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Reception/over air TV

H

howardm

We hav cable but have 1 tv on antennae. Some expert maybe can tell me why we get cutouts on 5, 7, & 9 while getting solid reception on 2, 11, and even the weaker UHF stations. We are North of transmitters maybe 30 or so miles from transmitters. And to think 7 has new antennae.
 
What kind of antenna is it? Indoor or outdoor? VHF-UHF or VHF-only? Preamp or no? In-line FM trap (sometimes those help reduce overloading from strong FM stations)?

WBBM is the only VHF channel in the Chicago metro that you can probably get from 30 miles away (WOCK-LD 13.x/RF 4 is too low powered). The others are all UHF.

Do you get any of the Milwaukee or Rockford channels? Maybe there's some interference there.
 
At 30 miles north, I believe you are suffering from airplanes takig off and landing from O Hare.
There quite a bit of FM radio flutter in the same area. All depends on where the transmitter is, you are, and airplanes.
 
Thanks for response on TV cutting out on channels 5, 7, and 9. Just tuned in to 13.1 and it was fine. At times I get weak station channel 62.1. UHF more reliable. Antennae on roof aimed correctly.
This is case where expert could come out and 1) it's working fine when he's here or 2) he proposes something radical to make money. So I appreciate advice. Since it's intermittent, would O'Hare & planes affect VHF rather than UHF?

Right now 5 is solid, hard to predict.
Thank you.
 
KeithE4 said:
What kind of antenna is it? Indoor or outdoor? VHF-UHF or VHF-only? Preamp or no? In-line FM trap (sometimes those help reduce overloading from strong FM stations)?

WBBM is the only VHF channel in the Chicago metro that you can probably get from 30 miles away (WOCK-LD 13.x/RF 4 is too low powered). The others are all UHF.

Do you get any of the Milwaukee or Rockford channels? Maybe there's some interference there.
Click to expand...

I can tell you I get WOCK-CD with my VHF only antenna, but need a pre-amp in order to get it about 30 miles SE of Chicago in Gary, IN. Otherwise, at 300 watts, WOCK-CD would not come in. If it were at 3kw watts, I would not need a pre-amp for this station, as I got WBBM-TV when they were on RF 3 at 2.8kw from the John Hancock (prior to June 12th, 2009).

To howardm: you might be getting some interference from planes flying over your area, or maybe some of the suburban FM stations that might be in your area (depending on where you're located). Depending on channel number, you could be getting co-channel interference from a neighboring market. I do know that WMTV & WGN-TV are both on RF 19, & they affect each other in McHenry County in peticular on the Illinois side, & Walworth, Kenosha, & Racine Counties on the Wisconsin side. WMAQ-TV on RF 29 might be getting adjacent channel interference from WTMJ-TV on RF 28 from Milwaukee. I have problems with WLS-TV since they went exclusively with RF 44. I know there's both adjacent channels WCPX on RF 43 & WSNS on RF 45 on the Sears Tower with them. My biggest problems have been with WCPX & WLS-TV interfering with each other. I never had problems with WCPX until WLS-TV signed on RF 44. I've had better luck with WLS-TV when they were on RF 7.
 
Interesting, my channel 7 went to cutouts after they put in new tower and changed transmitter.
Before digital, we got channel 4 in Milwaukee. We are in central Lake County.
Everything fine this AM.
Thanks for info.
By the way, how could it be my antennae or receiver if I get formerly weak 62 most of time?
Appreciate your help.
 
Regarding reception, glad we have cable on two outlets. I used signal strength meter on one of 2 tv's on antennae and 5, 7, & 9 both showed varying strength while 2 & 11 and even 50 showed strong signal strength. It would be wrong to blame tv or tuner in tv but antennae I don't know. 32 is always good and even channel 20. When I get 62 and 13 and 5, 7, & 9 cut out, it's beyond me.
I like the challenge, but would appreciate input. I don't think a signal booster is good for digital.
What puzzles me is the strength meter going up and down on the problem channels.
Ah, digital, my newer Sony digital a.v receiver which handles all my components, is no match for my old Scott, Marantz, and the previous Sony on FM reception, with an antennae on roof. Is this price of progress?
Input please & thanks.
 
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