OTA: Eastern Ontario & Quebec DXing, Tropo, Odd Reception: 2011

[backpackster]

When I pulled in CBFT-DT (2.1/19 Montreal) this morning I should have realized it was tropo from Montreal as I too have been getting CFCF (12) and CFMT (10) from Montreal the last couple of nights. Quite good tropo since my HD-8800 is pointed 70deg west of Montreal to messina/coulton.

CBFT-DT may be a more regular occurrence once it goes to full power, but I am not sure what the point of receiving it is...

[gully rider]

Further to my previous, etc. etc. With my antenna aimed towards the southwest, an autoscan on my Samsung LN40B610 thankfully found WPBS 18-1, 18-2 & 18-3 and even brought in 16-1, 16-2 & 16-3. Unfortunately, it wiped WCFE (57-1, 57-2 and 57-3) from the channel list. Rescanning while aimed southeast restores WCFE but wipes out my other channels. From what I can gather, there is no way to retain, or manually enter, missing channels on this model of Samsung. What a pain! Guess I'll have to experiment with a less directional antenna, or perhaps combine two facing in different directions. Thanks Samsung !

[GerryB]

Getting ALL channels from Rochester, Syracuse, Watertown, and WGRZ in Buffalo. Probably can point the antenna for the rest of the Buffalo stations. Very Very strong tropo night here in Ottawa.

[ve2vq]

Confirm, that with only a fixed M4 antenna pointed at Masena,NY
that I am receiving:
RF19 WSYT 68-1 Syracuse, NY
RF28 weak Video analogue FOX program
RF43 WNYS 43-1 Syracuse , NY
RF47 weak signal SNR 7-12 should be WTVH 5-1, Syracuse, NY

[becks]

Yep great conditions last night, got all the Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo, Watertown channels, the last scan came up with something like 54 channels. Everything but the Buffalo channels still coming thru this morning

[tvlurker]

Originally Posted by ve2vq

Confirm, that with only a fixed M4 antenna pointed at Masena,NY
that I am receiving:
RF28 weak Video analogue FOX program

That would be one of the WNYF analog LP stations - probably Massena. Not sure if the Watertown one is still broadcasting.

[KDGJ]

Does anyone have any predictions for channels 14 and 32 once Omni and CTS vacate August 31?

Does someone in Eastern Ottawa have a chance of getting WPTZ Plattsburgh and WETK Burlington on a semi-regular basis, similar to WWTI?

[Fota]

Originally Posted by KDGJ

Does anyone have any predictions for channels 14 and 32 once Omni and CTS vacate August 31?
Does someone in Eastern Ottawa have a chance of getting WPTZ Plattsburgh and WETK Burlington on a semi-regular basis, similar to WWTI?

My prediction: nothing… Seems to me there should be lots of PT available channels for Ottawa (non-scientific list: 15, 16, 28, 31, 33, 35, 37, 44, 45, 46, 49, 50, 51). Availability isn’t the problem so much as willing broadcasters; it costs a lot of money (and that’s probably the topic for another thread).
WETK Burlington?... I don’t think anyone could get that near Ottawa regardless of antenna height or power, or even WPTZ… Perhaps with tropo, but just for advanced hobbiests. (unless by "Eastern Ottawa" you mean half way to Montreal) Look at the channels at the bottom of your TVFool report, those are a long shot, let alone anything not listed there.

[tvlurker]

Originally Posted by Fota

My prediction: nothing… Seems to me there should be lots of PT available channels for Ottawa (non-scientific list: 15, 16, 28, 31, 33, 35, 37, 44, 45, 46, 49, 50, 51).

Of these channels, only 33 and 50 are allotted to Ottawa by Industry Canada. The VHF open allotments are 4, 11, and 12.

From the IC plan (bold numbers are currently in use):
Arnprior: 31 and 48
Smiths Falls: 47 (but CKWS will stay on 36 analog for now)
Prescott: 48 (but CKWS will stay on 26 analog for now)
Barry's Bay: 20 and 26
Belleville: 9, 15, 26, 33, 39
Kingston: 11, 19, 23, 32, 36, 38, 48
Cloyne: 10, 44
Cornwall: 8, 28, 29, 31, 45, 47
Hawkesbury: 39, 48
Chapeau: 11, 16, 23
Pembroke: 3, 5, 7, 16, 28, 36, 39, 47, 51 (17 and 29 still broadcasting in analog)
Maniwaki: 15, 31

I think that there will be an opportunity for tropospheric ducting openings to allow for reception of WPTZ on 14, and possibly even WETK on 32. All other Mount Mansfiled channels (22, 43) will continue to have local co-channel competition from Herberts Corners, although those to the east of HC may be able to make use of a directional antenna to null out HC.

[backpackster]

I for one am quite optimistic about receiving 14 NBC, once Omni goes digital. Forum users (such as gerryb, gmd) have reported Mount Mansfield reception on the very rare time local stations were off the air for maintenance. Unless these are tropo coincidences each time, it may be easier than it appears. Mont Mansfield is a mother of a mountain. It also helps being high in the south-east end of Ottawa.

I was torn between finishing off my single cut 14 or stacking 2 HD-9032s. I am leaning towards trying my first stack. I already have 4 antennas on my roof, my neighbours will love it when I add 2 more!

[bowtie]

Just did a 0715 AM re-scan and picked up the following:

7.x - attic mount VIP302SR
16.x - rarely get these
50.x - first time I have received these -24.4 NM(db)

Too bad there isn't a way to receive them year round.

[moody]

A scan this morning brings in all the locals, CRC on channel 46 (still broadcasting, since yesterday), and:

WWNY RF7
WWNY/WNYF RF18
Something on channel 19, can't lock - must be CBFT Montreal
WWTI RF21
WNPI RF23
WNYF RF35
WPBS RF41

First time I've locked on RF7; surprising since my south-facing antenna is a SBGH.

james

[Mr Canoehead]

I did one at 6:30 am and was getting WVIB Buffalo for about 10 minutes. No other unusual channels.

[ve2vq]

Checking the channel changes resulted in several distance signals.
2-1 RFch 19 CBFT-D Montreal
6-1 RFch 21 CBFT-DT Montreal
7-0 TVA ? ? not digital yet
10-0 TVA Montreal not digital yet
12-1 RF ch 12 CFCF Montreal

[ve2vq]

From 9am to 10:15 WPTZ 5-1 RF14 was coming with a good signal, then as with tropo it pixiled out.