KFOR Drops HD Signal Every Time They Put Up A Weather Map

[Thunder]

Nevermind, Thunder.

The PM was sent to my inbox, again.

Lighten up, man!

Hey, I didn't send you anything and what have I done?

All I mentioned was a post being out of line, not the person, regarding who controls the map on our TV screen.

[Luke]

Hey, I didn't send you anything and what have I done?

All I mentioned was a post being out of line, not the person, regarding who controls the map on our TV screen.

Not you!

I was warning you that OKCisOK4me might send you a PM because you called him an idiot.

And he sent me a PM again.

I was just telling OKCisOK4me to lighten up a little.

[Thunder]

Not you!

I was warning you that OKCisOK4me might send you a PM because you called him an idiot.

And he sent me a PM again.

I was just telling OKCisOK4me to lighten up a little.

I meant the post, not him as a person. I don't know him, so I commented on the post.

I apologize for any trouble.

[Centerback]

Well I wish someone at fox would call KOCO or KWTV and find out how to remain in HD while warning the OKC market about weather warnings in Bartlesville during American Idol. I needs my AI in full HD!

[SoonerDave]

I'm no expert, but this problem is a matter of equipment. I may not have all the details correct, but what it boils down to is this: The local broadcasting station needs to be able to *originate* an HD signal from its source material in order to overlay other HD material, then send out the composited picture. Although this is an oversimplification, you can't send out anything better (higher res) than the lowest-resolution component in the mix, which then constrains the whole picture to that resolution.

If the local station can generate (not merely rebroadcast) only an SD image, they have to recomposite the HD feed with it, but to do that, they have to take either the SD signal or downconvert the HD signal, overlay their additional SD content, then send it down the pipe.

The ability to originate HD material is a matter of switching and equipment expense. The ability of KWTV and KOCO to overcome this problem probably suggests they're getting closer to original HD broadcasts of local news, while CH 4 isn't quite there yet. Don't know that for a fact, just a guesstimation.

As far as the value of the weathermaps, a statewide image of a "storm watch" map is all-but useless in terms of "protecting" anyone. Our "weathermen" have done a splendid job of engendering a sufficiently wide swath of hysteria and fear in the public at the mere sight of a cloud, so now we get a quarter of the screen covered with the nonsense. Alas. Jumping on Oklahoma televsion and yellling "Potential Storm!" is the contemporary equivalent of yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theater.