Cannot get lower channel TV reception

[winnehonda]

Have a 2015 Class C with Samsung TV and antenna booster. When I search for channels over air I can only lock in upper UHF channels. No 2-13 channels. I called Samsung and they got terribly confused about the antenna booster. When connected to cable I can receive all available channels. Any thoughts?

[Tom_M1]

winnehonda wrote:
In my area channel 5 (NBC) and channel 12 (CBS) are local. In prior motorhomes these stations were captured on Air-channel scan. They included 5.1, 5.2, etc. Just call me Still Stumped!

In the chart I posted, WPEC only lists the RF channel 13. I assumed that the RF and virtual channels were the same but it turns out that WPEC is virtual channel 12 and RF channel 13. Your TV only displays the virtual channel number.

[winnehonda]

In my area channel 5 (NBC) and channel 12 (CBS) are local. In prior motorhomes these stations were captured on Air-channel scan. They included 5.1, 5.2, etc. Just call me Still Stumped!

[Tom_M1]

Here's a list of stations near Tequesta, FL where the OP lives:


Channels 5 and 13 are the only stations with channel numbers in the VHF range. Channel 5 is on RF channel 12 and channel 13 is RF channel 13.

[Chris_Bryant]

I'm still unclear as to whether the OP is not getting lower rf channels, as in VHF , or designated channels, which could be any rf channel.

Here, if I loose channel 6, it is broadcast on a UHF frequency.

[wa8yxm]

Another thought.... I could well have started this thread at one point

I had a pan to use a diplexer to pass signals to both the BOMB (Box of many buttons) and an Digital adapter.. I could not get carrier channel 12

turns out the blang spliter blocked low frequencies on the power pass port.

Removed spliter and it worked... Great.

[SCVJeff]

Tom's got a very good point. Medium to strong UHF can creep through the amplifier without being powered On. Not so much VHF.

[Tom_M1]

winnehonda wrote:
Tom and others, thank you for your input. The thing tat is driving me crazy is one time I was able to capture these lower channel and the reception was great. Later, it was lost. I have tried every combination in trying to recapture these low channels. To no avail.

If your antenna is a Winegard Sensar or Jack, it needs 12 volts at the antenna head on the roof. Disconnect the coax from the antenna and measure the voltage between the outer part of the F-connector and the center conductor.

[winnehonda]

Tom and others, thank you for your input. The thing tat is driving me crazy is one time I was able to capture these lower channel and the reception was great. Later, it was lost. I have tried every combination in trying to recapture these low channels. To no avail.

[Tom_M1]

winnehonda wrote:
Have a 2015 Class C with Samsung TV and antenna booster. When I search for channels over air I can only lock in upper UHF channels. No 2-13 channels. I called Samsung and they got terribly confused about the antenna booster. When connected to cable I can receive all available channels. Any thoughts?

I checked TVFool.com and there are two VHF stations close to you. WPTV and WPEC. You should point your antenna to 193°.

If you have a Winegard Sensar (Batwing) the arrow on the knob does NOT point toward the front of the antenna.



If you have a Jack antenna, the flat part of the antenna is the front.

[Dutch_12078]

RabbitEars.info lists 464 stations broadcasting on RF channels 2-13. Most are major network affiliates.

[SCVJeff]

Tom_M wrote:
At the beginning of the digital transition, TV stations were broadcasting both analog and digital signals. Since the VHF band was mostly filled up, that meant the digital had to be broadcast on the UHF band. Once the analog was shut down many stations moved their digital broadcast down to the VHF band. About 1/4 of the full power TV stations in the U.S. are broadcasting on VHF. The UHF band used to go to channel 69 but presently it ends at 51. I don't think the TV band will fill up any time soon. Digital broadcast actually freed up many channels. During the analog years you could not have adjacent channels in the same market. For instance, there could not be a channel 10 and channel 11. There had to be a gap between channels. With digital, adjacent channels are permitted.

Actually on UHF there were many as long as the analog was the lower of the two. Just happened to be how the channl cavities performed, its been a while.. We ran channel 34 Analog and 35 Digital for several years, and pretty sure there was a D36 to boot..

[Lynnmor]

Before scanning, turn off any and all LED lights. If I turn on just two LED lights, they will blow away channel 8.1, and I can see the tower. Higher channels seem to be affected somewhat less.

[Tom_M1]

At the beginning of the digital transition, TV stations were broadcasting both analog and digital signals. Since the VHF band was mostly filled up, that meant the digital had to be broadcast on the UHF band. Once the analog was shut down many stations moved their digital broadcast down to the VHF band. About 1/4 of the full power TV stations in the U.S. are broadcasting on VHF. The UHF band used to go to channel 69 but presently it ends at 51. I don't think the TV band will fill up any time soon. Digital broadcast actually freed up many channels. During the analog years you could not have adjacent channels in the same market. For instance, there could not be a channel 10 and channel 11. There had to be a gap between channels. With digital, adjacent channels are permitted.

[SCVJeff]

Im not sure who thought all stations were going to UHF. Thats never been the case and frankly was impossible as there simply is not enough room in allot of markets.

Either way, VHF is about to fill up again