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Draug · 01-18-2009, 03:46 PM

After some testing, I did manage to get a signal that my TV tuner could pick up. The signal strength never rose above 42%... All I have around home is some basically broken rabbit ears. It is amazing they even received 42%!

The Bell 9200 won't autoscan the channel, and I can't seem to enter it. The TV records it as channel 4-1 (CFCN_HD), but Bell only allows you to manually enter a 'transmit' number, and I don't know what that is. I'll have to get a better antennae and try it again.

But hey, straight to the TV, with less than half of the signal strength, the picture looks better than the HD satellite equivalent. I am looking forward to getting a full signal and doing some comparisons.

Havnig an OTA channel settles it. I am going to go pick up an 9242 today so that I can have PVR functionality on the OTA channel... hopefully it becomes channels soon. (FutureShop NE is sold out, btw)

Vulcan · 01-18-2009, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Draug

After some testing, I did manage to get a signal that my TV tuner could pick up. The signal strength never rose above 42%... All I have around home is some basically broken rabbit ears. It is amazing they even received 42%!

The Bell 9200 won't autoscan the channel, and I can't seem to enter it. The TV records it as channel 4-1 (CFCN_HD), but Bell only allows you to manually enter a 'transmit' number, and I don't know what that is. I'll have to get a better antennae and try it again.

But hey, straight to the TV, with less than half of the signal strength, the picture looks better than the HD satellite equivalent. I am looking forward to getting a full signal and doing some comparisons.

Havnig an OTA channel settles it. I am going to go pick up an 9242 today so that I can have PVR functionality on the OTA channel... hopefully it becomes channels soon. (FutureShop NE is sold out, btw)

Good stuff. I was just looking over that thread and they say don't buy the Wallmart one but maybe get the Silver Senser at The Source.

HOOT · 01-18-2009, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Draug

I assume the 9200 is also capable of mpeg4.

Negative. The 9200 is MPEG2, 9242 is MPEG4, 9241 is MPEG4.

This is the reason they were trying to basically give away 9200's about 6 months ago.

Draug · 01-19-2009, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOOT

Negative. The 9200 is MPEG2, 9242 is MPEG4, 9241 is MPEG4.

This is the reason they were trying to basically give away 9200's about 6 months ago.

Yeah, I was suprised to learn that.

I have a 9242 on hold for me (was trying to buy it, but Bell's registration site was down so Best Buy couldnt sell it to me at that time??). I decided to buy only 1, instead of 2 to replace both 9200's. Future proofing one is good enough. Plus, I really only need the OTA tuner for the large TV because the compression is much less noticable on the smaller TV. Also, its only on the large TV that PiP is used, again because of the size.

ken0042 · 01-19-2009, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Draug

(was trying to buy it, but Bell's registration site was down so Best Buy couldnt sell it to me at that time??)

When I bought my 9242 in the spring their site wasn't working, but the guy at Future Shop just sold it to me without registering it.

They aren't supposed to, but I know that if the odd one gets through Bell doesn't really notice. And it doesn't affect the ability to add the receiver online.

TurnedTheCorner · 01-21-2009, 10:38 AM

What kind of antenna would you need to connect to the 9242 to find the local channel? And where would you conntect it?

ken0042 · 01-21-2009, 10:58 AM

I'm going to try a set of rabbit ears this weekend. As for where to connect it, the left most jack in this picture is where I think you connect the antenna: http://www.satelliteone.com/dish/store/vip622-lrg.htm

TurnedTheCorner · 01-21-2009, 11:19 AM

Thanks for the pic - I assumed it was that jack as well. So any rabbit ears will do? I could pick up the RCA antennas at Future Shop and give 'em a go?

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/sub...EN&catid=25946

ken0042 · 01-21-2009, 11:35 AM

I would suggest having a read of the OTA forum over at digitalhome.ca. Lots of people who have rigged all sorts of stuff with varying results.

The reason I'm going to try is that I do have a set of 75ohm rabbit ears that came with one of my newer CRT TVs. So the cost to me to try is nothing. If you want to try with buying a set from FS- be sure to keep the receipt and the packaging intact. If there's one thing I learned in my "broke student" days (the ones where the cable would often get disconnected) is that different parts of this city suck for TV reception due to all the hills and valleys.

Vulcan · 01-21-2009, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

Thanks for the pic - I assumed it was that jack as well. So any rabbit ears will do? I could pick up the RCA antennas at Future Shop and give 'em a go?

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/sub...EN&catid=25946

Reception will depend on line of sight and distance from the broadcaster. I'm no expert but I haven't heard of very good results from those RCAs. For a small indoor antennae the Silver Sensor or a clone is considered good. Like this one although I think it's sold out.

http://www.thesource.ca/estore/Produ...roduct=1505315

flip · 01-27-2009, 02:54 AM

Maybe not thread worthy so I will post it here.

Sportsnet now has 2 full time HD channels on Bell. 852 which used to be a HD game only channel is now Sportsnet Pacific, while 846-847 have become Sportsnet E and W respectively, however are still only used for regional HD hockey games it appears.

851 is now permanently SNHD Ontario.

Good to see. Doesn't really matter a lot because all non west region games are blacked out but at least I'll get some more time fted HD sports news.

Vulcan · 02-01-2009, 05:20 PM

It looks like Bell TV is switching over to 8PSK in April. This will give Bell more room for their HD channels, so I'd hope for less compression. Bell is sending out letters offering a free replacement for the old 6000 HD receivers as they are not capable of 8PSK.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=101058

HotHotHeat · 02-02-2009, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vulcan

It looks like Bell TV is switching over to 8PSK in April. This will give Bell more room for their HD channels, so I'd hope for less compression. Bell is sending out letters offering a free replacement for the old 6000 HD receivers as they are not capable of 8PSK.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=101058

8PSK aka MPEG4?

flip · 02-02-2009, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

8PSK aka MPEG4?

I read the thread and it says that 8PSK just increases the bandwidth ability. It appears MPEG4 is a ways away.

Vulcan · 02-02-2009, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flip

I read the thread and it says that 8PSK just increases the bandwidth ability. It appears MPEG4 is a ways away.

Yeah, when they do change over to MPEG4, the 6100 and 9200 receivers will be in the same situation as the 6000 is now. They won't be able to decode the HD signal. For those of us with those two receivers, I hope Bell also does a free upgrade.

ken0042 · 02-02-2009, 07:24 PM

OK, so I tried to do some reading about 8PSK and I still cannot see what it does for me that is "good."

MPEG4 I get- different kind of compression meaning more channels per transponder.

Can anybody give me the "Coles Notes" version of it?

flip · 02-02-2009, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

OK, so I tried to do some reading about 8PSK and I still cannot see what it does for me that is "good."

MPEG4 I get- different kind of compression meaning more channels per transponder.

Can anybody give me the "Coles Notes" version of it?

I got this out of that thread linked earlier:

Quote:

The 6000 is the only Bell HD receiver that is not compatible with 8PSK modulation, which it appears they are finally switching to (8PSK increases the amount of bandwidth available to programming). So it's necessary to swap them out. It's good they're doing it free of charge, Starchoice charged their customers when they did it!

Vulcan · 02-02-2009, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

OK, so I tried to do some reading about 8PSK and I still cannot see what it does for me that is "good."

MPEG4 I get- different kind of compression meaning more channels per transponder.

Can anybody give me the "Coles Notes" version of it?

You probably have read this already, but this is the best I can do. Some of it's too technical for me but the bottom line seems to be that they'll be able to broadcast three 720p HD channels per transponder or two 1080i at full bit rates.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=67973

T@T · 02-03-2009, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Yeah, when they do change over to MPEG4, the 6100 and 9200 receivers will be in the same situation as the 6000 is now. They won't be able to decode the HD signal. For those of us with those two receivers, I hope Bell also does a free upgrade.

LOL..I have four 6100's and one 9200