You said:
"What a waste of bandspace. If tv stations are not going to multicast they probably don't need 6 MHz of spectrum."

It is not a waste , they indeed need it for the full 19.2 Mb/s data rate. Keep in mind that the full 19.2 Mb/s is actually a "compressed version" of the original signal coming from the HD camera plus the "compressed version " of the audio.

At the TV studio level or TV truck (used in sports events for instance) the signal used is SMTPE 292M which is a 1.5 Gb/s signal (there are 2 formats 1.485 and 1.485/1.001) sent via coaxial 75 ohms from the HD cameras.

Therefore 19.2 is highly compressed when compared to the "nominal" 1.5 Gb/s signal. For obvious reasons (to get extra revenue to cover broadcasting costs) and due to limitations of the human eye TV stations can broadcast more than 1 digital tv programm on the same 6 mhz spectrum or TV schannel. Theoretically up to 4 SD or 1 HD channel + 2 SD can be multicast in the same 6 Mhz spectrum and using the ATSC standard (8VBS modulation) without reducing quality for none of them.

The more multicast you do the less bandwidth available for every channel then more compression artifacts will appear , theoretically, because this is also very subjective and depends heavily on the human eye of the subject watching the image.

It also depends heavily on the kind of programming ,to be precise, whether there are fast moving objects or a lot of motion in the video secuence. Also whether the HD channel is 1080i or 720p. Broadcast Engineers are using Statistical multiplexing that takes into consideration all of this and gives or takes bandwidth from a particular channel as per needed.

If you watch OTA digital television , most of the time for channels with no multicasting (CBS Buffalo) ,you will not notice this artifacts specially if seated at the proper distance (at least 2 times the height of the screen) but even at that distance pay close atention to the arms of a ballerina or the legs of the frontline dancers swinging their legs up and down in a parade or new years show) and you will see some macroblocking in their arms or legs as they move them at high speed. If you do not see it then move very close to the screen (just 1 feet) and you will see it is there , therefore , due to a limitation of the human eye , broadcast engineers can compress the signal even more and you will not notice anything or almost anything when seated 2 times the height of the screen away. (some artifacts are due to your own tv scaler and processing, like the famous Triple Ball Effect or TBE in baseball, golf and futball games).

BUT IF YOU WATCH FTA I mean Free to Air TV stations from various satellites on Ku band that are being broadcast digitally then you will notice this and more compression artifacts VERY EASILY even at farther viewing distances. The reason? lots of this tv channels only broadcast with a very low Symbol Rate (in satellite tv they use FEC as an error correction system therefore not every bit in the datastream is actually video or audio information) in other words vey low bitrate , some as low as less than 3000 bits/s therefore specially in sporting events like soccer games it is almost impossible to watch due to heavy macroblocking. nothing to do with being Ku or C band, nothing to do with signals levels or your particular reception and display equipment but rather with the very low Symbol rate being used.

At the end I do partially agree with you in the fact that some Canadian OTA broadcasters could do some multicasting therefore the No Multicasting rule should not be enforced for everyone. But in CBC's case being a major hockey broadcaster in Canada I rather have them only broadcast 1 channel , besides there other channels like Bold or CBCNW are cable-only channels. In the US there are way more local tv stations (I remember back in Havana, Cuba almost the hole UHF spectrum was filled by TV stations from South Florida) therefore the need for multicasting specially during the transition period. Keep in mind OTA TV stations could also datacast to get some more revenue, the only case I am aware of so far is, PBS datacasting TV firmwares.

In my opinion the best picture quality award for an OTA station here in the GTA goes to WIBV , CBS Buffalo. Too bad most comparisons are done during elections or address the nation shows which has no motion at all. CBLT , CBC Toronto has an outstanding picture quality as well. Coincidently , none of them do multicasting at all.

Here's a thought. What if all the Canadian broadcasters did away with their terrestrial transmitters and went FTA HDTV satellite? I'm guessing this would be a lot less expensive than maintaining all those multi-kilowatt transmitters. Of course, we'd have to shell out another 500$ or so for receiving equipment, but think of the possibilities!

By now everyone realizes that the DTV "test" wasn't really a test at all. Stations simply inserted a different message on their analog OTA stating that if you can read this, you are not ready. Signals to other providers and OTA DTV saw a message stating that they are ready.

Has anyone heard whether any of the stations will add distributed transmitters to fill in coverage gaps? The technology and authorization is there to do it if the stations decide to utilize it.

OK, I'm feeling properly chastised ...drop the idea of multicasting...but isn't that what WNGS plans to do when they take over WKBWs' spot at VHF 7?


eghad!!! money I can't afford to spend right now!

I live in lower Stoney Creek and just installed a CANT711 on the East Side facing of the house approx 20 feet high. I know the CM 4228 or CM 4222 is the way to go, but I wanted to see how the reception was with a more sleek antenna. I am very happy to say or should I say "see" the HD channels that I am pulling in. I currently have both CBCHD (Eng and French), CTVHD, CHCHHD, SUNTVHD, CTSHD, OMNI I&II HD. I am able to pull WNLOHD (CW) or out Buffalo. That said, it's one of the strongest channels that broadcast off that tower. I don't get FOX, CITYHD, or any of the other major network. I assume using the CM4228 I would be able to get some of those. All in all, I am pretty satisfied with the free OTA channels I am pulling in on my 52" LG. If anyone has any other suggestions with what I am doing or what I am using, I would like to hear from you.... Thanks.

Hi Zeek, I think what you're experiencing is to be expected. There's quite a disparity between the directions you'll need to point your rig to get all. I'm guessing that a rotator will net you everything I'm getting which is, well, everything. I've heard that some of the Toronto broadcasters are a little weak to the south. Location here is Caledon so I know that doesn't help too much!

In St. Catharines, I get everything from Buffalo, Hamilton (Burlington) and Toronto except CITY-TV 57 (53) I read that their signal is beamed in a northerly direction from the CN tower. Thanks for thinking of us in Niagara, City.

Bear in mind my antenna is 45 feet in the air and I do have a rotor on a Delhi 929 one of the biggest antennas you can get--or that I've noticed.

Even if it wasn't directional, City is also very low powered.

I highly recommend a rotor; even though Toronto and Buffalo is only slightly different directions from where I am, I often have to rotate to get the weaker channels or on bad weather days.

Try it now, Daniel. It looks like they've updated their PSIP. My Samsung and Toshiba tuners now all remap to 11-1.

Thanks for the responses. I am debating on whether or not to take down the CANT711 and go with a CM4221 or CM4228. My only issue with either of these are their looks. The CANT711 is very streamlined and is installed on the east side of the house (pointing toward St.Catharines/Buffalo). Are there better antennas than my RCA that look just as a good? I would rather not have to remove the bracket that I have used to install the RCA CANT711. I have also done some surfing on the CANT711 to try and locate the directional span and cannot? I have some play where it is currently installed and I am a little leery on moving the antenna if it's not going to net me more channels. It is pointing a little bit further toward Toronto than Buffalo, but again the reposition would be maybe 10degrees at most. Is it worth moving? I appreciate the help...I am new to this, but am loving it so far. If I can pull in FOXHD or even NBC or CBS in addition to what I have already, I would cancel my cable...now THAT would be great!

Here are predicted coverage areas for all stations in the U.S.

[Link: fcc.gov]

nice maps!!!. outstanding job by FCC BTW. Thanks for posting Chuck.

As expected most stations increase the coverage area a bit despite lower ERP's after switching to digital. Oh men , I guess after Feb 19 , getting those Miami/Ft Lauderdale and Naples/Ft Myers TV stations in Havana would be a bit easier if not for the prohibition on having any antenna pointed to any direction other than the Cuban TV towers!!!.

I wonder if the CRTC or Industry Canada will release in the future to the public similar maps.

I'm located in Scarborough, Toronto (Pharmacy & Finch). I have a Sony Bravia TV and an Electronic Master ANT-2084 Antenna (paid $30.00). I put the antenna on a 12 foot pole on my chimney. I hooked the antenna directly into the TV and scanned for Digital. I am absolutely delighted with the HD Picture I get and the number of channels I get (about 17). Unfortunately I don't get Fox WUTV-29 or MY TV WNYO-49. I get everything else out of Toronto and Buffalo. Does anyone know if there is a special antenna that I can add on that will help pick up Fox ? Is it possible to have two antennas on the same mast pointed in different directions and gang them together ? Two or more Antennas would be cheaper than a rotary head.

try aiming a bit more , the ant 2084 at well over 12 feet should pull them from Scarborough, be patient and move it a bit and try again. If the bravia allows you to add new digital channels then that wil help, tune them and move the antenna. if not re-scan again , it is a bit of trial and error this "science".

BTW bad news for WNGS (RTN) who should broadcast on channel 7 VHF after feb 18 . There are financial issues with Equity and problems with RTN , that even they have removed the RTN feeds from the AMC satellite. On top of that they asked the FCC to extend the digital switchover for them and it has been denied. they do not have a digital facility built yet. There is a list of several stations that will dissapear because of no tbeing ready for feb 18. maybe they can stay on 7.2 with WKBW but I doubt it. I do not have my UHF set up working nowadays but I would imagine that WNGS 7.2 must be showing the same red screen asking customers to contact Equity that they had on satellite on several RTN feeds and channels.

So, hd fan do you think I need a better antenna or simply try aiming mine to achieve more channels out of Buffalo?

Thanks for the help in advance!