Why TVs Pixelate or say 'No Signal' with an Antenna

This video explains why you see pixels or a no signal message on your TV set if you use an antenna for programming. The root cause is a low signal and the solution is to improve your signal:

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[Chad-ski]

Great video Antenna Man. I had a descent signal on the main channels but the rest were all pixilated making viewing a waste of time. It got me checking my Antenna/Ariel in my loft. I removed the Antenna/Ariel from its bracket after marking the direction it was pointing. Unwrapped the Ariel cable from around it, cleaned my dusty Antenna/Ariel with a damp cloth, tightened a few loose screws. Working great now 😀

[mansharker]

I grew up installing Channel Master and Winegard brand Yagi antenna's with my father for his business. Radio Shack used to have some decent brands too, They always tend to last long if properly installed. Many of them now include integrated matching transformers on a sealed PCB enclosure and I love it! Despite how well you can seal a matching transformer against the elements on your own....it will eventually disintegrate from corrosion and UV exposure. At least on the integrated ones, its under warranty :D

[georgef]

In actuality, seeing your reception is a bit "Bouncy" (watched several antenna reviews), a steady signal will work at around 35%, but I have seen super-steady signals work at 21%, albeit rare.
The actual reason for the pixelization is the data set gets wrecked when a weak signal, or interference, does not allow it to survive the trip. This only happens if the instruction set (draw image, play audio, give information on what's showing, etc.) gets through OK, then the data that instruction is to decode gets damaged en-route.
Very likely failure is the image, rarely the sound will get messed up, usually stops (a surviving chunk may pop, shriek, or repeats a surviving data set, causing that audio "Stutter"). The information set usually gets through, as it has so little data attached.

[danpete]

I have one of them old channel master tv antenna it works good sometimes I can pull in stations over 100 miles away

[rs]

Good video. I used to get several channels with my antenna, but, now I can only get a few when I turn the antenna toward towers. Maybe bad coax. Also, I use a booster that may be shot. Thanks!

[dougmontgomery]

I have had this effect on my screen for the last several months. But then, my TV aerial is about 17 years old. I had installed it myself; but I am no longer physically able to do that. I await my younger brother's return to install a brand new one he bought and had sent to me. There are high-tension power lines just north of my place; we live some distance south of the Mount Wilson transmitter in Los Angeles.

[sjsphotog]

just got a HDHomerun Scribe Duo to get OTA and Im having some issues with pixelization on some channels. I have an outdoor mast antenna on top of my 1 story home, Antenna was already installed when I bought the home in 2001. I will have to check out your video on getting better OTA signal. Thanks for the info. great channel

[Native]

I do have an outdoor roof antenna, and it still has pixelate?

[Wardell]

I found through much trial and error, that I was over amplifying local signals.
So I'm "currently" happy with my Channel Master CM 4228 and an RCA pre amp. I've removed the various inside "Monster" signal amps and the local channels straightened up. I'm pushing the signal to 5 tv sets and get good reception.
I was bent on buying a Channel Master Pre amp, but decided I'm fairly good with the RCA. I bought an ONN, but it's still in the box and I might give it to my daughter and Son-In-Law. I gave them a roof mount about a year ago and they still haven't mounted it and hooked it up.
What I need to do next is find a good tower and buy a rotor. I'm about 8 -10' above my roof and live in a wooded area.
The CM 4228 is good for me because I live 5 miles from the coast, so the CM 4228 is supposed to pick up 180 degrees. But I'd still like to check out the old school 120 inch Channel Master, with a rotor.


My tower is held by the 18" wall mounts that I bought 40 years ago. Lowes sold top rail fence post as a Antenna tower, but Hurricane Florence twisted it up. 3 10' sections. I've replaced it with thicker conduit pipe, just 2 10' section, but jacked up 4 ft off the ground.
During the aftermath of the storm, I used a roof mounted antenna that withstood the storm and provided local programming and weather reports.
for those interested once you lose power, you lose your cable, Internet and phone unless you have AT&T old school phone. And for about 10 or so hours, we lost Cell phone service. we have 2 different providers. So a generator and a tv antenna is peace of mind.

[richardcranium]

thank you fcc for digital tv. great for cities but crap for rural. at least with the analog you could always get sound even if the picture was coming and going. but who needs emergency weather alerts anyways

[dawnr]

I am right outside the Chicago area and I do believe the big phone/internet/cable companies are randomly emitting broadcast jamming waves, so people get frustrated and subscribe to cable. Some days I get all channels clear, some days only a few and other times all channels pixelate. It's just really odd when and how much it happens.

[shaunosmorrison]

The signal meters can be strange on Panasonic TVs. Once had a signal (VHF, 212.500mHz) come in from 134km+ away, (signal quality: 1, signal strength: 4) it was crystal clear with no pixelation whatsoever. On other occasions it's come up with the same strength but was pixelated, or sometimes no service. VHF signal strengths from dxing can be weird

[ThatGuyFromArizona]

I recently went OTA and purchased a shelf model RCA antenna from Home Depot. It works ok, but it can do better. My PBS channels come through highly pixelated. I plan on a new antenna so will take you up on your offer :). My ZIP is 85650. My new antenna will be outside about 10 ft off ground level facing North'sh... I think :) Thanks

[tammyhansen]

I live out in the country and purchased a very large (about 14 feet long) Winegaurd antenna less than two years ago. Although all that info is kind of mute because when I put it up, I was getting a ton of channels. Now, all of a sudden, all I get it "No Signal". I went up to the antenna and saw that the cable connecting to the antenna was loose. I tightened it up but still nothing. Could something be wrong with the little black box the cable attaches to? Thank You in advance.

[levistrauss]

Thanks great presentation !! One question do you use RCA coaxial cable? Cheers🇬🇸

[MrMikey]

You're right 40-50% depending on the channel seems to be where you can't watch it. I have that issue with WHTM but hopefully that will be resolved soon. I even tried to not buy a junk antenna but still didn't get it 100% on the first try.

[Nicholas_Chris]

I like digital TV because the picture is excellent especially the HDTV channels, but most of the time I miss the Analog TV. If the signal wasn't good you could watch the picture, yes there were annoying factors like ghosting, static or interference. With an outdoor Yagi antenna I personally didn't had problems, all channels came good or great. But I could use an indoor antenna (the rabbit ears how some people called them) and the picture was good or acceptable. Now with an indoor antenna (passive or active) doesn't work at all (only outside in the garden), and you are limited with an outdoor antenna.

[malsearle]

Thanks, i found this helpful . Ive been having this problem with a new hd ready tv .
Ive just switched off the booster box ive always had since the kids all had tv s . They have grown up and moved out now, so just one tv in use upstairs . It seems better since switching off the booster / splitter box . Do you find that is a solution

[stevejohnson]

I'm in the mountains with very irregular terrain. If not for error correction we could not get over-the-air TV. Before digital, many of our channels were riddled with ghosting. Now I get 46 channels -- including subs.

[chavey]

Thank you Tyler for your information. I have reviewed a lot of your videos and used your recommendations to purchase the clearview 4V antenna. I'm hoping that will clear up my pixelation problems: But mine are a little different.


I live in the 78628 zip (near Austin, Tx) and my stations are all about 35 miles in a straight line (196 degrees) and co-located (ie every station transmits from the same spot). I have one of those generic chinese antennas (don't ask me name or brand - I can't remember) that I am going to replace with the Clearview 4v tomorrow. I also have the Channel Master CM-7777 amplifier going from the antenna to a 6 way generic splitter. I only have 3 TVs although I have cable going to 6 rooms. Longest cable run is probably 50 ft with most of them in the 20-30 ft range.


Here the problem I have: My pixelation happens at the same time every day. I can watch all channels all day, but about 7pm to 10pm (almost to the dot), most major stations (Fox 7, CBS 42, and NBC 46) go out although ABC 24 and PBS 18 still work great. This didn't start happening until a few months after I got the previous antenna. I was hoping the CM-7777 would help, but it did not. I didn't want to by a $200+ signal tester for a 1 time use. The purchase of the Clearview 4V is my latest attempt to resolve this issue.


Any other suggestions?