- First, rescan your converter box or digital TV to make sure it finds all available channels. Some stations moved to new channels long after the analog shutdown on June 12.
- Make sure you have the right antenna. In most major markets, there are now some stations in VHF. Antennas sold a couple of years ago as "HDTV" models will do a poor job of pulling them in. VHF indoor antennas have telescoping "rabbit ears." UHF antennas usually have loops of wire. Combined antennas have both, though a new generation of combined antennas come as flat plastic boxes. See the Federal Communications Commission's antenna page at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/dtvantennas.html
- Learn to use the signal meter in your converter box or digital TV. It's a scale that can be brought up on screen, telling you how strong of a signal you're getting. That helps a great deal in aiming an antenna. Refer to your user manual.
- Place your indoor antenna near a window, preferably on the side of the building that faces the TV towers.
- If you have a rabbit-ear antenna with telescoping arms, pull the arms all the way out.
- If that doesn't work, try a different antenna. Engineers say $12 rabbit-ear antennas sold by RadioShack do better than many newer, more sophisticated-looking antennas.
- If an indoor antenna doesn't work, consider an outdoor antenna. Purchase and installation could run about $300.
- If you have an outdoor antenna, check that it's aimed at the towers -- old antennas can drift, depending on how they're mounted.
- If channels 7 through 13 are hard to get, try installing an "FM filter" on the antenna line to eliminate interference from radio stations.
- For more tips see http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/troubleshootguide.html
QUICK HEADLINES | MORE TECHNOLOGY | GET NEWS ALERTS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABC13 SOCIAL NETWORKING
Find us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | More social networking
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MORE FROM ABC13
ABC13 widget | Most popular stories |
Street-level weather
ABC13 wireless |
Slideshow archive |
Help solve crimes
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------