More HD channels on various tvs

[Ajdamico]

I've installed an HD antenna in the attic and run the feed from it to the basement where the whole house distribution for my Comcast cable originated. I have the antenna feed going into a PCT-MA42-4P 4 way drop amplifier. The 4 outputs from the amplifier go to 4 different tvs in 4 different rooms. My issue is this:

In the family room, the newest tv, a Samsung 50" smart tv, I scan and get 41 channels. In the other rooms, with older tvs, I get substantially less. Kitchen (7), bedroom (7), another before (48!). Is the number of channels scanned tv dependant? Age of the tv an issue?

Point of reference- all four of these tvs got equally good cable feed through the exact same cables until I discontinued Comcast.

Any and all thoughts are appreciated. Thanks.

 

[jsmithepa]

Different TV's tuners do offer varied sensitivity, but 41 vs 7 is a huge difference.

Omni-directional or directional antenna? and if directional, did you tune it? Did you go to any of the web sites like antennaweb and got an idea how far are your main broadcast towers? and your antenna is says to reach how many miles?

 

[Wolfshadw]

Just a thought.

Take one of the smaller TVs to the other locations and rescan for channels. If you come up with the same number of channels as the original location, it's the TV. If you come up with the same number of channels as the other TV in that location, it's the cable. If you come up with a completely different number of channels, it's likely a combination of the two (TV and cable).

-Wolf sends

 

[Ajdamico]

Thanks for your response. It's a directional antenna and yes, I did tune it to 79 degrees based on where all of the various websites say the towers are. It just seems off that two tvs are gettign so many and the other tvs so few.

Different TV's tuners do offer varied sensitivity, but 41 vs 7 is a huge difference.

Omni-directional or directional antenna? and if directional, did you tune it? Did you go to any of the web sites like antennaweb and got an idea how far are your main broadcast towers? and your antenna is says to reach how many miles?

 

[Ajdamico]

Thanks, I'll give this a try and let you know.

Just a thought.

Take one of the smaller TVs to the other locations and rescan for channels. If you come up with the same number of channels as the original location, it's the TV. If you come up with the same number of channels as the other TV in that location, it's the cable. If you come up with a completely different number of channels, it's likely a combination of the two (TV and cable).

-Wolf sends

 

[jsmithepa]

Also note whether booster is boosting the same amount on every port, sometimes, too strong a signal can be bad too.

 

[Ajdamico]

Turns out it was absolutely the tvs. I had two other tvs in the house that I replaced the two getting only 7 channels. Now all four tvs are getting 47 channels after rescanning all of them. Funny part is that the two older tvs must have better tuners than the two newer models. I'm now getting NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, CW, PBS and a whole bunch of "other" stations in very clearly on all sets. The 4 post amplifier is doing a great just boosting the signal out of the antenna.

Problem solved!

 

[jsmithepa]

They must be Haier TVs.