Local Seattle Channels in HD
 

ABC KOMO-HD

NBC KING-HD

CBS KIRO-HD
FOX KCPQ HD PBS-HD  
Many of you have asked how they can see the local Seattle channels in HD (High Definition).
 
Channels Descrambled
As a temporary test, we have also descrambled the HD and SD (Standard Definition) Digital Feeds for ABC-KOMO, CBS-KIRO, NBC-KING & FOX-KCPQ & PBS-HD. Other Channels available only in SD Digital Feeds that are also descrambled are: KONG, PAX, UPN, WB & King 5 Weather Plus.
 
Here is where each channel is found.
   
HD Digital Feeds:  

NBC-KING HD
PBS-HD
CBS-KIRO HD 

ABC-KOMO HD 

FOX-KCPQ HD 

   86-1 The Winter Olympics Location
105-1
113-1
114-1
115-1
   
SD (Standard Definition) Digital Feeds  

PAX-KWPX 

King 5 Weather Plus 

CBS-KIRO
KONG
NBC-KING
UPN-KSTW
FOX-KCPQ
ABC-KOMO

WB-KTWB

 112-1
112-2
112-3
112-4
112-5
112-6
112-7
112-8
112-9

Requirements: To watch HD without Digital TV service and without a Set-top-box you will need:
 

 

  1. A HD TV with a built in digital QAM tuner (see “About HD TV Sets” below).

    Note: LocalTel does not sell HDTV’s so we will not be able to answer all the questions you may have about your set. Please refer to you Instruction Manual that came with your TV or contact your manufacturer for support, not LocalTel.
     
  2. Live in Chelan County.
  3. Already have Existing & Lit Chelan County PUD Fiber.
  4. Have Expanded TV service from LocalTel.
   
About HD TV Sets. HDTV’s come with a built in digital tuner or without a built-in tuner.  The built-in digital tuners are more expensive than the ones that come without the digital tuners.  Most HD TV’s that have a built-in digital tuner have both a ATSC tuner mode and a QAM tuner mode. The ATSC mode allows the tuner to get Off-Air Digital Channels (not available in Chelan County).  The QAM mode allows TV’s to connect to cable using a Cable Card (sometimes called Smart Cards) to descramble the digital channels instead of a separate set-top-box. If your HDTV has a Cable Card Slot, it more than likely has a QAM tuner.  If the channels are not scrambled to begin with, these models do-not require a Cable Card to operate.  This is what we have done for the Superbowl, we have de-scrambled the HD digital feeds on our cable TV system for NBC KING HD out of Seattle thus allowing you to watch the NBC HD feed using your built in digital tuner without a Cable Card.

Testing: We have successfully tested, 2005/2006 JVC, Samsung, and Toshiba HDTV models with built in Tuners at Sav-Mart. If you are planning to buy a HDTV and would like a demonstration of how this technology works we recommend you go to Sav-Mart and see the dozens of HDTV’s they have as well as take a look at LocalTel Fiber TV Service which they are showcasing. If you have not purchased your TV at Sav-Mart please don’t ask for Tech Support from them.
 

Note: Because there are so many HDTV’s built in tuners, LocalTel does NOT guarantee that your HDTV with a built in Digital Tuner will be able to function without a Cable Card or to receive the HD Feed at all
 

Finding The HD Feed: Once you Have a HD TV with a built-in Tuner and Expanded TV from LocalTel do the following to find the KOMO-ABC HD Feed:
 

 

  1. Connecting your TV- Plug in your Cable TV Coaxial into the “Cable In” terminal (sometimes labeled “Cable” or “ATSC In”) on your HDTV. It is important that you connect your TV to the input terminal that feeds directly into your built in digital tuner. If you use any other terminal/s (such as DVD, computer or VCR inputs) the HD feed will probably not work.

     
  2. Selecting the Input Source- Once you have connected Cable TV Coaxial you will have to select the input source. This will direct the TV where to find the channels you are looking for by activating the terminal you plugged the Cable TV Coaxial into. Some HDTV’s automatically choose that source for you while others require that you select the input source manually. Some TV’s label the input source as Cable while others are labeled Input Source 1, 2, 3 or Ant 1, 2 etc. Read your TV manual to determine the proper input source to select for Cable/Digital.
     
  3. Using your remote control- Most remote controls are universal and multifunctional often controlling many devices (such as TV’s VCR’s DVD’s). To find the HD Feeds make sure the remote control is in the Digital TV Mode. Some remotes automatically select this mode based on the input source, while others require that you select the digital mode sometimes labeled cabl/sat. (on some JVC’s there is a DA button that switches you from Digital to Analog modes, this must be in the Digital mode).

    Hint - If you punch in a channel number and choose Select and nothing happens, your remote is probably in the wrong mode.

 

  1. Choosing the Correct Channel Step 1 -Once the remote control has selected the digital mode (on many sets the onscreen channel digits change colors between the two modes i.e. Yellow to Blue.)  Select channel 86 and wait for the channel to come up.  This could take up to 5 seconds or more for your TV to find the proper channel frequency.

 

  1. Choosing the Correct Channel Step 2 -Once channel 86 comes up (it will probably be white and snowy) use your channel-up button on your remote to move to channel 86-1. This will be the location of the NBC-KING HD Feed for the Winter Olympics. 

    Note: This was the only way we were successful in selecting the channel 86-1 position on all the TV sets we tested. There is probably a shortcut to this process that is specific to your TV, read your TV manual to discover the shortcut.

 

  1. Adding this Channel to your TV Channel Map. To easily move back to this channel from other channels you must add this channel to your TV Channel Map. This Map is most often set up by selecting the Auto Tuner Set-up function when you initially set up your TV.  Some TV’s will automatically add new channels found to this list, while others you have to add them manually. Also, some TV’s will not look on the upper Digital Spectrums for additional channels like 86-1; so you may have to add these channels to your TV Channel Map manually. Read your TV manual to determine how your TV adds channels.
 
Note: Remember that the original content must be filmed in HD for the HD feed to properly work. So if you are testing the HD feed it may not come up in HD quality because the original content was not filmed in HD. Also many commercials are not filmed in HD. Most prime-time shows are now filmed in HD.
 
Note: The original analog Expanded channels will still be available to you while in the digital mode, but we discovered they were not as clear as in the analog mode. (you can experiment between the two to discover which mode works best for you.)