Basic channel reception?

Question

I don't have cable but I should be able to get some of the basic channels by antenna but in my living room I get nothing. I have an antenna that is kind of crappy but it is the same one I have in the bedroom and I am able to pick up about 7 chennels in there. Does anybody know why I can't pick up anything in the living room? It is a HD big screen...don't know if that matters.

Answer 1

You need a better antenna for it. A rooftop is best. The bedroom tv is higher up and has less interference than the living room one.

Answer 2

If you're picking up channels on the non-HD set, but not on the HD set, I'm wondering if the antenna type is the problem. Most, but not all, digital TV channels use the UHF band (channels 14-69). Your old TV is probably picking up channels 2-13 with it's VHF antenna.

Older TVs used to have a circular antenna accessory for picking up UHF channels. Try that if you have one.

Also check the antennaweb site to find out how far you are from the TV transmitter towers and what kind of antenna you'll need.