w900 here's a ton of info on CM4251s and other parabolics:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=96216

That's quite a chore hauling those up and down! Maybe building a DBGH would be safer and less hassle for about the same performance. ;)

@socrates-benz
Sun is only broadcasting at 7kW for now. That will increase ERP to 110kW eventually.

@Mark
Im gonna try an FM antenna dipole. See how that works. <:

Read ya l8r,
Al

Guess I wasn't the only one who could no longer get 19.2 - only digital signal I'm able to get with the indoor antenna is 19.1, which is Sun TV HD. PSIP IDs it as CKXTDT2.

I really wish CBC was in HD OTA here. I live close to the Channel 40 transmitter so I get the best possible picture quality in analog for hockey games, but it's nothing like the digital HD signal I get for Sun TV.

I'm pondering an antenna for my dad who lives in London. Here's the tvfool as best as I can figure it.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d9c6bbd81838bf3

I've built a GH-10 which works great, but due to the residence and local topography I might consider a Channel Master. I'm leaning towards something that does channel 40 and up well.

suggestions?
tom

I am waiting for a nice day on a weekend to put it up and will let you know how it compares to the 4228 clone

not sure how directional the 4251 is, but you might need something to attenuate CFPL, also depends where you are in relation to 10.

hello Astroid,
I took sometime to read your father's tvfool result. You inputted the antenna mounted at a 500 ft height. I would redo the tvfool report to reflect the true height of the install (ie: 25-35 feet).
With that in mind I have spent a decent amount of time trying various amount of OTA equipment for the London area. If you want your father to receive reliable everyday viewing for local channels you could use an 8bay bowtie design antenna such as the Channel Master 4228 or personally what I use an Antennas Direct DB8.
You can get the locals pretty much no problem nice and clear but two networks that assist from a preamp are channel 42 CKCO from Oil Springs transmitter and channel 29 Global from Oil Springs transmitter.
When I had a Channel Master 4221HD installed (4 bay) I found it had a hard time pulling both of these stations clear even with a preamp installed.
When I switched to an 8 bay designed antenna the reception increased significantly, then really good with a preamp.
Height plays a factor with OTA. For example I installed a clone 4 bay antenna for my wife's cousin here in London whom lives downtown on the 12th floor of an apartment and this is where she benefited from the height factor. At this height both channel's I mentioned earlier 42 and 29 reception is clear from her apartment. She was content on account she is barely home and she just wanted to watch CBC on the evening for hockey and a few network shows in the evenings during the week when she is home.
The problem her lies that it is not feasible to erect such a tall tower so thus why I recommend 8 bays for our area.
If money is not an issue than you could add a VHF antenna to complement the 8 bay as I have but you would only be gaining two of the same networks mentioned earlier just from different towers ie: channel 13 CKCO from Kitchener and channel 6 Global from Paris, On. This opens a new can of worms as you might want to now introduce a rotor in the equation to pinpoint towers and such for the maximium reception.
Lastly you could add a preamp too the system if you want to do a three to four television system but now you would need to add trap for channel 10 CFPL on account their signal is so strong and preamping this well.....that is another story.
I hope this helps a bit in your choice.
Mark:p

Thanks Panamark. The difficulty is that his house is placed on a slope. A relatively good southern horizon but there is obstruction everywhere else. In order to get any height I'll have to place a roof tripod but I doubt that would give me LOS to anything useful. I worry about multipath.

asteroids, with that street corner we should be able to generate a better TVFool report for you that is at ground level.

Hello again all!

The crappy weather lately has hampered my efforts at tweaking that SBGH but I have done a bit. As I mentioned, I built this antenna with 1/2 inch copper pipe. Reason? Many years ago, I calculated and built a dipole antenna from 5/8 conduit for my scanner and the range blew me away. I figure that with X amount of signal in the air, the extra diameter of the tubing should gather more of it than a wire. I don't know if that's been borne out in research but it's just a thought.

I, this past weekend, added a set of reflector rods and that has visibly improved reception of fringe analog signals. (front and rear)

I know those pesky US signals are in the air as again there is usually activity in the error, s/n and agc levels on the channels I have received. It's ticking me off that it seems there is just a little hump to get over. I'm guessing you all have felt or are having the same feeling.

I'm also taking a different approach than most by not using commercially available antennae. (yet)

Here's a list of my visitors on an approx 260 degree facing antenna.

2.1 WJBK-DT
2.1 WGRZ-DT
2.2 WGRZ-US
2.3 WGRZ-RT
3.1 WKYC-HD
3.2 WXPLUS
4.1 WDIV-HD
4.2 WDIV-SD
5.1 WEWS-DT
7.1 WKBW-HD
20.1 WMYD-HD
23.1 WNLO-HD
26.1 WNYB-SD
26.2 WNYB-HD
49.1 WNYO-HD
56.1 WTVS-HD
56.2 WTVS-SD
56.3 WTVSSD2
61.1 WQHS-DT
62.1 WWJ-HD

Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo and an Oswego. Man.

All of the usual analog suspects come in mostly mint, couple of minor snow, and 28 is pretty much unwatchable.

Kinda cool I think.

I do think my balun is a weak link right now. It's one of those little square plastic jobs that comes with a TV. I don't think it's meant for outside. Any recommendations for a decent one?

Anyway, sorry for the long post and thanks for allowing me to ramble.

Hi just fell for that YOUTUBE video about that coathanger antenna. Does not work from Tillsonburg! Does anyone know step by step how to receive over the air HD signals. I have a 37" hd LG TV. Know clue from Tillsonburg.

Welcome here - just follow these steps:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showpost.php?p=1082124&postcount=72

You'll especially want to familiarize yourself with the DBGH. ;)

just picked up a Antennas Direct 91XG. I just put it together. Holy crap this thing is big.
Wife doesn't know its going up. Not to sure about tomorrow and feeling her wrath.
Oh boy this should be interesting.


happy yet scared

Mark

PanaMark...thanks for all that information about London. I've been trying to get this going for my Dad for over a year now and will finally be buying the CM 4228HD from S&R today and setting it up at and testing at his place this weekend as he is tired of overpaying for BEV/Rogers.

Here is the TVFool report (http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3dcd72772c9adfdd)

My only concern is that he gets a sufficient amount of channels and decent reception. Any advice from you guys would be appreciated.

That's awesome! Christmas-time for the OTAer!! Can't wait for the results, good luck! :cool:

@panamark: 7' isn't that big. Try a 16'! ;)

I just knew that was coming Jase. Not all of us are tower climbing, wench yielding, Fear Factor contestants. lol j/k
I did manage to install it this morning and to my surprise the wife was like "OMG you have a friggin problem", then she went on with her daily routine like nothing never happened. Guess she is used to it now.
Kind of early for performance results, but it does flow smoothly with the 302 VIP and it is pretty light. It was kind of awkward to work with compared to the bowtie type antenna but the install was clean and decent.
tropo has been kinda strong.
I have been receiving Erie, Pittsburgh, Youngstown, Cleveland, and Detroit this morning when I point to each market. It appears to be a lot more directional than the DB8 which is fine with me since co channel for some RF occur during tropo.
Nice to note that 33-1 RF 36 WYTV-DT from Youngstown has increased its power and now HD camera's for the news desk. Actually it tends to be stronger now than 27-1 WKBN RF 41 (co channel with 7-1 WXYZ Detroit)

Also to note 23-1 ION Cleveland has reduced it power or has put hulls towards the north and this has reflected with less than desirable reception since the change to HD. Over at another forum related to Cleveland reception even people near are having issues with the reception of ION now.
Figures since it went to HD format.

More news to come down the road as I travel it
Mark

A table of before/after signal numbers would be great! :)

panamark: Yeah, I couldn't resist. ;)
The XG-91's strongest attribute is gain on high UHF (40-69). So I believe you'll stand a better chance of grabbing some of the Toronto stations when conditions are good (SUN TV 66.1; CityTV 57.1; OMNI 1 & 2, etc)

good to note Jase. Most of the Detroit RF's are located in the 40's.
Stamp, indeed I would like to follow up in this report, but will allow for a period of change. I just am still plotting results with the new preamp let alone the new antenna.
God, aren't we just OTA junkies?

I`ll speak for myself on that one.