How to Perform a Scan on your TV
The exact procedure varies but the general process is:
- Press the menu button. This will display a list of options or icons. Look for "Antenna" "channels" or "setup" and select this option.
- This should display a second list of options. Look for "scan channels" or "setup channels". Select this option and following the on screen instructions.
- A new scan may be a better option than "add channels". From time to time TV stations make changes in their systems that require TV's to be "scanned". If you simply "add channels" the old information about a station will remain in your TV. When you "add channels" the new information your TV collects may conflict with the old information still in memory. In some cases this can cause your TV to not display this channel.
Please consult your instruction manual for the exact steps for your TV.
Here is a good website with a lot more about the scan and re-scan process:
Detailed Re-Scan Instructions
You should get in the habit of re-scanning from time to time. New channels are added all the time but you won't receive them until you do a re-scan. It is also a very good way to determine how well your antenna system is working. A properly working antenna system will receive well over 100 off air programs in the LA area.
I re-scanned but I still don't receive KFLA! There are three possibilities to consider.
Re-scan failure - A re-scan is sometimes called "scan for new channels". Basically your TV collects new information about the program channels each station broadcast so it knows how to find the particular program channel you're looking for. You should re-scan or run an "add new channels scan" every month or so to enable you to receive any new channels that may have recently come on the air.
Sometimes new information obtained during a re-scan conflicts with old information and your TV might not be able to figure out how to tune the effected station. The fix for this is a completely new scan, instead of a "re-scan" or "add channels scan". During a new scan your TV discards all old information and builds a new reference table with current information.
Here is a good website with a lot more about the new scan and re-scan process:
Detailed Re-Scan Instructions
Bad signal area - There is no perfect transmit location. There are always some locations that won't be able to receive a particular station. Here is a link to a detailed coverage map for KFLA. When you find your location on the map notice the background color and refer to the background color key at the top left of the map. The background color key will tell the you the minimum antenna system you need to pick up KFLA. Note - even if you are in an indoor antenna colored area you will get better results with a modest attic or roof mounted antenna.
TV signals are line of site so you need to make sure there is no obstruction between your antenna and Mt. Wilson. Even if there is a building or tress in the way you may still be able to receive TV but you might have to use a larger antenna. Those living in an un-colored (shadowed) areas of the mad won't be able to receive our signal without a very large antenna if at all.
Poor antenna performance - There are over 140 program channels currently being transmitted in the Los Angeles area. A properly working antenna that has no obstructions most or all of these channels. If you get fewer channels than this your antenna is not sufficient. The biggest culprit is an in-door antenna. Even the best in-door antennas do a poor job unless you're very close to Mt. Wilson. A better solution is placing an antenna in your attic or on your roof.
What is the best antenna?TV is transmitted in two bands - the VHF band and the UHF band. You need a dual band antenna in Los Angeles. Stations that transmit in the VHF band are: KABC ch 7 (ABC network television), KFLA ch 8, KCAL ch 9, KIIO ch 10, KTTV ch 11 (FOX network television) and KCOP, ch 13. Other LA area stations transmit in the UHF band.
When you buy an antenna check the label and make sure it is a VHF/UHF antenna. In some cases some this isn't enough - some antennas may say they are VHF/UHF when in fact they are not. This is a particular problem with indoor antennas. There is an easy way to tell if an antenna is really VHF - in order to receive VHF an antenna must have at least one element that is at least 36 inches or more in length. A perfect example is the old fashion "Rabbit Ears" antennas that has two rods that pull out - one goes right and the other goes left and the end of each rod is often lifted up to form a V. Each rod is about 20 inches or more in length. These types of antennas work well on VHF.
Any antenna (indoor or outdoor) that does not have elements at least 36 inches long will not work well for VHF TV and there are no exceptions!
HDTVprimmer.com has an excellent web pages that discusses antenna selection compares most commercially available antennas. This is a great place for research if you're considering buying a new antenna.
Antenna Amplifiers are a frequently the cause of problems. With digital broadcasts consumer style amplifiers can actually generate interference that causes some stations to not be received. We've seen instances where the number of stations received goes up dramatically when the amplifier is removed from the system.
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 guide step by step guide to properly installing an outdoor antenna
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.
