We now have a transcript of some of the posts and comments deleted by Stampeder the Forum Nazi at digitalhome.ca Stampeder also added comments to a post and made it look like the poster's own comments. Nasty, very nasty
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Digital Forum > Canadian Internet, Phone, TV and Wireless Service Providers > Over-The-Air (OTA) Digital Television
Pirate OTA Station In Downtown Toronto
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Welcome to the Over-the-Air (OTA) Television Forums. Sponsored by Save and Replay, this forum is to discuss general OTA issues and hardware. Use our OTA Reception Results Forum to discuss what stations you receive in all parts of Canada. The Antenna Research And Development Forum is for those who wish to build and design TV antennas. See our Where can I Buy?" forum for where to purchase OTA gear. More info.
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Today, 10:26 AM
alebowgm Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 2,291
Slightly OT, but I am pretty sure women's pillow-fight league is also on Fight Network in Canada.
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Today, 11:09 AM
stampeder OTA Forum Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Delta, BC
Posts: 22,242
Regardless of how or why StarRay TV continues to broadcast on channel 15 in NTSC analogue with a tight little pattern in downtown Toronto it is clear that with no legal standing it is going to be the big loser in any co-channel or adjacent channel interference reports submitted by Canadian stations and consumers. A U.S. station would have no real concerns with their signal's eventual status once it is in Canada so I don't foresee complaints coming from the Buffalo area, but Canadian broadcasters obviously would step up in such situations if they are the ones being affected.
As an aside, when StarRay TV viewers complain about a legitimate, licensed TV station like WBNF causing interference on their pirate station I have to laugh out loud at the irony, which is a bit like the mob complaining to the police that their neighbourhood is unsafe! Just a joke, people...
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Today, 11:13 AM
alebowgm Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 2,291
Wonder if they are at all considering switching to ATSC...
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Today, 11:25 AM
stampeder OTA Forum Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Delta, BC
Posts: 22,242
There are ATSC modulator boards available for PCs and Macs that make the input signals ready for feeding into an ATSC exciter, but at that point there would still be no PSIP injected, so no ATSC tuner would ever detect it to get a lock. So, a PSIP generator would also be needed, and then of course the actual exciter/transmitter, which would be the costliest part.
I've suspected for quite a few years that the DTV transition was being looked at as a once-and-for-all purging opportunity to be rid of the various little pirate stations across North America. I can't imagine any of those illicit operations suddenly coming up with the money and skills to pull it off, but ya never know.
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Today, 12:01 PM
byebye_cable
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Toronto
Posts: 320
Quote: Originally Posted by stampeder
when StarRay TV viewers complain about a legitimate, licensed TV station like WBNF causing interference on their pirate station I have to laugh out loud at the irony, which is a bit like the mob complaining to the police that their neighbourhood is unsafe! Just a joke, people...
:Unquote
Licensed yes, legitimate no. TV shows begging for money for private use in the name of God can hardly be considered legitimate. These are the real criminals, not Star Ray.
When I setup my Mom's TV signal, I quite deliberately delete these unsavory stations, in my view they prey on seniors.
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Today, 12:13 PM
alebowgm Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,291
After posting here at DHC, I went to Star Ray's website and sent an inquiry. I got a quick response from them.
Quote:
A lot of Star Ray TV viewers are marginal or low income. I know viewers that just stopped watching US channels when they went digital. These viewers definitely won't be ready to watch digital August 31. Should we switch over the same time as other channels or wait 3 Months, 6 months?
When we do go digital it will be a flash-cut. One day we will be NTSC and the next ATSC.
:Unquote
Shortly after the e-mail, I got a phone call from Jan at Star Ray soliciting my opinion as to when they should flash cut to digital. It turns out they already have an arrangement made with a supplier to obtain all the necessary ATSC equipment when necessary.
Anyways, my opinion as to when they should switch was the sooner the better obviously, but for sure by Sept 1 when all the other stations flash cut since there will be a massive rescan that day anyways and many will just stop watching NTSC since it will be the only remaining Toronto station providing an analog signal. It was conveyed to me that they have a concern that people with a marginal NTSC reception may lose the station outright but I figure if people on DHC can pull marginal signals out of Buffalo and its surrounding areas, including WNGS, then Star Ray could be achievable as well.
If anyone else wants to contact them, they have a form on their site - http://webmail.tochat.tv/submit_srtv.php__________________
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Today, 12:52 PM
HWP Premium Supporter
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Toronto, East York (Greenwood & Mortimer)
Posts: 535
There are some things I like about Star Ray. I have seen them broadcasting student-produced edu-tainment films...sort of like public service announcements. It was good to see at-risk youth doing something so positive and being able to have broadcast over the airwaves. I think there is a place for this type community television.
I have no way of knowing if the other TV productions they broadcast are in the public domain or if Star Ray is rebroadcasting some professionally-produced content for which the content owners have been properly compensated. I hope so.
It is a fun station to have. I don't block it out.
I do block-out 26.1, 26.2, 26.4, 36.1, and 67.4 for many of the reasons that have been stated here. I have concerns for the lonely and vulnerable and seniors as well when they are so often being offered to call in and ultimately be solicited for a "gift."
But rf15 in Buffalo is a legit station with four subchannels (presumably). There is always a hope that ownership and format could change. If there was compelling content on WBNF, I would then be annoyed at the illegal pirate station causing interference.
Not to mention my ability to brag that I would be pulling in about 40 digital stations including subchannels -- not that anyone really cares.
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Today, 12:55 PM
alebowgm Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,291
I did ask Star Ray if they considered changing frequencies, but it seems they like RF 15.
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Today, 02:01 PM
CamDAB
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Far East End of Hamilton, ON (Lake & Barton, 10th floor facing East)
Posts: 706
I wonder how many subchannels they'll have when they do implement ATSC. This could turn interesting.
And how much of their "content" is Cancon?
This so reminds me of the early days of CITY ch79 eons ago....
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Today, 02:39 PM
Humbar
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 150
WBNF is the very last station in the TCT Network to be converted, and that was because of delays from Industry Canada. All of their other full power, and translator stations have gone digital. It seems that TCT has money
By the way, WBNF was broadcasting on CH15 long before CKXT went on the air in Hamilton. They've been on since the early 90's with various call letters. They changed to a more directional signal so they could increase their ERP from 9.2 KW to 15KW.
Star Ray tv is not licensed by the CRTC so their allocation is illegal whether they broadcast or not. CKXT is shuttering their transmitter in Hamilton, so WBNF will not cause any interference to any licensed television service.
Last edited by stampeder; 2011-07-27 at 09:20 PM.Humbar
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Today, 02:56 PM
Kurt Becker Rookie
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 3
A Star Ray Viewer
Hi. I live a few blocks away from Star Ray TV and I know the guy that runs it. I watch it all the time as it is my favourite station. I asked him about this pirate stuff. He told me that he has a broadcasting certificate from Industry Canada meaning he met all Industry Canada's qualifications to broadcast on RF 15. He even got permission from RF 18 and TVO because he was short spaced. He says after the switchover Star Ray will have less interference. The last time he talked to Industry Canada they said as far as they are concerned his temporary authority to transmit on RF 15 is still vaild. The call letters VX9AMK are still valid. He is also a licenced amateur radio operator.
He says the reason that the CRTC is not going after him because what they did to him was fraud. Star Ray's forum has all kinds of details on the CRTC's criminal activity.
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Today, 02:56 PM
boomcha Rookie
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: East York
Posts: 8
Quote: Originally Posted by byebye_cable
Licensed yes, legitimate no. TV shows begging for money for private use in the name of God can hardly be considered legitimate. These are the real criminals, not Star Ray.
When I setup my Mom's TV signal, I quite deliberately delete these unsavory stations, in my view they prey on seniors.
:Unquote
I sir, would like to subscribe to your newsletter!
I'm at Danforth and Woodbine and I get Star Ray (haven't watched for a bit) but its just so random programming wise that it's fantastic. Excited to hear that they are possibly going ATSC soon.
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Today, 04:53 PM
Kurt Becker Rookie
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 3
RF 15 is an allocated frequency to Hamilton not Buffalo. It is my understanding that WBNF caused a lot of interference to Star Ray TV in the west end and made SunTV RF15 unviewable in Hamilton. Correct me if I'm wrong, since RF15 is a Canadian allocation, Canadians have the right to broadcast on RF15 without interference including Star Ray TV. WBNF according to the FCC is a secondary allocation that must accept all interference and not cause any.
Jan says Industry Canada held up WBNF's application because of the interference they were causing to Canadian stations. They only got approval when they changed their application to a directional signal away from Hamilton and Toronto. Besides why care about WBNF when they as just a translator station and they don't broadcast any original programming. Also their type of religious station would never get a license in Canada anyway.
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Today, 05:08 PM
Humbar
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 150
By the way, WBNF was broadcasting on CH15 long before CKXT went on the air in Hamilton. They've been on since the early 90's with various call letters. They changed to a more directional signal so they could increase their ERP from 9.2 KW to 15KW.
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Today, 05:25 PM
Kurt Becker Rookie
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 3
It doesn't matter when WBNF went on the air. They still have to protect an allocation even if the allocation is not on the air. They are not upping their transmitter power. The increased ERP is a result of their new highly directional pattern away from Canada
Last edited by Kurt Becker; Today at 05:29 PM. Reason: missed some info
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