It seemed the only way I could find out if any HD (including NBC) was being re-broadcast on Maui was to try it myself. I was even told by KHNL that they do not broadcast on Maui in HD. Go figger.