Igrabber Full Auto Scan

Igrabber Full Auto Scan

The first scan after June 12, 2009 should be a full auto scan, not a channel add scan.

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Learn more. Some time1 on June 12, 2009 most US TV stations stopped broadcasting analog TV and also changed their DTV broadcast frequencies, requiring all converter boxes and digital televisions which use an antenna to be rescanned.

Digital TV (DTV) transmissions use the same VHF and UHF frequency channels as analog TV did, but a DTV-capable receiver is required in order to receive them.

Existing TVs, VCRs, TiVos, DVRs that can only receive traditional analog signals require a converter box in order to convert the new digitally modulated signals into a form that traditional analog tuners can understand and receive.BackgroundPrior to June 12, 2009 most TV stations broadcasted in both analog and digital (DTV) formats.

For the DTV broadcasts the FCC allocated each station a temporary additional TV channel frequency on which to broadcast digitally (usually some unused UHF channel in the area).

The new DTV format allows stations to identify themselves by transmitting their virtual channel number, as well as other program information, along with the picture and sound.

This allows a station to identify its DTV broadcasts as being a virtual channel number that is different from the actual RF (radio frequency) TV channel frequency it is using for its digital broadcasts.For example, a station in an area is channel 11.

Prior to June 12, 2009 the FCC also allowed this station to broadcast digital TV on a second frequency, which happened to be RF channel 19 centered at 503 MHz.

On this frequency the station broadcasted DTV programming as well as information identifying it by its call letters and identifying itself as virtual digital channel 11-1, even though its broadcast was physically occupying the RF channel 19 frequency.

It seems confusing to have the station identifying itself as channel 11 broadcasting at the same time on 2 different RF TV channel frequencies, RF channel 11 and RF channel 19, but this was necessary prior to June 12, 2009 because stations needed a second frequency to allow them to broadcast using the new DTV format while continuing to broadcast analog TV on their original frequencies.Why Rescanning is Necessary After June 12, 2009At some time on June 12, 2009 most US TV stations did the following:1.

From the example above, channel 11 turned off their analog TV transmitter on RF channel 11.

There was no signal on that frequency (at least for a brief time).2.

Many stations re-tuned their DTV transmitters from the temporary second channel allocated to them by the FCC for initial broadcasting of DTV to the channel frequency that their analog broadcasts had used.

The channel 11 example station turned off its DTV transmissions on RF channel 19, re-tuned its DTV transmitter to RF channel 11, and then began broadcasting DTV on the channel 11 frequency.

It no longer uses the temporarily allocated pre-transition channel 19 frequency.What does this mean to you It means that you must re-scan your DTV converter box if you have not done so since June 12, 2009, because many of the channel frequencies that it originally memorized when you set it up and scanned prior to June 12, 2009 have changed.Note that not all DTV transmissions changed channel frequencies for their DTV transmissions2.

Some continued to broadcast their DTV signals on the alternate channel granted to them by the FCC.

Others changed their digital transmissions to their old analog channel frequencies.

Now that the transition to digital TV has occurred, many stations still use a DTV channel frequency that is different from the virtual channel number that they identify themselves as when scanned.

For example, a station might identify itself as DTV virtual channel 68-1 yet actually be transmitting their DTV RF signal on TV channel 42, not 68.

The old analog Channel 68 continues to advertise itself as virtual digital Channel 68-1 even though it actually transmits its DTV signal on RF TV channel 42.You do not need a different antenna for DTV, since DTV broadcasts will use the same VHF and UHF frequencies as analog TV did.Steps1Connect your DTV converter box to a good antenna.

If you are using rabbit ears that you have to adjust differently for each channel, you might wish to ask a neighbor who has a good rooftop TV antenna if you can temporarily connect your DTV converter box to his antenna to do the scan (most good DTV converter boxes will remember the channel scan information even if you unplug the power to take it back to your house).2Use the remote control for your DTV converter box to enter the channel scan mode.

Some remote control units have a button for CH SCAN, while for others you must enter the MENU mode and navigate to the AUTO CHANNEL SCAN or AUTO TUNING function.

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