HDTV-Bad Signal?

[crowheart]

I just bought an HDTV and got the HD box from my cable provider. The problem I am having is FOX HD and a few other HD stations aren't stable, they keep blacking out and losing the picture. Interestingly enough ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, and most other HD channels are stable with a good picture quality.

I tried disconnecting the HD box and just using the cable but the problem persists.

Does anyone have an idea of what could be happening here, is this a signal problem in the house?

On a side note we have been having severe wind problems in the area I live in. I checked the stations today and there isn't any wind to speak of and the problem remains the same.

The majority of the HD stations work great it is just a couple of them that are intermittent.

Any help or information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks...

[edDV]

I just bought an HDTV and got the HD box from my cable provider. The problem I am having is FOX HD and a few other HD stations aren't stable, they keep blacking out and losing the picture. Interestingly enough ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, and most other HD channels are stable with a good picture quality.

I tried disconnecting the HD box and just using the cable but the problem persists.

Does anyone have an idea of what could be happening here, is this a signal problem in the house?

On a side note we have been having severe wind problems in the area I live in. I checked the stations today and there isn't any wind to speak of and the problem remains the same.

The majority of the HD stations work great it is just a couple of them that are intermittent.

Any help or information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks...

It could be a problem with the cables in the house, the splitters or the level or equalization coming in from the amp on the pole outside. The splitters should all be labled 1000 MHz (1 GHz) or more.

There is no direct relationship between the virtual channel numbers on the box to the actual cable channel but HD is often placed on the higher frequencies >600 MHz. These are most subject to equalization issues.

Try this first. Run the cable coming into the house directly to the HDTV box with no splitters. If the problem shows here it tends to indicate a cable company problem. They may not charge for a service call if you can show a problem as the signal enters the house.

[crowheart]

Thanks for the help! The cable that comes in from the outside only has enough cable to run to the splitter which is in our basement. I am not sure what to do here.

If the splitter was bad wouldn't I be having problems with my Internet? It is a 3-way splitter?

[edDV]

Thanks for the help! The cable that comes in from the outside only has enough cable to run to the splitter which is in our basement. I am not sure what to do here.

You can bypass the splitter and use a 1 to 1 coax coupler for the test. Main issue is not to have multiple splitters in series.

Otherwise, talk to their service line and/or order a service visit. If it is just two channels, they will know if those are in the highest frequencies. I suspect they will just need to make equalization adjustments in the amp feeding your house.

[edDV]

If the splitter was bad wouldn't I be having problems with my Internet? It is a 3-way splitter?

First make sure the splitter is labled 1 GHz or more. If you've never had HD service at this address, the splitter may be very old. New ones only cost $5 or so. If you order a service visit, they will probably replace the splitter for free.

Internet is usually carried in lower channels. They tend to push the higher channels (frequencies) with HD service.

[crowheart]

Thanks so much for you help. I will try that and see if it works. After further investigation I do see that the cable company did not put in new coax; they used the existing coax to run from the splitter to the TV. This was done at least 5-years ago. The cable was in place and used for antenna reception since probably long before we bought the house which was 11 years ago.

The existing coax is quite old, possibly this is the problem, but if it was wouldn't it affect all of the HD channels?

[edDV]

Thanks so much for you help. I will try that and see if it works. After further investigation I do see that the cable company did not put in new coax; they used the existing coax to run from the splitter to the TV. This was done at least 5-years ago. The cable was in place and used for antenna reception since probably long before we bought the house which was 11 years ago.

The existing coax is quite old, possibly this is the problem, but if it was wouldn't it affect all of the HD channels?

Possible but not likely. If this is RG6 (the good stuff) it is probably OK although a connector may be bad. If RG59, it was probably a user or house builder install and more suspect.

Still the problem is most likely outside the house.

If the cable guy comes out, the first thing he does is put a spectrum analyzer on the incoming cable to see if the signal is OK coming in. He may do this at the pole. Then he starts the "taxi meter" to correct in-house issues.

[crowheart]

Update! It wasn't the good stuff (RG6). It was the RG59 that was the problem.The cable from the splitter to the TV was RG59! When we originally got the cable they used the existing coax to hook up to the analog TV (Sloppy/lazy). All the HD channels work fine now.

You guessed it right. thanks...

[edDV]

Update! It wasn't the good stuff (RG6). It was the RG59 that was the problem.The cable from the splitter to the TV was RG59! When we originally got the cable they used the existing coax to hook up to the analog TV (Sloppy/lazy). All the HD channels work fine now.

You guessed it right. thanks...

RG59 will still work but isn't as tough and connectors are less secure. RG59 is fine for wall to equipment.

I still think the problem is equalization since only a few channels are affected.

[crowheart]

A Tech from the cable company came out and tested everything. The problem was the RG59 we replaced and the HDTV is working great!

Thanks again...

[edDV]

A Tech from the cable company came out and tested everything. The problem was the RG59 we replaced and the HDTV is working great!

Thanks again...

Thanks for the feedback.

[DarrellS]

On the Scientific Atlanta boxes...

Press SELECT until the light starts blinking
Press the INFO button until the service screen comes up
Press the VOLUME+ button until you reach page 5

Under Current FDC look for

Level: -6dBmV

The acceptable range is from -11dBmV to +11dBmV. The closer to 0dBmV the better.

Changing splitters and cables will affect these numbers.