Does your tv have just one connector on the back for connecting an antenna?

If so then you'll need something called a UVSJ combiner to combine the UHF and VHF antennas. Without this combiner, you can try the UHF only by disconnecting the VHF antenna and only connecting the UHF antenna. You should be able to get channel 30 - it's in the same direction as 4,6,9,13.

Channel 11 is in the opposite direction so it's probably snowy because the signal is weaker from traveling through the building to get to your TV. City and A channel are also in this direction so they may be weaker as well. Positioning the antenna in a different location or using an amplified tv antenna could pick up these stations with better quality.

Yes, I just have the one 75 Ohm conenctor on the back of my TV. Unfortunately 30 doesnèt come in at all when I hook up the UHF antenna. This (http://www.philips.ca/c/tv-and-monitor-accessories/hdtv-uhf-vhf-fm-indoor-sdv2115_27/prd/en/) is the antenna I bought. Am I correct in thinking that the rabbit ears are the VHF and the circle antenna is the UHF?

Also, did you change the setting on your TV from Cable to Antenna? Cable channels are on different frequencies than antenna frequencies so you'll need to go into your TV settings to make sure it's set for Antenna not Cable.

I second that. You likely have your TV set to Cable instead of Antenna/Air. It's a setting in your TV menu.

Thanks, that helped alot. I changed it to Air and did an auto scan and added 14 (fuzzy), 24 (clear), 30 (clear), 32 (fuzzy), 34 (clear), 40 (clear), 43 (fuzzy), and 65 (fuzzy). The fuzzy channels all have to pass through part of my buildiing and the clear ones are LOS channels. Is an amplifier all I will need to improve the reception of the fuzzy channels?

An amplified indoor antenna will help - they have a small amplifier in them to help with weaker channels. They can only help so much, so depending on how much signal you are getting it will either clear it up a lot or just a little. Again it's worth a try if you can return it to the store if it doesn't clean up the signal enough to warrant the extra cost.

The next option would be a bigger antenna if the amplified indoor antenna doesn't bring in the channels to your satisfaction.

With a quickly made DIY bi-quad from hkaye mounted 20 ft with LOS on two tower sites (post #111 for TVFool) currently realigned more towards 220 deg MAG.
DT
4.1 CBC English 92%
9.1 SRC 90%
17.1 City-TV 63% YEAH!!! (not on TVFool?)
20.1 SunTV 87%
27.1 Omni1 54%
Analogue BAD
6, 11, 32, 43-snowy but okay
Analogue GOOD
4, 9, 13, 14, 24, 30, 34, 40, 65,
I am surprised that I get these channels. I will go for a SBGH in the attic for the added fun of it.
What I don’t get is that channel 20 Sun-TV is getting in at 87%, but on TVFool it’s at NM 12.9 dBi and I am lined up more towards the Herbert’s Corner station than the Camp Fortune. Maybe the signal has been boosted up from what their database say? Anyways, that means I’ll be able to put the antenna in the attic with a CH???? Pre-amp with a delhi/cometic/wade P587 power supply. It’s pretty old, dating after the ice storm. That makes me think that the gage of the SBGH will be definitely #6 gage.

Thanks again!
Trex83

An amplified indoor antenna will help - they have a small amplifier in them to help with weaker channels.

I totally disagree with this advice. On an indoor antenna, an amplifier is usless at best and in most cases makes the picture worse.

I've seen improvements here on some of the snowy analogs, you mileage may vary.

I concur with roger1818 above. Indoor amplified antennas generally have a noisy amp...and an amp typically isn't required for a short cable run to an antenna.

Well if they generally have a noisy amp, then I would recommend trying a GE Futura indoor/outdoor antenna. I've had a positive experience with this model.

Vrain, about your question: What other devices have ATSC built in?

Some Cable/Satellite set-top boxes have an antenna input which support ATSC, some DVD recorders do as well, and there are specific convertor boxes whose sole purpose is to show NTSC and ATSC OTA channels. There may be other devices; just check your devices for a coax input first, then figure out if it supports it by checking the specs.

trex83: I think the TVFool info for CKXT-DT is a little off, but specifically when you look at maps it seems to indicate the signal being somehow obstructed out toward Orleans, but in my experience that simply is not the case. Also, CITY-DT isn't in the database yet, but should be eventually. It only came on in June.

I'm in the same area as you and my reception on a mini-state antenna in attic is like this:

Analog (clear without any noise)
4, 9, 13, 24, 30(but ghosting), 34, 40(limited ghosting)

Almost perfect
14, 43, 60, 65

Some static
6, 11, 32

Bad Static but always visible
8, 36

Digital:ranges are average since it fluctuates depending on rotor direction and 18/57 are weaker in the daytime. Listed are the best/worst strengths on channels I'm currently getting. Channels need to breach about 65% on my TV to appear (16 dB SNR) and my TV shows anything below ~62 as 0 (loses the lock)
4.1 (80-90%),
9.1(80-90%),
17.1(76-82%),
20.1(70-86%),
27.1(68-77%),
66.1 (0-66%)

Tropo(night time)
18.1-3(0-77%)
57.1-3(0-80%)
Often analogs from Montreal are visible at this time, and Ch. 17 can get clobbered by TVQ from Montreal.

So my worst reception is on 66, and I pretty much can't watch it. Even at night when WCFE/WNPI get really strong, I still get nothing usable on 66.

Hello all,

Long time lurker, really appreciate all the info on these forums.

I live in Ottawa and have been using a $10 Philips UHF/VHF antenna to get about 3 HD and 10 analog channels. I have the antenna in the attic and have been playing with it for hours to get decent picture on the analog channels.

Yesterday, I figured that I'd try a better antenna and when I got to the a local computer store, they told me that a new antenna wouldn't solve this problem, it would just give me more range.

Is there any truth to this? Is there anything I can do to better the reception?

Thanks.

You could try reading through the Ottawa reception section of this forum and see what others are using. I think the clerk you talked to would rather sell you a cable/satelite service rather than resolve your OTA question.

Check tvfool.com to see what OTA stations are available in your area.

You could also consider building a simple Stealth Hawk antenna that would replace that old rabbit ear setup.
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=123803

First off, welcome to the forum, ashgotti.

I figured that I'd try a better antenna and when I got to the a local computer store, they told me that a new antenna wouldn't solve this problem, it would just give me more range.

Utter hogwash. A superior antenna (even indoors) *will* give you a better signal for analog television if you're living in an urban environment. Choosing the right kind of antenna suited for your particular problems and geographical location will do lots to eliminate shadows, overcome multi-path reception and even overcome some kinds of interference.
There's lots on this forum about antennas:
COMMERCIAL ANTENNAS: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=97121
DIY ANTENNAS: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=186
ANTENNAS TO AVOID: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=106108
and http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=35083
Also you can do a search this forum with the name of your neighbourhood to see if there are reception/antenna reports other folks in your region.
Happy reading and good hunting!

Thanks everyone for the great replies. He didn't try to sell me anything else...he just told me that it wouldn't help at all.

I am using TVFool and should be getting all the channels clearly. I'm in Carlington, near the experimental farms. While on the subject of TVFool, I have some channels N.W and some almost 180 degrees in the other direction (all within 15 miles). What is the best way of getting both sets of channels? Most of the antennas I've seen are directional.

I just moved into a house and I've experimented with a couple of indoor antennas with mixed results. I'm pretty certain that I'd like to upgrade to an outdoor antenna in order to get the most OTA possible, but I don't know which one - so I'm looking for suggestions!!

My tvfool results are here (http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d9fbe39e767a3e0).

The antenna chart recommends the Winegard HD7078P - which is fine, except I can't really find anywhere to buy that antenna, and it seems really huge. An acceptable replacement is listed as the CM 3679 - which on TigerDirect is described as a deep fringe antenna!

I'm 10-15 miles from any signal that I'm going to get (pretty much given up on PBS), so I don't know what I need a deep fringe antenna for.

My other thoughts were:
- Metrostar MS 2000 - because it's omnidirectional, I thought I could get the two main broadcast sites easily,
- Channel Master 2016 or 3016 - seem smaller, although I lose channels 2-6 and may not be able to get both transmitter sites.

Can someone help me? My main requirements are:
- not overly obtrusive (don't want the new neighbours to hate me right away!)
- UHF/VHF (preferably 2-69, but 7-69 would be acceptable
- able to get both transmit sites (I'd like to watch city-tv and omni!)

thanks!
neil

Need your location in Ottawa please :)

I live in the Orleans area, and I am using a small UHF/VHF antenna mounted by the side of my home and and I am able to get.

CBC - english
CBC- french
SUNTV
CITYTV
OMNI1
OMNI2

I was also able to get all three WNPI stations, but that only happened very late at night/early morning.

So it is possible without big antenna's.