In a past post from last year, I outlined my experiences with free, over-the-air TV. This posting merely updates that post, and illustrates how over-the-air is improving.
For starters, I have now managed to get programmed into the television over fifty channels! That number includes all of those channels in the previous posting which, at that time, were not programmed into my TV due to an insufficient signal and/or my lack of success in helping the television to capture their signals. A few additional channels have been added by their respective networks as well as some of the weaker signals finding their way to my TV and antenna over this summer. The actual number of channels that are consistently viewed (un-interrupted) is less than half that number. Yet over the summer I have managed to enjoy far greater success in isolating those difficult to receive channels (for me) using the same methods as outlined in the previous post - an antenna at ground level and a yard sale "HD/digital capable" TV.
The results of this summer's activity is a greater amount of content being accessible, even if it may be very short term. Channel 8 in Rochester duplicates much of the content of it's affiliate in Buffalo. Yet if it's signal is present, and the Buffalo affiliate is not, I can still enjoy a program.
I have no doubt that with a decent antenna mast, a television with better manual programming features, a good antenna or two, and perhaps an amplifier/filter for improving signal reception, it would make it possible for anyone to enjoy the vast majority of all 50 channels on a consisten basis. It would allow them to receive far more than the 50 stations listed below. Stations in Buffalo, Barrie, Peterborough, Oshawa, Kitchener, and such still remain un-captured by my modest means, and would not be for someone better outfitted or better located than I (most of the citizenry of Toronto).
Below is an updated list of the stations programmed into my TV. Anything less than 51% is a station/channel whose reception is not consistent, with the percentile values nearer to 100% reflecting those stations likely to be enjoyed most, with least signal interruptions.
Channel 16, marked ***, deserves a posting all it's own. When programming the TV channels, and if the signal is present, my TV adds 16-7. even though no audio or video is available. Then, when browsing channels, the TV pauses whenever it gets to 16-7, and eventually display an error message after an interminable delay (bad timing/signal or some such). Shame on the station, and my TV for this silly happenstance. Hopefully, the phantom virtual channel will disappear.
The updated list of channels:
2-1 WGRZ-HD 33 25%
2-2 WGRZ2-2 33 25%
2-3 WGRZ2-3 33 25%
4-1 WIVB-HD 39 85%
5-1 CBLT-HD 20 100%
7-1 WKBW-HD 38 20%
7-2 LAFF 38 20%
7-3 ESCAPE 38 20%
8-1 WROC-HD 45 2%
8-2 BOUNCE 45 2%
8-3 Laff 45 2%
8-4 Escape 45 2%
9-1 CFTO 9 100%
11-1 CHCH-DT 15 75%
13-1 WHAM-HD 13 <1%
13-2 CW-WHAM 13 <1%
13-3 GritTV 13 <1%
15-1 STARRAY 22 30%
16-7 ?Bad Signal 16 <1%*** ? bad signal
17-1 WNED-HD 43 90%
17-2 THINK 43 90%
19-1 TVO 19 100%
21-1 WXXI-HD 16 <1%*** all in order
21-2 WXXI-W 16 <1%*** all in order
21-3 WXXI-C 16 <1%*** all in order
23-1 WNLO-HD 32 90%
23-2 BOUNCE 32 90%
25-1 CBLFTDT 25 100%
26-1 WNYB-SD 26 65%
26-2 WNYB-HD 26 65%
26-3 WNYB-SD2 26 65%
29-1 WUTV-HD 14 60%
29-2 TCN 14 60%
29-3 GRIT TV 14 60%
31-1 WUHF-TV 28 <1%
31-2 Antenna 28 <1%
31-3 Comet-T 28 <1%
36-1 CITS-HD 36 90%
40-1 CJMT 40 60%
41-1 CIII-HD 41 95%
41-2 CIII-SD 41 95%
43-10 (audio only)43 90%
47-1 CFMT 47 65%
49-1 WNYO-HD 49 50%
49-2 ASN 49 50%
49-3 Get TV 49 50%
49-4 CometTV 49 50%
51-1 IONTV(WPXJ-TV)23 <1%
51-2 QUBO 23 <1%
51-3 IONLIFE 23 <1%
51-4 SHOP 23 <1%
51-5 QVC 23 <1%
51-6 HSN 23 <1%
57-1 CITYTV 44 100%
