Chubsy,

WGRZ is problematic for me as well and Fox has never come in. I am in Brantford and distance is the issue for me. As Go4it says, have you tried just one antenna? I tried stacking 2 4221HD's and it was actually worse than just 1 antenna.

If you stay with 2 antennas, I'd ditch that Eagle Star combiner. One that was recommened to me was the "Ideal" splitter available at Home Depot. Far better quality.

A rotor also makes a huge difference, moreso with the XG. It's amazing what a few degrees can do to improve the signal. Usually, I'm able to fine tune WGRZ into a watchable picture and sometimes I can grab 12 out of Erie.

Everyone's situation is different, but If I were you, I'd go single 91XG, CM 7777 pre-amp and a Rotor.

BTW for a distro amp, I've used the GE amp from CDN tire. Works great for cleaning up my analogue cable feeds and it's under 20 bucks. Tried it with the 4221HD and it was almost as good as a CM 7778. Almost!

just my two cents, but here in London I too scrapped the two antenna system in favor of a decent antenna, pre amp, and rotor.
I have never looked back.
BTW I am feeding three televisions and the pre amp helps with the losses incurred in my system

Mark

The use of omni-directional reception by using muliple antennas do have some set-backs. They can be finicky to set-up and aim, they can run a risk of multi-path, however the effort pays off in the end when you can avoid the rotor routine if your OTA reception sources come from multiple compass locations or if you are running more than one TV. Once you debug a multiple antenna system, you essentially have your own mini-cable service that can feed up to 4 TV's throughout your home and you have a tuned antenna system that gives you the freedom to surf channels without the bother of rotating an antenna. And once your set-up is done, it's a free ride with no monthly bills from the cable vultures.

I guess that's what I got- a Mini-Cable System. One antenna for TO and the stack for BUF - CM 3414 drop amp for 3 TVs gets me all TO/HAM/BUF. Got a rotor, but rarely use it.

Also, are distribution amplifiers worth having for the distribution of signal to multiple TV's. If so,
what is the best distribution amp?

goforit - For the benefit of giving Chubsy an answer, the drop amp you are using is the CM3414. Would you recommend it?

Depends on what channels you get now (with no splitter, vs. 2-way, 3-way, etc.), and what channels you want to get. For me, CIII digital was the one trouble station whereby the 3414 got me a lock on it. The 3414 also did a good job of cleaning up all analog channels from TO. The bottom line, if you are splitting your signal to feed 3 or 4 TVs, I would get it- but again, what channels are you getting and what would you like to get?

My understanding of how it generally works, and unless things have changed since digital has hit the scene (which I highly doubt), is that any amp no matter what you choose to call it, does nothing more than amplify a signal that is already present. This amplification will also include amplifying any noise that may be present unless it has some sort of filtering circuitry built into it.

An amp will do nothing to improve a signal that your antenna doesn't already recieve. Generally speaking, the use of splitters only reduces available signal.

Without over complicating the answer would you recommend the CM3414 for Chubsy's use in a distribution system? I'd kind of like to know myself without all of the "what do I want to get" stuff. My antenna(s) will do what they can and I'll have to live with that or improve on them. What I do to distribute the signal from there on in is another matter altogether.

Sorry to say this again, it depends on your current gear and location, and your current channels, and the ones you want to improve or get. This amp will not do miracles if you are in a bad location. I could say, "ya this is a great amp, go buy it", but I would like to know more of how/why it is needed.

I'm beginning to think that since I'm down in the "hole" I'm pretty much SOL for Buffalo.

Not really- WNLO is very strong, and WNED is not bad.

It depends in where you are at in the Hammer- nearest intersection?

Dead Short,

I can get WNLO almost all the time just by pointing my attic mounted CM 4228 east. I of course loose the difficult Toronto channels, Global, CTV, and City but I never find anything I would like to watch on WNLO. I sometimes get WNED and I get signals but no lock or picture from most of the Buffalo stations except during tropo periods. I am also in the "hole" Delaware and Sherman.

John

Hello
New to this site,very informative. Have used OTA antenna since 90' when my local cable tried to charge me $50.00 "administration fee" to activate cable which i asked not to dis-connect when i was moving to a new house.
I live directly under the mountain, so can only receive Toronto stations.
My antenna is a Radio Shack $150.00 unit in its day,paired with Archer rotor which doesn't seem to work anymore. This set-up served it's purpose quite well for analogue. For digital it works good, although some channels are erratic, ie. i will get it, then lose signal or get it one day but not the next.
My question is, Should i invest in a new Winegard antenna or would installing a pre-amp significantly help.( At present i do not have a pre-amp)
I take this signal and split thru out the house. From everything i read, i would like to know what would be a good choice, (proper gain etc.):confused:
Thank you in advance.

Welcome canuckr09:

For your location and only wanting to get TO stations, you would be fine with a CM 4221HD aimed for TO, it's a third of the price of your current antenna and no need for a rotor, unless you want to get Kitchener (13.0). There's a place on Parkdale that sells them, and other antennas, but no Winegard I believe.

But before you invest, what model/type of antenna do you currently have and what channels are you getting with it?

Hello everybody. I live in Stoney Creek, Ontario, and I have already purchased DB4 antenna from Antennas Direct. From what I understand, I can point this antenna towards either Hamilton's tower, Toronto, or Buffalo.

1) Which direction would you recommend, and why?
2) Are Hamilton's and Toronto's towers broadcasting different channels?
3) Can I have DB4 pointing towards Toronto and DB8 pointing towards Buffalo to receive signals from both directions? How would I set up this?

Thanks in advance for your answers! ;)

A couple of questions. I apologize if they are silly.

1) Is it a good "rule-of-thumb" that if I can pickup VHF-Hi channel 9 analog right now, if CTV moves back to 9 after August 2011, I should still be able to pickup the digital signal (all things being equal)?

2) Am I reading this right? Currently they are broadcasting at 17.4KW, but after the transition, they will only be broadcasting at 2.4KW (almost as disturbing is CH's 6.1KW after transition from its current 60KW). What does that mean for us OTA'ers? Is this because they are transmitting from VHF-Hi and the signal doesn't have to be as powerful to cover the same area coverage as an equivalent UHF signal?

Sorry, that's more than two questions.

1. More or less, yes. It depends on #2.

2. Supposedly, VHF needs less power. But I've read that they're not getting the results they expected in the US.. so hopefully they'll increase that power level some.

Welcome canuckr09:

For your location and only wanting to get TO stations, you would be fine with a CM 4221HD aimed for TO, it's a third of the price of your current antenna and no need for a rotor, unless you want to get Kitchener (13.0). There's a place on Parkdale that sells them, and other antennas, but no Winegard I believe.

But before you invest, what model/type of antenna do you currently have and what channels are you getting with it?
Thanks for the welcome.
I currently receive all stations from Toronto. 5.1,9.1,19,25.1 all very strong. The rest of the stations i get all on analogue with various decent picture and the same digital channels are very erratic, sometimes good sometimes no signal. The antenna is a Radio Shack uhf/vhf big mast. I think a good performer.
The more i read, i'm thinking perhaps a pre-amp would be the solution. Any thoughts?
Thank You.

The FCC really goofed up on the idea that a low power VHF signal that’s digital will be as effective as an analog signal that’s 10 times the power. Maybe in some computer model but not in the real world…. I knew that it wasn’t going to work… now we know it’s true.

Hi Canuckr09,

Can you give us the location of the nearest intersection? I think you might be able to get City and Global as well as what you already receive if you just slightly adjust the direction of the antenna. You may need a pre amp but just aiming the antenna correctly might help.

John

Hi Canuckr09,

Can you give us the location of the nearest intersection? I think you might be able to get City and Global as well as what you already receive if you just slightly adjust the direction of the antenna. You may need a pre amp but just aiming the antenna correctly might help.

John
John
The nearest intersection is Dewitt & Hwy #8. Am right across the street from mountain.
I receive Global & Ch. 57.1 The problem is one week i can watch the NFL no problem, the next week i get it then lose it, comes back then lose it etc. etc. The same holds true for 66.1 , 41.1 , 11.1 Some days I get everything with no rotor.
This has me thinking, maybe a pre-amp would be the solution, however reading the forums tells me i can run into problems with overload.
Any thoughts.