I first decided to try it out in the Target parking lot in Santee. Sure enough, it picked up analog channels 15, 29, 39, and 51, but all but 29 will be going away on Friday night. It couldn't pick up any signals from Tijuana and couldn't pick up the digital-only signals of KFMB and KGTV at all. It picked up the digital signals for KPBS, KNSD, KUSI, and KSWB well. KSWB, like KFMB and KGTV, broadcasts in digital only as of this past February.

I drove along westwards and tried another Target parking lot in Kearny Mesa. I thought I could get KFMB and KGTV's digital signals better. Nope. Took a lot of work to get those two stations to work. KSWB wouldn't come in at all. KPBS, KNSD, and KUSI had problems with their digital signals in that area. I picked up XHDTV channel 49 in analog well.

I then decided to ditch the included small antenna and hook it up to a mobile rabbit ears antenna I got from Radio Shack years ago. After installing the rabbit ears on the rear passenger window, I hooked it up to the TV. The TV then picked up all of the local digital signals, but had a hard time getting XETV's analog and digital signals.

It wasn't the TV itself, it's the included rod that's not made to pick up weaker signals. Get a mobile antenna (not amplified) and hook it up to the TV, and you should get more channels. You could try an indoor antenna if you can't find the mobile rabbit ears at Radio Shack that I bought.

All of the controls are obvious for those who are experienced with buttons for the TV and remote control. The TV retained the scanned presets after being shut off and disconnected, but be sure to charge up its battery so it could save them if that's what is retaining its memory. Each time I moved to another location, I had to rescan the TV for new DTV and analog channels.

I decided to do the ultimate high. Drive to the top of Mount Soledad in La Jolla and see how many channels I could pick up. Those who live in the houses on the top of the hill are priviledged enough to enjoy what channel lineup I documented. It picked up most of the digital signals from Los Angeles and nearby areas. It picked up some of the Los Angeles low powered TV signals. From where I was, I couldn't pick up most of the Tijuana or Tecate signals coming from Mexico, or the local signals coming from Mt. San Miguel.

Later on, I drove to San Carlos and did a rescan on the channel lineup. I got many of the Tijuana channels, but not XHDTV and no sign of XETV's analog signal. I still couldn't get KFMB or KGTV's digital signals at all.

So the problem with picking up the TV signals may be the rod antenna that comes with the unit. Use an external antenna to get more channels. Also at fault are the TV stations themselves broadcasting low amounts of wattage. 14kw is fine for an analog AM station, and 50kw is okay for a local FM station, but TV signals at 14kw or 50kw on VHF just don't cut it. Using a VHF antenna to pick up the VHF signals might help, but I haven't tried that yet. Judging from the problems of receiving KFMB and KGTV, I determined that their wattages are too low and need to be raised so that their signals are better likely to be picked up. Living 20 miles away from the two VHF signals, I can't get the weak VHF signals at all.

Broadcast TV Reception from San Carlos (June 11, 2009)

06-1. (23) XETV-TD (SC)
12-0. (12) XEWT (SC)
12-1. (32) XEWT-TD (SC)
15-0. (15) KPBS (SC)
15-1. (30) KPBS-DT (SC)
15-2. (30) V-Me (SC)
21-0. (21) XHTIT (SC)
27-0. (27) XHJK (SC)
28-1. (28) XHJK-TD (SC)
29-0. (29) KSDX (SC)
33-0. (33) XHAS (SC)
33-1. (34) XHAS-TD (SC)
39-0. (39) KNSD (SC)
39-1. (40) KNSD-DT (SC)
39-2. (40) NBC+ (SC)
39-3. (40) Universal Sports (SC)
45-0. (45) XHBJ (SC)
51-0. (51) KUSI (SC)
51-1. (18) KUSI-DT (SC)
57-0. (57) XHUAA (SC)
57-1. (22) XHUAA-TD (SC)
69-1. (19) KSWB-DT (SC)

12-0. (12) XEWT (SC)
15-0. (15) KPBS (SC)
51-1. (18) KUSI-DT (SC)
69-1. (19) KSWB-DT (SC)
21-0. (21) XHTIT (SC)
57-1. (22) XHUAA-TD (SC)
06-1. (23) XETV-TD (SC)
27-0. (27) XHJK (SC)
28-1. (28) XHJK-TD (SC)
29-0. (29) KSDX (SC)
15-1. (30) KPBS-DT (SC)
15-2. (30) V-Me (SC)
12-1. (32) XEWT-TD (SC)
33-0. (33) XHAS (SC)
33-1. (34) XHAS-TD (SC)
39-0. (39) KNSD (SC)
39-1. (40) KNSD-DT (SC)
39-2. (40) NBC+ (SC)
39-3. (40) Universal Sports (SC)
45-0. (45) XHBJ (SC)
51-0. (51) KUSI (SC)
57-0. (57) XHUAA (SC)

02-0. (02) KCBS (LJ)
02-1. (60) KCBS-DT (LJ)
03-0. (03) XHTJB (LJ)
04-0. (04) KNBC (LJ)
04-1. (36) KNBC-DT (LJ)
04-2. (36) WX+ (LJ)
04-4. (36) Universal Sports (LJ)
05-0. (05) KTLA (LJ)
05-1. (31) KTLA-DT (LJ)
05-2. (31) This TV (LJ)
06-0. (06) XETV (LJ)
07-0. (07) KABC (LJ)
07-1. (53) KABC-DT (LJ)
07-2. (53) Livewell (LJ)
07-3. (53) KABC-WN (LJ)
08-1. (08) KFMB-DT (LJ)
09-1. (09) KCAL (LJ)
10-1. (10) KGTV-DT (LJ)
10-15 (10) KZSD-D2 (LJ)
11-0. (11) KTTV (LJ)
11-1. (65) KTTV-DT (LJ)
12-0. (12) XEWT (LJ)
13-0. (13) KCOP (LJ)
13-1. (66) KCOP-DT (LJ)
15-0. (15) KPBS (LJ)
15-1. (30) KPBS-DT (LJ)
15-2. (30) V-Me (LJ)
18-0. (18) KSCI (LJ)
18-1. (61) LA18.1 (LJ)
18-2. (61) LA18.2 (LJ)
18-3. (61) LA18.3 (LJ)
18-5. (61) LA18.5 (LJ)
18-7. (61) LA18.7 (LJ)
18-8. (61) LA18.8 (LJ)
21-0. (21) XHTIT (LJ)
22-0. (22) KWHY (LJ)
22-1. (42) KWHY-DT (LJ)
24-0. (24) KVCR (LJ)
24-1. (26) KVCR-DT (LJ)
24-2. (26) KVCR_1 (LJ)
24-3. (26) KVCR_2 (LJ)
24-4. (26) KVCR_3 (LJ)
25-0. (25) KNET-CA (LJ)
28-0. (28) KCET (LJ)
28-1. (59) KCET-DT (LJ)
28-2. (59) KCET-OC (LJ)
28-3. (59) KCET-VM (LJ)
28-4. (59) KCET-W (LJ)
30-1. (38) ION (LJ)
30-2. (38) QUBO (LJ)
30-3. (38) IONLife (LJ)
30-4. (38) Worship (LJ)
34-0. (34) KMEX (LJ)
40-0. (40) KTBN (LJ)
44-0. (44) KXLA (LJ)
46-0. (46) KFTR (LJ)
46-1. (29) KFTR-DT (LJ)
50-0. (50) KOCE (LJ)
50-1. (48) KOCE-DT (LJ)
50-2. (48) KOCE-OC (LJ)
50-3. (48) Daystar (LJ)
50-4. (48) KOCE-SD (LJ)
51-0. (51) KUSI (LJ)
52-0. (52) KVEA (LJ)
54-0. (54) KAZA (LJ)
54-1. (47) KAZA-DT (LJ)
56-0. (56) KDOC (LJ)
56-1. (32) KDOC-DT (LJ)
56-2. (32) KDOC-SD1 (LJ)
56-3. (32) KDOC-SD2 (LJ)
57-1. (49) KJLA-DT (LJ)
57-2. (49) LATV/NET (LJ)
57-3. (49) KJLA-DT (LJ)
57-4. (49) SET (LJ)
57-5. (49) SGTV (LJ)
57-6. (49) VBS-DT (LJ)
57-7. (49) VYV-DT (LJ)
57-8. (49) KVMD-DT 23 (LJ)
58-0. (58) KLCS (LJ)
58-1. (41) KLCS-DT (LJ)
58-2. (41) KLCS-DT (kids) (LJ)
58-3. (41) KLCS-DT (Create) (LJ)
58-4. (41) KLCS-DT (LJ)
62-0. (62) KRCA (LJ)
62-1. (68) KRCA-DT (LJ)
62-2. (68) KRCA-DT (LJ)
67-0. (67) KHTV-LP (LJ)
69-0. (69) KTAV-LP (LJ)

02-0. (02) KCBS (LJ)
03-0. (03) XHTJB (LJ)
04-0. (04) KNBC (LJ)
05-0. (05) KTLA (LJ)
06-0. (06) XETV (LJ)
07-0. (07) KABC (LJ)
08-1. (08) KFMB-DT (LJ)
09-1. (09) KCAL (LJ)
10-1. (10) KGTV-DT (LJ)
10-15 (10) KZSD-D2 (LJ)
11-0. (11) KTTV (LJ)
12-0. (12) XEWT (LJ)
13-0. (13) KCOP (LJ)
15-0. (15) KPBS (LJ)
18-0. (18) KSCI (LJ)
21-0. (21) XHTIT (LJ)
22-0. (22) KWHY (LJ)
24-0. (24) KVCR (LJ)
25-0. (25) KNET-CA (LJ)
24-1. (26) KVCR-DT (LJ)
24-2. (26) KVCR_1 (LJ)
24-3. (26) KVCR_2 (LJ)
24-4. (26) KVCR_3 (LJ)
28-0. (28) KCET (LJ)
46-1. (29) KFTR-DT (LJ)
15-1. (30) KPBS-DT (LJ)
15-2. (30) V-Me (LJ)
05-1. (31) KTLA-DT (LJ)
05-2. (31) This TV (LJ)
56-1. (32) KDOC-DT (LJ)
56-2. (32) KDOC-SD1 (LJ)
56-3. (32) KDOC-SD2 (LJ)
34-0. (34) KMEX (LJ)
04-1. (36) KNBC-DT (LJ)
04-4. (36) Universal Sports (LJ)
04-2. (36) WX+ (LJ)
30-1. (38) ION (LJ)
30-3. (38) IONLife (LJ)
30-2. (38) QUBO (LJ)
30-4. (38) Worship (LJ)
40-0. (40) KTBN (LJ)
58-3. (41) KLCS-DT (Create) (LJ)
58-2. (41) KLCS-DT (kids) (LJ)
58-4. (41) KLCS-DT (LJ)
58-1. (41) KLCS-DT (LJ)
22-1. (42) KWHY-DT (LJ)
44-0. (44) KXLA (LJ)
46-0. (46) KFTR (LJ)
54-1. (47) KAZA-DT (LJ)
50-3. (48) Daystar (LJ)
50-1. (48) KOCE-DT (LJ)
50-2. (48) KOCE-OC (LJ)
50-4. (48) KOCE-SD (LJ)
57-3. (49) KJLA-DT (LJ)
57-1. (49) KJLA-DT (LJ)
57-8. (49) KVMD-DT 23 (LJ)
57-2. (49) LATV/NET (LJ)
57-4. (49) SET (LJ)
57-5. (49) SGTV (LJ)
57-6. (49) VBS-DT (LJ)
57-7. (49) VYV-DT (LJ)
50-0. (50) KOCE (LJ)
51-0. (51) KUSI (LJ)
52-0. (52) KVEA (LJ)
07-1. (53) KABC-DT (LJ)
07-3. (53) KABC-WN (LJ)
07-2. (53) Livewell (LJ)
54-0. (54) KAZA (LJ)
56-0. (56) KDOC (LJ)
58-0. (58) KLCS (LJ)
28-1. (59) KCET-DT (LJ)
28-2. (59) KCET-OC (LJ)
28-3. (59) KCET-VM (LJ)
28-4. (59) KCET-W (LJ)
02-1. (60) KCBS-DT (LJ)
18-1. (61) LA18.1 (LJ)
18-2. (61) LA18.2 (LJ)
18-3. (61) LA18.3 (LJ)
18-5. (61) LA18.5 (LJ)
18-7. (61) LA18.7 (LJ)
18-8. (61) LA18.8 (LJ)
62-0. (62) KRCA (LJ)
11-1. (65) KTTV-DT (LJ)
13-1. (66) KCOP-DT (LJ)
67-0. (67) KHTV-LP (LJ)
62-2. (68) KRCA-DT (LJ)
62-1. (68) KRCA-DT (LJ)
69-0. (69) KTAV-LP (LJ)