Champaign, IL DMA - WAND-DT

[ka1z0ku]

I live in Beecher City, IL, very near to Effingham, IL and about 52 miles from the broadcast location of WAND-DT, our local NBC affiliate. Does anyone else in this area have trouble getting WAND-DT over-the-air? I get WBUI-DT (which apparently is broadcast very nearby) with 75-80% signal strength and absolutely no picture problems, and I get a variety of other analog and digital stations from the Central Illinois area without issue.

WAND-DT, however, will not pick up any signal. I have physically moved my antenna to varying degrees (always pointing north where the station broadcasts) and tried adjusting the amplification, sometimes killing reception of some of the other channels, and still no WAND-DT. As a point of interest, I do pick up the analog WAND-TV, although it is quite snowy and the quality is noticibly worse than the SD feed that DishNetwork gives me.

Any help or suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[midwestdxer]

I live in Beecher City, IL, very near to Effingham, IL and about 52 miles from the broadcast location of WAND-DT, our local NBC affiliate. Does anyone else in this area have trouble getting WAND-DT over-the-air? I get WBUI-DT (which apparently is broadcast very nearby) with 75-80% signal strength and absolutely no picture problems, and I get a variety of other analog and digital stations from the Central Illinois area without issue.

WAND-DT, however, will not pick up any signal. I have physically moved my antenna to varying degrees (always pointing north where the station broadcasts) and tried adjusting the amplification, sometimes killing reception of some of the other channels, and still no WAND-DT. As a point of interest, I do pick up the analog WAND-TV, although it is quite snowy and the quality is noticibly worse than the SD feed that DishNetwork gives me.

Any help or suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks!

Looking at TV fool coverage maps,the signal is weak in your area for the analog and digital.The only way to compensate is more antenna,and move the antenna lateral to the signal path if you have the freedom to do so,to find a hotter signal.Their signal favors an East-West coverage over North-South.Actually,they're a real pest here when there's an opening to the West(ie KC)!

 

[ka1z0ku]

Well I got more antenna... I resurrected the existing antenna outside my house with a repoint (matched it first to magnetic north, then adjusted to the same angle my neighbors seemed to be on), a new preamp, quad-shielded RG6 coax and a new 26dB indoor amp. I'm getting pretty much the same channels with 5 to 10% increases in signal strength, although WCIA (CBS affiliate) only seems to come in after dark, probably some atmospheric issue. Also, I'm picking up on WILL for the first time, I guess that's a good sign?

But of course, after all this, still no WAND. I think I'm pretty much going to throw in the towel and enjoy the fact that I will at least be able to watch Fringe and Lost in HD this fall. (And my wife will enjoy One Tree Hill, haha.)

For future reference, would it be possible for digital stations to be broadcast in higher power after the analogs go away in February? Or do they have to let the gov't use the old towers and equipment?

 

[midwestdxer]

Have no idea what you're using for an antenna,but you shouldn't need a preamp and an indoor amp both.My recommendation would be a CM 4228 antenna with a CM7777 preamp with the antenna mounted 30ft above ground,or more if possible,and a 9521 rotor too.With the right stuff,up high,WAND will come right in.

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