“Autoscan” finds nothing. Not even a fuzzy, poor picture.
Does the presence of autoscan indicate a tuner is installed? Or do I need a tuner to go with the antenna?
You have a tuner. What you need is an antenna (or a better antenna, or to move your antenna, or to hook it up correctly, etc.).
What does it show onscreen when it’s scanning?
Just that it is “scanning”. Then when finished it tells me zero channels were found. It could be just a lousy antenna. I am 50 miles from city. But I thought it would find something.
I am trying to cut cable since I watch only network football live.
If it didn’t have a tuner, it wouldn’t give you the option to find channels.
Um, this…
at 50 miles you will need a good antenna.
go to
click on
“Check Your Address for Free TV”
and follow directions, a street address is most exacting but you could get a crude idea with just your zip/postal code.
the antenna type will be based on the real channel numbers.
to get signals well at that distance you will need a 60 mile outdoor antenna mounted outdoors or an 80 mile antenna mounted indoors (like in an attic).
i did make an indoor antenna (UHF) for a friend who was about 30 miles; this was 4 bow tie antennas connected in a very specific way. i could get signals some of the time on a few channels from 60 miles; it would not be reliable beyond 30 miles.
It’s also possible that you have an analog tuner. Without a digital tuner you aren’t going to pick up a signal since the digital switchover a few years ago. How old is the TV?
There’s a name for a television receiver that doesn’t have a tuner. They’re called “monitors”.
also make sure you are scanning “air” or 'broadcast channels.
tv sets will have different scans and input selections (which connection on the back) for setting up the set.
When I used the AntennaWeb site, it says I need a “yellow” antenna, one of the smaller ones. Can anyone recommend me a good one?
Just to mention that you can purchase the direct TV NFL Sunday Tocket direct over the internet now. The stipulation is that you can’t get Direct TV, I don’t know if and how they verify this. IIRC it cost about $200 for the season.
having local tv for weather and news is useful. sometimes the net dies.
I have only been able to get digital broadcast in two of the three places I have lived.
Digital TV and C-Band going digital and encrypted fellate with great alacrity.
This. If it says TV on the label, it’s got a tuner.
You don’t necessarily have to buy from here, but: Solid Signal is one option. Click the “TV Antennas and Supplies” link, and in the menu click on “Small multi-directional” (or just click that link). Personally, I’d bump up a hair to “medium multi-directional” just to play it safe.
What I have is a big vane-style antenna, like this one, up in my attic. I used the existing cable wire to pull the antenna cable down to the wall box and just put a two-connection coax outlet on it, one for satellite, one for antenna. Works marvelously, and the picture from the antenna is way prettier than the HD that comes over the satellite.
Yep. I just got the manual for my TV, and it doesn’t have a built-in antenna, but it does have both digital and analog tuners.
You either send them a copy of a lease or deed restriction prohibiting small dishes or you give them your zip code and they can look up the sight lines for your home. If there are really tall trees, buildings or mountains south of your home you can’t “see” the DTV satellites.