DTV FAQ

WFXS, FOX55 - DTV Converter & Antenna FAQ
TV Reception

Q: When I rescan my box, it doesn’t pick up new channels when it should. What can I do?
A: This seems to be a very common problem with multiple brands of converter boxes and even some digital TV’s. There are two basic solutions. The first is to go into the menu options and look for an option that allows you to “Add a channel” individually or manually (or something like that). After getting to that screen, manually type in channel 31 for WFXS and then hit either start, scan, select or enter depending on your options. For NBC you would enter either 16 for the Rhinelander station or 27 for the Mosinee Hill translator. Channels 7 & 9 would be the same. The second option would be to reset the box to the default settings and then redo the initial scan. In the menu, there is an option for “Reset to Defaults” or something similar. This erases the incorrect channel table and allows a complete scan of all available signals.

Q: My signal levels jump up and down. Why?
A: Digital broadcasting is a very unforgiving delivery mode. If your antenna is too small or is blocked in some way, your signal levels may fluctuate greatly as trucks drive by or even as people walk nearby. Indoor set top “Rabbit Ears” are not recommended for digital TV as they will be fairly unreliable and you may have to twist and move them for various channels. Ditch the Set Top antenna for better TV reception. A loose wire or connection can also cause great frustration. Check all screw on type connectors to make sure they are tight. Loose connections will affect certain channels more than others depending on frequency.

Q: I get channel 9 just fine but can’t get 7?? (or the other way around) I’ve never had a problem with them before. Sometimes 55.1 is strong and other times it’s weaker. Why?
A: Reception of TV signals is based on many variables but each station transmits on a different frequency that reacts differently to your antenna type. Two equally powered stations on the same transmission tower will react differently because they are on different frequencies. Often the antenna can be adjusted to a point in-between where both stations are best that will be acceptable to you. This is usually a problem with set top antennas but can also be a problem with cheaper rooftop antennas that may be marginal in performance. Depending on where you live in relation to the transmit towers, multiple antennas may be the best option.

Q: What can I do if my signal level is too low to lock in?
A: The answer to almost all TV reception problems revolves around the antenna system. TV stations put out the maximum power that the FCC allows, so it puts the responsibility on the viewer to have a proper antenna system. Just because your antenna worked for analog just fine doesn’t mean it will work for digital. It’s sort of like when FM radio came around.. The old AM antennas didn’t work and people all wanted to know why. Without a college level Physics lesson, all I can say is that you may just need to make the leap to a better antenna and remember it takes a different antenna to work well in UHF than VHF.

Q: Why do I get nothing instead of just a weaker picture.
A: Digital TV has what is known as a cliff effect. It takes a certain level of signal to lock in a receiver and that will make a beautiful picture every time that minimum level is achieved. Unlike the old analog, where as a signal was weaker you would just see some graininess or sparkles in the picture, with digital it is all or nothing. You get a perfect picture or you get lots of blocks and no picture. The solution is almost always to get a better antenna system for your particular location.

Q: My neighbor gets everything just fine, but I don’t.. Or.. I don’t get a channel and nobody else does either. What is the station going to do about it?
A: The only thing a TV station can do about your reception is to give you good advice. We can’t boost power to your house, we can’t force you to install a certain type of antenna. All a station can do is to tell you what type of antenna is your best option for where you live and what you hope to accomplish. The rest is up to you.

Q: Why did TV stations change to digital and cause me these problems?
A: TV stations did not make this decision and most did not like this decision. Congress many years ago decided they were going to change the TV format in the country in order to generate new revenues off of the sale of public airwaves. Congress made the laws. The FCC made the rules and TV stations just followed those rules. Stations had to invest millions of dollars in new equipment for this transition and I doubt there are many who wanted to do that.

Q: What type of outdoor antenna is best for me. I live 50 miles from Wausau?
A: There are two key ingredients to TV reception, Antenna Type and Antenna Height. The higher above ground you can get any antenna, the better it will perform. Even rabbit ears will usually work better in the second story of a home than they will in the basement.. Again it’s the laws of physics.. Check out theses two links for the best UHF antennas on the market. http://www.winegard.com/kbase/upload/HD9095P.pdf or http://www.channelmasterintl.com/terr/EXTREMEtenna.html In our TV market with stations broadcasting from three or more directions, an off-the-shelf combo antenna is not the right option. Combo antennas are generally much better on the VHF side and less on the UHF side. That is the exact opposite of what you need for good reception. An individual high gain (14db or higher) antenna like the Channel Master 4228 will give better performance that what you can buy at your local discount type store. There is also a simple rule to follow, the uglier the antenna, the better it works.. The pretty sleek disc shaped or batwing shaped antennas are nothing more than rabbit ears and a loop inside a pretty case.. What you need for TV reception is more metal, not plastic covers. Click below for more information.

• TV Reception Guide
• HDTV Q&A
• Digital Transition