Discussion of Bug: 811 takes longer when tuning ATSC OTA before lock or warning.

[jetz9335]

Hi,

I was just ignoring this problem before I found this forum, but now I know there are active people out there trying to improve the quality of Dish receiver. So I want to report this problem.

I am current successfully getting almost all local channels using an indoor antenna (Terk HDTVi). However one problem is that DISH 811 receiver shows me no reception warning message recommeding me to try rotating the antenna, but it again simply shows me the screen if I click View TV button on my remote once or twice, which means it just take a little more time to tune to the channel.

This doesn't happen to all channels, but only a few channels. For example, KCTC-DT (PBS) and KSTW-DT(UPN). My Zip code is 98053 in case you want to know. I'm not good at how antenna works, but it looks like this is characteristic of the Terk HDTVi antenna because it takes more time to show the initial screen than other indoor antenna as I tested. I checked Zenith ZHDTV1. Zenith showed me the channel usally faster than Terk, but it didn't perform better than Terk overall because it failed to get signal for those slow-tune channels. I think Terk HDTVi antenna has some special non-amplified (or non-powersourced based) circuit (?) that helps concentrating on signal. Again, it's just my pure guess.

Anyway since this works finally after a few attempt of clicking View TV button on remote, I think it would be better that DISH 811 receiver wait a little more before it decide to show the warning message. The specific channel actually show me its reception is about 80% after all.

The little antenna is trying hard, but it doesn't give me reception rate more than 85% for entire channels for me. All is about 75% to 85%.

So I recommend more time before it decide no reception.

Thanks,
Sunghwa

[Cokeswigga]

I have the same issue in Los Angeles.
I can get all the L.A. Stations with signal strength of about 80-90.
But one channel (KABC-DT 7.1) takes anywhere from 15 to 30 seconds after the error message for it to tune in. (some times it wont tune in at all)

Once it does though, it's signal is around 80.
All the other channels tune in right away.

[the_bear]

Since I also live in a hilly/mountainous area, I am used to multi-path problems. The 811 will continue to tune while the no single screen is up, so you don’t need to hit any buttons. The receiver needs to differentiate between the multiple signals it is receiving to determine which one is best. You have a signal coming directly from the tower as well as signals bouncing off the hills (delayed because of the extra distance). Add some snow to the hills and you will get some pretty strong bounces. There are other receiver manufactures that do a better job at finding the best of multiple signals.

I finally broke down and ordered a more directional (only picks up signals directly in front) antenna. You could do the same. Sometimes an antenna amplifier will make this situation worse, because it also amplifies the unwanted signals. The purpose of an amplifier is to overcome the signal lose between the antenna and receive, so they are pretty much pointless on indoor antennas.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=381623

[Ron Barry]

I have the same issue in Los Angeles.
I can get all the L.A. Stations with signal strength of about 80-90.
But one channel (KABC-DT 7.1) takes anywhere from 15 to 30 seconds after the error message for it to tune in. (some times it wont tune in at all)

Once it does though, it's signal is around 80.
All the other channels tune in right away.

Cokes. I am in SoCal and receiving the same station off Mt Wilson. I am not running into anything like you describe with the station. My guess is you might have a borderline signal or a multipathing issue. Improving your signal strength and quality externally should help here.

[Ron Barry]

Hi,

I was just ignoring this problem before I found this forum, but now I know there are active people out there trying to improve the quality of Dish receiver. So I want to report this problem.

I am current successfully getting almost all local channels using an indoor antenna (Terk HDTVi). However one problem is that DISH 811 receiver shows me no reception warning message recommeding me to try rotating the antenna, but it again simply shows me the screen if I click View TV button on my remote once or twice, which means it just take a little more time to tune to the channel.

This doesn't happen to all channels, but only a few channels. For example, KCTC-DT (PBS) and KSTW-DT(UPN). My Zip code is 98053 in case you want to know. I'm not good at how antenna works, but it looks like this is characteristic of the Terk HDTVi antenna because it takes more time to show the initial screen than other indoor antenna as I tested. I checked Zenith ZHDTV1. Zenith showed me the channel usally faster than Terk, but it didn't perform better than Terk overall because it failed to get signal for those slow-tune channels. I think Terk HDTVi antenna has some special non-amplified (or non-powersourced based) circuit (?) that helps concentrating on signal. Again, it's just my pure guess.

Anyway since this works finally after a few attempt of clicking View TV button on remote, I think it would be better that DISH 811 receiver wait a little more before it decide to show the warning message. The specific channel actually show me its reception is about 80% after all.

The little antenna is trying hard, but it doesn't give me reception rate more than 85% for entire channels for me. All is about 75% to 85%.

So I recommend more time before it decide no reception.

Thanks,
Sunghwa

If you want to improve this situation, I would suggest trying an external antenna or possible a pre-amp. Maybe even a directional antenna. I believe someone suggested a pop over to avsforums and see what people in your area are using successful. If it is taking more and 4 or 5 seconds to lock the signal you might have some multipathing issues or a weak signal to start. OTA is an art and it takes some work to get a good signal into an OTA receiver.

I would not say the solution is to add more time.. The solution here is to improved your signal going into the 811. You will be much happier in the long run.. I can assure you.

[Cokeswigga]

Cokes. I am in SoCal and receiving the same station off Mt Wilson. I am not running into anything like you describe with the station. My guess is you might have a borderline signal or a multipathing issue. Improving your signal strength and quality externally should help here.

I actually live in Temecula, so I am about 70 miles away (as the birds fly) from Mt. Wilson.

One thing I did do, is shorten the coax from the preamp to the receiver. But this just now means that it takes 15 seconds to tune in , but at least now my success rate of it tuning in is more like 70 to 80% vs 30 to 40%

If it does successfully tune in, the signal strength is around 80.

What is wierd, is that this ONLY happens to KABC-DT (7.1, 7.2 and 7.3)
All the other channels tune in immediately (with same signal strength)


The only thing I could do is replace the the RCA RG-6 with some higher quality quad shield RG-6, or maybe get a different pre-amp.

I have a Winegard HD9095 with a 4700 pre-amp.

Anyhow, any ideas on how to improve realibility and ease of tuning would be greatly appreciated.

Would ganging an antenna help or complicate this issue?