An update to my ota experience.

While loosening the coax cable from the t.v. to connect my paper clip antenna, I noticed that just by loosening the coax cable, with antenna menu set to "cable off", my t.v. was picking up the CBC DT station. Today I scanned again and was able to pick up all 4 stations (including 2 SunTV subchannels) transmitting from CF.

Anybody know what's acting as the antenna here? I have a cable from the wall conected to a sd digital terminal which is connected to the t.v. It's the cable from the terminal to the t.v which was loosened (and still in the antenna port) that gave me ota hd. But if that cable is completely removed from the t.v. there is no signal at all.

I wanted to provide an update as well.

I had originally been able to receive Omni 1 and 2 via a single DB8 antenna pointing out of a window towards CF but have been unable to do so for the last few weeks. I am able to receive Omni 1 but not 2. I am located in centretown Ottawa near the Queensway.

I may be able to set up a second antenna (anyone have a spare GH?) to point towards HC. What would the challenges be in trying to combine the signals so I don't have to use an A-B box and can instead have one input into my TV (with a splitter to provide an input as well to my receiver so I can record OTA, specifically at this point CBC-HD FIFA soccer)?

I may be able to set up a second antenna (anyone have a spare GH?) to point towards HC I simple reflectorless GH10 pointed at HC will do, at least it does from my location in Kanata. Mine is constructed out of 5 feet of 10 AWG romex split and stripped clean, a 3 feet peace of 1x4 and a BALUN that I picked up at the local Buck or Two (2 for $1.50). You can get 15 ft of RG6U at the Dollarama for a BUCK 25. I am working on an improved design and build GH.

First time I have posted here. Glad to find a site like this!

I am receiving

CBC (CBOT on virtual 4-1)
CBC French (CBOTF virtual 9-1)
SUN (CKXTD virtual 20-1)
SUN subchannel (CKXT virtual 20-2 in 4:3 format)
OMNI 1 (CFMT virtual 27-1)
OMNI 2 (CJMT virtual 60-1)

Bruce

Thanks for the responses, and sorry for the delay in responding. Fred Flintstone lives in Ottawa, in Westboro actually, right between where they broadcast analog from Camp Fortune in Gatineau and Manotick from the south.

From the responses, it sounds like I would be better off getting a small combo. I am not really concerned about aesthetics, there are lots of trees between my roof and the street (but not in line with the transmissions). I am going to buy an eaves mount, and mount it on the north side of the house. Based on the antenna chart, I was going to order a Delhi VU 934 assuming it can be supported by an eaves mount. I don't need a pre-amp according to my research, it may actually make the signal worse since it is so strong according to TVFool. And I was originally considering a rotator, but I think I will try it without to start. Easy enough to add one later if I think it will improve the signal. For now, digital broadcasts are supposed to start this month in Ottawa, and I have already cut off cable TV. My 50-inch plasma has a built-in ATSC/NTSC/QAM tuner.

Thanks,
FF.

Fred Flintstone lives in Ottawa, in Westboro actually
Perhaps stick that into your user profile, if that's okay.

If all you want are the channels from Camp Fortune, then just about any small antenna will work fine. But the other half of our local channels come from the South, just beyond Manotick.

For now, digital broadcasts are supposed to start this month in Ottawa
We've had digital broadcasts here in Ottawa for the past couple of years now. Currently there are five (local) digital stations in town (three from Camp Fortune), with more on the way as time passes.

From your location, you should be able to view the Camp Fortune digital channels by simply inserting one end of a 3" long (unfolded) paperclip into the antenna jack at the back of your plasma TV. Seriously!

Cheers

Hello fellow Canadians!

Centuries ago, I picked up a Win-TV HVR 850, in hopes to watch CBC-HD over the air. I'm in Russell, Ontario, and the CBC tower sem to be 46.5 kilometers away, at camp fortune. The CBC's HD tower is 36.3 kW, which doesn't seem to be enough for my Tuner to pick up. I bought a Drop-Amp, which doesn't seem to be helping. What can I do!


Thanks,
Taylor

Err - Sorry, 90.7 kW.

Centuries ago, I picked up a Win-TV HVR 850, in hopes to watch CBC-HD over the air. I'm in Russell, Ontario, and the CBC tower sem to be 46.5 kilometers away, at camp fortune. The CBC's HD tower is 36.3 kW, which doesn't seem to be enough for my Tuner to pick up. I bought a Drop-Amp, which doesn't seem to be helping. What can I do!

Any or all of these:

1. Higher antenna placement.
2. Higher-gain antenna.
3. low-noise mast-mounted pre-amplifier.
4. Better (newer-tech) tuner (eg. HVR-950Q instead of HVR-850).

Cheers

Thanks mlord!

It's a 2 watt, 10 decibal gain signal amplifier. It's got a 5dB max noise (50-500 mhz) and 7dB max noise (501-900 mhz). Input/output return loss is 5 dB. Is that a good enough amp?

Unfortunately, I'm way to cheap to pick up the 950Q, and also, theres a crappy return policy on this, so I'm stuck with this for now. Would the 950Q really improve signal?

Lastly, anyone know agood antenna buying guide?

Thanks,
Taylor,


Update: Found a great RCA UHF/VHF/FM antenna in my garage. Seems to be awesome for an indoors antenna, althoughI'm still browsing for a good outdoors one.

TaylorTech,

have you looked at post #6 here :

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=97121

Thanks mlord!

It's a 2 watt, 10 decibal gain signal amplifier. It's got a 5dB max noise (50-500 mhz) and 7dB max noise (501-900 mhz).
Mmm.. unless you have more than 80 feet of coax between the amp and the tuner, get rid of the amp. It is reducing the signal rather than enhancing it.

Something below 2.5dB *maximum* noise figure (NF) would be way, way, WAY better. Remember, a 3dB difference means "double" (or half) the signal.

Cheers

Hi.

I've been lurking through all these threads and would appreciate if someone could provide some advice before I hike up on the roof to install my antenna.

I live in Orleans (Ottawa East) and would like to catch the channels from both Camp Fortune and Heberts Corners. I've purchased a CM 4221HD and can easily get Camp Fortune by just placing it at a window.

Unfortunately I bought the antenna before checking out TVFool. When I finally did check out TVFool, http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d618ac5bdb51388, I noticed that one tower is to my south and the other to the west.

Before I climb up on the rook, I'd like to know what antenna you experts would purchase to get the channels from both towers. Do you think the 4221HD will be able to get both towers or would you suggest another antenna or setup.

Thx in advance.

TaylorTech, from Russell, you will likely need an outdoor antenna (attic mount at a minimum). Indoor antennas are only useful in urban areas where you are close to the tower. Amplifiers are only good for squeezing the last few oz. out of a good antenna and will not compensate for a bad one. I never recommend amplifiers (whether built-in or external) on indoor antennas as they usually make things worse.

Not sure which model of RCA Antenna you found, but I have had good luck with their indoor antennas in the past. Not as good as an outdoor one, but much better than the indoor Nextec antennas you get from The Source.

Indoor Antenna + duck tape = outdorr antenna.


Ok, FINE, if you really want, I'll go shopping. LOL.

As for the Amp, I thought/found it improved the signal slightly, as my TV tuner wouldn't be powerful enough to pick anything up, although, I might just be crazy and that might be making it worse.

As far as Antennas go, that antenna guide just confused the crap out of me. I've been looking at some cool DIY projects, but if anyone knows anything good for less than 150$, that's good too.

Just one last thing, LOL, am I too far? Because I will invest whatever it takes to get this set up ontime to watch Bon Cop Bad Cop in HD by this Sunday. :p


Your new, annoying friend,
Taylor

Hi All.
I live just outside of Arnprior and have been playing with my OTA antenna trying to get a few more channels (The Omnis), but from reading about their problems I guess it is not a good idea as my ATSC tuner has a on-screen programming guide.

I use an Anennas Direct DB4.

Here is my TvFool link.
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d618a68c57e587b.

So.....I guess my question is, All I get is..........

CKXT 20
20
20-1 SUN TV

CBOFT 9
22
9-1 CBC (F)

CBOT 4
25
4-1 CBC
All from the Camp Fortune Tower.
Nothing from the Herbert Corners (a.k.a. Manotick) Tower.

I have the antenna aimed at Manotick and I still get 98-100% from Camp Fortune, but nothing from the Manotick tower.
I can swing the antenna completely away from the Camp Fortune tower and still get 90+%?

Anyone have some insight into this?
Once CJOH is up and running from Camp Fortune I will be good, looks like quite a few channels on that tower are approved.

Thanks in advance.
Dave.

Once CJOH is up and running from Camp Fortune I will be good, looks like quite a few channels on that tower are approved.

Technically, none of the other channels are approved, they're just allocated. No other stations have applied for transitional licenses. CHOT, CFGS, CJOH, and CIVO have indicated to the CRTC that they plan to be up and running by September 2011.

I'm no expert but when I checked your TV Fool report it looks like the earth's terrain is in the way between Arnprior and the tower in Manotick. You don't have line of site to the tower that is broadcasting the two digital Omni channels. But you do have a clear view of the Camp Fortune tower that is broadcasting digital CBC English and French along with Sun-tv (only available in digital over the air).

Thanks towerDB8.
I do not really kown how to read the TV Fool report, but that sure seems to make sense.
I guess once the tower in Camp Fortue is all up and running I will some good TV to watch.
Thanks Again.

Dave

Can anyone tell me what DTV channel to tune my tv to for Omni 1, Omni 2, in the Cornwall region - it seems like Omni 1 is (27), Omni 2 (66) based on the thread, although their website says for Ottawa Omni 1 is (60) and Omni 2 is (14)???