BC - Langley, Maple Ridge, East up the Fraser Valley - OTA

[stampeder]

Originally Posted by keithr386

although my 22-1 seems to be other people's 8-1 for some reason

Welcome here and thanks for your detailed results.

Global remaps from 22.1 to 8.1, but consumers are noting that Samsung HDTVs are having problems with such Digital OTA PSIP data so the issue is known. Can you please post your model number and the Global Vancouver remapping issue in this thread where the problem is being discussed:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=41507

[keithr386]

Originally Posted by zapperman

You are SO lucky - I am in a similar boat to you (new to this, wanted something quick and easy to get OTA CBC for hockey). However, I am in Chilliwack and my homemade antenna didn't work. I have scoured this forum and others trying to find others who may have tried from Chilliwack and if successful, what they used. I suspect I'll have to go the CM4228 route, but would at least like to try the ZSS clone method first. Problem is where to find these things easily so that I could return them if they don't work from my location. At this point, I just don't want to invest a lot of time or money if it's just going to be a lost cause...

If ANYONE has info for Chilliwack (not already posted in the forum), please share your experience!

Zapperman, I am not in Chilliwack, but according to the broadcast map on TV fool, CBC has a transmitter about 10 KM a little East of South East from you. You should be able to pull a signal with no problem even with a rabbit ears. It appears it should come in on channel six (through 15).

Here is a thought: Instead of wire coat hangers, spend less than $5 and construct your CM4221 antenna using a length of unshielded copper wire of similar thickness to your coat hangers. Use a good amount of electrician's tape at the crossover points. Try to keep your antenna as much in the "line of site" as possible (ie. outside, find the gap between buildings, trees, etc).

Also, have you possibly forgotten to make sure your TV's reception is set to "through antenna" rather than "through cable" or something similar? I don't know the various models, I just know on mine I have to make that change when I use my antenna.

[stampeder]

The Chilliwack CBC repeater is unfortunately an analogue SD one, so I can see why he wants to get CBUT-DT Vancouver.

zapperman, you should build the highest performing version of the DBGH as possible and hope you can get a digital lock on CBUT-DT.

If you're more comfortable with purchasing you should contact 4DTV HD about stacking a pair of 8-bay antennas to see what he thinks.

[zapperman]

Thanks KeithR and Stampeder for the quick posts.

I did the TVFool thing a few days ago as well and did get excited, only to discover later that it was an analog repeater, as Stampeder noted. I will try the suggestion of improving my lame antenna first, but I suspect it will not work. The suggestion of the DBGH by Stampeder is probably the route I'll go, I just didn't want to try it in the event that the Chilliwack mountain obstacle precludes my receiving the Mt. Seymour broadcast anyway. In addition, I am renting and moving (still Chilliwack) in August so I didn't want to do anything too permanent.

This isIS very addicting and I will keep trying, I was just hoping to hear other successes in the area to at least have some sort of achievable goal in sight. In any event, I will post my results as I try new things, for the benefit of others in the area that may also try this in the future.

(BTW - I did switch the "antenna/cable" setting on my TV prior to searching...)

[roger1818]

I have said this before, but don't put too much weight in TV Fool for Canadian stations as it gets all its data from the FCC which is great for American stations, but not so good for Canadian.

[keithr386]

Sorry I missed that. Just looking at the Transmitter Profile Detail on TV Fool, the mountain near Lickman Road looks rather daunting. The signal does bend downward some toward Chilliwack, but you would have to have a mighty high antenna to reach it, and one that is well designed. Looks like a long shot, but I wish you luck. Let us know how it goes.

Question: How does CBC get called digital in the digital list below? I know it does not say HD and is not what we are lookgin for in Canucks games - but is it still not digital?

Analog
Callsign Chan Network Dist
(mi) Path NM
(dB)
CBUT2 3 4.7 LOS 55.0
CBUFT6 14 4.7 LOS 34.9
CBUT 2 48.5 2Edge 27.9
CHANTV1 11 7.2 LOS 16.2
CBUT25 36 4.7 LOS 13.4
CHEKTV 6 61.9 1Edge 12.5
CHANTV 8 48.4 1Edge 8.4
CIVT-TV 32 48.4 1Edge -12.9
CKVUTV 10 75.8 1Edge -14.3

Digital

Callsign Chan Network Dist
(mi) Path NM
(dB)
CBUT-2 46 4.7 LOS 63.3
CBUFT-6 15 4.7 LOS 53.4
KVOS-DT 35 (12.1) Ind 52.3 LOS 42.1
KBCB-DT 19 (24.1) Ind 52.7 LOS 27.0
CHEK-DT 43 (13.1) 61.9 1Edge 5.4
CHAN-TV 22 (8.1) 48.4 1Edge -3.6
CBUFT 16 (26.1) 48.5 2Edge -11.2
CBUT 58 (2.1) 48.5 2Edge -11.5
CKVU-TV 47 (10.1) 75.8 1Edge -16.8

[keithr386]

Originally Posted by stampeder

Hello kgb, there are members who have posted in this thread who live fairly close to you so compare their results. I think you should try to build a Double Bay Gray-Hoverman with NARODs for getting SeaTac.

Stampder, What is a NAROD? Does it refer to the rod-style rear reflector on an DBGH? Is it am acronym for anything?

[zapperman]

I'm still a little confused by the CBUT-2 call sign as well as it looks digital to me too. When/if I manage to even get that one, I'll let you know.

I am new to TVFool but after playing with it a little, I can clarify a few things location-wise. I am more accurately located in the Vedder Crossing area, putting me in the purple-blue reception area for CBC-DT. At 47 miles away, I'm not sure what antenna configuration will work for me.

For CBUT-2 (CBC "digital" near Chilliwack), TV Fool puts me in a yellow zone, so I should really have no problem picking this up. I will re-work my antenna using your suggestions and see how I do with this. I was in a hurry this week, throwing it together after work trying to catch the Canucks game in time...

I'll post later with results, if I get any. Thanks again for all the input - this forum has given me a wealth of information in the few days I have been aware of it. Please excuse my lack of knowledge or technical jargon because of my rookie status...

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by keithr386

Question: How does CBC get called digital in the digital list below? I know it does not say HD and is not what we are lookgin for in Canucks games - but is it still not digital?

As I said, don't trust TV Fool for Canadian stations. Industry Canada has reserved channel 46 for CBUT-DT2 but the CBC has not started broadcasting (they only have 4 English DTV transmitters in all of Canada). The FCC doesn't know (or care) if they are actually broadcasting and lists it as operational. As a result TV Fool incorrectly lists it as a valid station.

[stampeder]

Originally Posted by zapperman

I'm still a little confused by the CBUT-2 call sign

As roger1818 says, the Canadian listings in TVFool are a mess - check the results you get against the Industry Canada database to get the "real" list:

http://www.user.dccnet.com/jonleblan...a_TV_Stations/

[stampeder]

Originally Posted by keithr386

What is a NAROD?

NARODs are tuned resonators that convert a GH antenna (designed for UHF) into a very good VHF-HI antenna too, so that it now would get channels 7 through 51 rather than just 14 to 51. You can read about them here:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=81982

[keithr386]

Hi Stamp and Roger,

Thank you both for your patience with us newbies. I now understand that TV fool has to be used with discretion and that while much of its information is helpful, it needs to be taken with a grian of salt and cannot be treated as canonized gospel truth.

In that same vain, I have been having trouble finding the "best" antenna specs for the DBGH. I see a lot of posts on how various people "improved" it but I wonder if there is a currently accepted "best" model, particularly of the rear reflecting rods? Does it differ if I am trying to pull stations from far away (Seattle) and can sacrifice a bit for mor elocal stations (Vancouver) while still picing up mid range stations (Victoria). Sorry, i don't even know my basic terms here, is that list somewhere? Any type of "getting started" forum or site that already exists, that I just have not found?

[stampeder]

It depends on where in Langley you are. Use the Search This Thread tool to the upper right beside Thread Tools and try different search terms like "Langley", "Cloverdale", "Aldergrove" etc. and you can compare. There are several people in South Surrey also getting SeaTac stations.

[Jaygeetee]

keithr386...I've got amplified stacked CM4228s on a rotor in South Surrey and very seldom get a lock on all the Sea-Tac channels unless there is good ducting. KCPQ Fox 13.1 is the best, ie. solid signal 98% of the time; but then their transmitter is located farther west.
I'm planning (some time in the future) on building the DBGH NAROD model to see if I can get better results.

[keithr386]

Originally Posted by stampeder

these SeaTac analogue VHF stations will cut over to digital on their original VHF channels:

Stampeder.... So looking at some of the current HD channel assignments versus what they will be in a few months, my antenna for now should be experimental, and target the channels as they exist today, but it should like it would be prudent to hold off doing anything too costly or time consuming until the channel reassignments are complete.

Am I on the right track with my thinking here?