BC - Victoria, The Island, Sunshine Coast, BC Interior, BC North - OTA - Page 6 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

stampeder · 2007-06-06, 10:21 PM

You might not need a preamp depending on how far your antenna will be from the TV. If you put your antenna up on a 20' tower you'll need a preamp. A rotor would serve you very well.

Here's the thread about BC OTA equipment vendors:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=51079

blakew · 2007-06-07, 12:02 AM

Quote:

The location is Trail Island (1km off downtown Sechelt) app. 30km north (as the crow flies) of UBC

You say 30kms north of UBC, but I looked up Trail Island on google earth, and you're actually 100kms south of UBC. Trail island is a gulf island. That would explain why he's able to get seatac stations.

omnisquid · 2007-06-07, 11:02 AM

Hey Blake
Google earth has made a mistake. The 'Trail Island' they display is actually 'Trial Island'. If you google earth Sechelt you will see a small group of 4 islands about 1km offshore. These are actually the Trail Islands (East, North, South, and West Trail Islands).

It's been about 6 months since I last google-earthed my place and in that period that error has cropped up.

Zyla · 2007-06-15, 11:56 AM

Hi,

I'm wondering if anyone from that area has tried to get OTA HD (720p / 1080i signals.)

Thanks!

stampeder · 2007-06-15, 12:50 PM

Hi Zyla, I've moved your post into the Reception Results thread for your area, and you'll see from Post #72 onwards that we've just discussed Sechelt in detail.

Are you closer to Sechelt or to Gibsons?

Benjamin · 2007-07-07, 03:53 PM

Was Testing out a new Samsung Plasma I recently purchased and was getting CBC HD solid for the 3 hours or so that I watched it. I was somewhat confused as first the channel registered as 2-1 then I repositioned the antenna and it came in as 58-8?? Earlier in the year I was getting CTV on my HYbrid USB gadget but couldnt pick it up last night, I will try it again in the fall when the foliage disappears. Still using my ANT501 but may get a Terk later this year.

Insomniac · 2007-07-08, 12:03 PM

Hey Flyboy94ca,
If you are still watching this thread....

I am located in Mill Bay. We just bought a Sony 46" XBR2 TV and I have it connected to a Shaw/Motorola DCT 2500 STB.

To test the OTA reception here, I connected a whip antenna (came with a cheap portable TV

) thru a hunk of coax into the vhf/uhf connector on the back of the set. The antenna was propped up against the family room wall. After runnng the "auto program", the set reported 5 analog and 2 digital channels. The two digital channels were out of Bellingham; KVOS and the shopping channel.

Since the crappy test above worked, I am going to buy a Winegard PR-8800 and mount it outside. Will let you know how it works out!

stampeder · 2007-07-08, 04:09 PM

Insomniac, the PR-8800 is a fine antenna but why did you choose it over the CM4228? That's not a critique, just my own curiosity.

Insomniac · 2007-07-08, 11:19 PM

I remember Winegard's reputation from the days when I messed around with C-Band. When I searched for UHF antennas on the 'net, I found the Winegard for sale and thought "hey, that works for me!".

The shopping channel I mentioned is KBCB. I have now got far enough thru the Sony manual to figure out how to determine signal strength. Both channels running between 60 and 70 with the antenna

on the floor. (My wife knocked it onto the floor while painting the room; new TV calls for some redecorating!)

Benjamin · 2007-07-29, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benjamin

Was Testing out a new Samsung Plasma I recently purchased and was getting CBC HD solid for the 3 hours or so that I watched it. I was somewhat confused as first the channel registered as 2-1 then I repositioned the antenna and it came in as 58-8?? Earlier in the year I was getting CTV on my HYbrid USB gadget but couldnt pick it up last night, I will try it again in the fall when the foliage disappears. Still using my ANT501 but may get a Terk later this year.

Have been receiving CBC HD 2.1 solid since my last post and finally locked into CTV HD 32.1 today. Positioned my antenna on top of my BBQ on the back deck and watched a solid 2 hour movie that had no audio or video dropouts.

chocky · 2007-08-20, 12:19 PM

Hi,

I've recently moved to Victoria from the UK, and I'm not interested in getting the basic cable package Shaw offer ($29 a month, I just can't see me using it enough!) so I'd like to look into OTA TV.

Problem is, I don't have a lot of money or time to play around with it. I see from browsing the forum here that a lot of people have large antenna mounted to the side of their house, etc- that just isn't going to work for me, not least because I'm in a rented property! But on the other hand, I don't (yet) want HDTV or anything like that- just your basic, basic TV!

I know you can use the cheap 'bunny-ears' type antenna- how likely is it that I'll actually get a watchable signal from one of these? Does anyone in Victoria got any local knowledge? I'm nearby Christmas Hill (yes, by a hill, probably not the greatest sign!)

chocky · 2007-08-20, 12:27 PM

Hey guys,

I'm living in Victoria, looking to set up an OTA TV... not HD or anything fancy, though. If I got some of those 'bunny-ears' antenna, what kind of reception would I be likely to get? Anything at all watchable?

I'm located by Christmas Hill just outside of downtown Victoria.

Tom.F.1 · 2007-08-20, 05:57 PM

that 39.99 antenna should work..... about 1/10 as good as a proper OTA 400.00 antenna/mast set up.

Good Luck.

chocky · 2007-08-20, 06:18 PM

Figured it'd not be great, but still.

Another question, having read everything mentioned in these forums... what is the state of play with analogue transmissions right now?

As I understand it, in order to receive digital transmissions I need an ATSC tuning box, correct? Is that the case with analogue as well or can I just plug straight in?

I know the signal is being turned off, but it'd be good to have a short term solution straight off.

ralph_sinclair · 2007-08-20, 07:12 PM

chocky ... i'm not familiar with the situation in Victoria, but I'd expect you will get at least CBC, CTV, Global and A-Channel in analog SD there with an indoor UHF/VHF antenna. Not sure if you can reasonably expect to get the US nets from your location.

The Canadian networks should be available right up to August of 2011 (US nets, if receivable with an indoor antenna, would end in February 2009), and you can plug the antenna right into any TV - no box required. The picture quality will likely leave something to be desired.

You might try a local hardware store or Canadian Tire for a UHF/VHF antenna in the $20 range.

2007-06-07, 11:02 AM	#78
omnisquid Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Trail Island Posts: 4	Trail Island not to be confused with Trial Island :) Hey Blake Google earth has made a mistake. The 'Trail Island' they display is actually 'Trial Island'. If you google earth Sechelt you will see a small group of 4 islands about 1km offshore. These are actually the Trail Islands (East, North, South, and West Trail Islands). It's been about 6 months since I last google-earthed my place and in that period that error has cropped up.

2007-06-15, 11:56 AM	#79
Zyla Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 32	Sechelt / Gibsons BC Hi, I'm wondering if anyone from that area has tried to get OTA HD (720p / 1080i signals.) Thanks!

2007-07-07, 03:53 PM	#81
Benjamin Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 57	French Creek OTA (update to Post #64) Was Testing out a new Samsung Plasma I recently purchased and was getting CBC HD solid for the 3 hours or so that I watched it. I was somewhat confused as first the channel registered as 2-1 then I repositioned the antenna and it came in as 58-8?? Earlier in the year I was getting CTV on my HYbrid USB gadget but couldnt pick it up last night, I will try it again in the fall when the foliage disappears. Still using my ANT501 but may get a Terk later this year.

2007-07-08, 12:03 PM	#82
Insomniac Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Mill Bay BC Posts: 59	Mill Bay (North of Victoria) Hey Flyboy94ca, If you are still watching this thread.... I am located in Mill Bay. We just bought a Sony 46" XBR2 TV and I have it connected to a Shaw/Motorola DCT 2500 STB. To test the OTA reception here, I connected a whip antenna (came with a cheap portable TV ) thru a hunk of coax into the vhf/uhf connector on the back of the set. The antenna was propped up against the family room wall. After runnng the "auto program", the set reported 5 analog and 2 digital channels. The two digital channels were out of Bellingham; KVOS and the shopping channel. Since the crappy test above worked, I am going to buy a Winegard PR-8800 and mount it outside. Will let you know how it works out!

2007-08-20, 12:19 PM	#86
chocky Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 8	OTA (Victoria BC)- how cheap? Hi, I've recently moved to Victoria from the UK, and I'm not interested in getting the basic cable package Shaw offer ($29 a month, I just can't see me using it enough!) so I'd like to look into OTA TV. Problem is, I don't have a lot of money or time to play around with it. I see from browsing the forum here that a lot of people have large antenna mounted to the side of their house, etc- that just isn't going to work for me, not least because I'm in a rented property! But on the other hand, I don't (yet) want HDTV or anything like that- just your basic, basic TV! I know you can use the cheap 'bunny-ears' type antenna- how likely is it that I'll actually get a watchable signal from one of these? Does anyone in Victoria got any local knowledge? I'm nearby Christmas Hill (yes, by a hill, probably not the greatest sign!)

2007-06-06, 10:21 PM	#76
stampeder OTA Forum Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: North Delta, BC (96Av x 116St) Posts: 23,338	You might not need a preamp depending on how far your antenna will be from the TV. If you put your antenna up on a 20' tower you'll need a preamp. A rotor would serve you very well. Here's the thread about BC OTA equipment vendors: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=51079

2007-06-15, 12:50 PM	#80
stampeder OTA Forum Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: North Delta, BC (96Av x 116St) Posts: 23,338	Hi Zyla, I've moved your post into the Reception Results thread for your area, and you'll see from Post #72 onwards that we've just discussed Sechelt in detail. Are you closer to Sechelt or to Gibsons?

2007-07-08, 04:09 PM	#83
stampeder OTA Forum Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: North Delta, BC (96Av x 116St) Posts: 23,338	Insomniac, the PR-8800 is a fine antenna but why did you choose it over the CM4228? That's not a critique, just my own curiosity.

2007-07-08, 11:19 PM	#84
Insomniac Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Mill Bay BC Posts: 59	I remember Winegard's reputation from the days when I messed around with C-Band. When I searched for UHF antennas on the 'net, I found the Winegard for sale and thought "hey, that works for me!". The shopping channel I mentioned is KBCB. I have now got far enough thru the Sony manual to figure out how to determine signal strength. Both channels running between 60 and 70 with the antenna on the floor. (My wife knocked it onto the floor while painting the room; new TV calls for some redecorating!)

2007-08-20, 12:27 PM	#87
chocky Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 8	Reception with cheap antenna? Hey guys, I'm living in Victoria, looking to set up an OTA TV... not HD or anything fancy, though. If I got some of those 'bunny-ears' antenna, what kind of reception would I be likely to get? Anything at all watchable? I'm located by Christmas Hill just outside of downtown Victoria.

2007-08-20, 05:57 PM	#88
Tom.F.1 Veteran Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ajax, Ontario Posts: 1,928	that 39.99 antenna should work..... about 1/10 as good as a proper OTA 400.00 antenna/mast set up. Good Luck. __________________ Samsung TV, Pio-Elite AVR, OppoBD, Wharfedale Speakers, Kicker Subs. Bell EVu, DB-4e OTA:)

2007-08-20, 06:18 PM	#89
chocky Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 8	Figured it'd not be great, but still. Another question, having read everything mentioned in these forums... what is the state of play with analogue transmissions right now? As I understand it, in order to receive digital transmissions I need an ATSC tuning box, correct? Is that the case with analogue as well or can I just plug straight in? I know the signal is being turned off, but it'd be good to have a short term solution straight off.

2007-08-20, 07:12 PM	#90
ralph_sinclair Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 421	chocky ... i'm not familiar with the situation in Victoria, but I'd expect you will get at least CBC, CTV, Global and A-Channel in analog SD there with an indoor UHF/VHF antenna. Not sure if you can reasonably expect to get the US nets from your location. The Canadian networks should be available right up to August of 2011 (US nets, if receivable with an indoor antenna, would end in February 2009), and you can plug the antenna right into any TV - no box required. The picture quality will likely leave something to be desired. You might try a local hardware store or Canadian Tire for a UHF/VHF antenna in the $20 range.

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