I've actually yet to find an antenna that works better for me. I have a Philips PHDTV3 that I got on a good deal and it doesn't work as well. I get higher SNR with the Sony rabbit ears.

That doesn't surprise me. I have never been a fan of amplified indoor antennas as the amplifier tends to create more problems (noise) than it is worth. I have had good luck with a simple RCA's passive VHF/UHF indoor antenna in the past. I can't remember the model number but is just a simple antenna with a loop. Nothing fancy and certainly not expensive.

An even better option would be to go with some type of 2-bay bowtie antenna such as a DB-2 or CM-4220. While not technically an indoor antenna, it is small enough to work well indoors. It is UHF only however.

Let me just start by saying that I knew absolutely nothing about OTA, DTV, ATSC or anything else about television and antennas about 3 days ago. I've had a set of rabbit ears for years and I received enough channels to satisfy my t.v. needs. After hearing about "the switch", I decided to do some research and now my head is spinning. I've spent several hours reading through the OTA FAQ's and I've sifted through some of the threads, but I still haven't found what I'm looking for.

I'm a suburban neighbourhood at the southern end of Ottawa. Does anyone sell outdoor antennas in or around the Ottawa area? Are outdoor antennas allowed in suburban neighbourhoods? Can't I hire a professional to install one for me? I'm pretty handy with making things, but I can't seem to find any plans, either. Can someone at least steer me in the right direction? At least some sort of starting point? I feel like I'm going in circles now. Thanks a bunch!

Nerium

Nerium, welcome. I hope we can help you make sense out of the chaos.

I've had a set of rabbit ears for years and I received enough channels to satisfy my t.v. needs.

If you are happy with the channels you are receiving, you can likely continue to use the same antenna for years to come as they will work with the digital broadcasts (unlike what the antenna manufacturers like to say, there is no such thing as a digital or HDTV antenna).

Which channels are you receiving? If the picture quality is reasonable currently, an outdoor antenna will likely only help you bring in weak signals more reliably. Don't forget that Canada's analog shutdown isn't until August 2011, but there are 3 stations in Ottawa broadcasting digitally already. To get those, all you need is an ATSC tuner (either built into a new TV or as a set top box from the US).

Does anyone sell outdoor antennas in or around the Ottawa area?

They are getting harder to find. The Source used to sell them, but unless you can get an old antenna on clearance, most of the antennas they sell now aren't very good. Strangely enough you can try Princess Auto and see if they have anything.

Are outdoor antennas allowed in suburban neighbourhoods?

Yes, they are. Post #10 in Reload this Page OTA Reception - Legal Aspects (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?p=810633#post810633) talks about the bi-law in Ottawa regarding antennas.

Can't I hire a professional to install one for me?

Yes you can, but I only know of one, but there may be others. OTA: Ontario Parts, Sales, Service, Installers (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=23984) is the best place to ask that question.

I'm pretty handy with making things, but I can't seem to find any plans, either.

Check out the threads Generation I Gray-Hoverman Antenna (SBGH & DBGH) (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=81982) and Generation II Gray-Hoverman Antenna (SBGH2 & DBGH2) (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=85987).

I hope this helps and if you have any more questions, please feel free to ask.

Still trying to get CBOT-DT and CBOFT-DT to no avail...I installed a Channel Master 7777 Preamp on the roof. Nothing..although it will help later on for other stations.

I check out TVfool with my address: Here are the results:

CBOT-DT NM (dB)= -6.3 Power (dBm)=-97.1

CBOFT-DT NM (dB)=-5.7 Power (dBm)=-96.7


Miles to the transmitter=77.3 miles

As I mentioned...I usually pick up both stations at night OK...but during the day my signal meter fluctuates wildly between 5-23.

Am I up against a hopeless cause to pick up these station during the day?

Am I up against a hopeless cause to pick up these station during the day?

As Marc said in the CBC-HD Official Thread (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?p=815855#post815855), you are well out outside of CBOT-DT's coverage area and are going to have troubles receiving it reliably.

The only thing I can think of that might work would be to gang 2 CM-4228s together to make a 16 bay antenna, but there are no guarantees that that would be 100% reliable. For that you will have to wait for CKWS-DT to go on air, but who knows when that will happen.

Thanks Roger-
I looked at the TVfool results again. Outside of the CBOT-DT issue (CKWS will be an easy catch)...I think I may be able to circumvent CBOFT with the proposed CBLFT signal that will be coming out of Kingston. CICO also has a proposed Kingston signal as well. I think the CJOH-DT signal from Deseronto will be reliable too (58 miles). If you feel differently..please let me know.

All the other English Ottawa signals seems to be a stretch...probably nighttime or tropo catches. Including CIII, CHRO, and CITY.

I looked at the TVfool results again. Outside of the CBOT-DT issue (CKWS will be an easy catch)...I think I may be able to circumvent CBOFT with the proposed CBLFT signal that will be coming out of Kingston. CICO also has a proposed Kingston signal as well. I think the CJOH-DT signal from Deseronto will be reliable too (58 miles). If you feel differently..please let me know.

Outside of major cities, I wouldn't hold my breath for small market non-commercial repeater stations converting to digital in a big hurry. (That would include CBC French and TVO in Kingston.) As for CJOH CTV Deseronto, again I see the priority might just be to cover Belleville and Kingston, and not necessarily upstate New York.

Just my opinion, of course, and I'd prefer to be wrong in this one. :-)

jiminct, I don't trust TVFool for Canadian stations as it typically doesn't have accurate data.

I agree with tvlurker and I am not holding my breath that any of the repeaters you listed will convert to digital but instead may instead choose to shutdown in September 2011 (I hope I am proven wrong and only time will tell).

It is highly likely that CKWS will migrate to digital however as it is privately owned and the owner (Corus Entertainment) won't want the station to disappear.

As for the other stations in Ottawa, they will certainly be tough to get. There is always the possibility that some of them may go dark as well, but I think Ottawa is a large enough market that it is unlikely.

jiminct, I don't trust TVFool for Canadian stations as it typically doesn't have accurate data.


There are some inaccuracies (like listing CHOT transmitter as being in Limoges, because Radio Nord once applied to move there, but later changed its mind), and some stations are missing.

The biggest 'inaccuracy' is actually a semantic difference. Candian border stations exist inb the FCC databse for protection reasons, meaning that a planned US Station cannot interfere within a Canadian station's contour on the Canadian side of the border.

Industry Canada wants these contours protected to the full extent of their maximum size, not their 'as built' size, so allocations are all listed at the maximum power for their class. I highly doubt you would ever see CJOH-DT at 550kW on ch 58, for example, but Industry Canada wants the FCC to protect that allocation 'just in case'.

Other inacuraccies include missing data for Radiation Center above mean sea level -- IC uses EHAAT instead, but TVFool usually uses RCAMSL, unless manually overridden (like was done for the Ottawa stations.)

Another inaccuracy is that the FCC does not have the antenna pattern info for Canadian stations, so all station contours are calculated at their maximum ERP in all directions.

Jimnct, what kind of antenna are you using for UHF? This would be one of the factors you should look at. As well, does your 70 ft above the St Lawrence get you above the cliffs across the river ? - east of Butternut Bay through / Hallecks . I am NW of you at Tilley (see Google maps), 395 ft ASL.

Hi abbie-we have a Radio Shack 80" Boomlength 32 element antenna. We are on a cliff right 70 feet above the river across from Chimney ON (thousand islands parkway). I think we should be able to get over the cliffs at that height. Then again...I see you are father north (technically) and you are also at higher sea level. I was up this weekend (we fished Pulaski today)...but again...CBOT and CBOFT didnt come in during the day. I think the earlier replies might be the most telling. At 77 miles from the Camp Fortune towers...I may be too close to the river or I'm just too far from Ottawa. Are you locking in CBOT all day without interruption?

Since early September, we have had reliable reception of WNPI-DT[123] at our tower here in Bells Corners, with relatively few dropouts.

But as of 01-November, it's just.. gone. Nadda. Nothing.

Peculiar, but at least it's back to "normal" after two months of near bliss. :)

Since early September, we have had reliable reception of WNPI-DT[123] at our tower here in Bells Corners, with relatively few dropouts.

But as of 01-November, it's just.. gone. Nadda. Nothing.

Peculiar, but at least it's back to "normal" after two months of near bliss. :)
Okay, reception returned yesterday for the Obamamania coverage. Even the single SBGH10 lower down (and tilted wrongly) can pick it up now.

Cheers

Do you think I have any hope of getting WWNY after 2009 with a cut channel yagi?

I've scaled 12 element yagi up to channel 7 using 4NEC2:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=25677

Thought I'd share my experiences. I bought the Hauppauge 1600 yesterday and out of curiosity tried the ATSC tuner using a cheap $2.99 antenna 10cm stick that I ordered from China to watch analogue channels.
Blimey, I managed to get SunTV and CBC. The quality was fine on my PC with no stuttering when I found the best spot for the antenna.
Is there an ETA for CTV and Global to broadcast in HD? They are the only channels I usually watch.

Friko, welcome here.

For ATSC tuner cards here's the thread:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=42094

For checking on Station Status in your area, here's the thread:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=69697

Is there an ETA for CTV and Global to broadcast in HD? They are the only channels I usually watch.



No.
CTV Ottawa says it is in the hands of CTV corporate, and no decision has been made yet.
Feel free to email them to ask, though.

No word on Global, but given Canwest's financial situation, I wouldn't hold my breath.

OMNI1 and OMNI2 should be on the air digitally by the summer.

Stampeder, maybe we should add a 'coming soon' table for approved DTV stations. That way, people will know that the OMNIs are coming, but there are no plans for anyone else yet.

Thanks for the info. I'm in Nepean.

Here's the antenna: I'm using http://www1.dealextreme.com/productimages/sku_5189_1.jpg

Interesting little antenna Friko. Probably doesn't have very good gain so it would only be useful in urban areas. The listed frequency range includes VHF-HI (7-13) and UHF (14-69) so it will probably be good enough for DTV as VHF-LO is likely not to be used after 2011.

One question though, is that an RCA connector on the end? If so, how did you convert it to an F-connector?

Interesting little antenna Friko.

How well does it work with horizontally polarized TV signals? I don't think any of the Ottawa TV transmitters are using elliptical or circular polarization.

One question though, is that an RCA connector on the end?
No, I think it looks like a standard European RF connector whose name escapes me at the moment.

Should be fine for CBOT-DT in a window facing north. For SRC and SunTV, he may have trouble now and then.