OTA Station Status: SW Ontario, Lk. Erie, Lk. Huron

[someguy23475]

My money (or lack thereof) says they'll be extended. I do wonder though, since Windsor has the highest OTA viewship percentagewise in the region, if not all of Canada, will there be a large number of complaints if CBEFT goes dark? Is the French population of the area really that large?

[Phil81]

WADL's main channel is now broadcasting in HD today. They also added another SD sub channel on 38-4 that is currently broadcasting the same content as 38-1. Anybody know what is slated for the 38-4 position?

Can't check the 1080i quality really close right now but I guess it would look similar to WDWO TCT HD channel where there are also three other 480i sub channels.

[El Gran Chico]

Originally Posted by Jase88

^^^
To my knowledge, there has been no announcements from the CBC. Nor have I seen any applications on the CRTC website.

Here's what we know:

1) The CBC is on record as seeing OTA as a low-priority.
2) The OTA distribution network for CBC has been described as "antiquated".
3) The CBC has just been handed a significant cut to their budget.

My opinion--and this is purely speculation based on the above--is that the London, Kitchener and other analog CBC transmitters will go dark come their August license expiry.

It's entirely possible that the federal government will take pity on them and extend their licenses.

Either way, I don't see more digital over-the-air transmitter deployments in the near future for the CBC (to replace existing post-transition analog stations).

Here ya go. http://cbc.radio-canada.ca/site/budget/en 17 weeks from today they'll be gone.

[alebowgm]

Originally Posted by someguy23475

My money (or lack thereof) says they'll be extended. I do wonder though, since Windsor has the highest OTA viewship percentagewise in the region, if not all of Canada, will there be a large number of complaints if CBEFT goes dark? Is the French population of the area really that large?

For what it is worth, Windsor has about 9% of its population that speaks French, per http://www.city-data.com/canada/Windsor-City.html

Leamington, which is also served by the same transmitter, accounts for 5% of its population, per http://www.city-data.com/canada/Leamington.html

I am told by many at work that there are some strong french language communities out in Belle River, Lakeshore, basically that stretch north of the 401 and south of Lake St. Clair. Also, given the proximity of CBEFT to the US boarder and its ERP, I think it would be foolish to shut down RF 35. If they were to crank the juice on CBEFT, or CBLFT-10 for that matter, it could cover all of Windsor-Essex and Chatham, killing two birds with one stone. But, unless there is a ground swell locally, I think the days are doomed.

[someguy23475]

Considering CBEFT has no local programming at all, and I don't think they even have local advertising, it's obvious Radio-Canada does not care about this transmitter.

I wonder... if they do give up 35, would CHWI apply to move 16 or 26 there and boost power? Maybe CHCH or someone else sets up a repeater?

[alebowgm]

I'd like to see CBET moved to the CBEFT frequency, as 36kW UHF compared to 26kW VHF would be much easier for many to receive. But I don't see it being likely.

As for anything else that could setup shop, making it a repeater of CFMT or CJMT may work based on the demographics in Essex county and the fact that they don't air a lot of US programming in prime time. CHCH probably fits that mold as well. It would be nice if Global moved their repeater there as well. Or off of what someguy23475 said, how about CHWI shuts down 16 AND 26 and turns on 35, which would cover the entire service area of both stations and then some. But I honestly think it will be silent.

[someguy23475]

I asked CHWI about moving to 35, and it sounds like they won't because of the US programming issue. Because the signal would provide much better coverage to Detroit, they would infringe on their programming rights.


I guess whoever grabs the 35 allotment would either have to start up a brand new station as an independent, on of the Canadian religious networks, or OMNI 1 or 2 since they seem to air very little American programming. CHCH airs some in primetime so they might not be a candidate after all. If they went back to the all movie schedule, then it would not be an issue (in fact I would watch them quite a bit).

[someguy23475]

This is more for those on the MI side of the border- WLNS out of Lansing has added Live Well Network as a subchannel. This means I can now receive this on three different channels. Lovely.

[someguy23475]

I turned the antenna eastward, and WLPC registered no signal at all. Anyone else have this issue?

[Phil81]

WUDT-CA (Daystar) appears to now be up on RF23 and gone from RF8. Don't know when this happened, must be real recent. When checked, WUDT-23 was at decent but weak signal. WDWO at the same ERP level is still much stronger compared to it.

OTOH, WJW RF8 FOX Cleveland is WAY higher snr/signal quality wise now.

Too bad this puts an end to ION WVPX-23 which has been coming in tons since they shifted to full final power 1MW not long ago. I was really hoping that WPXD-50 would be up before WUDT moved to 23, i just knew WVPX would be toast once it happened.

[someguy23475]

Didn't know they switched over. My antenna is pointed in the opposite direction and it still comes in great. On RF 8, I could only get a good signal when pointed north.

No guide info, not even a callsign. The only info RF 8 listed was the WUDT call sign.


Looks like I'll have no shot of catching W38DH when/if they convert to digital.

Also, WMNT-CA Toledo has applied for a digital flashcut on channel 48. If approved, there is an outside chance those near Lake Erie and the southernmost Detroit suburbs may pick it up.

http://maps.google.com/?q=http://tra...26state=OH.kml

That's the predicted contour, but it should be noted the FCC uses a higher dBu for LPTV stations, so those of us with good antennas have a decent shot outside of that circle.

[alebowgm]

WUDT is coming in strong for me on RF23. I'm down near the bridge and riverside and pointed at Southfield. Pulling A 77-80% SIGNAL. Agreed, no info or anything available.

[OTA-London]

Which means us in London, even if wanted to get it, can't cause the CBC is on 23.

[alebowgm]

So my AccessHD DTA1080D and Samsung DTB-H260F is able to pull in WUDT on RF23, but not a sniff on my Samsung LNT3242H... wonder if no proper PSIP is what is causing the problem...

[alebowgm]

Originally Posted by someguy23475

I turned the antenna eastward, and WLPC registered no signal at all. Anyone else have this issue?

I used my A/B to switch from my CM 4228 pointed northwest towards Southfield to the CM 4220HD pointed East-Northeast towards Mount Clemens/Sarnia and I too am not registering any signal on WLPC. Normally I am able to get a good signal with that antenna. I was able to pull in good analog reception of CKCO-TV-3 and W48AV today. I am really tempted to see what happens if/when CTV switches the CKCO-TV-3 repeater over. Hopefully the rumors of a summer change will come to fruition.

As a side, is anyone in the area having problems with WCMZ from Flint? My CM 4228 had been getting a reliable signal for a long time (at least 2 bars) and suddenly it has disappeared over the last few weeks.