When Global goes online, does anyone know if will it be 41-1?

And, as of 12:30pm, OMNI 1 and 2 are still online. Right now, it's upconverted SD, not pure HD content.
The signal is rock solid.

Just to get all the information for which I have out there, I have an e-mail from someone directly at CHCH-DT ane one from someone with working knowledge of what is going on at CHCH-DT. First, an exert from what was told to me.

[QUOTE]
The Transmitter is a ATSC 2.5kW UHF transmitter and the signal pattern will follow the the same contour as our Analog service.
[/Quote]

Now the e-mail sent from the person with working knowledge (which I just recieved a few hours ago).

[QUOTE]
The actual ERP of a broadcast signal is a function of transmitter power, antenna gain and system losses. I have no reason to expect that anyone has altered the specifications for equipment that were recommended last year. Based on the recommended specifications, an ERP of 30 kW on channel 18 is reasonable. Our RF consultant predicted that with an ERP of 30kW and the antenna type specified, the pattern will be similar to CHCH-TV-0's existing analog "A" contour. The pattern should be generaly omni directional with normal allowances for terrain. It is predicted that there will be a slight flattening of the circular pattern to the SSW since the HD antenna can not be located at the top of the tower (as is the analog antenna) but rather it is hung just below top and off of the side of the tower.
[/Quote]

Maybe Daniel can provide more information, because one says ERP of 30kW, and the other just says 2.5kW UHF transmitter, so maybe there is a difference there?

Also, just to add two things, it does look like CHCH-DT is going to wait till a few days before the must be live, or the day of before they get the signal operational. That was confirmed in both e-mails I recieved.

Moreover, just to clerify the joint tower operation
[QUOTE]
Just to clarify one point in your note. The "tower" exists and has existed for many years and is owned by CanWest. CTS leases ground space and tower space from CanWest for their transmitter building, transmission line and antenna. "Real estate" on the tower for antennas has been pretty much used up. ( 3 TV stations, 1 FM radio, cell phone, microwave etc.) At least the prime space high up is used up. To avoid having to go to a less desirable location on the tower, CTS decided to replace their existing analog antenna with one capable of multi channel use that includes channels 36, 25 and 18. CHCH-TV will share use of this antenna for its HD CH 18. Unfortunately it's possible but not practical to include VHF (i.e channel 11) in a UHF antenna.
[/Quote]

The EIRP (or ERP) is a function of the transmitter, losses incurred by the feedline and phasing arrangement, and the gain of the antenna array. The types of feedline used by broadcasters are very low loss as are the phasing arrangements which are generally within the collective multi-bay antenna itself. If the collective antenna has a gain of 13dBi minus inherent losses of 2dB that is 11dB. If you pump in a signal of 2.5kW you end up with an EIRP of about 30kW. This sounds reasonable to me. You can net much higher gains if you design the antenna system to favour one area over others, but that isn't what they're describing. Side-mounting an antenna generally gives you what's called an offset pattern. Basically a circular patter offset with respect to the centre of the tower as viewed from overhead.

So for a station like cts- that has an erp of just 5kw- what amount of signal are they inputting- less than 1kw??

They are probably running a 1kW transmitter. Generally broadcasters will run two transmitters in tandem. These may be configured using a combiner to double the output power or could simply be a standby that switches over in the event of a failure. The former will route 1/2 of its remaining power into a resistive load and result in 1/4 power when one transmitter fails. This method is also used to make servicing the transmitter easier. Although many transmitters are solid state now usually comprised of power modules that are combined to give the required output power, there are plenty left that use vacuum tubes. Television generally uses separate transmitters for audio and video, but not always. If the broadcaster isn't on the air, it isn't making any money. :)

Huzzah!
rare occurrence, I'm getting CFTO-HD tonight at 32% indicated signal strength.
I hope it at least lasts through Steward and Colbert!

But the Rogers portable modem is only at 3 LEDs out of five.

Mother Nature can be a bitch!

Heh, or in the case of Global, they probably think they're wasting money by broadcasting a free OTA signal! ;)

Just watch: this'll be the next trick used by Canadian broadcasters -- probably Global will randomly start claiming equipment failures with their existing analog OTA transmitters, and do next to nothing to attempt to repair them, yet gladly continue supplying/leasing their signal to BDUs like Rogers, Star Choice, and Bell ExpressVu, in a sneaky attempt to add fodder to their whiny arguments that maintaining an OTA transmission plant is too expensive.

Makes me wonder... if a conventional OTA Canadian broadcaster 'quietly' just turned off their OTA transmitter(s), would the CRTC/Industry Canada even notice or care?
It's too bad TV has evolved its distribution ways from beyond the heyday of cable TV -- cable companies used to have to pickup signals from antennas like anyone else, but then broadcasters started providing direct links to cable headends via fibre, making their OTA transmitters a very limited part of a broadcaster's viewing audience.

mr.eous

Glad someone else said it, you could be right not only do they want a captive audience but they want have us pay through the nose

It has to be the only reason for redicuously low power outputs compared to the average US station.

Monster makes a DVD

Anyone have issues with WNYO 49.1 reception? I see analog 49 fine (as well as all the other Buffalo area UHF HD and analog stations), but 49.1 has no picture. My Sony TV diagnostics is showing only 18 dB of SNR with no frame errors. The station callsign and show title with minutes remaining does display, but black screen for picture. Its been like this for a couple of weeks now. I used to get this channel solid in February and early March.

Yeah, mine too. Try 49-2 for raster.

I live in the east end of Toronto. I lost wnyo 49.1 six months ago. I believe thats when they may of changed the contour direction of there transmitter. I still get analog 49. I also lost wkbw 38.1 ABC two months ago, not sure what caused that. Prior to January i was getting a consistent 60 -70% signal on 38.1.

Pickering, ON
I have been wondering the same thing
-attic antenna/fixed direction/no rotor
-get all other Buffalo and Toronto channels solid

49.1 used to come in fine
(although if I recall was quite sensitive to antenna direction)

I don't remember when it stopped,... Atleast a few months ago
Tried rescanning a number of times since, no luck
Analog 49 comes in great, perhaps better than I recall
I would also be interested in finding out what happened
Does anyone know of any changes (direction/location/height/strength...)

Thanks,

Comes in fine here, as does WKBW. I'm in Mayville, NY