[Cmnore]

Recently I 'lost' one of my ATSC channels from my OTA lineup. I figured it was a transmission issue - until I read about four other posts with similar complaints from multiple locations. How many people have 'lost' a local OTA station recently, and I don't mean from the guide?

 

[sp44]

I just bought an AM21 and I cannot get the one channel I bought it for! Comes up in the guide but no picture. Strength is fine.

 

[Cmnore]

Odd. Last week it was fine. Now I get the same 'blank' screen.

 

[bonscott87]

Have you confirmed that the OTA channel is actually still on the air? You can do this by using the digital OTA tuner in your TV (most HDTVs have these built in), using an older DirecTV receiver that supported OTA scan or post over on AVS in the local thread for your area.

 

[sp44]

for me definitely on the air

 

[Stanley Kritzik]

Recently I 'lost' one of my ATSC channels from my OTA lineup. I figured it was a transmission issue - until I read about four other posts with similar complaints from multiple locations. How many people have 'lost' a local OTA station recently, and I don't mean from the guide?

I lost CH 58 in Milwaukee, and no matter what I did, I got "771" errors. It was in the guide, but no good. If I looked at the signal meter, it was there, but tuning was all "771".

So -- drum roll -- I did a reset the antenna stuff, put in my correct zip code, and falsly added a secondary market -- a city 50 miles away with its own OTA stations. To be specific, in my case, Milwaukee is my market and I added Kenosha (50 miles to the South). That did it. It shook up "whatever" enough so that Milwaukee's 58 came back.

I think the fault lies with the station that owns CH 58, and the PSP info they send, and/or their broadcast signature. It's all beyond me. Anyway, that's my story. BTW, on my two H20s, I never lost 58. Things must be fussier with the HR21/AM21 combo., and its software.

Stan

 

[bonscott87]

Good idea. Definately re-do OTA setup by removing all markets and then add your market back in. I remember doing this even back in the day with receivers that did OTA scan. Once in a while it's brain would get scrambled and I'd have to rescan to get some channels back. Think of it as uninstalling and reinstalling a fussy program in Windows.

 

[tunce]

I have the same issue with CBS 58 here in the Milwaukee DMA. It shows up as two 51-1's and 2 58-2's then every once in a while they get confused with what is mapped with what and stop working so I have to re-set it up. Channel 36 (PBS) has the same dumb issue with -3 and -4 there are two of them as well.

It really is starting to get very annoying!

 

[harsh]

I think the fault lies with the station that owns CH 58, and the PSP info they send, and/or their broadcast signature.

The station sends what they send -- correct or incorrect as it may be -- and if DIRECTV can't match up with it, it isn't the station's fault. This is one of the biggest flaws with the method that DIRECTV has chosen to handle OTA service. It is one thing to not offer guide information if the PSIP data doesn't line up but it is another issue entirely to deny access to the station altogether.

 

[aa9vi]

The station sends what they send -- correct or incorrect as it may be -- and if DIRECTV can't match up with it, it isn't the station's fault. This is one of the biggest flaws with the method that DIRECTV has chosen to handle OTA service. It is one thing to not offer guide information if the PSIP data doesn't line up but it is another issue entirely to deny access to the station altogether.

Right. D* has chosen to contract out the programming data to Zap2it/Tribune Media Services. Zap2it doesn't check on a weekly basis for changes and are getting behind. D* looks stupid when they don't have the channels. That's why an OTA scan, like in the H20, would be ideal to put int he AM21 or any future satelllite/OTA receiver.

D* is falling behind the competition, Dish Network, with their current philosophy. When will they realize this OTA approach isn't working very well?

Solution:
Design a satellite receiver with integrated OTA ATSC tuner and channel scan feature. Basically, combine the good of the HR22/23 with the good of the H20 into 1 box. Sorry, I'm preaching to the choir. Call and email D*. They don't seem to respond to numerous posts like this stating similar concerns many of us have.

 

[Stanley Kritzik]

The station sends what they send -- correct or incorrect as it may be -- and if DIRECTV can't match up with it, it isn't the station's fault. This is one of the biggest flaws with the method that DIRECTV has chosen to handle OTA service. It is one thing to not offer guide information if the PSIP data doesn't line up but it is another issue entirely to deny access to the station altogether.

You have a good point, indeed. D* is relying on a bunch of clericals all across the country to help them "discover" what's in/on the airwaves. There just have to be a bunch of mistakes made, and we end users end up with missing OTA channels. Frankly, I like the security of OTA channels. During a rain-out or snowstorm, at least the locals are viewable. (I'll skip SuperBowl/Green Bay comments here, as the Green and Gold need some retooling of their own!)

Stan

 

[sp44]

I have the same issue with CBS 58 here in the Milwaukee DMA. It shows up as two 51-1's and 2 58-2's then every once in a while they get confused with what is mapped with what and stop working so I have to re-set it up. Channel 36 (PBS) has the same dumb issue with -3 and -4 there are two of them as well.

It really is starting to get very annoying!

Yeah it is.