Chicago Media Chat Message Forum

[ Chicago Media Chat Message Forum ]

Forum Agreement, Terms Of Service Disclaimer

Why is Channrl 5 "pixellating" lately?

Posted by ChiTownGal <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=ChiTownGal' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 14, 2024, 10:13 pm

Fir the past week or so, every time I tune in to Chamnel 5-WMAQ the picture starts pixellating or even going blank. Something 's going on with the transmitter?

Re: Why is Channrl 5 "pixellating" lately?

Posted by ilgrant <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=ilgrant' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 15, 2024, 12:19 pm, in reply to "Why is Channrl 5 "pixellating" lately?"

I haven't watched Ch 5 in awhile so not sure.

Inside or outside antenna?
Are you using a TV? Or is it a tuner connected to a PC?

Snow/ice can cause havoc to reception when on trees or antennas. (I had no signal on 48.3 - CBS WBBM TV on the evening of Jan 9th from the snow when usually there is no problem.)

Re: Why is Channrl 5 "pixellating" lately?

Posted by WYTZZ95FM <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=WYTZZ95FM' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 15, 2024, 12:23 pm, in reply to "Re: Why is Channrl 5 "pixellating" lately?"

ilgrant is correct about snow & Ice. Anything that might have gone up between you and the antenna (buildings, trees, etc) can cause this too.

At the worst case, the antenna is failing or your coax is faulty.

Z

Re: Why is Channrl 5 "pixellating" lately?

Posted by John from Wisconsin <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=John+from+Wisconsin' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 15, 2024, 1:54 pm, in reply to "Re: Why is Channrl 5 "pixellating" lately?"

Not in Chicago.
Can SEE the "49 WMLW" Racine tower where I am....and still cannot at times, get the station!

To wit, TV stations coverage areas really, really crapped out, when the FCC went from analog to digital.

My cousin lives IN Milwaukee, cannot see WTMJ-TV Milwaukee.

Up north, WLUC-TV Marquette doesn't cover all of Marquette.

Pathetic!

Good luck!
Still using rabbit ears. Don't watch much TV.

Re: Why is Channrl 5 "pixellating" lately?

Posted by ilgrant <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=ilgrant' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 15, 2024, 2:06 pm, in reply to "Re: Why is Channrl 5 "pixellating" lately?"

Like 'literally' see it? How good is the signal? If you're too close then that is a problem as well because the signal is too strong.

I live in a slight valley so I lose CBS Ch 2 on their main frequency. My Mom lives 1/2 block and is higher and has no problem.

Even people who live in Chicago can't receive some stations. Buildings can be great deflectors of TV and radio signals.

Re: Why is Channrl 5 "pixellating" lately?

Posted by Jeremy Andrews <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=Jeremy+Andrews' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 15, 2024, 2:37 pm, in reply to "Re: Why is Channrl 5 "pixellating" lately?"

Any type of DX will cause problems with TV. The repack made it worse. There are TV stations in Michigan, surrounding areas that would probably be viewable in analog during a DX opening that are on the same frequency or first adjacent. Just a small amount of DX will wipe out a TV signal.

Channel 5 is on RF 29. WSBT-TV in South Bend is also on RF 29. I used to be able to constantly DX WSBT-TV back in the day.

The lake is still warm. You were probably getting WSBT's signal interfering with Channel 5

Re: Why is Channrl 5 "pixellating" lately?

Posted by PhilJSmith <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=PhilJSmith' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 15, 2024, 10:29 pm, in reply to "Re: Why is Channrl 5 "pixellating" lately?"

WMAQ moved from RF 29 to 33 with the last repack. Here are all the RF 33’s in the US and Canada for which you can zoom in to see what’s near Chicago. Note that over the past week in the Midwest, tropo DX has been mostly absent. I would lean toward the other causes cited here (ice, snow) or perhaps neighbors running electric space heaters since many of these come with fancy electronics now, even WiFi.

FWIW we recently got a Bartesian machine that, anytime plugged in, spews so much RFI it literally knocks out all VHF-High TV reception (including 2-meter Amateur and NOAA WeatherRadio) in our entire house. I’m talking 40 feet away from an antenna aimed the opposite way. I confirmed it’s not just the crappy power supply, it’s the unit itself. If your neighbor has one of these, you’ll just have to move or convince them to become teetotalers.

« Back to index

885

[ Chicago Media Chat Message Forum ]

Copyright © 2007 - 2025 ChicagoMediaChat.Com - All rights reserved.