How to get Canadian television within PNW without cable
November 14, 2024 8:20 PM Subscribe
I live in Seattle. I know I can get CBC via Comcast (Xfinity). I don't have cable and don't want to sign up for it again. Are there specific ways to set up an antenna or other gadgetry to get Canadian/BC television without cable from the Seattle area? I have used antennas in the past but have not been able to get much more than a handful of local stations. Looking for specific answers as opposed to vague suggestions about VPNs, say, that streaming options appear to be able to defeat. Thanks.
Unfortunately CBC Gem is geofenced but there are some CBC shows on youtube https://cbchelp.cbc.ca/hc/en-ca/articles/115003517273-Can-I-watch-CBC-content-on-Gem-if-I-m-outside-Canada
posted by foxjacket at 6:21 AM on November 15, 2024
posted by foxjacket at 6:21 AM on November 15, 2024
Channel Master's TV Antenna Map will show you what stations your address or zip code can realistically get with a quality antenna.
posted by eschatfische at 6:49 AM on November 15, 2024
posted by eschatfische at 6:49 AM on November 15, 2024
I would use the Antenna Map listed above to check, but even it only gives you a range of 100 miles from your zip. That range gets you to Victoria, but not Vancouver.
I personally think you might be out of luck unless you're closer to the border. Its been a couple years, but in my RV with a dedicated built in Winegard antenna that I could point in any direction, getting a good, consistent connection to channels was a struggle while still in the lower mainland. IIRC, I was able to get CBC, Chek, a Global station, the shopping network and a couple of non-english channels but it was always very hit or miss depending on the local terrain. I would have zero faith i'd be able to get them as far south as Seattle, or even Bellingham.
The reason you're going to get answers about VPNs and streaming solutions is because in all honesty, thats the answer. NordVPN has been great for me for years.
posted by cgg at 8:29 AM on November 15, 2024
I personally think you might be out of luck unless you're closer to the border. Its been a couple years, but in my RV with a dedicated built in Winegard antenna that I could point in any direction, getting a good, consistent connection to channels was a struggle while still in the lower mainland. IIRC, I was able to get CBC, Chek, a Global station, the shopping network and a couple of non-english channels but it was always very hit or miss depending on the local terrain. I would have zero faith i'd be able to get them as far south as Seattle, or even Bellingham.
The reason you're going to get answers about VPNs and streaming solutions is because in all honesty, thats the answer. NordVPN has been great for me for years.
posted by cgg at 8:29 AM on November 15, 2024
Response by poster: I have not been able to get CBC Gem to work with a VPN.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 11:27 AM on November 15, 2024
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 11:27 AM on November 15, 2024
Best answer: I looked into this when trying to help my parents pick up a Thunder Bay, ON station at their cabin in northern Minnesota. To answer the antenna part of your question -- no, there is no antenna that will work for you. TV transmissions are highly dependent on line-of-sight, so when you get beyond 70-ish miles (115 km) the curvature of the Earth makes it difficult to reliably receive a signal and 100 miles (160 km) is about the absolute limit. Given the location and elevation of the nearest CBC TV transmitter in BC, you might have a small chance of catching a signal in Everett, but not in Seattle.
posted by theory at 12:31 PM on November 15, 2024
posted by theory at 12:31 PM on November 15, 2024
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posted by scruss at 4:34 AM on November 15, 2024