I've lost CBC French since yesterday and wondering if anyone is getting it around Mississauga? Checked yesterday and this evening-nothing.
Extremely weird as this never happened before, signal is always close to hundred there.

Sicilian, I don't know what antenna you have now, but after Feb 2009 all the HDTV action will be on UHF so you'd be safe to go with that CM4228. I don't use one myself, but what I do use is becoming hard to find anyway and in theory has less gain than the CM4228. I do however use a Winegard AP4700 preamplifier and this cements my reception of the American stations. I echo the thoughts on using good coax cable. I'm running the best RG11. I actually have too much signal from downtown TO and had to put 7dB of attenuation before the preamp, which for me works perfectly fine at the bottom of the tower too I might add. I aim the rig at Grand Island NY and seldom have to rotate it - unless I want to watch Rochester when conditions are favourable.

Hi Donny
I have a typical VHF UHF comb I believe it was called a YAGI. I know what a CM4228 is an read someone's post about a homemade UHF bowtie antenna with a link to You Tube on how to make one. If you go to YOU TUBE and search homemade uhf or HIdef antenna a bunch of video's come up and their pretty informative. I'm going to make one just for kicks and giggles. However, it would be really handy if you could point me in the direction of a good supplier for RG11 and amplifiers etc.

Most decent all-band TV antennas are three antennas in one. There's a VHF-lo "log periodic", a VHF-hi log' and a UHF reflector yagi up front. If you look at each part independently you'll see each has room for improvement when compared to band-specific designs.

|I know what a CM4228 is an read someone's post

Yes, its not a difficult antenna to home brew. Remember at UHF the dimensions are critical for best performance. Most of the home-brew ones I've seen aren't strong enough to handle the rigors of weather and are used in attics. That said, I know of a ham whom built one that's appreciably MORE rugged than the Channelmaster and it definitely works fine, all 40lbs of it!


I'm in the cable business myself but have to admit that my costs on high-quality cable are more than what it can be had for retail at the surplus and satellite stores. Check out Sayal near Gordon Baker Rd. They have a few outlets and I know the ones in Woodbridge and on Mathieson have "quad shield" RG11 and the appropriate connectors for very good prices. They also have splitters, attenuators and other goodies suitable for OTA reception. Failing that, the satellite stores, again on Mathieson, have this stuff too. You need the connectors with the captivated centre pins otherwise the thick inner conductor will probably damage the F spigots on your rig. They have OTA antennas too, but the ones I've seen are not particularly good and I wouldn't be tempted if I were you.

Hello Everone,

Does anyone know what the status of TVO (TV Ontario Analog channel 19) is in
conversion to a digital channel and if so what is channel number will be.
I can,t find much information on this but my kids love the channel.

thankyou

Sorry folks,
spotted some info on TVO, 26 threads down, i will do a search next time
My mistake

Thanks

I don't remeber where I got this info from, Countrydigital, but on my home-made channel guide TVO (CICA-Toronto) is supposed to broadcast on Channel 51 digital. However, they don't seem to be in a hurry to make the switch.

From what other fellow forum members have said in the past, TVO had the opportunity to share CBLT's (CBC) transmitter, but they missed out.

Since they don't generate 'revenue' like the other braodcasters, I'm sure others will agree: TVO will probably not sign on until the absolute last minute.

Thanks keaster2000 for the info on TVO the latest from the TVO site is
that they have not released specific plans but will be converted by the
Canadian digital deadline of August 31, 2011.
hopefully the US deadline of February 17,2009 will speed up the process a bit.

Thanks again

Hi all, did anyone else notice WUTV-HD cut out during "24" on sunday? It was strange, no audio/video, but the signal on my tv was 60% (which, on my tv means the signal is rock solid). By 11pm it was back.
At least Global-HD was fine and I finished watching it there.

I had 90% signal and great video but the audio went choppy somewhere near the middle of the show. Thank goodness that Global broadcasts digitally!!

As for TVO, I agree with keaster2000 but with WPXJ leaving channel 51 in February 2009, that's one less obstacle for TVO. I keep hoping for a pleasant surprise in 2009.

Hey Daniel,

Looks like time for an update on the listing now that this change has occured, eh?

On my TV WUTV comes in at 83% and it has, on maybe two or three occasions during football, dropped right down to 0% and then just after I say "What the hell?!?!" it comes back.

What I have noticed more often is that when a commercial is ending it gets all choppy, even the end credits for the Simpsons on Sunday nights, is choppy, but the actual program is fine.

When I get a chance, I'm going to call them and ask them what's the deal? From an analong standpoint channel 29 is one of the strongest stations from Buffalo (Digitally 4 & 17 are 100% all the time) WUTV has no email link on their web page, that's why I plan on calling.

I went to add WNYB's new info into my satellite receiver; first removing the old channel 26 and then entering in the new channel 26. No signal. Si I tried channel 27. I got 67%, but it would not "lock" on and the actual channel number was: 0 instead of 26. So I saved my changes and went to see what would happen. The channel came up as 27(D) and the screen was black. I figure they're screwing around. I'll try again later.

Just wondering what everyone else thinks about sub-channels or "multicasting" I think it's great. I really enjoy NBC Weather Plus and will miss it when it goes. WNGS is cool and I hope more stations do this in the furture. What I'm wondering about is do you think any Canadian broadcasters will ever multicast? Most of these stations probably think transmitting an over the air signal is a waste of time and that NOBODY uses an antenna so wy bother, yet in the US WNED has two sub channels and WXXI has three.

The technology is new and the possibilities are endless. I feel that the Niagara region should have it's own braodcast station with a 24 hour local news channel as a sub channel. The Albany New York has had one for a few years now.

Just look at what Global has done for CHCH--made matters worse. E!--what a waste!

I agree with you keaster2000. As for "Most of these stations probably think transmitting an over the air signal is a waste of time and that NOBODY uses an antenna so wy bother", I let them know every chance I get!

Aren't cable tv providers required to get their signal off-air? I know this used to be the case but perhaps isn't any more? I see that Ted Rogers has passed away. I guess one shouldn't expect an outpouring of grief from the OTA crowd.