Thanks for the question.... I get CBC, SRC, SUNTV, OMNI 1 & 2 in HD. I don't get 46.1, 3.1, 14.1 or 13.1, I'm not sure which one is CITY HD. What additional stations will be coming in August? Is there a better antennae I could be using to pick up more of the available stations.
Thanks for the help.
Doug

Landowner,
from your TVfool report it looks like all of the channels that you want to get come from the E or SE. If you put up a directional antenna CM4221HD pointed to the ESE you will probably be in pretty good shape for all the stations you are going to get. The CM4221HD should do a lot better pulling in those stations than your flying saucer omni-directional antenna.

It would probably help if you list which stations you currently get, and which ones you want to get. Are all of your analog stations clear, how are they coming in? You should be able to get cityTV on 17.1(digital) and 65(analog).

Thanks for your comments. I get City HD as you indicated. I also get:
4,4.1 CBC
6 CII
9,9.1 SRC
11 CHCH (from Hamilton!)
13 CJOH
14 CJMT
20,20.1 SUN
24 TVO
27.1 OMNI1
30 TQ (poor reception)
32 LOS
34 V
40 TVA
43 A
60 OMNI
65 CITY
66.1 OMNI
All are good to VG reception except for 30.
Is there much more out there to pull in, in this area?
The saucer's rotator is shot but the antennae must be locked in the right position.
What HD is coming in August?
Thanks for the help....
REgards
Doug

Thanks for the question.... I get CBC, SRC, SUNTV, OMNI 1 & 2 in HD. I don't get 46.1, 3.1, 14.1 or 13.1, I'm not sure which one is CITY HD.

The CRC experimental stations (3.1/46.1/54.1) are usually not broadcasting, so you're not likely to get them. They're generally uninteresting video loops used to test new video technologies.

The only local station you are missing is CITY-DT-1 on 17.1, which is the weakest signal on the Herberts Corners tower.

What additional stations will be coming in August? Is there a better antennae I could be using to pick up more of the available stations.
Thanks for the help.
Doug
The plan is that all the rest of the Ottawa stations will be up by August.
The only two stations missing from the Industry Canada list are CIVO-DT 30.1 and CHCH-DT-1 on ch 22, but I believe they are expected to convert by August as well.

CJOH-DT 13.1 is not due to switch over until late August.

Note that SunTV may discontinue broadcasting sometime this year.
The expectation is that next September, there will be 14 local stations broadcasting digitally. In the west end, you may be able to get the CKWS analog repeater from Franktown, and in the south end, you may be able to receive the CKWS repeater from Spencerville.

No new stations are expected from the States -- CBS/Fox and PBS from South Colton, PBS from Lyon Mountain, and for some in the South West, ABC/CW from Watertown.

Hey guys,

Wife and I are running an experiment of dropping cable tv cold turkey and turning towards other options. In my thread on the subject HERE (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=135421) some of the guys advised me to look into OTA, which I have. Here is my initial results:


I have a CM4211HD connected to an EyeTV 250 Plus running into my iMac. The antenna is indoors (for now, baby steps). We have cathedral ceilings in our kitchen area with very little attic. I have a setup up on top of the closet in the room putting the antenna about 10 feet off the ground. There are 2 skylights near by and large window. It's the best place for now that I can actually take advantage of as the iMac is also in the kitchen:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5048/5382729413_6584f52e5b.jpg

I'm in the Castelfrank/McCurdy area (a little higher than most of the houses around the area., here is my TVFool:
based on indoor 10 feet high (current setup): Current TV Fool (http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d3cf4ed76667153)
based on outdoors on roof, 20 feet high (planned setup): Future TVFool (http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d3cf4a5289aa3e8)

I'm pointed pretty much right at Camp Fortune (23 degrees mag in my case) give or take a few degrees to the East.
I tried pointing between Fortune and Herberts corner but I get mixed results so for my indoor test I will keep focused on Camp Fortune unless someone has tips.

Here are my results:
Analog:
4 CBC. fuzzy but viewable.
5 A Channel. Lots of static, not viewable to watch tv but can see the channel emblem and hear actors talk
6 Global. Oh so close to being viewable, some horizontal lines and slight hiccups. Enough to not be watchable.
9 CBOFT. Comes in quite good, would be watchable.
13 CTV. Comes in excellent. This is good as I will be recording stuff for the wife.
14 Omni2. Can see video and hear but not watchable.
24 TVOntario. Comes in great, close tie with CTV for best clarity.
30 CIVO Top notch clear
32 CTS. Barely hear it, 90% static
34 TQS. Top notch clear
40 CHOT. Top notch clear
60 Omni1. Barely hear it, 90% static

Digital:
4-1 CBC amazing, no drops
9-1 Radio-Can Really good HD
20-1 Sun. really good HD

The only channel I'd really like to tweak is Global tv. It's so close but I can't seem to get it clean. I see in some posts that it is a weak signal. If there is anything I can do in the current setup that would be great.

The A Channel would be nice too but there is quite a bit more static on it.

In the spring I'm going to have the antenna properly mounted on the roof.

cyas

Bucketo,
Global (ch6) can have problems with FM interference. On my setup, I have the CM7777 preamp which has a built-in FM filter which cleaned things up for me.
You also might want to try pointing your antenna at about halfway between the two towers and see if you get both okay -- I have my antenna outside pointing south away from the CF tower and still receive everything from CF off of the back of my antenna.
Malcolm

If you put up a directional antenna CM4221HD pointed to the ESE you will probably be in pretty good shape for all the stations you are going to get.

The only issue with the 4221 is it won't receive VHF very well so Landowner would also need to add a VHF antenna. Looking at his TVFool results, since there is only about 40 degrees separation between towers, he should be able to use a small (suburban) VHF/UHF combo antenna. I know of a retailer that still has a couple VU-934SR (http://wade-antenna.com/Wade/900%20&%20VU%20series.pdf)'s in stock, which, IMHO, would be an excellent choice for him.

bucketo,

Very strange that you can receive CHRO (/A\) on 5 but not 43. I am wondering if your bearings are off and you are actually pointing west of CF, either that or something local is blocking the signal from Herberts Corners. Moving the antenna outside may help with that.

The CM4221 is a UHF antenna and will not receive VHF (channels 2-13) especially VHF-LO (channels 2-6) very well, so adding a VHF antenna would help a lot for those channels. VHF antennas are very big, so for indoors, rabbit ears are about your only option, but outside there are better choices. As malstew said, an FM trap may also help, but I would add an antenna that will work with channel 6 first.

Thanks for your suggestions Roger1818.
Is the VU934SRs available locally in Ottawa or from the link you provided in the note?
Would it fully replace the function of the HD360 saucer I currently have and pick up the HD signals as well as the saucer does?
Thanks again.
Doug

mrvanwinkles, thanks for the info

PBS 18.1 goes from 1 edge at 25 ft to LOS at 30 ft.
(you have a tower now? about how high is it?)
(you said you'd like PBS back. You had PBS before? Previous place?)
(personal opinion - go high up in your situation)

No tower now but looking into one as I thought I may need one for better reception. Had PBS when we first moved in about 10 years ago and it eventually disappeeared. Ack of the height...thanks!

...possibly multiple antennas pointed and combined or with separate down leads. Not sure. Multiple antennas/combining/distribution system... could get complex. Will keep it simple for now and just work on HD TV.

Thanks for the Pre-amp info as well (and to Roger1818)

Rogue,
where/how is your current antenna mounted? You might find if you simply replace it with a better antenna pointed in the right direction you get (PBS). From where you are you shouldn't have any difficulty getting CBS/FOX too.

Malcolm

Had PBS when we first moved in about 10 years ago and it eventually disappeeared.

Ahh ... I see ... perhaps disappeared with the transition to digital broadcasting.

No tower now but looking into one

Could always experiment first with an antenna temp mounted up on roof or chimney - just to see what comes in, before installing whole tower.

Just be very careful.

This sort of work is better in good weather - with no snow or ice or cold weather.

Thanks guys for the info. I played around again last night and Global comes in the cleanest when pointing down to Herbert's corner, odd eh. I bet it will work out much better once I move up to the roof in the spring. Nothing comes in crystal clear from Herbert's but you can tell that it's clear enough that moving up to the roof will clean up these other channels.

As for A channel I think I am picking up channel 43 and not 5 from my original post. Took a look in the eyeTV software last night and it appears to have labeled it channel 5 in the EPG.

Definitely looking forward to getting an antenna up on the roof in the short term, sometime in the spring. When that time comes and if I was to upgrade to a larger antenna would I have any chance of getting CBS due south of here?

Here is my updated tvFool report if I was on the roof:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d3cf4a5289aa3e8

CBS is listed just on the fringe for sure but might be out too far. Once we go digital here in August I should be able to get most of the shows the wife likes to watch on canadian channels (ctv, global, city etc)

thanks again guys.

Bucketo --

At the bottom of your TVfool report there is a link to an explanation of the numbers in the report -- according to this explanation: "you need to end up with an NM value above 0 in order to pick up a station." I think that at a noise margin of -16dB you don't have a very good chance of picking up ch7(CBS).

I would do things in stages.

1) you could try an FM trap/filter on the antenna -- this cleaned up ch6 for me.

2) I think that the CM4211HD is a very good antenna for your situation -- it is at least worth trying it out on the roof by itself. Ignoring ch4 since you already have 4-1(ch25), Ch6 is the only VHF-lo station that you have and you have a lot of signal strength where you are for that station.

3) If you are still having problems with VHF signal quality (you don't have LOS to HC) you can add on a VHF antenna.

Thanks for your suggestions Roger1818.

No problem.

Is the VU934SRs available locally in Ottawa or from the link you provided in the note?

No, it is not available locally. It is actually out of production and thus difficult to find, but has characteristics that make it desirable here in Ottawa. I do know of a distributor in the US that has 2 in stock though. It will require having it shipped to Ogdensburgh and picking it up there, but I may be coordinating a bulk order from them so you could piggy back on that.

Would it fully replace the function of the HD360 saucer I currently have and pick up the HD signals as well as the saucer does?

It will fully replace your saucer and should be much better than it for all local channels (especially from your location).

CBS is listed just on the fringe for sure but might be out too far.

I agree with malstew that at -16dB NM it too weak to receive reliably and I wouldn't spend any money trying. My rule of thumb is if it is close to -10 dB NM, great heroics are required. Much below that and it really isn't feasible.

Guys, great info and I'm learning at a fast pace here thanks to this thread. I will take your advice and report back later on as I upgrade my situation. Will leave CBS alone...

I think my time is better focused then on getting Global 6 and then CityTV from HC. That would cover off what we watch quite nicely.

No, it is not available locally. It is actually out of production and thus difficult to find, but has characteristics that make it desirable here in Ottawa. I do know of a distributor in the US that has 2 in stock though. It will require having it shipped to Ogdensburgh and picking it up there, but I may be coordinating a bulk order from them so you could piggy back on that

I would be interested in jumping in too if possible.

I would be interested in jumping in too if possible.
This antenna may or may-not be best for you . Can you provide a link to your TVFool results so we can help you make a selection?

BTW, this distributor has other obsolete antennas from Wade/Delhi (some of which are very interesting). Anyone interested in a bulk order PM me and I will send a list of what is available. I have no commercial interest in this, only want to order an antenna and see if we can save on shipping while helping others in the region.

Roger 1818...I'd like to try one of the VU934SRs if you can bundle it into your order.
Thanks for the guidance.
Regards
Doug