I need help in trying to tune in the VHF-Low station (Physical channel 4.1) WOCK-CD from Chicago.
Here is the Signal Analysis report
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...1ddae8e21cb99e
I am using a very large Philips 7700 long-range VHF/UHF 51 element antenna
http://www.p4c.philips.com/cgi-bin/c...scy=US&slg=AEN
located in the attic.
Note I have verified correct aim, and I am fortunate that all the Chicago stations I wish to receive are within a 2 degree range 73,74,& 75 degrees from the impressive height of the Hancock, Trump, AON Center, and Wilis(Sears) towers respectively in Chicago. Even at almost 42 miles out, I am pulling in the UHF stations WCHU-LD, W25DW-D which have lower NM than WOCK-CD. WOCK-CD comes from the Hancock and I've verified with its current radiation pattern, that it's putting out 0.18 kW towards my direction. I know they have a CP to increase the power to 1 kW, which would put 0.61 kW in my direction. I use channel 6 WKQX-LP (analog) to test my VHF low reception, which broadcasts also from the same tower (John Hancock center). I optimized the picture on channel 6 to give the least amount of
noise (it's still a bit "snowy", but stable and in color) It was interesting turning off the Wi-fi in the room below reduced the noise by a good bit, turning off any other equipment including CFL lights didn't make any difference to the channel 6 analog signal. I tried with and without pre-amp to no avail. There is an FM station 88.7 FM, 2 miles away with -27.9 dBm of signal, but at 223 degres it not directly 180 deg opposite the Chicago stations (255 deg would be in line with the back of my antenna). My pre-amp has an FM-trap, would enabling that help?
WOCK-CD is the affiliate for MundoFOX which I understand has a 720p picture on 4.1 (13.1 virtual), and Mega TV. My wife speaks Spanish, and I would like to see WeatherNation on 4.4 (13.4).
Anyway am I wasting my time to get a VHF low station with 160 watts in my direction (42 miles away) or should I wait until they bump it up to 1 kW (i.e 610 watts in my direction)? Also is there a way to find out from the FCC website when the station has begun to use their CP license?
Putting this large antenna outside is not an option for now.
Thanks,
Brian (saving $63/mo since dropping Dish Network)
Some interesting facts I dug up relevant to Chicago OTA viewers:
- WPVN-CD 24.1 (Phys 20) broadcasts from Trump Tower (Chicago's newest large high-rise)
W25DW 25.1 (Phys 25) broadcast from the AON building (Note: TVFool mistakenly reports it as Physical Channel 22)
WLS 7.1 (Phys 7) just went off the air (as of yesterday) Digitial 7.1 is now just received on Physical channel 44.
- Fox 32 will add Fox Movies this Spring on virtual channel 32.2 (Phys 31.4)
- CBS has launched CBS Plus in the other large markets, will they do it here??... who knows.
Also some facts for viewers living near me (60538):
- Local digital Channel 40.1 W40CN-D (Waubonsee College) will prevent 40.1 Chicago (Estralla) from being received.
- Local analog channel 30 (WSPY-LP) will prevent WDCI-LD 57.1 (Phys 30) from being received
- I can recieve 71 digital channels at my location counting the sub-channels that is. It's amazing what coverage a small class A station on top of a Chicago skyscraper can produce.
- Maybe WOCH-CD will be receivable when/if they boost their power 3X as per their CP.