I did a new scan but I still can't receive KFLA. What should I do? Next is to verify you have the correct antenna. KFLA (as well as KABC, KCAL, KTTV and KCOP) transmit in the VHF band. Other LA broadcast stations transmit in the UHF band. You must have an antenna designed to receive both VHF and UHF bands or you will have difficulty receiving some channels.
The box says it's a VHF/UHF antenna but it still doesn't work. What's up? Unfortunately, we have seen cases where the antenna manufacturer called the antenna a VHF/UHF antenna but the antenna had very poor performance on VHF channels. Bottom line is size matters! The "elements" for a VHF antennas must be at least 3 feet (1 meter) across or longer. The elements for UHF antenna are less than 12 inches in length. Your antenna should have elements of BOTH lengths if it is to work well for all channels.
HDTVprimmer.com has an excellent page that compares some commercially available antennas. Find out the real story about your antenna. This is a great place for research if you're considering buying a new antenna.
What antenna do you recommend? For most parts of the Southland (green and blue areas on the coverage map) the Channel Master 3016 is our favorite. It works well, is easy to put up and is low cost (street price $28). If you live in a violet or purple area we our two favorite "deep fringe" antennas are the Channel Master 3671-B VHF/UHF Combo antenna (street price $110) and the Winegard YA1713 VHF only antenna (street price $40). The Winegard VHF only antenna is a great choice if you have a UHF only antenna and want to get the VHF stations too. Install the Winegard for VHF channels and use your existing antenna for UHF channels. If you can't find them locally, both are available from the Solid Signal web site.
Where do I mount my antenna? Remember TV signals are line of sight. Obstructions between your antenna and Mt. Wilson will degrade performance. A little planning before hand will save you time and money. Here is a simple step by step guide to properly installing an outdoor antenna from HDTVPrimmer.com.
I use an indoor antenna. Is this a good choice? Unfortunately no. In the real world, nearly all indoor antennas are UHF only antennas even if they say other wise. Even old style rabbit ears, that were designed for VHF channels, do not work well in Southern California. Most homes here use "stucco" construction. Before the "stucco" is applied a wire mesh is wrapped around the house to give the "stucco" something to cling to. This creates a very effective "shield" that blocks radio and TV signals. In a building like this, the only way a signal can get in is through a door or window. Not a problem for UHF TV channels (or cell phones). These channels have a short wave lengths - 12" or less and easily pass through most doors and windows. But the wave length for VHF channels is longer - as long as 20 feet in the case of channel 2. Most windows and doors are not large enough to allow the entire wave length to enter the house so very little signal gets through. So even if an "indoor" antenna is designed to work well at VHF channels, like rabbit ears, once you place it in a shielded structure most of the signal has been blocked and it fails.
According to the coverage map, I live in a poor signal area. Can I still get KFLA? The answer is yes if you can receive other Los Angeles TV Stations. You will need a good outdoor antenna that works well in the VHF band. The TV Fool web site has some great utilities that will provide you a very accurate and detailed report about all of the stations you can receive at your address and what kind of antenna you will need.
I get my TV from a Cable TV system or a Broadband provider like Verizon FiOS or AT&T U-Verse Cable TV and Broadband systems carry only some of the more than 100 free over the air broadcast program streams available in the Southland. We are working with these providers to get KFLA's programs added to their lineups. If you would like to watch KFLA's programs on your system please contact your provider and ask them to add KFLA to their channel lineup. To receive KFLA's programs now you can connect an antenna. It's simple and costs only a few dollars. Please review the off air section for instructions.
Direct TV or Dish Customers. Direct TV and Dish offer two ways for you to receive Los Angeles Broadcast channels. You must first determine which method your system uses.
Method One - Satellite delivery - The Direct TV or Dish box receives some (but not all) LA area broadcast channels directly from their satellite. There is an extra monthly charge for this service and only about a third of the Los Angeles Broadcast station program streams are available with this method. If your system uses this method contact your provider and request that they add KFLA to their satellite delivered lineup.
Method Two - Off air delivery - The Direct TV or Dish set top box receives LA area broadcast stations over the air. You must live in an area where off air broadcasts can be received and an outdoor antenna is required. There is no monthly charge for this method and you should receive over broadcast program streams. If your system uses this method you should already be receiving KFLA's programming and our program lineup is listed in the guide. If you wish to change to this method of getting your local stations contact your provider's technical support for assistance. Note - some Direct TV and Dish boxes do not have this capability and will require a change out.
Emergency Information For All - Every household should have a good outdoor antenna connected to at least one TV set as a backup source for news and information if your primary system goes down. This is particularly important in an emergency, when Cable TV, Broadband and satellite systems are most vulnerable - don't be left un-informed in an emergency. Plus you'll find many great new channels you presently may not receive. It's simple and costs only a few dollars. Please review the off air section for instructions.
