ON - Barrie, Muskoka, Sault Ste. Marie, Northern Ontario - OTA

[chinadog]

Antenna Tree Update: D4e delivers in the wind and rain

Just like the intrepid mailman, my tree-mounted DB4e, swayed a bit in Friday's wet and stormy weather but still delivered. Swaying did not affect reception at all! In fact, my system did better in the rain and wind of Friday than it did in Thursday's sunshine.

Here are my reception results for Thursday @ 4pm and Friday evening to Saturday evening pm my new 32-inch Samsung:

3-1 CTV2 Thursday: Solid Friday/Saturday: Solid

5-1 CBLT Thursday: in and out Friday/Saturday: Solid

9-1 CFTO Thursday: momentary hiccups Friday/Saturday: Solid

19-1 CICA Thursday: Solid Friday/Saturday: Solid

25 CBLFT Thursday: Solid Friday/Saturday: Solid

41-1 CIIII Thursday: Solid Friday/Saturday: Solid

47 CFMT Thursday: Solid Friday/Saturday: Solid

57 CITY Thursday: weak Friday/Saturday: weak

67 CHCHDT3 some momentary hiccups as DB4e is 120 degrees off-target; I may set up a small vhf/uhf antenna and use an A/B switch.

If these are the results represent what I will get most of the time, I will be very happy!!

[HWP]

Chinadog,

Nicely done. Many of us probably thought it might not have been worth the effort and expense. But you now have a pretty fine group of channels for a cottage. Good job!

[OTA-London]

I have a question, I wonder if he will be able to get CJMT, once it goes to the CN Tower. Also why is City weaker then CFMT? I would have thought they would have sent it out at the same power.

[AndrewL.]

I got rid of my cable as I mostly stream online. But I still want to watch some basic channels for news so I bought an indoor antenna, a used Phillips SDV6122/27, which is supposed to receive HDTV, VHF, and UHF, But after doing an auto tune on my TV, I can still only pick up 1 channel (TVO), and that only poorly, despite said antenna being powered/amplified.

[Cyclism]

Andrew L.: please post your TVFool results.

Also, please tell us what TV model/tuner you are using. Does it have an ATSC tuner in order for it to receive digital transmissions?

[El Gran Chico]

AndrewL, what channel are you seeing TVO on? 51? If so, that analog transmitter only has 3 1/2 more weeks of life in it so you'll be down to 0 channels.

But I think you should be able to get Global from Midland and CTV2 from Barrie if you have a digital tuner. These are both VHF signals. You'd have better luck with an outdoor antenna.

I think the Toronto stations are too far away to receive in Wasaga Beach.

[AndrewL.]

TVFool?

My TV is an LG 47', model 47LD450-UA.

[Cyclism]

AndrewL.: Please read the entire first post of the following thread:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=125161

[AndrewL.]

Here's the results from TVFool.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...&q=call%3dCKVR


Callsign: CKVR-TV (Barrie transmitter)

Type: Analog

Channel: 3

Network: A



CKVR-TV-1 (Parry Sound transmitter)

Type: Analog

Channel: 12

Network: A

My area.
71st and Mosley Sts. Wasaga Beach ON.

[chinadog]

AndrewL.

For us to help you , you need to re-do your TV fool

Choose "Pending applications included" instead on "analog only"

Then click on "Only Digital"

>>>>Pending applications included
>>>> choose "Only Digital" option

Any analog signals that you may be getting will disappear soon.
An analog signal shows snow or ghosting when weaker while a digital signal will be perfect or will pixellates.

Your set will allow you to choose between analog and digital.

An indoor antenna in your area should easily get you CTV2 rf10 from Barrie ( formerly ckvr alaog in Barrie).
But in my opinion RF7 Global and RF23 CHCH dt3 would only be in reach with a roof-mounted antenna.


I have done some experimenting with digital signals in Wasaga near Marlwood Golf Course. I have found that a roof-mounted uhf antenna easily snares rf23 CHCH dt3 and I suspect that a vhf antenna would get RF7 global. Three channels are attainable without too much effort

I currently have a 50 ft tree-mounted antenna set-up in Wasaga that gets reliable signals from all CN tower stations except for CITY TV and OMNI. TVo is definitely the strongest of all digital channels from Toronto
and it could be the signal that you are getting.

Hope that this helps.

You may also wish to read my previous posts in the Barrie, Muskoka.... thread

[AndrewL.]

Here are the results again with your instructions:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...990060c1070102

[AndrewL.]

I did another test selecting analog signals, and got a "green" result meaning a set top antenna is supposed to recieve signals from CKVR Barrie in Wasaga Beach. However it doesn't. Would I have better luck with the future digital signals? Are they stronger?

[chinadog]

Andrew L

I tried your tvfool link but seemed to give the wrong location; somewhere just east of lake simcoe near highway 7. So I created a new tvfool report based on your 71st & Moseley location:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...9900fa8b5fad12

You have three strong digital channels within your reach:
global rf7 and chchdt3 rf 23 in the north northeast (both from the same transmitter)
as well as Ctv two rf10 in the east southeast.
These two signals sources are about 90 degrees apart which usually means one antenna would most likely need to be adjusted when switching between channels.

You tvo reception could be just an old analog signal (is it snowy or slightly ghosted?) or it could be a troppo event, a temporary, weather-enhanced reception of the cn tower.

I found some info on your indoor antenna:

"FAQ on your antenna
QuestionWhat range can I expect from this antenna?
AnswerAverage Range - VHF: 25 miles

Average Range - UHF: 20 miles

Reception mileage is based on optimum conditions over flat, open terrain. The transmitting antenna height and power, and receiving antenna height and placement will affect the overall results."

Your signal sources are more than 25 miles away. This is compounded by the fact that an indoor antenna can't see through walls bricks etc. Ideally you need to get an unobstructed line of sight to the transmitter. If you were to take your indoor antenna outside you should be able to catch the three channels listed above if you point the antenna in the directions given in the radar map in the tvfool report.

A modest outdoor antenna ( a tripod holding a 10 foot mast) would very likely yield these three channels very reliably.

[AndrewL.]

I tried your tvfool link but seemed to give the wrong location; somewhere just east of lake simcoe near highway 7. So I created a new tvfool report based on your 71st & Moseley location:

You must have looked at the first link for the pending digital signal. The coordinates for the analog test I mentioned in post #552 but didn't link were correct at 44.30 N/80W.

Your signal sources are more than 25 miles away. This is compounded by the fact that an indoor antenna can't see through walls bricks etc. Ideally you need to get an unobstructed line of sight to the transmitter. If you were to take your indoor antenna outside you should be able to catch the three channels listed above if you point the antenna in the directions given in the radar map in the tvfool report.

OK. I guess that might be the problem, although my house is only wood siding there are no large windows facing east and lots of trees. I'll test it outdoors with the cable still coming in from the box outside.

PS. Would a small antenna mounted on the outside wall on the north side of my house work well enough?

[orlandod]

I would like to put up an antenna on a outside tower and need a recommendation on the best antenna for my location. will also need a preamp and converter box for the old tube TV. Thanks