I've had this set, Westinghouse SK32H240S, for about 2 months and am very happy with pictures and operation except for reception of Chnl 15 over the air. I have an outside antenna which if I remember correctly is a Radio Shack VU-75 with stations about 45 miles away. All digital and HD come in great except for this Channel 15.1 & 15.2 which are either not on at all or have massive pixelation. Channel 44.1 is usually rock solid, and is on the same tower or within 100 ft in same antenna farm. The analog signal looks great all the time. I've tried minute touchup of the antenna direction with little success. I've tried with an amp, with out an amp, on a diffierent cable run from the splitter in attic and still no success. I haven't found any others with similar problem in FAQ's or other forums. The antenna has some "harmonic suppressors" on it which I'm guessing is two short flat pieces of metal pointing forward from the terminal screws where the balun hooks on to the bowtie. Would this have an affect considering the frequency? I'm at whits end right now and it really works great for the NBC affiliate Chnl 15. An engineer at the station says that if I'm picking up the analog I should pick up the digital.
I'd really appreciate some help and I don't have access to a signal level meter, but am positive I'm within a degree or two of the antenna farm.
John
DTV reception problem question
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eliwhitney
- Major Contributor
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- Joined: Thu Dec 07, 2006 5:14 am
- Location: Oklahoma
O.T.A. Reception Issue / WESTINGHOUSE....
Hi--
Try within those various menus via the Remote for "digital settings,,," or something similar. There, or perhaps after you are "on" that specific channel, there should be a "diagnostics" available...which tells the station channel, frequency, signal-to-noise ratio,,,so on AND, finally, a 'click' to get ...Strength...again, your menu wording may be different.
Anyway, this will give you part of your answer...namely, is it above say 60 %... if not or if it varies, then it will not "lock".
You said ...splitter... on this same COAX line...? Another set on same antenna line sometimes means "difficulties" with "HD" reception....if NOT an extreme hassle, try running an unspliced length from that balun transformer @ antenna connection directly to RF input... for a small $$$ increase, many stores now also sell pre-made lengths of "QUAD" COAX...total footage should be under 100. Also at web sites such as the one below.
Have you tried www.antennaweb.org to see what type & distance --( gain )-- antenna might be preferred for your ZIP Code? Another is
www.antennasdirect.com
eliwhitney
Try within those various menus via the Remote for "digital settings,,," or something similar. There, or perhaps after you are "on" that specific channel, there should be a "diagnostics" available...which tells the station channel, frequency, signal-to-noise ratio,,,so on AND, finally, a 'click' to get ...Strength...again, your menu wording may be different.
Anyway, this will give you part of your answer...namely, is it above say 60 %... if not or if it varies, then it will not "lock".
You said ...splitter... on this same COAX line...? Another set on same antenna line sometimes means "difficulties" with "HD" reception....if NOT an extreme hassle, try running an unspliced length from that balun transformer @ antenna connection directly to RF input... for a small $$$ increase, many stores now also sell pre-made lengths of "QUAD" COAX...total footage should be under 100. Also at web sites such as the one below.
Have you tried www.antennaweb.org to see what type & distance --( gain )-- antenna might be preferred for your ZIP Code? Another is
www.antennasdirect.com
eliwhitney
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algopher
- Member
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2007 6:14 pm
Eli,
Thanks for your reply. I couldn't find my Radio Shack catalog to give the correct antenna. Well, I found it this AM and the antenna is a VU-190.
I'm absorbing all your information. I took the other set off of the other run from the splitter (coaxial) and ran a lead to the HDTV and it didn't help.
I'll have to go through the menu's and see if I can find the section you speak of and see what I can find out. If my problems were caused by the splitter and another set, don't you think it would affect the other channels as well as 15. I can pickup a channel 23 rock solid with an amp in line as well as a 21. The only problem I see with my installation is that I have the amplifier close to the set. As soon as the attic cools off her in southern Alabama, I'm going up in the attic and move the amplifier up there which will require some power run. The reason I will move it up there is so I'm not going to amplify noise and have a better SNR. I wish my "creeky" old body was more well preserved. I'll post my results.
Thanks for your reply. I couldn't find my Radio Shack catalog to give the correct antenna. Well, I found it this AM and the antenna is a VU-190.
I'm absorbing all your information. I took the other set off of the other run from the splitter (coaxial) and ran a lead to the HDTV and it didn't help.
I'll have to go through the menu's and see if I can find the section you speak of and see what I can find out. If my problems were caused by the splitter and another set, don't you think it would affect the other channels as well as 15. I can pickup a channel 23 rock solid with an amp in line as well as a 21. The only problem I see with my installation is that I have the amplifier close to the set. As soon as the attic cools off her in southern Alabama, I'm going up in the attic and move the amplifier up there which will require some power run. The reason I will move it up there is so I'm not going to amplify noise and have a better SNR. I wish my "creeky" old body was more well preserved. I'll post my results.
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eliwhitney
- Major Contributor
- Posts: 484
- Joined: Thu Dec 07, 2006 5:14 am
- Location: Oklahoma
Hi--
Just a "thought"---every once in a blue moon, one finds a "HD" channel which is assigned to a VHF frequency...our local ABC is...
This would be confirmed / refuted by that ...antennaweb...site.
One other reason for the problem to be with only 1 channel would be IF that channel is transmitting with significantly less power (wattage)...this, too, will be listed on that web...
Anyway, in our case, an old Yagi antenna ( both VHf / UHF ) happened to solve our outside antenna issues. Yes, that AMP needs to be at antenna....
Just a "thought"---every once in a blue moon, one finds a "HD" channel which is assigned to a VHF frequency...our local ABC is...
This would be confirmed / refuted by that ...antennaweb...site.
One other reason for the problem to be with only 1 channel would be IF that channel is transmitting with significantly less power (wattage)...this, too, will be listed on that web...
Anyway, in our case, an old Yagi antenna ( both VHf / UHF ) happened to solve our outside antenna issues. Yes, that AMP needs to be at antenna....
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algopher
- Member
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2007 6:14 pm
Hi,
I went through all the settings looking for one that might give me something that would be similar to signal strength but couldn't find one for the user. I don't know if they have one even.
Now for the telling moment, EMBARASSED is the best word to describe it. I don't know if that is the fix, but it seems to be as we've had thunderstorms with upwards of large amounts of lightning strikes in the area and channel 15.1 and 15.2 has hung in there. As I was going through the various menus I came across time zone, and almost didn't check it because I knew I set it for Central, but low and behold when I opened it it was on Pacific(I think). So, I reset it and BOOM my problem seems to be solved. I hope it is a lasting fix and has been good for about 3 hours now. I've been shutting it on and off and seems to come right back onto the correct channel. Again thanks, as I'm super embarassed. I still plan to move the amplifier though.
John
I went through all the settings looking for one that might give me something that would be similar to signal strength but couldn't find one for the user. I don't know if they have one even.
Now for the telling moment, EMBARASSED is the best word to describe it. I don't know if that is the fix, but it seems to be as we've had thunderstorms with upwards of large amounts of lightning strikes in the area and channel 15.1 and 15.2 has hung in there. As I was going through the various menus I came across time zone, and almost didn't check it because I knew I set it for Central, but low and behold when I opened it it was on Pacific(I think). So, I reset it and BOOM my problem seems to be solved. I hope it is a lasting fix and has been good for about 3 hours now. I've been shutting it on and off and seems to come right back onto the correct channel. Again thanks, as I'm super embarassed. I still plan to move the amplifier though.
John
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akirby
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algopher
- Member
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Thanks for the input. The physical channel number is 47. My reception has "gone south" again this afternoon. I looked at the radar and it is raining fairly good there at the antenna farm. But the other channel that this station has is really good yet. Fill me in please on this physical channel association. I'm not familiar with it as the UHF designation for my problem is 15. I'm anxious to find out!
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Richard
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akirby
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ATSC allows multiple virtual channel numbers to be assigned to a single physical channel. In your case the station broadcasts on UHF channel 47. Period. That's what your antenna picks up. When the receiver decodes the digital signal it might contain one (15.1), two (15.1, 15.2) or more virtual digital channels. Think of it like multiple computers at home sharing one internet connection. Typically the station uses the same virtual channel number as their NTSC channel number (analog) to avoid confusion.
If none of your physical channels are lower than channel 10 you might try a channel master 4228 UHF antenna. It will pick up the higher VHF channels (I know it works for VHF channel 10 - that's what we have here in Atlanta for our NBC DT station). 7777 pre-amp is optional.
If none of your physical channels are lower than channel 10 you might try a channel master 4228 UHF antenna. It will pick up the higher VHF channels (I know it works for VHF channel 10 - that's what we have here in Atlanta for our NBC DT station). 7777 pre-amp is optional.