<div dir="ltr">That's what I suspected. Thanks.<div><br></div><div>There's a bunch of vids on youtube about MythTV; that software looks very promising.</div><div><br></div><div>I've sent an email off to the unbound guys. Waiting to hear back from them.</div>
<div><br></div><div>The way I look at it is that I pay $80/month for satellite from Bell, which I really don't use a whole lot. Just enough to keep needing it from month to month. But if I can downsize my family's viewing habits to an essentially free OTA solution, then the initial cash outlay will get paid back quick enough.</div>
<div><br></div><div>On that note, in a short while I will have three Bell receivers and one dish for sale if anyone's interested... I wonder if the receivers can be repurposed?</div><div><br></div></div><div class="gmail_extra">
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On 26 February 2014 11:34, Jason Locklin <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:locklin.jason@gmail.com" target="_blank">locklin.jason@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
Digital is all or nothing. If you have a marginal signal, though, you<br>
will get what is essentially packet loss in a MPEG2 stream, so you get<br>
artifacts like horizontal bars of missing pixels (all one colour), and<br>
audio dropouts or squawks. Unlike analogue, you really can't just watch<br>
a poor signal as it's incredibly jarring, but as long as there is a<br>
decent signal, it should look perfect.<br>
-Jason<br>
<br>
On Wed 26 Feb 2014 11:26:14 AM EST, CrankyOldBugger wrote:<br>
> Great stuff, Jason, thanks!<br>
><br>
> Let me ask a really dumb question. Remember I haven't played with<br>
> antennas since the days when we could only get three channels anyway..<br>
> But in HDTV broadcasts, what will I see onscreen if it's a "weak"<br>
> signal? Snow? flickering? Or does HDTV automagically correct the<br>
> picture as it goes?<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> On 26 February 2014 11:20, Jason Locklin <<a href="mailto:locklin.jason@gmail.com">locklin.jason@gmail.com</a><br>
> <mailto:<a href="mailto:locklin.jason@gmail.com">locklin.jason@gmail.com</a>>> wrote:<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> -------- Original Message --------<br>
> Subject: Re:<br>
> Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2014 11:15:46 -0500<br>
> From: Jason Locklin <<a href="mailto:locklin.jason@gmail.com">locklin.jason@gmail.com</a><br>
> <mailto:<a href="mailto:locklin.jason@gmail.com">locklin.jason@gmail.com</a>>><br>
> To: CrankyOldBugger <<a href="mailto:crankyoldbugger@gmail.com">crankyoldbugger@gmail.com</a><br>
> <mailto:<a href="mailto:crankyoldbugger@gmail.com">crankyoldbugger@gmail.com</a>>><br>
><br>
> Off brands tend to be cheap copies that don't hold up to weather. If<br>
> they have internal amps, they are also often terrible. If you are<br>
> doing<br>
> the indoor or attic antenna, the cheap unamplified ones may work fine<br>
> for many years, but if you are going to invest the time into doing<br>
> something outdoor, I would only go Wineguard/Channel Master/Antennas<br>
> Direct. A good antenna install should last a decade or more, and going<br>
> up on the roof to fix things is not so fun. All your weak signals are<br>
> UHF, so a UHF-only antenna like one of the 4-bay antennas should work<br>
> fine. There are only a few places that sell these brands around here.<br>
> My ChannelMaster originally came from Neutron Electronics in Guelph a<br>
> few years back, but I have never had to return anything there. The<br>
> only<br>
> place with a significant online presence in Ontario is<br>
> SaveAndReplay in<br>
> Mississauga. They sponsor the OTA forum on Digitalhome.ca, and I have<br>
> heard lots of positive things about them. Some of the Antenna<br>
> installers around here are also dealers of those brands, so you could<br>
> call around.<br>
><br>
> Note: CHCH and the new CHCJ (CTV2 Hamilton) are really strong. You<br>
> should be able to pull them off the side of an antenna pointed at<br>
> Toronto.<br>
><br>
> Also note: *If* you can pick up CITY-TV from Toronto, then you can<br>
> easily get CBC (it's much stronger), and probably both OMNI's. All the<br>
> CN Tower stations have improved in recent years, and that doesn't seem<br>
> to be reflected on the databases.<br>
> -Jason<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> On Wed 26 Feb 2014 10:40:09 AM EST, CrankyOldBugger wrote:<br>
> > Well, if I'm reading TVFool correctly, I should get:<br>
> ><br>
> > Internal antenna:<br>
> > CKCO<br>
> > CIII (Global)<br>
> > TVO (CICO)<br>
> ><br>
> > Attic antenna:<br>
> > Crossroads (CITS)<br>
> > CHCH<br>
> ><br>
> > Roof-mount:<br>
> > CITY-TV<br>
> > CFTO<br>
> > TVO (CICA)<br>
> > CHCJ<br>
> ><br>
> > from then on it fades to grey...<br>
> ><br>
> > So apparently I will need to go up on the roof and mount an<br>
> antenna on<br>
> > the chimney at some point after the snow clears...<br>
> ><br>
> > Do you guys know if there's a big difference between no-name and<br>
> brand<br>
> > name antennas? What sort of features should I be looking for?<br>
> ><br>
> > It just occurred to me that I've been a satellite TV user since the<br>
> > early 80's. Remember those big 6ft dishes?<br>
> ><br>
> ><br>
> ><br>
> > On 26 February 2014 10:18, Jason Locklin<br>
> <<a href="mailto:locklin.jason@gmail.com">locklin.jason@gmail.com</a> <mailto:<a href="mailto:locklin.jason@gmail.com">locklin.jason@gmail.com</a>><br>
> > <mailto:<a href="mailto:locklin.jason@gmail.com">locklin.jason@gmail.com</a><br>
> <mailto:<a href="mailto:locklin.jason@gmail.com">locklin.jason@gmail.com</a>>>> wrote:<br>
> ><br>
> > Have you put your location in TVfool? I can help you read<br>
> the output.<br>
> > Can't really make a good recommendation without knowing the<br>
> signal<br>
> > levels. Anywhere within a few blocks is fine, so you don't<br>
> have to<br>
> > share your exact location.<br>
> > <a href="http://www.tvfool.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29" target="_blank">http://www.tvfool.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29</a><br>
> > -Jason<br>
> ><br>
> > On Wed 26 Feb 2014 09:52:54 AM EST, CrankyOldBugger wrote:<br>
> > > Again, so many good points have been brought up in this<br>
> > discussion. I<br>
> > > seem to have hit the jackpot for ideas!<br>
> > ><br>
> > > So... if I was to go out today and buy an antenna just to<br>
> see what<br>
> > > channels I can get, is there a particular make and model that<br>
> > you guys<br>
> > > recommend? Let's just assume for a moment that I'm<br>
> willing to pay a<br>
> > > couple of extra coins for quality if it means eventually<br>
> getting rid<br>
> > > of the monthly satellite TV bill (just a couple of extra<br>
> coins,<br>
> > not a<br>
> > > lot!).<br>
> > ><br>
> > > If there isn't a clear make and model known, what sort of<br>
> > features do<br>
> > > I look for instead? The last time I bought an antenna it<br>
> was a<br>
> > set of<br>
> > > rabbit ears that sat on top of the old RCA TV.....<br>
> > ><br>
> > Have you put your coordinates into TVfool? I could help you<br>
> read the<br>
> > output. Can't really make a good recomendation without knowing<br>
> > what the<br>
> > signal levels are. Anywhere within a couple blocks is fine,<br>
> so you<br>
> > don't have to share your exact address.<br>
> > <a href="http://www.tvfool.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29" target="_blank">http://www.tvfool.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29</a><br>
> ><br>
> > -Jason<br>
> ><br>
> > > If I can't get any stations over the antenna in my<br>
> location then I'm<br>
> > > just going to take it back to the store, so obviously I<br>
> would prefer<br>
> > > to deal with a reputable dealer.<br>
> > ><br>
> > ><br>
> > ><br>
> > ><br>
> > > On 26 February 2014 09:40, Jason Locklin<br>
> > <<a href="mailto:locklin.jason@gmail.com">locklin.jason@gmail.com</a> <mailto:<a href="mailto:locklin.jason@gmail.com">locklin.jason@gmail.com</a>><br>
> <mailto:<a href="mailto:locklin.jason@gmail.com">locklin.jason@gmail.com</a> <mailto:<a href="mailto:locklin.jason@gmail.com">locklin.jason@gmail.com</a>>><br>
> > > <mailto:<a href="mailto:locklin.jason@gmail.com">locklin.jason@gmail.com</a><br>
> <mailto:<a href="mailto:locklin.jason@gmail.com">locklin.jason@gmail.com</a>><br>
> > <mailto:<a href="mailto:locklin.jason@gmail.com">locklin.jason@gmail.com</a><br>
> <mailto:<a href="mailto:locklin.jason@gmail.com">locklin.jason@gmail.com</a>>>>> wrote:<br>
> > ><br>
> > > * In regards to two antennas: It's tricky, but it can<br>
> work, it's<br>
> > > called<br>
> > > "stacking" in OTA parlance:<br>
> > ><br>
> <a href="http://overtheair.saveandreplay.com/Antenna_Stacking_Ganging.asp" target="_blank">http://overtheair.saveandreplay.com/Antenna_Stacking_Ganging.asp</a><br>
> > ><br>
> > > Generally, it's tricky to keep signals from both<br>
> antennas from<br>
> > > interfering with each other because of being just slightly<br>
> > out of<br>
> > > phase, but it can work with a little patients. One<br>
> > exception, being,<br>
> > > that if you are combining signals from two different<br>
> frequency<br>
> > > bands. I<br>
> > > have a VHF/UHF coupler that I plan on using to add a VHF<br>
> > dipole which<br>
> > > bypasses my amp, so that the local CTV on channel 6 stops<br>
> > overloading<br>
> > > things. The coupler only allows VHF signal from one<br>
> antenna,<br>
> > and UHF<br>
> > > from the other, so there is no issues with phasing.<br>
> > ><br>
> > > If you are going the PVR route, such as with MythTV,<br>
> and you are<br>
> > > having<br>
> > > trouble with your stacked antennas, you could run two<br>
> lines down<br>
> > > to two<br>
> > > tuners. It will be slightly more expensive, but you<br>
> will get<br>
> > much<br>
> > > better performance, and double your simultaneous recording<br>
> > ability.<br>
> > ><br>
> > > * Regarding TV guide information: All the Channels are<br>
> > broadcasting<br>
> > > guide information now, but only for 12-25 hours ahead.<br>
> This<br>
> > works fine<br>
> > > with MythTV because I can set automatic recordings and<br>
> even<br>
> > automatic<br>
> > > searches to enable recordings. If you have a PVR that<br>
> > requires manual<br>
> > > scheduling, it would be a pain, as you can only see a<br>
> day's<br>
> > worth at a<br>
> > > time. I did have a Schedules Direct membership for a while<br>
> > because<br>
> > > Global didn't used to broadcast guide data at all. It was<br>
> > generally<br>
> > > more accurate and had about a month of data.<br>
> > ><br>
> > > * Regarding XBMC and MythTV: I have been using XBMC as a<br>
> > frontend for<br>
> > > MythTV for a couple years. It has never worked very<br>
> well for<br>
> > me, and I<br>
> > > usually end up switching to the MythTV frontend to watch<br>
> > recordings. I<br>
> > > just have a script that alternatively starts the two<br>
> > programs, so when<br>
> > > I exit MythTV, XBMC starts, and vise versa. It's a bit<br>
> slow,<br>
> > and I<br>
> > > thought of putting them on two different virtual<br>
> desktops and<br>
> > > using the<br>
> > > window manager to flip back and forth instantly, but<br>
> because<br>
> > they both<br>
> > > use graphics acceleration, there was issues. I also<br>
> thought<br>
> > of running<br>
> > > two X-servers and switching back and forth, but I<br>
> never got<br>
> > around to<br>
> > > trying that.<br>
> > ><br>
> > ><br>
> > > _______________________________________________<br>
> > > kwlug-disc mailing list<br>
> > > <a href="mailto:kwlug-disc@kwlug.org">kwlug-disc@kwlug.org</a> <mailto:<a href="mailto:kwlug-disc@kwlug.org">kwlug-disc@kwlug.org</a>><br>
> <mailto:<a href="mailto:kwlug-disc@kwlug.org">kwlug-disc@kwlug.org</a> <mailto:<a href="mailto:kwlug-disc@kwlug.org">kwlug-disc@kwlug.org</a>>><br>
> > <mailto:<a href="mailto:kwlug-disc@kwlug.org">kwlug-disc@kwlug.org</a> <mailto:<a href="mailto:kwlug-disc@kwlug.org">kwlug-disc@kwlug.org</a>><br>
> <mailto:<a href="mailto:kwlug-disc@kwlug.org">kwlug-disc@kwlug.org</a> <mailto:<a href="mailto:kwlug-disc@kwlug.org">kwlug-disc@kwlug.org</a>>>><br>
> > > <a href="http://kwlug.org/mailman/listinfo/kwlug-disc_kwlug.org" target="_blank">http://kwlug.org/mailman/listinfo/kwlug-disc_kwlug.org</a><br>
> > ><br>
> > ><br>
> > ><br>
> > ><br>
> > > _______________________________________________<br>
> > > kwlug-disc mailing list<br>
> > > <a href="mailto:kwlug-disc@kwlug.org">kwlug-disc@kwlug.org</a> <mailto:<a href="mailto:kwlug-disc@kwlug.org">kwlug-disc@kwlug.org</a>><br>
> <mailto:<a href="mailto:kwlug-disc@kwlug.org">kwlug-disc@kwlug.org</a> <mailto:<a href="mailto:kwlug-disc@kwlug.org">kwlug-disc@kwlug.org</a>>><br>
> > > <a href="http://kwlug.org/mailman/listinfo/kwlug-disc_kwlug.org" target="_blank">http://kwlug.org/mailman/listinfo/kwlug-disc_kwlug.org</a><br>
> ><br>
> ><br>
> ><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> _______________________________________________<br>
> kwlug-disc mailing list<br>
> <a href="mailto:kwlug-disc@kwlug.org">kwlug-disc@kwlug.org</a> <mailto:<a href="mailto:kwlug-disc@kwlug.org">kwlug-disc@kwlug.org</a>><br>
> <a href="http://kwlug.org/mailman/listinfo/kwlug-disc_kwlug.org" target="_blank">http://kwlug.org/mailman/listinfo/kwlug-disc_kwlug.org</a><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> _______________________________________________<br>
> kwlug-disc mailing list<br>
> <a href="mailto:kwlug-disc@kwlug.org">kwlug-disc@kwlug.org</a><br>
> <a href="http://kwlug.org/mailman/listinfo/kwlug-disc_kwlug.org" target="_blank">http://kwlug.org/mailman/listinfo/kwlug-disc_kwlug.org</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
kwlug-disc mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:kwlug-disc@kwlug.org">kwlug-disc@kwlug.org</a><br>
<a href="http://kwlug.org/mailman/listinfo/kwlug-disc_kwlug.org" target="_blank">http://kwlug.org/mailman/listinfo/kwlug-disc_kwlug.org</a><br>
</blockquote></div><br></div>