My husband bough an HDTV set. We don't have cable or satellite dish, just the local channels. So my husband has bought two antennas and put them on the roof.
But there is a mystery!
Some times we get HDTV and some times we don't. It's as if the TV had a mind of its own.
But when it works, it works great, meaning that the image is perfect.
So, to summarize:
1) The antenna must be oriented correctly, since we get the signal sometimes.
2) The TV set must work correctly, since the image is great.
What is the problem, then?
I would appreciate your help.
2007-09-23 05:29:38 · 6 answers · asked by Belindita 5 in Consumer Electronics ➔ TVs
I live in the U.S.
2007-09-23 06:10:43 · update #1
> 1) The antenna must be oriented correctly, since we get the signal sometimes.
Plain wrong. Unlike analog TV signals, digital signals tend to be an all or nothing sort of thing. Your antenna could be misaligned.
If your TV has a signal strength meter built in, you can use it to adjust the alignment. Another option is to find out what analog station(s) transmit from the same location and use the picture quality from that station to align the antenna.
A third option is to use a compass and info from the #2 & #3 links below.
There are a lot of things that could cause this problem. If checking the alignment and reading the information on the #1 link doen't give you a solution, I'd suggest that you edit your question to include: ZIP code, antenna models, and what you used to join the two antennas together. Improperly connecting two antenna can cause them to interfere with each other.
PS - TV TECH-man® answer is technically correct.
2007-09-23 06:24:55 · answer #1 · answered by Stephen P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with your premise – the antenna is correctly oriented and the set works correctly. The problem is with the broadcasting networks.
Currently NO broadcast television network offers High Definition TV 24 hours a day. Satellite and cable providers have dedicated premium HDTV channels with 24 hour programming (i.e. HBO, Showtime, and Discovery). But broadcast networks (i.e. NBC, ABC, CBS, and Fox) offer only a couple hours of HDTV daily. The majority of the day they broadcast a digital standard definition picture which is significantly inferior. The better your TV - the worse standard definition looks.
Eventually we will get 24 hour HDTV broadcasts, but it will be several years.
2007-09-24 04:55:43 · answer #2 · answered by WebtvDan 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.antennaweb.org
Point your antennas in the CORRECT direction first, with the screen or V-shaped deflector at the BACK --- not the front or side....
With HD signals, you either get a good solid signal with a GREAT picture or you get a WEAK signal that basically BLANKS OUT on your TV set....
The BEST test for signal quality is by testing the ANALOG NTSC signals...those are the channels that have NUMBERS without the Dot or DASH in them....
21 is an analog signal
21.1 or 21-2 is a digital signal.....
You can see how weak the signal is with Analog Channels....
USING TWO antennas TOGETHER can actually WEAKEN your signal if they are not PHASED together correctly.
So I'd disconnect ONE antenna if they are connected together, adjust one antenna first, then disconnect it and adjust the other one using ANALOG channels......
Then I'd reconnect it and see if the two working together does improve your signal or worsen it....
If it still looks weak on the analog channel then I'd go to RADIO SHACK and purchase a 20db RF AMP.
They are only $30 to $40....
2007-09-23 06:27:06 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't understand why you have 2 antennas?? Anyway, have you tuned the channels in correctly? (look in you manual) Any loose connections at the back? If everything is OK then i would suggest your antenna is faulty. Good Luck
2007-09-23 05:39:56 · answer #4 · answered by spikeyfish2 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its the signal broadcasted, and the quality of the program broadcasted, old production program won't have good quality picture compared to new production ones!
Buying a freeview box can slightly improve the image.(All tv channels are clear and good quality. You get extra free channels as well!!!)
2007-09-23 05:38:09 · answer #5 · answered by cr ! 5h 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
signals that travel through the air can be effected by atmospheric conditions ,moisture in the air ect.You might want to buy an amplifier to go with the ant.the tv has to have enouph signl to produce hd picture and regular tv doesnt need as much so try to amplify it.you can get one at radiobhack or online
2007-09-23 05:51:26 · answer #6 · answered by electrondon76 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋