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ON - Ottawa, Vanier, Gloucester, Orleans - OTA

588K views 2K replies 301 participants last post by  Whitewulf613 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Getting started.
I live just north of the Racetrack/Casino, Quinn Rd

I have lived with rabbit ears for years and want to upgrade to an outside antenna system for 3 TVs picking up as much UHF and VHF signals as possible to start with. By living with cheap rabbit ears running two TVs for years, I know I will be very happy with the improvements I will have going to a proper outside Anenna system for analog and digital signals.

I have been reading posts for 2 days now to get myself started and I think I have information overload and there are so amny things to consider.

I have gone to TVFOOL to find out channels and locations.
I understand I probably do not want a long distance setup as most station are fairly close.
I am not sure of the antennas I need for my area/use.

Does anyone live near me that has been doing this for a while who can help me get started?

Cheers,
 
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#475 ·
180 degree

flavoie, I am realy not sure. The rought data I got shows the opposite: I do get better reception with the opening facing away. Perhaps it is a local effect or something else.
In any case, I have ordered a rotor that I hope to install this weekend. That way, I should be able to maximize my reception. I will repost my results.
(BTW, I am also adding 6' to the antenna. I might be getting multipath from my slightly higher roof. I have only 3ft clearance so far-for a more secured installation, I attached my tripod to the edge of that roof-).

flavoie - I have not yet grounded my antenna which I plan to do this weekend. I will run a copper cable from the antenna to the house's external electrical ground post. However, I am not clear about runing a ground block for the coax cable. Can I ground this block to the same copper wire or do I have to install an independant wire?

thanks
 
#476 ·
duchaine, for your rotor, make sure you keep it close to your big antenna. You'll notice your rotor will specify a max distance from the antenna of something like 3 feet max.

There's a grounding thread for grounding questions, but here's my personal experience.

I reused the grounding wire wherever i needed a combined long run, but for shorter runs to the grounding rod, I used separate cables.
My main roof antenna has a grounding wire going all the way down to the grounding rod. My attic antenna coax cable surge arrestor/grounding block combo unit's ground screw (which is about at soffit level) has a short grouding wire of the same gauge that connects to the long main grounding wire using a split bolt about at soffit level.

Where my coax enters the house at a 2nd coax cable surge arrestor/grounding block combo unit, i am quite close to the grounding rod. So I made a separate cable connecting to the grounding rod on its own.
 
#478 ·
Grounding

flavoie -
where did you get the grounding unit? all I could fine is the little coax block with F connectors. It does not look very sturdy.

I installed my rotor last weekend and an extension to my post so that the antenna is now 10ft from the roof (it was only 3 ft before)- the max without guyed wires.
I have not had time to do test, but it seems that I am getting a number of extra stations.- at least analogue. Will post the results.

I am planning to do my grounding in the spring, running a independant rod for the antenna.
 
#483 ·
macdo170 does this help?
Your radar plot has two lines of blips (They are the Camp Fortune tower at 303 degrees and Herberts Corners tower at 235 degrees) The other blips aren't important - except you might want to think about the two PBS channels from the US - look for them in the Netwk column. If you want PBS you will need a more serious antenna (big, on the roof, rotor etc) For just Ottawa it might be good to let us know how ambitious you want to be (on the roof, in the attic etc). I don't know a lot about antennas but assuming you will want to pick up from both towers you will have to deal somehow with the fact that they are 68 degrees apart. There may be an antenna that can pick up that wide enough - my guess is one of the midrange antennas (see the antenna chart in the FAQ - maybe the CM4221HD) aimed between the towers from your roof might work fine. (But this is your experiment, not mine!!!) Antennas apart, be aware that everything will go digital later this year (lots already is) so your TV will need to be capable of digital or you won't get anything in September, however good your antenna is!
 
#485 ·
macd0170, I am also in Russell and my TVFool results look almost identical to yours. I have a CM4221HD antenna sitting on a stand in my living room in a north facing window and pick up all of the local digital channels with no problem. My antenna is pointed towards Camp Fortune and I pick up the Herberts Corners channels with no problem. To get the PBS stations I need to rotate the antenna to point south for WNPI and south east to get WCFE. I can get WCFE day or night even in the winter. WNPI is a bit more difficult, generally I get it at night only. I can also get WNYF (CBS and Fox) at night sometimes, but only if I move my antenna to a south facing window, I am hoping that once I get my antenna up on the roof I will have better luck with WNYF, and improve the reception for WNPI.

Analog is a mixed bag right now, Global is unwatchable no mater which way I point the antenna but then the CM4221HD is a UHF antenna so no surprise there, might consider getting a VHF low attenna after they switch to digital at the end of August.
 
#486 ·
Variable signal strength - a question

I have an indoor antenna to pick up CBC Ottawa HD (it's the only OTA channel I need). Usually the displayed signal strength is 88-92 but recently it's been dropping to as low as 70 (and consequent signal loss) for a while, up to several hours. Have there been transmitter problems, or is, perhaps, my antenna failing? What impact does weather have on OTA digital? I don't want to install an outdoor antenna.

I live in Barrhaven, BTW.
 
#488 ·
I hope this is the correct place to ask such a question.

This is my tvfool: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id=5979a0a944267c

I am looking for an antenna that will get me as many digital channels as possible. I live in a condo but I have access to the attic which is above the 2nd floor (approx 20-25 feet off the ground). My unit is a south side end unit (nothing south, east or west). Only tall building near is south east.

From what I read on the forums the RCA ANT-751 seems to be what is recommended most.... can someone with more experience at this confirm before I spend the money. Right now I have an ANT-4008 but I can only get 4.1, 9.1 and 20.1. I can however get 17.1 and 27.1 on rare occasions by moving the antenna around (but the hot spots are random). I was hoping to get them all the time along with 66.1. I also want to ensure I am covered for what the future might bring.

A bit of advice before I make the plunge.... Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.
 
#497 ·
Had a solid connection yesterday and last night. Showing 38% strength atm, coming in and out. Appears 38% gives me a picture whereas less does not.

27.1 is at 48%
66.1 is at 50%

Could it simply be the overcast weather? Aren't these channels all from the same tower?

Ultimately, is there anything I can do to fix it?
 
#498 ·
A preamp can help mitigate all signal losses between your antenna and your tuner. It the case where your tuner is not very good it would also help.

What type of tuner do you have ?

Better aiming can help a lot and should be looked at first.
Have somebody look at your signal level for 17.1 and optimize antenna aiming for the best signal level on your weakest channel
 
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