Please note there is now a station status thread available covering Northern Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=144886
That thread is to report changes or disruptions in TV station operation. For a more detailed explanation, please see this note from Stampeder (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=144891).
Please continue to post reception results in this current thread.
Thanks!

In Marchand (20 mins southeast of Steinbach) I get CTV easily, +90% at all times no matter which direction I point my rooftop Winegard HD8200U antenna (no amp or pole). CityTV comes in clearly (60%) when I point the antenna at Portage or Winnipeg. I have never been able to lock on the digital KNRR, CKND or JoyTV even though TVFool says I should be able to with my deep fringe antenna. I will be ordering a pre-amp to eliminate line losses in my home. If I'm unable to lock a signal with CKND (or CBC when they go digital) I'll be forced to install a 50ft tower/pole or go to satellite TV. I received all these channels crystal clear before the digital conversion with a much smaller antenna.

@Jets1961

Here's a good link for all the Winnipeg UHF and VHF channels. http://theviewfromseven.wordpress.com/2011/06/24/your-guide-to-digital-tv-in-winnipeg-and-southern-manitoba/

Again, my question is, will a standard/chap UHF/VHF indoor antenna allow me to get CTV as strongly as I get Global? (In East Kildonan, Winnipeg.) I'm pretty sure right now my rabbit ears are only good for UHF, which is what Global is on...and comes it ridiculously sharp and clear.

I'm far from being an expert. However, I have an indoor antenna that says it's good for both VHF and UHF, and I live in east kildonan, and I still can't get City or CTV. I've read several coverage reports from people who live in the east side of Winnipeg and in the downtown, and all report similar coverage - Global is great, some get Joy, and City and CTV are MIA. Based on these reports, I'm not convinced that the problem is the end user.

Plum you will never get ctv as strong as global with an indoor antenna because ctv transmits from 25km south of the city. Global transmits from downtown Winnipeg. Ctv should be viewable quality though with an indoor antenna, all the stations should be viewable with an amplified indoor antenna within Winnipeg.

TVFool is a great resource but it's not accurate for Winnipeg. Like another poster said we should be able to get both UHF and VHF with bunny ears with VHF radial like I have.

CIIT is 12 mile away and CTV 25 miles away. You would think they would come in clearly with a antenna radials adjusted to the correct length for the frequency. I know at my brothers place in Toronto I could get VHF with a cheap bunny antenna.

I do have a networked home so I even turned off (at power source) a bunch of PC's and other electronic to eliminate interference.

As another poster suggested it might not be at our end. I think some of the tower TX may be low. Lets hope it a work in progress then.

I would really hate to have to climb in the attic and mount the antenna. :)

This surprises me. I would have expected best performance from the "ears" both being horizontal or almost horizontal, but if it works, it works.

You say you suspect an overloaded amp, do you know what kind of amp it is?

- Trip

The temporary spot where I have the rabbit ears mounted only have enough space for me to extend one element horizontally; the vertical element seems to be picking up a bit of signal from CHMI (13).

The amplifier I suspected of overloading was a no-name 10dB "booster" picked up from Princess Auto. I did end up making some other changes to the signal chain though, that now has all channels working well:

1) Changed out a cheap splitter at my TV (other line feeding FM receiver).

2) Changed out an RG-59 cable to the TV with a better RG-6 cable.

3) Added a small UHF loop pointed towards the SW (where I neede to point the rabbit ears to get CKY and CHMI well, I suspect I may have been getting some multipath on Global's signal).

CKY 7.1 has improved considerably tonight here in South River Heights. After several days of trying, I was finally able to repeatedly lock on to a signal. I'll take that to mean that they've cranked up the power tonight. Thanks to the engineers for their efforts, particularly on a Sunday!

I can't say the same for Citytv. No signal from them tonight. They should consider calling themselves Ruraltv, as there doesn't seem to be much "city" in their coverage area.

It seems like a lot of people in this thread are forgetting to give their location!

See the following: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=144911

I'm sure this has been asked and answered 1000 time in the forum, but I going to ask so we have it in this thread.

Which channel are VHF and which channel are UHF? I mean the true radio frequency that they transmit on.

I am looking to buy an antenna but I want to know if I need UHF and VHF.

Thanks, Joe
CTV (7) and Citytv (13) are high-VHF. The rest is/will be UHF (channels 14 and up).

You will need to buy a VHF/UHF antenna. It does NOT need to do low-VHF (2-6) as after CBC switches over, there will not be any channels there.

I'm in Riverbend, Winnipeg (near main and the perimeter).

My results are with an external, small high-vhf/uhf channel master CM 2016 antenna with preamp (CM 7778).

channel 40.1, 80%
7.1, 75%
35.1, 75%
13.1, 45%
I suspect CBC will be the same as 40.1.

I'm able to get a full perfect picture with all the channels.

CityTV has the weakest signal, but after watching it for a few days, it still comes in perfect with very rare pixelation. It's great.

Winnipegers, I think you'll really need an outdoor antenna to get 13. They're just too far and weak otherwise. South enders and probably get CTV with an indoor antenna. GlobalTV and (not yet up) CBC should be fine with indoor ones.

I highly recommend my antenna and preamp, especially since it fit perfectly on the old satellite dish mount. It's pointed at citytv out west, and is able to get all the other channels without issue. I bought both products off of amazon.ca (via "sunnydirect") and attached them to the previous satellite dish mount and cable. Also note that the thesource has nice ship-to-store services.

Sweet, I'm now able to get CKCK and CBKT at my work. Using an old "Radio Shack" indoor antenna. CBKT at 55% to 64% (fairly glitchy), and CKCK at 72% (smooth). Obviously no sign of Global CFRE, I'm pointed at the CBC transmitter anyway.

Pretty weak, but I'd chalk it up to the metal roof on this building.

In the East-end of Winnipeg, near Wayota @ Regent.

With rabbit ears,

CKY 7.1 100%
CITY 13/8 just registering, unable to watch.
JOY CIIT 35.1 80%
CKND 40.1 (9) 80%


For those of you having troubles with CKY, try moving your "rabbit ears" to a different location in the room. Ideally near a window for testing, southern exposure would be best. The constructions of many homes in Winnipeg is with Stucco held together with wire that maybe blocking the signal, or reflecting.

I will update when I mount in my attic, when or if it cools enough to get in there.:rolleyes:

From north Winnipeg, with my little outdoor antenna...

Wow, thanks to tropo I was able to tune in WDAZ (8) from ND this morning, a station 210km away in the states. KNRR didn't show up though...

Useless but interesting early morning scans :)

In Transcona just east of Plessis I get the following using a Channel Master 2016 that I just installed today:

CKY 7-1 = 90%
CKND 9-1 = 86%
CITY13-1 = 73%
JOY 35-1 = 90%

Pointed the antenna to the southwest...towards downtown. Really hoping to get a good signal from CBC when they get up and running. Want to get those Jet games in uncompressed HD!!! :)

There is no such thing as "uncompressed" HD OTA. ATSC uses MPEG2 video encoding, which uses compression.

It may be less compressed that cable or satellite, but not uncompressed.

we have the converter boxes..put up the antenna..(this one is good for 160 kil.
now it still won't work..realizing now the factor is probably the tall trees as we live off the highway..now what?/.is there an alternative other that raising the antenna 60 ft.? which is impossible..please help..hope i am posting in the right place..thanks..

Do you get the analog CBC repeater on channel 4 from Lac du Bonnet? It should be staying on the air, unlike 3 and 6 that will disappear soon.

Accorfding to TVFool, I don't think you'd have much luck with anything digital other than Global on channel 40.

What kind of antenna did you get?

Have you tried manually entering a channel eg: 7.1 to receive ctv? cbc lac du bonnet is on the air on channel 4. You could temporarily aim your antenna north and test out your antenna. You should receive 4, 7.1, 40.1 and maybe 35.1 if your lucky(in that order)

topaz_n29,

First, there is no antenna that is good for 160km. It makes me nervous to hear you claim this. Could you identify your antenna?

Could you post a TV Fool report link for your exact address? The TV Fool report can tell you if extra height can help by doing multiple reports at different heights.

The most important detail is the antenna and pre-amp if you have one. What brand and model are they?

Generic Contour Manitoba TV Fool Report:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d8387533ee74765

Your TV Fool report is pretty good for Canadian digital channels and maybe even one or two US digital channels.

You have a shot at TV reception. But you will need a proper full-sized VHF-high and UHF antenna. I suggest learning about the Antennacraft HBU55 and the Winegard hd7698p. You'll also need a good pre-amp such as the Channel Master 7777.

If you want to try for reception of KNRR (Fox) and WDAZ (ABC and CW), then you'll also need a rotor.

Check out Stampeder's Antenna Chart and Pre-Amp Chart.

Beware of false statements of no-name antennas that are frequently advertised on the internet.

I suggest focusing on trusted brands Winegard, Antennacraft, Channel Master, and Antennas Direct.

If you have a good antenna and a pre-amp and you're still getting nothing, then I would re-examine everything including your wiring and connectors. Is there a short somewhere? Did you use substandard coax connectors? Is water getting in somewhere? Something rusted out? When you're out in a fringe location, you have to get everything right. No twist-on cable coax connectors.

Good luck!