DTV Hotline: Having Trouble? – Call the DTV Hotline & FCC Consumer Center: 1-888-CALLFCC (1-888-225-5322)
Reported by: John Matarese
Hundreds of viewers have been contacting us to say they cannot pick up Channel 9's Digital Signal with their new Converter Box, or new HDTV, even though they always received CH 9 fine on their old analog TV's. Or they suddenly can't find us or another Digital channel they had a week ago just fine.
UPDATE 7/15/09: CHANNEL 9 HAS BOOSTED ITS SIGNAL!
A of July 15, 2009, WCPO has installed a brand new Digital Antenna, and has boosted its signal. This should make a significant difference in reception.
If you have not been able to see us for a month, please rescan your TV or converter box.
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STILL HAVING TROUBLE? We are finding two things you can do that may quickly and easily solve your problems.
If your picture is breaking up into little boxes, and freezing, move the TV near a window, then put your Rabbit Ears antenna in the window, or on the window sill. Ideally, use a window that faces downtown Cincinnati, where the TV towers are located. This makes a huge difference. We are finding in many cases, it clears up the breakup problem, as walls (especially brick walls) will block DTV signals.
If you can't find a station you had been receiving on your DTV or Converter Box a few days ago, get out your Remote, enter the Menu, and "rescan" for channels. This is also known as "autoprogramming." This will find any channels that have moved, or were too weak before to pick up.
WHY SOME ANTENNAS WON'T EVER RECEIVE WCPO CHANNEL 9
You may have a UHF only antenna, in which case you probably will never get Ch 9's digital signal. You need a VHF-UHF antenna.
If it says "UHF ANTENNA" on the box, return it, and explain to the store why they don’t know what they are selling (that their UHF antennas will NEVER pick up Channel 9)
Or your TV may not be Auto programming for VHF. Try manually punching in "9.1" with your Remote. This often works.
VHF does not travel through walls as well as UHF. You may want to try moving the antenna around. In a worst case scenario, you may need a roof or attic antenna (see below).
HELPFUL ANTENNA INFO:
A rooftop or attic or outdoor antenna should receive WCPO's digital signal in all parts of the Cincinnati market. Many older homes already have one on the roof from the 1960s: see if you can find the antenna line from that in the attic, and hook it up.
If you don't have one, then you may need to purchase one if you don't want to sign up for cable or Satellite.
The WCPO Engineering Dept. says they have had the most success with the TERK HDTV antenna. There is an amplified and unamplified version. Try the unamplified, if you can find it.
AMPLIFIED ANTENNA WARNING:
Some amplified antennas (that you plug into the wall) will actually make Channel 9's signal harder to receive. They are pulling in too much interference, so you get nothing.Try using the antenna with the gain turned "down" or unplugged.
Still nothing? We don't want to lose any viewers: email or call us at 513-721-9900 and WCPO will try to help.
John Matarese
