Frequently Asked Questions: Reception
Over-the-Air reception of San Diego 6's HDTV digital broadcasts
Cable Reception of San Diego 6's HDTV broadcasts
Satellite Reception
Over-the-Air Reception of Channel 6 (analog)
Other Technical Questions About our Broadcasts
Got a question for our Engineering department? Ask it here.
About Over-the-Air reception
of San Diego 6's digital broadcasts
Are
you broadcasting in high definition?
Yes, we broadcast all available HDTV shows. In order to watch our HDTV broadcasts, you must
have a TV or monitor capable of displaying high
definition video, and a set-top box or integrated tuner to convert the
signals to video and audio. If you are watching a new flat-screen TV
using a cable, satellite, or over-the-air tuner, make sure you are
using the proper HDMI or component cables--regular video cables with
the yellow-end connectors won't pass high definition video.
Our high definition format is 720p. That's
720 lines of resolution with progressive scanning. You don't have to
know what that means to enjoy the sharpness and clarity of the picture.
Can
I
receive your digital broadcasts over-the-air with my old TV set?
Yes you can! Note that this won't be HDTV (high definition). You can't display high def pictures on a low def TV.
The U.S. government will buy you a converter so you receive digital TV on your old analog TV. Go to
the TV Converter Box
Coupon Program website and sign-up to have up to two coupons
sent to your home. With those coupons, you can go to any certified
supplier and buy discounted converters that will take our channel 23
digital signal and convert it to audio and video for your viewing
pleasure. With a good antenna system, you will get far better pictures
than you were accustomed to watching before. They won't be in high
definition, but if you are happy with the picture, so are we.
Once you get your coupon, you can redeem it at
local dealers who carry the proper converters, like Radio Shack,
Walmart, Sears, and Fry's. There are several online distributors who
can remdeem the coupons as well. Be prepared to give the dealer the
code number from the coupon.
One converter we've tried and like is the DigitalStream DSP-7700T. One
thing we like about this product
is that it goes into bypass when powered off, allowing you to receive
the many analog stations that will exist when most U.S. digital
stations sign-off next year. Another converter box, sold by Dish
Network and arriving in late June 2008, will be free to those of you
with $40 coupons. Redeem them wherever Dish Network systems are
sold, including Radio Shack stores.
Can
I receive HDTV without having to pay for cable or satellite?
Yes you can! We're on UHF channel 23
broadcasting from Mt. San Antonio in Tijuana, Mexico, using full legal
power of 403kW ERP, directed primarily northward. On most digital
receivers, our digital channel will be displayed as "6.1" or "6-1." Our
analog channel will be displayed as "6.0" or "6-0." San Diego viewers
can receive up to eight local digital TV signals over-the-air using a
relatively small antenna. Receiving all eight stations at a time can be
challenging because unlike most cities, San Diego area digital TV
stations are currently located on three separate mountains.
If you don't want to hire a professional, your first step should be to predict
what kind of reception you could get from your home. Go to Antennaweb.org
and click on "Choose an antenna." Enter your home address (email
address and other information is not required). You will receive a list
of TV stations the computer predicts you can receive at your home
address, and in what directions those stations reside. In all cases,
you may be able to receive
all stations listed with the largest of antennas and a rotator you're
willing to control when you change station. That's worst case. In fact,
any station with BLUE or PURPLE color on the chart will require great
care to receive.
Another, more technically oriented
signal finder webpage is TVFool.com.
This site will even tell you how high you should place your antenna to
get line-of-sight reception. They don't give you any advice on
antennas, though, assuming instead that you already know what to use.
Let's say you live in central San Diego,
somewhere between Clairemont or Tierrasanta to the north and National
City to the SDSU area south. Add, perhaps, Chula Vista and the higher
elevations of Mira Mesa. You will install a relatively small Channel
Master 4221 or
Winegard HD-4400 four-element bowtie array on a mast with rotator to receive
the UHF digital TV stations.
Unfortunately, the best outdoor antennas
are not readily available. Elkays Electronics and AmeriSat in
Kearny Mesa, and Willy's Electronics in Kearny Mesa or National City
are the only
places we know of that carry these fine antennas. If you are buying at
a home projects or another electronics store, you have the wrong
antenna. Other specialized
antennas are available via mailorder.
You may also use an indoor antenna in
this zone, but your reception may be compromised, and often, you will
have to get off your couch to move the antenna when you change
channels. A highly recommended antenna for this case is the
Philips/Zenith/Gemini Silver Sensor.
Check out Fry's or Circuit City for this antenna, though these and most
box stores prefer selling worse performing antennas that cost more, so
this model is hard to find.
If you live in the outer suburbs of
North or East County, you will probably need a good rooftop antenna
with a 5' or higher mast. Again, we recommend the Channel Master 4221
or Winegard HD-4400 four-element bowtie array. Those of you in
Scripps Ranch or farther east will need a rotator. In Rancho Bernardo
and points west and north, you do not need a rotator to receive all of
the local stations if you use the recommended antenna. If you use a
"yagi" design instead, you're on your own. Along the coast, you can use the higher gain 8-bowtie antenna like the
Winegard HD-8800, Channel Master 4228, or Antennas Direct DB8. Or
choose a yagi-style high-gain consumer antenna like the Winegard
HD9095P or Antennas Direct 91XG. If all this talk about
antennas on your roof makes you nervous, pay the going cable rate.
Many of you will get a chart from
Antennaweb.org that shows only purple. You live in a canyon or behind a
mountain. You will embrace cable or
satellite TV. Get to know and love your cable or satellite TV box. It
is your friend. You will likely be frustrated if you attempt to receive
TV, even with an outdoor antenna on a giant tower.
May
I install an antenna even if I live in a subdivision with homeowner's
restrictions on roof-mounted antennas?
Yes, usually you may. The FCC Telecommunications Act of 1996 preempts
local governance of outdoor antennas with few exceptions. The FCC has a
useful information page where you
can learn more. I don't need to tell you that it's a good idea to work
with your landlord or homeowner's association first to head off a nasty
battle. Sometimes when that sewer backs up, it's good to have friends
in high places, if you know what I mean.
All southern California
digital TV stations but one are on UHF channels. Because UHF reception requires
much smaller antennas than VHF, you don't have to install your father's
monster antenna. Our top recommended antenna is a Winegard PR-4400,
about 34 inches high and 22 inches wide. The more directional PR-9032
has an even lower profile, although it is several feet long.
Can
I get help installing an antenna?
Look at "Antennas" in the telephone book Yellow Pages™. Many
of these listings are for satellite antenna installers, but some of those are pros at installing over-the-air antennas as well.
Where
can I find advice about my HDTV installation?
A tremendous resource for San Diego viewers is on the web at http://hdtv.forsandiego.com.
There's a wealth of useful information for best ways of dealing with
reception in your neighborhood, and sticky issues with bleeding edge
equipment.
About Cable Reception
On
which cable systems can I receive San Diego 6's HDTV signals?
Cox Cable and Time Warner Cable in
San Diego County carry our digital transmissions.
Will
it cost extra to receive cable HDTV?
If you want the most convenient
reception or recording capabilities, you will need a cable
company-supplied set-top box that you will have to pay a small rental
fee for. If you consider how fast technology changes, this rental fee
may actually be the most economical way to view HDTV signals.
In theory, your local digital TV
stations are available to subscribers of the very lowest tier of
service at about $12 per month. At that cost, you would have to provide
your own set-top box or TV with built-in QAM tuner. Support for reception this way is poor, and
you may be required to re-scan for stations when the cable company
re-allocates channels. But if you are cheap and enjoy the challenge of
"beating the system," you could do worse. Some TVs, notably Sony, now
offer built-in DTV tuners with CableCard slots. These TVs can receive
free HDTV channels without external boxes. Adding a cable TV company
furnished CableCard will allow you to access pay channels without an
external set-top box.
About Satellite Reception
of San Diego 6
Can I receive San Diego 6's HDTV signals via satellite?
Yes you can! We're on DirecTV, but not currently on Dish Network.
In order to receive local HDTV stations including San Diego 6 via DirecTV, you need a special five-LNB dish and receiver. You can get these from your DirecTV supplier. You cannot receive our signal via satellite unless you have this special equipment.
May I get a waiver so that I can watch East Coast TV?
No. Sorry.
All of the local TV stations just went blank on my satellite dish. What happened?
There are are just a few reasons why you might experience a complete loss of signal:
-
Your puppy just chewed through the cable.
-
In a torrential downpour of rain. Large
droplets of rain absorb much of the satellite beam.
-
Twice a year,
the sun lines up with the satellite in such a way that the sun
overpowers your satellite receiver with radio signals. This occurs for
about 10-15 minutes during midday for a few days in March or April and
September or October.
-
Big gusts of wind can blow your receive dish
out of alignment.
About San Diego 6 Over-the-Air
Reception
Is
channel 6
shutting down in February 2009?
No. Because we have a Mexican
license, we don't have to shutdown the analog service until many years later. We
still believe you will prefer our digital service better, so we
recommend purchasing a converter
or HDTV in order to enjoy the best TV picture.
I
don't have cable TV. How can I get better reception of Channel 6?
If you live north of Interstate 8, you
will probably need something better than rabbit ears to get a usable
picture on channel 6. If you are located on a hill with a plain view of
the distant horizon south, you should be able to receive channel 6 with
a large antenna like the Winegard PR-7052. Note that
channel 6 is more susceptible to the noise and interference than other
channels in San Diego. You may consider alternately receiving our
digital channel using techniques discussed above.
Can
I receive San Diego 6 on my car radio?
Yes, most people in the greater San
Diego and Tijuana area can receive us on 87.7 MHz on your FM radio.
Give it a try! Just turn it up and enjoy. And that signal will continue
for the foreseeable future--we aren't turning it off in February
2009.
When
I listen to San Diego 6 TV on my FM radio, why is the audio volume so much
lower than that of FM radio stations?
We agree that having to turn up the
volume on 87.7 FM is annoying. When the FCC and communications
scientists came up with the standards for FM broadcasting in the late
1940s, they were afraid that if they turned up the volume on TV audio,
it would interfere with the video portion of the picture. So they
decided to limit TV audio to one-third of the frequency modulation (FM)
of that allowed for FM audio-only broadcasters. This makes it much
lower in volume at the radio end. It's a fortunate coincidence for us
that you can pickup TV audio on the FM band for channel 6 because it's
so close to the FM band, but that fortunate coincidence comes with the
price of having to "turn it up" every time you switch to our signal
because of the slight incompatibility. You also can't hear our audio in
stereo unless you have a regular TV tuner.
I
live north of downtown San Diego and get lines in my
TV picture or hear garbled audio. What's going on?
You may be receiving interference from
KSDS (FM). Their tower is on the campus of Mesa College in Linda Vista
and their
signal may overwhelm your TV when tuned to San Diego 6 and receiving us via
an antenna or rabbit ears. You may be able to reduce the interference
if you use a horizontal rooftop TV antenna instead of rabbit ears,
especially if you are not located directly north of Mesa College.
Having cable TV should eliminate the problem. Better yet, try our digital service by purchasing a converter
or HDTV in order to enjoy the best TV picture. An
FM-trap device will help if you don't have the digital converter. KSDS
can provide the trap by contacting them at (619) 388-4440.
I live
near San Ysidro, am a Cox Cable subscriber, and a second, ghost-like
image of
San Diego 6 is in my TV picture. The other channels are fine. Can this be
fixed?
You have what they call "cable ingress"
or leakage, which means the over-the-air signal from our transmitter in
Tijuana is interfering with the channel 6 signal on cable. It's a
common problem cable companies have a great deal of experience with and
know how to fix. Cox Cable has to deal with this issue because while
the signal is leaking in, it's also leaking out. They could be
interfering with aircraft radios and other services.
There may be a few things you can do to
fix the problem yourself. The most common cause of this is that people
install their own TV cables. Before you call the cable company, make
sure that you have absolutely zero cheap cables. You must not have any
push-on cable connectors. You must not have any of the short, poorly
shielded cables that come with VCRs and similar products. You must not
have any RG-59 or unmarked cable. All cables must be foil shielded, labeled RG-6, and have properly crimped connectors. All cables must be very tightly
installed. I use a small wrench to give it a little cinch, just past
finger tight. If you think you have violated any of these principles,
call Cox and ask if you can get from them some replacement cables after
estimating the lengths you need. They like to have you use their
cables--it's much cheaper than sending a truck.
If you still have problems after
inspecting your own house, the problem could be a few loose connections
on the street. Call the Cox Cable customer service number and ask
nicely that they fix the problem. Be persistent. Like all service
companies, we find that the cable companies treat our viewers with
respect when they are friendly with the operators and ask, rather than
demand, help.
About Other San Diego 6
Technical Questions
Why am I hearing your broadcast in
Spanish? Why do I hear a tone instead of my program?
You heard a tone, or a program in
Spanish language, because your child pulled a prank on you and changed
the audio mode on your TV to "SAP." If you have no children, then you
should watch more carefully where you sit next time--your remote
control is not a seat cushion. The Second Audio Program channel is used for Spanish language broadcasts.
You can fix this by using your remote
control. Press the MENU button, find the AUDIO mode, and change from SAP
to NORMAL or STEREO or MPX. Our master control staff purposely puts
tone on the SAP to make it so annoying that you will run to your TV
instruction manual to figure out how to change the audio mode back to
normal.
Why is there so much difference between
soft and loud parts of your programming? Why are commercials so loud?
With
TV viewing approaching the experience of a movie theater, there is much
greater dynamic range with digital television. We understand that this
does not please everyone. There are ways to defeat this in order to
make whispers the same audio level as the music crescendos. Many
current TVs and many amplifiers have
a built-in limiter so that you can change the dynamic range to meet
your own taste or lifestyle circumstances. Check out your manuals to
see if you have a NIGHT or LIMITER or AUTOMATIC VOLUME CONTROL
listening mode option.
Also, make sure if you are using a theater sound
system on which you don't have SURROUND mode engaged while
listening to TV when a specific surround program is not being
broadcast. SURROUND mode greatly distorts the presentation of stereo
material, and will boost the music unnaturally, burying the dialog. Use
STEREO mode except for NFL games and some entertainment specials
specifically labeled for surround sound.
Note that we do not control
audio from HDTV programming--content passes through our systems
without altering either audio or video.
Rarely, people will have
their stereo systems miswired such that the speakers are out-of-phase
or their middle front speaker is missing from their surround sound
system. Either of these conditions will cause the stereo music of a
commercial to be MUCH louder than the monaural speech during the news.
During sports, it will sound as if the announcer's audio is being
buried in music and crowd noise. If your middle speaker is missing,
either install it or run your amplifier in STEREO mode rather than in
SURROUND mode. If you have stereo speakers out-of-phase, you can fix it
by swapping the + and - terminals on one of the speakers at either the
speaker or amplifier end. If you still aren't satisfied, you need the
help of the nearest available geek relative.
Commercials are often designed
by their producers to be loud. They may have their dynamic range
greatly reduced to make them "stand out" in a sea of different sounds.
We limit every audio source to be no louder than a certain amount, but
when commercial sound editors record audio that is on average much
louder than the average dialog level of other programming, there's not
a lot we can do.
Can I receive San Diego 6 on my computer using an internet stream?
Due to copyright issues with all of our commercial,
network, and syndication providers, San Diego 6 cannot provide
full-time streaming audio and/or video at this time.
If you wish to receive our audio feed at work, you
may be able to pick up our FM signal on 87.75 MHz using a high quality
portable radio. This is the signal in the San Diego area at the very
bottom of the FM band. Note that the signal may be very weak in canyons
and steel-reinforced buildings, so your radio under these conditions
must be the best. We recommend the GE Superadio III or some of the
radios available from C. Crane Company. Adding a dipole or outdoor
antenna will improve reception on just about any radio.
Still
need help?
Have a technical question not answered above, or just want to give us your feedback? Fill out the form below to contact our Engineering department, or click here for other contacts.
Bugged by interference to your San Diego 6 TV signal?
If you live in the Linda Vista, Clairemont, or University City area of San Diego, and are having troubles receiving San Diego 6 over-the-air, you may be receiving interference from KSDS (FM). Their tower is on the campus of Mesa College and their recently upgraded signal may overwhelm your TV when tuned to San Diego 6.
You may be able to reduce the interference if you use a horizontal rooftop TV antenna instead of rabbit ears, especially if you are not located directly north of Mesa College. Having cable TV should eliminate the problem, but if you have interference on cable, call Time Warner cable to have them fix your wiring. An FM-trap device purchased from Radio Shack or provided by KSDS may also help. Contact us using the form below if you would like help with this problem.
