Landowner, That is looking like a pretty old TVFool report. You might want to redo it to get the latest data as it doesn't show the results for CHRO-DT.

Your report does tell me that there is only 42 degrees between CF and HC so a CM-4221 pointed half way between the two would be much better than your HD360, for UHF. For VHF, I would use a VIP-302SR pointed towards CF (or you could stick with your HD360, if you are happy with it). The two antennas could be combined together using either a pre-amp or an HLSJ.

Regarding PBS, both WNPI and WCFE are very week from your location, so you will have troubles receiving them reliably.

I hope this helps.

@123Mike - (sorry, long post...)

As roger1818 indicated, I'm also in your neck of the woods. Haven't spotted your tower in my travels, but will keep my eyes open :o.

My TVFool (link on my homepage) gives Camp Fortune at 17 degrees / 25.3 miles, Herberts Corners at 78 deg / 21.7 miles, Colton at 129 deg / 72.3 miles, and Watertown at 171 deg / 83.7 miles. Note the 61 degree spread between CF and HC (ouch!).

On my "legacy" setup, I have a CM3671 antenna at 30 ft with a CM0064 pre-amp, aimed at Watertown. (Rotor busted after ice storm.) Also, an unknown model Radio Shack UHF corner reflector at 25 ft aimed at CF. I do get CBS/Fox 7.1/7.2 about 95% of the time, but it's frustrating getting only the first 53 minutes of NCIS. ABC/CW (RF21) and PBS (RF41) are summer/tropo visitors only. Replacing the CM0064 (Noise figure 3.0 VHF, 2.2 UHF) with a Kitz200 may improve RF7 somewhat, but read on...

Last fall I set up a "test" antenna: Winegard HD8800 with Kitztech KT200 on a 10' pole, and was able to receive Fox/CBS from Colton (RF18) quite reliably, and PBS (RF23) very reliably. I also have a 5Y6S on that pole, and when Global went digital, I replaced the KT200/UVSJ with the CM7777 preamp. Result: Colton stations became less reliable, probably largely due to the poorer noise figure, but Global did improve from 60% to 70% on my Aquos. I have now temporarily rotated the HD8800 towards HC.

So, my plan for distant stations is to forget about Watertown for now, put my HD8800 w/KT200 on the main mast, aimed at Colton for CBS/Fox/PBS. When/if Plattsburgh PBS (RF38 at 106 deg) gets their requested power increase, it may also be receivable. (Watertown and Colton PBS have the same schedules; Plattsburgh is different.)

For local stations, I need a solution that combines both sites, and both UHF/VHF, into a single downfeed, so I can have a single pool of 2 or 3 tuners for MythTV. My current plan is to use an AntennasDirect CS2 (70 deg beamwidth) combined with the 5Y6S and CM7777. The CS2 arrives tomorrow, so I will post a follow-up with my results.

Thanks for the guidance.... I updated my TV Fool as suggested. http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d8387a707d1810f Thanks
Doug

@vejostde. I'll give that a shot, I may as well. CTV comes in great and I have no concern about losing 9 as I don't watch it. I may need a longer pole for a vertical mount but it is worth a try.

The reception is good tonight, I did a rescan earlier and can see:
WNPI (3 subch), WNYF & WWNY, also 3 Mountain lake sub channels.

Certainly not the usual list of channels for my location.

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/7393/58987031.jpg

Wauw Sid, that's one hell of a channel line up.

On my end (just outside Ashton), at 1AM, like every night, channels drop. I guess I'm the only one that's reporting that channels drop around this time, but so far, every single time it's the same story. Was watching TVO just now about an old Japanese guy in NY that thought he no longer was a citizen because of the US government taking away his passport during WWII. Then suddenly the channel's gone.

Just did a scan:

4.1 CBOT-DT
8 Analog *
10.1 CFTM-HD (french) *
11 analog *
11.1 CHCHDT1
13.1 (no signal)
14.1 OMNI2
16.1 WPBS-1 *
16.2 WPBS-2 *
16.3 WPBS-3 *
30.1 (no signal)
36 analog
40.1 (no signal)
42.1 CTS-HD
43.1 CHRO
60.1 OMNI1
65.1 Citytv

So, aside from new snowy analog channels, 3 PBS channels are a first for me.
If that was reliable then I'd consider dumping satellite.

Ok, so I have read lots of posts of people having issues with global.

Well, my antenna is not the greatest and working flawlessly.

Anyhow, I originally constructed this antenna as my main, it was in the house and the kids kicked it around a few times as is visually apparent.

Point is for next to nothing I built this antenna and I always get global.

Maybe it'll work for you.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b87/headdy/vhf-ant.jpg

I really probably should separate those antenna but hey it's working!

Wauw Sid, that's one hell of a channel line up.

On my end (just outside Ashton), at 1AM, like every night, channels drop. I guess I'm the only one that's reporting that channels drop around this time, but so far, every single time it's the same story. Was watching TVO just now about an old Japanese guy in NY that thought he no longer was a citizen because of the US government taking away his passport during WWII. Then suddenly the channel's gone.


I also had a pile of channels drop last night, I checked at about 1:30am.

Maintenance or upgrades I guess.

Ok, so I have read lots of posts of people having issues with global.

Well, my antenna is not the greatest and working flawlessly.

Anyhow, I originally constructed this antenna as my main, it was in the house and the kids kicked it around a few times as is visually apparent.

Point is for next to nothing I built this antenna and I always get global.

Maybe it'll work for you.


MaxPower, interesting antenna. That it's in your attic means it won't have to handle outdoor weather conditions. Is it supposed to be a UHF/VHF combo antenna or specifically just a VHF antenna? Where did you find the specs, or can you post them somewhere so that we can try to duplicate it if we're interested?

I've hacked my own antenna to receive channel 6 (Global) which I'll post soon.

Quick question. Mild weather is rolling in, heard some thunder. I've got two tv's hooked up to that funky plug I found in the basement. My guess is it leads straight to that peak that's sticking up in to the air like 50+ feet.
The ultimate lightning magnet I guess.
Going to the basement now, to unplug it.

Is there something I can put in between that would shortcut a strike. What if lightning happens to come along while I'm not at home... Just spent $120 + $200 on two tvs (not my main tv).

I got a low loss surge arrestor/grouding block from my local antenna store in the Carlingwood mall. But you probably have this already hooked up outside where the coax enters the house. If the ham guy already hooked up all these things and grounded the tower properly, there's no reason to think he did not do it for the coax as well.

Thanks to all the information we've gleaned from this site, we just finished our install of a CM4228 on top of our 50' tower (the tower was originally for internet until Storm was neutered when bought by Xplornet.)

We get 21 stations now. I get everything on Sid-146's list (post 585) except 46-1 CRCER.

The wire is currently coming into a window, then being split between our media centre computer and the household's cable wiring. Just using a signal amp at the base of the 100' antenna cable, the bedroom TV hooked up to the household cable also gets the same 21 channels.

We are still waiting to install a preamp up at the top and then bring the wiring properly into the house through the foundation (existing hole leftover from the CAT5 cable entry.) At that point we'll re-install the living room cable (it got covered over when hardwood was installed) and add a final converter so we can have 3 TVs once more. We'll consider putting in a distribution amplifier at that point.

Weather is just rolling in now so I'm going to turn on the TV and see how it is affected.

FWIW 46-1 CRCER is not transmitting at present.

I'm sorry, I really tried to find the thread on the discussion of CKXT (sun news channel 20.1)

If someone would be so kind to send me the link to the discussion on this specific topic it would be great.

I tired the "search" and had no luck :(

Roger1818... Any suggestions on where I could get a HLSJ in the Ottawa area? I gather it is a cheaper route than the pre-amp.
Thanks for the help....
Regards
Doug

I'm sorry, I really tried to find the thread on the discussion of CKXT (sun news channel 20.1)

If someone would be so kind to send me the link to the discussion on this specific topic it would be great.

I tired the "search" and had no luck :(

I am wondering what happened to my reception of the SUN News channel...I used to get it with excellent reception on channel 20 but have not seen it since September 1st?

Has anyone else had this problem?
I tried the search tool and can't find the thread either...RD...Middleville

Like clockwork, I've never seen this NOT happen. Again, minutes after 1AM.
24.1 TVO drops, tv says signal is 0.
13.1, 0 signal

HLSJ = combining a VHF Lo antenna and a VHF HI/UHF antenna
UVSJ = combining a VHF(Hi and Lo) antenna and a UHF-only antenna

You may actually have a hard time finding one of these. They have shown up locally, but if I were you i'd check with any dealer first to see if they have it in stock before going there. Supply is hard to find anywhere. Check the "Where can I Buy" link above.

Sun News over the air in Ottawa is gone for good. They want to become a subscription channel only. Here are more details in this thread http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=143024

Thanks Flavoi

Not sure why i am having so much trouble using the search to find what i am looking for.

bobo