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ON - Ottawa, Vanier, Gloucester, Orleans - OTA

588K views 2K replies 301 participants last post by  Whitewulf613 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Getting started.
I live just north of the Racetrack/Casino, Quinn Rd

I have lived with rabbit ears for years and want to upgrade to an outside antenna system for 3 TVs picking up as much UHF and VHF signals as possible to start with. By living with cheap rabbit ears running two TVs for years, I know I will be very happy with the improvements I will have going to a proper outside Anenna system for analog and digital signals.

I have been reading posts for 2 days now to get myself started and I think I have information overload and there are so amny things to consider.

I have gone to TVFOOL to find out channels and locations.
I understand I probably do not want a long distance setup as most station are fairly close.
I am not sure of the antennas I need for my area/use.

Does anyone live near me that has been doing this for a while who can help me get started?

Cheers,
 
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#2 ·
If you don't mind the drive over to Bells Corners (opposite end of Ottawa from you), then you could borrow a couple of antennas from me to try out there.

I have a GH-8 Rev.2, and a small UHF yagi, plus some coax to hook them up with.

How those perform (or not) will help guide your eventual purchase decisions. All it will cost you is the gas for the trip over to here.

Cheers
 
#5 ·
Crankshaft, you are certainly in a great location for OTA! Camp Fortune and Herberts corners are about 160 degrees apart so you should be able to pick up the stations from one off of the back end of the antenna. Also, for the local transmissions, the signal strengths all look good so any quality suburban VHF/UHF combo antenna should give good results.

If you wanted, you also have a good chance of picking up a PBS station. WNPI is almost directly behind HC, and is is more than 60 dB weaker than a bunch of stations from it, so it might be tough to pick up without lots of notch filters. As a result it might be easier to receive WCFE, even though it is slightly weaker. To receive this, I would point a deep fringe UHF antenna towards it and combine it with a suburban VHF antenna pointed towards CF (HC won't have any VHF stations post transition).

One other thing to consider in all of this is there is a chance that VHF-LO (channels 2-6) won't be used post transition (though that has not been decided yet). Since the antenna elements for VHF-LO are by far the longest and furthest apart, antennas for VHF-HI and UHF can be made significantly smaller. Waiting a little bit for the dust to settle may permit you to have a smaller antenna, which is good from both an aesthetics perspective and is less likely to be damaged in an ice storm. Regardless, it would be good to do some trials with the antennas mlord has kindly offered to lend you.
 
#6 ·
Rogers still desperately needs to boost the power on Ch. 27 and 66 (omni channels). I peaked my antenna to get Ch. 14, 32, 43, 60, 65 as clear as possible. Ch. 65 is pristine (and the rest are quite watchable, even 32, which where I live is usually impossible to pick up), but the digitals seem like a total lost cause. I can't even get a lock, let alone scan them. Are they way lower powered than the analog channels??

I generated a TV fool report in hopes of some suggestions. Would a power boost on their digital stations be coming soon? Or should I give up and invest in a roof-mount setup (and would that be worth it for some of the more distant PBS/CBS stations?) I see them in the gray which implies to me they are impossible.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id=9c6b7e9e6c5d68
 
#9 ·
Rogers still desperately needs to boost the power on Ch. 27 and 66 (omni channels). I peaked my antenna to get Ch. 14, 32, 43, 60, 65 as clear as possible. Ch. 65 is pristine (and the rest are quite watchable
Given that 65 is clear (really clear??), then you should be able to get 66-1. If it's not working, then perhaps a more modern ATSC tuner might help?

I have an HVR-950Q USB stick, with the very modern XC5000 chip inside. It's portable, and loanable. Want to try it?

Cheers
 
#10 ·
I could only get 66 with a direct line to HC plus a pre amp , I use the kitz right now but the 7777 and pa19 also did the trick.

You are below the ridge line for the ottawa river valley and need some extra boost to bring in that olde 66

and when it snows 66 goes under ..

Hey you guys getting cbc 4 digital right now . its been down for me for the last few days ?
 
#12 ·
Yep, CBOT-DT 25 (4.1) is working for me. I also get (20)20.1 and (22)9.1

The tuner is brand new (just got a 40" Sony BRAVIA) during this year's boxing day sales. I also have a USB stick for my laptop(I think it's the same one you mentioned mlord), which again gets 0% on 27/66. Thank you for the offer though ;)

Ch. 65 looks about the same as analog cable. But Ch. 4, 9, 13, 24, 30, 34 and 40 all look *better* than analog cable (no snow at all, maybe some ghosting). Ch 11 actually is the only channel that is so snowy I wouldn't bother to watch it. Ch. 6, 14, 32, 43, 60 are all in the category of quite snowy, but watchable (though some may feel otherwise), though Ch.14 seems to have worse interference issues than 60.

65 is the only station from HC that rivals the Camp Fortune channels in terms of clarity.

Thank you everyone for the help.
 
#13 ·
Ch. 65 looks about the same as analog cable.
...
Ch. 6, 14, 32, 43, 60 are all in the category of quite snowy, but watchable (though some may feel otherwise), though Ch.14 seems to have worse interference issues than 60.

65 is the only station from HC that rivals the Camp Fortune channels in terms of clarity.
It defiantly looks like elevation is your problem. Try playing with the "Antenna height" in TVFool and see if that makes much of a difference.

Where is your antenna currently and what make/model is it?
 
#14 ·
TV Fool only starts showing the two Omni DT stations as "LOS" at 71 ft. They go from 2-Edge to 1-Edge at 16 ft.

The antenna I'm using now is an indoor UHF loop with two VHF poles which are extended to full length. I'm about 10 ft. off the ground in a house. There is no amplifier on the antenna, but I was told that is bad for digital anyway.
 
#15 ·
TV Fool only starts showing the two Omni DT stations as "LOS" at 71 ft. They go from 2-Edge to 1-Edge at 16 ft.
Putting the antenna on the roof will make a huge difference then.

The antenna I'm using now is an indoor UHF loop with two VHF poles which are extended to full length.
For UHF, there are better options. Though not designed for indoor use, a 2 bay bowtie is a good option. To improve channel 11, try shortening the poles to half length. They should only be full length for VHF-LO (channels 2-6).

There is no amplifier on the antenna, but I was told that is bad for digital anyway.
Not just digital. Amplifiers should never be used for indoor antennas (analog or digital). They are typically only useful when you have long cable runs or are splitting the signal for multiple TVs. Even then you should use a good quality one, not the junk they put in indoor antennas.
 
#17 ·
I think I might try looking into something I can mount in the roof, (or at least attic).
The combination of a better antenna and better elevation would certainly help.

It would be nice if I succeeded in getting one of the PBS stations too (though from the looks of things WWNY is a completely lost cause where I am).
You may be too deep into the valley to pick up either of the PBS stations. From the east end, you probably have a better shot at WCFE than WNPI, but it is likely a long shot.
 
#19 ·
Good conditions last night in Metcalfe

I was picking up WWNY in Metcalfe with a the Source's MINI-STATE HDTV-UHFVHF antenna. 7.1 was coming in at 40 % with the antenna on the tower at the 30' mark. WCFE 57 was 75% and WPBS 18 was 85%. All Ottawa stations were clear as well as they normally are.
Conclusion: the mini state antenna is worth the money.
 
#21 ·
Hi Stampeder,

I have been using this antenna since last fall around October. There is a rf remote for directional tuning which makes this antennas control very good.

I am soon going to get it mounted just below my amateur antenna (Ringo Ranger) within the next month and will then be at the 60' mark. I figure I can then reinforce the current reception and help with Watertown as well.
 
#23 ·
I am soon going to get it mounted just below my amateur antenna (Ringo Ranger) within the next month and will then be at the 60' mark. I figure I can then reinforce the current reception and help with Watertown as well.
Certainly increasing elevation is a good thing, but I am not convinced that a mini-state antenna will have a high enough gain to receive American channels (though from Metcalfe it might be close).

The biggest issue I have with a mini-state antenna (or any antenna with a rotor) is you can't watch/record two programs from different broadcast antennas at the same time. Similarly when you go away, you can't record programs from two different broadcast antennas unless you find a way of automatically rotating the antenna.

For this reason I prefer either using a single wide angle antenna, or, if that isn't feasible, combining two or more different antennas. Mlord has an excellent solution for the latter, using an HTPC (MythTV) to automatically switch multiple antennas to multiple tuners. This could be easily extended to have multiple frontends to support more than one TV.
 
#22 ·
So I picked up this mini-state antenna, and just putting it in the same room I had my old antenna, I'm now receiving 27.1 and 66.1 (though 66 is quite unstable).

Also, got a signal on 38, but not enough for a lock. Thing is I'm not sure if it's WCFE, or if it's the CRC's diver loop from the west end. Can anyone confirm if that channel is still operating?
 
#25 ·
Does anyone know if this is good results or not?
Those are all the DTV stations transmitted in Ottawa so I guess those results are OK. How well do you receive the analog broadcasts? That is a much better indication of how good the antenna is.

With a better antenna you might be able to pick up one of the PBS stations from the US, but from your description of the antenna you have, you won't get them with it.

My biggest concern with your antenna is that it is likely UHF only and after the Canadian analog shutdown some stations will use their analog channel number on VHF (for example CJOH plans to stay on channel 13) so you may need a different antenna at that time.
 
#34 ·
tvlurk... you're correct I meant to say my receiver does not support analog, but the antenna does.

As for the Antenna I found it on usedottawa with the name in title (New HDTV Indoor/Outdoor Antenna 20db, VHF,UHF) I tried to post a link to it, but this required approval and it was never approved.

So far works fairly well from Avalon area in Orleans.
 
#35 ·
ottme2, Glad you are happy with your results, but for your money I think you could do much better. They claim it will receive VHF, but I highly doubt if will do very well with it. I don't recommend any of the antennas I see on Used Ottawa. Many of the ads are very deceptive.

PS. FYI, retail links are not allowed in this section of the forum.
 
#36 · (Edited by Moderator)
Orleans

Hi Vince, I'm in Orleans and on my 2nd floor TV I am currently using a pair of SBGH (single bay Gray-Hoverman) antennas in my attic, one pointed at Camp Fortune (home of CBC, CTV, Global and all of the French channels) and one pointed at Herberts Corners (home of OMNI1, OMNI2 and CITY). I use an inexpensive RCA switch from Home Depot to select the antenna. The antennas were very inexpensive - rigid styrofoam boards (4" thick) with galvanized fencing wire and cheap baluns from Home Depot.

For my main floor TV I am using a single SBGH antenna identical to the other ones, which is sitting on a chair which we turn back and forth to aim at the transmitter as required. This is a temporary setup, eventually we will run coax cable from to attic to one or more antennas as required.

These antennas pick up all the local channels, except Global analog (channel 6) is a bit snowy, and OMNI2 digital (channel 66) is hard to pick up at all.

There may be other solutions such as a rotor or an omnidirectional antenna which would work, but I am happy with this setup for now. I will reassess the situation in a year or so when the cutover takes place.
 
#37 ·
reception in ottawa

I am too lazy to look up that postal code but in the south end near bank and conroy rd I use an omni amplified antenna with good results on all digital and anologe channels. Gobal is snowy at times but watchable ( i have split the signal ways). My antenna is at 35ft on the side of my ham radio tower and my location is quite high, so your results may vary.
 
#38 · (Edited by Moderator)
Orleans area

Hi folks,

We are hopefully going to be moving into a house in the Orleans area next month, fingers crossed. We are moving from the GTA and I plan to bring my OTA Anetnna CM4228 with me along with the accessories.

Is it worth me putting on the roof, and what channels can I look forward to picking up? If am going to get all the channels avail in the Ottawa area depending on where the towers are, do I need another antenna to supplement what I already have, if so should I get another cm4228?

Cheers

Michael
 
#39 ·
Hi folks,

We are hopefully going to be moving into a house in the Orleans area next month ... Is it worth me putting on the roof, and what channels can I look forward to picking up?
Stampeder: this belongs in the "reception thread", not "station status".

That said, lima20, just go to tvfool.com, enter your address (or better, coordinates), and see what it tells you.

Best case, Ottawa is nothing like Toronto. For digital OTA, we have only CBC english/french, SunTV, and Omni1/Omni2. CityTV-DT is coming Real Soon Now. Some people are lucky enough to receive WNPI and/or WCFE PBS stations from the states, though Orleans can be very troublesome for that.

Cheers
 
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