NTSC
Ch
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DTV
Ch
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Call
Letters
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HD
y/n/?
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Comments
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3
49
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48
13
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WCIA/WCFN
WCFN/WCIA
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y
y
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Champaign,
IL-WCIA-DT was the
last of the central Illinois stations to broadcast
with a full power digital signal on March 23, 2007. WCIA-DT,
3.1 is the digital/high definition signal for WCIA. Audio-5.1:
The 5.1 audio is on, no matter what the program material
is. This gives you an echo on
non-5.1 material. The program guide on both 3.1 and 3.2 is
operational. A 16:9 video signal is High-Def, otherwise
it's upconverted 4:3.
WCIA-DT, 3.2 is WCFN in a standard definition
quality.
WCIA-DT is on channel 48 and broadcasts from a side mounted antenna
about 2/3rds up the tower at 241 meters, at 1000 kw. The
transmitter site is near Seymour, Illinois west of Champaign along
Illinois Rt. 10. This would give WCIA-DT a coverage area
somewhat less than it's analog signal.
Springfield, IL- WCFN is now on VHF Channel 13. It's channel is
designated 49.1(WCFN) and 49.2(WCIA) and is broadcasting from it's
tower near Rochester, Illinois.
TECHNICAL INFO: WCIA-DT,
ERP: 1000kW, HAAT: 245 m, Latitude(DDMMSS): 400621, Longitude: 882700, Coverage Area: 23439 sq km, Population:
761,000
TECHNICAL INFO: WCFN-DT(Channel 13)-ERP: 5.08kW, HAAT: 183 m,
Latitude(DDMMSS): 394727, Longitute: 893053, Coverage Area: 19180 sq
km, Population: 552,000
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12
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9
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WILL
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y
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Urbana,
IL-WILL- WILL-DT
went on the air in
September 2005 with the shut off of WILL-TV on the last day of March,
2009. During the transition, the main channel
12.1 was a
High Definition video signal separate from the standard WILL
signal. Also in 5.1 audio. Channel 12.2 was an upconverted
simulcast of it's analog signal. WILL-DT is broadcasting at
full power and of
excellent quality. Program guide available. (12.1) High Def
PBS, (12.2) WILL Analog channel, (12.-3) WILL-TV offers
instructional craft television. After the transition, 12.1 has
taken over the roll of the main channel offering a few shows in Hi-Def,
while 12.2 offers news background programming, public affairs and
documentaries. 12.3 remains instructional programming.
WILL-DT is on channel 9 and broadcasts from an antenna at 301 meters,
at 30 kw. The transmitter site is north of the Allerton Park area
along I-72 west of Monticello, Illinois.
The decision to remain on a VHF channel could cause some reception
problems for them, as
they will be the only station in east central Illinois broadcasting on
VHF(The other station being WCFN-DT in Springfield).
This will require those in the fringe areas, with what will eventually
be the predominant UHF antenna to purchase an upper band VHF antenna to
receive all channels in the market.
TECHNICAL INFO: WILL-DT,
ERP: 30kW, HAAT: 302 m, Latitude(DDMMSS): 400218, Longitude: 884010,
Coverage Area: 30142 sq km, Population: 1, 063,000
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5
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41
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WICD
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y
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Champaign,
IL-WICD is at full power and offering ABC in Hi-Def.
Non-HD programming is broadcast with upconverted video regular 4:3
aspect ratio. If
you receive a 16:9 aspect picture it will be HDTV. Also 5.1 Audio
on program material which is 5.1, otherwise it's 2 channel stereo or
mono. Program guide available and working. The station
switches between
regular 2 channel stereo and 5.1 multichannel audio when program
material determines which is appropiate.
WICD-DT is on channel 41 and broadcasts from an antenna side mounted on
the tower at 378 meters, at 950 kw. The transmitter site is
between Homer and Fithian, Illinois south of I-74. The
coverage area of WICD-DT is considerably larger than it's analog
coverage
area, and is one of the largest in the market.
TECHNICAL INFO: WICD-DT,
ERP: 950 kW, HAAT: 375 m, Latitude(DDMMSS): 400411, Longitude: 875445,
Coverage Area: 28692 sq km, Population: 921,000
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17
31
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18
31
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WAND
W-31-BX-DT
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y
y
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Decatur,
IL- WAND-DT was the first to bring
HDTV to central Illinois. Regular video will be seen
at regular 4:3 aspect radio. NBC HDTV will be at 16:9
aspect.
Full power at max
height Also broadcasts a second video channel (17-2) with local
weather
info. Program guide available and working. The
station switches between regular 2 channel stereo and 5.1 multichannel
audio when program material determines which is appropiate.
WAND-DT is on channel 18 and broadcasts from a side mounted antenna
just below the top analog antenna mast at 371 meters, at 350 kw.
The transmiter site is located near Argenta-Oreana, Illinois and is the
northern most tower on the west side of I-72. The one to the
immediate south is WBUI. The former WBUI tower is located a few
miles west-northwest of their current site.
W-31-BX-DT is now at channel 31 and rebroadcasts a digital
signal at 3000 watts from atop Breeze Tower in downtown Danville.
It completely rebroadcasts WAND(DT), 17.1 and 17.2 within a radius of
15-20 miles from downtown Danville.
TECHNICAL INFO: WAND-DT,
350 kW, 375 m, Latitude(DDMMSS): 395707, Longitude: 884955, Area: 25571
sq km, Population 913,000
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18
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11
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WLFI
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y
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Lafayette,
IN-WLFI-DT is
broadcasting on VHF channel 11. Regular video seen at 4:3
aspect ratio, HDTV is seen at 16:9 aspect ratio. Also
broadcasts a second video channel (18-2) with local weather radar
info. Program
guide available.
WLFI-DT is on channel 11 and broadcasts at 205 meters, at 30 kw.
The transmitter site is located near Rossville, Indiana. It's
coverage area is larger than it's analog coverage area.
TECHNICAL INFO: WLFI-DT,
ERP: 30 kW, HAAT: 214 m, Latitude(DDMMSS): 402320, Longitude: 863646,
Area: 26854 sq km, Population: 2,022,000(high population because of
coverage area over part of Indianapolis).
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20
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42
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WICS
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y
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Springfield,
IL-WICS is at full power and offering ABC in Hi-Def.
Non-HD programming is broadcast with upconverted video regular 4:3
aspect ratio. If
you receive a 16:9 aspect picture it will be HDTV. Audio is
5.1. Program guide available.
WICS-DT is on channel 42 and broadcasts at 398 meters, at 950 kw.
The transmitter site is located near Mechanicsburg, Illinois a few
miles south of I-72 east of Springfield. It is the western most
tall tower in the area. The one to the east is that of
WRSP. The other shorter towers are that of WCFN and WUIS(FM).
TECHNICAL INFO: WICS-DT,
ERP: 950 kW, HAAT: 402 m, Latitude(DDMMSS): 394815, Longitude: 892740,
Area: 29924 sq km, Population: 963,000
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23
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22
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WBUI
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y
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Decatur,
IL-Broadcasts a digital signal full time. Regular video will be
seen at 4:3 aspect ratio. CW's hi def is at 16:9 aspect ratio.
Full
power at max hieight. Program guide available. 23.1
is a digital up-converted and high definition video signal. Audio is at 5.1
constantly which gives an echo effect on 2 channel stereo or mono.
23.2 broadcasts programming from THIS Tv
network. Programming consists of off network TV shows(most
vintage), and movies of the last 40 years. It's commercial
supported. It's shown in standard def.
WBUI-DT is on channel 22 and
broadcasts from an antenna at the mast at 401 meters,
at 253 kw. The transmiter site is located near Argenta-Oreana,
Illinois and is the southern most tower on the west side of I-72.
The
one to the immediate north is WAND. The former WBUI tower is
located a
few miles west-northwest of their current site.
TECHNICAL INFO: WBUI-DT,
ERP: 253 kW, HAAT: 401 m, Latitude(DDMMSS): 395656, Longitude: 885012,
Area: 25397 sq k, Population: 918,000
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27
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26
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WCCU
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y
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Urbana,
IL-WCCU is now at full power and offering FOX in
Hi-Def.
Non-HD programming is broadcast with upconverted video regular 4:3
aspect ratio. If
you receive a 16:9 aspect picture it will be HDTV.
27-2 is standard definition offering of regular programming.
WCCU-DT is on
channel 26 and broadcasts from a duel channel antenna at
the mast at 125 meters, at 507 kw. The transmitter site is
located a couple of miles east of Penfield, Illinois along U.S. 136 in
Vermilion County.
TECHNI|CAL INFO:
WCCU-DT, ERP: 507 kW, 138 m, Latitude(DDMMSS): 401846, Longitude:
875500, Area: 15153 sq km, Population: 385,000
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55
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44
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WRSP
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y
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Springfield,
IL-WRSP is now at full power and offering FOX in
Hi-Def.
Non-HD programming is broadcast with upconverted video regular 4:3
aspect ratio. If
you receive a 16:9 aspect picture it will be HDTV. Also 5.1 Audio
available. Program guide available.
55-2 is secondary language offering of regular programming.
WRSP-DT is on channel 44 and
broadcasts at 407 meters,
at 335 kw. The transmitter site is located near Mechanicsburg,
Illinois a few miles south of I-72 east of Springfield. It is the
eastern most tall tower in the area. The one to the west is that
of WICS. The other shorter towers are that of WCFN and WUIS(FM).
TECHNICAL INFO: WRSP-DT,
ERP: 335 kW, 416 m, Latitude(DDMMSS): 394757, Longitude: 892646, Area:
28977 sq km, Population: 881,000
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So far, there are no Central Illinois TV stations
broadcasting anything locally in Hi Def. All Hi- Def programming
is coming from their respective networks only.
Some
of the stations
broadcast a 5.1 audio signal, in spite of the lack of actual 5.1 audio
program sources. This will give anyone listenting with a 5.1
audio system an "echo" effect. This is simply a lazy way of
giving viewers 5.1 audio without actually doing the audio switching
from mono or 2-channel stereo to actual 5.1 audio. If you
experience this annoying audio situation, contact the local station and
tell them!
Some
stations omit the program guide from it's signal. Sometimes
it's intentional, sometimes because of equipment problems,
sometimes there is a
break somewhere in the data stream to get the information attached to
the station's signal. If you don't received a program guide, the
problem could either be at the station, or with your receiving
equipment, espcially if you receive your DTV siganls through a cable
system. Please report any problems you have to the station, then
if the station is not having problems, report it to your cable system.
Keep in mind, problems specific to digital broadcasting will continue
as stations are using a mixture of analog and digital equipment with
switching. One of the more obvious early problems was the use of
weather watch/warning equipment, and having incompatability problems
with having it work with hi-def broadcasts. Another common
problem is the synch problems of audio and video. Give it
time....stations will continue to make improvements over time with the
addition of digital control boards which will eliminate the
synchronization problem of switching between digital hi-def and
standard def analog sources.
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Stations in red are the
most dependable
to be received from anywhere in the Springfield, Decatur,
Champaign-Urbana, Danville market.
Digital TV Links:
How Digital
Television Works.
PBS Digital
TV: A Cringely Crash Course
FCC:
Digital Television
DTV, Digital Televsion from
the FCC
Digital TV
Could Bring Unpleasant Surprises
TV Fool
WHAT DIGITAL TV CONVERTER BOX WILL WORK
BEST FOR YOU....?????
CHECK THEM ALL OUT AT Digital To Analog TV
Converter Reviews, Ratings, and Comparisons
Read the latest on line
conversation about your local DTV stations at www.avsforum.com
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