OTA Station Status: Vancouver, Victoria, Southern BC

[danomac]

Is anyone having trouble tuning Global (ch. 22)?

I thought it was my htpc, but my TV is also having a bugger of a time tuning it. The signal strength is a lot weaker than normal (60-70% instead of 100%, on the TV) and while I may get 30 seconds of video it drops out.

I've checked my gear and all the other channels and they're normal.

[Archerotor]

I have noticed that today Global, CHAN 22.1 will be viewable and show 100% signal strength and quality for between 58 seconds to 1 minute 3 seconds and then goes to black screen "no signal" for 33 seconds. This has been happening since I first started watching today (Sunday, July 8th 2012) at 5:15pm. I wonder if it has to do with the previous mentioned work being done on the Mt. Seymour tower?

But the almost exact on/off cycling had me wondering if my neighbour to the north with his very recent new smart meter was causing pulsed RF 'interference' to be that regular an on/off schedule. *As a point of interest, the Itron OpenWay Centron 2 smart meter is supposed to operate from 902 MHz to 928 MHz on the license free band, using "Spread Spectrum Technology" to the other smart meters and collectors outdoors, and 2.4 GHz (2405 GHz - 2483 GHz) for the HAN "Home Area Network" to smart appliances in the home. I was thinking, if it wasn't maintainence on the Mt. Seymour tower, then could it be that nearby new smart meter? Because the signal dropout is almost precisely the same duration of 33 seconds off, 1 minute on.

Thanks.

[danomac]

We've had the smart meters for 2 months or more where I am and today is the only day I've had trouble tuning channels.

Edit: My antenna is very close to two smart meters (15 feet?) at different angles, the only difference is elevation. Watching CTV news now with no issues.

At least it isn't happening to me only, I really hate it when that happens.

[danbcman]

Yes when the tropo is strong as it is today 22.1 remapping to 8.1 Chan is sometimes interupted by Kzjo 25.1 remapping to 22.1, 22.2,22.3
http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo_wam.html

[danomac]

Interesting, I didn't think I could even get Seattle under tropo.

[Archerotor]

Isn't KZJO real UHF channel 25, remapping to virtual 22.1, 22.2, etc?

But could this still create issues with CHAN UHF 22, remapping to 8.1. There seems to be a lot of haze in the atmosphere, not sure if this is causing any issues. The sound for CKVU UHF 33, 10.1 seems to be needing a squelch adjustment, but is intermittently good for certain commercials.
I'll check to see if I can get any more American channels with a manual scan. I know that in previous years this would be great weather for analogue tropo.

[danbcman]

Isn't KZJO real UHF channel 25, remapping to virtual 22.1, 22.2, etc?
Yup
I find myself getting things backwards from time to time, but it is having to points trying to occupy the same place at the same time.

[dtvinvictoria]

have noticed that today Global, CHAN 22.1 will be viewable and show 100% signal strength and quality for between 58 seconds to 1 minute 3 seconds and then goes to black screen "no signal" for 33 seconds. This has been happening since I first started watching today (Sunday, July 8th 2012) at 5:15pm. I wonder if it has to do with the previous mentioned work being done on the Mt. Seymour tower?

I have the exact same problem here in Victoria, it certainly looks like something other then local interference if the issue is begin observed in more then one location.

[Ndnile]

Same here on shelbourne in Victoria, signanl goes from 24db - to - 2db.

I am finding that 26 CBC/src from Vancouver is dropping out periodically as well going from 24-5db and back in seconds.

[NeoHippo]

Concerning GlobalTVBC

I just phoned them. They are aware of the problem but have no time frame as to when the trouble will have been fixed.

When the problem first ocurred I assumed that my TV was on the fritz, but none of the other channels had any problem. So I updated the software for my TV. It's a Sharp LC-37D64U. Darned if I didn't have problems with that. According to the User's Manual one just plugs in the USB stick when it is mentioned. The old and new version numbers are displayed and press Enter to update. Yeah, right. Nothing. Tried it several more times. Reread the manual and tried again. Nothing.

Oh, thank god for Google. I found out that the USB stick needs to be formatted with FAT16, not FAT32. It's good now.

Just waiting on Shaw to fix the tower.

[danbcman]

Is anyone getting 22.1 Chan remapping to 8.1 and KZJO real UHF channel 25, remapping to virtual 22.1, 22.2 at the same time if so then it may be a local trouble with CHAN.

[dscott01]

Was anyone having issues with CHAN-HD yesterday July 8? I have very good signal strength, but the channel would disappear with no signal strength like clockwork, and then reappear with good signal strength again. It was the same this morning but its been fine all afternoon. All other channels were unaffected.

[dtvinvictoria]

So far so good, I've watched the first 20 min of the News with no drop-outs

[be236]

Oh, I noticed this same problem. I thought it was just me.

The signal goes dead for about 30 seconds, then comes back for about 1-2 minutes, then dead again for 30 seconds... repeatedly...

Noticed this a couple days ago to even now...

[dscott01]

That's exactly what was happening to me be236. Are you still having issues?