- Converter Box Offers On-Screen Listings - Steve Hatton
Hopefully most viewers know that CTV and CBC are still technically free as long as you have a semi-decent antenna. But because most Canadians live near the border, some might be surprised to learn that even some US signals may still be available without a cable or satellite subscription. This in spite of all those warnings on American TV in 2009, stating that analog TV would cease to exist.
Here are three important basic facts regarding the analog TV shutdown:
- It didn't apply to Canadian networks like Global, at least not yet.
- It didn't really apply to viewers who own an HDTV, as those sets were already capable of receiving digital TV over the air (signal issues notwithstanding).
- Even if it did apply, the problem could be easily corrected with a DTV to analog converter, which can be purchased for about 70$ at places like The Source or Future Shop.
Montrealer and CTV Technology and Trends expert Elias Makos, wrote about his experience watching US DTV free with only an HDTV and a simple rooftop antenna. The antenna cost only $40 plus $100 for installation and he never has to pay a monthly fee. Suite101.com was inspired, in part, by his blog entry. However, for this article, the level of difficulty was increased to prove that neither a rooftop antenna nor an HDTV may even be required, in some cases.
Free US DTV in NDG
From a third floor of a triplex in Montreal's NDG area, a DTV to analog converter was hooked up to an old TV set originally purchased way back in the 90s. A simple VHF-UHF antenna, the type commonly referred to as as a pair of rabbit ears, was then attached to the DTV converter. It took a few tries to get it right. The antenna had to be moved around quite a bit, yet in the end, the results were astounding.
The list of free networks include NBC, CBS, Fox, The CW, PBS and even a few obscure channels like This TV, which runs old movies and reruns of Mister Ed. There were also various alternate feeds for PBS, such as PBS World, Create and Arts. The CBS affiliate also has a secondary feed, acting mainly as a local weather channel, complete with weather conditions for Montreal. Perhaps they're hoping that Canadians won't mind the hassle of converting temperatures from Fahrenheit to Celsius.
All of the US border stations listed in Makos' blog were found eventually and since this is DTV, they all had a crystal clear image. The only stations not discovered were ABC and, ironically, some of the local Montreal outlets. CTV and Global still haven't begun digital broadcasting yet in Quebec and while the CBC has, it's signal is almost nonexistent. In Toronto, accessing ABC and the Canadian networks should be easier.
Who Should Try This?
To be fair, it should be noted that not everybody who does this will succeed. The experiment was conducted on the third floor of a triplex, where most of the surrounding buildings are only two stories tall. In other words, the reception quality from the States can vary widely from one location to another, even within the same apartment building. The location chosen for this experiment was unlikely to fail.
For those who have a recollection of being able to pick up US stations with a only a minimum amount of snow, before the DTV conversion, they usually discover it's worth buying the converter. However, note that digital channels don't broadcast on the same frequency as their former analog counterparts did. This means that the channels that someone finds will not necessarily be same ones they used to see under the old system.
An example of this is WVNY 22 (ABC) from Burlington, Vermont, which used to be available quite easily over the air in southern Quebec. But the transition to digital TV hasn't been kind to that channel. It's new signal is almost impossible to pick up, in sharp contrast to CBS and NBC, which are now among the strongest, north of the border.
Troubleshooting and Other Technical Issues
Speaking of VHF and UHF, keep in mind that channel numbers are no longer indicative of where on the band the station broadcasts. Today, technology now uses what are called virtual channel numbers. For example, Montrealers must resist the temptation to adjust only their VHF antenna when trying to pick up channel 5. That used to be a VHF number, but now, WPTZ uses the UHF band.
If viewers are having trouble finding certain stations, it may also be because the digital TV converter box didn't program them during the initial auto-scan in the set-up process. To correct this problem, try pointing you antenna in a different direction, hit the Menu button and then choose an option called Add On Scan.
Repeat this step several times if needed. The exact procedure may vary depending on your equipment, so check the instruction manual if needed. Also if the results are not satisfactory with an ordinary indoor antenna, there are many newer ones on the market designed specifically DTV. All of the above-mentioned tips also apply to those with HDTVs, who may have trouble picking up certain signals.
Worthwhile Considering
There's no guarantee that this will work as cross-border reception is often kind of iffy, except maybe for viewers in Windsor. But at only 70$ for a converter, give or take, it’s not really that much of a risk. For those with a crappy old TV set, interested in an affordable way to get more channels, this option is definitely worth considering.
Steve Hatton - Steve Hatton is a Montreal-based freelance writer and journalist who covers the television industry, including TV show reviews and media ...
