Jason Yong

Tag: OTA

  • OTA Channels

    After setting up the antenna upstairs on top of a computer table and some boxes (not ideal but it works!), I can now get the channels listed below. I’ve also attached my TV Fool report to the right. The antenna is connected to the downstairs TV via a 50′ coaxial cable purchased from Infinite Cables (Warden/Alden).

    At the moment, I don’t reliably get NBC or WNYB. As far as I know, WNYB is a religious station or runs religious programming 24/7 so I honestly couldn’t care less about it since I wouldn’t be watching those channels anyways. For NBC, I think it’s just a matter of turning the antenna a specific way. Their tower, apparently, is one of the more difficult stations to get from Southern Buffalo so I’m not too worried about it. If I really needed to watch NBC, I could just go upstairs and rotate the antenna.

    2.1 WGRZ (NBC), also 2.2
    4.1 WIVB (CBS)
    5.1 CBLT (CBC)
    7.1 WKBW (ABC)
    9.1 CFTO (CTV)
    17.1 WNED (PBS), also 17.2, 17.3
    19.1 TVO (TVO)
    23.1 WNLO (CW)
    25.1 CBLFT (CBC French)
    26.1 WNYB (TBN), also 26.2, 26.3, 26.4
    29.1 WUTV (Fox)
    29.2 TCN
    41.1 CIII (Global), also 41.2
    47.1 CFMT (Omni 1)
    49.1 WNYO (MyTV), also 49.2
    57.1 CITYTV (City)
    69.1 CJMT (Omni 2)

    For more information on over-the-air channels/antennas, click here.

  • Setting up an OTA Antenna

    Setting up an OTA Antenna

    I ordered the Antennas Direct DB4e (right) from Hookbag.ca for $43.12 + free shipping on Saturday and it arrived on Tuesday.

    After taking a minute or two to assemble the antenna (it just involved screwing a few things together) , I hooked it up to our main TV downstairs and it was only able to get about 6-8 channels. I then tried hooking it up to our upstairs TV and it was able to get around 20+ channels (ex: FOX, CBS, PBS, CW, CBC, TVO, ABC). We haven’t installed it on the roof yet but I imagine that when we install it to the proper height/direction, we’d be able to get a few more channels.

    In Toronto, most of the stations are broadcasting from the CN Tower so, as long as it’s pointed in the general direction of the CN Tower, you should be able to pick up something. Generally speaking, the higher the antenna is, the better.

    One of the features of over-the-air (OTA) television is that the signal either comes in perfectly clear or it doesn’t at all. You’ll either see something that looks amazing or you’ll see a blue/staticy screen, indicating that your antenna couldn’t get a good enough signal. Watching last night’s Red Wings vs. Predators game on CBC was awesome. In addition to watching it in 720p, you also receive 5.1 sound and that definitely adds to the experience (it’s a shame that TSN/Sportsnet doesn’t broadcast OTA). On top of all of that, you also get information about the current show that you’re watching so there’s no need to check the TV guide or anything.

    More information on OTA can be found after the break.