Hello, 1st timer here. I have an older LXI(sears)
tv that used to receive all the cable channels available to me. Now only goes to channel 40. I've tried different cable outlets, remotes. Any ideas out there? My cable service hasnt changed.
Thanks for any help!!

First, let me welcome you to our Pool party. I know you will find it interesting.

Cable TV has come a long way. There are several modes that they use to send the signal to your TV. They are always changing their channel line up and now, my cable vendor is pushing Digital cable with over 200 channels and I sure they will be phasing out normal TV channels.

The early cable system used the normal VHF and UHF channels. Uncle Charlie, FCC in layman’s terms, took some of the UHF band away for cell phone operation. When HDTV and Broadcast Digital TV take over, FCC will release more channel to other services.

Now more on your problem. Without buying a new TV, you might try a universal cable converter from Radio Shack or other source. These ARE legal as the only thing they do is change cable channels to channel 3 or 4 which ever is a clear channel in your area. It will not descramble blocked channels. Some older TVs needed to tune each channel.

If your TV has a Channel set up option, follow the on screen guide.

The nice thing about The Shack, if it does not help you, you can return it.

Check with your neighbors. See if they also loss some channels. Check on a newer set.

I use Yahoo TV to see what channels are available. Just follow their direction and select your provider for your zip code.

Hope this helps

WoW

PS, in checking your system on Yahoo, Grande Communications, Austin, you should have chanels through 80 then it goes digital. Some may not be used. Let me know how you make out.

That LXI (Projection TV????) - does it have a menu option that allows you to tune in the available channels? Do you have a converter box?

I know with our last TV (RCI circa 1987) toward the end of its life without a converter box I had to run the Search Cannel Mode (Most likely called "Channel Search" on the LXI) periodically. When you select that mode it goes through the series of channels from 2 to the highest channel available on the set, each one that receives a signal is stored and accessible after the search is completed.

That was just for basic service without a converter box – after a little longer it got to the point where I had to get a converter box just for the basic channels. If you have ran the channel search option and are still not getting the signal, it most likely means you need a converter box.

The older Technology is no longer readily compatible with modern digitalized “optic” signals. Most cable companies have switched from metal to fiber-optic cable on the street, going through a converter at the pole to metal to your house. Although you may not see any channel changes or have changed your service, if you live in an area where upgrade to fiber optics is taking place it could be causing issues. This switch took place here in early 2000 causing us to have to get a converter box.

Also, many channels that were available in the analog are now digital, although you do not see a change or may not have ordered that change, it is highly possible that it has taken place and your TV is just not able to descramble or make sense of the new signal coming in without a converter box. Now the trend is set for High Definition, granted now we are paying for it, but sooner (than later) the plan is to start switching all channels to HDTV. HDTV will become the new "basic" TV broadcast mode.

Our new TV, with picture in picture (PIP) has two lines in (Ant A and Ant B) where we have Ant A hooked up to the converter and Ant B directly hooked up to the cable. Although we can get Sci-fi channel on both, we do not get HGTV on both – although “free” in this area, it does not get picked up without a converter box.

Since getting the new TV we have had to exchange converter boxes with the cable company twice. When we first got the New TV and about a year ago. The first time due to the age of the box, the second time due to so many changes in the technology and availability channels that the older box was already outdated. The Lady at the cable company laughed at our “old” converter box. I believe the technology is changing as rapidly as with Cell phones, there again the sales person got a chuckle over my “old” technology one of the first digital phones.

Thank you so much for your generous amounts of info, Walks, and Dvd, I really appreciate it. (The tv in question isnt a projection-type, btw.)I guess I'll visit The Shack. Or make a gift to the Goodwill, depending on my mood tomorrow. I was undecided between the sears and a newer, but still older magnavox that gets all my cable channels but periodically friztes and pulsates a grzitzz noise for a few seconds, and whose sound cant be modified with the remote. Some choice. Maybe they should both go to goodwill and I'll take up the shortwave radio for intertainment. Thank you for your time!!
Kimberly

Are you sure that your cable company actually does have those higher channels available to cable ready sets? You may want to call them and ask. They may have taken more analog channels off the air so that they could squeeze more digital channels onto their system. They can get 6 digitally compressed channels into one analog channel. Obviously the only way you'll be able to get those digital channels is by renting their converter box.

I worked for a cable TV company years ago right about the time when they first started talking about the introduction of digital channels.