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General discussion

LN19A450 Digital Channel Signal Strength

Apr 5, 2009 12:46PM PDT

I am using an indoor antenna to watch tv. I've had the tv for about 3 months now, and the signal strength for digital channels has been horrible most of the time. When I check the signal strength, the most bars I have ever seen is 8 bars. But since it doesn't show the percentage, I don't know how bad or good the strength is. How many bars would 100% be? And is there any way of getting it to show the exact percentage?

Discussion is locked

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LN19A450 Digital Channel Signal Strength
Apr 7, 2009 5:27AM PDT

NothingNowhere,

The signal strength is 10 bars - so 8 bars should be 80%. I'm not sure why the digital channels aren't coming in so well, but it may have to do with your distance from the originating broadcast signal.

There isn't a way to get the exact percentage.

--HDTech

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LN19A450 Digital Channel Signal Strength
Apr 7, 2009 7:27PM PDT

Thank you, Samsung_HD_Tech! It could be distance; I'm about 18 miles from most of the tv station transmitters. I don't know if that's too far to receive the channels with an indoor antenna. Also, there is a big bridge and many tall buildings in the direction of the transmitters which could be causing interference.

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LN19A450 Digital Channel Signal Strength
Apr 8, 2009 8:30AM PDT

NothingNowhere,

Happy to help.

Maybe getting a powered antenna might help in pulling some of those hard-to-get signals in. It might be worth investigating (and return it if it doesn't work, of course) to see if that might provide a more amicable solution.

--HDTech

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LN19A450 Digital Channel Signal Strength
Apr 8, 2009 8:29PM PDT

Actually, my current antenna is a powered antenna. I've tried 3 different antennas so far, and the previous ones couldn't even get a signal for any channels. Hopefully in the warmer weather the signal strength will improve and won't still go from good to no signal every couple minutes.