CFCN-HD Thread - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

ken0042 · 01-30-2009, 09:45 PM

I figured that seeing as some discussion about CFCN (CTV Calgary) now broadcasting Over The Air (OTA) has been buried in several different threads, we should have a dedicated thread and discuss our respective results.

Looking over at Digital Home, it would appear that there is some controversy about what kind of antenna is needed, and how much you should expect to spend. I'm sure that like the rest of us here getting the signal uncompressed would be neat, but not worth spending a whack of cash on.

So if you are going to post a success or failure, be sure to indicate what kind of antenna you are using, what tuner you are using, and what part of the city you are in.

Last night I tried a simple set of rabbit ears (that came with a CRT TV) and used my Bell 6100 receiver. I live in Copperfield. Couldn't pick up CFCN-HD; but I also couldn't get Global or City analog; and the old trusty CBC was even snowy.

My other question, has anybody tried this antenna from Monoprice?
http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...0101&p_id=4729

Thor · 01-30-2009, 09:57 PM

I've missed all these threads, but are you saying CTV-HD is only available OTA and not through Shaw HD, Bell HD, etc..?

Hack&Lube · 01-30-2009, 10:13 PM

I tried again today with the antenna that came with my HD tuner and also a set of old rabbit ears. I get nada.

Hack&Lube · 01-30-2009, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

Last night I tried a simple set of rabbit ears (that came with a CRT TV) and used my Bell 6100 receiver. I live in Copperfield. Couldn't pick up CFCN-HD; but I also couldn't get Global or City analog; and the old trusty CBC was even snowy.

My other question, has anybody tried this antenna from Monoprice?
http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...0101&p_id=4729

That looks far too small and weak. From what I've seen on the OTA HDTV forums, you need a giant array, 1950s style. You can build it out of coathangers and plywood if need be. All the good antennas I've seen are at least 2x2 feet long like a grid. You hide it in your attic, behind your TV, in a closet, or put it outside.

ken0042 · 01-30-2009, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thor

I've missed all these threads, but are you saying CTV-HD is only available OTA and not through Shaw HD, Bell HD, etc..?

They say it will be available through Shaw soon.

http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/loc...e&s_name=graph

The big thing with OTA is the lack of compression that we get with other HD channels.

H&L- yeah I assumed that one would likely be too small. The problem is the place that used to always sell the array type antennas (Radio Shack- now the Source) no longer really carries them.

Hack&Lube · 01-31-2009, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

They say it will be available through Shaw soon.

http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/loc...e&s_name=graph

The big thing with OTA is the lack of compression that we get with other HD channels.

H&L- yeah I assumed that one would likely be too small. The problem is the place that used to always sell the array type antennas (Radio Shack- now the Source) no longer really carries them.

I will probably try building one myself out of basement junk when I have free time. I just need one of those coaxial to two prong thingymajiggy, what are they called? I used to have some 10 years ago...

getbak · 01-31-2009, 12:50 AM

It's on Shaw, replacing the Toronto CTV HD feed on Channel 210.

This means you have to re-do all of your series recordings...for me that was just Corner Gas and The Daily Show/Colbert Report. It also sucks that I can't watch TDS/TCR at 10 anymore, since they now air at midnight. All of my other series recordings are for the Eastern US feeds, so I shouldn't have to deal with any signal substitution, except for the Super Bowl commercials (which seems to be the main reason they got this up and running this week).

I turned on the News tonight and was disappointed to find it was still in SD. Kind of crappy for them to do this and not actually go HD on any local content.

csnarpy · 01-31-2009, 03:09 PM

Well I only watch the news on CTV. So until they upgrade that (and since im on bell) I won't bother.

But it's good to hear that Calgary is finally starting this.

TurnedTheCorner · 01-31-2009, 03:41 PM

Unless I can use an internal antenna to pick this up, I can wait until it's added to Bell. Especially since I only watch local CTV for the news.

Vulcan · 01-31-2009, 03:59 PM

What I would be stoked about would be to watch sports such as hockey in an uncompressed format. With Bell I find sometimes the picture is good and sometimes I have to check the programming to see if it's really HD, such as the Montreal-LA game that was just over or what it looked like, upconverted widescreen.

CTV doesn't have much in the way of sports but the Superbowl is on tomorrow. Global is supposed to be coming on line this spring and CBC and hockey shouldn't be far behind. I'd look at tuning in CFCN as getting ready for what's to come.

Draug · 02-01-2009, 01:09 AM

I used a garbage antenna that came with my Bell 9200 (I think it's intended for the UHF Remote 2), and was able to pick up the CFCN-HD signal in Glamorgan when I hooked it directly to the tuner on the plasma. The Bell receiver was not able to detect anything. The signal strength was 40%, so the picture kept freezing, but when it flowed, it was more clear and less compressed than the equivalent CTV-HD off Bell.

I have since picked up an antenna that my Grandmother had used in the past. I am on vacation now, but plan on setting it up when I get home. I have no doubts that I will be able to pick up CFCN-HD, especially since Glamorgan is so close to the broadcast tower.

The Goon · 02-01-2009, 11:45 AM

The downside is that now in Calgary I'll be watching crappy Canadian ads instead of the American ones during the Super Bowl today. So much for the 3D commercials!

Joborule · 02-01-2009, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Goon

The downside is that now in Calgary I'll be watching crappy Canadian ads instead of the American ones during the Super Bowl today. So much for the 3D commercials!

I know, I wish that they would do the switch tomorrow instead! Or at least show a lot of the US commericals along with canadian ads.

Money grabbing bastids!

Hack&Lube · 02-01-2009, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

Unless I can use an internal antenna to pick this up, I can wait until it's added to Bell. Especially since I only watch local CTV for the news.

For those of us who refuse to pay for HD, its kind of a fun thing to look forward to getting free transmissions...but it's so hard to pick up.

MRCboicgy · 02-01-2009, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joborule

I know, I wish that they would do the switch tomorrow instead! Or at least show a lot of the US commericals along with canadian ads.

Money grabbing bastids!

I didn't know whether to put this in the game thread or this one...but what's the over-under on the # of times that damn Montana's commercial is shown?

ken0042 · 02-01-2009, 09:17 PM

OK guys- let's keep this about CFCN-HD and not about the subsequent signal substitutions.

Anyways, I tried the rabbit ears on the west side of the house right beside the window this afternoon. Still no dice here in Copperfield.

Bobblehead · 02-02-2009, 10:29 AM

Saw commercials about this during the SB.

Although it neglected to mention that you would need to be a sparrow nesting on the CFCN transmitter in order to pick up the signal.

Hack&Lube · 02-02-2009, 11:19 AM

What is with these stations and the low transmitting power anyway? Even on old analog OTA, all the stations always sucked with their transmissions while CBC was using some super powerful mofo transmitter or something because I could always pick that up bright as day even in a basement...anywhere in Calgary.

ken0042 · 02-02-2009, 11:31 AM

Well, I can understand when A-Channel (now CityTV) came into Calgary they were looking at getting themselves onto Shaw. So the OTA transmission would have been an afterthought and they likely just went with whatever the minimum required by the CRTC.

But I know what you mean- for example recently channels like CLT has started broadcasting OTA on the UHF band, and they have a weak transmitter too.

It could be with CFCN that all they are looking to do is get Shaw to simsub them; so they will put out the minimum signal required to allow them to do that.

Bobblehead · 02-02-2009, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

What is with these stations and the low transmitting power anyway? Even on old analog OTA, all the stations always sucked with their transmissions while CBC was using some super powerful mofo transmitter or something because I could always pick that up bright as day even in a basement...anywhere in Calgary.

In this case I almost wonder if it is only in place to force Shaw/Star Choice to do HD Simsubs (sorry to wander into that territory, Ken). I'd be curious to see the breakdown of viewers in CFCN's "broadcast region" who watches via OTA vs Cable vs Sat