How big of an antenna do I need? I have tried something that looks like DVB-T 9 inch whip thinking it might work on my HVR-1600 but got nothing on channel 44.1 .

My "coat hanger" antenna is 4 bow ties that are stacked. Each pair is about 16" wide and the whole stack is about 2 feet. This is all copper 14 gauge and is on a piece of wood. No reflector and is travelling along close to 75 feet of coax to the TV. When I get the HDHR tuner. There will be a good 20+ feet of cable removed from the run.

I have a rinky dink two bay that is based on a fractal. I have not tested it yet but it is a LOT smaller than the others. When I get back from vacation, I can take some pics for you...

Where is Global Fredericton broadcasting their signal from? I just want to know if I'll be alright in Lincoln. If TV signal is as bad as cell phone coverage in my area, I am doomed.

According to Wikipedia:

CIHF-DT-1 Fredericton, NB 44 (UHF)
Virtual: 11.1 28 kW 163.5 m 46°2′26″N 66°29′24″W
Mt. Hope(?)

I'm getting absolutely nothing from 44 in Lincoln trying two different indoor antennas, two different TVs, and a Tivo Series 3. I can only assume these are being powered by Pringles cans and those discount batteries with the black cats on them.

I live not too far from the Lincoln Rd./Vanier Ind. Dr. intersection and was unable to pick up channel 44 at all with an admittedly crappy amplified antenna. The antenna works for UHF as I was able to pick up channel 19.

I then went to tvfool and downloaded the kmz map for Google Earth and found that my entire neighbourhood is in a gully and is likely to have an easier time picking up the signal on ch12 from Saint John once it gets converted.

That is funny.

The best test is if you can currently get the analog Global on ch 11. If you can, then you should be able to get the new digital one as it is being broadcast from the same tower. As a rough idea of where that tower is located, it is north of
Upper Maugerville and east of Penniac on the north side.

The only other explanation that could be is that they were doing a test on the very only day that I was home on vacation to pick it up. But that is far too coincidental. I am away from the house all week and will not be back till Sunday but when I am, I will check it again to see if the signal is gone.

It doesn't really surprise me if we can't get it in Lincoln. Nothing gets here except the bills in the mail.
I will try a different approach to get the signal but I think Tealshark is right about the pringles can and black cat batteries.

I am brand new to this forum but very interested in OTA digital tv. I have waiting since last week to see if they would turn on the transmitter here in the Saint John area. I just turned on the tv just before 6pm and it is coming in great here in Rothesay.

Funny to see Global popping up everywhere all of a sudden.

On my television it lists the channel number as 8-1 CIHF-DT but the actual channel number is 12-1 which is the licensed Digital Channel for Saint John. I am getting a very strong signal. My HD tv is in the basement and I only have it hooked up to rabbit ears with a booster. The signal is HD with 5.1Dolby Digital sound. Really impressed with the picture quality much better HD than Rogers or BellAliant can supply. Can't wait to see CKLT-DT later this month it is supposed to have an even stronger signal from the same transmitter site.

NTV is on air in St. Johns now on channel 21. had no idea they made so much progress! Their radio station OZ FM is on subcarrier 21-2. Who's watching & how is the signal?

Wharfe:

Just saw your message. I did a scan and the Sony picked up a digital signal on 21, but no picture. Signal strength is 68, but no picture seen. Maybe they are just broadcasting a blank signal? I will try 21-2 to see if OZ is there.....

My acsss box gets nothing! If NTV only has a 68 level, there is no way I will receive the CBC digital at its reduced level. Hopefully by tomorrow a picture will be seen. I will update then. If you are seeing a picture, let me know!

Cheers,
P.E.H.

NTV reception update:

I dug out a powered splitter I had around and voila, a picture on 21.1 (the Sony was set for 21!). The picture is really nice and the strength is around 73 on the Sony. The picture seemse to be a 4:3 letterbox program (some kind of Canada sings or something), maybe the news will be in full screen, if it is on next.....wowers, HD OTA!

I will update tomorrow when I have a little more under my belt....The access box now picks up the signal as well!

Cheers (at 112:30PM!)
P.E.H.

Funny to see Global popping up everywhere all of a sudden.

Well, except on my television. :)

No luck grabbing Global from the Saint John feed either (though I honestly wasn't expecting to grab that one in Lincoln).

NTV reception update:

I dug out a powered splitter I had around and voila, a picture on 21.1 (the Sony was set for 21!). The picture is really nice and the strength is around 73 on the Sony. The picture seemse to be a 4:3 letterbox program (some kind of Canada sings or something), maybe the news will be in full screen, if it is on next.....wowers, HD OTA!

I will update tomorrow when I have a little more under my belt....The access box now picks up the signal as well!

Cheers (at 112:30PM!)
P.E.H.
Glad you got the picture. A friend of mine with a Sony TV wasn't getting anything at first either, had to re-scan (I guess so the TV knew it was 21.1 instead of just 21)

Not all shows will be widescreen HD currently.

From what I understand, currently the HD programs will be..

Most local shows (News, Newfoundland Sportsman)
ET
Late shows
48 Hours Mystery

I was watching Letterman in HD last night and it looked excellent!

NTV has always had a rock-solid signal, glad to see that has continued into the Digital TV age!


With more in the future.

Once the fog clears I will get a pic of the new digital antennas on the tower.

If you plan on waiting for the fog to lift to get a picture of the antenna I think we will be waiting a looooooooooong time! I figure the reason why they took so long to get started with the HD broadcasts was the weather was so miserable and foggy they could not even trace the wires back to find the tower for the installation!

Anyhoo, I also stayed up last night to catch a bit of Letterman (way past my bedtime, good thing I am on vacation - last week unfortunately) to check out HD. It was spectacular! The regular 4:3 pictures are also great, with no pixillation or colour shifts and good sharpness. Too bad there is not more HD though....it will come in time I hope.

This morning I set up my Channel Master 7000Pal and it also went flawlessly, giving a great picture. My only minor problem is with my Pioneer Pro 111 not being able to zoom the 4:3 picture to remove the black side bars (this is for when the monitor is on in the background in the "theatre room") and I have to use one of the wide modes (short fat people!) which I hate. If I am actively watching the broadcasts I will use dot by dot for max picture quality.

The HD quality is great on the studio feeds for the news updates, etc. I have been waiting a long time for this. Now lets hope CBC does not screw things up an just go digital SD!

All in all, two thumbs up for NTV! Great job, completely smoked CBC!

Cheers,
P.E.H.

Well, except on my television. :)

No luck grabbing Global from the Saint John feed either (though I honestly wasn't expecting to grab that one in Lincoln).
Well you know, in a straight line, we are over 40km away from the Mount Hope antenna. It doesn't surprise me that we can't pick anything in Lincoln. I'll have to find my signal booster from the 80's to see if that will do anything.

An update on Global Saint John CIHF2-DT it was coming up on my TV as 8.1 and I noticed last night we were getting the Nova Scotia feed of Global Maritimes. This afternoon it switched. We are now receiving the New Brunswick feed of Global Maritimes and it only shows up as 12.1 CIHF-DT.

As of Aug 4 - Global Saint John has gone digital and the signal on the NS side of the Bay of Fundy is VERY CLEAR.