Checking TV cable signals

[MrRules]

We are currently traveling and will be in Wyoming in a week and then Montana. I need to find a technician that can trace signal strength from my off air antennae to my DirecTv Off Air receiver. When I try to access local channels the receiver searches, sometimes finds local channels, but I can never see any of these channels. If you know of a technician in Wyoming and/or Montana I would appreciate a pointer. Thanks.

Stu

[MrRules]

We have been able to see OTA programming previously but we didn't do it very often. We have the regular Bat Wing OTA antennae and the cables from that antennae go directly to the AM 21.

Stu

[Bill_Satellite]

Since it's all new and you have never seen it work correctly we need to delve into some trouble-shooting. What kind of OTA antenna do you have? Are you able to receive OTA TV using your TV as the selection and not the AM21? How did you connect the OTA antenna to your AM21?

[Belgique]

Hope this is considered on-topic...at least closely related: Do you have to have a satellite signal to record on the AM21? I.e., I'm in a park with no hope of seeing the bird but I'd like for the AM21 to record OTA.

But in thinking about it, I bet it won't work since the DVR reboots every 10 min or so as mentioned in another thread.

[MrRules]

The AM 21 is literally brand new and it has only worked as indicated earlier. I know the fact there is little over the air TV in many states but my problems have been in urban areas like St. Louis, MO, Galveston, TX, and Grapevine, TX.

Stu

[othertonka]

Could be there are no OTA transmiters within range (50 mikes) of where you were trying to bring in those channels. You need to go to a site like Antenna Web to find the location of transmitters in your immediate area, then point the antenna toward those transmitters an do a "Scan".

Antenna web

[westernrvparkow]

Might not be much of an issue in Wyoming and Montana. Vast areas of both states have no over the air coverage anyway. It will all be cable or Distant network services from your satellite most places.

[Bill_Satellite]

MrRules wrote:
We have the DirecTv AM 21 Off Air receiver paired with a DirecTv HD DVR receiver and a Motostat HD antennae. We receive all DirecTv channels just fine but when I do a search for local channels with the AM21 I get some channels but when I try to tune them in I don' get any programs. I used to get local channels alright with the offair antennae but, to be honest, we don' t do that very often. With the ability to record local channels with the AM 21 we are now more interested in local channels from the off air antennae. We are currently in Missouri but will be heading to Kansas on Friday.

Stu

At least I am on the right track. Now, what kind of over the are antenna, how old is the AM21 and has it ever worked well in the past? If you have a Winegard Sensar (Batwing) are you sure the power is turned on?

[MrRules]

We have the DirecTv AM 21 Off Air receiver paired with a DirecTv HD DVR receiver and a Motostat HD antennae. We receive all DirecTv channels just fine but when I do a search for local channels with the AM21 I get some channels but when I try to tune them in I don' get any programs. I used to get local channels alright with the offair antennae but, to be honest, we don' t do that very often. With the ability to record local channels with the AM 21 we are now more interested in local channels from the off air antennae. We are currently in Missouri but will be heading to Kansas on Friday.

Stu

[Bill_Satellite]

It sounds like you are using satellite TV with the AM21 OTA adapter. Is that correct? Do you get the channels you would like to watch on other TV's (or that TV when you by-pass the AM21 (again, guessing).
What kind of TV antenna? Where are you located or where were you located when you had problems? As this ever worked properly?

[donn0128]

Do you have the OTA antenna up? Have you powered on the amplifier? Is your TV new enough to actually get OTA channels without a converter?