Can I just get this thing to pull in ONE channel???

**notny41** · 12-19-2005 01:21 AM

OK,

So I have this 42" Sony Plasma EDTV in my basement. I just want to see what she'll do on HD right?

I got a Voom box off ebay. I got a powered indoor antenna from Menards. I hook them up in my kitchen (main level) and depending on where I have the antenna I can pull in 11 channels. They look very nice on my 13" tv in the kitchen.

Now I want to pull in just one channel to see what it looks like on my plasma downstairs. Do you think I can even find one fricken channel when I have the antenna down there? NO!!!!!

Alright, I tried to hook up the antenna in the kitchen and pipe it downstairs through coaxial cable... (for all you Steve Martin fans out there) ...NoooOOOOoooo!!!!

Even though when I go through the aim local antenna procedure, I can get the dang thing to read in the high 90's in the RF I'm trying to pull in. When I scan it goes right by that RF without even attempting to find the station...

What can I do?

I'm thinking an outdoor antenna would be the next step, but will I buy that and then come across the same problem???

ALMOST READY TO GIVE UP!!!!

**lctidwell** · 12-19-2005 06:27 AM

My son in Ohio had same problem. The basement was full of rebar. He had to use an out side antenna. Works fine now. Larry

**snaggerbob** · 12-19-2005 08:28 AM

higher is better for antennas

**Ilya** · 12-19-2005 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by notny41

Alright, I tried to hook up the antenna in the kitchen and pipe it downstairs through coaxial cable...

Welcome to the forum!
Try scanning upstairs (where you get 11 channels), and then try running a cable from the antenna to your TV set (and the box) in the basement. Make sure the voltage is passed to the antenna. If you are using any splitters they may not be passing the DC voltage. Once everything is connected, try switching the channels (without re-scanning them).
Good luck!

**notny41** · 12-20-2005 12:37 PM

Snaggerbob, all I have to say is....NICE AVATAR!!!!!

Ok, here's the update (some good news, some bad, but mostly good):

I went and got an outdoor antenna. Threw it up in my attic hoping I had it in the general direction of our towers. Nothing (although I hadn't really aimed it at that point). So, I went and got a $10 12db amplifier at Menards and then I could pull in one channel (not with the original box but a 2nd voom box I had laying around). Then I decided it was time to take a compass up in the attic and get the antenna pointed at 328 degrees as according to antennaweb.org. After that and in conjunction with the amplifier I now proudly scan and get 21 channels loud and clear. So I am good to go. That's the good news.

Here's the final setup that works for me: Voom Receiver on 6.20 software version, RCA ANT3020X antenna aimed at approx 328 degrees on the compass, RCA outdoor antenna 12 db amplifier, about 100ft coaxial cable strung down to my basement, scans 21 channels and pulls them in very well.

Here's the bad news. I changed all of the wires over to my original voom box and I scan channels and get absolutely nothing. Even though when I go to aim local ota antenna comes up green bar and over 85 on each RF that I have channels on... Is this box bad? I also have another voom box that has super old software on it that will not allow me to scan channels. I wonder if I could interchange any parts between the two to make another good receiver????

**Ilya** · 12-20-2005 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by notny41

...I wonder if I could interchange any parts between the two to make another good receiver????

You can try replacing the OTA tuner module. That's pretty much the only part that is easy to replace.

**notny41** · 12-21-2005 02:11 AM

Well I ended up getting the other machine to scan (and find) channels. I powered it off, on and then hit the little red reset button under the far right hidden compartment on the front. Then it worked just fine.

MAN! I am super impressed with the picture I get on the HD channels. I had the voom box connected to the tv via the yellow video rca cable and the two left and right sound rca jacks... Switched it to the progressive scan red, blue, green rca jacks and it made a HUGE difference! I'm really liking this!

Thanks everyone!

**Ilya** · 12-21-2005 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by notny41

... and then hit the little red reset button under the far right hidden compartment on the front.

That button is not a reset button. It switches the resolution modes: 1080i-720p-480p-480i-Native.

I had the voom box connected to the tv via the yellow video rca cable and the two left and right sound rca jacks... Switched it to the progressive scan red, blue, green rca jacks and it made a HUGE difference!

Only this component and also DVI output deliver HD signal. All other video outputs (including the yellow composite and S-video) can only deliver SD at 480i.