Thread: OTA Digital TV, Where is CBS

Hello, a few weeks ago I learned of OTA DTV. I finally started to partake in free HD, I even found a site for viewing channel listings in my area (TitanTV.com). I live 26 miles west of Chicago so I started small and set up an indoor antenna, I get all channels through a Samsung set top tuner that are in the yellow zone on antennaweb. My wife and I occasionally watch CBS (red zone) unfortunately CBS has a very weak signal. There are two CBS channels, one digital and they are both VHF. My Terk antenna has a set of VHF poles, I'm not sure if I have a proper setup. I was wondering, since the reception is so poor do I need to get a roof top antenna for the (red zone) or am I missing something?
I have one more question, will CBS join the UHF band when analog is stopped and why do they have such a weak signal?
Than You, Clay

Hello St. John and Welcome to Satellite Guys. I don't live in your area, so I'm probably not going to be any help. But, I remember reading about WBBM in another thread, and I found this old thread here:
http://www.satelliteguys.us/hd-over-...2-chicago.html

Hope it will give you an idea of what you're up against, before you spend to much money. And, if you post your question in that thread, you will probably get a quicker response. Good Luck!

Al

to SatelliteGuys! moved to the OTA forum...

From the link voomvoom gave, it appears that the CBS station is operating at very low power. You can get a bigger, outdoor antenna and probably take care of the issue or you can wait ... they will crank the power up eventually.

The CBS station in Chicago is infamous, most people can't receive it successfully, even much closer than the 26 miles you are at and with a decent outside antenna. They broadcast on 3.1 which is VHF-lo and needs a very large antenna for successful reception.

Here's a great thread on WBBM reception (look at post #5)
Chicago, IL - OTA - AVS Forum

Highly recommend the AVS thread posted above. As a former Chicago area view I can feel your pain with WBBM-DT, whoever came up with assigning them channel 3 for their digital station ought to be shot! The good news is that in February 2009 WBBM-DT has been given the OK to switch to channel 12 and move from the Hancock to the Sears tower which should make things up there MUCH better for all. Good luck in the mean time.

Originally Posted by St. John

I live 26 miles west of Chicago so I started small and set up an indoor antenna, I get all channels through a Samsung set top tuner that are in the yellow zone on antennaweb.

WBBM is not at low power. It takes less power to send a signal to a rooftop antenna on channel 3 than it does on UHF. Relatively speaking, VHF takes more power to reach an indoor antenna than UHF.

Many channels work OK with an indoor antenna, but not Low Band VHF. WBBM-DT is also bothered by WWMT analog on channel 3 in Kalamazoo. A rooftop antenna has directivity that can tune out WWMT. Indoor antennas have little or no directivity on VHF.

This $22.99 antenna will solve your problem.

AntennaCraft Y5-2-6 Lowband-Broadband VHF Yagi Channels 2-6 (Y5-2-6) | AntennaCraft [Y5-2-6] YAGI LOWBAND BROADBAND 2-6 VHF LOW LOW BAND 5-2-6 Y2-6 Antenna craft

Originally Posted by rad

Highly recommend the AVS thread posted above. As a former Chicago area view I can feel your pain with WBBM-DT, whoever came up with assigning them channel 3 for their digital station ought to be shot! The good news is that in February 2009 WBBM-DT has been given the OK to switch to channel 12 and move from the Hancock to the Sears tower which should make things up there MUCH better for all. Good luck in the mean time.

Actually they selected channel 3 themselves in their "first round" channel elections. I don't know why it has taken them this long to wake up to reality and ask for a different assignment - it's way after the FCC's deadline.

Originally Posted by texasbrit

Actually they selected channel 3 themselves in their "first round" channel elections. I don't know why it has taken them this long to wake up to reality and ask for a different assignment - it's way after the FCC's deadline.

Sorry, didn't know that. The impression I got from Chuck deCourt (chief engineer at WBBM back in the bad old days) was it was the hand they were dealt.