Time Warner Cable in LA/antenna question?

[scootermaster]

So, when I moved in to my apartment, I just split the the coax the cable company ran into my place for internet and plugged it into my TV. Low and behold I got about 25 channels. Last March/April-ish, I lost most of these, when Time Warner made some digital transition or something, but I still got the networks (ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox) in HD. It was pretty much like an antenna, but without having to bother with an actual antenna.

Anyway, with the GREAT LOS ANGELES STORM OF 2014 about a week ago, my internet got knocked out. And when it came back up, my channels were gone. My assumption is whomever came out to tinker with shit realized I had access I shouldn't, and turned it off. Oh well.

Went to BB and bought an amplified antenna and re-ran channel scan a few times and...nothing. Not a single channel. I thought maybe my tuner on my TV was broken. Presumably my 64" Samsung 8500 has a digital tuner, so I can't imagine it's an analog/digital transition thing.

Tinkered with a few things, and then plugged the main coax cable again and re-ran channel scan...no networks, but now I get ESPN in SD and BBC America in HD? Um, wha?

Anyone know what's going on here? All I really want is the networks, and even then, it's almost solely for football. If I order whatever the cheapest cable is, will the channels come across the wire again? Will I need a box to decode them?

Does anyone know if Time Warner did some encryption of QAM channels recently?

I'm fine with paying $25 a month or whatever for whatever the cheapest tier of cable is for a few months, but I don't really want/need a box, and I don't understand why my [indoor] antenna isn't working. It's not like I live *that* much in the sticks.

(And hey, maybe if they switch the cable on, they'll forget to switch it off like they did when I moved in! )

So anyone have any idea what's going on?

 

[Binky]

You should have pretty good antenna reception in most areas of LA. Just point the antenna toward Mount Wilson (Pasadena). Even better, go to antennaweb.org and put in your zip code and street address, and it will tell you the exact direction to point the antenna.

 

[NutBucket]

Pretty much what Binky said. Granted I have an antenna on my roof but I get roughly 70 channels with it. Granted again most of it is crap but there actually are some interesting stations along with the networks.

 

[drez]

So, when I moved in to my apartment, I just split the the coax the cable company ran into my place for internet and plugged it into my TV. Low and behold I got about 25 channels. Last March/April-ish, I lost most of these, when Time Warner made some digital transition or something, but I still got the networks (ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox) in HD. It was pretty much like an antenna, but without having to bother with an actual antenna.

Anyway, with the GREAT LOS ANGELES STORM OF 2014 about a week ago, my internet got knocked out. And when it came back up, my channels were gone. My assumption is whomever came out to tinker with shit realized I had access I shouldn't, and turned it off. Oh well.

Went to BB and bought an amplified antenna and re-ran channel scan a few times and...nothing. Not a single channel. I thought maybe my tuner on my TV was broken. Presumably my 64" Samsung 8500 has a digital tuner, so I can't imagine it's an analog/digital transition thing.

Tinkered with a few things, and then plugged the main coax cable again and re-ran channel scan...no networks, but now I get ESPN in SD and BBC America in HD? Um, wha?

Anyone know what's going on here? All I really want is the networks, and even then, it's almost solely for football. If I order whatever the cheapest cable is, will the channels come across the wire again? Will I need a box to decode them?

Does anyone know if Time Warner did some encryption of QAM channels recently?

I'm fine with paying $25 a month or whatever for whatever the cheapest tier of cable is for a few months, but I don't really want/need a box, and I don't understand why my [indoor] antenna isn't working. It's not like I live *that* much in the sticks.

(And hey, maybe if they switch the cable on, they'll forget to switch it off like they did when I moved in! )

So anyone have any idea what's going on?

Why pay the cable company for a few channels? If you have a TV made after 2007 it should have a digital tuner built in. Just hook up an antenna and see what happens. If you aren't getting all the major networks then check out http://groundedreason.com/watch-tv-free-antenna-guide/. It's a pretty decent guide to getting an antenna that will work based on you situation.

 

[scootermaster]

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys!

For what it's worth, I live in Hermosa Beach (90254) right off the ocean. So maybe that is the sticks? I don't know.

I don't really know how I'd run an external antenna, given that it's an apartment complex, but I'll see what I can do. It looks like I was actually pointing the antenna south/southwest, when it needs to be pointed north/northeast, but we'll see if that makes a difference.

Does anyone have any [indoor] antenna recommendations?

Also, is my supposition as to how I "lost" the channels correct? But if I really did lose them, how come I somehow rediscovered ESPN (which I'd lost during the digital/analog transition, but now reappeared in a different channel number) and BBC America (which I don't think I ever had to begin with)?

It's just strange.

 

[Raincity]

Most likely why the antenna is not working is because you have the Sammy 8500 tuner set to cable tv in the options. Change it to antenna and rescan again and see what happens. Also here in Las Vegas Cox will send cable and local channels in the clear for awhile then one day some of them disappear. I would either decide to pay the piper and live the cable box or get just OTA working. Analog and open QAM is going away nation wide real soon. The cable company wants to know what your watching so they can collect marketing data on you.

 

[Raincity]

"Does anyone have any [indoor] antenna recommendations?" I have had good luck with this model http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-U...sic+hd+antenna
Its really this antenna http://www.amazon.com/Winegard-FL550...ard+tv+antenna packed in a plain jane Amazon basics box.

 

[NutBucket]

Can you point an indoor antenna through a window toward Mt. Wilson?

You're not too far away. My friend has zero issues with a small roof-mounted antenna in Huntington Beach.

 

[Binky]

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys!

For what it's worth, I live in Hermosa Beach (90254) right off the ocean. So maybe that is the sticks? I don't know.

I don't really know how I'd run an external antenna, given that it's an apartment complex, but I'll see what I can do. It looks like I was actually pointing the antenna south/southwest, when it needs to be pointed north/northeast, but we'll see if that makes a difference.

Does anyone have any [indoor] antenna recommendations.

Per antennaweb.org, you should be pointing at 32 degrees and the distance is 31-32 miles. You can use a compass app on your smartphone to get degree measurements.

Remember that with antennas, bigger is always better, higher is always better, and less obstructions is always better. You may want to find the best spot to mount an antenna, then buy the biggest model you can stand in that location. Amplifiers can help but size is better.

Are you sure that your apartment complex doesn't have an antenna on the roof already, even if it's 20 years old? That would be ideal.

 

[scootermaster]

Per antennaweb.org, you should be pointing at 32 degrees and the distance is 31-32 miles. You can use a compass app on your smartphone to get degree measurements.

Remember that with antennas, bigger is always better, higher is always better, and less obstructions is always better. You may want to find the best spot to mount an antenna, then buy the biggest model you can stand in that location. Amplifiers can help but size is better.

Are you sure that your apartment complex doesn't have an antenna on the roof already, even if it's 20 years old? That would be ideal.

First off thanks for the responses, guys. I really appreciate it.

I'm wondering if something is wrong with my tuner, or if I really just am in a deadzone.

My ex used to get five or six channels with this tiny antenna. My old place in Redondo (about a mile and a half south, although up a hill) got a bunch of channels with a typical HD antenna.

I tried a standard RCA antenna from Best Buy (it was about $30) and that one from Costco that's super thin that you're supposed to stick to you're window. I tried both of them in multiple positions, with multiple scans and...nothing. Not a single channel. There's another unit above/behind me, which just so happens to be to the east, and the property to the north is pretty much right on top of my building -- Pasadena is North east of where am, since I'm south and about 200 feet from the coastline -- so maybe there's just too many walls, but...nothing?

As I said, when I plug in the [split] cable drop from the outside (that presumably carries my internet) I get a few channels. But ZIPPO with the antenna.

Is something else amiss? Am I just shit out of luck? I don't really know how I'd get another panel to my place to test out whether it's the antennas or my panel or what. It's such a bummer that I lost those channels. All I want are networks...this is so annoying!


Anyone have any advice?

 

[NutBucket]

Did you change the tuner setting to broadcast instead of cable? Sounds obvious but I have to ask.

Anecdotal but a friend that lives a few miles from me bought the same antenna I use, mounted outdoors, and his TV doesn't pick up channels 7-13. Doesn't seem to be an antenna issue so maybe it really is a wonky tuner?

 

[scootermaster]

Did you change the tuner setting to broadcast instead of cable? Sounds obvious but I have to ask.

Anecdotal but a friend that lives a few miles from me bought the same antenna I use, mounted outdoors, and his TV doesn't pick up channels 7-13. Doesn't seem to be an antenna issue so maybe it really is a wonky tuner?

I've done multiple scans. Air only, "both" (air/cable), used a splitter and had both the cable drop AND the antenna plugged in, etc.

For the last scans with that super skinny antenna I used air only. I wonder if there's some deeper setting for air? I know there's some other configurations for cable (I think it wants you to enter in a zip code for the channel guide, etc.). As I mentioned, I have a 64" Panny F8500

Yeah, I'm really not sure how to go about testing this, short of somehow getting someone else's panel in here with the same antenna (or moving my panel someplace else, which isn't happening).

Anyone have any other ideas?

 

[scootermaster]

Ack! DP.

 

[Raincity]

That is the correct setting with F8500. I would eliminate the splitter from the line first in your first step in troubleshooting. You don't really need it and a defective splitter could be the source of the issue. Another alternative than borrowing another panel is to purchase a USB TV tuner for $50. Also purchasing a decent length of RG6 coax around 25' and a female to female coax adapter so you can move the antenna around the room to find the reception sweet spot.

 

[NutBucket]

That's true. Head to Fry's....obviously they'll take anything back LOL