I have received information today that CKMI-DT (Global Montreal) will be broadcasting from the Mont-Royal tower. However, they do not plan to start digital transmissions before the date set by the CRTC (Aug 2011).

For almost two years now I've been receiving OTA digital broadcasts from my high-rise apartment in Montreal. I'm using nothing more an indoor amplified antenna and it works great for picking up *all* the American stations at full signal strength, but I can't pick up a single local DTV station--not one!

I blame it on the fact they're using transmitters on the top of buildings downtown, rather than atop Mount Royal. Worse is there's only one English channel broadcasting digitally at the momentl: CBC (CBMT). Nevertheless, I'd welcome picking up local channels, English or French.

So are there still plans afoot to move some of these transmitters on Mount Royal, and if so, WHEN? I take it CFCF-12 is still waiting until August 2011 before they even begin broadcasting digitally, but I'd like to at least get CBC.

Incidentally, on a side topic, has something changed with WCFE-57 in the last several months? I now really have to fiddle with my antenna to pick it up. I wonder if something in the area isn't interfering with the signal.

Apple, go through the messages of this thread to find all the information that we know as of this date. Little by little, the Montreal DTV picture is getting more complete.

So, looks like CBC is tentatively planning to install their transmitter on Mount Royal by September (or perhaps not; there's been a lot of ball dropping with DTV in Montreal).

What are channels 15 and 36 in IC's DTV Post-Transition Allotment Plan?
http://www.icce.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/vwapj/DTV_PLAN_Dec08-e.pdf/$file/DTV_PLAN_Dec08-e.pdf?bcsi_scan_1C4AF55E66FCA17D=P706EMsb4i+krcGfxfIlhjbe4PA CAAAAdsbBAQ==&bcsi_scan_filename=DTV_PLAN_Dec08-e.pdf)?

Those are just allocations. No TV stations will actually operate on those channels — not yet, anyway.

Those are just allocations. No TV stations will actually operate on those channels.
You never know. Thee is no guarantee that channels that were allotted other channels post-transition won't elect to use these instead.

Indeed, tvlurker — I was editing my reply just as you responded.
Interesting thing about Channel 15: That allocation was created when a company applied to build a new national network a few years ago. They were denied by the CRTC but the allocation is still there. The site linked to the allocation is CBC/Radio-Canada's (dormant) AM radio transmission plant in Brossard.

Indeed, tvlurker — I was editing my reply just as you responded.
Interesting thing about Channel 15: That allocation was created when a company applied to build a new national network a few years ago. They were denied by the CRTC but the allocation is still there. The site linked to the allocation is CBC/Radio-Canada's (dormant) AM radio transmission plant in Brossard.
And at some point channel 36 was assigned to CBMT-PT.

Reading though this thread, I'm getting conflicting reports of CBMT's final power on 21. Is it 900kw or less than that? Stampeder's IC list seems to indicate 900KW, but a couple of people here are saying it will be less.

I'm personally hoping for the max, as I have a cottage where ch 6 is currently receivable (with some snow) with the proper VHF antenna (actually an old VU-90 that came with the house), and I'm hoping that my 4228 will be able to pick it up without being turned from Mt. Mansfield. I actually don't bother watching the Canadian channels right now, as it is simply too much trouble to put up a separate antenna for analog VHF signals. But as bad as some of the programming is, I'd prefer to see some Montreal news rather than stuff from Burlington.

Also, isn't CBC more or less required to maintain a large coverage area though, being a crown corporation? Or can they simply do what they want?

The data in the IC list are simply allocations for planning purposes.
Stations might end up exactly as listed.
They might choose to use different channels than those listed, or they might use totally different technical parameters.
As for the CBC's DTV coverage area, there are technical impediments making it difficult to replicate the analog VHF coverage of CBMT and CBFT with their DTV equivalents on UHF, even at high power.
There is something working in their favour, though: The master UHF antenna on Mount Royal will likely be at 299 metres, whereas the current antennas for CBMT 6 and CBFT 2 are respectively 40 and 25 metres lower.

HeliosQuebec has posted in French that CIVQ-DT (TéléQuébec) has begun testing in Québec City:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showpost.php?p=1113143&postcount=186

Here's what the IC database says about it:QC Quėbec AL 25 CIVQ-DT 464827 711300 300.0 15000 536.00
QC Quėbec AU 25 CIVQ-DT R-QF 464827 711300 153.0 9300 536.00
QC Quėbec AL 15 CIVQ-PT 464827 711300 286.5 1000000 476.00
QC Quėbec OP 15 CIVQ-TV R-QF 464827 711300 191.4 970000 476.00 -

CBMT will broadcast at 105 Kw, CBFT at 250 Kw, after aug 31, 2011

Hmm … another member of the discussion board expects higher ERPs from CBMT and CBFT after Aug. 30, 2011, based on the equipment they have purchased for the operation.
As I recall, the respective maximum ERPs for CBMT and CBFT during the transitional period are 107 kW and 250 kW @ 300 metres, as approved by Industry Canada.

As I was running a scan for fun a new channel appeared (for me). Thats the good news, but its another 3 channels of PBS, having 33 and 57 its not that great of an addition.

The channel is 18 (.1, .2, .3). Is it there to stay, did they make some changes or is it only a tropo thing ?.

That is WNPI-DT from Norwood, NY coming to you courtesy of tropo. Check the Ottawa listings in Post #1 of the following thread for more info on that station: Lists of OTA TV Stations in Major Canadian Locations (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=109552)

WNPI-DT (UHF 23, remap 18.x) does come into certain areas of Montreal. Much easier to get in the summer than winter. At present, there is an application with the FCC to increase their power output from 40kw to 60kw. When this happens, perhaps WNPI-DT will come in on a regular bases in western Montreal.

Thanks to Mille on the French boards for pointing this one out.
Here's a CBC release announcing the upgrades on the Mount Royal tower this summer:
http://www.cbc.radio-canada.ca/newsreleases/20100614.shtml
The CBC promises improved technical parameters for virtually all broadcasters who use the antennas on the tower.
The work will be carried out between June and August, enabling radio stations to improve their technical parameters and TV stations to install the antennas they need to move into the digital age.
(…) The work on the Mount Royal antenna will require occasional temporary interruptions in radio and television signals, but these interruptions will be timed to occur at night, weather permitting. For television services, the impact will be felt only in households receiving over-the-air transmissions from the Mount Royal antenna.

edited for brevity from CBC press release

CBC/Radio-Canada will be modernizing its antenna located at the top of Mount Royal for the benefit of practically all Montreal broadcasters.

The work will be carried out between June and August, enabling radio stations to improve their technical parameters and TV stations to install the antennas they need to move into the digital age. The work will also ensure compliance with the new Health Canada and Industry Canada standards relating to Safety Code 6 for the 3 kHz to 300 GHz frequency range.

The antenna, erected in 1960, provides Montreal residents with a unique service that will once again be improved for listeners and viewers.
Occasional radio and television broadcast interruptions

The interruptions, which will be targeted and very brief, are necessary to ensure worker safety. The workers will be on a crane at the same height as the tower. To minimize the impact on park users, the work will be carried out at night after the area closes.

The work on the Mount Royal antenna will require occasional temporary interruptions in radio and television signals, but these interruptions will be timed to occur at night, weather permitting. For television services, the impact will be felt only in households receiving over-the-air transmissions from the Mount Royal antenna.

There will be no impact for the clients of service providers like Videotron, Bell TV or Shaw Direct. Each broadcaster will notify its audience of any potential service interruptions.

CBMT will broadcast at 105 Kw, CBFT at 250 Kw, after aug 31, 2011

It will be something between 700 Kw and 800 Kw fot both CBFT and CBMT