CKTB's operating certificate shows that they are licensed for 1 kW standby operation, whereas the normal day power is 10 kW and the night power is 5 kW. For daytime that represents a 10 dB reduction in signal strength, and for night 7 dB. If their main transmitter has failed, that would explain the significant drop in signal strength.

In Kawarthas, CKTB seems pretty much normal. It's now just prior to sunset. Weak Philly (Black Information Network) underneath on south antenna. But that's normal.

Saul wrote:

In Kawarthas, CKTB seems pretty much normal. It's now just prior to sunset. Weak Philly (Black Information Network) underneath on south antenna. But that's normal.

Any chance you could post some photos of your DX setup? It is probably quite impressive considering some of the stations you have received.

mace wrote:

RadioActive wrote:

We still don't know exactly what caused the long outage that took CKTB off the air for a week, but it appears the issues still haven't been fixed. On the weekend, I heard carrier current on 610, but no programming. That sounded like an automation problem, but when the audio finally came back after at least an hour, what came through the speaker was a signal so weak, I had to turn up my radio a lot just to hear it. 

Nothing has changed on Monday. CKTB used to put a great signal into Toronto. It hasn't been that way in weeks. This is only a guess, but whatever is going on, I can't help but wonder if Bell is choosing to leave the thing on lower power until new owner Whiteoaks takes ownership of the station. 

Why spend money fixing the issue when you can leave it to your competitor?

Whatever is happening, they're either unable or in no hurry to fix the problem. 

Is it possible there is no transmitter problem? The fact that a clear CKTB signal is no longer available in the GTA is of no concern to Bell. Perhaps they have reduced the signal strength to save a few bucks. The city of St. Catharines still gets a good signal which covers the legal obligations. The Bell bean counters would approve.

An interesting question. But would the government object to a power reduction solely to save costs? Aren't they licenced to broadcast at a certain wattage and thereby obliged to be there, barring technical issues?

I'm not sure what the rules are on this. Anyone know? Could a station reduce its allotted power just to save money?

mace wrote:

Saul wrote:

In Kawarthas, CKTB seems pretty much normal. It's now just prior to sunset. Weak Philly (Black Information Network) underneath on south antenna. But that's normal.

Any chance you could post some photos of your DX setup? It is probably quite impressive considering some of the stations you have received.

Not until October, unfortunately. I dismantled the main antenna. Or, rather, it dismantled itself in the recent ice storm. I put it away, given we're unlikely to have power for a week or more. The generator also failed due to a limb damaging a pipe leading to the propane tank. It's a SxxxShow up there. South antenna still up but it's a small one, it's folded up, and I'm taking it down too. They're basically 20x20x30 inch triangles made with 14-gauge insulated copper wire and an amplifier etc... nothing complicated or expensive.

mace wrote:

Saul wrote:

mace wrote:

Any chance you could post some photos of your DX setup? It is probably quite impressive considering some of the stations you have received.

Not until October, unfortunately. I dismantled the main antenna. Or, rather, it dismantled itself in the recent ice storm. I put it away, given we're unlikely to have power for a week or more. The generator also failed due to a limb damaging a pipe leading to the propane tank. It's a SxxxShow up there. South antenna still up but it's a small one, it's folded up, and I'm taking it down too. They're basically 20x20x30 inch triangles made with 14-gauge insulated copper wire and an amplifier etc... nothing complicated or expensive.

Hopefully your antenna system is repairable. What receiver or receivers do you use?

Only actual damage is the north wire pole bent and needs to be replaced. I will need to re-do the south antenna as it's old and badly corroded. It might have a few years left but I don't want it to snap in an ultra-cold January, so I'll work on the two of them in the fall.  AOR 7030Plus.

CKOC had a very complex 10 tower array which was apparently difficult to tune and unstable.  With certain Canadian co-channel stations having gone dark (such as 1150 Ottawa), it was possible to come up with a single six-tower array which met day protections at 50 kW and night at 20 kW.
One nice advantage of a single (DA-1) pattern is that you don't have a dramatic shift in coverage that two-pattern stations often have on night pattern. With the power reduction, the coverage shrinks but is not that noticeable until a couple of hours after sunset.