Ok, I am renting an appartment right now and everytime I watch TV it goes from coming in Crystal clear to static and cuts out the sound. What is going on!? It's come to the point where i just shut it off and stare at the wall to save my sanity. Oh, and it's probably not the TV, but the server. It's just using the antenna, no cable or satalite. I'm guessing it's that because I have 2 tv's in the appartment, and they both do the same thing. Any suggestions?
2007-09-12 12:37:48 · 3 answers · asked by Ann B 2 in Consumer Electronics ➔ TVs
It looks more like picture 7 in the first link. It goes form small hair line horizontal static, to full screen black and white fuzz. It's soooo tempting to just get cable, but I'm a poor college student and can't afford it. It seems like it's some sort of interference because both tv's work fine otherwise. I've double checked the connections, and they are strong. Oh, and some channels are worse than others, if that means anything.
2007-09-13 05:33:47 · update #1
1.
You have already taken the first step. Since the problem occurs on both TVs, it is very unlikely that the problem is inside the TVs.
2.
If you are using one antenna and using a splitter, try hooking up one of the TVs to another antenna (even a $10 pair of rabbit ears). If both TVs have the problem while using different antennas, then the antenna leads are not the problem either.
3.
At this point you have to assume that something is interfering with the TV signals or there is interference coming through the power line. At this point you need to do some detective work:
A. The first two links have pictures of various kinds of TV interference. Which one does it look like?
B. When the problem occurs, focus on any different sounds that are not coming from your TV. Cheap motors in vacuum cleaners, paper shredders, and kitchen appliances can cause this problem. Dimmer switches can cause problems also.
C .Do your neighbors have the same problem? This will give you some idea if the cause is close by or not. Or someone else may be trying to figure out the same thing.
D. If practical, try raising your antenna as high as you can, (like putting it on top of a book shelf.), Does this effect the interference?
E. If you enter your location at the last link below, it will tell you what direction the TV transmitting towers are located in.
TV signals are reflected off of metal objects and the higher frequencies (analog channels 14 and up) are absorbed by water (such as a person walking between your TV antenna and the TV transmitter towers). The problem may be as simple as someone parking a metal sided truck between your TV and the transmiter antenna.
If you are still stumped after this, you might add a comment in your post about what possible causes you have eliminated.
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>It looks more like picture 7 in the first link. It goes form small hair line horizontal static, to full screen black and white fuzz.
#7 - Electrical Interference
Time for more detective work.
I assume you didn't have any luck trying to hear the offending appliance, such as motor noises that happen at the same time as the interference.
Idea one- Do you have a portable FM radio? FM radios in the US use frequencies between analog TV channels 6 & 7. See if you can hear the interference on the radio. Also try the AM band with the radio set between stations (Listening to static).
If you can hear the interference on the radio, walk around and try to locate where the interference is loudest.
Idea two - barrow a portable TV, tune it to whatever channel has the worst interference. Walk around and try to locate the area with the greatest interference.
2007-09-12 18:20:06 · answer #1 · answered by Stephen P 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a bad cable or wire to me. Try replacing the cable, avoid the slide on cables, low quality but good for really tight spots. Could be power problems. Is your apt. old with old wiring? Try a surge protector (their cheap, couldnt hurt).
You might be getting some interference locally. CB radios can bleed when cranked too high with cheap amps. Or you might have a local radio station transmitter going haywire (that would be a constant problem and not intermittent). FM radio is tucked in there somewhere between channels 6 and 7 I think.
Hope this breaks the boredom.
2007-09-12 14:31:22 · answer #2 · answered by cabbiinc 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
get cable or satelite t.v. they make it now where the reception is so bad without them you have to get cable.
2007-09-12 14:32:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋