Investigating Loss of Signal-Updated 4/16/09
We all know trees will have a major affect on signals in the air. It is the number one cause of reception problems with most people, even more so than hills and buildings. However, when a group of viewers in the same general area report problems at the same time, then something else has to be in the air.
This is the case for viewers in Chatham, Lee, and Orange Counties. I’ve been getting many emails from this general area that states they all lost our signal at the same time. Now that’s very strange. Trees don’t all bloom out at the same exact time. This also was reported by a cable company in that same area.
Looking around, I think I have located the source of the problem. It’s still too early to point fingers, but we are investigating the possibility another signal is interfering with our digital signal in that area. I will let you know when a resolution is found.
In the meantime, a highly directional antenna may overcome the interference. We believe the interference is coming from the Western side of the viewing area, so if you can shield your antenna from signals from that direction, and enhance the signal from our tower you may be OK for a while.
Once we have identified the issue, I’ll let you know how to deal with it. For now though, keep in mind if you live in these areas, you may have a problem right now with NBC-17 only. We are working as quickly as we can to eliminate the problem.
Update Tuesday 4-13:I took my signal truck out to test the signals. We have a microwave site off Jones Ferry Road at the Orange / Chatham county line and I thought it would be a great place to start, plus I needed to work on the site. I was not able to lock onto anything out of the ordinary, and in fact picked our signal up almost exactly as strong as I do here in the backyard at the station. The battery died on my truck and left me stranded for a few hours, but as soon as I get it changed this morning, I plan to head down US-64 to Pittsboro, and then toward Sanford if weather and mechanical issues permit.
Update for Tuesday 4/14: Worked on my truck all morning to get it to the Shop to replace the dead battery. Storms in the area prevented me getting out where I needed to be. (The truck has a 45′ mast which makes a great lightning rod!) I did some testing around Raleigh, but again didn’t find anything out of the ordinary. I will be on the road first thing this morning.
Reuben posted in the comments that he has regained signal on rabbit ears. Has anyone else regained signal? Also if you’d like for me to come by your house to check the signals and look over your antenna, send me an email. I have Internet in the truck so if you’re home this week, let me know and I’ll be glad to swing by. I really appreciate your patience and understanding and hope we get this resolved quickly.
Update for Wednesday 4-14:It’s back! Totally odd it was out for exactly 14 days for so many people, and then it came back as mysteriously as it disappeared. I can assure you I did not do anything on this end. Wednesday I was out in the field in Pittsboro, Siler City, and back to Northern Chatham County. I saw nothing strange in the air. Today I’ll be on the phone calling around to see what I can learn.
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Comments
We are not doing any maintenance or power reductions on the digital. We are the victims of interference from a signal in the Greensboro area that seems to have fired up on April 1st.
I just ran across your post after a Google search for information. We, too, lost your digital signal a few weeks back after having no problem for many months. We are in North Chatham, about 4 miles west of 15-501 and about 1 mile south of the Orange-Chatham County line.
Any updates on this issue?
I lived in Chapel Hill, next to exit 266. I used to have a good signal here for all the channels until April. I received all the channels but 17.1,17.2 and 17.3; very low signal, not enough to show something. Please keep trying to bring up this problem to the station, I like to see you guys again!!!
Just started picking it up this evening on the ol’ rabbit ears. I have no idea who did what or what the heck happened but it’s definitely back. My sister even thinks the signal comes in better.
Well, it was too good to be true. I did receive NBC 17 last night. Was watching it from 10P – midnight. 17.1 was carrying the usual NBC programming, 17.2 was carrying speed skating, and 17.3 was carrying the weather.
This morning though, no signal. Back to it’s old tricks. I can’t figure out what might be interfering with the signal. Seems like something more than just atmospherics. And this has been going on all during April. Never had problems picking up NBC 17 until just recently.
OK, it’s back up tonight. I have no idea what happened this morning. Maybe the atmosphere is working in my favor again tonight. Will check it back in the AM. Stay tuned.
Seems like the signal is non-existent again. Seems like the signal has been off and on the past few days. And all the other stations that broadcast from the towers at Auburn come in just fine. This is way too odd.
We lived in Saxapahaw, about 14 miles outside of Carrboro, and we used to get the signal crisp, clear, and strong. However, we lost the nbc signal about a month ago and never regained it. We recently moved to Siler City a week ago and again, cannot get a signal for nbc17.
Sounds like NBC 17 does not care about viewers south and west of Durham who can’t pick up the signal now but could pick it up before. It’s not like everyone is privileged enough to have cable or satellite.
Everyone else that reported the problem in your area got the signal back on April 14th. A couple had to rescan the channels, but you’re the only one still reporting no signal. Try another channel scan, and if it is still out check you antenna from top to bottom.
An update from our location (http://tinyurl.com/no17here). We often cannot get a good enough DTV signal to watch; sometimes it is fairly high, but usually quite low. The other triangle stations all come in fine. We have an antenna in our attic and previously had no problem, including last summer. I think we first noticed problems sometime near the end of March.
I live in Raleigh. I have my one digital tv connected via the cable cord in the wall (is this correct?). I can get all channels I need except 22 (CW) and 17 (NBC). Do I need the converter box or another type of antenna to get these channels? Im waiting on my converter box coupons for my two analog tv’s. Will I still need antennas with the converter box?
I decided to let cable go to save money and then realized all the shows I watch are on regular TV anyway. Will miss the DVR but I will see if Best Buy can help me find something to replace that. In the mean time will use my VCR once I remember how to work it 
Thanks for any help!
Since our email exchange last Summer DTV OTA from NBC17 had been fine until a few months ago. I recently read (avsforum) that NBC17 had then reduced transmission power by 50% (to prepare for DTV transition?). Current reception (Cary) is “no signal”. Rooftop CM4228/CM7778.
Will NBC17 transmission improve following the June 12 transition?
thx
I too get no signal or very weak/unusable signal in Cary, near West Cary Middle School. The signal was fine for over a year up to a few weeks ago. I am using an attic-mounted CM4228 with a preamp pointed toward the antenna farm. Also using a rooftop-mounted Yagi I get similar results. I am using three different tuners, all very weak on 17.1. The other stations from the same farm come in fine.
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When I first got my DTV converters last summer, I used to could pick up NBC 17 on three TVs all using rabbit ears here in Carthage, NC (Moore County, 15 SW of Sanford, 60 miles SW of Raleigh). Just recently, I have been unable to pick up the signal. I can pick up 5, 11, 22 & 28 and I believe all of these stations have tower facilities in Auburn. Are you folks doing any digital transmitter, antenna or tower maintenance?