My DB8 picks up global just fine.

Mr Canoehead, I am glad you are lucky enough to live in an area that receives Global easily, but that isn't true for everyone. Global has a directional broadcast and there is about a 10dB difference between the maximum and minimum effective ERP. There are also other factors such as impulse noise that can be difficult to track down and may not always be possible to eliminate.

Roger, it's MUCH more than a 10 dB difference between minimum and maximum power. According to TVFool, the minimum is about 70 W towards Orleans, and the maximum is about 3300W to the south. 3300/70 = 47, which is about 16 dB.

I can get Global with a dollar store FM flat ribbon antenna on the second floor on the south side of the building. I get 6, 9 and 13 just fine. According to TVFool, I'm off to the side of the main lobe, and I'm getting the equivalent of 2.6 kW in my direction.

Keep rubbing it in guys ;)
In Orleans, I have to turn my subwoofer OFF to get enough SNR to watch channel 6 Global off my attic mounted VHF VIP-302SR pointed at CF with Kitz KT200 preamp.

I am now considering a Tripp Lite Isobar or other alternative instead of my current Monster Cable Home Theatre Power Bar... just to possibly fix Global reception.

flavoie, rather than using a power bar, try using an X10 noise filter such as the X10 Pro XPPF or the ACT-AF120 depending on the current draw of your appliance. While designed for blocking 120kHz, they should effectively block anything significantly above 60Hz. One thing that makes them more effective is that they have series inductors (as well as capacitors in parallel), which provides a solid wall for the noise rather than only trying to trap it with capacitors.

flavoie, Global is aware of the problem and there are things happening behind the scenes that lead me to believe that sooner or later Global will move to a better channel. Not sure how fast things will happen, though.

In the meantime, make sure you let Global, and possibly also the CRTC, know how poorly you get Global compared to the other OTA stations, especially the other ones from Camp Fortune. Every comment/complaint from a real OTA viewer carries weight!

roger1818, i actually came across those exact X10 filters during searches. The problem looked like it was filtering way lower frequencies exactly like you mentioned. I got excited when Tripp Lite's doc specifically states VHF and HF filtering ...

My point was you can't blame the antenna for not receiving Global as there are more factors at play as you mentioned.
There is a house for sale by me if you are that desparate to get Global.;)

I sent the crtc a message complaining about Global 6.1 transmition.
It takes 5 minutes and starts with googling CRTC and clicking contact us.
A few filtering questions to direct the complaint and its done.
Its a lot easier than hardware fixes if enough of us respond.
I have a VHF only antenna and a preamp to receive a OK signal from 6.1

roger1818, i actually came across those exact X10 filters during searches. The problem looked like it was filtering way lower frequencies exactly like you mentioned. I got excited when Tripp Lite's doc specifically states VHF and HF filtering ...

I have a couple XPPF's (in use) and I took one apart once and it definitely has a low pass filter, so although it is designed to block 120kHz, it will also block anything above it. Although I don't have any, I am confident the ACT-AF120 does the same thing.

I don't know anything about the Tripp Lite, but I am quite sure it won't be as good as it likely only uses caps to do the filtering. I could be wrong though.

So after mounting my CM4228HD on a mast about 23ft up and connecting it to a CM7778 I am getting all Ottawa channels, including Global, with great signal strength. I've also picked up 18.1, 18.2 and 18.3 PBS channels and am JUST getting the Fox and CBS signals. I may try to replace the CM7778 with a CM7777 and see if that makes it better.

Now to find DVR and I can cut the satellite cord.

Thanks to everyone for posting such great information here.

This is a reminder that the second DHC OTA Members Meet for those in the Ottawa area is happening on Tuesday evening (22nd November 2011) in Kanata. Refer to this post for more details (and make replies in that thread):
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showpost.php?p=1345683&postcount=30

I have a couple XPPF's (in use) and I took one apart once and it definitely has a low pass filter, so although it is designed to block 120kHz, it will also block anything above it. Although I don't have any, I am confident the ACT-AF120 does the same thing.

I don't know anything about the Tripp Lite, but I am quite sure it won't be as good as it likely only uses caps to do the filtering. I could be wrong though.
Thanks a lot for the feedback. XPPF are in my future then, I just need to be careful about the 5A limit. The AF120 looks like a notch filter so will not work for my use.

I would be very surprised if the AF120 was a notch filter as it is easier to build a LPF than a notch filter and there is no reason to make it a notch for its intended purpose (preventing noise generated by appliances from interfering with the 120kHz X10 carrier). If anything, a LPF would be better as noise at other frequencies could also cause problems.

roger1818, then for your surprise i think it is time to look at the Af120 Spec sheet :)

flavoie, you are right. Very strange. :confused:

^^^ I think the rationale is not to interfere with other services like LAN networking over power lines, just filter for X10.
I picked up 2 x XPPF locally. It did not fix the interference I can hear from my AV receiver when the subwoofer is on, and I get about a 2dB drop in SNR for Global when the sub is turned on. This is by plugging the sub into the XPPF then the XPPF into the filtering power bar. I also plugged my 2nd XPPF the same way for my HTPC's UPS. I have something to play around, it's a start. Next will be ferrite cores which i am trying to source. The Tripp Lite Isobar is on its way, will come in a few weeks.

Hello!

I am located in Almonte and I'm looking to make the move to OTA. Now that I think about it my Rogers cable is actually being disconnected today. I recently picked up a OTA PVR unit and with it's little crappy antenna I could pick up CBC in HD. It was nice but I'll need more channels so I'm thinking of mounting an outdoor antenna on the roof of my house. My home is fairly tall.. (I'm terrible at gauging height but I'll say the roof line is probably 40' high).

Here are my tv fool results:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3dec12cb4aae1e82

Can anyone recommend some equipment and give me an idea of what I might expect to be able to watch? I'm considering the channelmaster 3679 but I'm obviously open to other suggestions.

Thanks!

To be sure, you need to rerun your TVFool fwith a 40 foot height above ground.
As it stands, it looks like you should be able to get all the local Camp Fortune stations, and you may be able to get some or all of the Herberts Corners stations if there are no other local obstructions. herberts Corners is due east of you -- is your line of sight obscured in that direction?

for a better feel for your local environment, use the TVFool online maps feature, and switch to Google's satellite mode, so that you can position your proposed receiving antenna location on precise locations on the roof of your house. You can also click on the "draw lines to transmitters" options, to see if anything nearby blocks your "view" of Herberts Corners.

Even at 40 feet, I suspect that the Watertown and Massena/Norwood stations are out of reach, except for exceptional weather events during the summer.

On analog, you have a chance at the CKWS repeater in Franktown, Global 2 from near Denbigh, and channel 5 CHRO Pembroke.

Thanks for the info. The map was useful.

I found a channelmaster 3679 last night (pretty much the last one in my area) but as luck would have it - it's now snowing! So much for getting up on the roof and attaching it any time soon.

I have a dumb question. I thought that the switch over from analogue to digital had already happened - why is there still analogue channels?