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Technical FAQs

KGW Technical FAQs

Wrong Audio? Hearing a video description?

If you are hearing a second voice explaining action while watching your TV program, you likely have the SAP (Secondary Audio Channel) audio channel turned on. We often hear from viewers who are confused by this. The FCC requires television stations to provide a DVS(Descriptive Audio Service) on the main channel.

KGW is passing Descriptive Audio on the SAP audio channel whenever it is provided by NBC. When descriptive audio is not available, the SAP channel will provide a mix of the primary English audio associated with the channel.

If you are hearing the alternate audio and you do not wish to hear it.
Take a look at your remote for a button labeled MTS, SAP or Audio. Press this button one time and it should display the audio that your set is tuned to. If it shows audio 2 or Spanish, press the button again until it displays audio 1 or English, then press ENTER or OK.

If you don't find a button on your remote the SAP setting might be a menu setting. Refer to your owner's manual to learn how to change this setting. If you have a cable or satellite receiver, please call your provider for instructions.

Additional video description information from: https://www.fcc.gov/guides/video-description

IndoorAntennas

We have found that many viewers that have TV reception issues are using indoor antennas. In many of these cases the viewers are having intermittent reception problems. One day the service works ok and the next day it is not available. In some cases all the channels are received but the signal will periodically drop out or pixelate.

For viewers that are in encountering issues with indoor antennas we recommend trying a VHF/UHF outdoor TV antenna. Installing an antenna on the outside of your home provides potentially better reception because the signal does not have to penetrate building walls or windows and is normally at a higher elevation.

Check out the link below to determine the best antenna for your location. This site will provide signal strength estimates and an antenna recommendation.

https://www.antennaweb.org/Address

General TV Reception Help

Have you checked your TV antenna?
One of the top issues we find is that the type of antenna is only UHF or the size is inadequate for your location. In order to receive the best signal from KGW a VHF antenna is required.

Have you tried doing a "double rescan"?

Sometimes the TV receiver or converter box will save incorrect channel information and will require a "double rescan" to restore the correct channel info. To do this, remove the antenna cable, then scan the channels. After the scan is complete… reconnect the antenna and re-scan the channels.

Additional Reception Tips

Below are reception tips from: https://www.fcc.gov/guides/antennas-and-digital-te...

  • Digital TV reception can often be improved just by changing the location of your current antenna, even as little as a few inches. For example, moving it away from other objects or placing it higher or lower can often improve reception. Be sure to move the antenna slowly as digital TV tuners need a little time to properly detect the signal. You need to rescan for available signals if you are missing channels.
  • Antennas typically need to be oriented or "aimed" to get the best signal from the desired station. While adjusting your antenna, it may be helpful to access the "signal strength meter" on your digital-to-analog converter box or digital television to determine whether your adjustments are improving the signals' strength. The signal strength meter is usually accessed through the menu feature on your remote control. Refer to the owner's manual of your device for detailed instructions on how to access its signal strength meter. Remember to do another channel scan after you have adjusted your antenna. For outdoor antennas, a rotor that re-orients the antenna can improve performance, particularly when trying to receive stations that transmit from different locations.
  • Generally, an outdoor antenna will get better reception than an indoor antenna.
  • If you decide to replace or upgrade your outdoor antenna, websites such as www.antennaweb.org provide information on the locations of broadcast transmitters and the types of outdoor antennas appropriate for the stations you wish to receive. If you need assistance with upgrading your antenna system, check with a local antenna retailer or antenna installer.
  • To check for the DTV signals that are available at your location, use the DTV Maps tool at: https://www.fcc.gov/media/engineering/dtvmaps

Translator-Related Issues

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