Between now and July 2020, some TV stations will change their over-the-air broadcast frequencies.
That includes us locally, as well.
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At 12:30 p.m. Sept. 11, WSLS 10 will change frequencies. Nothing is changing regarding our channel numbers, this just boils down to some behind-the-scenes changes because of the FCC.
Around 11:30 a.m., WSLS 10 will transition to low power before changing frequencies to prepare. Some viewers may even lose signal. At 12:30 p.m. when viewers rescan their channels, this problem should no longer pose an issue.
That will mean something to you and your family if you use an antenna, because it's possible you might discover your reception isn't as good as it used to be.
Or maybe you'll have a hard time getting your favorite channels to appear at all.
No big deal!
This just means you'll need to do a rescan. It only takes a minute.
The FCC explains exactly what that means in the quick, easy-to-understand video below.
Don't overthink it: You don't really need to understand the part about what it means for a station to change broadcast frequencies.
You just need to understand what to do if this affects you or perhaps an elderly relative.
We'll break down the steps.
1.) You'll notice the problem, or you'll see a message come across your TV screen. The alert will say something like, "weak or no signal," "this channel is moving frequencies" or "rescan your TV."
2.) If you rely on an antenna to watch free, over-the-air TV, you just need to rescan your TV to find your channels again. Then your channels will appear the same way they were before.
3.) The TV itself will do the heavy lifting here, so to speak. Find your remote and locate the button labeled "menu" or "setup."
4.) Click the button and follow the on-screen instructions. The TV will scan and search for all available channels. This is the same process you followed when you first got the TV, so it may feel familiar.
A few things to note
You don't need to buy anything. Your TV is just fine. There's no need to buy a new one, and you don't need a converter box, either.
Although we touched on this earlier, we'll say it again: This rescan only applies to people who use an antenna. If you're a cable or satellite subscriber, you're not affected.
This rescan process will happen in waves, so don't expect all your channels to switch at the same time.
If you hear of any rescan news or you notice a local channel is missing or fuzzy, then maybe it's time to hit that menu button and check it out.
"A good rule of thumb is to rescan your TV anytime you notice that a channel is missing," Global News Wire said. "If you haven't rescanned in a while, you may be surprised by how many other channels are now available."
Still have questions? Visit this FCC website or call the help line at 888-CALL-FCC.
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