I was doing some searching yesterday and found out that all three main networks (Global, CTV, CBC) will be starting to brodcast in HD this summer in most magor citys in Canada. Does anyone trhink that Shaw will be forced to cary them in HD? Does the CRTC have any control over this? Another question is will we be able to get the signal over the air in places like Edmonton?

As local stations go digital across Canada they will broadcast OTA (Over The Air) on channels and power levels assigned by Industry Canada. The CRTC steps in to award the actual licenses after going over the applications and doing their political stuff (that's too long a topic and not for this thread...)

As a cable subscriber, trust me you do not want to receive your local digital stations via cable because the cable companies have to use a variety of electronic processing and compression tricks that unfortunately degrade the signal. The picture and audio quality superiority of OTA is very noticeable because you are getting the signal clean, right from the source: a broadcast antenna beaming its signal over the air at light speed to your receiving antenna.

In your case, for example, when CFRN and the others in Edmonton go digital you would be best to have an ATSC tuner and an antenna. Many of today's new HDTVs have an ATSC tuner already built in, or you can buy one as a separate component. You would keep cable for everything else but switch to your tuner/antenna for the local digital (and analog!) stations.

If you need further info on OTA broadcasting just hop on over to this site's OTA forum and read through the threads.

Edmonton wont have anything this year. There is no applications for digital television stations right now. Only Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver have TV stations.

That is not entirely true as Global Edmonton and A-Channel both are 100% digital already and if I understand it right CFRN will soon be also.
I have contacted both CTV (CFRN) and Global Edmonton and will let you know what they have to say about when we can expect to see HD OTA in Edmonton. I think its time for us to get it. With now well over one million people in the Edmonton area there should be enough demand for it.

Bigoranget is correct - you have to check the Industry Canada and CRTC information and you'll see that while provision for their digital channels has been made, the license application process is not yet clear for Edmonton digital stations. Ya never know how things could change with some public pressure though.

When I read that my jaw just dropped. There actually used to be a time when I thought like that. It seems like it was in another life time now.
I should have been more clear, they don't brodcast digital but all there equipment is digital and have the ability to brodcast digital. CFRN (CTV) is already brodcasting in HDTV in some areas. And both Global and CBC will soon as well so I am hoping that it will come here soon.

1. Can any post update re: is over the air HDTV in Edmonton yet?

2. Can someone suggest an indoor antenna model that is good and DTV/HDTV comparible

3. How do I know if my TV has an ATCS tuner (it is a vintage 2003 50" rear projection HDTV) to support OTA HD?

1. Can any post update re: is over the air HDTV in Edmonton yet?

2. Can someone suggest an indoor antenna model that is good and DTV/HDTV comparible

3. How do I know if my TV has an ATCS tuner (it is a vintage 2003 50" rear projection HDTV) to support OTA HD?1. No - phone your local stations and please let us know what they say.

2. Did you download the Antenna PDF file from the READ THIS... thread?

3. What is the Brand/Model Number of your TV?

4. Click on my signature at the bottom of this post.

when will edmonton get OTA hd channels ?

A friend of mine in Edmonton said CH was testing a couple of days ago.

Ok, a request for a bit of help here. How do we determine the physical (frequency) channel from the posting listed above?

http://www.user.dccnet.com/jonleblanc/Canada_TV_Stations/AB.html

I have been using the following guide to get the channel information for Edmonton set up, but am unsure about the frequency that should be put in.

Blaine, are you using some sort of computer software with a PC tuner card?

From Global's web site:we expect to have an over the air HD transmitter up and running for CHCH Hamilton, Global Ontario and Global BC by the end of April. After they are set up and running, Calgary and Edmonton will follow for an HD transmitterSo, since we know that Global's digital transition work has already begun in Hamilton, Toronto, and Vancouver, folks in Alberta's biggest cities can expect to see Digital OTA come to their cities some time after that.

http://www.canada.com/globaltv/info/faqs.html

Get phoning, faxing, and emailing CBC and CFRN (CTV) to match them!

Would one of these home made ANT. work up in Edmonton? I'm in Spruce Grove and really want to have an ANT. ready to go once Global goes HD Digital this fall. Where are the broadcast towers in Edmonton?

j0dest3r, you can plug the coordinates into google earth from the link two posts previous...and it will show you where they are. You can measure to where your house is and then reading the antenna charts from the second link, you can see what your options should be.

Alberta TV Stations (http://www.user.dccnet.com/jonleblanc/Canada_TV_Stations/AB.html)

Antenna Chart Post (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showpost.php?p=730169&postcount=17)

Hey thanks for the pointers. I'm finally able to get back to this, I will check this out.

I actually used Google Maps to find them, and then asked for driving directions from my place in Spruce Grove. ;-) I found out I am 60 to 65 kms from the towers which is suburban / near fringe so a 4-bay bowtie would do the trick. (I think all I want is UHF)

Anyone know typically how long companies take from time of application to where they are transmitting something? 12 - 18 months?

It all depends how keen the station is. If they are keen and there aren't many technical problems it can be done in 12 to 18 months. On the other hand, I have seen stations take more than 5 years if they can find excuses to drag their feet (Global Toronto is an excellent example).

so basically no OTA HD in Edmonton yet?

so basically no OTA HD in Edmonton yet?

Yup, and probably won't be for at least another year and probably more.