What is wrong with this picture?

[D.V. Dee]

I set up a Tivax STB-T8 digital TV converter with my non-Digital TV set, but got no digital channel reception...

All connections are rigged through my JVC VCR...the TV set, the audio receiver and the DVD player. Before the conversion, I used a Gemini G2000 indoor antenna and got decent reception. I live in a small city just outside of Boston, in an apt. building (top floor) close to the city's highest point...

The RF Out of my converter is plugged into Antenna In of my VCR...The antenna RF is connected to the converter RF In...a YWR connector is plugged into the DVD player, and a YWR connector runs from the VCR to the YWR inputs on the TV's side...

Scans done by the VCR and the converter ALL fail to detect any digital stations from the Greater Boston area--all display a "NO SIGNAL" message on the TV screen (set to Ch. 3)...is the culprit the Gemini antenna, or the connections? Or what?

Thanks for any feedback!

 

[EscapeVelocity]

Hello DVDee! Welcome to the foum.

Take the VCR out of the loop and see if you get a picture. If so then its the VCR or VCR wiring that is doing the dirty deed.

Where does the DVD Player fit into the equation from the Antenna?

Does it go like this?

Antenna>Converter Box>VCR>TV

 

[Aaron62]

It sounds like you have everything connected ok if you're able to do a scan with the converter box. You mentioned that you did a scan with the VCR too? This doesn't sound right.

Where do you have the antenna connected? To the converter box?

It sounds like the antenna might be the issue, but we need your TV Fool results to help you. Go there and input your address information and post the results here when you get a chance.

 

[D.V. Dee]

Folks, Thanks for your feedback...will respond when I get home tonight and can eyeball my setup again....

 

[D.V. Dee]

It sounds like you have everything connected ok if you're able to do a scan with the converter box. You mentioned that you did a scan with the VCR too? This doesn't sound right.

Where do you have the antenna connected? To the converter box?

It sounds like the antenna might be the issue, but we need your TV Fool results to help you. Go there and input your address information and post the results here when you get a chance.

Here's my TV Fool profile URL link:

TV Fool

My antenna is connected (RF out) to my converter (RF in).

My JVC VCR, after a new location setup, didn't perform a Plug&Play Channel Set, so I performed an Auto Channel Set from the Tuner Setting menu on
the screen. The scan reported "SCAN COMPLETED-NO SIGNAL"

 

[D.V. Dee]

Hello DVDee! Welcome to the forum.

Take the VCR out of the loop and see if you get a picture. If so then its the VCR or VCR wiring that is doing the dirty deed.

Where does the DVD Player fit into the equation from the Antenna?

Does it go like this?

Antenna>Converter Box>VCR>TV

I didn't get any picture with the VCR off...

The setup goes as you mentioned...then there's a YWR connection (Line Out) from the DVD to the front of the VCR (YWR)

 

[EscapeVelocity]

What I meant about taking the VCR out of the loop is directly wire the converter box to the tv.

Like this...

Antenna>Converter Box>TV


But Aaron is right, you may need a better antenna. Got to TVfool.com.....click "Start Here" follow the instructions (dont forget to put in a height) and when you get to the page with the charts and graphs....post a link to that page here. So we can see the available transmissions in your area and likely signal strengths.

 

[D.V. Dee]

E.V., see my reply to Aaron--I did post a URL link to my TV Fool Signal Analysis, so you can check that out...

Didn't input a height, but I am located on the side of a hill close to the highest point in my city. However, there is a large high-rise apt. complex just due North of me, about 800 feet away....

 

[EscapeVelocity]

Youve got strong signals, very strong. You may be overloading the tuner on the tuner box with the Amplified Antenna. This wont hurt your tuner, it just wont work.

Try 2 things.

Try turning down the amplifier gain......if its adjustable on the antenna.

Disconnect the antenna, and make a paper clip antenna for the converter box....

Like in this video.

Digital Dude Video: Antenna Myths Dispelled!

 

[Aaron62]

Yeah I'm with EscapeVelocity on this one, you're probably receiving signal overload. Do you have an extra set of non-powered bunny ears laying around?

 

[D.V. Dee]

Bingo!

E.V., you (& Aaron) hit the nail on the head! I turned down the gain on the
antenna, and re-scanned with the converter...Bingo! It found over twenty
digital channels, and a preliminary look at some of them--they were crystal clear!

I can't thank you guys enough--probably saved me from getting a more expensive antenna--and more no-digital-signal frustration along with it...

Now I wonder...if I use just a plain old rabbit-ears antenna instead of this amplified sucker...will I get even more channels?

Again, my everlasting Thanks!

 

[EscapeVelocity]

Good on you! Glad we could help.

Is that 20 different stations not counting subchannels?

 

[EscapeVelocity]

Are you getting the stations in yellow on the TVFool plot?

 

[D.V. Dee]

Yes, I think it was about twenty different stations.

 

[D.V. Dee]

Not sure, since I only looked at Channels 2, 5, 4 & 7 for starters (was getting late)...I'll check again tomorrow....

 

[EscapeVelocity]

Till tommorrow, then.

If that is 20 different stations (not including subchannels) then looking at your TVFool, you are rockin.

However if that is with subchannels included, then I think you might can do better.

 

[O-O]

Always cool to have someone come back and report their progress too DVDee.

 

[D.V. Dee]

Hey, when you get concise & accurate help from members like E-V & Aaron, it's the least one can do!

As the young 'uns say, this Forum rocks! Right up there with PC Media Tech
Forum....

 

[Eureka]

...Now I wonder...if I use just a plain old rabbit-ears antenna instead of this amplified sucker...will I get even more channels?

This is all the antenna you likely need.

​

Of course, electronics shops would prefer you buy more expensive gadgets, and will gladly sell them to you.

 

[Thomas G]

This is all the antenna you likely need.

​

Of course, electronics shops would prefer you buy more expensive gadgets, and will gladly sell them to you.

Agreed. Nothing fancy, just a plain ole passive UHF/VHF antenna/