ABC 7 Chicago Reception

I have been receiving all of the local channels through a digital converter box, ever since the conversion. I suddenly got “no signal” for one of the major stations, ABC 7 Chicago. It has been a few days now, with no change. I never before had any problem with reception of channel 7. Strangely enough, I still receive 7 in another room where there is a digital tv.



What could be wrong, and what should I do?

Can you give us some details of your setup?

Indoor or outdoor antenna? What kind? Any preamp? How long is the coax cable from the antenna to the TV?
Also can you give us a TV Fool report? Copy and paste the link you get with the report. It strips your address data for privacy.

Please see this thread for more details:

How to ask for DTV Reception Help

Thanks!

WLS actually has four different transmitter setups on two different channels. If they've flipped from one to another for some reason, that could be causing your reception issue. You may need to rescan or reposition your antenna.

- Trip

maybe need to use google maps and locate the nearest transmitter and point the antenna to there if is many echoes from differents transmitters have to think which echo is the signal that are you getting for the antenna pointing.

in my case had to try 4 differents locations to receive a channel that is transmitting at 1.5KW already and we use the japanesse standard but is like the same, is challenging when the setup does not work or get the channel properly.


best regards
Francisco

Last I remembered, they were still transmitting on the John Hancock while work was done on the Sears Tower. WLS-TV already had a backup on the John Hancock for RF 7 during the analog days, & had to get paperwork to have that converted to digital, & use that. There was an existing antenna for when WSNS was on the John Hancock, & WLS-TV also used that for RF 44 (again, paperwork needed for an STA to use that site). While transmitting from the John Hancock, they took down their VHF & UHF antennas on the Sears Tower (I still call it that), & a new UHF antenna made for RF 44 has been installed. I forgot what other work still needs to be done, but the antenna part is done. I don't know if any testing is being done on RF 44 from the Sears Tower or not. I just know that I had problems when they were on RF 52 & RF 44 from the Sears Tower. When they moved RF 44 to the John Hancock, it actually improved. RF 7 was never a problem for me. I also have an outdoor antenna, which helps a lot for VHF. Once the work is complete, they vacate RF 7 and be on RF 44 exclusively from the Sears Tower. I however don't see RF 7 being removed from the channel allocations for Chicago.

Two weeks ago, I was trading emails with the chief engineer at WLS-DT on which DTV channel would one-day be retained. On an MATV bid, I was hoping to get all the DTV to work with one commercial UHF antenna and a Ch 12 yagi, eliminating installation of the Ch 7 yagi. As a side note at that time, he said that work is being done to have CP UHF in place before mid-summer. During this time, DTV Ch 7 will be operating at lower power on various days. I have not found the power reduction to be significant, perhaps -3dB to about -4dB from full power measure. Of course, if you are operating on the edge, this may be enough to disrupt reception.

Also, I am often reminded that Sears Tower is now named Willis Tower. So when he said that work was being done at Willis Tower, I asked where is Willis Tower?

WLS-TV on RF 7 was operating at 4.75kw in order to protect WOOD-TV & WMKE-CA (both on RF 7). That was when they were on the Sears Tower. On the John Hancock, they're operating RF 7 at 7kw at 410m., but the signal is directional with nulls toward Grand Rapids & Milwaukee. On RF 44, they're 1000kw at 437m. directional with the null mainly toward Michigan. Once the Sears Tower facility is complete, they'll be 473.3kw non-directional at 515m (the height of the old VHF antenna for RF 7).

Originally Posted by dave73

Once the Sears Tower facility is complete, they'll be 473.3kw non-directional at 515m (the height of the old VHF antenna for RF 7).

Does anyone know when the Sears/Willis Tower facility will be complete? I live in Elmhurst, IL (18 miles W/WNW) and have had no problems with the channels for 2 years until ABC Channel 7 WLS-TV dropped into "poor" signal quality about mid-April(same as OP). In the last week, Channel 50 has also dropped into a "poor" signal quality. The large antenna and cable were put in new 2 years ago on my house and other channels are still showing a high level of signal quality. I also have taller houses East of me that have been there since installation.

If I just need to wait until their Sears/Willis Tower facility is finished before watching channel 7 clearly, it would be nice to know approx. how long the wait will be. Thanks (from a newbie to this forum)

(Found by reading before posting) - Thanks SteveZ. It looks like I'll be waiting until mid-summer 2011. I've bookmarked this and will post again when an improvement is noticed.

I live in Palatine and this has been driving us nuts. I found this thread by googling around for an answer. We get our HD signal over-the-air from rooftop antenna, piped into a Tivo. A couple months ago it seemed that ABC 7 started having reception problems intermittently, and it has gotten worse and worse. I've tried both WLSSTA and WLS-DTV. Most times, WLS-DT does not even come in. Sometimes, WLSSTA is crap, and WLS-DTV is crystal. Most times WLSSTA is unwatchable due to all the reception artifacts that are visible. All other local channels (2,5,9,11,32) are always crystal clear for us. If I understand this thread correctly (I'm no electronics wiz), it sounds like the problem has been due to a transition from one tower to another, and that once that is complete later this summer, I should expect a crystal signal again? Fingers crossed? I'd appreciate any explanation/help in layman's terms, thanks!

If you're getting ABC 7 from RF 7, then there's a chance you're getting interference from WOOD-TV from Grand Rapids (WMKE-CA Milwaukee is still analog on RF 7). If from RF 44, I'm not sure. I know for some people, getting the signal from the john Hancock has made it difficult for some peoiple, while for me, moving RF 44 to the John Hancock improved, while from the Sears Tower with the old antenna they used for RF 52, reception was weak. I'm waiting to see how things are on RF 44 once they move back to the Sears Tower. I already have my mom's converter box set for RF 44, so she won't have to rescan her box when they vacate RF 7.

Originally Posted by dave73

If you're getting ABC 7 from RF 7, then there's a chance you're getting interference from WOOD-TV from Grand Rapids (WMKE-CA Milwaukee is still analog on RF 7). If from RF 44, I'm not sure. I know for some people, getting the signal from the john Hancock has made it difficult for some peoiple, while for me, moving RF 44 to the John Hancock improved, while from the Sears Tower with the old antenna they used for RF 52, reception was weak. I'm waiting to see how things are on RF 44 once they move back to the Sears Tower. I already have my mom's converter box set for RF 44, so she won't have to rescan her box when they vacate RF 7.

WLS-DTV is RF 7, and it seldom even comes in at all, so we mostly use WLSSTA, which is RF 44. We get a signal, but it is unwatchable more often than not lately. It'll be ok for a few seconds, then the screen fills with digital artifacts for a while, then the cycle repeats.

I spoke with an engineer a few months ago too as my ch 7 was dropping. It was ok- bt began dropping like crazy these past few days. I have a rooftop antenna and check the other stations- just fine. Anyone else starting to get weak signals this week?

Originally Posted by SteveZ

Two weeks ago, I was trading emails with the chief engineer at WLS-DT on which DTV channel would one-day be retained. On an MATV bid, I was hoping to get all the DTV to work with one commercial UHF antenna and a Ch 12 yagi, eliminating installation of the Ch 7 yagi. As a side note at that time, he said that work is being done to have CP UHF in place before mid-summer. During this time, DTV Ch 7 will be operating at lower power on various days. I have not found the power reduction to be significant, perhaps -3dB to about -4dB from full power measure. Of course, if you are operating on the edge, this may be enough to disrupt reception.

Also, I am often reminded that Sears Tower is now named Willis Tower. So when he said that work was being done at Willis Tower, I asked where is Willis Tower?

I have had "no signal" now for a few days for channel 7. This is really frustrating. I live in a condo and do not have an antenna. Don't know what to do. I just hope that this gets fixed before the fall shows start.

As of March 18, 2013, ABC 7 Chicago made a change to their digital broadcast signal. What this means is that "Channel 7" is no longer "Channel 7" on your set top box. Go into the menu options on your converter box and choose the option to rescan/program channels. This will probably take 5 minutes or so. When done, you should be able to see Channel 7 again.

ABC7 Chicago has ended its VHF DTV frequency: Rescan for best reception of high power UHF frequency | abc7chicago.com