Question: Why can't I get ABC on my antenna???

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Dolores

DTVUSA Rookie
#1
#1
I have switch from cable to antenna and my old TV gets all the local channels including ABC and my new TV will not get ABC Channel 15 in Mesa, AZ.
I bought the HDTV Box and they were not needed my reception is fine. I just don't understand why I am not getting ABC on my new TV.
Thank you please help.

I sent a e-mail to ABC ( ON HELP)
 
Fringe Reception

Fringe Reception

Super Moderator, Chief Content Editor
Staff member
#2
#2
:welcome: Dolores,

There could be many reasons why your ABC affiliate isn't coming in. We need to have more information to help.

First, what are you using for an antenna and where is it located? Secondly, please go to TV Fool and fill out the form as accurately as possible including your antenna's maximum possible height above ground. Then, take the survey result and post the URL here so we can study it. That website will automatically conceal your personal information.

After viewing your antenna survey we will make recommendations on how to improve your reception and we might be able to help you capture ABC.

Jim
 
scandiskwindows9x

scandiskwindows9x

Moderator of DTV Latino
#3
#3
what type of antenna are you using an indoor ear rabbits one or an rooftop antenna one, take in account that a indoor antenna just is situable if you live near of the repeater or transmitter, but if you live far away of those elements needs a rooftop antenna, and this thing is all the digital systems all over the world, all the HDTV systems in all over the world you needs a rooftop antenna for get a reliable signal reception.

i in Chile can watch certain channels with an indoor antenna but already have problems with 2 channels that do not get picked up with an indoor antenna.
 
G

Guest

Guest
#5
#5
same problem - not getting ABC

I have the same problem. What was the solution? Thank you.
 
G

Guest

Guest
#7
#7
Here is how I got ABC on our HDTV

We had this same problem. We had an analog TV with a digital box converter and we could always get ABC. When we got an HDTV, we could never pick up ABC and there was no way to search again for other channels. In our area (Spokane, WA) ABC was channel 4-1. I went to Complete List of TV Stations - Station Index and found our TV market (on the right they have Top 100 markets and small markets). I found the one for Spokane and they list all the local networks. I clicked on the ABC network and it said it was channel "4", but below that it said "DTV/HDTV Channel 13". So, on a whim, I entered channel 13-1 onto our TV and the ABC channel started working! But what was strange was that it now calls the channel 4-1 and is between channels 2 and 6 on our TV. So maybe with ABC there is something that HDTV just have to recognize to start working. Hopefully it works for you!
 
scandiskwindows9x

scandiskwindows9x

Moderator of DTV Latino
#8
#8
what converter box can pick the ABC channel in that market, because the converter boxes chipsets and the television built in turners are very different those and their sensibility to los signals or multipath situations are different, can try if your HDTV have firmware update perform an upgrade of version if not can try of determine where is the problem perhaps in the coaxial cable run is a leak which cause the little signal that get from ABC get lost through the air.
 
dkreichen1968

dkreichen1968

Moderator
Staff member
#9
#9
Guest said:
We had this same problem. We had an analog TV with a digital box converter and we could always get ABC. When we got an HDTV, we could never pick up ABC and there was no way to search again for other channels. In our area (Spokane, WA) ABC was channel 4-1. I went to Complete List of TV Stations - Station Index and found our TV market (on the right they have Top 100 markets and small markets). I found the one for Spokane and they list all the local networks. I clicked on the ABC network and it said it was channel "4", but below that it said "DTV/HDTV Channel 13". So, on a whim, I entered channel 13-1 onto our TV and the ABC channel started working! But what was strange was that it now calls the channel 4-1 and is between channels 2 and 6 on our TV. So maybe with ABC there is something that HDTV just have to recognize to start working. Hopefully it works for you!
Click to expand...
Welcome to the world of digital television. When television went digital what is called virtual channels made it possible for television stations to broadcast on different broadcast radio frequencies while retaining their historic channel. Your channel 4 is broadcast on real radio frequency channel 13, but the television shows it as 4 because that is the virtual channel. There is a very good chance that neither channel 2 or 6 are on their historical channel either (most broadcasters moved out of the low VHF channels 2-6). When you entered 13-1 into your TV, it looked at real channel 13 and found virtual channel 4.
 
G

Guest

Guest
#10
#10
Same problem HDTV won't pick up ABC - I do get CBS 2.1/2.2 NBC 4.1/4.2 etc. 7.1 = no signal. Winegard indoor 5000 something indoor antenna. Does this have something to do with UHF/VHF? Currently get 2,4,5,9,11,13 (SoCal area) with the current placement this is the best I get as far as local prime time - I do get other channels like TBN I'm interested in watching...
 
MrPogi

MrPogi

Moderator, , Webmaster of Cache Free TV
Staff member
#13
#13
Not only channel 7 ABC, but also PBS 13 and CW11 are on VHF-hi. MeTV will be on channel 3 which is VHF-lo soon if it is not already on the air. A few other VHF-lo channels are present also, but they seem to be religious or Spanish language channels you're probably not interested in.

KVNV will go on air July 31, it was formerly located in Nevada: KVNV - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
T

tithefug

DTVUSA Rookie
#14
#14
[Solved] ABC Not Coming In

Hello all,

I am having the same issue. All stations are coming in clear except ABC (virtual channel 7.1). Here is my TV Fool result [1]. As you can see, ABC is on the same tower (probably the Empire State Building, or maybe the Freedom Tower, now) as NBC, CBS, and Fox. Additionally, WWOR HD doesn't come in (9.1), only the SD (9.2) does.

Here is my roof mounted antenna and powered amplifier [2], [3]. Yesterday, I dialed in the antenna to better face the signals (which greatly improved my reception), but ABC still wasn't coming in.

Of course, as I'm doing all this research into creating a post full of details, I found out that my antenna [2] is UHF only, and ABC is broadcasting in VHF. So, it looks like I need to get a different antenna. If it weren't for this thread, I never would have found this information (or at least it would have taken a while).

Thanks!

[1] - TV Fool
[2] - Amazon.com: Antennas Direct ClearStream4 HDTV Antenna: Electronics
[3] - Amazon.com: Antra AT-PAA28 Low Noise Pre-Amplifier HDTV Pre-amp Signal Booster for UHF VHF Antenna 28dB Adjustable Gain Excellent for Long Cable running: Electronics
 
R

RF Steve

Contributor
#15
#15
You can add VHF to your CS4 the simple dipole kit might be enough to do the job.
https://www.antennasdirect.com/store/VHF-Antenna-Retrofit-Kit.html
I'd suggest adding something larger like a Y5-7-13 and using a UVSJ to combine signals.
Antennacraft by RadioShack Y5-7-13 Highband-Broadband VHF Yagi TV Antenna for Channels 7-13 (Y5-7-13) from Solid Signal
Pico Macom UVSJ UHF VHF Band Separator/Combiner for Antenna (UVSJ) from Solid Signal
If you want to put more money into the project you could use a Clearstream 5. I like the way the instructions illustrate it.
https://www.antennasdirect.com/cmss_files/attachmentlibrary/pdf/AntennDir_C5_QuickStart_r_O.pdf
If you want to add both low and high VHF use the Antennacraft CS600.
http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.as...F-FM-HD-TV-Antenna-(CS600)&c=TV Antennas&sku=
Steve
 
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T

tithefug

DTVUSA Rookie
#16
#16
RF Steve said:
You can add VHF to your CS4 the simple dipole kit might be enough to do the job.
https://www.antennasdirect.com/store/VHF-Antenna-Retrofit-Kit.html
I'd suggest adding something larger like a Y5-7-13 and using a UVSJ to combine signals.
Antennacraft by RadioShack Y5-7-13 Highband-Broadband VHF Yagi TV Antenna for Channels 7-13 (Y5-7-13) from Solid Signal
Pico Macom UVSJ UHF VHF Band Separator/Combiner for Antenna (UVSJ) from Solid Signal
If you want to put more money into the project you could use a Clearstream 5. I like the way the instructions illustrate it.
https://www.antennasdirect.com/cmss_files/attachmentlibrary/pdf/AntennDir_C5_QuickStart_r_O.pdf
If you want to add both low and high VHF use the Antennacraft CS600.
AntennaCraft by RadioShack CS600 Suburban VHF FM HD TV Antenna (CS600) from Solid Signal
Steve
Click to expand...
Thanks Steve for your quick reply.

I had actually pulled the plug on this [1] as it supported both. But, I like your option MUCH better. I cancelled my original order, and will be ordering this instead [2].

What's funny, is that prior to all of this, we still had an old VHF antenna on our house. It was HUGE, but almost certainly not digital.

Thanks again, for all your help. This just saved me about $70!

[1] - Amazon.com: Antennas Direct C2-V-CJM ClearStream 2-V Long Range UHF/VHF Indoor/Outdoor DTV Antenna with 20-Inch Mount: Electronics
[2] - Amazon.com: Antennas Direct VHF-1 VHF Retrofit Kit: Electronics
 
R

RF Steve

Contributor
#17
#17
That old huge antenna certainly would have worked for digital television signals transmitted at the frequencies it was designed for. Other then the loss of channels above 51, and stations moving to UHF or high VHF. The television transmit frequencies have not changed. Most low VHF stations moved to UHF, or high VHF. The term digital HDTV antenna is just marketing nonsense.
I hope the simple add on dipole provides enough VHF gain to do the job for you.
Steve
 
G

Guest

Guest
#20
#20
Hello, I'm having this same issue and I know this thread is old, but I did go to the link and below is my URL. I'm getting as many as 21 stations but am not getting abc at all. Thanks!

TV Fool
 
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