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

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#21
The only thing I can see not knowing what you have for antenna is the ABC signal on the posted TV fool is strong enough to cause overload on most amplifiers, or amplified antennas.
 

dkreichen1968

Moderator
Staff member
#22
Right, if you are using an amplified antenna get an unamplified VHF/UHF antenna. Most of your local stations are to the north-west so make sure your antenna is pointed that direction.
 
G

Guest

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#24
Me too!

Hi,
I too am gettings lots of channels, but no ABC. I have comcast and it's been a nightmare since the install. Issues with scrolling and flashing menus, making it near impossible to change channels at times. I've gone to the FCC with no avail, even though Comcast admits that it's a known firmware issue within the set top box. I'm a single girl with a little technical ability so I have gone and bought a Mohu in hope that it would solve the problem. I have included the link with my info below.Any help is greatly appreciated.
TV Fool
 
U

Unregistered

Guest
#25
Fix

I was having the same problem getting abc, but found a fix that worked for me. I changed my channel tuning mode from "auto" to "digital", manually turned on channel 7 under the "channel add/delete" option, then ran another channel scan. It picked up abc immediately. Under the automatic scan, it wouldn't get any signal from abc at all.
 
G

Guest

Guest
#27
Spokane 13 = 4.1

Thank you so much! We had the same problem on spokane's south hill. After trying different antennas, getting the tower coordinates we were still having trouble. Putting it on channel 13 worked. Like you, it says its on 4.1 on the screen. confused but happy. thanks so much for posting.
 
G

Guest

Guest
#29
This is exactly my problem, too, and don't see any answers posted here! Grrrrrrr! Did you ever find out?
 

SWHouston

Moderator
Staff member
#30
There's a couple things we always need, to help people out with reception issues.

1: An analysis of the reception at your location.
This is done by going to the link below, filling out the required info, and copying the bold link toward the top of the report back here in your next post.
That link is...
https://www.tvfool.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29
be sure to scroll down and enter the height of your antenna above ground.

2: What kind of Antenna you have.
If you don't know, take a picture of it, and attach it to your next post.
 
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Etep

DTVUSA Rookie
#31
Similar issue with a different channel. I had omnidirectional antenna installed by DirecTV (back before the service offered local channels) and have used it ever since.

I get all channels fine except for a digital channel that offers AntennaTV. In my market of Albany, N.Y., it's WNYA 51.2. I get WNYA 51.1 and all other channels in the market fine, but the DirecTV-installed antenna won't pick up 51.2. I get the channel crystal clear with a rabbit ear. I'm wondering if it has something to do with the age of the antenna, and the fact that this 51.2 channel has been offered only for a couple of years.

My TV Fool report: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id=51343defb5557e
 

MrPogi

Moderator, , Webmaster of Cache Free TV
Staff member
#32
51 is RF13, which the DTV antenna probably isn't designed for. But you're getting 51.1, so I would suggest you re-scan your channels and see if that adds channel 51.2
 
#33
Similar issue with a different channel. I had omnidirectional antenna installed by DirecTV (back before the service offered local channels) and have used it ever since.

I get all channels fine except for a digital channel that offers AntennaTV. In my market of Albany, N.Y., it's WNYA 51.2. I get WNYA 51.1 and all other channels in the market fine, but the DirecTV-installed antenna won't pick up 51.2. I get the channel crystal clear with a rabbit ear. I'm wondering if it has something to do with the age of the antenna, and the fact that this 51.2 channel has been offered only for a couple of years.

My TV Fool report: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id=51343defb5557e
Hi, Etep.

It looks like 51.1/51.2 is actually VHF-hi channel 13. It may be that your antenna isn't designed for VHF reception, and you're only picking up the stronger signal of the primary channel. While theoretically if you get 51.1, you should also get 51.2, the reality is that the datastream may be enough for your tuner to parse out the primary channel, but not the sub-channel. Your statement that you get the channel "crystal clear" with rabbit ears (which are meant to pick up VHF) makes me think this is likely.

Can you tell us what is the make/model of the antenna DirecTV installed? That may help some here (who are more knowledgeable than me) determine if this is the problem.

You may also want to check and see if your cable runs have splitters on them. Even if there's no cable or TV attached, the splitter will reduce your signal strength. Based on your TV Fool report this looks unlikely, but it's good to check anyway. Also make certain any connections aren't corroded and the cables themselves weren't damaged by an errant squirrel.
 
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Fringe Reception

Super Moderator, Chief Content Editor
Staff member
#34
:welcome: Etep

Are you saying you can receive both 51.1 and 51.2 using a rabbit ear antenna, but only 51.1 using the 'omni antenna' on the same TV set?

If you receive both 51.1 and 51.2 on a different TV set using the rabbit ears, you need to go back to the first TV, go into the menu and have it "scan for new channels" or "add new channels". Your digital tuner should find and add the "new" station.

Jim
 

Etep

DTVUSA Rookie
#35
Thanks, everyone, for the input.

@MrPogi, I have rescanned the channels to no avail. I get the same 19 channels (which I realize isn't bad with an antenna) but 51.2 won't show up.

@ATL Royals, unfortunately I don't know the make and model of the DirecTV antenna. It's something they sold me for $50 probably 10 or 12 years ago when they weren't offering local channels in the market (in the analog days). It's high atop my two-story townhouse, so it's not like I can access it. I also live on top of a hill with clear sight lines, so the PQ I get is outstanding on the channels I get. No splitters or squirrels that I'm aware of.

@Jim, the rabbit ears are on a different TV set. The off-air channels show up on my DirecTV grid guide (I've kept an older receiver for that purpose), and I have rescanned the locals several times over the past couple of years.
 
#36
I think your next step is to take your rabbit ears and put them on the TV that's not picking up 51.2. If it still can't parse the datastream, it may be an issue with your TV's tuner. To check, try to connect the "working" TV to the antenna on the roof. If it fails to pick up 51.2, you know the issue is the antenna or the cabling. If it still works, it's probably the tuner.

If the rabbit ears don't work, try adding channel 13 directly instead of scanning for it (many TVs have this option in the channel setup menu). Sometimes just adding channels directly is more effective than scanning for them, and for some reason sub-channels get picked up more consistently this way on many televisions.
 
G

Guest

Guest
#39
No ABC

I'm having the same problem. I'm Using the Mohu Sky 60 mounted outside. My tv fool report shows abc and cbs the same distance away 17.6 miles and CW at 22.2 miles. I get cbs fine but not abc or The CW. I have the Mohu 15db amp into the splitter about 3-4 feet from antenna. 1st tv is about 10-12 feet away. 2nd tv is about 38-42 feet away for some reason I can't post my tv fool exults here. Should I look into a 20 or 25 db gain amp?
 
#40
Hey guys! I'm in San Diego and I too am having issues with getting ABC on my antenna :( Here is my TV fool report.
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id=51345a66ef89bd

Thank you for any help you might be able to give!!
Can you tell us what antenna you're using and what if any amplification you're using? If you have a directional antenna and you're not pointing it at the southwest, you're probably going to have some issues.

You have some really strong signals. Are you using an amp/pre-amp? If you're not using a directional antenna, or if you're antenna is pointed southwest, you may be overpowering your tuner, causing ABC and maybe some other channels to have issues. Take the amp off and see if your reception for ABC improves.

Also, is it an indoor or outdoor setup? If your antenna is indoors, your own home, including the pipes, the wiring, and even the nails in the studs and screws in the drywall could be interfering with picking up VHF signals. If you can get your antenna outside with a clear line-of-sight to the broadcast towers, that will help a lot; and the higher you can get the antenna, usually the better.
 
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