I recently (2009) bought two TVs- a Samsung and an LG.

In my experience, the Samsung is better for OTA reception. I have done comparisons many times, using the same antenna and same pre-amp (with and with out). The Samsung always brought in more channels, most noticeably on the weakest digital stations, which is probably most important with the upcoming transitions. In fairness, the LG outperformed the Samsung for analog signals- it was much better for analog dxing as well, but not digital.

Some have suggested that OTA receptivity of TVs is primarily/solely based on the tuner of the TV and the latest chipsets. I have also heard that it also depends on the TV brand. Some TV manufacturers outsource the tuner (e.g., LG), while others make their own ( i.e., Samsung). In addtion, other components of the TV (e.g., coax connections) vary be TV brand with Samsung being in the higher quality group. This all makes sense, b/c as I mentioned, the Samsung outperforms the LG using the exact same OTA gear.

I have a couple of different Brands. '08 Viewsonic, '07 Sanyo, and '09 Sharp. The Viewsonic tuners do better with weak signals, than the Sanyo and the Sharp. I don't watch anything analog, so I can't comment on that part of the tuner. Viewsonic also has a built in channel guide which is nice. Sanyo you can see what's on next, Sharp very basic information.

Hi,

Within the last couple of days, picked up a Toshiba 19AV600U 19" LCD panel. The tuner is ATSC/NTSC/QUAM. Seems to work well. Performance is similar to a borrowed RCA DTA800A converter box I had for a while. The only irritation, especially those who have a rotator is that after a scan, a repeat scan ALWAYS clears the previous scan. You can't do a scan and then keep the digitals and add to them. There is an option to add/remove, but that only allows adding of analogue or removal of digital and analogue channels. Set manufactured in March 2009.

Picture looks good too. :)

Cameron

It doesn't auto-add when you put in an RF channel?
Also, check and see if there's a "service" mode, I know our Viewsonic has an option under there for single-RF scan to add channels individually if punching them in manually doesn't work.

It doesn't auto-add when you put in an RF channel?
Also, check and see if there's a "service" mode, I know our Viewsonic has an option under there for single-RF scan to add channels individually if punching them in manually doesn't work.

Nope. Tried that idea.

Pulled the antenna connection, did a scan so it would completely clear everything previously scanned. Went to RF20 and it just shows noise. What the add/remove seems to do is simply remove or make available (if scanned in previously) from the up/down channel select via the remote (like a favourites list). I think what *should* happen is while in add/remove, the tuner analyze the highlighted channel and if there's no NTSC signal, test for ATSC, if no ATSC then either show noise or a blue screen. :-) Although, thinking of blue, might not be a good colour choice as then they'd think their TV is having a BSOD. :) :)

There is already a firmware update available, and can be done by the consumer easily with a USB memory stick. It is listed as solving only a muting issue with certain cable signals under certain conditions. Wasn't more specific than that. Grrr... But maybe a nicely worded service note might bring the ability to add to already scanned digital channels ability... Hmmm...

:)

Cameron

OK, I'm going to pull out my hair now. Again- the performance of my tuners (Samsung and LG) are erratic. I was so sure the Samsung TV/tuner was better than the LG (got more digital channels), but now with the US digital completion, the LG is out performing the Samsung. I get more channels with the LG, ie., ION and WNYO. I wonder if the digital switch-over had anything to do with it?

OK, I'm going to pull out my hair now. Again- the performance of my tuners (Samsung and LG) are erratic. I was so sure the Samsung TV/tuner was better than the LG (got more digital channels), but now with the US digital completion, the LG is out performing the Samsung. I get more channels with the LG, ie., ION and WNYO. I wonder if the digital switch-over had anything to do with it?

There seems to be a partial circular reference to those two channels. (as I pointed out in the reception reports area). With the Sammy, try to clear EVERYTHING, then in digital mode, try going to physical 23, should map to 51.x then try physical 32. It seems that some tuners simply "add" to the mapping table, others simply go with the first into memory. At least that how it appears to me. So far, since the official cut over, I've yet to get 2.x or ION.

Cameron

I have a couple of Samsung TVs that this works on, so it may work on other brands too.

If you're blocked from accessing an RF channel, due to a pre-existing PSIP entry, normally this would require a rescan. This happens with WNLO 23 virtual blocking access to WPXJ 23 real, if WPXJ was not strong enough during the last channel scan to be added to the channel list. If the channel you're after keeps being too weak to obtain, you end up having to do a rescan periodically until the signal is strong enough to grab. There's a shortcut though, at least on Samsung TVs.

Go to the analog channel one number below the RF you want (22-0 in the example cited above). Now press the add/delete button on the remote to bring up the channel memory interface. While that's displaying, press channel up. The TV will check 23 RF digital and analog. If the signal was available this time, it reads in the PSIP and adds to your channel list. You only need to keep trying this until you get a signal, instead of doing a full rescan.

For some strange reason, my TV display the picture fine for analog channels but there is no picture for the digital channel. Example, I can see channel 11 but not channel 11-1 even though I have over 90%. I am getting the audio just no video. Have anybody encounter this problem before? I think maybe it's the coaxil cable.

banger, in Post #656 of the Hamilton thread: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=36535 everything was working great for you, so has anything in your OTA gear changed? BTW coax cable doesn't care whether the signal is analogue or digital, so we can rule that out.

Well, I tried out my new DB8 antenna but didn't find the signal any stronger than my hacked CM4221HD. I split my signal and the other TV is working fine. I then replace it back with my CM4221HD and still no picture. Really weird. I'm worry that my TV or tuner is busted or something? Anyway, will give it a try again tonight.

Internal tuner in my Toshiba LCD TV

In your TV's menu system is the input set to Antenna (instead of Cable)?

Yes. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to program and pickup all the channels before. I really think my TV is busted. It's just weird that I can see analog channels but not the digital channels.

Just to be clear from an outsider's perspective, you can scan for analogues and all goes fine, but when you scan for digitals it goes through the whole channel range and finds none?

I have a couple of Samsung TVs that this works on, so it may work on other brands too.

If you're blocked from accessing an RF channel, due to a pre-existing PSIP entry, normally this would require a rescan. This happens with WNLO 23 virtual blocking access to WPXJ 23 real, if WPXJ was not strong enough during the last channel scan to be added to the channel list. If the channel you're after keeps being too weak to obtain, you end up having to do a rescan periodically until the signal is strong enough to grab. There's a shortcut though, at least on Samsung TVs.

Go to the analog channel one number below the RF you want (22-0 in the example cited above). Now press the add/delete button on the remote to bring up the channel memory interface. While that's displaying, press channel up. The TV will check 23 RF digital and analog. If the signal was available this time, it reads in the PSIP and adds to your channel list. You only need to keep trying this until you get a signal, instead of doing a full rescan.quote: x4mer

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/picture.php?albumid=120&pictureid=1088

I just bought a small Samsung for my bedroom and I have run into this problem. An analog channel on 29 (weak signal from Global) is blocking me from scanning for RF 29 which is WGTE Toledo 30-1 PBS. I would try this trick but my Samsung does not have this add/delete button on it's remote.

Do you mean CH LIST button?

Help me Obi wan Kanobi your my only hope.

Google BP5900125A.

You'll see an add/del button near the bottom right of the remote.

Your TV may support the IR code, even though your remote doesn't offer it. You would need a learning remote (Harmony or JP1) to test it though.

If you've got a local analog on RF 29 though, it's going to make it tough to get a remote digital on the same frequency. My example was only a PSIP table conficting with a physical channel, not two physicals on the same freq.

Wow, thanks, PanaMark. I didn't think London, Ontario could get ANY decent American OTA signals. When I buy a HDTV (my first), I'd be nice to get some different American stations.

I'm with Rogers and fortunately they don't sim-sub the American HD Detroit stations, nor the Seattle stations period (don't get HD Seattle).

Just to be clear from an outsider's perspective, you can scan for analogues and all goes fine, but when you scan for digitals it goes through the whole channel range and finds none?

When I do a re-scan, it would find everything again (analog and digital). I have all the channels but picture just don't come in for digital (just audio).

Anyway, I did a reset to my TV and it work fine now. So whatever the problem was, it's gone now. Strange, I hope it doesn't come back.

I have 3 TVs with built-in tuners, the sensitivity are comparable on the 3 with the LG slightly worse overall.

1. 2007 LG42PC5D, it has remapped all channels well for the past 2 years, 43.8 43.9 never showed on scans. Easy to add channels by scanning the RF# in manual scan. It has no guide whatsoever and the PSIP data (no detail though) takes a long time to show up and often it gets the wrong channel data. The tuner 'crashes' or resets very occasionally when changing to a certain channel which could be 9.1 and sometimes 41.1. Within 10 seconds it is back on but it is annoying.

2. Samsung PN50A550, I am very happy with the performance, fast channel changing and PSIP data pops up quickly. There is a guide but it is only for the next 12 hours or so. When I knew from my other ATSC devices that 51.x was there, I needed to do a total rescan to pick it up and it did so correctly. I tried punching just '23' and it didn't do it.

3. Magnavox 19" DVD combo - the tuner is quite sensitive and behaves much like the Samsung except no EPG and no detail program data. Adding channel is easy like the LG by going into the menu.

My particular Samsung offers a much more satisfying viewing experience than my LG for OTA.

@banger

You may want to look for a firmware update for your TV. If a reset fixed it, it may have been caused by a firmware bug.