I have a 20-year old big screen TV. I don't have cable connected to it, but the local channels all come in with fair to good reception.

I connected a Dish TR40 in preparation for 2009, but I don't get all my local channels anymore. The ones that come in have better reception, but frequently the audio pauses momentarily and/or the picture either pauses or gets allot of static.

My local channels are: 3, 5, 8, 19, 23, 25, 35, 43, 49, 55 and 61. I'm lucky to get up to 4 channels. The others come up with a message that says, "No Service" or weak signal or even that the signal is lost.

I don't understand what analog passthru is, but when I select it on the remote, then everything disappears as if there were no antenna.

Is there something I can do to get my local channels?

Nana B

You might have better luck on the CECB forum, specifically the TR-40 thread but it's my guess that your signal is just marginal. Enough to get passable analog but not strong enough to go over the minimum threshold required to produce a stable picture on the TR-40. Digital either looks great or breaks up/no signal. With analog you can have a snowy viewable picture.
I believe other CECBs have a better tuner than the TR-40, the Zenith DTT-901 is excellent for low signal situations, otherwise you need to look into getting a better antenna or wiring. I think many people will be in your same boat with digital. Antenna mgfs. should be doing a good business post 2/09.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1001979&page=177

I don't understand why I get all my local channels without the converter box and so few with it. I also get all local channels on my other tvs. I'll check out the website you recommended and hope for an answer there. Thanks!

I have a 20-year old big screen TV. I don't have cable connected to it, but the local channels all come in with fair to good reception.

I connected a Dish TR40 in preparation for 2009, but I don't get all my local channels anymore. The ones that come in have better reception, but frequently the audio pauses momentarily and/or the picture either pauses or gets allot of static.

My local channels are: 3, 5, 8, 19, 23, 25, 35, 43, 49, 55 and 61. I'm lucky to get up to 4 channels. The others come up with a message that says, "No Service" or weak signal or even that the signal is lost.
You're TR-40 is a DIGITAL converter box, so it only tunes digital channels (e.g., 6.x, 8.x, 25.x, etc. all with dots or dashes in the number) thru the antenna. Your "local channels" 3, 5, etc. are analog channels, which the TR-40 won't tune. After Feb 2009, you *should* be seeing more digital channels.

If your box has "analog passthru" that means it will pass any analog channels thru the coax connection to your TV so the TV can tune those channels with its own analog tuner. Most don't have this since the OTA analog channels witll go away in 2009.

I don't understand why I get all my local channels without the converter box and so few with it. I also get all local channels on my other tvs. I'll check out the website you recommended and hope for an answer there. Thanks!

Antennaweb.org shows that you are within ten miles of the towers for current digital channels 3.1, 5.1, 8.1, 19.1, 43.1, 55.1 and 61.1. Have you got a UHF antenna pointed toward the broadcast towers? If you're located in a valley or have line-of-sight issues that may be part of the problem.

Could be a multipath problem. If you're using an indoor antenna, experiment with moving it around more. Get yourself a longer coax if you have to. Point it out an open window towards the towers. Get it up higher. Run it to a 2nd floor if you can. You don't need an amp either, not at 10 miles. Indoor antennas are all trial and error.

Antennaweb.org shows that you are within ten miles of the towers for current digital channels 3.1, 5.1, 8.1, 19.1, 43.1, 55.1 and 61.1. Have you got a UHF antenna pointed toward the broadcast towers? If you're located in a valley or have line-of-sight issues that may be part of the problem.
Thanks DidaDo! I'm in Strongsville, Ohio and have an OTA antenna. I don't know where it points to, but I got all my local channels before I connected the TR40 converter box.

I have a newer TV that is also connected to the OTA antenna and I get a beautiful picture and I know that I'll have to connect another converter box to keep getting them in 2009, but now I'm worried that I'll have the same problem that I'm experiencing with my old set.

I'm on a main street - no valley. What is a line in sight issue. Sorry if I sound ignorant. That's cuz I am :) I'm a great gramma trying to learn how to keep watching TV when the change comes. Thanks!

What is a line in sight issue.That just means a clear, open shot from the antenna to the towers from where the signal is being sent. Just try to have as little as possible blocking it, and to the immediate sides if possible. If it's an indoor antenna, try to at least point it out an open window facing the towers, so you don't have anything in the house blocking it, such as the walls or the furniture, or especially anything metal. Stucco walls can be a problem. (Find out which direction your towers are in first, of course).

If there are trees blocking you, you can't do much about that, but in the winter, without leaves, it might not be so bad. Can't do anything about buildings, though.

If you need a longer piece of coax cable in order to move it around the room, then get one.

That just means a clear, open shot from the antenna to the towers from where the signal is being sent. Just try to have as little as possible blocking it, and to the immediate sides if possible. If it's an indoor antenna, try to at least point it out an open window facing the towers, so you don't have anything in the house blocking it, such as the walls or the furniture, or especially anything metal. Stucco walls can be a problem. (Find out which direction your towers are in first, of course).

If there are trees blocking you, you can't do much about that, but in the winter, without leaves, it might not be so bad. Can't do anything about buildings, though.

If you need a longer piece of coax cable in order to move it around the room, then get one.
Sorry Rammitinski, I guess I didn't make myself clear. My antenna is on the roof and is connected to a newer TV as well as to this old one. My newer TV has excellent picture quality so I assume the antenna is pointed in the right direction. I just connected the TR40 to my old TV in preparation for the change in 2009. The picture comes in clear, BUT I only get a few of my local channels instead of all of them like I did before connecting the TR40.

I will need to connect a converter box to my newer TV in 2009 and wonder if I will have the same problem - that is getting ALL my local channels instead of just a few which is what's happening with the old TV that's already connected to the TR40.

In the meantime, why can't I get all my local channels after connecting the TR40 to my old TV which was already getting them all before the connection? Like I said, my antenna is on the roof and works well on the TV that is not connected to a converter box. I'm SO frustrated :(

Are some of the channels low power stations? If so then they probably don't have a digital signal yet.

My newer TV has excellent picture quality so I assume the antenna is pointed in the right direction.It's possible it might not be. Do you know anyone who can check that for you?

What Desert Hawk says might be the case, too.

(What I'm wondering is, if her "new TV" actually has an ATSC tuner and is getting any digital channels?)

Even if she uses the pass-thru now, that's not going to help her come February.

In the meantime, why can't I get all my local channels after connecting the TR40 to my old TV which was already getting them all before the connection? Like I said, my antenna is on the roof and works well on the TV that is not connected to a converter box. I'm SO frustrated :(
Repeating my post #4, I think you're looking for the "local channels" you're used to getting with your old ANALOG TVs and VCRs.

You're TR-40 is a DIGITAL converter box, so it only tunes digital channels (e.g., 6.x, 8.x, 25.x, etc. all with dots or dashes in the number) thru the antenna. Your "local channels" 3, 5, etc. are analog channels, which the TR-40 won't tune. After Feb 2009, you *should* be seeing more digital channels.

If your box has "analog passthru" that means it will pass any analog channels thru the coax connection to your TV so the TV can tune those channels with its own analog tuner. Most don't have this since the OTA analog channels witll go away in 2009.

Repeating my post #4, I think you're looking for the "local channels" you're used to getting with your old ANALOG TVs and VCRs.

You're TR-40 is a DIGITAL converter box, so it only tunes digital channels (e.g., 6.x, 8.x, 25.x, etc. all with dots or dashes in the number) thru the antenna. Your "local channels" 3, 5, etc. are analog channels, which the TR-40 won't tune. After Feb 2009, you *should* be seeing more digital channels.

If your box has "analog passthru" that means it will pass any analog channels thru the coax connection to your TV so the TV can tune those channels with its own analog tuner. Most don't have this since the OTA analog channels witll go away in 2009.
Sorry Woja,
Your posts confused me cuz you said that my TR40 won't tune analog channels and then you said that if my box has analog pass thru that it will pass these channels thru my TV. When I press the pass thru button, the picture disappears as if I disconnected the antenna. What am I missing here? It's like you're saying it won't work and then that it will.

Are some of the channels low power stations? If so then they probably don't have a digital signal yet.
Per Woja,
The channels I want to get are analog stations and can't be tuned in with my TR40, but the analog passthru button on its remote should tune them in thru my TV and that's not working either. I'm getting confused.

Sorry Woja,
Your posts confused me cuz you said that my TR40 won't tune analog channels and then you said that if my box has analog pass thru that it will pass these channels thru my TV. When I press the pass thru button, the picture disappears as if I disconnected the antenna. What am I missing here? It's like you're saying it won't work and then that it will.
I have to assume your TV has both an ANT/coax input plus a "line" input like Y/W/R RCA jacks, S-Video, etc.?

To see your "normal channels" (analog) thru the box's passthru, you have to have a coax from the antenna to the box and on to the TV's ANT IN connection. Then you select the ANT input on your TV (however you do that) to see your "normal" channels as your used to (3, 5, 6, etc.).

To see DIGITAL channels (2.x, 6.x, etc.) thru the box's tuner, you have to have a "line" connection to the TV and select that input on the TV.

Nana, since we've been thru this several times before via PMs, I'm hoping someone else might be able to explain things better than I've been able to so far. :)

It's possible it might not be. Do you know anyone who can check that for you?

What Desert Hawk says might be the case, too.

(What I'm wondering is, if her "new TV" actually has an ATSC tuner and is getting any digital channels?)

Even if she uses the pass-thru now, that's not going to help her come February.
My new TV uses my OTA antenna for local channels AND a 3576 for Dish cable stations.

You said that even if the passthru works, it won't help in Feb. I thought that was the whole purpose of getting the box, so that I can continue viewing my local programs (?)

I have to assume your TV has both an ANT/coax input plus a "line" input like Y/W/R RCA jacks, S-Video, etc.?

To see your "normal channels" (analog) thru the box's passthru, you have to have a coax from the antenna to the box and on to the TV's ANT IN connection. Then you select the ANT input on your TV (however you do that) to see your "normal" channels as your used to (3, 5, 6, etc.).

To see DIGITAL channels (2.x, 6.x, etc.) thru the box's tuner, you have to have a "line" connection to the TV and select that input on the TV.

Nana, since we've been thru this several times before via PMs, I'm hoping someone else might be able to explain things better than I've been able to so far. :)
I followed the instructions you gave me (see our PM’s of 11/10) in connecting the box to the TV. I believe I did it as you said, but I will compare this post with the PM in the morning and see if I did something wrong (again-grr). Thanks!

I followed the instructions you gave me (see our PM’s of 11/10) in connecting the box to the TV. I believe I did it as you said, but I will compare this post with the PM in the morning and see if I did something wrong (again-grr). Thanks!
It might not be you since I've had some trouble understanding exactly how you system is set up... remember our discussion of whether you had satellite service or not?

So, I think you may be better served by someone with a fresh perspective since it's still difficult to determine exactly what components you are trying to connect to what... some of our PMs discussed setting up a digital converter box or two on OTHER TVs upstairs, and maybe now you're talking about your main unit with the Dish satellite service, so essentially I'm lost again. :D