I'm in Parkrose, which clearly is a dead spot for DTV. This last weekend, I was able to get KOIN HD, in Forest fricking Grove, on just the little 5" mag mount antenna that came with my HDTV PC tuner.

Been quite impressed with the overall quality of DTV offerings. Damn shame about "The Tube" too. Liked it, when I could watch it...

Really hoping the digital radio efforts, emulate the DTV ones, and incorporate streaming program guides.

That's it, just home sick and rambling, and would be watching a little DTV, if I could!

Heck, I'm suprised that you can't get more DTV signals. Here in the bottom of a deep valley, about 80km SW of PDX, with a mid-grade Channel Master antenna, a coaxial line amp and 50 metres of RG-6QS coax, I'm able to get DTV from KATU, KOIN, KPXG, KNMT, and KRCW.(14 channels in all if you count KRCW's "Tube" announcement and KOIN's SD digital feed.) I am also using the same antenna to get most of the HD Radio streams out of Portland. Since the weather turned wetter, I can now get the stuff off the Stonhenge Tower, except for the one I want want most--'NRK.(maybe the Entercom folks changed something up there--I'm not sure) If I turn the antenna to the south I can get KOAC, KEZI and KMTR's digital channels.

I'm surprised that so close to (actually IN) PDX that you aren't able to get the full spate of DTV channels. Must be an area of multipath. Multipath is not kind at all to DTV signals, especially UHF ones.

I'm looking forward to 2009, when KGW, KOPB and KPTV move their respective digital signals to their current VHF assignments. Then I will be probably be able to get them.

On some DTV tuners, there is a programme guide(not sure how it works) My first generation RCA set top box has an actual guide, but my "more modern" el-cheapo 27" RCA tube SDTV with ATSC tuner just has an "info" button to push that diplays the currently playing programme and a short decription.

My main TV choice currently is Star Choice satellite, which I now pay 10-15% more for now than when I started subscribing, due to the rising Canadian dollar.

Qpatrick~
"[My system] just has an "info" button to push that diplays the currently playing programme and a short decription."

Mine too. Kinda sucks because The Columbian's current excuse for a TV magazine doesn't have any digital TV listings, except (of course) those for the main channel.

My old Humax receiver which ganst kaput a few years ago did have a rather decent EPG; the interface itself kinda' resembled what is currently available on some of the Echostar/Dish Net hardware. (From what I understand, *very similar* to Star Choice hardware.)

DXing--
I was able to pull in KVAL briefly in June, but it kept dropping out continuously; being on channel 25 (and considering my location) I can surmise that it was being knocked out by KNMT's sidebands. Did get enough signal to confirm its existance, tho.

I have also been able to pull in KOAC periodically on 39 by turning my antenna somewhat (and adjusting my amplifier) but that's about all the DXing I have really been able to do on DTV........at the time being, anyways.................

Turning to the north. Has anyone been able to DX KCKA digital 19 channel. I can remember when KCKA first came on the air. It put ok weak signal into Portland area.

Saying of KCKA, I have been able to receive KBTC's NTSC channel 15 at home occasionally. The picture tends to be extremely scratchy (almost impossible to make out) but the sound can be heard *very* clearly, and sometimes in stereo. I can even hear it on my police scanner, on 481.7825MHz (can't get it on .750, for some reason. Atmospheric drift??)

I have never been able to copy its ATSC on 19 tho.

I would presume it wouldn't be too difficult, as 15/19 are in Centralia (last I heard) and that's only about an hour and a half north of Vancouver, not too incredibly far away. (I even have to drive up there sometimes doing "courier duty" for work.....)

But then again, I guess I haven't tried hard enough.................. ;o)

KCKA 15 is not in stereo also no SAP either I get perfect reception of them on a daily basis. Can't say anything about KCKA-DT as I don't have a DTV tuner at this time. The assumption of them being in Centralia is correct although their transmitter site is really on Buckhorn Mtn near Toledo and Winlock

I have never detected a SAP channel on 15 either. If KBTC isn't in stereo, I kinda wonder what was tripping my stereo demodulator then??

I think it may have been computer noise.....in the next room over from the den downstairs (like, right on the other side of the wall from the TV set!) there used to be an old IBM Aptiva with a 450 MHz processor in it that ran constantly. Still does, although it's in another room now. ;o)

May have been noise generated by the computer that confused the TV into thinking there was a pilot on that freq. perhaps.............

Used to have one of those. One with the seperate remote bay for the CD drive and floppy disk. May still be in the garage. You want it for parts if I do?

No thanks....I don't even use it anymore myself, really.

Just curious, tho--is yours a 2158? With the two CD drive bays and top floppy drive bay hidden behind the swing-out cover on the front panel?

http://www.ciao.co.uk/IBM_Aptiva_2158__17367 < --1999 model, this is the one they have at home.

I junked the massive old "Quantum Bigfoot" hard drive some years ago, now have a CD recorder in the bay where the old HDD used to sit. Now it has a Western Digital 40-gig somethingorother HDD in the upper floppy bay. (I think it's a Caviar drive, can't remember for ceratin.)

got an older machine here an IBM 300PL from 1999 which runs at about 600 MHz use that one mainly for radio it is running UI View which is an APRS program now. Also an old Pentium at 133 MHz just need a new heatsink and cooling fan for that one it too have a Western Digital Caviar hard drive which holds a spectacular 650 MB it is over 10 years old and still in perfect condition.