northbear,

it is unlikely because Mt-Royal blocks it, but you never really know, I didnt used to get CBMT-DT in Pointe-Claire,and now with the proper set-up high up on the roof, im getting it SOMETIMES... this is a work in progress

Thanks friends,

I live in Ile Perrot (pincourt), so far I
get steady signal:
3.1 WCAX-DT
3.2 WCAX-DT
5.1 WPTZ-DT
5.2 WPTZ-DT
33.1 WETK-DT
33.2 WETK-DT
33.3 WETK-DT
33.4 WETK-DT
44.1 WFFF-DT
44.2 WFFF-DT
57.1 WCFE-DT
57.2 WCFE-DT
57.3 WCFE-DT

get signal that depend on the antenna position
17.1 CIVM-DT
18.1 WNPI-DT
18.2 WNPI-DT
18.3 WNPI-DT
22.1 WVNY-DT
22.2 WVNY-DT

never get signal
2.1 CBFT-DT
6.1 CBMT-DT

northbear,

what are you using...

balm,

I use 8 Bay 360° Multi-Directional DTV FTA HDTV TV ANTENNA 87.
now I put it in second floor's windows, toward south. I got most of channels.
channel 22 is what I most want (for NBA game). The signal is hard to catch, but if I pick up it, my sony tv should the signal strength is 70%.
channel 17, 18 are same like channel 22.
I also try to install the antenna outside, yet not improve to much for channel 22. One interest thing is I put the antenna toward my neighbor's house wall, I pick up channel 22!. Maybe this is another signal path?

I wonder if yagi antenna is better than that of mine.

From what I saw thats one of those 8 bays foldable, inexpensive, GOOD for you!

if so, have you tried folding it to different angles...

you might have some luck up around 35 ft, and rotating...

can you give your TVFool.com report link here..


a yagi would probably work well for WVNY #13 (22)


thanks

My mother has really good reception with her CM4228HD from a couple of analog VHF stations 60 miles away. The CM4228HD has moderate gain on the high band VHF channels (7-13) but is very poor for the low band VHF channels (2-6). She gets a VHF analog station on Channel 4 from 60 miles away that is watchable but lots of snow and some static.

Just set up my first antenna in West Island of Montreal and got amazing reception: 2 CBS channels (1 in HD, 1 weather), 2 NBC channels (1 in HD, 1 THIS), 7 PBS channels (channels 33.1-4 and 57.1-3 and a few are in HD), 1 FOX (44.1 in HD) the CW (44.2), Global (46), CTV (12), CBC (6) and channel 2,10,17 (in HD I believe), 35 and probably a few others.
Channel 6 (CBC) is just pathetic. What am I doing wrong?
Channel 12 (CTC) is fine, but not great.
Is there any way to get these better and in HD signals instead of regular.
Why can't I seem to get ABC???
Any assistance would be great!!!

For VHF ABC #13 (WVNY) you may need a separate VHF-Hi yagi style antenna, OR just a good UHF antenna that will capture #13 as well, such as a 4 bay or 8 bay bow-tie

Analog VHFs SRC #2, & CBC #6, have always been crummy requiring HUGE VHF antennas, you wont improve those, and it wont matter because you can get them, depending if Mt-Royal blocks you, in digital on #19, & #20. They will move to on Mt-Royal in 2011.

The ONLY other local digitals are TQ CIVM #27, and "V" CFJP #42.

2,6,10,12,17(TQ CIVM),29,35(V CFJP),46,62, are all analogs, and all suffer from interference in varing degrees, #10 (TVA) being crystal clear!.

Thanks again to Stampeder for moving my post to the West Island thread...

Just for fun I made my own antenna and it took me about 30 minutes... and maybe $10-20 of materials.... I almost bought an antenna and while I was doing some research on the different type of antennas to buy, I started reading up on antennas on the internet.... I found a few "make your own" options and found one model that had something like a million hits on youtube and people were giving it much better feedback than even the store bought versions. I added a $9.00 amplifier from my antenna to the COAX in the wall (old COAX - RG59) and it boosted the signal to allow me to also get FOX, the CW and PBS (the three channel 57's)

Incredibly, I am able to get about 20 channels (not all are great quality, but most of the ones I wanted are good unless I mention below that it's fuzzy) And my HD channels (in bold) are spectacular and all the digital US stations are very good. Here's the results:

2 (CBC French) - Not the greatest quality/very fuzzy
3.1 (CBS) - HD
3.2 (CBS weather)
5.1 (NBC) - HD
5.2 (THiS - old movies and tv shows)
6 (CBC English) - Not the greatest quality/very fuzzy
8 (CTV Ottawa) - Also not that great/fuzzy
10 (TVA)
12 (CTV)
17.1 - HD
33.1 (PBS) - HD
33.2 (PBS)
33.3 (PBS)
33.4 (PBS)
35 (Canal V) - quite good
44.1 (FOX) - HD

44.2 (the CW)
46 (Global) - quite good
57.1 (PBS)
57.2 (PBS)
57.3 (PBS)

I just don't yet get ABC at all. And I really need to improve the CBC channels. I've been reading the threads and will work at getting these better....

I tested the reception of the signals in all areas of the house, but the best place to put the antenna was on my second floor front bedroom window facing South (to get all the U.S. channels). I live in Kirkland.

Now, I made this first antenna from the plans I saw on the YouTube clip and a few other sites. Have some fun with making your own antenna.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3dc2012ad5274fa9

WI Montreal when you are ready to build the best home made antenna just look up how to build a GH or an M4 in our Antenna Research & Development (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=186) forum. The GH and M4 easily outperform any of those Youtube antennas. :)

WI,


#2, & #6, are on VHF-LO band...

#13 (ABC - WVNY), is on VHF-HI band but a weak and distant signal source...

your antenna is a UHF (channels #14 +) antenna

Thanks for the feedback... I will put your ideas into action....

I can only speak about the M4, and tell you a properly built one will EASILY get you ABC #13

Hello all,

Lots of great info in this thread! I will have to spend some time going through it all.

What I would like to do is mount something in my attic. I live in Pointe-Claire near the airport. Attic is about 25" high (two-storey house, built '97).

Can anyone give me any pointers to get me started? Will I be able to get WFFF, WVNY and the rest of the US locals? Or must I mount something outside (but I'd rather not).

Thanks in advance!

My antenna (see links) is in my bedroom at window level (2nd floor facing South). I'm in Kirkland and see all the channels I get. Balm says the M4 gets even better reception.... So good luck and tell us about what you do...

First off, here's my TVFool link (http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3dc572f7bd9df482).

My idea was to to scrap my Videotron subscription and move to Star Choice. Videotron is dragging their heels as far as adding HD channels (in English) and I want to make a change. I wasn't really considering Bell as they have simsubs and their PQ is reportedly inferior. Also I already picked up a 505 a few years ago when it was on sale for $50 (but never got around to activating it).

The only problem with Star Choice (Shaw D) is that they don't have a strong working PVR. So I was looking into building my own PVR using Mediaportal software with Hauppauge's HD-PVR. Some report success with this setup. As a bonus, I can create a central TV server to feed multiple TVs.

Now I was thinking of going dual-PVR (so I would need an additional 505 and a second HD-PVR), but since I watch mostly network TV I figure I could make do with one *C tuner and supplement with 1-2 OTA tuners.

My house faces SE, so I don't really want to put up an antenna on the front. Curb appeal is important here. So I wanted to try something in the attic. The Star choice dish would work on the lower garage roof on the west side it's less of an issue.

I just don't know where to start. From my reading so far it looks like I would need an 8-bay for UHF 14-50+, with maybe a Yagi for ABC on VHF 13. But what to buy?

I see CM4228HDs on Ebay, as well as AD-DB8s and various clones. Some of the clones seem to match up with mclapp's M4 design (but significantly smaller.) I don't know if I can DIY since I don't really have the expertise or time (heavy workload PLUS a seventh month-old boy).

Should I try a clone? Go straight to a CM4228HD? How difficult is the hardware mod?

Any pointers would be great!

cheers!

Should I try a clone? Go straight to a CM4228HD?Anyone even considering a clone antenna, no matter how cheap, needs to read this entire thread first:

OTA Clone, Coat Hanger, and Junk Antennas (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=106108)

Thanks for the link, stampeder.

I'm starting to think about attempting a GH build. Either that or go for a CM4228HD.

It is sad that WCFE stoped transmiting ThinkBright. Kids loved it. MHz world is FTA on satellite 97w.

Here in Vaudreuil using Eaglestar foldable 8 bay external antenna pointing in two directions, 25 feet above ground, without amplifier I pickup:

Digital
WCAX 3.1, 3.2
WPTZ 5.1, 5.2
Tele-Quebec 17.1
WETK 33.1,33.2,33.3,33.4
WFFF 44.1,44.2
WCFE 57.1,57.2,57.3

Analog with very clear quality:

Radio-Canada 2 - snowy
CBC 6
CJOH 8
TVA 10
CFCF 12
Tele-Quebec 17
CFTU 29 - snowy
Global 46

I am not sure if pre-amp would allow me to get channels. I think pointing two 8 bay antennas, one in each direction would help. I would like to get VHF antenna for WVNY 13.1

I am using Samsung 32B350 tv.

WPBS (18.1, 18.2, 18.3HD) signal become more strong. My TV signal indicator show it 80%.

My antenna setup in second floor and face towoard south.