Local channels are so fuzzy?

Question

hello, i live in an apartment and i have a fairly new t.v. we have cable tv here that looks great but all the local channels like abc and fox are super grainy and fuzzy. any help?

Answer 1

1 of 2 things:

1. The 'over-the-air' signal is mixing with the cable signal (for the local channels) and causing the interference (because of time-delays, etc.)

2. The cable company doesn't give a rat's a$$ about the quality of the local programming and is not re-broadcasting it in good faith.

My 'gut' says it is #1.

To fix #1, you need to go to Radio Shack and buy a little box called a 'variable attenuator'.  Connect this attenuator in line with the cable and the TV, at the back of the TV (you'll need a short piece of cable added on, also) and adjust the k**b on the attenuator until the signal clears up on the local channels.  

What this does is push the signal strength of the "over-the-air" signal way down, while at the same time pushing the signal strength of the cable signal down.  But... the signal strength of the cable signal will still be strong enough to be picked up by the TV, while the "over-the-air" signal will be too weak to cause interference.

To fix #2, you'll need to complain to the cable company.  If ALL of your neighbors have the same problem with poor quality on the local channels, then #2 is probably the truth (but doing the fix for #1 won't hurt anything either way).

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