Now, the question is, will they go DTV in September 2011, or will they be a cable only channel. That 14 refers to their cable channel placement on Videotron. Has no reference to their OTA analog channel on 62. Nor any reference to the digital OTA assignment on 49.

Very strange, now that digital OTA makes it easier to pick up a channel, they reference their cable channel position.

well they can remap the OTA channel to their cable channel designation.

well they can remap the OTA channel to their cable channel designation.

Are the CRTC or Industry Canada going to permit that? I know in the U.S. stations were only permitted to remap to their old analog channel, as per ATSC standards.

Are the CRTC or Industry Canada going to permit that? I know in the U.S. stations were only permitted to remap to their old analog channel, as per ATSC standards.
OT: They should just dump remapping all together and make all stations rebrand.

Neither IC nor the CRTC have indicated any desire to regulate the PSIP activities of Canadian DTV stations, such as remapping, on-screen guides, or even using the correct time.

Let's get back to the actual transition events happening with the stations described in the thread title. :)

It is also interesting to learn that they're sending their signal from their studios in Winnipeg via microwave to a tower owned by Rogers. Not that that's unusual, but I never really thought about it.

Not only is it not unusual, but it makes sense when you consider that Joy TV was previously owned by Rogers. They sold it when they bought CityTV to comply with CRTC regulations.

Neither IC nor the CRTC have indicated any desire to regulate the PSIP activities of Canadian DTV stations, such as remapping, on-screen guides, or even using the correct time.

Let's get back to the actual transition events happening with the stations described in the thread title. :)
Except for TSID. IC only cares that stations use their allocated TSID. The idea here is that the correct TSID is required for identifiying and decoding the signal. Anything else is just programming-related fluff. :-( .

I haven't heard if CHCH-TV-3 will shut down or transition to DTV.My crystal ball says 100kW ERP on channel 23
Sparx

Is there a time frame for that, Sparky2k?

My crystal ball says 100kW ERP on channel 23
Sparx
Considering how dense Muskoka is and that CHCH-TV-3 is broadcasting currently at 2572 kW, 100kW would be a big downgrade in power.

Considering how dense Muskoka is and that CHCH-TV-3 is broadcasting currently at 2572 kW, 100kW would be a big downgrade in power.

Maybe, but don't forget they are currently on channel 67 and will be moving to channel 23. The lower channel number will also mean less power is required to match contours.

Having said that, stations seem to be taking one of two strategies when trying to match contours. Some match the DTV urban contour with the analog "Class A" contour and others match the DTV noise limited contour with the analog "Class B" contour. If I remember correctly, the former requires less power than the latter. The CRTC/IC seems to be accepting either one equally.

As far as a firm date, it depends on whether or not the existing transmission line will be re-used. If a second line is being installed for the digital service, there could possibly be a period of twin stick operation. If the existing line is re-used I would expect a flash cut sometime prior to, (but not far from) Aug 31. Things are very much in a state of flux at this point, sorry I cannot provide any details at this time.
Sparx

According to Industry Canada's database, CHEK-DT has been approved by the CRTC. It will be on channel 49 with max ERP 28000 watts, average ERP 15000 watts. Details here:

http://www.user.dccnet.com/jonleblanc/Canada_TV_Stations/DT.html

According to Industry Canada's database, CHEK-DT has been approved by the CRTC. It will be on channel 49 with max ERP 28000 watts, average ERP 15000 watts.

That is great to hear! Last I heard they were planning on remaining on channel 6. Interestingly they will be slightly lower on the tower (HAAT of 480m down from 496.2m). I guess they want to install the new antenna before removing the old one so as to not be off air.

As most of you know, SeaTac has a thriving high tech industry with an ongoing need for bandwidth for all the latest, greatest networked and wireless stuff, so the rumours I'd been hearing for about a year were that potential U.S. corporate users of the VHF-LO band from down there had been very aggressive about pursuing that bandwidth. I'd heard from a retiree that legal letters had been exchanged and that pressure had been mounted to vacate VHF-LO. Sorry, no proof of that, but the source is a good one. So, I was of the opinion that CHEK would definitely vacate channel 6.

Regardless of what happened, good to see that they're well on their way to a UHF position.

Too bad something similar didn't happen here in Ottawa, silicon valley north, and have Global vacate its channel 6.

Ottawa is too far away from any major U.S. metropolitan areas for that sort of similar pressure to happen.

As most of you know, SeaTac has a thriving high tech industry with an ongoing need for bandwidth for all the latest, greatest networked and wireless stuff, so the rumours I'd been hearing for about a year were that potential U.S. corporate users of the VHF-LO band from down there had been very aggressive about pursuing that bandwidth.

Off topic I know, but I am curious what they are wanting to do with VHF-LO. Antenna size requirements make it not very useful for hand held electronics and noise problems make it problematic for urban use. I guess wireless broadband internet for rural/remote locations would be a good fit. Not a lot of money in that if they can't get urban subscribers though.

Looking at current uses of the entire VHF band (not just TV) some other ideas are:

Military VHF-FM (currently overlaps TV VHF-LO)
Extend air navigation beacons beyond 74.8-75.2 MHz


Ottawa also has a thriving hi-tech industry, particularly in communications (unlike SeaTac which is primarily software and aviation), so if this rumour is true, I am surprised there hasn't been similar pressure to vacate VHF-LO here, but we are stuck with Global on 6.

Ottawa is too far away from any major U.S. metropolitan areas for that sort of similar pressure to happen.

Why does the pressure have to come from the US? Do Canadian companies not have as much influence over the Canadian government as American ones?

I think I can explain better by saying that the bandwidth is allegedly desired by companies selling consumer gadgets. What are those gadgets? Beats me, but the uptake in places like SeaTac is always big because of the inherent "early adopter" mentality there. Ottawa has no major U.S. metropolis anywhere near it, so no such U.S. corporate pressure for grabbing that VHF-LO bandwidth exists. It's apparently about consumer goods, not R&D companies.

Keeping to the topic, does that clarify what I heard about U.S. pressure on CHEK to leave the VHF-LO band? :)

does that clarify what I heard about U.S. pressure on CHEK to leave the VHF-LO band? :)

Not really since I am not sure what consumer gadget would require a 6 - 9 foot long antenna (or maybe half that if using a monopole). Regardless of what it is, I am glad CHEK isn't using 6 post transition.