DEAR SUN SPOTS: I read your response to my question about WMTW reception (Dec. 26). The engineer told me the same thing — that it was probably the trees. Well my trees are the same size as they have been for years.

Well, Sun Spots, I have the answer. In order to get WMTW on any television get a digital box hookup to your television with rabbit ears, and lo and behold, you will get WMTW. The cost, depending where you purchase it, is about about $30 to $40 at Wal-Mart, Radio Shack, etc. — No Name, Auburn

ANSWER: Sun Spots can’t let No Name’s statement about trees go by without comment. Tree are not static. They always grow and change, so they can affect your TV reception. If you don’t believe Sun Spots, ask Larry Kuenning, who wrote about how trees interfered with his mother’s Dish service (Dec. 23).

Sun Spots is also puzzled about No Name’s need for a digital box. She went back to his original letter, in which he said he had a digital TV and got all of the other digital channels, just not 8. The need for a digital box doesn’t make sense to her.

Perhaps he failed to rescan for channels? Any time you lose a channel you need to use the menu on your TV to rescan for all channels.

The only other thing she can come up with is that his TV is defective.

However, she is glad that he is now happily viewing, whatever the solution.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I need help finding someone who has the ability to repair a 1976 Sound Design stereo system. The AM/FM radio works fine, the eight-track I can do without, but the six-record LP automatic turn-off is dragging, and I cannot play the records. This is what I am most interested in.

A 45-mile radius of Farmington would be beneficial. Thank you for trying. — Louise Bunker, West Farmington

ANSWER: Sun Spots has three options in her list, but the last two have not responded to recent inquiries. However, they might still be in business. She wishes you luck. That is quite a system you’ve got. Sun Spots can’t remember the last time she saw an eight-track player.

* Deny’s Service Center, 1256 Sabattus St., Lewiston, 207-783-6869

* JD Electronics, 193 North Raymond Road, Poland, 207-998-5687

* Maurice Belanger, Belanger’s Electronics, 153 Ferry Road, Lewiston, ME 04240. 207-784-2731

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am writing for the Poland Historical Society and the Alvan Bolster Ricker Memorial Library and Community House. Could you provide names and contact information for companies or persons in the region who convert old films, tapes, videos to compact disc format?

These groups would like to update their collections to more current, user-friendly technology. Thank you. — Barbara Strout, Poland

ANSWER: Sun Spots has two categories in her Rolodex, one for audio and one for video. If anyone else wishes to be added to the list or needs changes made to their listing, please let Sun Spots know.

Audio

* Stanley Howard, abramaudio09@yahoo.com, www.abramaudio.com, 678-2770 or 860-0841, Salem: transfers LP records and cassette tapes to CD.

* Richard Rau, 225-5222: transfers of LPs, audiocassette tapes and reel-to-reel tapes to CD.

* Larry, minntate@yahoo.com, 784-224: LPs changed to CDs.

* Bruce Mitchell, 12 Webb Ave., Wilton, byinbyan@myfairpoint.net, 645-2674.

Video

* Al Ibarguen, Wilton, nascar810@earthlink.net, 645-4250: transfers LPs to CD for $4 per album, also VHS and camcorder tapes to DVDs.

* Francis Gagnon, Via-Vision, 18 College St., Lewiston, 783-2550, www.viavisionproductions.com; transfers old videos, 8-mm to DVDs, also now owns Photo Finish, 550 Center St., in Auburn, 783-3354, where items can be dropped off.

* Marcus Talarico, Lewiston, 207-689-1439 marcusta2010@gmail.com, VHS, VHS-c, MiniDV and Digital 8 to DVD conversions.

TO “DAILY READER” CURIOUS ABOUT CHANNEL 13 NEWS TEAM: You need to write to Sun Spots again and include your name and address or phone number. Sun Spots will gladly withhold them, but she must have them.

Also, you gave Sun Spots the names of all the new staff but not the names of those who left whom you are curious about. Sun Spots doesn’t watch TV news and has no idea what their names might be. She searched for “leaving WGME” and got one name, but you said you wanted to know about several.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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