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Question

Samsung TV not recieving channel data

Dec 25, 2014 3:37AM PST

Recently purchased UN40h5203afxza 40" TV for my parents but have been unable to do a number of things. Firstly, is it standard that digital channels and analog channels are all jumbled together on these new TV's? The channel listing have a lot of duplicates and redundancies due to listings like 66-1 -2 -3 etc. Is there anyway to get rid of these redundancies? I am also unable to get the TV guide to work - no channel data shows up on the channel information page.

Thirdly, the netflix app gives a strange error when i attempt to open it Nw2-8 or something.

Can anyone help me with any of these issues?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
In reverse.
Dec 25, 2014 3:51AM PST

Netflix wrote the app so I always call them first. Let them answer since their code and codes.

As to the channels, yes, I see it too on other makes. But you noted 2 issues. First, see if this model can export the channel list for editing on a PC. Yes again, not everyone can do this. AVSFORUMS seems to discuss this a lot. https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&as_q=samsung+tv+guide+channel+order finds how to tinker with some ordering. I find folk today to expect better than this.

The TV guide is an app from ... TV Guide ... so bugs can happen. Be sure your date/time and area is set.
http://www.tvguide.com/services/help.aspx doesn't give me a lead on how to ask about this current CBS product so I'll alert this for a redirect.

For now, in the USA, call 1800SAMSUNG and ask all the questions.
Bob

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reply
Dec 25, 2014 3:56AM PST

Bob,

When I'm talking of 'tv guide' I'm referring to the actual guide button built into the tv itself, not an app from the app store. The TV itself is not displaying data from the cable - as in channel show up as numbers only with no channel information attached like - FOX, CBS, etc, nor does the guide button have any information about what shows are playing. This is not a problem with an application but the TV itself is not reading channel data from the cable connection.

As for netflix, I will contact them for support on their application.

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I would have to guess about the cable TV setup.
Dec 25, 2014 4:33AM PST

If the connection is over HDMI, well, that's a problem. If the connection is over Cable, and mind you that here this is nealy extinct, CLEAR CHANNELS are getting so rare that the channel information is often just not there.

To get Samsung to look into this you often find yourself telling Sam that another TV works fine.

Tell what country, cable co and what detail about this cable connection you can but my bet is that you'll end up calling Sam and the cable co.
Bob

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I spotted a duplicate post. DIRECT TO WALL.
Dec 25, 2014 4:40AM PST

There's some sad news about that. At least in the USA clear channels, the system where there is no cable box is dying hard. Here's a link about it but why did I add this? Because cable co's rarely answer or support this today. And it's getting worse.

http://avc.com/2012/02/clearqam-what-it-is-and-why-it-matters/ (a primer)
http://hometheaterreview.com/fcc-rules-to-make-it-harder-to-get-unencrypted-cable-channels-without-a-cable-box/ (2013)

And now, today, well, what a mess. Even if you are getting by without that box, it won't be long before it's gone in the USA at the current rate of lockups.
Bob

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Set top box
Dec 25, 2014 10:01AM PST

Thanks for all the info bob. I read through it and it seems I need a set-top-box to unencrypt this channel information and get the information I am looking for. Are there aftermarket products that can do this? My cable company charges $5 a month for this so I would like to buy something to save money long-term. I am from Pennsylvania, and have Service Electric Cable. Do different companies use different types of encryption?

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Sorry
Dec 25, 2014 10:16AM PST

Never ran into this company. All cable cos I've bumped into are encrypting and more. If you get ClearQAM then you can ask about channel information. It's not required to be sent and was non-existent just a few years back. Back then all we had was Line 21 data and you are asking some questions that have some dark technical issues.

So for analog channels, I don't expect channel information. ClearQAM channels might have it but it's not required and with syndication a cheap cable co may just have the resources to encode it all.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/08/hd-101-what-is-atsc-psip-qam-and-8-vsb/ is a primer on the soup contents.

I'd re-test this with another set then if it's OK on the other set, call SAM. If not, call the Cable Co.
Bob