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Local HDTV

Is there any local TV stations that offer free HD? You know to get it by using a UHF antenna??

Re: Local HDTV

quote:

Originally posted by Cro_Addict Is there any local TV stations that offer free HD? You know to get it by using a UHF antenna??

There are tons. You can pick up many American channels and stuff like that.

Google it, there are some great message boards out there that are dedicated 100% to what you are looking for.

Don't know what they are called, but back when I was looking into them they were very helpful!

Re: Re: Local HDTV

quote:

Originally posted by exstasie There are tons. You can pick up many American channels and stuff like that. Google it, there are some great message boards out there that are dedicated 100% to what you are looking for. Don't know what they are called, but back when I was looking into them they were very helpful!

ah ok...

well i have this UHF/VHF antenna...and i hooked it up...and all i can get is channel 5, 9 and 19...which is CTV, CBC, and TVO...lol...

Re: Re: Re: Local HDTV

quote:

Originally posted by Cro_Addict ah ok... well i have this UHF/VHF antenna...and i hooked it up...and all i can get is channel 5, 9 and 19...which is CTV, CBC, and TVO...lol...

you can get more, but they are on special frequencies or something like that...you might have to play around w/ the settings..but i'm sure you can get Global/CBS/ABC/NBC etc.

However, i know there was lots of talk about the regulation of this and stuff like that, so maybe things have changed.

Google will be your friend haha

i just had to move my antenna around..

i got a few HD channels...this is pretty sweet!

I really don't think you can get HDTV via the UHF signal. The fact that its is a digital format that require a digital fiber optic network really nizes the idea of getting it over UHF.

UHF is great though. You can get all major Canadian and US networks with a good antenna including networks like UPN (uhf 49) that you don't get with Cable.

HDTV over UHF ??? wow i have to see that to believe it

Well I am watching HD over UHF as i type this

so far i am able to catch channel:

5-1 - CBLT
9-1 - CFTO
25-1 - CBLFT
66-1 - CKXT

All channels come in 1080i HD

quote:

Originally posted by malek HDTV over UHF ??? wow i have to see that to believe it

they only have it in toronto. i guess thats one of the many privileges we have living here. so u wont see it up in MTL for awhile

are you turning this into a city vs city thing


cause I was more surprised to see such a high bandwidth application run on an old ass technology ...


edit: ooops mixed up the old VHF with the new UHF

Yeah Toronto has a bunch.

We can even get the Buffalo ones here . NBC ABC CBS FOX and some other ones...

i just need to play with the position of my antenna or maybe get a better one.

quote:

Originally posted by malek are you turning this into a city vs city thing cause I was more surprised to see such a high bandwidth application run on an old ass technology ... edit: ooops mixed up the old VHF with the new UHF

Yeah, majority of HDTVs don't have the proper UHF to accept HD signals, but a lot of the higher end ones do.

I have an HDTV doesn't does not have UHF antenna

oh well, I got my Rogers HD Cable to help me out with that

Ah...a topic close to my heart.

I have been doing this since September, since I moved above ground. Now there are a few HD stations in T.O., but reception can be a problem. I currently get:

5-1 (CBC)
9-1 (CTV)
25-1 (CBC-French)
57-1 (CityTV)
66-1 (Sun TV)

Now if you are using an indoor antenna, old school rabbit ears will work, but you want a special indoor antenna built for the inner city. I use the Zenith Silver Silver Sensor:



Got it off Ebay for about $40, as no stores in T.O. carry it.

If you are in a house you can use an external antenna; read up on it here.

If you are getting your signal in 1080i, I would suggest going to 720p; it may be a lower resolution, but it wont be a choppy.

SUNTV has the best technology so far, as they have the best signal, and the most programming in HD. Most other channels screw up their conversion, so stuff that should be in HD isnt always, especially on CityTV.

Global and OMNI-1/2 should start broadcasting in HD sometime this year, as they both ran tests earlier.

As for American stations, yes you can grab them with a large enough antenna and if you live right downtown. The further you move away from the lake, the harder it will be to pick up the signal as it deteriorates with distance and buildings.

quote:

Originally posted by Time2Burn I really don't think you can get HDTV via the UHF signal. The fact that its is a digital format that require a digital fiber optic network really nizes the idea of getting it over UHF. UHF is great though. You can get all major Canadian and US networks with a good antenna including networks like UPN (uhf 49) that you don't get with Cable.

lol...definitely possible.

quote:

Originally posted by exstasie Yeah, majority of HDTVs don't have the proper UHF to accept HD signals, but a lot of the higher end ones do. I have an HDTV doesn't does not have UHF antenna oh well, I got my Rogers HD Cable to help me out with that

ALL TVs can accept analog UHF singal...but to get HDTV they have to also have a ATSC tuner.

In the US if you broadcast an analog signal, you have to broadcast a digital signal, which is not the case here. So in Canada, most people didnt even know what an ATSC tuner was good for, and never bothered to make sure their HDTV had one.

Plus the quality of HD over the antenna, and what you get through a Rogers or Bell HD terminal, is far better. When you recieve the signal over antenna, its the original singal, and has never been modified, as is the case with the boxes from Rogers or Bell.

quote:

Originally posted by Orko Ah...a topic close to my heart. I have been doing this since September, since I moved above ground. Now there are a few HD stations in T.O., but reception can be a problem. I currently get: 5-1 (CBC) 9-1 (CTV) 25-1 (CBC-French) 57-1 (CityTV) 66-1 (Sun TV) Now if you are using an indoor antenna, old school rabbit ears will work, but you want a special indoor antenna built for the inner city. I use the Zenith Silver Silver Sensor: Got it off Ebay for about $40, as no stores in T.O. carry it. If you are in a house you can use an external antenna; read up on it here. If you are getting your signal in 1080i, I would suggest going to 720p; it may be a lower resolution, but it wont be a choppy. SUNTV has the best technology so far, as they have the best signal, and the most programming in HD. Most other channels screw up their conversion, so stuff that should be in HD isnt always, especially on CityTV. Global and OMNI-1/2 should start broadcasting in HD sometime this year, as they both ran tests earlier. As for American stations, yes you can grab them with a large enough antenna and if you live right downtown. The further you move away from the lake, the harder it will be to pick up the signal as it deteriorates with distance and buildings.

Yup those are the same channels that I am getting. I face SW and can only get the Canadian ones. I've noticed that to get the Buffalo channels I need to face SSE.

I can't put an outside antenna here in the apartment...its in the lease .

quote:

Originally posted by Cro_Addict Yup those are the same channels that I am getting. I face SW and can only get the Canadian ones. I've noticed that to get the Buffalo channels I need to face SSE. I can't put an outside antenna here in the apartment...its in the lease .

Yeah same, otherwise I would have invested in one already. The Zenith was a good buy, and lets me get the channels clearly, without it dropping. I just leave it on my window ledge pointing south.

I wish more Canadian channels would broadcast OTA, I love not having to pay and still getting an amazing quality signal. Rogers and Bell can go to hell.

How can I get the channels in 720p? I thought I can only get them the way they are broadcast which is 1080i. I noticed that some of the Buffalo channels are broadcast in 720p though.

I am guessing it would be a setting on your TV. My TV automatically displays them in 720p, and I do not have to change anything.

Not really sure though. How do you know when it is displaying in 720 or 1080?

quote:

Originally posted by Orko I am guessing it would be a setting on your TV. My TV automatically displays them in 720p, and I do not have to change anything. Not really sure though. How do you know when it is displaying in 720 or 1080?

On my tv when i tune to the channel, the little info box that tells you what channel number you are on and what program is on and all of that...also displays the resolution.

WOW, I learn something new every day!

quote:

Originally posted by Orko I love not having to pay and still getting an amazing quality signal. Rogers and Bell can go to hell.

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