Changes in October:
Some OTA (Over the Air) Television Myths
1) OTA reception is illegal.
FALSE. Not sure where this one came from. Over the air reception was in the past the only way to receive television. Over the years, as more people migrated to cable and satellite, this has been forgotten by many. A memory loss encouraged by the cable companies, and television stations owned by cable companies. Some people may also be confusing OTA television with pirate satellite receiving, two totally different subjects.
2) OTA reception is inferior.
FALSE. This may have been the case in the analog television days as there were occasional problems with reception, ghosting, interference etc. However with digital television the received picture is BETTER than available on cable or satellite. Over the air reception is uncompressed, the full quality available, unlike the compressed signal received elsewhere. In additional reception is much more consistent than the old days. Being digital, you will most likely either receive the station perfectly or not at all.
3) You need lot of equipment for OTA
FALSE. To receive over the air television signals, all that is needed is a recent model television, some coax, and a decent quality antenna. Most televisions manufactured within the last 3 years will have a built in ATSC tuner to receive digital television. If you don't have a recent TV, 20 inch LCD/HDTVs are readily available for under $200, converters for older televisions start at $50. Antennas are usually from $40 to $100. Coax cable is available for $25 for long runs and as little as $10 for shorter runs. For most people, not much more is required, for basic digital television reception.
4) You need a roof mounted antenna
FALSE. Although higher is always better, for local reception, the antenna may work in a multitude of locations. Many have reported successes in placing their antenna in closets, windows, walls, balconies and attics. It depends on among many things, geographical location, directions to transmitters and building construction. However for most people, a minimum of sticking an antenna near a window will allow for local reception of digital television signals.
5) I wont be able to get my specialty channels
TRUE. Over the air reception will only allow for possible reception of the major Canadian networks, local independent broadcasters, US Networks and their subchannels. If you can't survive without specialty channels such as History, SCI-FI, TSN, then OTA antenna reception is not for you.
1) OTA reception is illegal.
FALSE. Not sure where this one came from. Over the air reception was in the past the only way to receive television. Over the years, as more people migrated to cable and satellite, this has been forgotten by many. A memory loss encouraged by the cable companies, and television stations owned by cable companies. Some people may also be confusing OTA television with pirate satellite receiving, two totally different subjects.
2) OTA reception is inferior.
FALSE. This may have been the case in the analog television days as there were occasional problems with reception, ghosting, interference etc. However with digital television the received picture is BETTER than available on cable or satellite. Over the air reception is uncompressed, the full quality available, unlike the compressed signal received elsewhere. In additional reception is much more consistent than the old days. Being digital, you will most likely either receive the station perfectly or not at all.
3) You need lot of equipment for OTA
FALSE. To receive over the air television signals, all that is needed is a recent model television, some coax, and a decent quality antenna. Most televisions manufactured within the last 3 years will have a built in ATSC tuner to receive digital television. If you don't have a recent TV, 20 inch LCD/HDTVs are readily available for under $200, converters for older televisions start at $50. Antennas are usually from $40 to $100. Coax cable is available for $25 for long runs and as little as $10 for shorter runs. For most people, not much more is required, for basic digital television reception.
4) You need a roof mounted antenna
FALSE. Although higher is always better, for local reception, the antenna may work in a multitude of locations. Many have reported successes in placing their antenna in closets, windows, walls, balconies and attics. It depends on among many things, geographical location, directions to transmitters and building construction. However for most people, a minimum of sticking an antenna near a window will allow for local reception of digital television signals.
5) I wont be able to get my specialty channels
TRUE. Over the air reception will only allow for possible reception of the major Canadian networks, local independent broadcasters, US Networks and their subchannels. If you can't survive without specialty channels such as History, SCI-FI, TSN, then OTA antenna reception is not for you.
| HDTV Stations available in the Ottawa area | |||||
| Network | Real Channel | Virtual Channel | Substation Info | Availability | Comment |
| CBC (English) | 25 | 4.1 | - | Now | Unlike PBS, no extra substations, instead sells public subsidized services such as CBC Newsnet to cable companies |
| Global | 6 | 6.1 | - | Now | Still at VHF-lo, and with a pitiful power output. |
| CBC (French) | 22 | 9.1 | - | Now | |
| CHCH | 33 | 11.1 | - | Now | |
| CTV | 13 | 13.1 | - | Now | |
| Omni1 | 27 | 14.1 | - | Now | |
| TVO | 24 | 24.1 | - | Now | |
| TQ - Tele Quebec | 30 | 30.1 | - | Now | |
| TQS (V) - CFGS | 34 | 34.1 | - | Maybe end of Nov | |
| TVA - CHOT | 40 | 40.1 | - | Now | |
| CTS | 42 | 42.1 | - | Now | |
| "A" Channel | 43 | 43.1 | - | Now | |
| Omni2 | 20 | 60.1 | - | Now | |
| CityTV | 17 | 65.1 | - | Now | |
| WNPI Norwood PBS | 23 | 18.1 | WNPI HD | Now | |
| WNPI Norwood PBS | 23 | 18.2 | Create, Think Bright | Now | |
| WNPI Norwood PBS | 23 | 18.3 | PBS-HD | Now | |
| WCFE Mountain Lake PBS | 38 | 57.1 | WCFE HD | Now | |
| WCFE Mountain Lake PBS | 38 | 57.2 | MHz Worldview | Now | |
| WCFE Mountain Lake PBS | 38 | 57.3 | PBS World | Now | |
| WNYF FOX SD | 18 | 28.1 | - | Now | |
| WNNY CBS HD | 18 | 28.2 | - | Now | |
| WWNY CBS HD | 7 | 7.1 | - | Now | |
| WWYF FOX SD | 7 | 7.2 | - | Now | |
| WWTI ABC HD | 21 | 50.1 | - | Now | |
| WWTI CW SD | 21 | 50.2 | - | Now | |
What television stations can I hope to receive?
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The next TVFOOL radar chart below shows the current Digital stations in Ottawa. |
For comparison, the next graphics shows the station rich area of Toronto, where pretty well all networks are available over the air in free HDTV.
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