I wonder what the situation is with CBC network transmissions. For example: the last thing I heard a couple of months ago in the case of Calgary was that it is next on the list for DTV. Maybe there is something in the works?? The question that I have is will there be a "flash cut" back to the original channel or a new temporary UHF assignment for example?

There simply must be CBC network transmitters can be re-purposed for digital operation. Surely this will determine the need for transitional frequencies versus new equipment using new UHF frequencies assuming the trend to move to UHF.

There simply must be CBC network transmitters can be re-purposed for digital operation.

Newer equipment can sometimes be re-purposed but older equipment often can't. For example older amplifiers would amplify the specific carrier frequencies used for NTSC rather than the entire 6MHz band used for ATSC.

Surely this will determine the need for transitional frequencies versus new equipment using new UHF frequencies assuming the trend to move to UHF.

The trend is away from VHF-LO (channels 2-6). Since VHF-HI is already pretty much full, UHF is typically the only place they can go. If they can/want to use the same channel for DTV pre and post transition, they can easily start broadcasting early. If they aren't, it makes things a bit more complicated.

Newer equipment can sometimes be re-purposed but older equipment often can't. For example older amplifiers would amplify the specific carrier frequencies used for NTSC rather than the entire 6MHz band used for ATSC.

OK - but I guess in any case they would consult with the OEM as he/she will need to assist with the assessment and/or supply services and/or upgrade components. I guess that NTSC uses a lower visual bandwidth 5.5Mhz as the stations invariably use separate sound transmitters on a dedicated portion of the channel feeding the same antenna through a combiner.

The trend is away from VHF-LO (channels 2-6). Since VHF-HI is already pretty much full, UHF is typically the only place they can go.

But surely UHF is the preferred spot due to probable future cell phone reception and other new technologies? Sure VHF-LO is finished. In the UK both VHF LO and HI are no longer used for TV broadcast purposes (since 1985) - way ahead of their time, wot?

Wonder what the network policy of CBC is in this regard? ;) :confused:

The attraction of VHF is it uses much less power to cover the same area and it propagates through trees much better, so it is best for rural reception. OTOH, UHF propagates through buildings better so it is best for urban reception. Which is best depends on who they want to target.

I know that in the fifties and sixties, this used to be the case, but AFAIK, more modern transmitting plant combines the NTSC video VSB and audio FM components at baseband level, and not at the RF combiner level.

True, but I gather the CBC has a lot of this old equipment still in active use. They have a lot of transmitters nation wide and to upgrade them all would be prohibitively expensive.

Assuming they converted some of the existing analogue transmitters to digital they'd have to budget for the stockpiling and scavenging of a bunch of old analogue transmitters and gear for repair purposes because as time goes on manufacturers have either dropped much of it already or won't make a lot of that stuff anymore. That means storing all that gear somewhere and transporting it as needed.

Add in the power and size efficiencies of new digital gear and personally I see an abandonment of the old transmitters as a better economic rationalization than converting them to digital capability.

Even if the bulk of transmitters installed during CBC's Accelerated Coverage Plan (ACP) rush of the seventies were modern for their time, I believe most of these are nearing end-of-life anyway.

Good point. I don't think the CBC has (or will get) the money to replace all of these transmitters. I seem to remember reading that the CBC plans to shut down their remote transmitters as they die. When this happens, it will be interesting to see if there is a public outcry to have them replaced. This probably depends if an alternate technology (such as free to air or free DTH) takes its place. This extends beyond TV and includes radio as well.

Well, whatever outcry that may has resulted from the loss of CBC-TV OTA in Kamloops, Okanagan, Medicine Hat, and perhaps soon in Thunder Bay has not had any effect, and these locations have more voters than, say, Attawapiskat.

In those cases it is hard to blame CBC as they were affiliate stations that decided to change their affiliation, so the transmitter is still operational (it just isn't affiliated with the CBC). Things would be a bit different if the CBC decided to shut down an existing transmitter completely, leaving a community without television.

When the BBC and IBA finished with the old VHF transmitters in the early 80's most of them were scrapped as they weren't good for any further service. AFAIK there were some items placed in museums including an old Lo band 405 line unit 5Kw or so vision transmitter. Perhaps some of the older CBC gear can be or could have been donated to third world countries?

Thinking more about it, a better example would be Brandon when CTVgm shut down CKX-TV (a CBC affiliate) making CBC basically unavailable in Brandon OTA (without great heroics). It was still an affiliate though and thus CTVgm took the blame. I don't think they mind though as they wanted a poster child for their Save Local TV campaign.

Purely speculation on my part, but Kingston, Peterborough and Oshawa may also lose their CBC stations if Corus (owned by J.R. Shaw) decides to make them Global affiliates if the CRTC approves the purchase of GlobalTV by Shaw Communications.

I still say it will become a much bigger story when the CBC starts to shut down their own transmitters, even if they serve smaller populations, since they are a crown corporation. There is more public sympathy for private broadcasters as they need to make money.

See here for news release:
http://www.cbc.radio-canada.ca/newsreleases/20100806.shtml
Not particularly detailed, except we learn they won't be able to make the deadline for some markets. Synthesized from their list (http://www.cbc.radio-canada.ca/newsreleases/pdf/dtv_plan.pdf) …

• On the air by Aug. 31, 2011:
CBC: Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton
SRC: Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Rimouski, Trois-Rivières, Sherbrooke, Chicoutimi, Moncton

• On the air by Aug. 31, 2012:
CBC: Yellowknife, Regina, Winnipeg, Windsor, Saint-John/Fredericton, Charlottetown, Halifax, St. John’s
SRC: Vancouver, Edmonton, Regina, Winnipeg

The release says CBC has applied for extensions in those markets where the deadline can't be met.

I'm a little bit confused, I live in Kitchener, and expected to see it listed as one of the markets where they intend to switch by the 2011 deadline, however, I see it neither on the list to switch, nor the list that will be delayed.

I know that KW is just a repeater, but from what I understand isn't it still a mandatory market? Or, will they cease operation of the transmitters on August 2011?

Don't Kitchener peeps get their CBC from Toronto? CKCO (and maybe CIII-6) would be the only ones I reckon that would bother, no offense intended to any folks in the KW area. The whole DTV OTA situation in KW is murky territory.

It's confusing because Kitchener is defined as a mandatory market, so they have to be served OTA DTV. However, does that mean just having peeps tune into Toronto DTV (looking at the Kitchener thread, many have already reported good success in getting the core TO digitals, and I reckon it will help once they go full-power), or requiring additional repeaters? CKCO is the only originating station in the KW area so it would most likely be them that does the switch. The rest are iffy to me.

Eliminating repeaters in tighter markets and being served by nearby major markets is actually a good idea. In Mississauga, I can already see all the repeaters in Kitchener without having my antenna turned that way (snowy but I can see them). And I can also see 5 copies of Global! (6, 27, 41, and 55 + 65 digital!)

Lots of low ground (valleys) in Kitchener make it next to impossible to get the CN Tower. On high ground a good antenna up high will get the CN Tower quite easily. It's all a matter of location.

I still believe some well placed repeaters that transmit 2 x 720p and 4 SD channels on one transmitter would be a cost effective solution to OTA out here. There's no need for every channel to have it's own RF transmitter and put out 1080i. Yes, would be nice, but reliable and easy to get OTA is better than none at all.

I find it highly curious CBC would announce their DTV transition plan before they've received the OK from the CRTC for a deadline extension.
What if the CRTC says no?
And now that the CBC wants an extension, other broadcasters might want one, too.
And I'm feeling particularly slighted by the lack of a Radio-Canada DTV transmitter for Calgary. There are loads of Francophones and bilingual people in the region. Time for another round of e-mails.

We can get our CBC from Toronto, and I do so because it's digital, but we have a CBC-E repeater here on CH56, and a CBC-F repeater on 61 that actually services our area. Both of these would have to cease operation after August 2011, the question is, how will the service be replaced, if at all?

Is there an intepretation of the CRTC ruling that suggests if CBC doesn't have an originating station in Kitchener (which they don't) and they do not wish to service this area, they have no requirement to? This could mean that CityTV could pull out, as could TVO & Global. CKCO would be the only station required to switch.

Getting CBC et al from Toronto is not a viable option I think for many. Even with CBC-E from Toronto being broadcast at it's current power level, I get pixelation on some tropo days. CBC-F and others from Toronto rarely come in, but I think they are due for a power level boost at transition anyways.