Over the air antenna issue

[Omega Supreme]

I've had an antenna close to 25 years now and was able to pickup all local station. I don't watch a lot of over the air but I just noticed that I can only pick up channel 13-1 thru 13-5 and 23-3 now. I rescanned and these are the only channels I get now. I have a Channel Master CM 0747 Preamp and checked and I have 24V on the from antenna end. I believe that is what it should be so I'm guessing its good. I live between Birmingham and Huntsville and in the past I could pickup channels from both. Weird thing is when I checked on Rabbitears.info the Huntsville stations show the signal strength as "Fair" but 13 & 23 that I can pickup as "Poor". Also, I checked the antenna and it is pointing in the correct position. I also adjusted it to point closer to the Huntsville stations but still couldn't pick them up. It's almost as if its only picking up VHF only although I would assume 23-3 is UHF. Another odd thing is that I can receive 23-3 but not 23-1,2, & 4. Anyway, If you have any advice please let me know. Thanks.

 

[TLS Guy]

I've had an antenna close to 25 years now and was able to pickup all local station. I don't watch a lot of over the air but I just noticed that I can only pick up channel 13-1 thru 13-5 and 23-3 now. I rescanned and these are the only channels I get now. I have a Channel Master CM 0747 Preamp and checked and I have 24V on the from antenna end. I believe that is what it should be so I'm guessing its good. I live between Birmingham and Huntsville and in the past I could pickup channels from both. Weird thing is when I checked on Rabbitears.info the Huntsville stations show the signal strength as "Fair" but 13 & 23 that I can pickup as "Poor". Also, I checked the antenna and it is pointing in the correct position. I also adjusted it to point closer to the Huntsville stations but still couldn't pick them up. It's almost as if its only picking up VHF only although I would assume 23-3 is UHF. Another odd thing is that I can receive 23-3 but not 23-1,2, & 4. Anyway, If you have any advice please let me know. Thanks.

My hunch is that the channels you can not now pickup have gone digital, like most TV stations have now. I am actually surprised you have any analog stations in the area you can pick up, as they are all required to switch to digital, which will make your current system useless. We have no analog stations round here and have not for quite a few years now. Your system is obsolete.

 

[lovinthehd]

I'm in a remote location and my new tv had the ability to handle dtv transmissions so thought I'd try. II found the best external antenna that was indoor oriented and sometimes I get the 6 dtv channels for the local ABC station (in Eugene, am in Oakridge OR myself). Mostly it works poorly but depends on weather.

 

[Omega Supreme]

My hunch is that the channels you can not now pickup have gone digital, like most TV stations have now. I am actually surprised you have any analog stations in the area you can pick up, as they are all required to switch to digital, which will make your current system useless. We have no analog stations round here and have not for quite a few years now. Your system is obsolete.

Yeah analog channels have been gone for a while now. I'm talking about the digital channels. In the past I could probably get 60 channels now only 6. Just wondering if anyone has had this issue and how they may have resolved.

 

[lovinthehd]

FWIW I'm talking about the digital channels, can't get the actual (analog?) over the air stuff without different gear.

 

[TLS Guy]

Yeah analog channels have been gone for a while now. I'm talking about the digital channels. In the past I could probably get 60 channels now only 6. Just wondering if anyone has had this issue and how they may have resolved.

By not using over air TV transmission. You need to use cable TV or stream. Satellite is folding, so your options are limited.

 

[lovinthehd]

By not using over air TV transmission. You need to use cable TV or stream. Satellite is folding, so your options are limited.

You do realize much of digital tv is available via transmission over-the-air? Depends on where you are in relation to the broadcast or repeaters.....

 

[TLS Guy]

You do realize much of digital tv is available via transmission over-the-air? Depends on where you are in relation to the broadcast or repeaters.....

I know that, but our acquittances round here have found it very touchy. All sorts of weather conditions seem to interfere with it. I personally have no experience with it, but I have heard a lot of bad rap about it. It is very line of sight, so building and structures in the way play havoc.

 

[m. zillch]

Just a thought, but maybe over the years the ant connection has slightly oxidize and needs cleaning and that oxidation has weakened your signal strength?

 

[lovinthehd]

I know that, but our acquittances round here have found it very touchy. All sorts of weather conditions seem to interfere with it. I personally have no experience with it, but I have heard a lot of bad rap about it. It is very line of sight, so building and structures in the way play havoc.

Yes, mostly it's distance and transmission details....and the population they think they can get. I knew it was sketchy to begin with, but.....

 

[m. zillch]

Also I would suggest going to antennaweb.org, type in your geographical data, elevation, and nearby terrain to see a map showing what stations, in what directions, and at what signal strengths you should expect currently.

 

[TLS Guy]

Also I would suggest going to antennaweb.org, type in your geographical data, elevation, and nearby terrain to see a map showing what stations, in what directions, and at what signal strengths you should expect currently.

The most important issue is to find which stations have analog FM signals and which are digital transmissions. His equipment can not receive digital transmissions.

 

[lovinthehd]

Yep, that site can show just how out of luck you are out in the boonies!

 

[m. zillch]

I can only pick up channel 13-1 thru 13-5 and 23-3 now

With hyphens in their names those are digital stations, as I understand it. Analog stations, which barely exist at this point, don't have hyphens. Does your TV/tuner show these digital station's signal strength perhaps with a little bar graph?

Also occasionally transmitter antennas change their location over the years/decades so maybe your antenna setup years ago was aimed one way but it needs a new way now. Antennaweb.org will say with a map. (at least they used to when I used them a decade ago)

 

[Speedskater]

I think that some digital TV stations have switched to a new digital system that is not recognized by older TV sets.

 

[highfigh]

TV Fool is another site that shows what's available and the range-

TV Fool

 

[Squishman]

I have no issues with my air antenna and I live in a very, very woodsy part of town. Almost no drop outs, unless there is a major blizzard happening or a severe rainstorm, but that was maybe once in 8 years I've lived here. It is 14 and 1/2 feet from the ground. No cuts in the cable all the way directly into the TV in the living room, except now it goes directly to my Tablo, which allows me to watch broadcast TV on any TV in any room. I wonder, @Omega Supreme, if your issue is your TV preamp or whatever it is that you have maybe went bad.

 

[TLS Guy]

I have no issues with my air antenna and I live in a very, very woodsy part of town. Almost no drop outs, unless there is a major blizzard happening or a severe rainstorm, but that was maybe once in 8 years I've lived here. It is 14 and 1/2 feet from the ground. No cuts in the cable all the way directly into the TV in the living room, except now it goes directly to my Tablo, which allows me to watch broadcast TV on any TV in any room. I wonder, @Omega Supreme, if your issue is your TV preamp or whatever it is that you have maybe went bad.

Your Tablo is designed to receive digital signals only. His system is analog and that is the problem I bet.

 

[Squishman]

Your Tablo is designed to receive digital signals only. His system is analog and that is the problem I bet.

There has not been any analog TV broadcast since June, 2009. If his issue just showed up and he had the full spectrum of stations before than it seems it's probably that TV preamp he metioned.

 

[TLS Guy]

There has not been any analog TV broadcast since June, 2009. If his issue just showed up and he had the full spectrum of stations before than it seems it's probably that TV preamp he metioned.

His unit is analog, I looked it up. It will not receive any digital TV signal. I was actually surprised to find there was any place in the US that had analog TV transmission, but I guess there a few left, until the FTC put a stop to them. He needs a Tablo like you have, they look a really good unit.

I think what the antenna cable is connected to makes a difference, and I bet not all are created equal, especially in terms of error correction. So, when the OP upgrades, he should not get a cheap antenna, but a good one on the roof. I see the Tablo connects to the home Wi-Fi so you can watch it anywhere on a TV that will accept a cat6 input. I fear the OPs TV may not have digital connectivity, but I am not sure what his TV is. He may be in for significant expense to watch TV going forward.