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Old 01-21-2012, 09:53 AM
 
1,329 posts, read 2,628,275 times
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Does anyone in the northern suburbs get CBS TV with an indoor antenna?

I decided to skip cable/satellite TV for my apartment, since I don't watch much, and already pay enough for internet. But I am surprised I don't get CBS in Buffalo Grove.

Can I do something with my existing setup or is there an indoor antenna able to receive CBS TV...?

Trying to avoid sitting in a bar for 2-3 hours to watch the NFL playoffs game.
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Old 01-21-2012, 11:17 AM
 
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I'm just West of the city, but CBS is the hardest to get here as well.

This is the antenna we use

http://www.amazon.com/Terk-Amplified...7169796&sr=1-4

You just have to adjust it quite a bit at first to find the right position, and never touch it/move it once you get reception.
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Old 01-21-2012, 04:25 PM
 
185 posts, read 594,708 times
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One thing to watch out for: Around the time they were converting to digital, there were a lot of hucksters peddling UHF antennas as "HD antennas." (There is really no such thing as an HD antenna, it's a marketing term.) WBBM-TV (channel 2) in Chicago is on a VHF frequency (physical channel 12). If someone sold you a cheap (or overpriced) "HD antenna" it may not have a VHF section.

Check antennaweb.org for antenna suggestions:
AntennaWeb
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Old 01-22-2012, 10:10 AM
 
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Thank you for the recommendations. Apparently I need a small multi-directional antenna, which I thought is what I have. I'm going to see what I can do in the short remaining hours before the game... But if I can't get the signal, then it's off to Chili's probably. I appreciate the links.
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Old 01-22-2012, 02:13 PM
 
185 posts, read 594,708 times
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I just had one thought -- and this is a longshot.

Instead of tuning to channel 2.1, tune to channel 12.1 and see if that helps. Then if you are adjusting your antenna, leave your TV tuned into 12.1 and see if anything pops up on the screen.

The reason this might (but probably won't) help: Virtual channel 2.1 actually transmits on physical channel 12.1. If when you did the "scan" to set up your tuner if it couldn't receive a signal on physical channel 12, it wasn't able to determine that virtual channel 2 maps to channel 12, so it doesn't know where to tune when you request channel 2.1.

Try it, see if it helps.
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Old 11-22-2012, 10:17 AM
 
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I have the same problem in NW Burb Wheeling. I haven't seen CBS for years and I am always let down by missing sports. I am shocked a large network hasn't figured out how everyone can view their channel. CBS you get two thumbs down for availability, and two big toe thumbs down for business smarts.
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Old 11-22-2012, 10:34 AM
 
Location: Where the heart is...
4,927 posts, read 5,312,007 times
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Default It seems it has always been this way...

Quote:
Originally Posted by nico7 View Post
Does anyone in the northern suburbs get CBS TV with an indoor antenna?

I decided to skip cable/satellite TV for my apartment, since I don't watch much, and already pay enough for internet. But I am surprised I don't get CBS in Buffalo Grove.

Can I do something with my existing setup or is there an indoor antenna able to receive CBS TV...?

Trying to avoid sitting in a bar for 2-3 hours to watch the NFL playoffs game.
I remember this has always been the case with CBS channel 2 in Chicago. I have cable so it isn't any longer a problem for us.

More, newer questions about CBS 2 Chicago Reception

Hi all.

I noticed a bunch of old threads here about bad reception on CBS 2 Chicago. For as long as I can remember, even back in the old days of NTSC regular analog, CBS 2 has always been a basket case. Snowy back then, and now I just can't get it on my HD Hauppauge 2250 card. It is now broadcasting on 12.1 STILL VHF. They just don't get it.

More, newer questions about CBS 2 Chicago Reception - High Def Forum - Your High Definition Community & High Definition Resource

Google search...CBS channel 2 reception in chicago, il

cbs channel 2 reception in chicago, il - Google Search
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Old 11-22-2012, 10:58 AM
 
28,455 posts, read 85,346,203 times
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I had the installers from TheLittleGuys.com put one of these in my attic and it works really well -- Winegard HD8200U VHF UHF TV Antenna
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Old 11-25-2012, 02:45 PM
 
13,005 posts, read 18,899,548 times
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Subscribe to cable now but channel two was always the worst for over the air reception. Part of it is "co-channel QRM.". Channel two has the greatest range, meaning any other station on that channel can overlap reception. I remember one year the bad reception was found to come from a channel two station in California

Last edited by pvande55; 11-25-2012 at 02:47 PM.. Reason: Corrected location
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Old 11-26-2012, 07:08 PM
 
1,520 posts, read 1,873,223 times
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Channel 2 has always sucked for reception off the air. Even when they were analog they sucked. Good to see they are keeping the sucky off the air tradition alive in the digital world. I have an easier time getting UHF stations than channel 2 with an antenna.
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