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Old 07-28-2012, 09:15 PM
 
Location: the Great Lakes states
801 posts, read 2,567,525 times
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A TV is probably in my shopping plans this week, because I am really thinking I don't want to miss the Olympics, but I am definitely not planning to get cable (well, unless there's no other choice.) On the south side of Champaign, can you get NBC (especially) and ABC, CBS, and Fox with an over-the-air simple inexpensive indoor antenna?
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Old 07-29-2012, 12:42 AM
 
Location: Not where you ever lived
11,535 posts, read 30,280,619 times
Reputation: 6426
First of all you would need an outside antenna that pulls at least 100 -150 miles. The problem with Illinois outside of Chicago is the towns are isolated and so are the TV stations. The broadcast stations I am aware of are in in Quincy, Peoria and Springfield. Peoria has 6 broadcast stations that cover most of Central Illinois to Springfield and as far East as Bloomington. Springfield and Champaign serve Champaign-Urbana; neither carries NBC.

Peoria, Quincy, Rock Island, Decatur and Carbondale carry NBC. Under these conditions your best and least expensive reception will be basic cable.
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Old 07-29-2012, 07:37 AM
 
Location: the Great Lakes states
801 posts, read 2,567,525 times
Reputation: 557
Thanks. Guess I'll see what Comcast can do...
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Old 07-30-2012, 06:16 AM
 
1,131 posts, read 2,027,766 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by linicx View Post
First of all you would need an outside antenna that pulls at least 100 -150 miles.
An affiliate of each of the 4 major networks has a transmitter within ~35 miles of Champaign.

Here are some links that give an idea of the coverage zones of each:

TV Fool

TV Fool

TV Fool

TV Fool
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Old 07-30-2012, 07:44 AM
 
Location: Alabama Gulf Coast
3 posts, read 11,241 times
Reputation: 15
Doug Quick, a local on air personality in Champaign, has a web site dedicated to broadcasting. Here is a link regarding broadcast signals which may be helpful:

Mod Cut: Not enough posts to link per TOS

Last edited by linicx; 07-30-2012 at 08:21 AM..
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Old 07-30-2012, 08:44 AM
 
Location: Not where you ever lived
11,535 posts, read 30,280,619 times
Reputation: 6426
Default There isn't any.

The OP specifically wants to watch NBC.

There is NO NBC in Champaign, Urbana, Bloomington or Springfield.

WAND Decatur, WEEK Peoria, Quincy, Quad Cities, and southern Illinois does.

How well an OTA antenna works depends upon the mounted height, whether or not the target station still broadcasts a non-digital OTA signal, plus how much interference there is between his residence and the NBC transmitter. There could be none or it could be significant.





Quote:
Originally Posted by madpaddy View Post
An affiliate of each of the 4 major networks has a transmitter within ~35 miles of Champaign.

Here are some links that give an idea of the coverage zones of each:

TV Fool

TV Fool

TV Fool

TV Fool
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Old 07-30-2012, 11:04 AM
 
1,131 posts, read 2,027,766 times
Reputation: 883
The WAND (NBC affiliate) transmitter is near Argenta IL, about 35 miles strait-line distance from the downtown center of Champaign. According to the first link I posted above, most of Champaign has a strong enough signal to get reception with a standard indoor antenna.

Of course any specific location can have local interference, and every receiver/antenna combination does not work the same so you never know until you try. The good news is that with the new digital format, even if you are only getting a marginal signal you should still get a good picture and audio. In the "old days" of analog you would have snow and static with a marginal signal.
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Old 07-30-2012, 11:11 AM
 
Location: home state of Myrtle Beach!
6,896 posts, read 22,537,926 times
Reputation: 4567
Quote:
Originally Posted by linicx View Post
The OP specifically wants to watch NBC.

There is NO NBC in Champaign, Urbana, Bloomington or Springfield.

WAND Decatur, WEEK Peoria, Quincy, Quad Cities, and southern Illinois does.

How well an OTA antenna works depends upon the mounted height, whether or not the target station still broadcasts a non-digital OTA signal, plus how much interference there is between his residence and the NBC transmitter. There could be none or it could be significant.
If there is a transmitter within 35 miles of Champaign he shouldn't have too much trouble getting NBC. We live 60 miles from our ABC affiliate and have no problem receiving the signal as long as the antenna is pointed in that direction.

OP all you can do is try and I'm assuming by now you already have.
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Old 07-30-2012, 11:18 AM
 
1,131 posts, read 2,027,766 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by myrc60 View Post
We live 60 miles from our ABC affiliate and have no problem receiving the signal as long as the antenna is pointed in that direction.

Glad you brought up the fact that antenna aim matters.
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Old 07-30-2012, 11:25 AM
 
Location: home state of Myrtle Beach!
6,896 posts, read 22,537,926 times
Reputation: 4567
Quote:
Originally Posted by madpaddy View Post
Glad you brought up the fact that antenna aim matters.
Yes, we tend to take cable for granted and forget that it does matter. We have found a suitable position where we get all available channels. Not standing straight up...down on its side facing the outside wall! lol
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