keep in mind that Global's digital channel is now on UHF (Channel 40) and not VHF (Channel 9). You might have better luck if you add a UHF antenna to your setup. Also keep in mind that CBC Winnipeg's new digital transmitter will be on UHF too, (Channel 28). The Winnipeg market will have a mixture of both VHF and UHF digital stations. CBC and Global on UHF, CKY and CHMI (CityTV) on VHF.

I just picked up an outdoor RCA 751 the other day and am in the process of installing it along with a new ATSC tuner card for my Home-Theatre PC (MythTV). CKND (Global) is coming in well but of course, I'm only about 7km away in Garden City.

Thanks for the info.

I realize that there'll be a mix of UHF and VHF -- I'm pretty sure it's a plot to make it that much harder to block the alien mind control signals.

I'm going to make a quick n dirty uhf antenna just to test for Global out here in Steinbach, since it's the only game in town right now.

Assuming I get Global, I'll wait 'til after the transition to see what other stations I get -- and will add a VHF antenna if needed.

If and when all that works, I'll start fishing for KNRR.

Take care!

I'm east of Ste Anne & we pick up Global HD. We just have to raise the height of our antenna, so that it'll come in all of the time. When it does come in, it's really good.

You should be able to get knnr easily in steinbach with a regular dipole. You should get cknd easily as well. On a good day, point that gh toward the southeast, and you may pick up those channels out of the warroad area as well. Good luck!

my parents are in New Bothwell & KNRR doesn't come in over there.

It should come in in New Bothwell as well. What kind of antenna are they using? Keep in mind that you need two different types of antennas for knnr and cknd.

they've got an omni-directional antenna, which is amplified before it goes into a splitter, 3 tv's to connect.

Is it a flying saucer looking thing? Chances are it is for uhf.

it picks up the global hd beautifully. Maybe when I scanned the tv, one of the other ones were on.

RottieGirl if you have the brand and model number of the antenna that would be great. In the OTA Forum we require as much information as possible to understand local situations. Here are some simple steps to take that will give us a ton of great info:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=125161

Well, I tried the infamous coat hanger antenna (I didn't have a long enough continuous piece of wire for the GH).

I got ZERO signal when trying to manual tune Global on Channel 40. Tried from the lower level of the bi-level the TV is in (didn;t expect signal there)... and tried from the garage attic where my current analog antennas are located. I tried with and without an amplifier from the garage attic location. Up in the garage attic the antenna is about 15 feet off the ground.

I am currently getting solid analog pictures from Channel 6, 9, and 13, a GREAT picture on Channel 7, and discernible but very snowy on 35.

I get NO signal on channel 40 with the antennas that pick up analog, or with the "coat hanger" antenna.

I realize there's a lot of controversy over the effectiveness of the "coat hanger" but I expected at least some kind of signal -- not zero.

In case anyone's interested, or it helps, following link is for my location's TVFool report.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d03f35df40a9609

I'll keep trying -- including different antennas -- and will post what I find out (or don't). Will accept any tips and advice as well (I've gotten kind of used to not paying for TV!).

Take care everybody!

I realize there's a lot of controversy over the effectiveness of the "coat hanger"Actually there's no controversy here... the are basically junk. :) No joke: OTA Clone, Coat Hanger, and Junk Antennas (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=106108)

If you can put together a proper DIY antenna you'll drastically increase your probability of receiving. Best Do-It-Yourself OTA Antennas - See these links (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=140206)

Also any chance you can put it outdoors instead of in the attic?

Thanks for the clarification on the "coat hanger" Stampeder! :)

My next step will be one of the antennas discussed on this forum. I'm leaning towards the hoverman since it seems to be the easiest build.

An outdoor antenna would probably be a bigger project than I want to tackle at the moment, but I'm not ruling out the possibility.

I'm going to check out a couple of options that may let me get to the attic of the house instead of the attached garage. Also, since the TV shares a wall with the laundry room, I may sneak a cable out the dryer vent and hold a test antenna on a test pole out on the raised deck. I should be able to get 30-feet of outdoor altitude that way. (and yes, the cable through the dryer vent would be just for a few hours as a test -- not permanent)

I knew I might not get great results the first time, but found the zero signal disappointing. Nothing to lose by trying a little more though.

Thanks for the feedback and help -- it's very much appreciated!

Built a Gray Hoverman.

Tried it in the garage attic (about 15 feet above ground) with and without amplifier. ZERO signal still.

If I'm getting zero right now, what are the chances of getting any useable signal if I get the antenna another 10 feet higher in the house attic?

Or can moving from an attic to outdoors take me from zero signal to useable signal?

Doesn't seem fair that the government can basically mandate me paying for cable by changing the TV system to one that I can no longer receive, but so far it's looking like I'll be paying the cable guy once the switch is made. Can't really afford to invest in a professionally made antenna and the tower to mount it on for only the possibility of getting a signal.

Hopes were high right up until tonight's zero percent -- even a 1 or 2% would have been enough motivation to keep sluggin' away.

If I try anything else, will post the results.

Built a Gray Hoverman.

Good move.

Tried it in the garage attic (about 15 feet above ground) with and without amplifier. ZERO signal still.

If I'm getting zero right now, what are the chances of getting any useable signal if I get the antenna another 10 feet higher in the house attic?

They're quite good. You could loose up to 20 dB of signal by being inside, depending on construction material, and the direction of the desired signal.

Or can moving from an attic to outdoors take me from zero signal to useable signal?

Absolutely.

Can you get channel 35 analog on your attic setup right now?

Doesn't seem fair that the government can basically mandate me paying for cable by changing the TV system to one that I can no longer receive, but so far it's looking like I'll be paying the cable guy once the switch is made.

Can't really afford to invest in a professionally made antenna and the tower to mount it on for only the possibility of getting a signal.

No, it doesn't seem fair, but a roof mounted antenna should get you at least 5 of the 6 Winnipeg/Portage stations come September. 9You might need a dedicated antenna for CITY on channel 13. I suspect channel 7 will come in fine. A Gray Hoverman with NARODS may be enough to get 13 as well.

Hopes were high right up until tonight's zero percent -- even a 1 or 2% would have been enough motivation to keep sluggin' away.

Don't get too discouraged -- most tuners don't work that way. If they don't see the ATSC pilot signal, then they will report 0%. On one of my tuners, I can start to get a signal at 10%, but it never reports anything between 0 and 10%. On another tuner, it will report signals as low as 10%, but it will not lock in until somewhere above 50 or 60%.

That's why I asked you how reception is on analog 35, since analog signals degrade more gracefully, and a watchable but snowy picture in analog compares to no-signal on a comparably powered digital station.

If I try anything else, will post the results.
Looking forward to hearing your results.

TVLurker,

Thanks for all the information, advice, and encouragement!

Yes, I can get a snowy channel 35 on analog.

It may be a while before I can make some more attempts, but will be sure to post results. Hoping that once the switch takes place and more people start looking for solutions, my bumbling about may help them avoid some stumbles of their own.

I think the next step is run a cable outside to the deck. We're in a bilevel with a raised deck so I can get some outdoor signal and a little altitude that way. And with a step ladder I can get on the roof (gonna need more cable).

Realize now I forgot to mention my "test gray hoverman" didn't have a reflector. Does the reflector just help, or make a HUGE difference?

Thanks again to everyone who's been helping me along with this! You can't imagine how much I appreciate it.

The reflector doubles the gain. (That's a 3dB difference).

Try the antenna with a reflector on the deck. Unless there are major obstructions around you, you should be getting a better than snowy picture on 35.

Also, come September, a Gray Hoverman without a reflector will not work for channel 7. It's actually the reflector that picks up most of the VHF signal, and re-radiates to the driven element. (You may want to use a separate VHF antenna on a rotor for 7, 12, and 13 anyway.)

Keep trying until you find the best reception on 35, and then try for Global again.
I suspect that you'll need to see a practically snow-free picture on 35 before you'll get reliable reception on Global.

Come September, CBC and CIIT digital should come in better than Global.

Awesome! Thanks again TVLurker.

I don't understand 3db difference, but I DO understand double the gain.

My test version of the Hoverman is copper wire fastened to a piece of 1/4-inch plywood I had handy -- I imagine a reflector behind that wouldn't help much.

I'll wait until I have time to rebuild it with a frame and reflector and then try your suggestions.

Take care and all the best!

A reflector will be fine, as long as the wood stays dry. If the wood gets wet, it becomes the reflector, and may be too close to work properly.

Depending on how wide the wood is, you could try aluminum foil on the back of the wood as a reflector.

For use outdoors, closed cell foam (with aluminum foil on one side) which won't absorb water would be better than plywood. (Although if you paint the wood to seal it, you might be ok in the rain.)

Then I'll try and find a way top get some foil 100mm behind the elements.

This is all just for testing to see if I can get a signal, so I'm not concerned about rain or wet wood at this point. If and when I do get a signal, I'll build a better, more permanent one (weather-proof, if it has to be on the roof instead of in the attic).

Again, appreciate your help! :D