from what I can tell CTS is broadcasting at 35-2 HD with a 5000 kw signal

"A guy in Georgetown with a 2084 at roof level gets 13 HD channels (including subs). He aimed for CN TWR and got the strongest Buffalo too."

Man, that antenna must have a pretty crappy beamwidth. :)

Maybe if he points it at Buffalo he'll get the CN tower and pick up more HDTV channels?

Well, I figured out the problem. Ch 35 is too strong a signal. As I live in lower Stoney Creek, I am very close to the transmitter. I managed to get a lock on my DVR which is off of a splitter from the main antenna. This reduces the signal and I get ch 35-2 @ 97% no matter where I point my antenna.

Thanks for the report rfdude. Have you compared, or read about, any comparison of the 2084 to the ChannelMaster 4221 in actual use?

I believe I have an antenna direct on the roof. I am near the Broadview subway and can get all the Buffalo channels. The antenna is made in china and has four "bow tie" recei vers on it. It cost $40 and I got it at 300 Esna Park in north Toronto.

Try 300 Esna Park near Steeles and Woodbine. They sell a 4 "bow tie" UHF antenna that
picks up all Buffalo UHF channels and costs $40. It also picks up the locals, both VHF and UHF. All the HDTV channels are UHF. The store is at the back of the industrial mall.

Hi, when all U.S. channels start broadcasting digital OTA next year, are there going to be more channels we have access to? Or is it just wishful thinking on my part.

This might be of interest to some.

Solid signals throughout the storm today with the Winegard SquareShooter.

This is another general question. If this is the worng forum for it, let me know.

How do you guys calibrate your tvs? Where do you get test signals from?

Some of the newer DVD's that are THX have a section to set up the TV for best viewing. Try the newer Star Wars movies since George Lucas owns the THX technology.

Good News/Bad News

It had been a year since I last contacted both CHCH (aka E! ontario) and CKVR (A-Channel Barrie) about their ATSC signal, and I decided last night that I would fire off some e-mails and see what information I could find.

First the good news...

CHCH-DT is expected to be on air on time, of the 'must be live' date of April 21st. Currently, CHCH is awaiting for the "delivery of the transmitter". Additionally, the contour is expected to be the same as the NTSC signal is now, so if you can get channel 11 on analog you should get the digital transmission on 18-1. Now some bad news on CHCH-DT. The reported power of 30kW is incorrect and it will only be broadcasting at 2.5kW. I have sent a follow up e-mail tol verify that wasn't a misprint, especially since CITS-DT (CTS) is broadcasting at 5kW and they will be using the same tower sight.

Now the real bad news...

CKVR-DT is currently required to be on-air by August 31, 2011 and at this time "CTVglobemedia are now working on a DTV transition plan for this facility." One piece of good news out of this is in my last conversation with those at CKVR, they had expected to revert to VHF-Lo channel 3 after the cut-off, but it now appears as if they will launch and remain on VHF-10 (those with CM 4228 may now have a shot).

I also inquired about the possiiblity of CKVR being broadcast as a sub-channel on CFTO-DT, similar to how WNGS is a sub-channel of WKBW, but was informed that the CRTC is requiring terrestial broadcasters to respect their local OTA area, and since it would be out of the Barrie countour, it would require a change in CRTC rules for such a multicast to occur.

Now, I am wondering what is left over still in the GTA for -DT transmission aside from TVO, who are supposivly exempt for the time being. There is CIII-DT/Global but I don't have any contact with anyone there (although I am working on that). Both OMNI stations are 'testing', CBC-CityTV-CTV-CTS-SunTV are all live. WNGS and WPXJ don't look like anything has happened. So does that mean all I can forsee that is left is CHEX from Peterborough (CBC) and CKCO Kitchener/London (CTV).

As I was writing this e-mail, another one came in which has some more information which I think may be useful to the community.


Quote:
We hope to be testing with Industry Canada around April 18th.
CIII-DT transmitter should be testing around the same time.
[End quote]

Looks as if GlobalTV may be kicking online soon.

For what its worth, Omni 1 and 2 started broadcasting again this evening in Toronto. I assume its more testing which has been ongoing for over a year. By the time they go live in July? they will have the best tested and most reliable transmitters... LOL.

HDTV channel map -update needed

If the recent posts about CHCH are true- The channel map should be updated to reflect this. 3kw is much different than 30kw. Thanks

30kW vs 3kW sounds like a quantum leap, but its only 10dB difference. If you're receiving at -66dBm it will make it -77dBm which is still plenty for good rastor.