Think you mean channel 17 had a higher frequency. Channel 5 would be VHF (low) in the range 54 MHz – 88 MHz while Channel 17 would UHV in the range 470 MHz – 698 MHz. You're absolutely right about UHF stations being difficult to tune in.

Thanks, yes: Channel 17 higher frequency.

(I tried to read what I wrote for errors, as autocorrect can smash any attempt at careful writing. But I didn't catch this.

Was invisible to me because I was reading the meaning of what I was attempting to say.

I think I just learned about semantic typos. Meme-os?)