TV does not see the antenna

Very often, connecting a TV is not without problems. When the TV does not see the antenna, you need to spend extra time analyzing this problem. But to do it yourself is quite real.

Possible reasons

After you have correctly installed the antenna, changed the input on your TV to “ANTENNA” and launched a channel scan, you will need to receive at least some of your local channels. If this is not the case, the reason may be one of the following:

• There is no clear line of sight to the broadcast towers.
• The signal may be lost in the distribution of the coaxial cable.
• The coaxial cable from the antenna to the tuner may be too long.
• Stay more than 110 km from the broadcast towers or out of range of the antenna.
• Bad Digital Tuner
• The station broadcasts at a different frequency.
• The transmitter for certain channels may be located at a lower elevation on the broadcast tower or even behind other broadcast towers
• Your TV may not have a built-in digital ATSC tuner.

What to do

1. If there are hills, trees, buildings, or other geographic features between the broadcast towers and the antenna, the signals may not be able to reach your antenna. By raising the antenna, placing it in a higher position, or using a higher mast, you will increase signal reception. The goal is to provide the highest possible direct visibility to broadcast towers.
2. It is important to regularly check for corrosion, loose cable accessories or cable damage. If you use an ADSL filter, it can also weaken the signal level. Try to disconnect the ADSL filter and pass the cable directly to the TV, and then start scanning channels. If reception improves, the distribution amplifier is likely to be the solution.
3. When the cable reaches more than 30 meters, up to 1/3 of the signal may be lost. If you need a long cable or if you use a splitter, you may need a preamp.
4. Stay more than 110 kilometers from the broadcast towers or out of range of the antenna.

IMPORTANT! Earth curvature limits most antennas to 110 kilometers. Go to www.antennapoint.com and enter your address or zip code to make sure you are within the coverage of broadcast towers in your area.

Defective digital tuner. This does not happen often, but it is possible that the tuner is malfunctioning on the new TV, right out of the box. The tuner is separate from HDMI or other inputs, so the tuner will not affect any other part of the TV. As a second troubleshooting step, try installing the antenna and cable on the optional TV.

The station broadcasts at a different frequency. While most television stations broadcast on the UHF frequency, some use VHF. Although some UHF antennas can receive VHF signals, you must use an antenna that is optimized to receive both UHF and VHF frequencies.

A lower height or obstruction from other towers can cause line of sight problems. UHF signals depend on line of sight for consistent reception. Change the location or height of the antenna to see if the problem persists.

If you see interference on the TV, you are watching an analog broadcast. As a rule, people with this problem do not have an ATSC tuner built into their TV. If you have a TV that was purchased before 2007, this may apply to you. Refer to the TV user manual or contact the manufacturer directly to find out if the TV has a built-in digital ATSC tuner.

REFERENCE! If not, you can purchase an external receiver or converter so you can use your existing TV to receive HDTV broadcasts.

Where to go if you can’t fix it yourself

The troubleshooting steps listed above should solve your problem. If the problem is still not resolved, service may be required. Try to contact the specialists of television companies. Their professional intervention should help solve your antenna problem.