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Question

My new Samsung smart TV drops OTA stations

May 1, 2018 7:56AM PDT

My new Samsung smart TV is driving me crazy. Sometimes it gets all of the OTA stations it found, but more often than not it drops half of them. My "not smart" TV did not have this issue. HELP!

Discussion is locked

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Answer
From what I read about this complaint
May 1, 2018 8:00AM PDT

You try your new TV where the working TV is and if it drops you RETURN the TV. Sellers and makers will not fix this one. You have to change the TV out and not keep units that do this.

I won't write at length why you do this. This subject does come up now and then on the web. Get out fast before you are stuck with this set.

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Thank you!
May 1, 2018 4:55PM PDT

Than you so much! Now, just to clarify, is it this particular TV or the model in general? In other words, should I get a totally different make/model, or might the same model but different set act differently? Thank you in advance for clarifying -- I really appreciate the help.

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A little more.
May 1, 2018 5:05PM PDT

First the one line parable. "A man with one watch knows what time it is. The man with two watches is never sure."

So you have a working set. To test your new set you put your new set where the old set is. USE THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD HERE. Only change one variable. Do not use some other cable or antenna or you can't prove it's the TV.

As to your question I defer to the web here. There are folk that find a set the totally fails on OTA (over the air) or differs from their old set. This is an issue the makers hate to talk about and will almost without fail tell you it's your antenna, cabling or location. The only way to really know is to move the new set to where the old one is and test without changing anything else.

That said, these new TVs SHALL have their latest firmware. This is no longer optional unless you maintain that products SHALL arrive ready to use. Smart TVs and even non-smart TVs are now taking after computers. They ship the products and continue to fix bugs as it's floating across the oceans.

Because sellers and makers have such an awful track record on your issue, this is why I always write to test it out and never think about letting the maker or seller fix it. Bail out while you can.

Post was last edited on May 2, 2018 8:34 AM PDT

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Thank you BUT
May 2, 2018 5:46AM PDT

Thanks so much for your prompt answer. I have, of course set up the TV where my old one was and everything else is, in fact, the same. My question was should I bail from this particular TV set or the model in general? I.e., are some sets within the same make/model just glitchier or is the whole line going to have the same issues?
Again, thank you in advance for your prompt reply -- love this site!

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That I can't answer.
May 2, 2018 8:36AM PDT

It could be that the model has a less capable tuner. I can't tell you that. You could google that model number and maybe check RTINGS (see google) to see if others are complaining about this model and OTA.

It may be easier to change models or make to avoid a repeat.

Every day you delay could make the return more difficult.