I agree with the "if ain't broke why fix it" mentality and no, you are not the only one bugging CTV (+TVA here).

Smog, that's excellent reception! What is the altitude where you are - pretty high up, isn't it?

Also if you are going to change your gear I would not use a 91XG for your distance, I would use a CM4228 instead since it has good gain on VHF High for channel 13 and performs better in deepest fringe environments.

By the way, one of my UHF antennas is an oldie too: I still use my 1980s Delhi 4 Bay Reflector for testing! :) I agree: why change something that works? :D

I purchased and installed a Channel Master 4221, 7777 Pre-amp and a Wade Delhi 5y13s channel 13 specific antenna last week from Raybel.

Everything is installed in my attic and I can now say after some repositioning of the 5y13s I pickup all digital channels available in the greater Montreal area

SRC 2.1
CBS 3.1, 3.2
NBC 5.1, 5.2
CBC 6.1
ABC 22.1, 22.2
PBS 33.1, 33.2, 33.3
TQS 35.1
FOX 44.1, 44.2
PBS 57.1, 57.2, 57.3

This is fantastic! I will now cancel EV and save myself nearly 100$ a month and have no more issues with channel substition that has egged me for years!

During my most frequent TV time, primetime I mainly watch whatever is on HD, so it made no sense to continue to pay EV for tons of channels I never watch.

:)

Poncho,

how did you combine the two antennas together?
how far apart the antennas are separated?
please provide details on the pointing direction of your two antennas.

I am located in Ste-Rose Laval, I can see all channels you catch using my homemade cm4221 version installed in my attic (without pre-amp) but not simultaneously all the channels at the same time without having to re-point the antenna. I would like to catch all from a fixed pointing direction.

They are joined by the Channel Master 7777 pre-amp. Be carefull with this pre-amp, factory settings have only the UHF active not both UHF and VHF. You need to open the pre-amp and move the selector switch, which I didn't realise untill after I installed everything and came down from the attic!!

Direction is pretty much south with a small variation to the east...So I guess South-South-East.

One thing that was important was that the 5y13s was in front of the 4221 and not next, below or behind it. I was not receiving ABC until I moved the 5y13s about 5 feet in front of the 4221 and about 1 foot below.

Both are installed in my attic which is 35-40 feet above the ground and I am on higher ground it seems here in St.Dorothée. MY GPS shows me at 145 feet elevation from my second floor, just below my attic, so add 10 feet to that.

Good luck...

I installed a homemade antenna in the attic, inspired my many posts here about that.

The antenna consists of 8 pairs of bowties stacked vertically. I used an aluminum-wrapped carboard 18 x 36" located 4" behind the antenna. The whole thing is vertical and points towards Mount Mansfield where I have most trouble getting the signal. The balun is located at the center of the antenna. I have about 90 ft of RG-6 from the attic to my dvd recorder equipped with an ATSC tuner (model Philips 3575/37). I am using a 10$ preamp bought at Addison in Montreal. The pre-amp is located at the receiver end. I dont have 120VAC outlet in the attic so I cannot plug the preamp in the attic, which is preferable.

I tried with and without the preamp. This is my results:

2.1 SRC
3.1 CBS (visible only if using preamp)
3.2 CBS (visible only if using preamp)
5.1 NBC
5.2 NBC
6.1 CBC
33.1 VPT/PBS
33.2 VPT/PBS
33.3 Vermont Create
35.1 TQS2
57.1 PBS
57.2 PBS
57.3 PBS

I am Missing Fox and ABC. However, I can see the analog ABC on channel 22 pretty clear. I have no clue where FOX is. Where is their analog channel?

I would like to eventually get ABC and FOX. What should I do to also get those?

using a CM4221 and a pre-amp pointed solar-south

2.1 SRC

5.1 NBC
5.2 NBC
6.1 CBC
22.1 ABC ( this is VHF-13 )
33.1 VPT/PBS
33.2 VPT/PBS
33.3 Vermont Create
35.1 TQS2
44.1 FOX ( this is UHF-45 )
44.2 CW ( this is UHF-45 )
57.1 PBS
57.2 PBS
57.3 PBS

ABC is on the VHF band (Ch.13) and has been difficult to get for most of us in the Montreal area without a Channel13 specific antenna. Some have been lucky enough to be able to get it with the CM4228/CM4221 but that is exceptionnal.

FOX is being broadcast at the same location as CBC/BNC/PBS(33) but at lower power.

If you have to plug the Addisson Amp, its not a PreAmp, its a distribution amp. At 90 feet of cable, your signal would really benefit from having the amp at the antenna before all that cabling. FYI, in a PreAmp configuration, the power source can be near your DVR/TV injecting power into the coax with the PreAmp unit located near antenna receiving that power to amp the signal that travel down the same coax.

EDIT: Smog, CM3221 (he means CM4221)? FOX is UHF-43. Maybe you need an extra coffee this morning to start your week! :)

yup the antenna is a CM4221

about FOX, this is where I got the info :

http://www.fox44.com/about

and I can get 22.1 easy but can't pick 3.1 or 3.2 (UHF something)

In the next couple of days, I intend to build a Yagi antenna specifically for VHF channel 13 in order to catch ABC.

I am currently searching the internet for a simple design that can be realized at home. I have read about a couple of good design ideas. However they talked about using a "hairpin match loop" near the balun connector. I am a bit confused about that.

If anyone of you have any idea about Yagi design or that hairpin loop, please help.

I will test the Yagi separately and eventually will install it at a distance further than one wavelength (more than 4.4 ft) beside my existing bowtie antenna. The two antennas will be fed down the same coax line using a UHF/VHF combiner.

thanks

hungt1999, you can find how to make a home made Yagi for ABC on this thread (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showpost.php?p=620642&postcount=132), plans and video included.

I have a channel master 4221 and a Wade Delphi 5Y13s (Channel 13 5 element) plugged into a channel master 7777 pre-amp and I receive all digital channels available in our area.

The total investment was around 250$ and well worth it IMO. I can now watch the SuperBowl and Lost in beautifull HD without the IMO illegal SimSubs from Bell EV.

My elevation is around 150 ft, and I am very west in Laval, St.Dorothee adjacent Laval-sur-le-Lac.

I hope everyone in the area can achieve similar results as I have thanks to this very helpful forum!

Smog,

so in addition to all the UHF channels, you sucessfully catch ABC on VHF 13 with your CM4221 without a dedicated VHF antenna?

Smog,

so in addition to all the UHF channels, you sucessfully catch ABC on VHF 13 with your CM4221 without a dedicated VHF antenna?
Yup, the CM4221 and CM4228 will pick some VHF channels even if it's sold as a UHF only antenna

I am going to give the $29.95 antenna from Radio Shack a try to catch ABC 22.1

that antenna is not easy to find, on their website it is advertised as a clearance item and most stores I called don't have them anymore.

The source on Ontario and the one on Mont Royal had them. Remember, mine is outside.

Yesterday I went to Addison and bought a $10 in-line amplifier made by General Electric. It came in two parts: the amplifier goes to the antenna and the power supply goes near the TV. The power is sent to the amplifier via the coax cable.

I took out my distributor amp that I was using previously at the TV.

I tried the GE in-line amplifier with my current homemade bowtie array in the attic and was please to see that I can now catch FOX 44.1 and 44.2.

I am still missing ABC 22.1

My question is: with the goal of increasing the overall gain, can I use the distributor amp in combination with the in-line amp without causing any damage or signal conflicts?

No, the improvement in reception is governed by the improvement in the Signal to Noise Ratio that was achieved by using a preamp with a lower noise figure than your distribution amp or your TV receiver. The distribution amp would only help if you plan on splitting the signal for several TVs.

After reading posts on this board, I have decided to purchase a Channel Master 4228 and 7777 or 7778 preamp. I live in Deux-Montagnes, and judging by results others have had in St-Eustache and Laval Ouest, this set up should allow me to get the local Montreal and Plattsburgh/Burlington HD stations (with the exception of ABC, perhaps).

What I'd like to know is whether anyone in this area has had luck with getting Ottawa stations. I don't want to set up a rotor unless there's a reasonable chance of picking some of these up. I haven't seen any mention of this, so I assume this is really not possible.

What I'd like to know is whether anyone in this area has had luck with getting Ottawa stations.
With a rotor you probably could get WNPI-DT. You might be able to get TVO and TFO analog (They are not DT yet) I get a very snowy picture but I do not have rotor.