WHBF Engineering

WHBF Engineering Answers and tips for all your TV viewing questions about WHBF, KLJB and KGCW.

10/22/2025

We are aware of some static in the audio on MeTV. This is being received from the satellite like this and they are looking into it.

Thanks for watching, and as always, feel free to reach out with any questions.

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10/09/2025

A little long winded, but here is your Antenna PSA for the day, this is in no way an endorsement and is not sponsored by anyone.

My top personal antenna options to receive WHBF, and all local stations
For best reception, always mount as high as you can, rooftop or attic is always better than indoor.
There is no such thing as an HD, 4K, NextGen antenna. An antenna receives RF over the air, it doesn’t care if its NextGen or analog or HD.
There is also no such thing as a long range antenna that is going to receive signals from 600+ miles away, the curvature of the earth makes this physically impossible. There is a thing called refraction, when atmospheric conditions are just right, some RF signals can bounce between the surface and stratosphere and temporarily travel longer distances.

I personally have, and use the outdoor/attic antennas listed below at several locations.

Amazon.com: Channel Master Omni+ 50 - Omnidirectional Digital HDTV Antenna with 360 Degree Reception, Includes Mounting Bracket for Roof, Attic & RV Installations, Indoor/Outdoor (50 Mile Range) : Electronics

Amazon.com: 1byone Outdoor TV Antenna 360° Omni-Directional Reception Long 100+ Miles Range Enhance VHF&UHF 4K Ready HDTV Antenna with Added Stability for Outdoor/Attic/RV Use - 39ft RG6 Coax Cable

Amazon.com: Shakespeare 3019 SeaWatch Marine TV Antenna, 19" : Electronics

My best indoor recommendation is:

Amazon.com: Channel Master FLATenna - Indoor Digital HDTV Antenna, 12' Coaxial Cable, Superior Reception Range & Signal Reliability, Supports 4K Smart TVs, OTA Broadcast & NextGen TV, Easy Install : Electronics

I recommend using an amplifier with the Channel Masters for best performance. The 1byone and Shakespeare have built in amplifiers.

Amazon.com: THE CIMPLE CO Antenna Amplifier Kit, Digital TV Signal Booster with Coax, Adjustable Gain, 24 dB Distribution, NTSC, ATSC, FM, UHF, VHF, 1000 MHz, Includes RG6 Coaxial Cable, Indoor Use Only : Electronics

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10/07/2025

Updates are done, took 2 reboots instead of one, but all systems are up and running.

Thank you for your patience.

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It's me!!! Back to annoy you one more time.  We will be applying a security update to our main network switches tomorrow...
10/06/2025

It's me!!! Back to annoy you one more time. We will be applying a security update to our main network switches tomorrow, 10/7/25 at 1pm, which will require a reboot of our network. This will shutdown all signals for 12-15 minutes while it reboots and loads the update. We normally do reboots overnight, but due to the importance of this update and vendor support being available overnight, we will need to perform this during business hours.

Thank you for understanding.

Attention Viewers: On Tuesday, October 7th this station will be making some crucial network updates to our equipment. Once completed, the system will need to be rebooted and this will interrupt our transmission on all the channels of WHBF, KGCW and KLJB will be interrupted from approximately 1:00pm-1:15pm. We apologize in advance for this inconvenience.

Watch the Rock island Grand Prix without leaving your house and dealing with people. We have a live stream from our roof...
08/29/2025

Watch the Rock island Grand Prix without leaving your house and dealing with people. We have a live stream from our rooftop.

ROCK ISLAND TOWER Loading Player… BETTENDORF TOWER Loading Player… MUSCATINE Loading Player… LECLAIRE Loading Player… DOWNTOWN ROCK ISLAND Loading Player…

Just another day at the office.
08/12/2025

Just another day at the office.

MVF is going, corn dogs are fresh. Stop out and say hi, ask questions, check out a few antennas.
07/29/2025

MVF is going, corn dogs are fresh. Stop out and say hi, ask questions, check out a few antennas.

07/24/2025

It's almost MVF time. I will be there every morning until noon. Come talk about antennas, reception, or just say hi. The WHBF booth is right inside the main gate, just look for the 70ft mast and the Engineer eating fair food.

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07/16/2025

If you were watching NCIS Sidney and it went to black at about 913pm, this was due to an issue at CBS with their satellite feed, it has been resolved as of 935pm.

Thanks for watching.

07/11/2025

I will be at the WHBF booth at the MVF every morning. Stop by and say hi, ask antenna and reception questions, bring me corndog, ok, maybe not. We will be right inside the main gate.

07/01/2025

Happy 75th Anniversary, WHBF-TV!
Join us in celebrating a truly remarkable milestone! Today, we honor 75 years of WHBF-TV serving the Quad Cities community.
For three-quarters of a century, WHBF-TV has been more than just a television station; it has been a trusted companion, a window to our world, and a steadfast source of local news, information, and entertainment.
From groundbreaking news coverage and in-depth investigations to heartwarming community stories and classic programming, WHBF-TV has been there for every major moment in our shared history. Your commitment to journalistic excellence, local storytelling, and connecting with the people you serve is an inspiration.
Congratulations on 75 years of dedicated service, memorable moments, and a legacy that continues to shape our community. Here's to many more years of success and to the bright future of local broadcasting!
Happy Anniversary, WHBF-TV!

Local 4 News WHBF TV

06/05/2025

If you use an outdoor antenna, remember to check them over after storms and high winds, and of course, stay tuned to Local 4 News WHBF TV for any and all weather coverage.

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231 18th Street
Rock Island, IL
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