When you get an HDTV antenna, you can receive local broadcast channels, such as ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC, as well as PBS and the CW. It’s free TV for life but sometimes reception on some of your favorite local channels isn’t as good as it used to be. There are many reasons why this could be happening. The most common being that some local television station’s over-the-air broadcast frequencies change periodically.
1. Ensure the OTA Antenna is successfully connected with your TV or converter box
Please double-check to make sure the OTA antenna connected is securely plugged into the TV or converter box.
2. Re-Scan for Local Channels
Rescanning simply means having your TV’s tuner do an automated update to look for new channels. This will allow your TV to find your favorite channels at their new frequencies.
Note! The actual channel number on your TV will not change. However, you will need to rescan to ensure your TV continues to receive that channel. Except in rare circumstances, no new equipment or services are required.
Step by step as follows (*Information provided by the FCC.)
- Press “set-up” or “menu” on the TV or converter box remote control.
- Select “channels,” “antenna,” or other similar terminology.
- Click “scan,” “auto-tune,” “channel search,” “auto-program,” or other similar terminology.
- The TV will do the rest. The process usually takes just a few minutes.
When you watch free over-the-air television with an antenna, you should rescan for channels periodically to make sure you’re receiving all the available channels in your area.
Note! This is the same scan you did to find your local channels when you set up your TV or converter box for the first time with your HDTV antenna.
“A good rule of thumb is to rescan your TV anytime you notice that a channel is missing,” Global News Wire said. “If you haven’t rescanned in a while, you may be surprised by how many other channels are now available.”
3. Re-Position Your OTA Antenna
If you’d like a more hands-on approach though, you can move your OTA antenna to try to increase signal strength.
Note! Please check out the Antop Signal Map here.
Plugin your address and zip code, and you’ll see not only a list of available TV stations in your area. Not only does it show you the channel numbers for all the stations (so you can see if the one you’re looking for has moved already) but also the direction of the towers relative you.
4.Contact Us
If you are still having problems, please contact us for further assistance.
Our technical experts will confirm the steps you have taken and continue troubleshooting through additional steps.
Our technical experts will confirm the steps you have taken and continue troubleshooting through additional steps.
Note! If you are shopping for an antenna make sure it can receive both VHF and UHF frequencies.
Some antennas only provide good reception of VHF or UHF channels, but not both.
To receive all stations in your area, you need an antenna that can receive both VHF and UHF channels at the same time. Antop antenna’s VHF and UHF technology ensure crystal-clear TV reception.