@Obed (and others if interested)

If you're planning on filing an intervention with the CRTC about this, as mentioned, it's questionable if they'll care. However, since the papers (National Post, Globe and Mail and The Star) are broken up from the networks now perhaps writing to them about CHCH going dark in most places as well as the pending blackout of CFTO might be interesting to them.

Here's the contact info for them:

http://www.thestar.com/contactus
http://www.nationalpost.com/contact/index.html
http://v1.theglobeandmail.com/help/contact-paper/

As an aside I'm going to wait and see what happens with CFTO since CHCH doesn't matter to me but after Sept 1st if CFTO goes dark I may start looking in on that pre-amp thing (I actually realized I have this antenna (http://www.google.com/search?q=ANT-2104&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#q=ANT-2104&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=5Z8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=ivns&source=univ&tbm=shop&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=dPFKTui1MOrFsQKo3IHmCA&ved=0CEIQrQQ&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=752512fc60ceb0ac&biw=800&bih=415) which lists VHF in the specs and a 4228HD in storage either of which may work).

Can anybody recommend a good pre-amp that have VHF and UHF inputs to easily combine them from an honest Canadian online store or chain with a no hassle return policy? Ideally I'd just be able to grab it from Wal-Mart or Amazon.ca but I haven't seen stuff like that sold by them.

Price usually matters but I'd be happy to pay more for a great product.

Erin Mills Parkway and Thomas
Winegard PR-8800 at about 25' above ground pointed at Hamilton
CM7777
Signal strength: 72-73% on my 4 year-old Sharp Aquos

When CHCH-DT was on RF18, signal strength would be 78-80%. Not a whole lot different which agrees with me being within the 60 dBu contour.

nakedgord, u should check out the preamp thread, along with the preamp chart in post #1 of the preamp thread.

I got a reply from Mike at CHCH He said power level is 6.1kW
Even though my antenna model ANT-7288 and CM7777 pre amp picked up the analog signal before the change over he said I will need to have a VHF antenna. But he would not recommend any model.
So basically it's not their problem, but i think they should be told by all others out there that are having problems, so send them an email!

Sounds like Mike at CHCH knows their signal is now weaker and has less range then the analog signal did.The so called calculated required power to match analog coverage on VHF and the real world is off by about 10db.If A channel London can get 45kw why not CHCH?

I got a reply from Mike at CHCH He said power level is 6.1kW.

By way of comparison, on 12 June 2009, WWBT (RF-12) in Richmond, Virginia flash cut to the digital facility using the analog antenna, just as did CHCH, with 6 kW. And, as is happening with CHCH, complaints were flying.

Ultimately WWBT increased ERP to 26 kW. From what I gather, that 6+ dB boost was sufficient to satisfy most who had experienced reception problems before. A similar power increase (from 5 kW to 26.6 kW) was effective at WBAL in Baltimore, Maryland.

Both of these increases exceeded the power that had been allocated to both of these US facilities. And both only happened after the "real world" was observed in the days after the transition.

I think this thread is very useful (since CHCH staffers may be following it). I'm sure the reception reports are taken with great interest and MAY be of value in the event that CHCH seeks to increase power.

From what I have read around here, I would be shocked if even after being flooded with complaints, a Canadian Broadcaster anywhere opted to apply for any change much less an erp increase.

Originally posted by MajorTom:

nakedgord, u should check out the preamp thread, along with the preamp chart in post #1 of the preamp thread.

I may have to wade through that thread again (these giant threads with no organized info in this forum make my head swirl lol) if there isn't a easy answer like "Zellers" or "Superstore" that I can find.

Post a question in the preamp thread then. Provide all ur system details there including ur tvfool. Someone will respond with advice...

Once u make decisions, locally in GTA u can check out the OTA Forum Sponsor for pricing / availablility, even the Free To Air Satellite Forum Sponsor. They both sell OTA hardware.

So how do I get CHCH back. I turned my 4221 west and got nothing, well now I get TCT, great joy.

What do I have to do to get the channel back. I have already sent an email to CHCH indicating how disappointed I am.

Maybe if everyone sends an email they will get the point and boost the power.

In Brampton Kennedy and Sandalwood. 4221 no 30 feet up.

Any help would be great.

I emailed them yesterday, so far no reply. 6.5KW what a joke, worse than CFTO @ 10KW.

I suggest everyone no longer receiving their signal email them at contact@chch.com or feedback@chch.com.

It's the only way they will know.

CFTO at 10 KW is a joke, but they do have a lot more height than CHCH, so we may see better results with them.

At this point I'm going to wait until the change over is complete and see what Sept brings, Mike at CHCH seemed to think i would not pickup CKCO Kitchener or CIII from Paris.
But I would think if their advertisers knew CHCH no longer has the coverage area they claim that would go to their bottom line and then they would have to do something.

@Obed (and others if interested)

If you're planning on filing an intervention with the CRTC about this, as mentioned, it's questionable if they'll care. However, since the papers (National Post, Globe and Mail and The Star) are broken up from the networks now perhaps writing to them about CHCH going dark in most places as well as the pending blackout of CFTO might be interesting to them.

Here's the contact info for them:

http://www.thestar.com/contactus
http://www.nationalpost.com/contact/index.html
http://v1.theglobeandmail.com/help/contact-paper/

.

Good suggestion!

My media rants have been sent-->DONE.;)

At this point I'm going to wait until the change over is complete and see what Sept brings, Mike at CHCH seemed to think i would not pickup CKCO Kitchener or CIII from Paris.
But I would think if their advertisers knew CHCH no longer has the coverage area they claim that would go to their bottom line and then they would have to do something.
I wonder if CHCH's advertisers realize that their expensive TV ad's are now getting to only half the normal OTA coverage area?

I agree with you OTA Canuck, although I bet the contours were drawn assuming:

- using a true VHF antenna
- antenna aimed at the transmitter

I think what many of us are doing is using antennas not designed for VHF (part of the attraction of being an early DTV adopter was that you didn't need a monstrous VHF/UHF combo antenna), and aiming it to maximize the number of channels we receive.

I guess I should count myself lucky as I sit almost right on the 36dbu line.
Update to post 120. I was able to pickup CHCH with my original 4221 if it was about 15 feet off the ground and pointed EXACTLY at Stoney Creek. If I even gave it the slightest turn, NOTHING!

But I found out something interesting - if I turned it 180 degrees away, it was MUCH stronger and MUCH more forgiving of the aim. Maybe one of the antenna experts can explain this but if you have a 4221 and a rotor, here's a workaround!

From what I can tell, my original 4221 is catching CHCH off the side as it is pointing down the lake between Toronto and Buffalo.

I should have stats in a few days once my new HDHR comes in. My TV just says I have a "normal" to "good" (which is the best reception) signal strength.

I am interested in seeing what I get with CFTO. I get a decent analog signal, so I'm hoping I get enough of a digital signal with it without changing antennas.

I suggest everyone no longer receiving their signal email them at contact@chch.com or feedback@chch.com.

It's the only way they will know.
I fired one off too- A restaurant in downtown Hamilton, which I frequent, now has trouble getting CHCH when before it was solid.

Agreed. Between the e-mails on their website, contacting the newspapers (don't forget to hit up the local Hamilton Spectator newspaper), the CRTC and the civic leaders in your area, there aren't many other alternatives available.

Now, slightly OT, but I would argue that CHCH should no longer be eligible for simsubbing in Toronto with this new contour. I know I won't win that argument, but if no one in Toronto can get the station, then they should lose their subsub rights, especially out in the east end.