Do I Rescan My Converter Box or My TV: A Guide to Upgrading Your Old System
With the transition to digital broadcasting a few years ago, many viewers had to replace their old analog TV sets with digital ones. To receive the new digital signals, they also needed to install converter boxes – small devices that convert digital signals into analog signals that old TV sets can process.
But what happens when you upgrade your old TV again, or if you already have a digital TV and want to switch from cable or satellite to an antenna for over-the-air reception? Do you need to rescan your converter box, your TV, or both?
The short answer is usually the TV. When you change the setup of your reception system, for example, by adding or removing an antenna, or changing the position of your existing one, you may need to rescan your TV to detect the available channels.
Rescanning means telling your TV to search for available channels and save the updated list into its memory. Depending on your TV, you can usually access the scanning function by pressing the "menu" button on your remote control and selecting the "channel scan" or "tune" option. Some TVs may automatically prompt you to rescan when they detect a new signal after you disconnect or reconnect your antenna.
However, if you are still using a converter box, you may also need to rescan it, especially if you have changed the antenna or the input connection between the box and the TV. In this case, follow the same procedure for scanning channels on your box, usually through a menu or "antenna setup" option.
Its worth noting that some converter boxes are compatible with both analog and digital signals, while others are only designed for digital signals. If you have an older box that only supports analog signals, you will need to replace it with a digital one to continue receiving over-the-air broadcasts.
Another situation where you may need to rescan both your TV and your converter box is when a major change in digital broadcasting occurs in your area, such as a switch to a new frequency or a change in channel assignments. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recommends performing a rescan at least once a month to ensure that you receive all the available channels in your area.
In conclusion, whether you need to rescan your converter box or your TV depends on your specific setup and changes you make to it. In most cases, its the TV that requires rescanning, but it doesnt hurt to check your converter box as well, especially if you are experiencing reception issues or missing channels. With these simple steps, you can enjoy all the benefits of over-the-air broadcasting without missing a beat. |