Don't get too excited yet...I believe they are only testing! My contact at CKCO indicates that the permanent digital signal won't be available until 00:01 on August 31st.

Great to see 1080i and PSIP data.

SNR of 33dB, and I'm rotated in the opposite direction. But that's expected, I suppose, given it's close proximity to me tower.

Hey, I am excited...if I can get this signal this clear...and it is only a test signal, then I'm hoping not to have too much of an issue at the transition with this one or CTV RF9.

Anyways...if it is a test signal, here's a little TSReader capture for all to enjoy. Maybe your contact can use the info/feedback.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Dl6hw4LjVzE/TlNFVhuAiaI/AAAAAAAACSo/SbUrGaPxvPM/s800/tsreader_CKCO.PNG

CFTO Toronto also testing digital on VHF.

SNR of 24.8dB here in Kitchener off my Antennas Direct C5 @ 66' above ground. Whew! What a relief....I thought I'd have to climb the tower and put up my big beast VIP307SR again to get Toronto CFTO after transition.

Yep thanks for the heads up. Here is the TSreader screen cap on that one. :D

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-VURxCU_bx10/TlNLZru0iYI/AAAAAAAACS4/p3u3wpOL8nM/s800/tsreader_CFTO.PNG

Good sign of things to come, as I'm assuming that they may not be going full up on the ERP...hopefully....

Anyways, this is off my DIY CH9 cut Yagi

I don't see why they wouldn't be testing at their full authorized ERP. If you're getting CKCO and CFTO in Hamilton well, chances are they're using their full authorized power.

However, SNR just jumped on CFTO to 32dB. Not sure if this is due to conditions, or transmitter tweaking...

CJOH is also testing on 13.1 here in Ottawa. Unfortunately I am not doing so well picking it up (no moving picture) but I have a poor antenna. Still, CBC and TVO come in at least 10 points better on the scale.

Someone in another thread reports the signal is strong so it could just be me. :(

At my location RF9 is good. Almost had decode on rf13. Had 30 need 40 to decode on mini-state. RF10 is looking weak. However my antennas are not optimized. My mini-state's rotor may be gone because it's not responding since yesterday so I can't turn it. Currently optimized for rf11 and buffalo's.

My Kross with vhf-hi is kind of pointing to WBBZ/CHCH and almost perpendicular to CKVR somewhat blocked by a chimney. I can't go up there right now to change it. Darn.

VHF9 Loud and clear here in Buffalo as well. Whew...Can still split the difference between Hamilton & TO to grab CHCH, CBLT, & now CFTO, while keeping Buffalos in tact. See if that holds up after transition and under a normal daytime VHF environment.

TsReader Dump (http://www.wuala.com/whosurbud/Documents/TsReaderDumps/Aug23_2011/)

~90% Qual on this ancient PC Tuner and no errors at all letting it run for about 5 minutes straight. Guide works on 2 tuners tested, looks like Region1 US Ratings info.

CTV 9.1 1080i is 80% SNR 26db. :)

I hope they just leave it on..

I'm seeing OMNI2 on UHF 44 here. Is that normal or could they be testing too?

Yeah, rf44 is nomal.

I went up in the attic and tried to reposition the Kross 4-bay with vhf dipole. I can get 11 with it but ckvr is just weak. Maybe 20% need 40 for decode. If this is full power then it doesn't look good for my attic install. RF9 still on. I wonder if they have actually done the transition tonight for rf9 and 10.

OK. It looks like it was a test because rf10 no signal and amalog 9 is back and they are again transmitting cfto on rf40. This is as of 5am.

I was hoping CKVR would be an easy pickup from here just south of Maple but the station was weak. On my attic installed Kross 4 bay antenna with the vhf dipole I am able to get rf11 (dist 35 miles). I was unable to get CKVR to even decode. Its distance is 60 miles so that would account for the weakness. The signal meter was about 20 and the lcd needs 40 for decode.

The Kross is using a Philips SW2083W/17 preamp with a 50ft run of cable. I initially had a cheap RS fm trap on there and thought that maybe removing that would help. I noted that that killed rf11 and rf10 so I put it back. The trap was inserted after the antenna and before the preamp.
I should note that I didn't try turning the antenna with the front towards CKVR since I just assumed that the dipole would be bidirectional. I never thought to give it a try until after they shutdown. The antenna is held up by an old pedestal that I scavenged from a broken fan. I tried a few different positions and orientations but no luck for decode.

As noted previously my mini-state antenna seems to have lost its rotor since yesterday. I was testing a new configuration by adding a distribution amp to its output and adding a 4way splitter. I put it back to the way it was.Today I noticed that the remote couldn't activate the rotor even though it was getting buffalo signals. Checked everything. I wonder if not unplugging it when I made these changes may have zapped something. Since its chimney mounted I would have rotated it around to see if it could have picked it up.

So there you go.

EDIT: It looks like I got my distances wrong. I was looking at an old TVFool that wasn't exact enough. I just redid it and my distance to CHCH is 45 miles LOS and a NM of 33.4 db. CKVR is 37 miles 2-edge with a NM of 10.8 db.

Well, to me it was a very successful test. :D

Well, to me it was a very successful test. :D

Well, I wish my results were better. Live and learn I guess. Now I have try to figure out how i'm gonna tackle this.

The /A\ Windsor digital switch over is scheduled to happen at midnight Aug 30th. :cool:

Are they doing some fiddling with the transmission stream for the upcoming analog-shutdown? CIVT Vancouver has been switching between DD5.1 and DD2.0 sounds these days. In addition to lost of audio quality with DD2.0 sound, the changes in TS stream confuse my video editing software into thinking a 1hr TV program as a 24hr TV program.

thanks mrpeter, figured as much just checking.
Does anyone know if there's anymore "tests" scheduled this week?

Good question, Majortom. Last night the CTV's tested. And apparently CTV2 in Barrie. I'll keep checking CFPL (CTV2) London tonight to see if they test.

I'm getting a slight signal on RF10.1 tonight, but I can't tell if it's CKVR testing, or maybe just some signal making it to me from Rochester's WHEC 10.1

My TSReader is out of commision at the moment due to a PC hardware issue. Can anyone see if this might be some CKVR testing?

I'd take a look at Analog 3 but my CM4448 can't do diddly in VHF-Lo.

CIVT Vancouver has been switching between DD5.1 and DD2.0 sounds these days.
Emailed CTV and they said they've been indeed switching equipment on the signal transport path for maintenance and is now done.