Bad cable TV signal
 

I just got a used TV from my parents for my room. Problem is that the cable tv signal is bad for channels 50 and up. This was also the case when my parents had the TV, but when they hooked up the TV through their VCR (remember those things?) they had a clear signal for all the channels.

Simply put: the tv has a bad signal for some channels (50+) when it's not connected through a VCR.

Does anyone have an idea of how to fix this problem (w/o buying a VCR)?

Thanks!

Was this in the same house? If so, it could be the signal is too weak.

same house, different room.

sounds like the TV has a bad demodulator. if that's the case, sounds like you're kinda f-ed. vcr's really aren't expensive at all, and that will probably be your easiest solution.

Yeah, I was afraid of that. I was hoping for something smaller that would take the place of the VCR that I could plug in to amplify the signal. Oh well.. thanks for your help.

If anyone has any more suggestions, please let me know =)

You can call the cable company and ask them to check the signal coming into the house. Mine was weak in another house once, and they rerouted my line to another junction box. Everything was fine after that.

If the signal is weak, then how does the VCR strengthen the signal? All the channels work fine if I run the cable through the VCR first, then to the TV.

What about requesting a cable box from the cable company? Use the tuner on the cable box and keep the TV on channel 3. You may have to pay a security deposit on the box, but it should be cheaper than getting a VCR.

its an easy fix... just run to radio shack and pick up a cable amplifier. It will set you back like 15-20 bucks and it will make your signal crystal clear.
http://www.radioshack.com/images/Pro...15/15-2505.jpg

If it has a bad demodulator, the signal will get worse as the channels get higher (higher frequency range.) When a VCR acts as a tuner, it demodulates and sends everything out on channel 3, where the demodulator can still handle the signal.