Is there any over the air HDTV in Calgary?

[ken0042]

Just to report my latest findings. I was camping last weekend about 5 km west of Bragg Creek. Using the antenna in my trailer I was barely able to get 3 channels; Global, CITY, and Omni (38).

I plan on upgrading my antenna with a Wingman before going out again next year. That should be a good test of the Wingman as the signals I could get were weak; so weak that the power drain by using the water pump in the trailer caused drop outs.

Edit- forgot to add something that makes this more than a "cool story, bro" post. According to TVfool I was almost the exact same distance from the transmitters as I am at my house. The big difference being the geography. The signals going to my house are pretty much line of sight; whereas last weekend there were some major hills in between.

[worth]

I have a friend at work who has been doing OTA for the past year or so. That, in combination with this thread convinced me to take the plunge.

I haven't had cable for a year or so.

Went to WalMart and picked up a Philips antenna because I knew if something didn't work, I could return it easily. I'm in Kingsland in the SW, and my apartment is not set up the best for line of sight.

Plugged the thing in, did the channel scan and i'm getting all channels perfectly. Don't even have to adjust the antenna. I just threw it behind the TV.

2.1 Global
4.1 CFCN
5.1 City
9.1 CBC
32.1 CTS
36.1 Omni

I also get a Air 16 frenchie channel, but it doesn't come in clear. Don't really care, I don't speak french.

Nice to have some TV back. Global, CFCN, City and CBC are basically all I need. Can get some news and some hockey and sports and that's about it.

[Sr. Mints]

Apparently CFCN just converted their newscasts to HD in the last week. I haven't had a chance to check it out yet; this thread just reminded me about it.

[bossy22]

Originally Posted by worth

I have a friend at work who has been doing OTA for the past year or so. That, in combination with this thread convinced me to take the plunge.

I haven't had cable for a year or so.

Went to WalMart and picked up a Philips antenna because I knew if something didn't work, I could return it easily. I'm in Kingsland in the SW, and my apartment is not set up the best for line of sight.

Plugged the thing in, did the channel scan and i'm getting all channels perfectly. Don't even have to adjust the antenna. I just threw it behind the TV.

2.1 Global
4.1 CFCN
5.1 City
9.1 CBC
32.1 CTS
36.1 Omni

I also get a Air 16 frenchie channel, but it doesn't come in clear. Don't really care, I don't speak french.

Nice to have some TV back. Global, CFCN, City and CBC are basically all I need. Can get some news and some hockey and sports and that's about it.

Online they have 3 different ones. Any recommendations on what kind to get?

[worth]

I went there looking for this one:

http://www.walmart.ca/canada-estore/...t=SRCH%3AVideo

But they didn't have it at the store I went to, so I bought the next one up that looks like this:


It was like $44 or something. I don't have the exact model number with me. I can get it when I get home later.

[worth]

philips sdv6122t/27

http://www.philips.ca/c/tv-and-monit...22t_27/prd/en/

[freedogger]

Any one use a PC based PVR solution with OTA HD signals? Be curious to hear what software you use.

[bossy22]

I bought the Philips one from wallmart. Can only get a snowy French station at my house.

[worth]

Did you have your TV scan all the channels?

What part of the city do you live?

I can't imaging mine showing up crystal clear and you getting nothing.

[ken0042]

If you are only getting a "snowy French station" (Channel 16) then you do not have a digital tuner. Just as there are no rotary cell phones, there is also no analog HDTV.

Make sure your TV has an ASTC tuner; it should say in the manual. I know some new RCA TVs are being sold without this tuner. (Which I think should be either illegal, or have a massive warning on the box.)

[bossy22]

Originally Posted by ken0042

If you are only getting a "snowy French station" (Channel 16) then you do not have a digital tuner. Just as there are no rotary cell phones, there is also no analog HDTV.

Make sure your TV has an ASTC tuner; it should say in the manual. I know some new RCA TVs are being sold without this tuner. (Which I think should be either illegal, or have a massive warning on the box.)

It's about a 7 year old sony lcd tv. I did the scan all channels thing, and the only thing close was channel 16. I was able to get a bit better reception by playing with the antenna, but it was still snowy. Like when I was a kid and we were ripping off superchannel with tinfoil. I live out in Cochrane.

[ken0042]

Yeah, I'd bet money on that TV not having a digital tuner if it was bought in Canada.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Yeah, I'd bet money on that TV not having a digital tuner if it was bought in Canada.

Yeah, the code words they used was "HDTV Ready", which meant it didn't have a digital tuner, although I don't know about bossy22's TV.

Being out of town you may need an outdoor antenna such as a Channel Master.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Being out of town you may need an outdoor antenna such as a Channel Master.

I guess we need clarification from Bossy as what "snowy" means to him. Is it clear enough that you can recognize a face? What about reading text on the screen? If that was the only option to watch a hockey game; would you watch it?

All of Calgary's transmitters are within a km of each other, so if the signal is clear enough to make out a good part of what is on the screen; he should also be able to pick up Global and City if he has a digital tuner. I base that on my recent camping trip just west of the city. I could get in Global, City, and Omni- but channel 16 gave just the odd shadow in otherwise pure prairie snowstorm.

[bossy22]

So, I plugged the Antenna into my Samsung in my basement, and I can get the same channels as Worth now. When I went to Wallmart I purchased both a $16 and a $45 antenna, thinking if the $16 works, I'm returning the $45 one. Both are Phillips. I'm getting all of the same channels as worth now, with both, so, the $45 antenna is going back. I did try both, and got pretty much the same reception. Awesome, I can get hockey night in canada now.

So, it was my tv, like Ken said.

[BsFaninCGY]

Looking for a little help troubleshooting my OTA antenna.

I've had a TERK set up and running beautifully for about a year now. About a week ago 4 of my 6 OTA channels started showing up as 'Weak/No signal'. I ignored it and thought it would come back on it's own. No dice. I've re-scanned multiple times & moved the antenna but nothing seems to be working. Literally nothing had changed in my setup that should have caused this. One morning I was watching Global, that night - nothing.

Is anyone else experiencing this? I'm wondering if the broadcasters have changed something or if my antenna might have went kaput? It's weird because CTV & CBC are still working.

Thanks in advance.

[ken0042]

Something is up. At work all I'm getting is CTV, CBC, and CTS (32). We never could get Omni (38).

What's odd is that CTS was always the weakest of the channels in my other testing. But absolutely nothing from Global or City today.

[BsFaninCGY]

Appreciate it. I didn't think there was anything wrong with my antenna. I guess I'll keep scanning every now and again until it comes back...

[ken0042]

Actually I just tried now at home with my trailer. All 6 channels were coming in fine; and I'm down in the deep SE. I even lowered the antenna and the only channel I lost was Omni; and even it would still flicker.

[BsFaninCGY]

Very weird. Still nothing from Global, City or Omni for me. Perhaps the antenna really is dead...