Aboutcleggsan Expertise Consumer Electronics of all kinds. Audio, video, tv. Digital equipment for consumer use. Ham radio and automotive electronics.
Experience Electrical Engineering; recording, broadcasting, design, international standards, tv and radio theory and practice.
Organizations FELLOW of AES (Audio Engineering Society)
Senior Life Member of IEEE (Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers)
International Consulting Organization
Publications IEEE Spectrum
Various Consumer Electronic publications
Education/Credentials BSEE
MSCS
MBA
Awards and Honors Famous Engineer for Digital Audio
Expert: cleggsan Date: 11/29/2005 Subject: WHY DO I NOT HAVE GOOD RECEPTION ON A BRAND NEW TV?
Question OK..HERE I GO...I HAD A 25" DAEWOO TELEVISION FOR 7 YEARS. I NEVER HAD CABLE AND USED "RABBIT EARS" FOR MY ANTENNA. THE PICTURE WAS FABULOUS AND STILL IS BUT THE SOUND VANISHED SLOWLY BUT SURELY. I WAS DISAPPOINTED BUT RATHER THAN SPEND THE $ TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM(IT WAS $200 BUCKS) AND I WENT OUT AND BOUGHT A NEW TV.
FIRST, I BOUGHT A PHILLIPS 27". MY RABBIT EARS DIDNT WORK I GUESS.? THE PICTURE WAS AWFUL. I RETURNED IT TO BEST BUY AND CHOSE ANOTHER TV. A 27"MAGNAVOX(I KNOW THEY ARE MADE BY THE SAME COMPANY). THE SALESMAN SOLD ME A HUGE ANTENNA & SAID I SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE PICTURE NOW. WELL GUESS WHAT? THE PICTURE IS THE SAME. AWFUL! SOME CHANNELS ARE CLEAR AND OTHERS HAVE WHITE DOTS RUNNING THROUGH THEM. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?
VERY FRUSTRATED:( THANKS:)
Answer
Most of todays sets are made on the basis they will be connected to cable. In these cases the sensitivity of the rf input is not so important. Therefore, the set makers can save money by not having to build in a high gain front end tuning amplifier.
There are only a few sets that still have inputs suitable for antenna connections. You must check the rf sensitivity on the specification sheet and get one that is the very strongest.
Do you have a vcr? Try the vcr as the tuner and see what you get when connecting the rabbit ears to the vcr input. Sometimes the vcrs have better tuners in them than the tv sets.
I am not a fan of Philips/Magnavox, so I can imagine you are not getting a good signal. Neither am I a fan of the big expensive antennae (such as Terk) and others. Some will do fine, but my experience is a long wire strung around the room or draping over a window will give better results. You can use speaker wire; then drape it behind a curtain or drape; takes some experiementation to get good results, but worth a try. Length of the wire need only be 20 to 30 feet.
Since the Daewoo is 7 years old, it probably has a very good front end like most of them did back then! You can go back to the Daewoo for the picture and use the new set only for sound..... I know that is a lousy solution!
Good luck and come back if you need more suggestions.
