Sorry for the delayed response.

As for WBBZ-DT   on RF , their Effective Radiated Power is currently at 26.9 kW, which hasn't change since early-mid 2008,
except for brief period in October 2011 when a storm damaged their antenna and had to broadcast at a reduced ERP of 10 Kw.
[Link: licensing.fcc.gov]

Broadcast stations cannot reduce their ERP without FCC permission.

[Link: fcc.gov]




Reception problems now are mostly caused by seasonal climatic change.

I'm fairly new to digital OTA (put an antenna up on the roof 2 weeks ago) but I grew up in the 80's and early 90's and had a lot of fun with analog OTA.

I think I'm just confirming the obvious. I finally started looking into why I can't see a picture for CHCH despite my TiVO telling me it has a good signal. I found that the Jesus channel is on the same frequency, which seems awful dumb but it is what it is. I'm assuming that being on the Buffalo side, there's nothing I can do about this, correct?

I'm a bit bummed as I really like their lineup.

Dear Peter1980:

Because you are in Buffalo, WBNF-CD  does overpower CHCH-DT  Hamilton.

[Link: rabbitears.info]

You can always pray that you can receive CHCH-DT-2 London (Alvinston) translator station on RF .
[Link: fccdata.org]

Peter if you live between Niagara falls and Fort Erie you will have issues with CHCH because of the Buffalo station sharing the same RF 15 frequency.Now if your closer to Hamilton or GTA then there is another issue .

Thanks for the confirmation. I'm pretty much 5-6 miles due east of downtown Buffalo, so I'm just out of luck unless either channels changes frequency or an odd atmospheric event that might bring it in for a few minutes/hours here or there.

I know nothing is planned right now, but here's hoping that one of them switches frequency or maybe WBNF-CD will go dark.

WBNF-CD [low power / class A]  is owned by a hedge fund; probably will be sold in the future but unlikely to change frequency -- only low VHF allotment is available.

CHCH-DT could move as a result of channel sharing.

I'm back with one more question/requet for help.

I've got my db8e on a tripod on my (single story home) roof - aimed at the CN Tower (using my TV Fool report and the compass on my iPhone)

I've got decent results, and can get Channel 5 (RF 20) CBC (and the CBC French channel 25) solid pretty much all of the time. TVO on channel 19 is pretty strong but I get a lot of digital garbage (not sure what that's about yet) Global (41) comes in well when it's dark, and CITY (44/57) and OMNI (40) both come in when they want to at night.

The channel that I'm not getting and don't quite understand right now is CTV2 CKVP channel 42 from Fonthill. I can get it with an indoor antenna at my office 6 miles away (and 11 floors up) and at home not even a blip for signal strength, nothing at all. This one is actually the highest on my TV Fool report. I realize I'm not pointed exactly at them (TV Fool says 42 is at 293 degrees and I'm pointed at 329 degrees for the CN Tower) but I'd think I'd at least see something for this station.

I was hoping to get some sort of CTV. I may invest in something better than the VHF retrokit I have now to try for Channel 9 CFTO but shouldn't I be seeing something on 42?

Edit: If it helps, here is my TV Fool report

Peter you don't have LOS to CKVP 42.1 and you have strong adjacent station on RF 43 WNED.CKVP is Barrie CTV2 repeater not CFTO Toronto CTV.All Canadian signals are very weak and you will have to Aim straight on to expect reception.CKVP will move to RF 29 for repack.Global is moving to rf 17 so unless WBXZ move gets approved .

I do know that it is CTV2 and not CTV - I like both, but CTV2 has Corner Gas reruns (although I've seen every episode multiple times haha)

I was hoping since I get good reception of CITS without aiming directly at them, I'd get CKVP as well since they are almost in the same location and CKVP should have a tad more power.

I also didn't realize an adjacent channel would have that much impact on me 12 miles away from the transmitter.

Between the digital cliff and the spectrum repack(s) - a lot of what's possible is now not probable. I love the improved picture and sound of digital but now that I've gotten back in the OTA game, I really miss the reception of analog :-(

Perhaps I'll ditch the 8 bay all together and go with a Channel Master CM-3020 and a rotator or similar setup. That's a bit more money I'd have to put into this - any thoughts on that setup? Especially given the TV Fool report, my current decent results and the upcoming repack changes.

Perhaps also upgrading my preamp from a Winegard LNA-200 to a ChannelMaster 7777?

Peter just add a rotor.Too much preamp will overload.You have the best UHF antenna.Is more antenna height possible ??

Thanks for the advice!

I might be able to add a few more feet (maybe 5) but I'd probably need to add guy wire at that point. Right now the tripod is 5 feet and the 5 foot mast sticks out another 2-3 feet above the tripod.

My thought on the 3020 was that its more directional and also adds a little more gain - and would give me the VHF performance to get the main CTV network as a bonus. I definitely don't want to spend the money if it's not going to be worth it though. So maybe just starting with the rotor would make sense.

    

[Link: enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov]

     When WVTT-CD (current city of license Olean - moving to Buffalo - transmitter site Colegrave) relocates to  from  during phase 8 of the FCC spectrum repack, it will increase its ERP to 3 kW, giving it a stronger signal into Southern Ontario, even that than WBXZ-LP.

     WVTT-CD is currently owned by NOVIA COMMUNICATIONS, LLC.  It currently airs:
34-1 You Too America  http://youtooamerica.com/
34-2 Decades    http://www.decades.com/
34-3 Movies!   http://moviestvnetwork.com/

     

Unfortunately WVTT will only be receivable in Niagara region of Ontario if you have a VHF antenna.WVTT was not allowed to be at the top of WGRZ tower.They are stuck at 460 foot level .They will be harder to receive than WBBZ on rf7.

I live in the Woodbine Danforth area of Toronto and I am having the same problem getting CITY-TV as Peter 1980. I have a large antenna that used to have no issues getting Toronto, Hamilton and most Buffalo stations. According to my TV, CITY TV has no signal at all. Could it be that they are not transmitting at all?

CITYTV-Toronto  is still broadcasting on RF  okay.