BC - City of Vancouver, North Van, West Van - OTA - Page 3 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

stampeder · 2005-06-22, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarke

Wow, I haven't made any changes to the antenna but all of a sudden I'm getting a stable picture from KCPQ-DT Tacoma at about 52%!

We had bigtime skip conditions the last few days so I'll fire up my system and see if its still happening.

Sarke · 2005-06-29, 03:20 AM

For those in my area wondering, I'm still getting KING 5 at 64% without the skip, but Q13 is down to 0%.

Sarke · 2005-07-03, 06:41 PM

4DTV HD delivered my new CM 4228 today. A pleasure doing business with him btw.

I took his advice and tried pointing it north first to see if I could get City, but no such luck. After that I hung it in my bedroom window where I got my best results with the Silver Sensor.

King 5 has improved to a high of 80%, while I'm now pulling in Q13 at a steady 66% as well. KBCB is unchanged at 88%. All the other channels are at 0%.

Of note is that I'm using a longer cable now since I have the comp in my study as usual, and I'm not using a pre-amp. As per Stampeder's advice I held of on the pre-amp to see what kind of results I get without it. Since the other channels are at 0%, there's not much to amplify anyways. We'll see what happens when we get some good skip conditions though.

As far as aiming it goes, I have tried pointing it straight south to about 30° east of south, but it doesn't seem to do make any difference.

For the record, KING is ~16.5° east of south (163.39°N) from my location, while KCPQ is ~5.5° (174.43°N). Most of the other SeaTac stations are in the 162°N to 164°N range from my location, and about 185km away.

Sarke · 2005-07-03, 08:50 PM

Hmm... Both channels seem to fluxuate down about 20-30% sometimes, sometimes to the point where Q13 is unwatchable. I might have to get that pre-amp after all.

Sarke · 2005-07-04, 01:00 AM

KIRO showed some activity with 4%-12% just now, but I think there's a bit of skip right now.

EDIT: KIRO just came up to almost 40% and I'm getting an unstable picture of it. It's not watchable, but at least it's a new channel for me.

Sarke · 2005-07-05, 03:09 AM

After finally getting the Winegard 8275 pre-amp overload thing sorted, here's my new results:

KBCB Bellingham - high of 88%, stable
KING (NBC) Seattle - high of 91%, stable
KCPQ (FOX) Tacoma - high of 85%, mostly stable
KIRO (CBS) Seattle - high of 66%, mostly stable

KSTW (UPN) Tacoma - high of 64%, irregular (sometimes stable)
KOMO (ABC) Seattle - high of 64%, irregular (sometimes stable)
KCTS (PBS) Seattle - high of 50%, irregular (sometimes stable)

retry · 2005-07-09, 07:33 PM

I just moved into a 15th floor apartment that has an unobstructed view of English Bay in Vancouver's west end. If I look to my right I can see Lighthouse Park and the Western part of the North Shore mountains, if I look to my left I can see a bit of downtown and the Burrard Street Bridge, and straight ahead is the UBC peninsula with Vancouver Island behind it. There are windows all along the apartment, and on the other side there is a wall, a public hallway, and then another series of windows facing the city in the opposite direction. Any idea if OTA reception is worth investigating in this area? I just bought a Daytek DT3220 and have it hooked up to my PC via DVI at 1366X768. Looking into getting a Motorola 6412 and going with Shaw (I don't think I could hook up a satellite dish unless I asked the penthouse owner for permission -- he's five floors above -- and snaked some cables down the other side of the building or through the elevator shaft or something.

Thanks for your thoughts!

PS the apartment is near the corner of Denman and Davie, between the RainCity Grill and the Sylvia Hotel.

Sarke · 2005-07-09, 09:32 PM

You have height to your advantage, but are there any tall buildings to the south of you? And which was is your apartment facing?

retry · 2005-07-10, 03:53 PM

The building faces west, and yes there are some tall buildings to the south... Here is a photo of the view from the living room. I'll try and do another stitch of the view from the windows on the other side of the hallway adjacent to my suite (facing East towards Coal Harbour). It's a tall, skinny, narrow concrete building with West facing suites only and a hallway on the Eastern side. I am in the middle of the building -- there are corner suites to the north and south of me.

badkarma · 2005-07-24, 07:47 PM

I'm around oak and 49th. Any chance of getting US HD channels?

stampeder · 2005-07-24, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badkarma

I'm around oak and 49th. Any chance of getting US HD channels?

Any groves of large trees to the south of you? Are you in an apartment a few floors up?

kenw · 2005-08-19, 01:30 AM

What kind of antenna is required to get OTA HD signals? Can I just use indoor rabbit ears or do I need a big outdoor mast?

Does anyone know what are the OTA HD channels we can get in the Vancouver area? Can the US (Seattle/Bellingham) stations be received OTA?

Sarke · 2005-08-19, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenw

What kind of antenna is required to get OTA HD signals? Can I just use indoor rabbit ears or do I need a big outdoor mast?

There is no special type of "HD Antenna", but the better/higher/bigger it is the more reception you will get. Usually a roof mounted CM 4228 will get you on your way. Rabbit ears could work if you're close enough to the transmitter, but your needs really depends on your location.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenw

Does anyone know what are the OTA HD channels we can get in the Vancouver area? Can the US (Seattle/Bellingham) stations be received OTA?

This thread should help:
http://www.digitalhomecanada.com/for...ad.php?t=23569

Personally I have an indoor mounted CM 4228 (no roof access from my appartment) and I get Fox and NBC regularly, and CBS most of the time from Seattle. I can also get ABC, UPN, and PBS on good days. All HD. I live in South East Van btw.

CBC HD is scheduled to start transmitting in September in Vancouver.

stampeder · 2005-08-22, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarke

CBC HD is scheduled to start transmitting in September in Vancouver.

I'm beginning to really doubt that now. The CBC strike might cause a delay, but I sure hope not. Kenw: you can find lots of info here in the OTA Forum regarding Lower Mainland OTA reception.

badkarma · 2005-09-08, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stampeder

Any groves of large trees to the south of you? Are you in an apartment a few floors up?

Sorry, I didn't have topic subscription on. There's quite a few trees south of me but I'm somewhat on a small hill. I'm in a house though. Sounds like I don't have a good chance.

BTW, Is CBC still planning on going OTA in Vancouver? I assume after the strike? Any other channels?

2005-07-09, 07:33 PM	#37
retry Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 12	OTA reception on 15th floor of ocean front apartment in Vancouver's West End I just moved into a 15th floor apartment that has an unobstructed view of English Bay in Vancouver's west end. If I look to my right I can see Lighthouse Park and the Western part of the North Shore mountains, if I look to my left I can see a bit of downtown and the Burrard Street Bridge, and straight ahead is the UBC peninsula with Vancouver Island behind it. There are windows all along the apartment, and on the other side there is a wall, a public hallway, and then another series of windows facing the city in the opposite direction. Any idea if OTA reception is worth investigating in this area? I just bought a Daytek DT3220 and have it hooked up to my PC via DVI at 1366X768. Looking into getting a Motorola 6412 and going with Shaw (I don't think I could hook up a satellite dish unless I asked the penthouse owner for permission -- he's five floors above -- and snaked some cables down the other side of the building or through the elevator shaft or something. Thanks for your thoughts! PS the apartment is near the corner of Denman and Davie, between the RainCity Grill and the Sylvia Hotel.

2005-08-19, 01:30 AM	#42
kenw Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Coquitlam, B.C. Posts: 158	Coquitlam, BC OTA questions What kind of antenna is required to get OTA HD signals? Can I just use indoor rabbit ears or do I need a big outdoor mast? Does anyone know what are the OTA HD channels we can get in the Vancouver area? Can the US (Seattle/Bellingham) stations be received OTA? __________________ Ken

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

2005-06-29, 03:20 AM	#32
Sarke Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 123	For those in my area wondering, I'm still getting KING 5 at 64% without the skip, but Q13 is down to 0%.

2005-07-03, 06:41 PM	#33
Sarke Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 123	4DTV HD delivered my new CM 4228 today. A pleasure doing business with him btw. I took his advice and tried pointing it north first to see if I could get City, but no such luck. After that I hung it in my bedroom window where I got my best results with the Silver Sensor. King 5 has improved to a high of 80%, while I'm now pulling in Q13 at a steady 66% as well. KBCB is unchanged at 88%. All the other channels are at 0%. Of note is that I'm using a longer cable now since I have the comp in my study as usual, and I'm not using a pre-amp. As per Stampeder's advice I held of on the pre-amp to see what kind of results I get without it. Since the other channels are at 0%, there's not much to amplify anyways. We'll see what happens when we get some good skip conditions though. As far as aiming it goes, I have tried pointing it straight south to about 30° east of south, but it doesn't seem to do make any difference. For the record, KING is ~16.5° east of south (163.39°N) from my location, while KCPQ is ~5.5° (174.43°N). Most of the other SeaTac stations are in the 162°N to 164°N range from my location, and about 185km away.

2005-07-03, 08:50 PM	#34
Sarke Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 123	Hmm... Both channels seem to fluxuate down about 20-30% sometimes, sometimes to the point where Q13 is unwatchable. I might have to get that pre-amp after all.

2005-07-04, 01:00 AM	#35
Sarke Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 123	KIRO showed some activity with 4%-12% just now, but I think there's a bit of skip right now. EDIT: KIRO just came up to almost 40% and I'm getting an unstable picture of it. It's not watchable, but at least it's a new channel for me.

2005-07-05, 03:09 AM	#36
Sarke Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 123	After finally getting the Winegard 8275 pre-amp overload thing sorted, here's my new results: KBCB Bellingham - high of 88%, stable KING (NBC) Seattle - high of 91%, stable KCPQ (FOX) Tacoma - high of 85%, mostly stable KIRO (CBS) Seattle - high of 66%, mostly stable KSTW (UPN) Tacoma - high of 64%, irregular (sometimes stable) KOMO (ABC) Seattle - high of 64%, irregular (sometimes stable) KCTS (PBS) Seattle - high of 50%, irregular (sometimes stable)

2005-07-09, 09:32 PM	#38
Sarke Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 123	You have height to your advantage, but are there any tall buildings to the south of you? And which was is your apartment facing?

2005-07-10, 03:53 PM	#39
retry Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 12	The building faces west, and yes there are some tall buildings to the south... Here is a photo of the view from the living room. I'll try and do another stitch of the view from the windows on the other side of the hallway adjacent to my suite (facing East towards Coal Harbour). It's a tall, skinny, narrow concrete building with West facing suites only and a hallway on the Eastern side. I am in the middle of the building -- there are corner suites to the north and south of me.

2005-07-24, 07:47 PM	#40
badkarma Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 260	I'm around oak and 49th. Any chance of getting US HD channels?