Wallace Town USA (Taylor, Sparks: parks, place, pictures)

[Taylorcraftbc65]

Bob,
Tee and I LOVE that kind of music. All my Father's people come from the Maryville, Alcoa, and Seymour, Tennessee area. I grew up listening to that kind of music, where do you think I learned how to play Guitar?
Tee and I play "backwoods" Christian hymns, and Gospel music. She on the Mandolin, and I on the Guitar, Dobro, fiddle, Blues Harp, and Keyboards.
Send us the videos. Brie

[thespook]

That is great Brie, I grew up with that kind of music also. I think it is great that you play so many instruments. Do you play the banjo? I am trying to learn,but i am not doing too good on the banjo, I also am trying to learn the guitar but also having problems with it. I have found a teacher for the guitar. He is going to start teaching me in July. I have not been able to find a instructor for the banjo. Do you know of anyone that may be able to teach me or at least give me some pointers? I think I am on the right track, but my speed is not up where it should be. Take care, I will talk to you later.

Bob

[Taylorcraftbc65]

Bob,
Believe it or not, I have never held a Banjo in my hands. Brie

[Taylorcraftbc65]

O.K., just so that any newbies, or wannabee newbies know, the free broadcast over the air digital signal for Channels 4, 7, and 9, do NOT exist in the Cornudas, Salt Flats, or Dell City areas. I know this because I bought a brand new Magnavox digital T.V., a new RCA amplified digital antenna, (the one that looks like a four foot long propeller), and another in line signal amplifier.
After hooking all that up, (a month before the switch), I discovered that I could get all the analog signals that I got with my old analog gear, plus digital
channels 14-1, and 14-2, the two KFOX channels. I could NOT receive the digital channels for 4, 7, and 9 though, so I contacted channels 7 and 9 on their websites, and told them of the problem for us out here in this area. They responded that they were not running full power on their digital antennas, and wouldn't till the date of the switch, but not to worry, if I was receiving analog, I would receive the digital after the 12th.
Well the 12th came and went, and all of us out here that for one reason or another, must rely on over the air broadcast signals in digital format were left out in the cold.
I contacted the stations on Friday afternoon, and to date, nothing in return.
Cable out here is VERY expensive IF you can get it, and most can't. Satellite
service is FINE, I had Direct TV, and was paying over 150 a month with the premium sports channels, AND the buyer protection service plan, but when the receiver broke, they all of a sudden could not find me, and NO, I could not take it into the store to be repaired or replaced.
Needless to say, I just stopped paying for service I was not getting. If you are in Dell City proper, or your property is on, or VERY close to HWY62-180,
then you will probably get good service from Direct TV, but if not, don't hold your breath. Brie

[Taylorcraftbc65]

This morning I got a call from the engineering department at KVIA, (Channel 7, the ABC affiliate). The gentleman on the phone informed me that Channel 14, Channel 9, Channel 7, and channel 4, are all on the same mountainside, (the one with the star on it's south face).
Channel 14's antennas are the highest, right at the ridgeline, Channel 7, and 9
have their antennas a couple of hundred feet below that, and channel 4's antennas are the lowest.
It all has to do with the antenna propagation angle, as to whether the signal makes it over the Hueco Tanks, and for us, unless they run a lot more power, which they have neither the FCC's permission, OR the money to do, we will NOT receive them over the air without putting up towers a hundred feet or so into the air, only to get the antennas ripped to shreds at every one of the wind storms that are common out here.
The above is my synopsis of both what was discussed over the phone, and the gist of two E-mails that I received from KVIA which follow.

I got this at 13:40 today

I have spoken to our engineering department and they feel that probably it's
because you are so far away from us.
Please call the number below ask to speak to the engineering department and
maybe they can help you.

Debi Wilson
Front Office Manager
KVIA TV
4140 Rio Bravo
El Paso, TX 79902
Phone: 915-496-7777
Fax: 915-532-0070

And I got this at 15:40 this afternoon

Hi Bie:

I am sorry you are having problems receiving the KVIA signal. The fact that you are having trouble with Channel 9 also, indicates that your receiver is locked on the pre-transition channel assignments. KVIA and KTSM both migrated back to our analog channel assignments, while the other stations stayed on their pre-transition assignments. I don't want to get into a lot of techo-babble here, but this indicates a receiver problem.
I know that you have done this already, but try unplugging your TV set, Converter box, and or HD tuner for about 10-30 minutes. Note, just turning off the unit will not work. You have to actually unplug it so that you can cut off all the power and force the unit to come up clean. Then, try rescanning. Your set should find the new channels.
Digital signals are much more difficult than the analog ones. Try rotating your antenna a few degrees at a time, and then waiting a few seconds in between rotations to see if you can pick up our signal. We are operating at our maximum alloted power according to the FCC, so I hope you can get us. If this does not work, write back or call me here at KVIA and I will try to see if we can help you out.

Chris Swann
Operations Mgr.
KVIA TV
>
I had already tried everything that Chris Swann suggested several times a week, every week, since installing the equipment, but I tried it just once more, and got the same disappointing results. There went World News Tonight.

So, for those of you that are coming out get used to the fact that without cable, or some kind of dish service, you will only receive the two digital channels of KFOX.
Sorry that I had to be the bearer of bad news, but forewarned is forearmed. Brie

[SWSIDLO]

Brie, sorry to hear about your TV troubles - very frustrating to say the least, I'm sure. For us, when we live there, just north of 62/180 on 1437 I think we will go the dish routine as it seems to be the best (if thats possible) option. I dont think cable will be available that far out from Dell City but one never knows what it will be like in 4 years when I start to live there full time.

[thespook]

Hello Brie, I think if you disconnect the cable from the converter and scan it without the cable from the antenna, that will clear the converter. Hook up the antenna and then rescan your channels and then you should have all the channels. That worked for me. Let me know if this helps you. You may have to do this a couple of times, but it usually works the first time.
Bob

[Taylorcraftbc65]

Yesterday afternoon while I was in El Paso, I got an E-mail from Rick Vlardell.
one of the Engineers at channel nine, that included a questionaire on the specifics of the problem that we are having receiving anything other than KFOX
on broadcast out here in the Cornudas, Dell City, Salt Flats area.
I copied it, and will paste it along with my indented answers below. I will asy ONE thing for Channel nine, they are trying to find the problem, and fix it.
Brie

From: Rick Vilardell <rvilardell@ktsm.com>
To: taylorcraftbc65@yahoo.com
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 3:41:27 PM
Subject: DTV Trouble Follow-up

This is a follow-up email to check on the status of your reception of KTSM NewsChannel 9's signal. I recently sent you some information that I hope was helpful in restoring our signal to your television set.

We are in the process of compiling data about problems after the transition on June 12th so we can determine how to improve our service to you. If you haven't done so in an earlier email, please reply with the following information:

1. Address where you were/are having trouble.
1 mile W of HWY 62-180 ans RR1111 intersection in rural Hudspeth county, (about 5mi east of Cornudas,Tx.).
2. Indoor or outdoor antenna?
Outdoor, on roof
3. VHF, UHF or VHF/UHF antenna?
VHF/UHF Brand new RCA (the one that looks like a 4 foot long propeller) with amplified injector to which I added a Radio shack
10db signal amplifier downstream of the RCA injector, (that was supplied with the antenna).
4. TV or convertor box?
Brand new Magnavox digital HD T.V.
5. Brand of convertor(s) or TV(s).
Magnavox
6. Are other stations also missing?
7, 13, 38, I never really got 4 even before the switch, reception of CH 4 was probably 3x3. Ch 13 wasn't much better, 38 the same as 13. You people and 7 were 5X5 before the switch using the same antenna, and amplifier setup.
7. Have you resolved the problem?
No
8. Are your neighbors having similar problems?
The ones that must rely on broadcast signals are having the same problem.
9. Did you rescan (autoscan) for channels?
Yes, I did both a normal rescan, and a cold rescan with the TV unplugged for over two hours
10. Did the rescan help?
No
11. Is/was the signal completely gone or does it come and go?
Completely gone
Thank you!


Rick Vilardell CBTE
MIS/Engineering
KTSM TV
801 N. Oregon St.
El Paso, Texas USA 79902

[Taylorcraftbc65]

Originally Posted by thespook

Hello Brie, I think if you disconnect the cable from the converter and scan it without the cable from the antenna, that will clear the converter. Hook up the antenna and then rescan your channels and then you should have all the channels. That worked for me. Let me know if this helps you. You may have to do this a couple of times, but it usually works the first time.
Bob

Bob,
Thanks for the tip. I tried it three times, and no joy. I called the FCC, and they are sending me some official complaint forms. I spoke with one of the supervisors at the FCC DTV office, and he told me that if that get enough forms filled out by people in this area, they may authorize the stations that we lost to run more power. Channel nine told me that they have the capability, they just need the permission from the FCC.
I'll keep everyone posted. Brie

[StevesWB]

Is there anyone on this thread who lives in Antelope Acres? I'm asking because I would love to see updated pictures of the place. When I was out there there were only 3 other houses. It would be nice to see what's happened in the past 8/9 years.