ABC TV Channel 7 Disappears

[slinky]

I'm in New Jersey and in the greater New York City area and have an Extend, Model: HDTC-2US.

It seems that ABC TV just disappeared a few months ago entirely. Scanning does not find the station. The only TV that seems to work for me is the one with an ATSC 3.0 tuner. I thought that exclusive deployment of 3.0 and nextgen was not supposed to happen for several years and they would be required to broadcast on both old and new protocols. It will obviously render millions of TV tuners virtually useless for the most popular viewing options - again. This is after requiring a switch to HDTV from analog.

[fri1038sd]

According to the Live Bandscan on rabbitears.info, WABC ATSC 1.0 RF7 is operating normally. WABC ATSC 3.0 is on WPIX's RF11 transmitter - no current info on its status, though that doesn't mean it is down. There is still a requirement to simulcast in both formats.

WABC 1.0 broadcasts its name as "WABC 7" and 3.0 as simply "WABC" to help you distinguish which your TV is seeing.

What antenna do you use? Anything new that could have introduced interference, like a solar panel system?

[slinky]

Thank you for your informative response. This is where it gets interesting. I'm using something called the HD Frequency Cable Cutter Aerowave along with a quality four input coaxial signal booster. Both the Sony TV with the ATSC 3.0 tuner and the Extend are connected to the same inputs and using the same antenna. They are also situated in approximately the same place and distance to the antenna, so that doesn't seem to be the issue with the dropout. I don't understand how the Sony TV would pull it in with ease by the Extend doesn't even see the channel.

The Samsung TV is located elsewhere and, in moving the antenna outside to a slightly different location, It found WABC 7 but it doesn't pull in the broadcast well enough to view consistently. I may need to get a better antenna because issues with it's location and potential interference.

[NedS]

We would like to get some diagnostic data:

1. Please go to http://hdhomerun.local
2. If it tells you that a firmware update is available, please install it
3. Click System Status
4. Check the Send diagnostic information box
5. Go back one page
6. Click Channel Lineup
7. Click on Detect Channels

Reply back to this post and provide us the device ID of your HDHomeRun and we will check the logs. You can find the device ID on a label on the bottom of the HDHomeRun itself.

[slinky]

I was finally able to find it! I pulled out the plug to the Extend. Kept out out for about 30 seconds. Rebooted up. Then I physically held the antenna in place for the best reception. Even though it's not much difference, apparently it was enough to recognize the station and pull it in to some degree. It seems that the Sony TV antenna is able to use the existing signal to a better degree. I'm now debating between different HDTV antennas to get and I'm inclined to try with an Antennas Direct model over Black Friday and see if it provides ROI. Thank you for your help.

[slinky]

We would like to get some diagnostic data:

1. Please go to http://hdhomerun.local
2. If it tells you that a firmware update is available, please install it
3. Click System Status
4. Check the Send diagnostic information box
5. Go back one page
6. Click Channel Lineup
7. Click on Detect Channels

Reply back to this post and provide us the device ID of your HDHomeRun and we will check the logs. You can find the device ID on a label on the bottom of the HDHomeRun itself.

Ned - thanks for the assistance! I sent you in a support email but it looks like you're so quick here we've resolved everything, even the other software issue!!!

Diagnostic information was sent to you, FWIW, and I'll provide to you the device ID in email if it makes a difference at this point. Thank you for such a quick response.

Thanks again. The device is built like a tank and has functioned admirably. The only limitation are our Samsung TVs, which is their fault! (But I still get it to stream there.

[kyl416]

I'm now debating between different HDTV antennas

Most "HDTV Antennas" are primarily designed for UHF reception and their VHF gain gets worse the lower the RF number. You'll likely have much more stable reception with a classic VHF Rabbit Ears/UHF loop style antenna

In the NYC area:
WABC 7.x is on VHF 7 along with the ATSC 1.0 simulcast for WPIX 11.1
WNJB 58.x and WNJN 50.x are on VHF 8
VHF 11 is WPIX's ATSC 3.0 lighthouse which is hosting the Next Gen simulcasts of 7.1 WABC, PIX's 11.x channels and 41.1 WXTV
WNET 13.x and WNDT-CD 14.1 are on VHF 12 along with the ATSC 1.0 simulcasts for WLIW 21.1 and World 21.3 and All Arts 21.4

There's also WJLP 33.x and WNWT-LD 37.1 on VHF-lo 3 which has MeTV HD, MeTV Toons, Laff, The Nest, Story and MeTV+.
(MeTV is also available via WZME 43.3 on UHF 21, but that simulcast is SD only and their UHF 21 signal has a null towards NJ)