More than 21 months after it began, the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) national broadcast spectrum repack will wrap up July 3, 2020, as planned. To see if stations in your area are planning to transition next week, you can enter your zip code here.
However, the work will not end on July 3 for many TV stations that were required to change frequencies to make room for wireless services. Several TV stations must continue to operate on temporary facilities or at reduced power for a period of time until they complete the complicated transition process.
So, what does that mean for you if a station in your area is not quite finished with their technical work? You may not be able to access that station, even after you rescan, because the signal is not strong enough to reach your location.
If that happens to you, you will need to check your station’s website and social channels to find out when they expect to be operating at full power. Once you’ve confirmed that your station has made its final transition, then it’s time to rescan your TV again. This process is free and relatively simple using your remote control or converter box.
- Be sure your TV is set to the “antenna” input.
- Check all antenna cable connections to ensure they are tight and in good condition. Screw- or twist-type “F” connectors are the best option for all connections.
- Select Scan or Autotune from your TV or converter box control menu to start the scanning process. Your TV will do the rest. This process usually takes a few minutes to complete.
- If you’re encountering problems, consider adjusting your antenna or getting a stronger one. If you are using an indoor antenna, consider moving it near a window that faces in the direction of the station’s transmitter site or raise the antenna, either outdoors or in an attic. You can find more tips and tricks here.
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