Verizon FiOS doesn't get new digital multicast channels

What is the difference between a RF channel and a virtual channel? The RF channel is the channel that the TV station uses to broadcast its signal. Before the conversion to digital, TV stations were normally identified by their channel number, and most people knew that a particular network was on a specific TV channel. While analog broadcasting was being phased out and all TV stations were converting to digital broadcasting, it was necessary for the TV stations to continue to broadcast their analog signals on their original RF channels, and also broadcast their digital signals on a different RF channel. However, since the TV station used their broadcast channel as part of their identification, they wanted to keep using the same channel number. To allow this to happen, the new digital television broadcasting standards (ATSC) provided TV stations the ability to continue to use their original channel number and also tell the TV set to tune to the new RF broadcast channel when their virtual channel number was selected. The original channel number is called the virtual channel number, and it will be followed by a period and a second number (3.1, 7.1, etc.).
One of the benefits of converting to digital for the TV stations is that they now have the ability to transmit more than one program at the same time on the same RF channel. The number of additional channels they can broadcast is determined by the resolution of the program (SD vs. HD, text only, music only, etc.). The second number in their virtual channel number indicates that one of the additional programming sources from the same TV station is being viewed (10.2, 10.3, 10.4, etc.).
When selecting an antenna, it is important to understand the difference between the RF broadcast channel and the virtual channel. Antennas are designed to receive specific ranges of RF channels, and the antenna needs to be selected for the RF channel you wish to receive. TV stations broadcast in two broad frequency ranges, called VHF and UHF. RF channels 2 through 13 are considered VHF, and RF channels 14 through 51 are considered UHF. In order to pick up the channels, the antenna has to be designed for the correct frequency range. It is very common today to find that TV stations using virtual channels 2 through 13 are actually using RF broadcast channels in the UHF range. Although not as common, some TV stations using virtual channels 14 through 51 are actually transmitting in the VHF range. An antenna designed for only UHF channels will not work effectively for RF broadcast channels in the VHF range, and an antenna designed for only VHF channels will not work effectively for RF broadcast channels in the UHF range.

You should have a set-top box.

If you live in the US and the TV doesn't have the newer ATSC (digital) tuner, you're lucky to get 3 channels! The only analog broadcasts left in the US are "low power" & "translator" stations. The old NTSC analog tuners in TV's from just a few years back have little to tune since broadcasters have been moved and changed from analog to digital as directed by the FCC in 2009.

I hope this helps & good luck. Please rate my reply. Thank you.

This is a function of your set-top box (STB), and has nothing to do with the TV. I know several FiOS users with the same trouble, and it's annoying but there isn't anything you can do to "fix" it. What is really strange is that the screen size can change even on the same channel, depending on the particular program being broadcast. It has to do with the aspect ratio of the programming from the provider.

If you're trying to get off-the-air reception here in the US, remember we switched to digital broadcasting and the old analog stations are off the air. This means that if you have an older analog-only tuner, you'll need a digital converter box to pick up the new broadcasts. Before the switch, the US government offered coupons to help pay for the boxes, but that's long since gone and you'll have to pay the full price. Radio Shack, Wal-Mart and Best Buy all carry the converters, and you can find them online as well.

Be aware that even with a converter, you may still not get a signal. With the new digital broadcasting, signal strength is critical. With older analog broadcasts, a weak signal could still give you a watchable picture. But with digital, weak signals may not even be detected. People living in some areas have found that they get no off-air channels or far fewer channels than they did before the switch.

Much of the trouble is because of the line-of-sight nature of the new digital system. With the switch to digital, broadcasts moved to new higher frequencies that don't spread out or follow the Earth's curve like the lower analog channels. Many people have found they needed to put up rooftop antennas pointed toward the station so they could pick up a signal. This is especially true if you live in a valley area or where there are many tall buildings between you and the broadcaster.

Good luck with your reception, and thanks for using Fixya!

I have the Samsung Sound Bar WS1R model. I tried all of the Samsung codes; TV, audio receiver, and audio amplifier. The DVD code 3918 worked for my Verizon FiOS remote. Program it to your AUX button and it will control the volume while your other buttons; channel, menu, etc work the set top box. I hope it works for you too!

For
broadcast traffic to use a large portion of your bandwidth you need 2
conditions:

* A very high rate of broadcasts per second
* Large broadcast packets
* Low bandwidth

Dear Shoostar, 6:55 EST (USA)

It may be that those stations are only broadcasting in analog for now and since your using a digital converter the signal can't be read.
Did you try using the old antenna to get those stations?

If this is the problem you could use both antennas with a switch when you want to change channels for now until they all go digital.

I once used two antennas and a 4-pole switch to get Philly & New York from Jersey instantly back in the day.
I didn't like waiting for the antenna rotor to turn into place!

Hope this is helpful.
jack
Please Rate This!

Thanks for the offer but we cannot afford to pay additional money for something the Factory support service Should provide.

From what we have heard through the Verizon installer, our SANYO LCD TV probably does NOT have a Automatic picture adjust system. That would most likely be the reason for the maunual button on the remote control. The troublle is that with the FIOS service, you do NOT use the TV's remote control. That leaves to switching back and forth between two different remotes wiich can be vary confusing for someone that is not 88 years old.

It is bad enough that you have to remember which channels you have to go to to receive HD programming signals. If I were making a TV set, and or running a TV network/ cable service, I would transmit both HD and regular signals on the same channel number and let the TV and or the decoder box figure out if my set could display High Definition. Isn't that what we spend lots of money buying equipment and paying each month for service?

If anyone out there knows if the SANYO 32 inch LCD TV sold at Wal-Mart automatically adjust to the picute format, (PIX 1-4) we sure ould like to hear from you.

On the verizon FIOS tv box, turn the FIOS STB on, and turn on the tv, tap the following buttons on the Verizon FIOS STB )in this order) 1-Power, then Select, then Menu. This will bring up the FIOS STB HD options. Arrow down to 4:3 Bypass and set the bypass option to 480P. Hit power 2 times, once to turn off, second time to turn STB back on. This should on standard channels give you the zoom feature back. This worked on my Samsunf 5053 TV model.