Afternoon all,

I recently switched to OTA using the Terk HDTVa.

I am able to receive 5 HD channels (CTV, Global, Omni, a religious one, and something I'm forgetting), but have not been able to receive CBC. The TV Fool shows that the CBC antenna is closer to me than the GTN (Channel 2), and actually seems to share the CKAL antenna.

http://www.tvfool.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=90

My channel's align with the 'Analog' side of TV Fool. Should I be on the 'Digital' side? If so, how do I get it to receive? So far, my set up has consisted of pointing it to the NW and then running a channel scan

The station you're forgetting is probably Citytv.
As for TV Fool, it is still in the midst of finalizing their Canadian lineup.
For the best results, you can sort by digital only in the Pending category.
That will show you the proper, current channel listing for most Canadian cities. For Calgary, it still shows an erroneous/extraneous entry for CTV on Channel 36.
BTW, the link you provided above does not show us your TV Fool report — rather, it links back to the address input screen. Perhaps you can post the link again? Use the TV Signal Locator (http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29) instead of the map function to share a link.

Actually, after accurately locating the receive location on the map, you can click the "make radar plot" button to get the normal report. Share the URL for that.

I read that the COLOR of the result will give me an idea of what type of antenna I can get away with... but I'm colorblind and can't make any sense of my results! :o

Can I get away with only an indoor antenna?

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3dec1235afe18dfb

Thanks!
Lance

You can certainly give it a try.
Everything is green in your TV Fool report and you're about 10 miles or less from Calgary's transmitter sites.
Can you tell us a little bit more about your expected setup? What neighbourhood are you in? Is the room where you've got the TV antenna facing the right direction? Is this higher up or will it be in a basement? What kind of antenna are you using?

My location is in Haysboro.

So, I guess I have 3 questions:

The room with the TV is at ground level and has 2 big windows facing north and west... Conveniently, I think this is where I would want to face the antenna, right?

My full story is that I actually haven't got a digital TV right now and really ONLY want to buy one IF I can get OTA reception... on my old analog tv with rabbit ears I used to pick up channels in this location, but not sure if that says anything. Just so I don't waste time/money buying a TV if chance of success is small, how likely do you think I am of getting reception?

As far as antenna, I was hoping you'd be able to predict what sort I'd need?

Thanks for thoughts.

From Haysboro you should be able to get the 6 HiDef channels no problem. I live in Tuxedo, and get perfect reception with an indoor Terk-HD antenna in my basement - on the main floor you should be fine. Just this week I purchased an outdoor antenna because I need to split the TV signal 4 times, and the Terk wasn't quite good enough for that, but for a single TV something like the Terk should be perfect for you. (I know where you could get a used one :-) ).

I would say your chances are excellent. Let me explain:
My best friend used to live in Haysboro, not far from Elbow Dr. and Southland Dr. S.W.
Back in the day, we built a cheapo, quick-and-dirty YouTube-style antenna. With the antenna in the right spot, we were able to get CTV and Global just fine. (Those were the only two digital channels on at that time.)
I suspect with a superior antenna — like the Terk in rsambuca's post — you should have little to no trouble, as the stations have significantly improved their operating parameters since then.
Also keep in mind that with an indoor antenna, you might still need to experiment and move it around to find a sweet spot in which you'll get perfect reception for all six local stations.

Well, I had Optik TV just for the CFL season...Once the Grey Cup is done so is my Telus TV (at least until next CFL season).

I'm going back to OTA and have my usual channels, except that I notice that Access TV is no longer there...Will it ever be back? Or maybe am I not searching the right channels?

At any rate, I am very happy with my OTA signals in NW Calgary...

Sadly, CTV2 (formerly Access) is no longer available in OTA anymore.

hi,

Bought a new place in Copperfield. Is there any hope for me with OTA ?



Galaxysurfer

@galaxysurfer: Welcome to the forum and congratulations on the new home! :)
Have you been through our welcome thread?
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=125161
It contains useful instructions so you can help us fellow-members help you better.
You should be just fine in Copperfield, but those instructions will allow us all to see how things will look more specifically.

I finally relocated my rabbit ears the other day, and now I get 100% signal on all channels on my DTV box.

I just got my first HDTV and for kicks decided to plug in my 10-year-old rabbit ears... well, I got all local channels!

I've used it for a couple of weeks now and it's pretty good, although once in a while it'll pixellate and I'll have to fiddle with the rabbit ears...

I'd like to see if I can get it more stable.

My question is, since I'm getting almost acceptable reception with only rabbit ears, do you think I'd be be good to just try building one of these coat-hanger type antennas or best to go buy one of those basic $40 Terk ones?

Everything is green in my TV Fool report and I'm about 10 miles or less from the transmitter sites.

Thanks,
Lance

Previous post: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?p=1352473#post1352473

After poor picture quality (video freezes for several seconds but continuous audio) with 100% signal quality for the last couple of weeks, CKAL/CityTV Calgary appears to be off air tonight (Thursday 2012/01/19) on ch49/5.1
A channel scan didn't find it, either...
Does anyone have any insight to offer on this? Did Rogers pull the plug on ota?? I'd kinda like to pick up Fringe on Friday night...

I'm off Edmonton Trail with l.o.s. to Signal Hill, and am picking up CTV/CBC/Global/CTS/Omni all at 100% so don't think it's my problem...

I recorded Person of Interest at 10PM last night on CKAL and it recorded fine. And the signal's just as strong as it's always been this morning as well. And I'm in Cranston, so I'm a lot further away than you are. Digital signals can be very sensitive to even the slightest tweaking of your antenna in certain circumstances, so you might want to try tweaking yours.

I hope this is the right thread to post on, but I'm getting CBC OTA at 720p while the other 5 are at 1080i. Anyone know why CBC is at 720P? It's not a problem or anything, I can't distinguish the difference. Just wondering.

Calgary, Killarney Area near 17 Ave & 26 st. SW.

bukester, this (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=144794) thread discusses the switch for CBC.

Thanks, VuMax. I shifted the antenna a few feet south and voila... CKAL@100%, though now CBRT is spotty at 40 - 60%. My antenna was looking west between a couple of big pine trees and a two-story house with aluminium siding... now it's looking through the trees! I went for a walk and another neighbour to the west has re-shingled his roof in the last week, which may explain the loss of CKAL. Looks like I'll need to relocate my antenna up to the second-floor balcony and we'll see if getting more height can see past the new shingles. Easier to do now with the warmer weather ;-)
Fun and games...

Don't feel bad about having to shift indoor antennas around to find the "perfect" spot for reception. In my case, it took two or three home-made antennas and one commercial model over the course of MONTHS to finally fish out the right place for an antenna in my living room.