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You are here: Experts > Home/Garden > Home Appliances > TV/VCR/Stereo Troubleshooting > tv converter
Expert: cleggsan
Date: 9/28/2008
Subject: tv converter
Question
QUESTION: hi cleggsan,
i just recently bought a converter box for my analog tv, i actually bought it today. the picture's great but since i live next to a subway station (nyc), everytime a train comes by (which is often)the picture gets all distorted and i lose the signal. can you help me?
thanks.
ANSWER: This is big problem. One of the short-comings of the new digital tv.
Here is what I would try:
ONE: First, disconnect the antenna and just watch to see if you get hash or noise when the train goes by. This will tell you if the problem is getting into the tv receiver or converter OR through the antenna.
TWO: If looks like disturbance is coming through the antenna try reorienting it to avoid the train disturbing effects.
THREE: It is possible the problem relates to reflected signals off the train that can only be avoided when the antenna is pointed away from the trains metal surfaces. If you have an upper floor, try that to see if it mitigates the problem some.
FOUR: It will cost, but a more directive antenna may help rather than just rabbit ears. Have you tried a multi-element antenna? Also, check with a few retail stores in your area and see what some of your neighbors are experiencing. In reality I have heard some horror stories with reception qualities that some consumers are getting with the new converters. There is some movement to convince the FCC to leave the analog stations up longer until the digital crowd can get their bugs solved. Don't know if it will happen, but some consumers are very upset with the reception results they are getting. Especially with fringe stations. Up close stations seem to me okey in the most part.
Hope this helps.
C
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: when you say disconnect the antenna and look for hash or noise, what channel should i tune to? and if i do see hash or noise, would that indicate its the converter 0r antenna? and one last question, what's hash (i don't know anything about tv, sorry) and to answer your question, i only have rabbit ears and no multielement antenna.
thanks!
Answer
Tune to a local channel. And, take an old wire coat hanger and stick it in the antenna input hole in the center of the jack. This will test your tv to make sure it is working as an analog receiver when the train goes by. This is just to verify the set is working in analog and is or is not effected by the passage of the train.
Now, hook the digital converter up again and see if you are or are not getting the train interference. Now, with the converter hooked up check it when the train goes by with NO antenna input at all. Do you get interference when the train goes by? If so, now you know it is an rf interference into the box. Now, connect the antenna; if you get train noise only with the antenna into the digital box then we know it is coming through the antenna only. A highly directional antenna will help this problem.
Does this make sense now?
C
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