Hi! I just recently purchased the newest Tablo 4 + TV antenna. I live in Peoria Illinois with a 61604 zip code, and I am trying to access the Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) channel so I can watch the Chicago Bulls. I am able to get the channel, but the signal isn’t that great, and it eventually throws me off the channel and back to the TV guide channel list. I have tried rebooting my Tablo, rescanning the channels, updating the guide multiple times. Also, when I scan for channels, the 4 dots in the list shows green dots for the CHSN channel. So, I should have excellent connection to the channel. But why is it acting like the signal is weak? Also, why is there no guide for this channel. The channel is 19.4 by the way. Without the guide, I can’t tell the DVR to record the Bulls game when I am not able to watch the game live. How do I fix this? See attached photo. The guide is blank for this channel.
Welcome to Tablo. You will find a lot of useful help here. You seem to have two issues here, weak signal, and program guide.
First, with rare exceptions, those flat-panel antennas are not much good at all (some of us call them ‘the mud flap’). They are really only good if you live really close to the broadcast towers. If you have the option (and I recognize that not everybody does) you are better off with a good quality, roof-mounted, antenna. If you can’t go that route, there are much better indoor antennas available. Check out The AntennaMan on YouTube. He does great antenna reviews.
Next is the program guide. As you may have heard, Tablo contracts with a company called GraceNote for their program guide. They are not great… not helpful… and not responsive to inquiries. But, it is free, and you kinda get what you pay for.
Send a note to Tablo’s tech support. Tablo is trying to get GraceNote to do better, and this will give them more ammunition, but it may not change anything. Tablo has said that they are looking into other providers, but it is not happening any time soon.
I have found that blanks on the guide are sometimes a glitch, and will sometimes correct themselves. You can force a guide update in the settings. In general, it seems like the Tablo kinda needs to “break in” and things like that sometimes fix themselves over time.
Also, if you haven’t already, in the settings try changing your ZIP code to a different one that that is close to your home. You would then need to update the program guide. This sometimes fixes it.
Good luck with it, and let us know how you make out.
That channel 19 is WSLN from Rockford. That is pretty far away. I would think WJYS in Chicago would be a bit closer. From what I can find, WSLN is a VHF-Hi station that broadcasts on RF9 with a 30kW ERP (Effective Radiated Power)., WJYS has an ERP of 140kW and broadcasts on RF21 (UHF) as channel 62. CHSN is on 62-2 and 62-3.
Just to be clear, Gracenote itself is not free, at least not for most. If Tablo negotiated some kind of “deal” for Gracenote data, it’s their deal, and not the norm. My guess it’s possible that some of Scripps ad revenue is being used to pay for this instead of the customer paying, but that is just my guess. It’s possible that “the best” (which was Gracenote) has fallen as they have undergone a lot of changes of hand since the original OG Tablo.
I’m sure you are correct. I’m sure that Tablo negotiated a great price, and they absorb that expense. When Scripps bought Tablo, they used it as an extended platform for their programming. That gives them more viewers, and potentially more ad revenue. Also, as they say, ‘if something is free, you are the product.’ I’m sure that Scripps sells the data they collect from us and our viewing habits. I’m okay with that. They have to make their money somewhere. And with these revenue streams, they pay for Gracenote on our behalf.
For me, mostly watching the major broadcasters, I have few problems with the program guide. Still, I hope they get the “record by channel, date, and time” feature in the near future. It seem like a really basic function.
Used to live in Peoria…same zip as you. IIRC (it’s been 15 years ago) the towers are located SE of your location. Had to use an outdoor antenna. If you can go that route mount it as high as you can…
This is all good info. @Mathias8405 should also check RabbitEars.info. However, there doesn’t seem to be many nearby towers/stations around that ZIP Code. Mathias may even consider paying for Tyler the AntennaMan’s service.
I paid for AntennaMan’s service. It was well worth it. It really took the guess work our of selecting and setting up my antenna.
Thanks for your responses everyone. Much appreciated! I am planning on moving in a couple months. So, I will look into your suggestions more after the move. I just thought maybe something quick and simple could be done in the meantime. Without the guide, I can’t record anything to my Tablo DVR on the CHSN channel. If I search for Chicago Bulls in the Channel, TV Show, Movie search box it gives me zero results found. So, I don’t know. After the move, I will look into this more if I am still having issues. Thanks again!
In my web search, I have come across people talking online about the guide for Tablo not being free and that there is a 14 day trial. But, I never paid for the guide that I have now. I have a guide for all channels except for the CHSN channel. I was never prompted during my Tablo setup about that trial. In fact, no where in the Tablo menu does it show how many days left of my trial for the guide nor does it show anything about subscriptions to the guide. What’s the deal with that?
Tablo, even OG has a free guide, I’m just saying there’s cost getting that data from Gracenote. But the “free guide” on OG is limited to 48 hours (?) of data. And the multi day guide on the new 4th gen is free. As both the OG and the 4th gen use Gracenote for their EPG (regardless of amount of days provided), I am curious if the missing channel guides happen regardless of whether you are OG or the new 4th gen.
Do you think switching to a paid guide could resolve my issue? If so, how do I switch from the default guide to grace note?
I don’t think changing guide providers is an option. You probably need to dial in your antenna first before addressing the guide as the guide is determined by the strength of your reception. Right now, it seems to me like you’re not getting the reception you expect.
I’ve been wanting to relocate my flat TV antenna that came with my Tablo 4. But I can’t get that round signal finder to come back up on the Tablo app. I saw it during setup, but I can’t find it in anywhere in the app to bring it up manually.
This is what I am looking for on the app, and I can’t figure out how to manually bring it back up so I can relocate my TV antenna.
For WHOI, point your antenna toward Groveland near the intersection of i474 and Springfield Rd. https://www.rabbitears.info/locationmap.php?request=location&location=Groveland+(IL)