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All these tv channels... and nothing on? Ottawa has access to dozens
of television channels, ranging from local services to U.S. networks,
to specialty channels, and everything you can think of in between. Most
people in Ottawa are limited to cable tv, but we've included links to
digital tv and satellite tv stations as well.
TV Stations (basic cable listings, for rogers, ottawa west)
Channels listed are for Rogers Cable, urban Ottawa.
Click
here for cable listings for other areas
TV Schedules
Satellite Services / Digital Cable
UHF & VHF
Depending on where you live, and how well your antenna is placed, you
may be able to receive these channels over the air in Ottawa
- CBC Ottawa (4), CJOH (13), CH (11), CITY (65), NEW RO (43), CFMT
(60), GLOBAL (6), TVO (24), PBS (57).
- Ferenc sends us this list of UHF/VHF French stations available:
Radio-Canada (9), Télé Québec (30), TQS (34)
and TVA (40).
- Denny writes: "The best antenna for UHF reception
is a log periodic antenna (parallel polarized), essentially as the
frequency increases the smaller elements act as a the radiator, the
ones in back as reflectors and the ones in front as directors. This
antenna has a high Q and very good gain on all UHF freqencies, it
may designed as a 300 ohm impedance, fitted with a balun to convert
it to 75 ohms or designed to 75 ohms from the start. This antenna
is very directional and requires a a rotor.
The best VHF antenna would be the same log periodic antenna, however
this might be out of the realm of the amateur antenna maker. The
dipole utilizing a section of 300 ohm twinlead works quite well
with for both VHF and FM radio.
Aluminum foil can be used also, if put on a wall at ceiling level
and covered with wall paper or paper it makes an excellent antenna,
this may also be used for low power transmitters with an impedance
matcher (combination of variable inductance and capacitance)to arrive
at a low standing wave ratio.
An excellent reference is The Amateur Radio Antenna Manual, this
is in most libraries."
- Paul writes: "I have modified a 300 ohm cable
to receive TV stations in Ottawa. The 300 ohm cable was cut down the
middle and used as a large dipole antenna. It receives VHF channels
very well without any ghosting. Unfortunaltey, it can only pick up
VHF channels (CBC 4 to CTV 13). Using an antenna, do you know if anyone
in Ottawa has been able to receive TVO (UHF channel 24) or PBS (UHF
channel 57)? If so, do you know the antenna set up that was used?"
- Guy writes: "UHF stations can be recieved
with a cheap little UHF antenna. It's just a wire loop about 8"
in diameter. TVO and others come in perfectly."
- Martin writes: "Global has a tower in Bancroft
(ch. 2). WCFE 57 (PBS) Plattsburgh can be easily received with any
yagi antenna (very strong signal). Global on Channel 27 is in Peterborough
(1,130 KW). Channel 7 is CBS - Watertown. WNPI/WNPE (ch. 18/16), Watertown,
Norwood. PBS (channel 18 is usually stronger). CKWS (CBC Kingston)
has two low powered transmitter (very weak signal): ch.26 (Brockville),
ch. 36 (Smiths Falls).
- David Liebold writes:
Regarding section on off-air television alternatives, here
is a list of off-air channels in Ottawa/Outaouais:
4 CBOT (CBC)
6 Global
9 CBOFT (Radio-Canada)
11 CH
13 CJOH (CTV)
14 (Omni 2 expected to go on air soon)
24 TVOntario
30 Tele-Quebec
32 CTS
34 CFGS (TQS)
40 CHOT (TVA)
43 New RO (CHRO)
60 Omni 1
65 City TV
This list does not include out-of-town signals such as Watertown
NY (PBS, etc).
There's also supposed to be a retransmitter of CKWS Kingston in
Smiths Falls, although I have not been able to pick that up (may
be too weak to see in the Ottawa market).
For some strange reason, I'm seeing Global on channel 27. Not sure
if this is the result of a hardware glitch or if Global runs a strong
channel 27 transmitter elsewhere in eastern Ontario.
As far as the one comment about using 300-ohm "twin-lead"
cable for an antenna, this can work well on many channels but one
has to consider "wavelengths" of TV frequencies. Wavelengths
get smaller as the TV channels get higher.
It may be better to purchase an amplified "rabbit ear"
and loop type
antenna for local reception. A Jensen amplified indoor antenna pulls
in the UHF channels better than unamplified rabbit ears or loops.
Haven't tried the bigger antennae such as the "giant smoke
detector" units that retail at Radio Shack and elsewhere, but
have heard these can work well. However, I have not yet been able
to pick up signals outside the Ottawa region such as Watertown.
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Outdoor antennas will generally be better than indoors. Also, the
higher the antenna off the ground, the better.
WTFDA is an international club of TV-FM "DX" enthusiasts
who try to
receive distant off-air signals. They have additional technical
resources for TV and FM reception: http://www.anarc.org/wtfda
- Any other comments on UHF/VHF reception? Please contact
us.
Miscellaneous
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(Canadian television industry news from Milkman Unlimited)