Suddenly lost NBC OTA...does this tend to happen with the HR20?

[pdawg17]

NBC OTA (VHF) in my area is not down and all other channels are coming in normally...are there times when people lose one OTA channel with this box? I already rebooted but still nothing...

[bonscott87]

I would think it would only happen if the station was down. What is the signal strength for it in the setup? After that first thing I would do is check your local thread on AVS and see if there is anything going on.

[pdawg17]

So I reset my antenna setup and reran the inital setup and now ALL of my major network OTAs jumped 20% in signal strength and NBC is now 85%! It's great to have NBC back but it's scary to know the box could lose it again at any time...and I did look for problems with my local NBC but there were none reported...I feel like I am going to have to check the signal strength every time an NBC show will be coming on...kinda defeats the purpose of a dvr, don't you think?

[carl6]

The HR20 tends to be a bit more fussy with issues like multipath (reflected signals that produce ghosting with analog tv). As a result, even when you have good signal strengths, if all of a sudden there is some interference that causes the digital OTA signal to degrade (in quality, not strength) you might see the channel drop out.

Minor adjustments of your antenna might be the best solution if the problem continues.

Carl

[bfincher]

I am having the same problem with the Fox affiliate in my market. Other tuners are picking up the channel fine.

[pdawg17]

So I reset my antenna setup and reran the inital setup and now ALL of my major network OTAs jumped 20% in signal strength and NBC is now 85%! It's great to have NBC back but it's scary to know the box could lose it again at any time...and I did look for problems with my local NBC but there were none reported...I feel like I am going to have to check the signal strength every time an NBC show will be coming on...kinda defeats the purpose of a dvr, don't you think?

Well, I spoke too soon...already this morning I have lost NBC again and the other stations have dropped back down 20% again...very irritating...I was irritated at my HR10 OTA tuner but now that I'm messing with this one I miss the HR10 tuner (I never thought I would say that)...

[veryoldschool]

Well, I spoke too soon...already this morning I have lost NBC again and the other stations have dropped back down 20% again...very irritating...I was irritated at my HR10 OTA tuner but now that I'm messing with this one I miss the HR10 tuner (I never thought I would say that)...
HAVE YOU ever done ANYTHING with your antenna?
I posted about this in your first thread.
If you don't go to the source of the problem, how are band-aids going to work for you?

[bfincher]

What makes you think that the antenna is the source of the problem with so many other users experiencing similar problems. I think that the HR20 OTA tuner sucks.

HAVE YOU ever done ANYTHING with your antenna?
I posted about this in your first thread.
If you don't go to the source of the problem, how are band-aids going to work for you?

[veryoldschool]

What makes you think that the antenna is the source of the problem with so many other users experiencing similar problems. I think that the HR20 OTA tuner sucks.
Well if you had followed the postings: this member lives in a very multi-path area & the antenna isn't very directional.
And more to your point the OTA doesn't "suck" enough, in that "to suck" refers to an intake or to receive in this case. The OTA tuner in the HR-20 doesn't receive well, so in fact it needs to "suck" more. FWIW

[pdawg17]

HAVE YOU ever done ANYTHING with your antenna?
I posted about this in your first thread.
If you don't go to the source of the problem, how are band-aids going to work for you?

I have moved my antenna ALL OVER MY ROOF and NBC has ZERO signal unless I reboot the box...only then will I have a signal for a FEW MINUTES only...I know you've recommended a different antenna to me but maybe I'd rather exhaust all other possibilities before spending another $70 for something that MIGHT help...and since others are experiencing similar issues I'm trying to see if there is another solution...and since I assume you've read my other posts you would know that this is a DIFFERENT problem (losing a channel completely)...you may think it is due to the SAME issue (multipath) but I don't know that until I ask at this forum which I used to think was a very friendly and patient place to look for help...

[veryoldschool]

I have moved my antenna ALL OVER MY ROOF and NBC has ZERO signal unless I reboot the box...only then will I have a signal for a FEW MINUTES only...I know you've recommended a different antenna to me but maybe I'd rather exhaust all other possibilities before spending another $70 for something that MIGHT help...and since others are experiencing similar issues I'm trying to see if there is another solution...and since I assume you've read my other posts you would know that this is a DIFFERENT problem (losing a channel completely)...you may think it is due to the SAME issue (multipath) but I don't know that until I ask at this forum which I used to think was a very friendly and patient place to look for help...
You are doing everything I would do, before I spent more money.
From the beginning I thought your old receiver needed the antenna improvement before the receiver upgrade.
I lived on the peninsula, hell I grew up there, so I have "some idea" of your problems.
Here to help & not piss off. :)

[pdawg17]

You are doing everything I would do, before I spent more money.
From the beginning I thought your old receiver needed the antenna improvement before the receiver upgrade.
I lived on the peninsula, hell I grew up there, so I have "some idea" of your problems.
Here to help & not piss off. :)

Thanks OldSchool...so you would still say the 9085p would be the best? But I'd need something different for NBC, right?

[SFNSXguy]

I have moved my antenna ALL OVER MY ROOF and NBC has ZERO signal unless I reboot the box...only then will I have a signal for a FEW MINUTES only...I know you've recommended a different antenna to me but maybe I'd rather exhaust all other possibilities before spending another $70 for something that MIGHT help...and since others are experiencing similar issues I'm trying to see if there is another solution...and since I assume you've read my other posts you would know that this is a DIFFERENT problem (losing a channel completely)...you may think it is due to the SAME issue (multipath) but I don't know that until I ask at this forum which I used to think was a very friendly and patient place to look for help...

What direction is your antenna pointing? North (towards San Francisco) or South Towards San Jose? Most of the big locals (CBS, ABC, PBS, FOX) are North of you... NBC is South of you. If you're using a directional antenna, you'll need a rotor.

[pdawg17]

What direction is your antenna pointing? North (towards San Francisco) or South Towards San Jose? Most of the big locals (CBS, ABC, PBS, FOX) are North of you... NBC is South of you. If you're using a directional antenna, you'll need a rotor.

I believe a couple of years ago KNTV (NBC) moved up near Sutro so they are all north now...

[veryoldschool]

Thanks OldSchool...so you would still say the 9085p would be the best? But I'd need something different for NBC, right?
Back in the first thread, someone pointed out you needing VHF [or soon will be]. So I would guess something like this: http://www.winegard.com/offair/antennas/hd7084p.htm

[veryoldschool]

I believe a couple of years ago KNTV (NBC) moved up near Sutro so they are all north now...
San Bruno mountain [the old South San Fransisco sign if it's still there]

[SFNSXguy]

I believe a couple of years ago KNTV (NBC) moved up near Sutro so they are all north now...

It's on Mount Loma Prieta... that's still South of you (until maybe the next earthquake) :lol:

[SFNSXguy]

San Bruno mountain [the old South San Fransisco sign if it's still there]

Most of the stations that USED to be on Mt. San Bruno moved to Mt. Sutro (Twin Peaks tall tower) many years ago -- except KNTV-NBC.


WOOPS.... I stand corrected, KNTV IS now on Mt. San Bruno --- everyone else is on Sutro.

Point your antenna NORTH to get them all.

It's probably just the HR20's crappy internal OTA coax wiring -- your problem is especially weird since KNTV is closer to you than all the others.

[veryoldschool]

It's probably just the HR20's crappy internal OTA coax wiring.
:confused: Are you still under that rumor?
From an RF point of view, there is nothing wrong with the coax wiring inside.

[pdawg17]

Most of the stations that USED to be on Mt. San Bruno moved to Mt. Sutro (Twin Peaks tall tower) many years ago -- except KNTV-NBC.


WOOPS.... I stand corrected, KNTV IS now on Mt. San Bruno --- everyone else is on Sutro.

Point your antenna NORTH to get them all.

It's probably just the HR20's crappy internal OTA coax wiring -- your problem is especially weird since KNTV is closer to you than all the others.

It's closer but I do techinically have a UHF-only antenna...what's weird to me is with the HR10-250, NBC was the STRONGEST of all the major locals and with the HR20 I get nothing (like I said above - when I GET a signal it is still the strongest but it drops out to nothing after a few minutes of resetting my antenna setup on the HR20)...

[SFNSXguy]

:confused: Are you still under that rumor?
From an RF point of view, there is nothing wrong with the coax wiring inside.

I wouldn't know (I get no OTA signals from anyone).... however, there are posts here that detail rewiring of the internal OTA coax that made a world of differnce -- the poster is (was?) an RF engineer. Do a seach.

[veryoldschool]

I wouldn't know (I get no OTA signals from anyone).... however, there are posts here that detail rewiring of the internal OTA coax that made a world of difference -- the poster is (was?) an RF engineer. Do a search.
Not that has been around here in four or five months.
What helps with OTA is outside the box.
I've been working with RF for [what decade or century are in now?] like forever.

[bonscott87]

I guess it's possible that the channel is actually *too* powerful. That can certainly happen and if you have a signal booster on that can "blow out" the tuner for that channel effectively losing that channel. If you have a booster try taking it out of the loop or dialing it down to see if you can get a balance between that one and your weaker stations.

[veryoldschool]

I guess it's possible that the channel is actually *too* powerful. That can certainly happen and if you have a signal booster on that can "blow out" the tuner for that channel effectively losing that channel. If you have a booster try taking it out of the loop or dialing it down to see if you can get a balance between that one and your weaker stations.
I'm getting lost here. While too much signal can be a problem, I don't remember an amp in this discussion [yet]. Mountains [well hills], yes. Amps, no. :)

[pdawg17]

I'm getting lost here. While too much signal can be a problem, I don't remember an amp in this discussion [yet]. Mountains [well hills], yes. Amps, no. :)

OldSchool: Knowing my location an amp shouldn't theoretically help my situation, right?

[veryoldschool]

OldSchool: Knowing my location an amp shouldn't theoretically help my situation, right?
I would start with a good antenna.
If you don't have the signal "coming in" an amp isn't going to be any good.
BTW: I never used an amp down there, just a big A$$ antenna.