BC - City of Vancouver, North Van, West Van - OTA

[stampeder]

This thread is a one-stop-shopping location for info on receiving Over The Air High Definition and Digital broadcasts only in the cities of Vancouver, North Vancouver, and West Vancouver, as experienced by Digital Home Canada members.

In your posts please specify:

1. Your Location (city, town, locale, on a high rise, in a valley, etc...)
2. Receiver and Antenna Brand/Model
3. Stations Received with their Picture Quality (excellent, pixellated, etc...)
4. Other helpful info...

[stampeder]

The countdown to local OTA in the South Coast area of BC is now centered around CBC DT 58 going live up top of Mount Seymour some time in 2005. No word on CTV, Global, CH, CITY, VI, or others lately.

I've been doing some research and have been getting feedback on a different web forum regarding some of my ideas for U.S. OTA reception in the Vancouver area. Before I begin, bear in mind that some of you are not going to be happy with my findings.

Here's a useful map for seeing the layout of the area. An essential tool for figuring out OTA reception potential is AntennaWeb, which unfortunately only provides data for U.S. locations. No problem because you can use the closest Washington zip codes and extrapolate from there.

For Victoria and the southern tip of the island I would use the Port Townsend, WA zip code (98368) and factor in a much weaker signal strength due to the distance being almost double. Bear in mind that its not certain that you might be able to see around the Olympic Mountains towards the SeaTac corridor.

For the Lower Mainland if I was in S. Delta, Richmond, or Vancouver I would enter the Point Roberts, WA zip code (98281). Low lying areas will not do so well, and anyone on the north slope of a hill in Vancouver will probably not have much luck.

For anyone on a south-sloping hill in Burnaby, Coquitlam, PoCo, N. Delta, and Surrey I would use the Blaine, WA (98231) zip code, although Blaine is pretty well just above sea level so you would need to take the extra distance into consideration as a negative, but the extra altitude as a slight positive. Your results may vary. People on north slopes in those places will probably be out of luck.

I suspect that most of New Westminster will likely be in a dead pocket due to the signal shadow of North Delta and North Surrey, but people in the upper suites of the high rises on the southern facing sides might have luck. Likewise I think Maple Ridge, Abbotsford, Langley, all the way east through to Hope would have the same problem with the mountains to the south of them.

I also think lower parts of North and West Vancouver are going to be in a shadow effect from Vancouver and Point Grey but people in high rises above the 10th floor or so may have some luck. I have my doubts about anyone in Gibsons or Sechelt getting strong enough signals.

[stampeder]

Today CIVT-DT (CTV Vancouver) went live on UHF 33-1, and as I type this at 14:20 PDT they're running the same programming as on their analog station but the audio is in Dolby ProLogic instead of PCM @ 48. The digital signal is strong at times but then cuts out while they tweak it.

[4DTV HD]

Originally Posted by mingus

Hi All,

I am thinking of buying a new HDTV with a built in digital tuner.
I live on the North Shore in North Vancouver BC.
I was wondering how many HDTV channels I could get with a small antenna.
I am not sure if there is one or two Vancouver stations testing.
I see a list of some USA stations?

This is the TV I am thinking of buying.

"Samsung 30 in. SlimFit™ HDTV with Built-in HD Tuner"

Any comments would be appreciated.

We don't know your elevation in N Van but the higher you are the better.
CIVT-DT(CTV) is currently broadcasting, CBC has said they will be on this September and BCTV is saying next year. These are all short range stations which you should be able to get with a small antenna. If you can see the lights on Seymour Mountain, that's where the transmitters are.

To have a chance of getting the US stations you will need a larger antenna such as the CM4228 and a preamplifier.

Information on Digital channels available in the Pacific Northwest can be found here: http://members.shaw.ca/nwbroadcasters/digitaltv.htm

[Jeffnoone]

In my situation, the slopes of Grouse Mt block me from Mt Seymour, where I gather most (?all) of the local broadcasters will broadcast from. My elevation is about 400ft - see my post earlier in thread where there is reference to the height of Vancouver City itself

Using the small UHF antenna that comes with the ATI HD Wonder, and the Expressvu 6100 as tuner, I get a very patchy 50-60% on both CTV (Mt Seymour) and same reading on KBCB (not hi-def)
So I get an intermittent picture

I will get a 4228 or equivalent type antenna and I would assume I will get the Mt Seymour broadcasts OK

The posts here to date make me more gloomy re the Seattle HD channels - the North Shore is 120km out, 4DTV is about 100km from downtown Seattle - his unobstructed height and his relative proximity probably make a big difference

If you are high up, I would be interested in seeing your results

[stampeder]

Originally Posted by Jeffnoone

In my situation, the slopes of Grouse Mt block me from Mt Seymour, where I gather most (?all) of the local broadcasters will broadcast from.
...
I will get a 4228 or equivalent type antenna and I would assume I will get the Mt Seymour broadcasts OK

In your case you could even use a 4-bay reflector like a Wade-Delhi 4BT-1483, a Winegard PR4400, or a Channel Master 4221 if your goal is just the Vancouver stations and you don't want an imposing antenna up on your roof. Avoid using a yagi in your situation because of the obstruction (they're for line-of-sight). All of those I listed are bowtie reflectors that will be able to pick up the scattered signal coming from around Grouse. If you're intent on trying for SeaTac the 4228 is a needed first step, but a 4228 would also do just great for the Mt. Seymour signals.

[mschmoll]

Originally Posted by Jeffnoone

In my situation, the slopes of Grouse Mt block me from Mt Seymour, where I gather most (?all) of the local broadcasters will broadcast from. My elevation is about 400ft - see my post earlier in thread where there is reference to the height of Vancouver City itself

Hello Jeffnoone, I live near Cleveland Dam (at around 250m elevation) and am wondering if you were ever able to receive OTA channels... if so, which ones and what antenna/set-up did you use? Thanks in advance.

[Khomer2]

Noob looking to setup a 4 bay or 8 bay bowtie on a roof mast.

TV:Pioneer Kuro

Antenna: none yet. Looking to install a 4 bay on a mast
mounted on the roof of a one storey bungalow.

Location: a house with a clear view of Mt. Seymour and
a clear view south along this corridor.

I would appreciate some assistance on equipment
/supplies needed. I wish to maximizethe number of
Canadian and US HDTV OTA.
I was told I would require 2 antenna setups??

Cheers

[stampeder]

Hey madbob: any difference with the higher antenna?

[madbob]

No difference at all. The signal meter still shows 9-10 db signal on KING and KIRO, but not enough signal to lock onto. I have a lot of trees in the way. I tried going up the chimmney using a 40 foot ladder but got spooked working up that high. I`m getting the house painted now and the painter said he would install the chimmney mount for me(he has to go up there anyway). This will raise it another 5-10 feet, so I hope it helps.

[stampeder]

Originally Posted by madbob

This will raise it another 5-10 feet, so I hope it helps.

I hear ya! My trees absolutely kill the SeaTac signals, so I might have to go with a 60' tower to clear them, or I could just be happy with CIVT and KBCB... not!

[bernie888]

just tried the hauppage 850 for the first time.
It doesn't find any ATSC using the portable intenna and only 8,32 and 42 on Analog and these are all so bad reception that they are unwatchable.
I live in downtown Vancouver in an apartment on the 23rd floor.
Any ideas how to get any digital channels? Is it impossible unless one gets a larger antenna? Strata obviously wouldn't allow anything on the patio so it would have to be internal.
thank you.

[stampeder]

It's your antenna, bernie888 - that little thing that comes with the Hauppauge 850 is a piece of junk. Check the Antenna Chart for a proper indoor antenna like a ZSS. Which direction does your side of the building face?

[bernie888]

thanks, I thought it might be. Although I thought I'd pick up something and then be able to decide if its worth spending more money on a bigger antenna.
I face South and East (corner unit).

[kenw]

What kind of antenna is required to get OTA HD signals? Can I just use indoor rabbit ears or do I need a big outdoor mast?

Does anyone know what are the OTA HD channels we can get in the Vancouver area? Can the US (Seattle/Bellingham) stations be received OTA?