We bought a new digital TV at X-mas time and we do not receive consistent signal and lately none at all. The digital stations we did get were 5.1, 5.2 and occasionally the PBS HDTV. Can you help us solve this?
Since your question referenced the channel numbers of WABI-TV and Maine Public Broadcasting, I asked officials at those two stations to offer some suggestions. Their responses are below:
WABI: I've had a few cases like this: first they get us, then they don't. A number of things COULD be wrong, so it's a guessing game at this point. If they haven't changed anything, I'd first try scanning for channels again. It's possible that, for some reason, the set lost its programming. They should also check antennaweb.org to be sure that they were not just "lucky" to have grabbed the signals the first time. Do they have the right antenna for the job and is it correctly aimed to get the best signal?
Another possibility, which may be a bigger problem, is that they have a lot of trees in the area and that as foliage has filled in, the digital signals are having trouble getting through. That's the worst-case scenario, and I'm not sure how to solve that. Hopefully, this isn't the problem, or, if so, maybe a new antenna or re-orienting the antenna will help. Honestly, it's impossible to be sure about what's wrong, without trying a few things.
MPBN: You are in between all the stations. The transmitters for WABI-TV and MPBN are located on Dixmont Mountain between Bangor and Waterville. The other stations' transmitters in Bangor are north and east of the city, and the Portland stations' transmitters are west of that city in Raymond and Sebago. This is why you have had some luck with MPBN and WABI.
Questions always lead to more questions. Let me give some helpful hints without knowing too many specifics of your situation. No one likes them, but outside antennas are always the best. Think of TV signals as beams of light, they behave the same way. When you try to receive a TV signal in your home, it is like looking through a frosted window pane. The building blocks and diffuses most of the light. Moving outside clears up the ability of the antenna to see the signal. Still using the light analogy, once the signal gets through the wall of your home, the hard surfaces and foil insulation act like mirrors bouncing the signal around. This causes other issues and is why sometimes you would hold on to your rabbit ears and the picture would be okay. Let go and move away, the picture would get bad.
Now you are saying you never had this problem in analog. You are right, but as in all things in life, change makes some things better and others worse. In digital, when you get the signal it is great, no ghosts, no noise, better color etc. When you cannot get the digital signal, you get nothing.
In digital reception the disturbances that you lived with watching TV on rabbit ears may not allow the receiver to decode the picture. It is like a badly scratched CD, it isn't noisy and bad-sounding; it just will not work.
So I recommend a couple things.
1. Try to move your indoor antenna near a window, even if you have to extend the cable. Like sunlight, the window lets more of the signal in than a wall.
2. If at all possible, use an outside antenna.
3. Whatever you do, use coaxial cable from your antenna to your tuner, set top box, or TV. This is the round cable with the screw-on connector.
4. Signal strength (how noisy the signal is) is of less concern than ghosting. While many of the analog transmitters are on the air, you can adjust your antenna looking at the analog and set it for the least amount of ghosts.
5. Several companies are getting ready to market smart antennas. These antennas will automatically adjust for best reception. They are expected to sell for around $40 to $50. They are not available yet and I am not sure when they will be. Until then we are stuck with manually adjusting the signal.
6. Last, and I tell this to everyone, if you can afford cable or satellite, order the minimum package, broadcast signals only, around Christmas time. Let the transition date pass and try to get reception after the transition is over. Many of us [TV stations] will be upgrading systems, changing channels, etc. If it works, great. If not, you may need to work a little harder to get the signals but you will not be in the dark during this transitional period.
7. Months after the transition is over, it will be like Y2K is in our memories now.
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