There is a website called Rabbitears.info that is very helpful to determine what transmitters and channels are available in your area. It also helps determine where they are located, and what signal levels you can expect at your specific location
There are good sources for picking a suitable antenna both on this forum and on the sewernet in general. Tyler The Antenna Man’s videos provide lots of reviews and info.
No, we have never had an antenna.
The indoor antenna that comes with the Tablo is very limited. It can work fine in areas where the tv signals are very strong. Most people are not that lucky. The antenna part of the “free local channels” equation can be very challenging.
I’m guessing you’re in Minneapolis St Paul?
Try getting the antenna in the direction of the Mounds View area. That TV tower has several OTA stations.
I haven’t been there in years. Sorry.
Maybe this helps …
Well that’s a big ‘oops’.
You’re in Baltimore. Sheesh. I got married there. Brings back night terrors.
Anyway aim the antenna towards Annapolis.
Here is a map from downtown Baltimore with the different directions some stations transmit from.
I do understand this
I know I am bit late to the party, but did you follow the instructions on setting the Tablo up for the first time with a “smart phone”?
Run the rabbitears.info scan at YOUR precise location and post the map and channels here. You may just be in a lousy reception area. I’m in one also and have had to go to 8-bay bowtie/reflector and real smart (Televes) antennas to get the local channels. The little flat antenna that comes with the Tablo is pretty worthless unless you live under a tower.
To me it seems the channelmaster channel search under discover menu yields more understandable results. It gives virtual and physical channel, direction, distance, and signal strength
My goodness you’re correct about it being readable.
Map is cool.
Of 149 channels available for my zip code it displays eleven. I found the button to display them all.
Hmmm… My iphone ChannelMaster app looks nothing like that (?)
Just for grins, both Rabbitears.info and the ChannelMaster website tool show virtually nothing available in my specific area. Both show transmitter locations etc, but report signal levels so low (red or whatever) so as to not be useable.
My “real” experience with a good quality antenna (Televes Ellipse Mix) located within the HOA 6’ height limitation above my one-story roof is I can get good quality signals from both local antenna farms. Further, the transmitter database details on Rabbitears.info are incorrect for at least 2 transmitters as there have been changes in the last 2-3 years that are not reflected even today.
I still think these are useful tools to get started with a new OTA installation. Just providing a heads up that they are not always 100% accurate.
I agree. It’s superior to telling someone who needs help to power cycle and go buy something else prior to having enough information to assist.
Do you think the signal strength provided is based on the very specific equipment you have installed.
TV reception signal strength numbers on maps are derived from computer models that combine transmission data from broadcast towers with terrain information, typically using a standard propagation model that assumes a specific antenna height. These models calculate the predicted signal strength, often measured in decibels (dBuV), and then represent this data visually on a map, though actual signal strength can vary due to local obstructions like buildings, trees, and weather
Of course not. This just makes my point that what is presented in these tools does not necessarily represent real world experience. If I had relied solely on what they say for my area, I would have never even tried going after OTA TV.
I do think they can provide a useful starting point. But, you need to start locating/pointing antennas and doing channel scans with your own gear to know what you can really get in your specific situation. Further, it is often a “moving target” as signal strength/quality can vary significantly with so many factors involved. “It was fine this morning.”
I wish it was easier. I sort of envy OTA TV adopters/enthusiasts who live in areas where all of this is generally no big deal. The tower is just right there LOS, and blasting lots of watts. Put a coat hanger on the set and you’re good! No online database or research or fancy gear required. Unfortunately, that just hasn’t been my experience in my neck of the woods.
My TABLO device became unable to decode or recognize local major networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, Fox) after the latest firmware update today. Despite this, it could recognize all other (150+) stations over the same antenna. Turning antenna boost on or off on Tablo TV app was to no avail. Reset of Tablo device then caused major problems - the app will not install on any device due to “Tablo does not have a location configured”. Resets of Tablo device and restarts of Apple TVs (first and 3rd gens) are to no avail. Location services are turned on for Apple devices. It seems that the latest Tablo firmware update available today causes location errors that may be causing location error issues for certain users.
You may want to tag @TabloTV
