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RE: Budget Cuts: Environment Canada ends Weather Radio

DAB — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 19:26:21 GMT

When it was created, there were few alternatives.

Today, you can get this information on your smart phone along with life saving alerts.

Budget Cuts: Environment Canada ends Weather Radio

scottiebabe — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 23:32:59 GMT

Sad news for Canadian nerds, as of March 16, 2026 environment Canada is pulling the plug on their VHF weather radio service on 162 MHz.

My weather radio will soon be an antique paperweight

I will be sure to listen to the last transmission

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weatheradio_Canada

It was very similar to USA's NOAA Weather radio

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NOAA_Weather_Radio

So long XMJ330, enjoyed your weather broadcasts. Local station details from ISED Canada:

hannel Type	Frequency [MHz]	Frequency record identifier	Regulatory service	Communication type	Conformity to frequency plan	Frequency allocation name	Channel	International coordination number	Station Function	Analog/digital	Occupied bandwidth [kHz]	Designation of emission	Modulation type	Filtration installed	Tx effective radiated power (ERP) [dBW]	Tx transmitter power [W]	Total losses [dB]	Analog capacity [channels]	Digital capacity [Mbit/s]	Rx unfaded received signal level [dBW]	Rx threshold level for BER 10E-3 [dBW]	Manufacturer	Model number	Antenna gain [dBi]	Antenna pattern	Half-power (3 dB) beamwidth [deg.]	Front-to-back ratio [dB]	Polarization	Height above ground level [m]	Azimuth of main lobe [deg.]	Vertical elevation angle [deg.]	Station location	Licensee station reference	Call sign	Type of station	ITU class of station	Station cost category	Number of identical stations	Reference identifier	Province(s)	Latitude (WGS84)	Longitude (WGS84)	Ground elevation above mean sea level [m]	Antenna structure height above ground level [m]	Congestion zone	Radius of operation [km]	Satellite name	Station Fee Zone	Authorization number	Service	Subservice	Licence type	Authorization status	In-service date	Account number	Licensee name	Licensee address	Operational status	Station classification	Horizontal power [W]	Vertical power [W]	Standby transmitter information
TX_RES : null	162.55	0000367827	Public Information service	Tx-only/Rx-only	Non-standard	--	--	--	TX	Analog	16.0	16K0F3EJN	Analog - Land Mobile Radio	Medium isolation (e.g., band pass)	20.199998	70	6.3	1	--	--	--	Industry Canada - Industrie Canada	SRL 210C4	10.1484	Directional	80.0	0.0	Vertical	120.0	90	--	ST. AGATHA, (CBC TOWER)	--	XMJ330	Fixed base station	FB - Base station	--	0	--	Ontario	43.45	-80.60194444	408.0	120.0	Medium congestion	0.0	--	--	010361483-001	Land Mobile	Base-Mobile Systems	Non-Developmental	Granted	2007-07-23T00:00:00-04:00	044080006884	Environment Canada	351 boulevard St-Joseph, 7th Floor K1A 0H3 Gatineau QC	--	--	0.0	0.0	--

RE: Budget Cuts: Environment Canada ends Weather Radio

stanto — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 16:47:33 GMT

With something like this is it worth recording the transmission for playback and modification? I wonder if anyone's looking at being able to repurpose these in some way so as to not become ewaste? (evidently I've not done any research myself..)

RE: Budget Cuts: Environment Canada ends Weather Radio

kmikemoo — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 16:50:08 GMT

I agree that this is sad. I think it might stem from the erroneous belief that everyone gets everything from their phone and that OTA radio is dead. I know a few people that have returned to listening to sports broadcasts on AM radio because they don't want to pay for the streaming services to watch the games. We use a transistor radio for music around the house instead of a smart speaker - because it's more portable and lasts forever on 2 AA batteries. I don't have to recharge it all the time.
I may lose internet but, shocker... that radio still works. Sorry for your loss, Canada.

RE: Budget Cuts: Environment Canada ends Weather Radio

battlecoder — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 12:49:22 GMT

That's sad news. I'm not from Canada, but I like radio stations. They require very little hardware to "access" them, and they are such a great resource to have when the modern world falls apart (i.e: When internet is down, or there's a blackout).

RE: Do you have experience on connecting a Sub-1GHz transceiver to public TV antenna?

anneranch — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 16:57:37 GMT

From the original description - you are building a repeater - receive a signal and re-transit it.

Hence you have to have means to "receive signal" via receiving antenna and then means to re-transmit the signal via

"transmit antenna". Both antennas must be designed for specific frequency and desired "directionality" etc.

The actual "repeater" hardware is your choice. In general RF output power in determining factor etc.

Do you have experience on connecting a Sub-1GHz transceiver to public TV antenna?

HKPhysicist — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 15:35:31 GMT

Dear RF Engineers and Applied Physicists,

What are your experiences on connecting a Sub-1GHz transceiver to a public TV antenna? [emoticon:5ce50ea3f9eb49809e861e8733750338]

Since I live in a very dense city with skyscrapers, I cannot set up my own antenna outside my building. Then, I want to wire my own SMA Male to TV Male Plug coaxial cable. This will connect my Sub-1GHz transmitter directly to my building`s public TV antenna.

The next step is to connect my ISM band Sub-1GHz transmitter to test a receiver several hundred metres to 1km away.

Who have experience on this? What else should I do to improve the transmission or communication? I guess a high quality Element14 MultiComp coaxial cable can serve well. [emoticon:b305629ad76d47bd89e5a81e5b263f2b]

Thanks for your opinions. [emoticon:b5038b8386d240d3adfaf15c98300abc]

RE: Do you have experience on connecting a Sub-1GHz transceiver to public TV antenna?

COMPACT — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 21:58:50 GMT

Make sure you’re adhering to the regulations to ensure the safety of yourself and others (even on the ISM bands).

RE: Do you have experience on connecting a Sub-1GHz transceiver to public TV antenna?

BigG — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 15:26:10 GMT

Unfortunately the antenna lengths required for the two frequencies aren't compatible - a 2cm difference is big for RF. According to omnicalculator.com dipole calculator (which gives a reasonable approximation and thus useful for comparison), the wavelengths don't match very well. As such it's unlikely to work at all, or at best you'll only achieve quite short TX distances.

RE: Do you have experience on connecting a Sub-1GHz transceiver to public TV antenna?

HKPhysicist — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 07:00:10 GMT

Nowadays, TV is UHF range (around 400Mz) with digital transmission.

My target wireless connection target is an ISM band at 920MHz.📡

That is why I want to use my building`s public antenna.

RE: Do you have experience on connecting a Sub-1GHz transceiver to public TV antenna?

BigG — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 13:25:57 GMT

An antenna doesn't care whether its transmitting or receiving. They're just a cleverly spaced strip of conductive material. Essentially, antennas are designed to operate at specific frequencies. This means the length of the antenna has to match the wavelength. So have you confirmed whether the TV antenna is suitably matched to your desired transmit/receive frequency. Otherwise you will struggle to achieve the desired transmit distances, no matter the power.

RE: Do you have experience on connecting a Sub-1GHz transceiver to public TV antenna?

HKPhysicist — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 23:10:18 GMT

Bad news. Public antenna is for receiving only.

Then, I have to set up my own antenna for testing. 🙃

RE: Do you have experience on connecting a Sub-1GHz transceiver to public TV antenna?

shabaz — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 17:25:21 GMT

"I will use my building's public antenna."

"I have never seen our public antenna. We cannot access our roof."

I don't think you understand; if you still mean the TV antenna, it's not a public "anyone can transmit" kind of thing. There's some electronics in-between the antenna and the end that you have access to. That electronics is there for amplification in one direction, for a particular frequency range. The electronics also renders it no good for transmit. And, as several people have mentioned, a TV antenna and its typical cable would be no good for LTE or any ISM band.

RE: Do you have experience on connecting a Sub-1GHz transceiver to public TV antenna?

HKPhysicist — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 16:44:24 GMT

Ok, thanks for your opinions.

I am going to shop an antenna impedance tuner or solder one for my self.

I've found this post very informative.

www.ad5gg.com/.../

RE: Do you have experience on connecting a Sub-1GHz transceiver to public TV antenna?

anniel747 — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 16:20:46 GMT

[deleted]

RE: Do you have experience on connecting a Sub-1GHz transceiver to public TV antenna?

HKPhysicist — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 15:58:41 GMT

So I have to use 50 Ohm coaxial cable, right? They are quite expensive - 2 pounds per meter.

https://hk.element14.com/huber-suhner/enviroflex-b58/coaxial-cable-rg58-50-ohm-per/dp/2817372

RE: Do you have experience on connecting a Sub-1GHz transceiver to public TV antenna?

HKPhysicist — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 15:37:31 GMT

My new antenna is 10-12dbi, 9in tall and 3in in diameter, a huge antenna.

I have never seen our public antenna. We cannot access our roof.

RE: Do you have experience on connecting a Sub-1GHz transceiver to public TV antenna?

anniel747 — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 15:29:24 GMT

[deleted]

RE: Do you have experience on connecting a Sub-1GHz transceiver to public TV antenna?

HKPhysicist — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 15:26:43 GMT

Nice.

Could you show me similar product on Element 14? 📡

RE: Do you have experience on connecting a Sub-1GHz transceiver to public TV antenna?

HKPhysicist — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 15:24:49 GMT

Thanks for your valuable opinion.

I have solved the LTE CAT M1 modem problem by simply orienting its location around my home. Signal strength reported by my laptop Network Manager is about 85%.

My next test is to set up an ISM band Sub-1GHz antenna to connect to my Sub 1GHz transceiver which will then talk with my receiver half to one km away.

This is my first field RF project, very exciting! 😊

I will use my building's public antenna. As my target is civil ISM band under 20dbm radio power, I do not violate any radio rule.

RE: Do you have experience on connecting a Sub-1GHz transceiver to public TV antenna?

anniel747 — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 15:16:54 GMT

You will certainly need an antenna tuner.

RE: Do you have experience on connecting a Sub-1GHz transceiver to public TV antenna?

HKPhysicist — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 15:10:48 GMT

It is because my LTE CAT M1 modem has difficulty in sending data, but I have solved this by orientation.

Now, the next test is my new Sub-1GHz transceiver. I want to do a communication test over half to one km away. So I need an antenna standing high enough.

RE: Do you have experience on connecting a cellular modem to public TV antenna?

anniel747 — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 23:15:29 GMT

[deleted]

RE: Do you have experience on connecting a cellular modem to public TV antenna?

anniel747 — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 18:06:10 GMT

[deleted]

RE: Do you have experience on connecting a cellular modem to public TV antenna?

shabaz — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 18:02:34 GMT

It might be good to take a step back. It could be worth mocking up something, like a quick tryout, to see what issues there could be, if you're new to this.

For example, you might find that the performance from a modem, is already as good as it is for your mobile phone. Maybe any bottlenecks are less to do with the antenna.

Once you've gathered some information, then it's best to spend time to design the overall solution first, before getting into this.

What if your solution needs two modems, will you attach a second TV antenna? On second pole on the building? As you can see, just that slight requirement (sure it's hypothetical, I'm using it as an example) would then render the idea impractical now regardless of the technical concerns of your antenna and cable (of which there are for sure concerns; none of that will be ideal unfortunately). By the way, you can buy antennas (either indoor or outdoor) designed for cellular use.

If you're designing all this from scratch, then if it were me, I'd try if possible, as part of the overall design, to locate such things at a suitable position and then run low-cost cable (e.g. cat5, it's less than $1 per meter) all the way to where you want to locate anything else (if you're not say using wireless; I have no idea what your solution is going to look like). There may be reasons not to do that, but it would at least be worth considering (if you have not already ruled it out), since there's a chance it would be more practical. But definitely worth a quick experiment first I think; because I think you're unsure what will work at all, if you're currently considering TV antennas.