All DTV Channels are Gone!

cycler · 10-31-2008, 09:43 AM

Hi -
I'm hoping that someone on this forum will be able to answer my questions because I've called everywhere else!

I live in NYC and I use an indoor antenna/signal booster.
I bought a Digital TV several months ago and it worked great on both the analog and digital options for the channels. Some channels weren't ready yet but I did get most of them and the reception was perfect.

This weekend I put the TV on and there were no digital channels. All I got was the message "No Signal". The antenna was working because it did change the reception when I moved it.

I unplugged the TV to bring it back to "factory" status and I also unplugged the antenna to re-set it.

I did a scan and - nothing. All of the channels were there on analog but nothing on digital.

I called Samsung and they told me to do what I had already done and I called the local stations to see if it was something there but it wasn't.

My local CBS station did a test during the news this week when it switched to digital for 2 minutes and it let you know if your TV was ready for the change and I got the message that my TV wasn't. I switched to DTV and Air while the test was going on to be sure.

I need to know what I need to do to get the DTV channels back. If I'm unable to correct this I'll need to get cable and there is only one choice in my building and everyone says that it is awful so I'd love to be able to avoid that.

Thanks!

cowboyup4christ · 10-31-2008, 02:56 PM

check your coax to make sure it is good analog will come through coax that digital wont. next I would test the antenna to make sure all is well and their is nothing interfering with it. if all that works out your digital tuner has gone on the firtz in you new TV.

cycler · 11-02-2008, 08:15 AM

How do I test the coax? I know that the antenna is working because it adjusts the analog stations the same as it did before.

cowboyup4christ · 11-02-2008, 11:32 AM

replace it with a piece of quad shield coax

Jay · 11-03-2008, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cycler

Hi -
I'm hoping that someone on this forum will be able to answer my questions because I've called everywhere else!

I live in NYC and I use an indoor antenna/signal booster.
I bought a Digital TV several months ago and it worked great on both the analog and digital options for the channels. Some channels weren't ready yet but I did get most of them and the reception was perfect.

This weekend I put the TV on and there were no digital channels. All I got was the message "No Signal". The antenna was working because it did change the reception when I moved it.

I unplugged the TV to bring it back to "factory" status and I also unplugged the antenna to re-set it.

I did a scan and - nothing. All of the channels were there on analog but nothing on digital.

I called Samsung and they told me to do what I had already done and I called the local stations to see if it was something there but it wasn't.

My local CBS station did a test during the news this week when it switched to digital for 2 minutes and it let you know if your TV was ready for the change and I got the message that my TV wasn't. I switched to DTV and Air while the test was going on to be sure.

I need to know what I need to do to get the DTV channels back. If I'm unable to correct this I'll need to get cable and there is only one choice in my building and everyone says that it is awful so I'd love to be able to avoid that.

Thanks!

Cycler, is there any way to try and move the antenna to a different location within your rooms?

With DTV signals, it's either all-or-nothing when it comes to reception...have you chosen the auto program feature on your TV to let it automatically search and add local DTV broadcasted channels?

One other thing I wanted to mention, would be to check the coax and making sure rf connector is not damaged. The connector will sometimes bend during the connection process, and not actually connect even though you've plugged it in. In my case, the connector broke off which gave me the obvious dark screen result.

cycler · 11-12-2008, 01:22 PM

Sorry - I didn't see your response until today.

With DTV signals, it's either all-or-nothing when it comes to reception...have you chosen the auto program feature on your TV to let it automatically search and add local DTV broadcasted channels?

Yes - since I lost the DTV channels I scan every day to check. I am limited to where I am able to move the antenna because the cable isn't that long.

One other thing I wanted to mention, would be to check the coax and making sure rf connector is not damaged. The connector will sometimes bend during the connection process, and not actually connect even though you've plugged it in. In my case, the connector broke off which gave me the obvious dark screen result.

I know nothing about this - is the coax cable the one that connects the TV to the antenna? If it is then it is working because on the analog channels the reception changes when I move it.

I called Samsung and since I am still in Warranty they will repair it if it is the TV but there are no service places in NYC at all so I am looking to get one of their authorized repair people to come to me.

Another question - it occurred to me that if the Digital receiver is somehow not working on my TV then the set became an analog TV and if I use a converter box then that ought to give me the signal - right?

Thanks!
Susan

cowboyup4christ · 11-12-2008, 01:37 PM

yes it is the one that connects the tv to the antenna analog signal will come through coax that a digital signal will not, if I were you I would replace the coax with quad shield coax and that would eliminate any problem most wal marts carry it and 100 foot is about 36.00. and you could try a converter box to see if it was the tuner but I would borrow one as they run around 53.00 and up so I would replace the coax first. I then would do as jay did and get a small db2 antenna an install behind the tv. if you are handy I have posted the plans for a homemade uhf antenna in the antenna reviews section that everyone is raving over you can even make it with coat hangers but copper wire works better and is easier to bend.

cycler · 11-12-2008, 04:14 PM

I am not handy that way! I'll look into getting the cable - there are no Walmarts in NYC.
I'll see if I'm able to get the db2 antenna but if it's the TV itself none of this will matter unfortunately.

Jay · 11-14-2008, 10:13 PM

Any progress Cycler?

What part of New York are you in?

cycler · 11-20-2008, 09:41 AM

It's fixed! (well, mostly).

Well, it turns out that it was the antenna but not in the way that anyone (including me) thought!

I was all set to shlep the TV to the repair place on Friday but last night when I changed the channel I had to move the antenna for better reception and the directional piece fell out! I never considered that it might've been loose because it is a very tight fit but I guess somehow it worked it's way out. So I turned off the TV and the antenna and unplugged everything and then plugged it all back in.

When I did the scan at first it looked the same when it was scanning the DTV channels but then I noticed that as it went through some of the channel numbers changed color and when it finished - there it was! DTV channels!

The only issue remaining is the one that I had in the first place before I "lost" the DTV reception - I'm still not getting NBC (channel 4 in NYC) on DTV. They won't return my calls at the local station.

To answer your question, I am in NYC on the east side downtown. And despite using an indoor antenna and all of the big buildings I've never had such a gorgeous picture! (Of course my last TV was probably older than most of you and finally conked out 7 months ago!)

Thank you for all of your responses!

Susan


Home \| DTV & HD News \| Today's Posts \| JakesDTVBlog.com Interview \| Join DTV USA Forum