DRM error Shield TV - paulbates

[paulbates]

- New here, my first post so please be kind.
I have other tech products with forums and there is always an impossibly long thread, like this one. I skimmed to get the idea and a question

I just got a 4k. I play through a 4k firestick or late model iPad Pro and dvr to my office windows pc. It all works very well, almost 40 channels, getting a lot of content and liking the app... with one exception channel:

Detroit 2 Fox identifies HEVC DRM on the tuner, it has no alternative non 4k channels like some other broadcasters that I can recieve . I get the DRMish protection messages on my ipad and firestick from them. Haven't tried HDHR app on windows as the office computer is not a good viewing location.

TLDR: Looking to confirm that its the legal/DRM plumbing upstream of SD that take a dim view of a device that can make DRM copies of their content? That's why Widevine, PlayReady, FairPlay support is kinda irrelevant?

It would be nice if the DVR could be certified to just not record or record blank for those channels.

Not ranting, looking to confirm that I get it.

[jxxaxxy]

Currently DRM protected channels can't be viewed using HDHR until an act of god from the A3SA or the government makes it illegal for DRM encryption on over the air broadcasts.. There are tons of forum posts and also videos on youtube about this issue.

[jasonl]

WJBK Fox 2 has an ATSC 1.0 broadcast available. It is almost always the most difficult of the major Detroit stations to receive due to being VHF while the others are UHF. Many antennas struggle to receive VHF due to being too small, and VHF in general is more difficult because there is a lot more noise that affects it, meaning you need a better signal to achieve the same quality of reception. Depending on your location and situation, you may be able to replace the antenna with something more suitable in order to pick it up.

[paulbates]

WJBK Fox 2 has an ATSC 1.0 broadcast available. It is almost always the most difficult of the major Detroit stations to receive due to being VHF while the others are UHF. Many antennas struggle to receive VHF due to being too small, and VHF in general is more difficult because there is a lot more noise that affects it, meaning you need a better signal to achieve the same quality of reception. Depending on your location and situation, you may be able to replace the antenna with something more suitable in order to pick it up.

Thank you @jasonl that is helpful.

I worked with our new non-amplified RCA antenna to get it from 38 to 52 stations. The antenna has old school "rabbit ears" several feet long.... looks dorky but i get strong signal for the things I do get after a some fiddling. And its rated for FM so it should handle VHF TV (?)

There is a run of coax from the TV's first floor, not optimal, reception location to a better location on the second floor, it's < 30' including connector cable from wall to HD4k and Antenna lead so I don't think amplification would be needed. This coax was used in the past with a prior TV and very old amplified antenna which I got rid of a while ago... but worked well for the old TV's tuner.

But when I moved the new antenna up there on the coax, it dropped to 7 channels. I'm going to pull the faceplates out and inspect, retighten and replace parts if necessary, retry.

Thanks again, and any other suggestions appreciated.

[KeithAbbott]

WJBK Fox 2 has an ATSC 1.0 broadcast available. It is almost always the most difficult of the major Detroit stations to receive due to being VHF while the others are UHF. Many antennas struggle to receive VHF due to being too small, and VHF in general is more difficult because there is a lot more noise that affects it, meaning you need a better signal to achieve the same quality of reception. Depending on your location and situation, you may be able to replace the antenna with something more suitable in order to pick it up.

I live about 9.5 miles away from the WJBK broadcast tower, and was also having troubles with receiving the signal. On jasonl's recommendation, I purchased a VHF-only Stellar Labs antenna (best $43 I've spent in quite some time) which has completely solved my problem. My signal strength and quality are both consistently 100%, which ought to make watching the Lions playing in the Superbowl even more enjoyable. I realize not everyone has the ability to have more than one antenna, but I am posting to let you know that getting a great WJBK signal is possible.

[paulbates]

Back to square one. I realize RF can be unpredictable.... I can only seem to get 9 UHF channels in the 30s upstairs. Need to work on wiring more

[paulbates]

I resolved this by replacing the rabbit ears with a Mohu Leaf passive panel antenna in a window near the TV.
It went from 52 to 67 channels, the first of which was WJBK, the one I wanted. Excellent signal strength and great picture. So far other channels receiving well also.