BC - Burnaby, New West, Coquitlam, PoCo, Port Moody

[newwest]

Thank you all for great info in OTA thread, better and quicker than books. I just bought a new sharp lcd with ATSC tuner, and tried to use RCA cant501 indoor amplified antenna to get Digital signal (ctv). It came up with nothing but one analog ch-10 with vague picture. I know indoor antenna is last choice regarding PQ.But for me, it is only choice, the complex doesn't allow sattelite and outdoor antenna. I am wondering that maybe my ATSC tuner have some problems. need help!! I am on second floor facing northeast, and there is one more floor above. For my location , I think north is the direction to Mt, seymoore.

Anybody has same experience. Thank you,stampeder ,you did very good job to keep this thread alive

[stampeder]

Thanks for your kind words, newwest. Unfortunately you are living in a signal shadow area and an indoor antenna will do you no good. Your ATSC tuner is probably fine. If its a small, light TV you could take it up into North Burnaby and plug it into a power socket and run a scan. That will tell you if the tuner is working properly or not. If its a full size unit, only an outdoor antenna mounted quite high would be useful in New Westminster, especially anywhere downhill of 10 Avenue (my best guess).

Have you tried walking around your place with the antenna to search for a sweet spot, keeping the antenna pointed at NNW (about 350 degrees)?

Its interesting that only Channel 10 (CITY Vancouver) came through, because its antenna is not on Mt. Seymour but rather is over on top of Saltspring Island, which is southwest of Delta and Richmond over in the Georgia Strait.

[newwest]

Originally Posted by stampeder

Thanks for your kind words, newwest. Unfortunately you are living in a signal shadow area and an indoor antenna will do you no good. .

I didn't expect all those OTA channels from the states. I am only hoping to get those local digital signals, and there are more channels coming next year according to the thread. If the broadcasting station increase the signal strength,I guess, I might have the luck to get them with indoor antenna. Is that right?is that my only hope to get out from this signal shadow area?

[stampeder]

Originally Posted by newwest

Is that my only hope to get out from this signal shadow area?

Whether its Vancouver stations or from other places you are not in a good area for an indoor antenna because of the geography of your city (sharply sloping downwards to the southeast with the broadcast antennas to the northwest, along with lots of high rise buildings). New Westminster has been driving broadcasters nuts for many years. Many car radios start getting strange reception there too. CATV seems to be your option since you cannot put up an outdoor antenna or satellite dish.

[newwest]

Originally Posted by stampeder

CATV seems to be your option since you cannot put up an outdoor antenna or satellite dish.

It looks like I am living in the wrong place for OTA channels. Thank you for the direction, Stampeder. Is it necessary for me to get other indoor antenna to have another try?if Yes , which one you would recommend. I read silver sensor repeatly in the thread . is that the one from zenith?

How is everybody doing with your reception?

[ATN]

Jason,

Any success stories from Port Coquitlam? With Eagle Mt in the way we might be in a shadow.

I know that a cheap RadioShack antenna indoors WON'T work but would like to know what will.

[stampeder]

Originally Posted by ATN

Any success stories from Port Coquitlam? With Eagle Mt in the way we might be in a shadow.

Just curious, do the analogs from Mt. Seymour get blocked there too, ATN, or is there enough signal to get them?

[jasonbyers7]

Originally Posted by ATN

Jason,

Any success stories from Port Coquitlam? With Eagle Mt in the way we might be in a shadow.

I know that a cheap RadioShack antenna indoors WON'T work but would like to know what will.

Have you tried putting your cheap radio shack antenna outside facing Seymour? Inside the signal drops off in a hurry. Are you in an area that you can mount an outdoor antenna? Are you wanting to keep it so your antenna will be small?

Really try and pan your antenna around DTV can pick up reflections much better than analog.

This post talks quite a bit about antennas. Might be a little overkill for Port Coquitlam though. http://www.digitalhomecanada.com/for...ad.php?t=27994
This RCA from Radio Shack(the source) seems pretty slim and not an eye sore. http://www.thesourcecc.com/estore/Pr...roduct=1518235
I wonder if you can purchase it try it out, and if it doesn't work take it back?

[stampeder]

One of the things we try not to do in the OTA Forum is recommend antennas that we haven't tried ourselves. The OTA Forum is an entire Knowledge Base, and lets make the best use of it.

ATN, let's talk about your reception problems a bit more before you lay out any dollars.

[jasonbyers7]

Oops should have know better. Does anyone use the Winegard Squareshooter? It looks pretty compact and could be used from a condo/apartment without causing an uproar with the strata.

[stampeder]

If stealth is a priority and one lives in a Metro/Urban area close to Mt. Seymour like Vancouver, Burnaby, or North Van I've recommended the Winegard Square Shooter, but for people in the other GVRD municipalities I'd look under the Metro/Urban, Suburban, or Near Fringe distance headings for better options for getting the Mt. Seymour stations:

http://www.digitalhomecanada.com/for...8&postcount=10

Personally for just the UHF digitals I would go with a Channel Master 4221 or close competitor in almost all the cases above, assuming there are no local factors affecting things adversely. For almost any typical situation the Chart's recommendations should be great, but given reception problems like ATN has mentioned in Coquitlam or areas with really tall trees around your desired antenna location, its important to consult here in the OTA Forum for the best solution. Just ask.

[jasonbyers7]

Originally Posted by ATN

Jason,

Any success stories from Port Coquitlam? With Eagle Mt in the way we might be in a shadow.

I know that a cheap RadioShack antenna indoors WON'T work but would like to know what will.

ATN Which part of Port Coquitlam are you in. I was looking on Google Earth, PoCo should have a pretty clear view (NW of you)to CBC TX site Mt. Seymour (elevation 2775 ft.)

[Rick Dude]

Hi,

Just bought a Samsung TX-R3079WH which is HDTV ready. I live in a Newport Village high rise on 17th floor which looks SE and SW. From the balcony I can see Mount Seymour. To the SE & S is Coquitlam ridge and SW Burnaby Mtn.

Using just a UHF bow-tie antenna, I can receive the following:

CBUT-DT 50 - 60% Solid picture with no drop out.
CIVT-DT Have never even managed to get a picture.

Looking for US stations, KBCB analogue on Ch 24 comes in weakly with heavy multipath. KBCB-DT on Ch 19 not receivable with present set-up. Transmitter is about 75 km away.

Went to The Source and bought antenna cat number 1501880. Link below:

http://www.thesourcecc.com/estore/Pr...roduct=1501880

This has an amplifier and the UHF antenna is bow tie with a reflector. The only good thing I can say is that directivity was improved. The amplifier was overloaded by signals from the cell sites on the roof, above 20th floor, the local fire hall and possibly other sources.

KBCB analogue came in little better than with the original bow tie. CIVT-DT was still not received. Basically, I wouldn't recommend this antenna.

It seems to me that with CIVT-DT only transmitting 900 Watts, it is a "token gesture" at being a terrestrial station. This sort of power is normally used for covering a small area, not a major metropolitan area. Does anyone have any footprint info on the transmitter coverage?

Anyone know of local dealers for Channel Master, Wade or Winegard real antennas?

Cheers,

Rick

[stampeder]

That's great info, Rick Dude, and a good antenna will fix things for you. To answer your question about antenna suppliers in the Lower Mainland have a look at this thread:

http://www.digitalhomecanada.com/for...ad.php?t=23984

[Rick Dude]

Thanks for the antenna info link.