@roger1818: You are correct. It's a plain old VHF antenna randomly twisted round till I got reception. Like I said, this is my temporary solution. Hoping to eventually build an antenna I can install indoors... Don't relish having to leave my window open in the deep depths of winter. :)

A reflectorless GH or M4 would be terrific for Hillhurst, and when Global DT moves up to Broadcast Hill you can add a reflector onto it if you like.

Just a technical question, if it's appropriate here ... the SNR reported by my software has never exceeded 27. Is it possible to achieve a better ratio? Is it a limitation to my usage of a VHF antenna?

Which software are you using? The ratio measured by ATSC tuners is BER (error rate) and not SNR, so that's an odd label your software is using.

See Post #17 in the OTA FAQ since it explains what ATSC tuners measure.

It's whatever came supplied with WinTV. The title bar says "Digital Signal Quality (AU8522)".
I'll check out the FAQ. Thanks!

I was driving down Barlow on Monday and got a look at Global Calgary’s studio building. I saw a tiny little tower with a grey semi-sphere thing near the top. Is THAT the digital transmitter? If that was it I’m surprised I can receive anything down here in the south.

Yep, that's Global's temporary pea shooter, but hopefully they get the new tower up on Broadcast Hill up and running soon. :)

Just a technical question, if it's appropriate here ... the SNR reported by my software has never exceeded 27. Is it possible to achieve a better ratio? Is it a limitation to my usage of a VHF antenna?

I suspect it is a limitation of your tuner. They probably consider it unimportant to know if the SNR is greater than 27 as you will have a perfect picture.

Don't relish having to leave my window open in the deep depths of winter. :)

You shouldn't need to. If you can receive UHF stations with a VHF antenna, when you get a UHF antenna, it should work indoors.

Calgary OTA HD channels:

Will all the current analogue OTA channels that go HD be in the UHF band? I need an outdoor antenna and am considering either a VHF/UHF one or a UHF only antenna based on what band the HD broadcasts will be.

From the Industry Canada database:

http://www.user.dccnet.com/jonleblanc/Canada_TV_Stations/

Present Analogue
Digital-Transitional
Post-Transitional16 CBRFT
21 CBRFT-DT
16 CBRFT-PT

9 CBRT
49 CBRT-DT
9 CBRT-PT

4 CFCN-TV
36 CFCN-DT
29 CFCN-PT

44 CHCA-TV-1
44 CHCA-PT

13 CIAN-TV
51 CIAN-DT
13 CIAN-PT

2 CICT-TV
41 CICT-DT
41 CICT-PT

38 CJCO-TV
29 CJCO-DT
38 CJCO-PT

5 CKAL-TV
52 CKAL-DT
49 CKAL-PT

32 CKCS-TV
32 CKCS-PT

You shouldn't need to. If you can receive UHF stations with a VHF antenna, when you get a UHF antenna, it should work indoors.
Indeed ... I've now built myself a four-bay bowtie antenna (without reflector). It lives in the corner of my bedroom and receives a steady signal about midway up my signal meter from both CFCN and CICT.

Just rescanned using my USB TV stick for my laptop, just for the heck of it, and discovered CFCN now has a subchannel 4.2, simulcasting 4.1. From what I can see, there is no difference between the two channels.
I've since discovered this is just a mapping problem within my software. I deleted the digital channels and re-scanned and found only one channel.

Just wanted to know if others were noticing the CFCN-DT program guide is woefully out of whack. The time appears to be off by several hours. It's now really 9:01 a.m., but the EPG shows 1:48 a.m. There is also no program info, just a program title "CFCN" divided into three-hour blocks.
In contrast, CICT seems to have fully programmed EPG data, with correct times and show titles.
Is this also your experience?

The EPG is included in the station's PSIP data (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=49384). Its probably being sent in that faulty way from CTV's master control, but call CFCN Engineering and tell someone that it is screwing up your TV's EPG.

I've just sent an e-mail to the broadcast engineering folks at CFCN. Thanks for the advice.

I have emailed with Jonathan H. @ CTV in June/July and 'they' completed a software upgrade and are now working on getting the PSIP data up to par: Quote: "With completion of the next phase of our master control system – I will now be able to focus on insertion of our PSIP generator.* I know this will provide an opportunity to not only resolve the issues you have listed but allow for new features to be implemented (eg. Filling in the event table data).* As with all technology these days – the ETA is challenging to predict but it is high on the priority list to get this PSIP generator functional."

So there is some movement going on. I noticed this after their last software upgrade on June 15th when their data (time and virtual channel) was no longer recognised by my (new model) Sammy TV. It now lists the channel as 36.1 instead of 4.1 (as it was done pre-15/6/2009).

I am located in McKenzie and have Line-of-sight to Signal Hill. Currently I am using those 'crappy' Philips (SDV2510) combo indoor antenna's and have 80% and up for both CFCN and CICT. All analogs come out fine except Access and CityTv.

Just wanted to know if others were noticing the CFCN-DT program guide is woefully out of whack. The time appears to be off by several hours. It's now really 9:01 a.m., but the EPG shows 1:48 a.m. There is also no program info, just a program title "CFCN" divided into three-hour blocks.
In contrast, CICT seems to have fully programmed EPG data, with correct times and show titles.
Is this also your experience?

They (at CFCN) are working on it, but could take some time because of time-, money- and experience-constraints.

Yes, Jonathan was kind enough to write me back later on Thursday and said they now have the info needed to start programming the PSIP data, adding that CFCN hopes to rectify the program info situation "very soon."

Nice that the person got back to both of you, and please remember to invite their staff to join here since we have plenty of industry insiders that have been members here for years. :)