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Tuesday, December 07, 2010

Broadcast Problems

It must be a year now since the networks changed to digital broadcasting and quite frankly WBOC, channel 16 sucks.

Look, this isn't a bashing post. While it may come off as one, the truth is the truth. ANYONE with cable and or even a converter box knows that WBOC cuts off 30, 40, 50 times per 1/2 hour show. You miss at least 1/10th of their broadcast.

Now I thought maybe it was because I was out in the middle of nowhere with a converter box and perhaps that was the problem. NOPE! I was at a Bar/Restaurant watching cable, (I asked the owner) and all of a sudden the broadcast was breaking up just as it does at my home. So I asked, isn't this annoying, does this always happen? YES!!!!!

I then spent some time at my mother in laws and low and behold, she too had the same exact problem. So, do tell me Folks, just how long are you going to continue to watch a television station that keeps breaking up, you miss 1/2 of what they're telling you, yet many are so glued to the robotic brainwashing you just continue to watch and throw remotes at the TV because it's not working?

At least it's now being discussed. It's been a year, (or so) and quite frankly my Wife and I have had enough. No more WBOC or channel 16 in this house. They don't have enough RESPECT to me as a viewer to FIX their ongoing problem, I'm not a robot. Are You?

67 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have had a digital converter box for at least a year now, and I only have a problem with WBOC 16 whenever the weather is really bad. If it starts cutting out on me, I just move the antenna to fix the problem. Simple solution that works 99% of the time.

Joseph Albero said...

WRONG! We've tried moving the antenna numerous times and it doesn't change a thing. Also, how do you explain the problem with those who have cable?

Anonymous said...

Finally, someone else notices this!!!

I gave up on WBOC over 10 years ago when they stopped me from getting CBS on DirecTV. I was told by DirecTV to contact WBOC about a waiver. I did and the person at WBOC told me that WBOC had absolutley nothing to do with us not being able to get CBS on DirecTV. That it was all DirecTV's fault and I should contact them.

I then called DirecTV again and they advised me that WBOC had directly blocked us and the only way was to get them to approve a waiver. DirecTV also pointed out that they would love to give me the local CBS because that would be more money for them. I finally asked for a waiver from both WBOC and WMDT and both stations denied them. I live in the Parsonsburg/Pittsville area so you know how dependable the signal is there. And it is not worth putting up a tower to get their signal.

Since then, I have had no use for WBOC and I do not miss all of the car and furniture commercials. I also do not miss the news because with Salisbury News and the internet I believe I am getting more timely and accurate news.

Jimmy B.

Anonymous said...

Your right Joe it's WBOC's broadcast that's the issue. They have limited network technician's that won't or can't fix it.

Anonymous said...

I stopped watching them because of this.

Anonymous said...

No one is holding a gun to your head to watch. Change the channel, move on.

Anonymous said...

It does not happen with WMDT.

Anonymous said...

your exactly right Joe....we have interruptions the wboc broadcasts all the time. Like for instance the other night I was trying to watch the wboc 5 pm broadcast on channel 5 - the cable bleep and was broke up the entire and mean entire half and hour! Frustrating

Anonymous said...

I agree it sucks we have 2 Tvs one with antenna and converter box and a new one with just antenna and neither will pick up no matter where you move the antenna.I called WBOC also and ask them why I could not purchase there signal from Dish Network they also blamed my provider.I just gave up I was to tired of fighting with them over this matter.On black friday we bought another new HDTV, I refuse to hook up a antenna on this new set so we just watch satelite tv.We do not even bother trying to watch WBOC on the other sets either it drives me nuts when you are watching Survivor or the news and it breaks up THEY SUCK

R. Budd Dwyer's .357 said...

I used to have the same problem with WBOC on Comcast until i went to Lowes and bought a video amp for $30 and ever since I haven't had a problem. I have a friend with an Antenna having the same problem, he got the amp.....no problems.

Anonymous said...

I have direct tv and switch over ocasionally to regular tv only to become so frustrated I switch back to the satellite. WBOC will come in clear as a bell for a few minutes then the picture scrambles into a bunch of little colored squares and the sound breaks up. I have never watched an entire 1 hour program without this happening. A message pops up "signal is getting weaker" then the picture goes in and out. At first I thought it was due to weather but it happens on clear, calm nights as well. I have called WBOC numerous times about this problem. I gave up calling them because the problem still exists. If I want local news I go to the internet because I can't get it on TV.

Anonymous said...

I have Mediacom in the Pines same thing. They have switch out digital boxes and it keeps happening!! The picture is there no sound.

mrtv said...

I must have the only cable connection that works. The problem is too much weather and not enugh Salisbury area news.

Anonymous said...

I love netflix on demand. Cool movies and cartoons and NO COMMERCIALS at 10/Month. I was excited to see the over the air digital coming online but the poor signal, tons of commercials, "news", and programming is just terrible. And have you noticed how the signal doesn't break up during commercials?

Anonymous said...

for those with directv, wboc, as well as other locals, are now available via sat.

dishnetwork users are still out of luck

Anonymous said...

I had trouble with the rabbit ears, but now that DirecTV has locals, I have not had a problem.I get all the locals in clearly. I had the same thing happen with the waiver, WBOC & WMDT denied it.

Anonymous said...

I live not to far from Perdue Stadium near Shavox Rd. I've had DirecTv for last 10 years and from the beginning I've spent hundreds of dollars trying various antennas to receive WBOC and WMDT. 47 finally gave me a waiver a couple of years ago and BOC never would. I have found that you constantly have to move the antenna to avoid the problem you're describing. Most current TV's have a signal strength meter and it always amazed me how much the WBOC signal would change. If I kept the signal strength about 60 no problems. Below 60 and what you're describing happened. There is definitely some kind of issue over there and they obviously don't really care. Get there advertiser's involved and perhaps something will be done.

I now have all the locals (including BOC) on the SAT and no problems at all. Good luck to you all.

Anonymous said...

If you people are using rabbit ears that is your problem. An outdoor antenna is your solution.

I have rabbit ears but in my case it is WMDT that has the weak signal.

FYI:
WBOC transmitter is located on Ralph Road west of Susan Beach Road in the southwest corner of Sussex County Delaware.

WMDT transmitter is located south of Sharptown on Snethen Road east of Sharptown Mardela Springs Road.

WCPB transmitter is located in Salisbury at Deers Head Boulevard and Amherst Road.

Sand Box John

Joseph Albero said...

Here's how I see it. They changed to digital broadcasting and the problems started. Many of us went ouot and bought the converter box simply so we could get their station. By the way, there is NO PROBLEM with receiving WMDT. Again, that's the truth. To ask everyone to go out and buy yet another part to perhaps get better reception is ridiculous. WBOC should provide that converter, period. Their advertisers should be totally ticked off because many of us have simply had enough. WMDT will get my business from here on out because we have never once had a problem receiving their station. This post is a fair warning shot to WBOC to let them know they have a very serious problem. You can't fix something you're not aware of. Well, now they know it, believe me they do.

Anonymous said...

I'n glad to see others are having the same problem here. I have cable and experience the same thing.

Anonymous said...

Joe, Have you emailed them?

when they first went to directv the signal was not in hd, an email to wboc, and they found the problem was the connection, they had direct fix it within days and all is good now

very responsive

Anonymous said...

The entire digital conversion is crappy. Please take notice of the "Godzilla" effect.....audio and video not synchronized - I see that on almost every channel now. I also see pixellation blocks all over the screen coming and going in batches. The worst part is now the commercials are louder than the regular programming. Comcast says "it's what we get - we can't change it".

Anonymous said...

ive had similiar problems. fixing the antenae works rarely. alot of times, we have to stand/sit in certain places and not move and keep the front door open to get reception. its sad.




--- word verification = howsbo

hes good thanks! lol

Anonymous said...

I watch WBOC every night in HD on cable and it has never cut out that I recall. When I've watched on a converter box it does cut out, but only when I can't get the antenna to pick up a good signal. The converter box tells how much signal I'm getting and WBOC is good when the signal is good.

Anonymous said...

Also-- the digital conversion is not WBOC's fault. It was the government, and it was to free up valuable airspace. The problem is not theirs, it is yours. If you get an antenna that is designed for digital broadcasts and possibly an amplifier you'll be fine.

Joseph Albero said...

anonymous 12:07, funny how WMDT comes in perfectly clear. But its every one else's fault.

Anonymous said...

Remember they were forced to go digital by our government it was not their choice! I am not taking their side with this just saying. WBOC sucks a a whole anymore because of they way they broadcast mostly Delaware news first and are based in Salisbury. We get so tired of hearing all Delaware news that we end up turning the channel elsewhere. As far as their signal they are fine here.

Anonymous said...

I have Dish Network and have absolutely no problems with WBOC coming in clear. My office has cable in the breakroom and we don't have any problems here either. Perhaps it is another issue?

Anonymous said...

I was having the same issues that everybody is talking about on here. All of the locals would go in and out, except on bad weather days-go figure! I installed a good over the air antenna, put it in the attic and all of my locals come in clear now, except for WMDT. That is still in and out. I have done this in two different towns w/success. Salisbury and Eden. Hope this helps.

Anonymous said...

I live in Willow Creek off Nanticoke Rd & have Direct TV. I have a $50 multi directional amp & still have a poor video signal. I have turned to 47 for local news. I do miss WBOC's NFL coverage & news though.

Anonymous said...

12:07 The issue is in WBOC and their broadcast quality they need to upgrade equipment or get someone in there to set it up correctly. The tech dept. is full of hacks.

Anonymous said...

Joe, If you are using an outdoor antenna for WBOC, try tipping the front of the antenna up and pointing it at Ralphs. WBOC tower is very close to you. Digital transmission is complex. Their antenna is up 1100 + feet in the air, the main part of their signal is passing over your house at your distance from the tower, you are probably just picking up reflections off other outbuildings, fences etc. If you tip the antenna up, you should see the signal strength bar increase. // John in Texas

Anonymous said...

Its Comcast. WBOC gets the majority of viewers so thats who they silently attack. It will only be a matter of time, before they go after WMDT also. They don't like people being able to still get 'free' TV.

Joseph Albero said...

John from Texas, thanks for the advice. However, there's nothing WBOC can provide for me that would give me any reason to go out, buy an ugly outdoor antenna just to watch pretty much everything Salisbury News provides before they do each day anyway. Seriously, I douby anyone here will do any such thing, its not worth it.

Joseph Albero said...

anonymous 12:38, that's just stupid. Whether you have cable OR a converter, WBOC doesn't come in clear.

Anonymous said...

12:38 you must be a WBOC employee. Maybe you should call Comcast so they can fix your equipment..haha

Anonymous said...

It comes in clear for us- but most everything I watch is something I have recorded via DVR- maybe that helps. I don't know. I live in Salisbury, and we have digital cable via Comcast.

Wendy said...

Perhaps I'm lucky, but I have not seen this problem with WBOC.

Joseph Albero said...

This cracks me up. So many WBOC employees trying to CYA on this Post. Look, there's NO changing anyone's mind on this. The fact is, anyone who tries to watch that channel has the problem, unless, (as some claim) you go to extremes to purchase additional equipment to see it clearly. If WBOC thinks they are so special that most people would go to thast extreme to see Salisbury News on television anyway, they're nuts. Thanks for all the internal WBOC comments though.

Anonymous said...

I have Comcast cable but I've also seen that when this is happening on WBOC, the same thing happens on Channel 13, which is our other CBS station.

Anonymous said...

Have you noticed when steve hammond breaks for the weather he turns his Back to the camera. When the girls tell the weather they turn away from the camera. I watch the larger stations where they NEVER turn their back to the camera or talk not looking at the camera. All this is just not pofessional. Have you noticed on the soap operas when they talk to each other you see both faces...its called face time.

My friend is hard of hearing and cant lip read the back of their heads.

Anonymous said...

Half the crap of WBOC of CBS shows is not in HD either. It just looks like a regular digital signal and not HD. Same for the sorry Fox 21. I love Fox 5 in Washington DC and anytime there is a FOX program WBOC takes over the FOX 5 Channel. You suck WBOC!!!!

Anonymous said...

Not too mention I HATE WBOC for blocking the Baltimore stations on cable for shows like reruns of Seinfeld. They blcok at 7pm WTTG Fox 5 channel when Seinfeld airs at 7pm. I just go ahead and watch it on TBS. I will not be forced to watch FOX 21 nor WBOC.

Anonymous said...

Just how can you prove they are WBOC internal comments ? Or is just another guess ?

Joseph Albero said...

To the person who claims they live right down the street from me and gets WBOC perfectly, obviously you know me. That being said, I invite you to come to my home this evening for the 6 PM News broadcast and see for yourself what we deal with. You'll see I have a $3,000.00 TV set as well as a converter box and there's no way you get perfect reception. You're welcome to come see what I'm talking about.By the time you leave you'll be saying, holy crud, I'd never put up with that. Oh, you're welcome to move the antenna around anywhere you like. I find it extremely sad that we've moved forward from the 1950's and 1960's, away from rabbit ears and now we have to use them just to watch Salisbury News on channel 16.

Joseph Albero said...

anonymous 1:45, thanks for making my point, Idiot.

Anonymous said...

Dear WBOC please fire your idiots and hire competent personnel .

Anonymous said...

I hardly watch tv but when I do, it certainly is not wboc. In my opinion they have no class. I come to your site first for the news then I expand.

Wboc has long had a better than thou attitude. They are just a flea on the dog of life.

Joseph Albero said...

Now I get to reject all of the personal attacks against me. Too funny. FIX THE PROBLEM and stop shooting the messenger.

On second thought, why not spend all of your time getting your own news instead of living on Salisbury News and depending on us 100%.

Anonymous said...

Not many people very happy with wboc.

Anonymous said...

This is good information. I have a small business that struggles to survive. Whenever we can we advertise on WBOC and it it very expensive. Now that I have learned so many local people are having problems I'll refrain from spending such hard earned money with a company that doesn't get the results they claim. Thanks for the heads up.

Anonymous said...

I stopped watching WBOC when that idiot from travels with Charlie went on a personal attack rampage on Bush.

Joseph Albero said...

Hey, if there's ONE good thing WBOC has it's travels with Charlie. Just my opinion.

Ironshire said...

I live in the boonies of Ironshire... love it here. There is no cable available here at all. I stuck a hi-gain UHF antenna 44' in the air and have no issues with WBOC's signal except during high winds. I've had DirecTv for years and just got the local channel option for $3.00 and, again, no issues... clear as a bell on all 3 TVs.
Don't know what all the fuss is about!

Craig Theobald
Ironshire

Anonymous said...

I don't have cable or satellite. I get the local digital channels through my DVD player. Don't have any problems at all.

Anonymous said...

I absolutely 100% agree with you. I too have a digital converter box and WBOC DOES SUCK!! I've relocated the antenna, moved the antenna ears, searched again for channels, etc. to no avail. I can be sitting on my sofa perfectly still and all of a sudden it completely goes out or get the frozen screen with a few sound bytes coming out. I hate it, hate it, hate it. I don't have access to cable out where I live. I don't watch any local channels because of it. Luckily before WBOC became Fox 21, I got the Fox feed out of New York. I may watch 2 shows a week on CBS. Otherwise I watch satellite. The only problem I have ever had with the Directv is if we are getting ready to have a thunderstorm, it will go out. I used to watch WBOC in the morning while I was getting ready for work on my bedroom tv. Not any more. It's just too frustrating of a way to start my day. They should have never switched to broadcasting in digital only to begin with. If they were still transmitting in both formats, all of us would have access to CBS with no problem.

Anonymous said...

I also have a problem with MPT. The signal strength, like WBOC's, is variable, with lots of dropouts.

Iliveindelmar said...

"Congress mandated the conversion to all-digital television broadcasting, also known as the digital television (DTV) transition, because all-digital broadcasting will free up frequencies for public safety communications (such as police, fire, and emergency rescue). Also, digital is a more efficient transmission technology that allows broadcast stations to offer improved picture and sound quality, as well as offer more programming options for consumers through multiple broadcast streams (multicasting). In addition, some of the freed up frequencies will be used for advanced commercial wireless services for consumers."


So WBOC had no choice in the matter. I live in Delmar and have no problem with WBOC coming in clear without interruption. If you're having trouble with your digital here is a link for trouble shooting. http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/troubleshootguide.html

Scott said...

Hello Joe, I had a similar problem, but found a solution. Get a good UHF antenna and put it up in your attic. Then install a signal boaster from the antenna and run the cable down to your TV. Having the antenna raised above you cuts out any interference. Once I did this, I was able to get all the local digital channels, plus some channels in Delaware and even New Jersey on a clear day! I live outside of Hebron and this worked for me.

Anonymous said...

My biggest problem with wboc is their lack of reporting any local news on the Maryland and Virginia side of Delmarva. They call themselves the Delmarva report, but there is very little "marva" in the Delmarva report. I have to turn into channel 11 news to see what is going on in Maryland government. I should not have to do this if Wboc is doing their so called job of reporting the news around this area. Wmdt tries but it is like watching high school students report the news. The experience really doesn't show.

Anonymous said...

I wish the bozos at Mediacom would stop cutting off the end of something. It happens all the time. They break to a commercial before the person on tv has finished talking. They must have their timing off but it's been going on for weeks and is annoying!

Anonymous said...

joe, I'm one of those who "lives around the corner" in Hebron Woods and have always gotten it either via comcast or antenna- both are clear.

I have no expanation except wmdt's tower is much closer to us than wboc's.

Anonymous said...

WBOC now advertises that it is available on DirecTV, but when I go to the DirecTV website and put in my zip code (Fruitland), it still says that the only local channel available is the CW. So which is it? Does it depend on where you are on the Eastern Shore?

Anonymous said...

WBOC NEWS is not worth watching unless your from Delaware. They don't cover enough local news to be called a Salisbury station even though their main studio is in Salisbury. They could learn so much about how to do a News show just by watching stations in Washington,Baltimore or Action News in Philly. They know how to do it. They have talented anchors who are wasted doing the news here. Unless they change their style it really doesn't matter if the signal is clear or not.

Anonymous said...

I only watch 1/10 of the time anyway. And never miss anything. They repeat their stories for days.

LadyLiddy said...

Hopefully, their advertisers are listening to everyone rant and will do something about it. Money talks!!!!

Anonymous said...

In my opinion WBOC should separate their three early evening time spots by states then at 10:00 and 11:30 recap the highlights. I agree
more minutes are reserved for Delaware than Maryland. Maybe WBOC has accepted the fact that if you want to hear real Maryland news you have to watch on of the Baltimore Channels.