WTMJ-DT - Black Screen

[Steve Mann]

Okay.. this has been going on for over a week now. Whenever I tune to channle 28 my Panasonic TU-HDS20 maps the channel correctly to 4-1, displays guide data, displays the TMJ logo, says 'ANT-HD' but then does nothing but display a black screen. I've waiting for MANY minutes, but nothing ever 'pops in'. I've tried this at many different times including last night during primetime. All other channels, CBS, PBS, tune in just fine.

I haven't make any changes in equipment or my antenna. NBC used to display fine. I've watched Leno and the Olympics without a hitch. Any ideas what could be the problem?

Sean? Are you reading over here?  

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Steve M. Mann
Mits 65908
Panasonic TU-HDS20
Sony SAT-T60
My Home Theater
My Young DVD Collection

[Kevin Arnold]

No insult intended but I assume this happens when they are transmittiing from 5pm to 11:35pm. When they're off the air I get the same thing.  Maybe a rescan would help if not already tried.  I'd like to know when they will go 24/7 with the signal.  May 1st?

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Kevin Arnold
38" RCA widescreen w/a Winegard on a rotor.

[Steve Mann]

 

Originally posted by kjarnold:
I assume this happens when they are transmittiing from 5pm to 11:35pm.

Yup, as I said, I tried it last night during primetime and still no go.

I'll try re-scanning again tonight. I've done it before, but who knows... Stranger things have happened.

[Steve Mann]

Well, as I thought... Re-scanning had no effect. One thing I did notice though, during the scan when it comes to channel 28 it doesn't throw up the 'channel added' display. It's like it never sees it. However, after the scan is done and I leave the menu, I punch in 28 from the remote, it maps to 4-1 and I get all of the guide data etc. but still just a black screen. Strange.

Any other thoughts?

[tenth_t2]

Ummm... I noticed no problems from about 8:35 until just after Crossing Jordan last night (3-18).  It's also not problem tonight either so far that I've noticed.

Greg O.

[oflaherty]

Steve – We have made some very minor changes in the last month. Do you remember the date the problem started?

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Sean at WTMJ

[Steve Mann]

 

Originally posted by oflaherty:
Steve – We have made some very minor changes in the last month. Do you remember the date the problem started?

Unfortunately, I don't remember the exact date. I know that it's been at least two or three weeks now. I kept thinking it was going to fix itself or when I would remember to look at the problem it was always during your downtime.

Anything I can do or try on this end?

Thanks,

[oflaherty]

Steve – Searching the AVS Forum several other people have had similar problems with the TU-HDS20, getting guides but no video.  The most popular suggestions seem to be:

- Unplug the unit for 15 to 30 seconds to "reset" it.

- Unplug the unit overnight.

- Set your zip code to 00000 and reset the network info to "no network."

No one suggested it but, is there any way to turn off the guide and punch directly to 28-1 without the remapping?

Sean

[Steve Mann]

Thanks for your efforts, Sean. I should have thought to go searching over at AVS too.

You know... I did enter my zip code recently. Sounds like this might have had something to do with it. I've already reset the zip back to 00000. I'll have to wait till you're on the air this evening to check it out.

Thanks again for your input!

[Steve Mann]

Well, still no go. I tried unplugging it for a minute or so and resetting the zip to 00000. Neither had any effect. And now, when I punch in 28, it doesn't even remap to 4-1.  

All the other channels still work. It just doesn't make sense that WTMJ is acting up. It used to come in fine. This is getting frustrating to say the least. I'll try unplugging it all night tonight, but somehow I don't think that's going to help.

As far as I know, there is now way to punch in 4-1 directly. You have to enter the digital channel and then it remaps it. Once its saved in your channel lineup, you can reach it by using the arrows or channel buttons on the remote.

Thanks for your help, Sean. I'll keep plugging away at it.

[Steve Mann]

Follow-up:

Well, I just got off the phone with Ron, an engineer at WTMJ-DT that Sean had contact me. They were concerned that it may be possible something on their end that was causing my problems. Evidently, it wasn't.

In the previous days and nights, I had tried everything from resetting the box, rescanning etc. but nothing had worked. While talking to Ron, I disconnected the external antenna and attached a set of rabbit ears. Ran the auto scan. Nothing. Didn't pick up any channels. SO... I attached the external antenna and ran the auto scan again. Like normal for me, during the scan, the box never added 4-1 when it passed channel 28. I did add 1-1 when passing 46. I assumed I was going to have the same results as before, but this time after punching in 28, it mapped to 4-1 and then displayed a wonderful picture of the Friends opening.    

The only thing that was done different this time was that I actually disconnected the antenna and then ran the auto scan. Ron thought it possible that this caused the tables to be completely rebuilt in the receiver thus causing some corrupt ones to be wiped out. Dunno... Very strange to say the least. I do know that as for now, all seems to be well.

Additionally, I want to offer my thanks to both Sean and Ron for taking the time out of their busy days to help little ole me and my reception problem. They both have certainly bigger fires to attend to, but it was very generous of them to take the time to help.

Also, I hate solutions like this... Ones were you never really know what you've done to correct the problem. Oh well... I can live with that knowing that all my DTV channels are working again!


[This message has been edited by Steve Mann (edited 03-21-2002).]