There are 3 MPEG2 codecs presented by the TV.
The first/default does not deinterlace.
The second+third are limited to 30fps and they struggle to keep up with 1080i content.

Solution...
MPEG2 720p60 works fine - use the default codec.
MPEG2 480i60 - hardware codecs have been blacklisted, high ...

I remember back in the day, like most everyone here, getting a couple of $40 coupons to buy a couple of Zenith converter boxes which had a very sensitive tuner. I still have both boxes too. LOL.
In today's money, the FCC should now give up a $200 coupon for a STB. ;)


Such converter boxes have ...

Thank you again for the extensive investigating. I already had a ticket open with TCL and passed along your findings, not that they will be able to help any further.
It's a few extra steps but at least the onn Google 4k Pro device plays them fine. Am very disappointed about the TV though.

I remember back in the day, like most everyone here, getting a couple of $40 coupons to buy a couple of Zenith converter boxes which had a very sensitive tuner. I still have both boxes too. LOL.
In today's money, the FCC should now give up a $200 coupon for a STB.

I blacklisted the MPEG2 decoder but I am seeing an issue - my team is investigating.


Nick,
Any updates on the investigating?

Since getting the new TCL TV and finding out the two ATSC3 channels instantly freeze, I have not bothered watching the normal ATSC1 stations as I prefer to use the TV ...

Nick,
Have you had time for a verdict on the TV?
As a sidenote, the TV plays the UHD demo videos from the YT app.

The first problem that jumps out - MPEG2 video playback is no being deinterlaced.


That doesn't sound encouraging. Is this something that could be fixed if needed with a TCL firmware update? The previous TCL I bought several months ago (I think it was a 50" Q6) and returned did the same thing on ...

Thank you again for doing this Nick! Initially I didn't like the TV but as with most, after some tweaks it looks decent (hint: put it in Movie mode to start). I've been holding out for one that had local dimming in that size and lucked up on it on sale.

Thanks for jumping in howardc1243.

I'm surprised nobody else has chimed in about the TCL's using the HDHR app. Surely there must be others that have one and can share their app experience when tuning non-DRM ATSC3's.
Nick got the local FOX and MyNet channel to fix their 120fps issue and has ordered ...

What are 103.1 and 121.1 doing?


I didn't elaborate in an earlier post.

103.1 briefly displays HDR10 in the upper left corner but the picture is frozen. The audio continues for a few seconds then stops. A few seconds later the video goes black and reappears frozen.
121.1 is owned by the same ...

nickk wrote: Tue Aug 26, 2025 2:32 pm The station says they fixed 133.1 and 145.1... can you please check these channels again.

Incredibly, these 2 are fixed! Awesome, thanks. Hope you can find out about 103.1 and 121.1 soon.

Thank you again Nickk. The funny thing is about 6 months ago I bought a smaller TCL 4k for the bedroom, had the same results but did not report it so I returned it the next day.

I tried the link you sent and Firefox blocked it but I allowed the d/l which ran way longer than 60secs and didn't appear ...

Sorry Nickk. No change on either one.

Device ID: 10AB6A18
Just enabled diags and tuned to channel 103.1 at 3:05pm CST.
This channel briefly displays HDR10 in the upper left corner but the picture, when it appears, is frozen. I let that run for a couple of minutes then switched to 133.1 (owned by a different station) and this one just ...

I decided to update my 16 year old LG TV today and bought a Google TCL 55QM5K. First thing I added was the HDHR app and immediately went to the non-encrypted ATSC3 channels. Right away the picture froze then a few seconds later the audio quit. Tuned to the FOX station (which must be using a ...