Poor symbol quality with HDHomeRun

Channels DVR Server
#1

This problem started a week ago after using my Channels DVR with HDHomeRun successfully for three years.

All of my local stations stream with HD just fine. One station, channel 2.1, just began pixelating when I watch. Sometimes the picture goes out completely on my Google TV until I restart replay.

HDHomeRun diagnostics show signal strength at a steady 100%, signal quality at or near 100%, but symbol quality falls to a low percent with a high rate of "sigerr".

I have an attic antenna aimed near where the stations broadcast. I've tried HDHomeRun firmware updates, a 5G/LTE filter on the coax antenna input, and haven't seen any improvement. AI suggestions include repositioning my antenna and using a signal attenuator, but I'm having doubts.

Any ideas before I give up on OTA and go back to streaming?

#2

I would ask this same question over at Silicondust. You can Send diagnostic information. They might be able to tell you what is going on by the logs from your tuner. Channels will not be able to help you with that part. It might be that you have a bad power supply causing the issue or possibly to high of a signal. If you have a amplifier then you could have too hot of a signal causing this same issue.

1 Like
#3

Definitely try attenuators. Buy several 3dB attenuators and keep adding until the signal just goes below 100%. HDHR's do not like to be overdriven. Think of it like this, i stand really close to you with a bullhorn. It would be hard for you to understand me because my audio would be very distorted.
Im not saying 100% that this is your issue but it was mine. Im 7 miles from the towers and actually picked up one of my locals at 95% with just a piece of rg6 in my hand (not connected to the antenna). I had to add about 18dB of attenuation to my signal before my HDHR's would play nice.

#4

Is 2.1 a PBS station by any chance? I thought i had read that they are cutting back on stations in some areas due to the budget cuts and funding issues.

Also, it may be a issue with your local broadcast tower / transmitter for that station. Such issues recently occurred in my area and certain channels were on lower power backup transmitter for a while they worked on the main transmitter.

#5

This is the correct answer.

#6

I'll post over there, thank you. I've always started here because the community is very helpful, but I recognize that this question is more specific to the HDHomeRun device.

#7

I've ordered a couple and will see what happens. Thank you.

#8

It's our local Fox affiliate. I watch it mostly for NFL games. I don't doubt that they put little effort into their OTA signal quality, but I'm going to see what I can do with it.

The tower is about 15 miles away.

#9

I was having similar problems and Silicondust also provided me with an attic antenna recommendation which made a big difference.