Sharp Aquos Signal Strength Meter

I just purchased a Sharp Aquos 32 and really like the analog picture. I
get a screen message that states my digital signal is too low and so I
can not receive a HD picture. When I use the internal signal strength
meter I obtain readings ranging from 45 to 55.

There is no information in the manual about what is considered a
"normal" level. I have a Wiengard Pro 7015 outside antenna with great
signal strength (measured with an analog RF signal strength meter). I
am 40 miles from the HDTV transmitters and there are no tall buildings
or hills between my antenna and the transmitter towers. According to
antennaweb.org I could almost use an indoor antenna.

I suspect the set is faulty but Sharp says it is my antenna. So I am
trying to determine what readings others have been seeing on their
set's signal strength meter.

Thanks,

Dennis

"DennisC" wrote in message
oups.com...
I just purchased a Sharp Aquos 32 and really like the analog picture. I
get a screen message that states my digital signal is too low and so I
can not receive a HD picture. When I use the internal signal strength
meter I obtain readings ranging from 45 to 55.

In the LC37D5 manual it suggest adjusting the antenna for a strength of 60
or more. Based on my observation, the set will squelch the video at a
reading of 30. I have no problem receiving stations that come in with
readings in the 45 + range. It does not just measure signal strength,
though. It is more an indication of signal goodness. Just for kicks, I tried
patching in a CATV amp; this made all readings worse. Probably because it
has a lousy noise figure.

Keep in mind that your stations may not all be up to full power. Most of the
time I can not get the local NBC HD station (CH28) at 25 miles, but can get
another NBC HD station (CH26) at 65 miles. (Local CBS HD outlet reads 86)
Antenna is a Radio Shack "75 mile" UHF only corner reflector Yagi, with a
ChannelMaster UHF amp mounted below the rotator.

You could try adding a mast mounted amplifier. Also, try turning the antenna
back and forth, the signal may not peak where you think it should. Note that
antennaweb headings are magnetic, not actual. Magnetic error here is 11
degrees.

Tam

There is no information in the manual about what is considered a
"normal" level. I have a Wiengard Pro 7015 outside antenna with great
signal strength (measured with an analog RF signal strength meter). I
am 40 miles from the HDTV transmitters and there are no tall buildings
or hills between my antenna and the transmitter towers. According to
antennaweb.org I could almost use an indoor antenna.

I suspect the set is faulty but Sharp says it is my antenna. So I am
trying to determine what readings others have been seeing on their
set's signal strength meter.

Thanks,

Dennis

Tam,

Thanks a bunch. The LC-32 manual doesn't give any information. I do
know my neighbor has a Toshiba HDTV and he has an antenna identical to
mine. Both antennas are pointed in the same direction and he gets all
five of the local HD stations without a problem.

I ordered a small HDTV set that should be here Saturday. Then I can
determine if it is the antenna or (as I suspect) a faulty tuner in the
Aquos.

Dennis

Tam/WB2TT wrote:
"DennisC" wrote in message
oups.com...
I just purchased a Sharp Aquos 32 and really like the analog picture. I
get a screen message that states my digital signal is too low and so I
can not receive a HD picture. When I use the internal signal strength
meter I obtain readings ranging from 45 to 55.

In the LC37D5 manual it suggest adjusting the antenna for a strength of 60
or more. Based on my observation, the set will squelch the video at a
reading of 30. I have no problem receiving stations that come in with
readings in the 45 + range. It does not just measure signal strength,
though. It is more an indication of signal goodness. Just for kicks, I tried
patching in a CATV amp; this made all readings worse. Probably because it
has a lousy noise figure.

Keep in mind that your stations may not all be up to full power. Most of the
time I can not get the local NBC HD station (CH28) at 25 miles, but can get
another NBC HD station (CH26) at 65 miles. (Local CBS HD outlet reads 86)
Antenna is a Radio Shack "75 mile" UHF only corner reflector Yagi, with a
ChannelMaster UHF amp mounted below the rotator.

You could try adding a mast mounted amplifier. Also, try turning the antenna
back and forth, the signal may not peak where you think it should. Note that
antennaweb headings are magnetic, not actual. Magnetic error here is 11
degrees.

Tam

There is no information in the manual about what is considered a
"normal" level. I have a Wiengard Pro 7015 outside antenna with great
signal strength (measured with an analog RF signal strength meter). I
am 40 miles from the HDTV transmitters and there are no tall buildings
or hills between my antenna and the transmitter towers. According to
antennaweb.org I could almost use an indoor antenna.

I suspect the set is faulty but Sharp says it is my antenna. So I am
trying to determine what readings others have been seeing on their
set's signal strength meter.

Thanks,

Dennis

"DennisC" wrote:

Tam,

Thanks a bunch. The LC-32 manual doesn't give any information. I do
know my neighbor has a Toshiba HDTV and he has an antenna identical to
mine. Both antennas are pointed in the same direction and he gets all
five of the local HD stations without a problem.

I ordered a small HDTV set that should be here Saturday. Then I can
determine if it is the antenna or (as I suspect) a faulty tuner in the
Aquos.

Dennis

Hi guys,
My question is not about an antenna. But sinceboth of you are talking
about a Aquous - do any of you have the combination to get into the
service menue on the LC-32??
I need to reduce the green drive a bit. Shadows and black & white
images all have a greenish tint. And I've been messing with the normal
settings for over 2 weeks now! To no avail ...

Thanks,

-=tom=-

Tom,

According to Sharp tech support, you need two people. First have
someone un-plug the set. Then hold down the negative side of the volume
control and input button on the top of the set (not the remote).
Continue to hold those down and plug the set back in. Supposedly the
set will power up with the service menu.

When the service tech had me try it with my set, it DID NOT work so I
can not say for sure if it was my set or he had bad info.

Dennis

Tom Orle wrote:
"DennisC" wrote:

Tam,

Thanks a bunch. The LC-32 manual doesn't give any information. I do
know my neighbor has a Toshiba HDTV and he has an antenna identical to
mine. Both antennas are pointed in the same direction and he gets all
five of the local HD stations without a problem.

I ordered a small HDTV set that should be here Saturday. Then I can
determine if it is the antenna or (as I suspect) a faulty tuner in the
Aquos.

Dennis

Hi guys,
My question is not about an antenna. But sinceboth of you are talking
about a Aquous - do any of you have the combination to get into the
service menue on the LC-32??
I need to reduce the green drive a bit. Shadows and black & white
images all have a greenish tint. And I've been messing with the normal
settings for over 2 weeks now! To no avail ...

Thanks,

-=tom=-

Sharp LC-32D40U Connected directly to cable source. Pickup all the cable
supplied HD and Digital signals excepting those that are scrambled.
Live about 30 miles for closest local station that is broadcasting HD and
amazingly can lock in 2 HD stations with rabbit ears.
I presume you may be correct that the ATSC tuner section may have a problem.
Checking against another set having an ATSC tuner will definitely tell you,
even if you split the feed to the sets and connect both, doing a channel
scan on both sets, should indicate a yes/no indication regarding the Sharp
LC-32.
Try connecting your antenna directly to the other set and do a full channel
scan on it, then connect it again to the Sharp, again doing a full channel
scan. Compare the results for your proof for or against the Sharp LC-32
unit. Good Luck!
"DennisC" wrote in message
oups.com...
Tom,

According to Sharp tech support, you need two people. First have
someone un-plug the set. Then hold down the negative side of the volume
control and input button on the top of the set (not the remote).
Continue to hold those down and plug the set back in. Supposedly the
set will power up with the service menu.

When the service tech had me try it with my set, it DID NOT work so I
can not say for sure if it was my set or he had bad info.

Dennis

Tom Orle wrote:
"DennisC" wrote:

Tam,

Thanks a bunch. The LC-32 manual doesn't give any information. I do
know my neighbor has a Toshiba HDTV and he has an antenna identical to
mine. Both antennas are pointed in the same direction and he gets all
five of the local HD stations without a problem.

I ordered a small HDTV set that should be here Saturday. Then I can
determine if it is the antenna or (as I suspect) a faulty tuner in the
Aquos.

Dennis

Hi guys,
My question is not about an antenna. But sinceboth of you are talking
about a Aquous - do any of you have the combination to get into the
service menue on the LC-32??
I need to reduce the green drive a bit. Shadows and black & white
images all have a greenish tint. And I've been messing with the normal
settings for over 2 weeks now! To no avail ...

Thanks,

-=tom=-

Since you all seem to be very familiar with Sharp LCD TVs, can you tell me
how to do a channel scan after the initial set-up? I have a new LC-40c32U
and did the channel scan when we initially set it up, but don't seem to have
that option any longer, although the manual indicates that I should be able
to do so.

Thanks

"DennisC" wrote:

Tom,

According to Sharp tech support, you need two people. First have
someone un-plug the set. Then hold down the negative side of the volume
control and input button on the top of the set (not the remote).
Continue to hold those down and plug the set back in. Supposedly the
set will power up with the service menu.

When the service tech had me try it with my set, it DID NOT work so I
can not say for sure if it was my set or he had bad info.

Dennis

Thanks Dennis,

I had seen those steps listed on the AVForum but, just like in your
case, it didn't work for me either.

So I'm still hoping for someone to have pitty on us and give us the
right sequence ;-)
I spent about a half hour trying all possible combinations of the set
top buttons. No go!

What service tech did you call? The Sharp hotline or a local TV fixit
store that handles Sharp TV's?

-=tom=-

"Tom Orle" wrote in message
...
"DennisC" wrote:

Tam,

Thanks a bunch. The LC-32 manual doesn't give any information. I do
know my neighbor has a Toshiba HDTV and he has an antenna identical to
mine. Both antennas are pointed in the same direction and he gets all
five of the local HD stations without a problem.

I ordered a small HDTV set that should be here Saturday. Then I can
determine if it is the antenna or (as I suspect) a faulty tuner in the
Aquos.

Dennis

Hi guys,
My question is not about an antenna. But sinceboth of you are talking
about a Aquous - do any of you have the combination to get into the
service menue on the LC-32??
I need to reduce the green drive a bit. Shadows and black & white
images all have a greenish tint. And I've been messing with the normal
settings for over 2 weeks now! To no avail ...

Thanks,

-=tom=-

I don't think you need the service menu. On my set you go to MENU PICTURTE
ADVANCED , using the remote. While you are at it, you might want to change
the color temperature. I ended up going up one step to 9000 (?).

Tam

"Sue" wrote in message
...
Since you all seem to be very familiar with Sharp LCD TVs, can you tell me
how to do a channel scan after the initial set-up? I have a new LC-40c32U
and did the channel scan when we initially set it up, but don't seem to
have that option any longer, although the manual indicates that I should
be able to do so.

Thanks

Haven't seen a 40c32, but some menu items are context sensitive. So, a
channel scan might not be available when you are watching a DVD or cable
program.; i.e. the input has to be in TV mode.
Tam