Through June 12, 2009 WBBM-TV is broadcasting television signals using channel 2 (54-60 MHz) for analog (NTSC) service and channel 3 (60-66 MHz) for (ATSC) digital service. But of much more importance, according to FCC filings WBBM-TV is expected to begin post-transition digital TV broadcasting on channel 12 (204-210 MHz) as early as June 13, 2009. WBBM-TV will continue using PSIP virtual channel 2 for their over-the-air digital service in order to preserve their CBS 2 branding in the local Chicago market.
In addition to several other factors, WBBM-TV’s post-transition operation should offer improved reception and signal quality for nearly all households within the WBBM-DT coverage area. This is largely the result of a new omnidirectional VHF antenna that will be operating at 8.00 kW ERP (Effective Radiated Power), which is just shy of double their existing ERP for DTV, and at a slightly higher antenna HAAT (Height Above Average Terrain) of 497 m. (WBBM-TV petitioned to use a directional antenna along with an increase in ERP to 13.6 kW. The FCC denied their petition due to a potentially significant increase in interference to a TV station serving a neighboring market on DTV channel 12.) All in all, with a good ATSC tuner and the proper antenna having good high-band VHF performance, you should experience a noticeable improvement in post-transition reception for WBBM-DT. If you would like more information please use the resources I’ve provided below starting with the AVS Forum thread titled “Chicago, IL - OTA.”
Before replacing your TV antenna(s) I recommend waiting roughly a week or so after the cessation of commercial full power analog terrestrial TV broadcasts on June 12th to see if you notice any improvement. If you are still having difficulty pulling in WBBM-DT reliably and consistently then please read through the antenna resources to which I’ve provided links below. When it comes to the topic of off-air TV antennas you will not find better sources of information than the “OTA FAQ & Knowledge Base” of the Canadian Over-the-Air (OTA) Television Forums on the Digital Home Website and Ken Nist’s HDTV Primer Website. By the way, be very careful when choosing off-air antennas: preamplifiers and amplified antennas are not the panacea one might expect, esp. within an electromagnetically ‘noisy’ Metropolitan service area.
######################## RESOURCES ########################
A/V Science (AVS) Forum
– Chicago, IL - OTA
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=815397&pp=60
“Hey Kids, Time For A Game Of Musical Chairs!”
http://www.hdtvexpert.com/pages_b/MusicalChairs.html
TVTechnology
– Low-Band VHF DTV Revisited
http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/11506
– Antennas for DTV Reception
http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/11584
– Solving VHF DTV Reception Problems
http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/79862
WBBM-DT
http://www.broadcastengineering.info/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=724&start=0&view=print
Wiki: WBBM-TV (Digital Television)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WBBM-TV#Digital_television
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
– TVQ TV Database Query for “WBBM”
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WBBM-TV
– [PDF] Coverage Maps for Chicago, IL Market Area
http://www.fcc.gov/dtv/markets/maps_report_0609/Chicago_IL.pdf
– [PDF] Digital Television Service Maps
http://www.fcc.gov/dtv/markets/DTV_Report_1.pdf
– DTV Reception Maps
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/engineering/maps/
– [PDF] MO&O on Reconsideration in DTV Table of Allotments Proceeding and Eighth R&O Finalizing Post-Transition DTV Allotments Published in Federal Register Today
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-08-631A1.pdf
– The Commission Adopts MO&O on Reconsideration in DTV Table of Allotments Proceeding and Eighth R&O Finalizing Post-Transition DTV Allotments
– [PDF] Memorandum Opinion and Order and Report and Order
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-72A1.pdf
– [PDF] Appendix B
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-72A2.pdf
DTV Spreadsheet for Full-Power U.S. Television Stations
http://www.rabbitears.info/ss/
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Contact Information for WBBM-TV, CBS 2 Chicago:
Telephone: 312-899-2222
Mailing Address: CBS, 22 W WASHINGTON ST, CHICAGO IL 60602-1606
E-mail Form: http://cbs2chicago.com/contact
################## ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ##################
[PDF] Solving TV Reception Problems
http://rapidshare.com/files/201366511/TVRECEPE_-_Solving_TV_Reception_Problems.pdf
As Analog Shutdown Nears, Antenna Reality Emerges
http://www.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&urlID=29040747&url=http://broadcastengineering.com/RF/analog-shutdown-nears-antenna-reality-emerges-0609/index.html&showBibliography=Y
[PDF] Thin Air: ATSC Reception Isn’t Always Easy
http://www.edn.com/contents/images/6656302.pdf
Brian Dipert’s “Thin-Air ATSC (And NTSC)” Articles
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&num=100&aq=f&lr=lang_en&as_occt=title&q=site:edn.com+%22Thin-Air+ATSC+(And+NTSC)%22
DTV Antenna Resources (periodically updated and revised as needed)
http://docs.google.com/View?id=dhpmqnbb_15f5t9j3gb
TV Fool Mapping Tools
Google Earth Coverage Maps and the Interactive TV Coverage Browser
http://www.tvfool.com
############## TV RECEPTION ANTENNA RESOURCES ##############
Digital Home Forum
– OTA FAQ & Knowledge Base (A must read!)
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=41102&pp=30
– Signal Amplifiers (Amps, Preamps, Distro Amps)
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=42426&pp=30
HDTV Primer
– Antenna Basics
http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/basics.html
– Common TV Antenna Types
http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/types.html
– Choosing an Antenna
http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/choosing.html
– How Big Should the Antenna Be?
http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/sizing.html
– Comparing Some Commercially Available Antennas
http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/comparing.html
– Choosing a Mounting Site
http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/siting.html
– It doesn’t work! Now what?
http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/fixes.html
– Erecting a TV Antenna (Main Page and Index)
http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ISSUES/erecting_antenna.html
A/V Science (AVS) Forum
– HDTV Technical
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=25
– The Official AVS Antenna Topic!
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=381623&pp=60