Forum Discussion

jcpainter's avatar
jcpainter
Explorer
Jul 27, 2017

Convert Digital CH# to actual RF Freq, to use on Sensar Pro

The Winegard Sensar Pro only shows RF numbers. All of the online TV guides show digital numbers. How can I determine what the RF equivalency for a specific digital channel is?

i.e. I know that CBS in my area is channel 44.1. How can I determine what the RF channel number is to fine tune it with the Sensar Pro?
  • Unless your Sensar Pro is different than mine, you don't need the channel frequency. You need the RF channel number. If you go to the site I referenced, you will be able to get a list of nearby TV stations. The first column in the table is TV Ch which is the digital virtual channel. The second column is RF Ch which is the real channel.
  • There is a smartphone app "TV Towers" that you can use not only to see where the local towers are but also get the numbers you need. I know it has an iPhone version not sure about others.
  • wildtoad wrote:
    There is a smartphone app "TV Towers" that you can use not only to see where the local towers are but also get the numbers you need. I know it has an iPhone version not sure about others.


    Thank you! That's exactly what I was looking for: simple, easy to use.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    There are three ways to convert the displayed channel to the carrier channal (which is what the Sensar Pro shows) and possibly even the frequency depending on the programmers.

    1: Internet. You can get a list of what channels use what carriers (The number on teh Sensar is the carrier) from assorted sources

    2: Apps like Antenna Helper (Free) on my Phone do it. but it may take a bit of searching to figure it out

    And the easiest way
    Go to the television, once it has "Scanned" go to set up. channels. manual add

    now if you are tuned to a channel. Most TVs will show you, when you enter that page

    A "Thumbnail" of what is airing, the channel (Display) and the carrier channel (Sometimes even the frequency)

    WRITE IT DOWN and keep a spread sheet

    The sensar in SCAN mode will display the strongest carrier. You can then go down the list... I keep a list of what channel to aim for in each park I visit
  • wa8yxm wrote:
    There are three ways to convert the displayed channel to the carrier channal (which is what the Sensar Pro shows) and possibly even the frequency depending on the programmers.

    1: Internet. You can get a list of what channels use what carriers (The number on teh Sensar is the carrier) from assorted sources

    2: Apps like Antenna Helper (Free) on my Phone do it. but it may take a bit of searching to figure it out

    And the easiest way
    Go to the television, once it has "Scanned" go to set up. channels. manual add

    now if you are tuned to a channel. Most TVs will show you, when you enter that page

    A "Thumbnail" of what is airing, the channel (Display) and the carrier channel (Sometimes even the frequency)

    WRITE IT DOWN and keep a spread sheet

    The sensar in SCAN mode will display the strongest carrier. You can then go down the list... I keep a list of what channel to aim for in each park I visit


    The part that's missing from this is to have the antenna pointed in the direction of the main channels you want to receive, before doing the scan. The apps are useful to show you the location of the broadcasting channels so you can correctly position the antenna for the best results.
  • TV Antenna Helper will let you use the current location, download the channels that you can receive in the area with strong, medium and unusable signal.
    It shows the local channel designation plus the RF broadcast channel. So here in Orlando, CW18 is 17. CBS6 is 26. ABC27 is 27. ABC9 is 39. Fox35 is 22.
    Good info at the touch of a button.