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AM21 not receiving all local sub channels.

3K views 25 replies 13 participants last post by  coconut13 
#1 ·
I would like to start by saying hello to everyone as I just joined and created my account today. From what I have read so far dbstalk is a great tool full of smart knowledgeable people, and I'm happy to now be a part of it! I'm fairly new to all of this and for years have received my television via different cable companies. However a recent move changed that situation. I recently moved just outside of Farmersville TX which is about 50 miles Northeast of Dallas, where there are no cable companies providing service. After a lot of discussion I decided to use DirectTV for my television service. I'm a lover of classic TV and westerns most of all, and was quite disheartened to learn that I wasn't going to get many of the off air sub channels that provide this type of programming. Therefore my son and I did some research and found a solution with the AM21 off air tuner. I was able to purchase an AM21, and a long range outdoor television antenna and was very happy to see some of my favorite channels placed into my guide. However I'm still not receiving all of the local sub channels available in my area. I was wondering if anyone else had experienced this, and if there was anyway to fix the situation?

Here is the equipment I am currently using: DirectTV HR54-700 receiver.
Clearstream 4V extreme range indoor/outdoor HDTV antenna.

The channels I am currently not receiving even though they are available in my area are:
Decades-11.2
Movies-27.2
BUZZR-27.3
Heroes&Icons-27.4
ThisTV-33.3
Grit-49.3

What really has me confused is the fact that I am receiving 11.1 but not 11.2. It is the same way with the other channels. I get 27.1 but not .2, .3, or .4 I receive 33.2 and 49.2 but not 33.3 or 49.3.

Any advice or thoughts would be much appreciated. Thank you all again.
 
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#2 ·
The database has a memory limitation on the place where they store station IDs, so no subchannels with a station ID higher than 65535 (0xffff) are available, which was reached in 2009.

Your missing stations have the following IDs all higher than 65535:
11.2 KTVTDT2 91694
27.2 KDFIDT2 75319
27.3 KDFIDT3 81301
27.4 KDFIDT4 97850
33.3 KDAFDT3 70321
49.3 KSTRDT3 90164


There are tricks to get many of those channels listed with additional zip codes, although the guide data might be wrong. Someone will likely notice this thread in a few days and be able to help you with that part.
 
#5 ·
I would love for someone to let me know how to bring them in! The guide data being wrong isn't a big deal to me. If anyone knows how to get them using zip codes please let me know, I can't thank you enough! Additionally I did check my signal levels and they were all 85% and above. Thanks so much KyL416 and if you or anyone else can let me know how to bring them in I can't wait to try!
 
#7 ·
Personally, I've come to despise the nearly crippled AM21, but have learned over the years to do what is necessary in order to watch and record the desired sub-channels in my own DMA.

That said, if coconut is still around, I'm sure he will be more than happy to assist you. In the meantime, take the time to avail yourself of the search function on this board using "AM21" and/or "AM21 Dallas" as your search terms. There is much information to be had.

Once you gain a bit of experience, the attached may prove somewhat helpful.
 

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#8 ·
Gtodd said:
I would like to start by saying hello to everyone as I just joined and created my account today. From what I have read so far dbstalk is a great tool full of smart knowledgeable people, and I'm happy to now be a part of it! I'm fairly new to all of this and for years have received my television via different cable companies. However a recent move changed that situation. I recently moved just outside of Farmersville TX which is about 50 miles Northeast of Dallas, where there are no cable companies providing service. After a lot of discussion I decided to use DirectTV for my television service. I'm a lover of classic TV and westerns most of all, and was quite disheartened to learn that I wasn't going to get many of the off air sub channels that provide this type of programming. Therefore my son and I did some research and found a solution with the AM21 off air tuner. I was able to purchase an AM21, and a long range outdoor television antenna and was very happy to see some of my favorite channels placed into my guide. However I'm still not receiving all of the local sub channels available in my area. I was wondering if anyone else had experienced this, and if there was anyway to fix the situation?

Here is the equipment I am currently using: DirectTV HR54-700 receiver.
Clearstream 4V extreme range indoor/outdoor HDTV antenna.

The channels I am currently not receiving even though they are available in my area are:
Decades-11.2
Movies-27.2
BUZZR-27.3
Heroes&Icons-27.4
ThisTV-33.3
Grit-49.3

What really has me confused is the fact that I am receiving 11.1 but not 11.2. It is the same way with the other channels. I get 27.1 but not .2, .3, or .4 I receive 33.2 and 49.2 but not 33.3 or 49.3.

Any advice or thoughts would be much appreciated. Thank you all again.
Here's how you can pick these channels up using secondary zip codes. You will have to run the setup 3 times and this will take a few minutes to complete, but you should have all the channels listed with 49.3 having the correct GRIT guide and a DECADES guide on 27.3. The other channels will have incorrect guides. OK, First run Dallas (75201) as primary and Madison WI (53703) as secondary. 2nd time run Huntsville AL (35801) as primary and Anchorage AK (99501) as secondary. 3rd time run Dallas (75201) as primary and West Palm Beach FL (33401) as secondary. This should give you all 6 channels in Dallas. Let me know if you have success in trying this and what it looks like for you. By studying Dallas further, if your antenna receive's the KUVN 23 channels from Garland TX you can receive 23.2 BOUNCE with the correct guide and 23.3 and 23.4 with incorrect guides by running Buffalo NY (14201) as a secondary zip. So the 3rd time run Buffalo instead of Dallas as primary and then run a 4th set of Dallas and Madison. This puts your AM21 in the right zip code info for any reboot as it runs only the 2 zip codes stored in the machine (Dallas and Madison) at the time of a reboot.
 
#11 ·
Thanks so much to everyone for the help and advice! Coconut I will run the zip codes the way you suggested this evening and let you know. Thanks to everyone again for the help I really appreciate it, and RBA I may ask you for some more info on the Tivo if you don't mind. I've only heard of it but have no experience with one. I really appreciate everyones time.
 
#12 ·
TXD16 said:
Personally, I've come to despise the nearly crippled AM21, but have learned over the years to do what is necessary in order to watch and record the desired sub-channels in my own DMA.

That said, if coconut is still around, I'm sure he will be more than happy to assist you. In the meantime, take the time to avail yourself of the search function on this board using "AM21" and/or "AM21 Dallas" as your search terms. There is much information to be had.

Once you gain a bit of experience, the attached may prove somewhat helpful.
The attach file OTA tab shows no gets, cozy, and others tv channels
 
#13 ·
Last night I ran the setup the 3 ways coconut13 said to do it, and it worked I was able to pick up all 6 channels I was wanting! Thanks so much! As you said my Grit guide is correct and while Decades on 11.2 has an incorrect guide I can check the guide on 27.3 to see what they are showing. I guess my next question would be is there anyway I can get a guide for Movies, Heroes&Icons, and ThisTV plugged in. I'm not really concerned with having a guide for Buzzr but I would like to see what is on these other stations so I could set my DVR to record. I realize this would involve checking the correct channel guide to find the program I want and then going to the guide that the channel actually plays on and then possibly recording multiple shows to get my desired recording in, but I'm willing to do it if I have that option. Is that possible perhaps with other zip codes? Thanks again so much for helping me out with this!
 
#15 ·
Gtodd said:
Last night I ran the setup the 3 ways coconut13 said to do it, and it worked I was able to pick up all 6 channels I was wanting! Thanks so much! As you said my Grit guide is correct and while Decades on 11.2 has an incorrect guide I can check the guide on 27.3 to see what they are showing. I guess my next question would be is there anyway I can get a guide for Movies, Heroes&Icons, and ThisTV plugged in. I'm not really concerned with having a guide for Buzzr but I would like to see what is on these other stations so I could set my DVR to record. I realize this would involve checking the correct channel guide to find the program I want and then going to the guide that the channel actually plays on and then possibly recording multiple shows to get my desired recording in, but I'm willing to do it if I have that option. Is that possible perhaps with other zip codes? Thanks again so much for helping me out with this!
There are a couple ways to get extra channels with guides you desire. In my area there are low-power stations on channels 16,25,33 and my antenna receives these stations. I use zip codes to get guides I need on these channels. I never watch these channels, but it puts a useful guide in my DVR by running a zip code to get it. In Dallas I notice quite a few of low-power stations. For instance, KBOP-LD channel 20 and KWDA-LD channel 30. If your antenna receives these stations, zip codes can be run to get these channels and maybe a useful guide for you. I don't know how many, if any, extra stations your antenna receives. But any station your antenna picks up can be used if you can find a guide to match, or if you just want to view one of these stations. So let me know ANY station your antenna receives, so I can look for a match.
 
#16 ·
dod1450 said:
The attach file OTA tab shows no gets, cozy, and others tv channels
Correct, nor is it the purpose of the list, which lists only the limited local channels carried by DIRECTV in any given market. The purpose of the list is to provide data to be used to "fool" the AM21 with out-of-market data that will allow for the incorporation into the DVR's guide of in-market channels, albeit often with incorrect schedule listings.

If you read through one of coconut13's step-by-step guides, while following the data in the OTA tab of the spreadsheet, it should become clearer for you.
 
#18 ·
AngryManMLS said:
Does anyone has a good list of how to get all the Minneapolis market OTA channels? Right now my AM21 is lacking at least Decades (4-2). Plus my Fox/My29 info for OTA is getting PBS info for another market all together. Thanks in advance.
I'm from 60 miles west of the Twin Cities and with my AM21, I receive channels 4.2,5.3,11.3,23.3,23.4, 43.2,43.3,43.4 all channels not in the database for MPLS/STP. Plus you can receive all the low power stations on channels 16,25, and 33. I run 10 different zip codes and get channels 5.3 METV, 23.3 GRIT, 43.2 Escape with correct guides. 9.4 also comes with the BUZZR guide for me. Channels 4.2 Decades,9.3 Movies,11.3 Justice Net,23.4 Get,43.1 Bounce,43.3 Laff, and 43.4 Cozi all are receivable with wrong guides. BUT, you can get guide info for ALL of these channels on different channels if you run the right concoction of zip codes. I receive Mankato MN's 2 stations, so I run that zip in my layout. I also receive Rochester MN stations about 30% of the time and I use that to get some channels from Roch. for guide info. I don't know what your antenna receive's and how many stations you want to get. But almost ANY Twin Cities station is attainable except 5.6 THIS if you run the right secondary zip and are willing to work with the guide on the wrong channel.
 
#20 ·
wilbur_the_goose said:
Abandon the AM21 and get a TiVo. The AM21 (and HR20) are absolutely horrible for OTA use due to the horribly inadequate guide data.
Yeah ....

Plus should there be a reboot due to a power outage, FW update, or some other. You will likely need to rerun the AM21 or HR20's OTA setup with all those secondary zip codes each time to get all those sub-channels back.

This was one of the reasons I finally ditched my AM21 for an OTA TIVO Roamio. Though I admit I'm a little pissed with TIVO at the moment. Their latest FW upgrade to accommodate the transition to the ROVI guide is causing some kind of intolerable glitching in the reception of one of the main local channels here that I watch.

Sent from my LGMS550 using Tapatalk
 
#21 ·
Coconut13 sorry it has taken me so long to respond I have been out of pocket due to work as of late. Here is a list of all the channels my antenna is picking up. 2-1, 4-1, 5-1, 5-2, 8-1, 8-2, 8-3, 11-1, 11-2, 13-1, 13-2, 21-1, another 21-1, 21-2, another 21-2, 23-1, 27-1, another 27-1, 27-2, 27-3, 27-4, 29-1, 29-2, 33-1, 33-2, 33-3, 39-1, 47-1, 47-2, 49-1, 49-2, 49-3, 52-1, 55-1, 58-1, 58-2, 58-3, 58-4, 58-5, 68-1, 68-2, 68-3, 68-4. Sorry I know that is a very long list. Thanks again for all the help!
 
#22 ·
Gtodd said:
Coconut13 sorry it has taken me so long to respond I have been out of pocket due to work as of late. Here is a list of all the channels my antenna is picking up. 2-1, 4-1, 5-1, 5-2, 8-1, 8-2, 8-3, 11-1, 11-2, 13-1, 13-2, 21-1, another 21-1, 21-2, another 21-2, 23-1, 27-1, another 27-1, 27-2, 27-3, 27-4, 29-1, 29-2, 33-1, 33-2, 33-3, 39-1, 47-1, 47-2, 49-1, 49-2, 49-3, 52-1, 55-1, 58-1, 58-2, 58-3, 58-4, 58-5, 68-1, 68-2, 68-3, 68-4. Sorry I know that is a very long list. Thanks again for all the help!
Did you try running Buffalo NY (14201) as a secondary zip. Since you are receiving channel 23, by running Buffalo you should get 23.2,23.3 and 23.4. With 23.2 having the correct Bounce guide. Channels 52 and 55 have quite a few subchannels in Dallas. 52 has 3 subchannels and 55 has 6 subchannels. Zip codes could be run to get some of these subchannels that maybe has a guide that is useful to you. I would have to check to see if that is possible or not.
 
#23 ·
What zip code should I use as secondary to get the guide for decade tv. San Francisco OTA is using 5.2. But it is one of those stations that is beyond the 65k binary number.
 
#24 ·
dod1450 said:
What zip code should I use as secondary to get the guide for decade tv. San Francisco OTA is using 5.2. But it is one of those stations that is beyond the 65k binary number.
There might be a couple ways to get a Decades guide for SF. Duluth MN (55802) carries Decades from 12 AM-7PM. So it has a partial Decades guide. Duluth's KBJR 6.3 RF19 would match SF's KOFY 20.3 RF19 and should give you the Duluth guide on 20.3, since 20.3 is not in the database for SF. Another possibility would be if your antenna receives either low-power channel 45 RF2 in SF. Either KQRO-LD or KFTY-LD. Las Vegas carries Decades on KHSV 21.2 RF2, by running Las Vegas (87701), the .2 RF2 would match the .2 RF2 of the low-powered SF stations and would give you Las Vegas's guide (Decades) on 45.2 in SF.

n
 
#25 ·
Something had happen. The OTA channels that I had received are no longer in my guide menu. I had tried to both initialize and reset with no success. Did Directv removed the existing channels?
 
#26 ·
dod1450 said:
Something had happen. The OTA channels that I had received are no longer in my guide menu. I had tried to both initialize and reset with no success. Did Directv removed the existing channels?
If you had a reboot because of a software update you have to reinitialize the AM21 channels. The channels for the 2 zip codes stored in the DVR should be there. But any other channels attained by using secondary zip codes, will be gone. You just go through the same process with the AM21 that you went through to get the channels in the first place.
 
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