WWTI (uhf 21) is breaking through from Watertown. Havent seen that in 6 months. A little bit pixelated here and there but otherwise watchable.

New2OTA, as we've said here before, "What tropo giveth, tropo taketh away."

While Mr. Hepburn has shown that the presence of tropospheric skip conditions is predictable, the behaviour of tropo and ducting can be really hard to predict. Some people have even had nearby strong stations temporarily blown away by tropo on extremely rare occasions, leading to ruined recordings.

Well, this morning my attic install picked up ION, below is a pic before it would have a chance in getting away from me :). I contained my excitement enough. My family now really thinks I flipped my lid :)...but I know you guys all understand. Out of curiosity, has 49.2 gone away? I've noticed that 49.1 comes up fine, but there seems to be nothing at 49.2...I'm assuming this isn't a tropo effect, is it? Or are they gearing form that new all music station "TheCoolTV" on that sub?
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_UiD8F79jssM/S5TfYKT5eBI/AAAAAAAABr8/Og9dH9Ydtyc/s1600/ION.PNG

Detroit locals here this morning
wtvs, wxyz, wdiv, wwj

but not wjbk.. I wonder how that Channel 7 placement is working out for them ;).

there seems to be nothing at 49.2...I'm assuming this isn't a tropo effect, is it? Or are they gearing form that new all music station "TheCoolTV" on that sub?See my reply here: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=108371

cm023 Detroit locals here this morning
wtvs, wxyz, wdiv, wwj

but not wjbk.. I wonder how that Channel 7 placement is working out for them .

I am receiving WJBK 2-1 RF7 this morning. You'll need a VHF antenna to pull it in. As a matter of fact, as I write this channel 8 WJWDT RF 8 from Cleveland is coming in and channel 12 WICU HD RF 12 from Erie has been in all night through out this morning.

Yesterday in the afternoon, I was able to get on the roof and make adjustments to my setup. I put my DB8 UHF antenna up higher (25 inches) and installed my Tin Lee trap near my VHF antenna output. I adjusted my antenna position with respect to rotor degrees as it had been of 10 degrees most of the winter. Did a resync and voila back in proper orientation.

Man the tropo is very strong today. For example if I'm pointed towards Erie market, I still get some Buffalo and Cleveland stations easily from the side lobes. To boot most of the SNR reading are very high for most stations when pointing to each market. This bodes just fine with me.

This year along the west coast we'll be experiencing the full El Nino effect (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Ni%C3%B1o-Southern_Oscillation), meaning that so will all of North America in its turn. Weather prognosticators in the Vancouver and Seattle areas are suggesting a hot, wet summer here, when we usually have a moderate (mid-20°s-to-low-30°s C) dry, sunny summer.

I don't presume to know all about how the phenomenae of El Nino, tropospheric skip, and ducting inter-relate, but my hunch is that 2010 is already starting to show signs of being an extraordinary year for oddball OTA reception.

24 WJET-DT from Erie, PA came in for a while this evening. Not surprising in and of itself, as I'm used to getting that from the analog days (it used to be 24 Analog also prior to transition). But, it does indicate something notable since there is also a 24 CBLFT-DT in Toronto. So Erie, PA must have been propagating just enough to overcome the co-channel this evening.

On another note, the ice on Lake Erie is breaking apart as we speak...
Summer is on the way, can taste it..

Edit: Nuther hit, 35 CITS-DT (36.1) just came out of the dirt.
First I've seen that pop up this year.

"El Nino" oceanic conditions are characterized by warmer than normal ocean currents. This is typically caused by a very active seismic/volcanic cycle. Warmer oceans = warmer air = more active weather and more opportunity for tropo related conditions. So it could be an interesting summer.

I haven't really experienced much tropo fun here :S

The most I've gotten sofar are WGRZ and ION. Stations I should be getting w/o tropo. (Moreso WGRZ than ION)

Last summer I got some Rochesters, but so far nothing. Even that legendary event 2 months ago gave me nothing but a bunch of blips on tons of channels. Nothing poked through.

Could it be my location? Or height of antenna, or lack of rotor? All three?
Would like to join in on the tropo fun.

Well, at least my locals don't suffer :P

ION is really strong tonight. My SNR meter is in the green at around 26 to 27 steady.

Curious, does anyone know if anything is broadcasted from RF22 or RF50 from Rochester (pretty sure it is not Buffalo). My meter is showing activity on those two channels, though I'm not getting any lock. I can't believe that it would be RF22 and 50 from Erie, since I don't have my antenna in that direction. Could be from the sides, but even then, at that distance and angle from the Buffalo facing antenna, those two would really have to be strong if I can pick up something. Maybe worth pointing my antenna that way for fun.

I'm picking up a ton of stations from the west and southwest here in Windsor... Lansing/Jackson signals are making visits, as well as really strong signals from Toledo. WUPW is measuring 60% tonight, strongest i have ever seen it. Also picking up WPTA from Ft Smith Indiana, as well as WOTV from Battle Creek.

tropo signals seen tonight:

WOTV 41-1 RF20 - Battle Creek MI
WPTA 21-1 RF24 - Ft Smith IN
WLNS, WILX, WLAJ, WSYM - CBS/NBC/ABC/FOX = Lansing/Jackson MI
WJWDT - 8-1 RF8 - Cleveland (very rare signal for me)
WJRT 12-1 RF 12 - Flint MI
WBGU 27-1 RF 27 - Bowling Green OH

@12:00 AM - Just picked up SUN-TV 19-1 from London ON.... first time i've ever picked it up. Signal is in/out.

ION and WYNO-HD also strong here in Kitchener tonight.

Same here.
From 10-12am

Most are on the edge and are intermittent.

RF - Call - Net
5 40-1 WLMB Fam
10 10-1 WILX NBC
12 12-1 WJRT ABC
12 12-1 WINM TCT
19 19-1 CKXT SUN
20 41-1 WOTV ABC
27 27-1 WBGU PBS
28 28-1 WFUM/WCMU26 Repeater PBS
31 WPXD 31-1 ION (super rare)
35 WOUC 44-1 PBS Zanesville
36 WLNS 6-1 CBS
38 WSYM 47-1 FOX
40 WHIZ 18-1 NBC - Zanesville OH <-New never seen before
48 WAQP 49-1 TCT (rare due to Cblft 48 Chatham)
51 WLAJ 53-1 ABC

update at ~2am:
now Ft Wayne is coming in.
18 WISE 33-1 NBC
24 WPTA 21-1 MyTV
36 WFFT 55-1 FOX
40 WFWA 39-1 PBS

Heh, I opened my mouth too soon.

The Rochesters flooded in and out earlier, not too reliable, but there. WROC 45 (8.1), WUHF 28 (31.1), and WXXI 16 (21.1/2/3) all locked, pixelated a bit later on. WHAM 13.1 and WHEC 10.1 all showed signals borderline, but seeing as they're VHF, my antenna didn't do so well.

Erie also tried to come in but WICU 12 was drowned by CHEX and WQLN 50 was too weak.

That's probably all the tropo that's possible in my area. Never heard of anything more extreme in 'sauga.

Perhaps it's time to get deepfringe + 68' tower + rotor? xD

nah, I'm good with my locals being stable :P

Decent conditions this morning in Kitchener.

WKYC-HD; 3.x; RF 17; NBC; CLEVELAND
WX PLUS; 3.x; RF 17; NBC; CLEVELAND
WMYD-HD; 20.x; RF 21; DETROIT
WSEE-DT; 35.x; RF 16; ERIE
WBEP-DT; 35.x; RF 16; ERIE
WQHS-DT; 61.x; RF 34; CLEVELAND; SPANISH
WEWS-DT; 15.x; RF 15; ABC; CLEVELAND

For the last few days, ION has been booming in, while WNYO which is 24/7 for me, has been pixelating occasionally. I threw on a UVSJ splitter to go with the VHF11/FM trap and it cleared it up. Maybe the other VHFs are interferring. Go figure.

ION died off on my this morning. Funny thing was that while that was coming in real strong last night, I seemed to loose CTV and CBC French. After ION died away, CTV and CBC French were back. Not saying these events were related...just found it bizarre all the same.

X3

When ION comes in strong as it has been the last few days MYTV RF49 drops off.

GoForIt you said you fixed it with a UVSJ? Could you elaborate on how to do this? PM me if you like.

I would think that reception all the way into Newmarket of both ION RF23 or MYTV RF49 would be due to tropospheric propogation. Is it even possible for MYTV 49.1 to be a regular 24/7 station in the Newmarket area?