Chicago Digital TV
Where we are:
The Trouble with VHF-Low...
Chicago is one of the only major markets in the country that has a Major Network Affiliate (WBBM, CBS Analog Channel 2) broadcasting their DTV signal on VHF-Low (Channel 3).
This creates some significant challenges to consistent and reliable reception of CBS with an antenna in the majority of the Chicagoland market.
VHF-Low is susceptible to electrical impulse noise (Noise lines that you see on an analog channel when someone uses an appliance with an electric motor nearby, like a hairdryer or vacuum cleaner) and multipath interference (Ghosting on an analog channel). An aircraft on approach to O'Hare for instance, may create enough multipath interference on VHF-Low to disrupt the digital TV signal to the point of breakups and/or a complete dropout of the picture. Electrical impulse noise can also cause breakups and/or a complete dropout of a DTV signal broadcast on VHF-Low.
Reports from Chicagoland viewers posting in the Chicago, IL OTA thread on avsforum.com indicate that a large outdoor antenna, mounted high enough to avoid trees and other obstructions, is needed to reliably receive WBBM-DT outside of approximately a 20 mile radius of the WBBM broadcast antenna. An indoor "Rabbit Ears" style antenna needs to be approximately 83" in length for Channel 3, if you're close enough to even consider an indoor antenna.
What's the good news?
WBBM is the only major Chicago TV station broadcasting their DTV signal on VHF-Low and they will be moving their DTV broadcast to Channel 12 on February 17th, 2009. They have also applied to the FCC to raise their transmit power to 8 kW at that time.
All of the other major broadcasters in the Chicago DMA broadcast their DTV signals on the UHF band which does not suffer from the same signal issues as VHF-Low.
Current Channel Assignments & Transmission Power Levels:
| CALLSIGN | ANALOG CHANNEL | DIGITAL CHANNEL | ANALOG XMIT (kW) | DIGITAL XMIT (kW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
WBBM |
2 |
3 |
26.4 |
4.4 |
WMAQ |
5 |
29 |
20.0 |
350.0 |
WLS |
7 |
52 |
55.0 |
153.6 |
WGN |
9 |
19 |
110.0 |
645.0 |
WTTW |
11 |
47 |
60.3 |
300.0 |
WYCC |
20 |
21 |
2340.0 |
98.9 |
WCIU |
26 |
27 |
5000.0 |
160.0 |
WFLD |
32 |
31 |
5000.0 |
690.0 |
WCPX |
38 |
43 |
3630.0 |
200.0 |
WSNS |
44 |
45 |
5000.0 |
467.0 |
WMEU-CA |
48 |
27 (26.3 Virtual Ch.) |
20.0 |
160.0 |
WPWR |
50 |
51 |
5000.0 |
1000.0 |
WXFT |
60 |
59 |
5000.0 |
200.0 |
WJYS |
62 |
36 |
5000.0 |
50.0 |
WGBO |
66 |
53 |
5000.0 |
180.0 |
What's in store, post-transition:
As noted earlier, WBBM-DT will be moving to Channel 12 and broadcasting at 8 kW. WLS-DT, currently broadcasting on Channel 52, plans to move their digital signal back to Channel 7 and has filed a construction permit with the FCC to broadcast at 4.75 kW
WMEU-CA is planning to move to Channel 46 and become WMEU-LD broadcasting at 15 kW, prior to the required transition date for full-powered stations. There is no word yet on if WMEU will continue to be available as a sub-channel (26.3) of WCIU-DT.