On saturday everything was booming in as I listed with the few exceptions. Over the past few days signal dropped on most channels as much as 15%. I also noticed today that there was a stutter/jitter at times on many of the channels. Very quick pixelation/audio clipping. I decided to add the attenuator to see what happened. Signal improved and virtually all stutter was gone. I still noticed some so I added a splitter to bring the loss down another 3.5db. I noticed some channels dropped in signal a bit, but others did not. CFPL is now stable. Does not cut out at all. Quality is solid. Single tv for now.

GeorgeMx, I'm going to keep the antenna direction as-is for now. I understand the difference between the two pre-amps. I believe the CM7777 is overload for us Brantford folks with these types of antennas outdoors.

I'll probably add another 3db attenuator in there later this week and see how things go.

Sun TV (RF 15 Hamilton) is dead and my OTA reception has not changed substantially; although WUTV (RF 14) is now a little stronger- from 4 bars to 5/6 bars on the Samsung. Even though the signal of WUTV is not full (10 bars out of 10), it is usually a 24/7 channel 99% of the time- there have been 1 or 2 times a year when severe tropo did make it flake- I'll keep watching to see if this happens, but as mentioned - there appears to be a slight improvement on WUTV, other channels did not see a change. Here are my latest results with hacked/stacked 4221HD (with rotor) for BUF, and 4228HD (stationary) for TO, combined into a reverse splitter, FM trap, Channel 11 trap, and then 4-way CM distribution amp (all channels digital unless noted):

2 24/7
3 never
4 24/7
5 24/7
6 never
7 24/7
9 24/7
10 never
11 24/7
12 never
13 24/7
15 never (LP BUF)
17 24/7
19 24/7
22 (Oshawa- CHEX - analog) very snowy to watchable at times
23 24/7
25 24/7
26 24/7
28 24/7
29 24/7
36 24/7
41 24/7 (100% strength since move from RF 65 to 41)
47 24/7
49 flakes during mid-day but usually comes in later PM
51 never during the day- occasionally at night
57 24/7
69 24/7

Money saved since going OTA only (Nov. 2008) = $1800 ($50 month for 36 months)

@goforit.
from my experience, I feel strongly that analog cochannel RF's provided significant problems as compared to digital cochannel RF's.

I have noticed now that analog flame throwers here in London that are off the air like: CFPL RF10, and CBLN RF40 that digital channels on RF39 and RF41 are much better to receive during tropo.

Hi goforit,
Remarkably similar results from Third Line here in Oakville. I gable-mounted a RCA 751 and Winegard 8700 preamp and got 28 signals. After deleting blank stations, duplicates and no interest channels; here are my keepers:
2-1
2-2
4-1
5-1
7-1
9-1
11-1
13-1 CKCO sporadic
17-1
17-3
19-1
23-1
29-1
41-1
49-1
51-1 ION both sporadic
51-3
57-1
I’m watching less TV these days and even the most basic of Cogeco packages was too pointless and costly for me, so I cut the cord. The real bonus is the uncompressed image quality. Visitors always stop in their tracks, amazed at the clarity.

I have installed my 3D SSH II widebeam antenna up on my 35ft tower.
I have a fixed aim [no rotor] @ 40° between Buffalo and Toronto with the back facing 220° toward Erie.

This is my 3D SSH II antenna build:http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showpost.php?p=1354412&postcount=209

Here is my tvfool:http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3dec120c4115fcd4

Here are my results:

2.1 31db 100% wgrz buffalo
2.2 31db 100% wgrz buffalo
4.1 30db 100% wivb buffalo
5.1 31db 100% cblt toronto
6.1 only if aimed nw
7.1 28db 100% wkbw buffalo
9.1 28db 80% cfto toronto
10.1 only if aimed nw
11.1 26db 80% chch hamilton
12.1 19db 30% wicu erie
12.2 19db 30% wbep erie
12.3 19db 30% wsee erie
13.1 only if aimed nw
17.1 20db 40% wned buffalo
17.2 20db 40% wned buffalo
17.3 20db 40% wned buffalo
18 analog only if aimed nw
19.1 30db 100% tvo toronto
23.1 29db 100% wnlo buffalo
24.1 23db 60% wjet erie
25.1 30db 100% cblft toronto
26.1 33db 100% wnyb jamestown
26.2 33db 100% wnyb jamestown
26.3 33db 100% wnyb jamestown
26,4 33db 100% wnyb jamestown
28.1 only if aimed nw
29 analog only if aimed nw
29.1 32db 100% wutv buffalo
29.2 32db 100% tcn buffalo
31.1 citytv only if aimed nw
35.1 23db 60% wsee erie
35.2 23db 60% wbep erie
36.1 23db 60% cits hamilton
41.1 19db 40% ciii toronto
41.2 19db 40% ciii toronto
48 analog ? I deleted it
49.1 28db 80% wnyo buffalo
49.2 28db 80%c ooltv buffalo
54.1 29db 100% wqln erie
54.2 29db 100% wqln erie
54.3 29db 100% wqln erie
57.1 20db 40% citytv toronto
66.1 21db 50% wfxp erie
67.1.only if aimed sse
67.2 only if aimed sse
67.3 only if aimed sse
67.4 only if aimed sse

No sign of Roger's Omni's I or II

Money saved since going OTA (July 1991) = $12,000.00 (estimated @ $600per year for 20 years):p

Well done ota_canuck!

That's got to be up there for stations received by a canucker and $$$ saved...

Well, my mother-in-law moved into an apartment building in downtown Hamilton. She's right at the base of the escarpment, across the street from St. Joseph's Hospital. Her apartment is on the top floor of one of those century homes, and it is facing the escarpment.

When she moved in, she picked up a brand new 37" Panasonic LED TV...really nice set, but she didn't have any media to connect to it.

I was in the midst of building a Loop antenna to replace a DIY built CH9 Yagi, so I yanked off the driven element (basically a folded dipole), and brought it down to her place to try out.

I hung the dipole in one of the windows (again her windows are facing the escarpment), and to my surprise she ended up getting 10 channels.

Watchable channels are:

RF20 - CBC (rare pixilation)
RF9 - CFTO (perfect reception)
RF40 - Global (both the primary and their SD sub-channel) (some pixilation, but the channel is watchable)
RF51 - OMNI 2 (some drops)
RF44 - CITY TV (rare pixilation)
RF19 - TVO (rare pixilation)
RF25 - CBC French (don't know/don't care)

Now the two really surprising channels are (well the fact that she got anything was surprising enough):
RF11 - CHCH
RF6 - Global Paris

CHCH just because of her apartment location, I figured the escarpment would totally block this station. It pixilates frequently, but is just good enough for her to catch the local news. I wouldn't want to sit and attempt to watch a movie or anything like that though.

RF6 was really surprising, and though the TV doesn't display any video or audio, the fact that it was even able to get a signal lock period, was quite impressive. I have a way more elaborate setup, and I can't even get a whisper of RF6 on any one of my TV's, and TSReader indicates something there but again no picture or sound, just error ridden signal response.

Overall, she's was quite happy to get CBC and Global, and to see things in HD on that TV to boot.

Couldn't update the above, but to update...I ended up mounting the antenna higher in the window. This increased reception of all the TO stations, and captured OMNI 1 in addition. I now have screen captures of all the channels that she can successfully receive (minus CIII on RF6), which can be found here (https://sites.google.com/site/maycreates/ota-setup/nanny-s-reception). In addition I have photos of the antenna mounted in the window, and a picture of what her surroundings outside look like. Enjoy and comment.

My setup is a single, stock CM-4221HD on a pole about 25ft AGL into a Winegard AP-8275 pre-amp. Antenna is aimed at 122 degrees in hopes of getting most of the Buffalo stations. I'm basically a noob at this, trying to cut the cord.

My TVFool Results (http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3dec12b6914a86b4)

I do ok:

2 (WGRZ-NBC) : missing
4 (WUTV-CBS) : solid
5 (CBC) : solid
7 (WKBW - ABC) : solid
9 (CFTO - CTV) : solid
11(CHCH) : solid
13(CKCO - CTV) : poor
17(WNED - PBS) : poor
19(TVO) : solid
23(WNLO - CW) : solid
25(SRC) : solid
26(WNYB) : don't care
29(WUTV - FOX) : solid
36(CITS) : don't care
41(CIII - GLOBAL) : poor
47:(OMNI1) : solid
57:(CITY) : solid
69:(OMNI2) : solid


I'd really like to improve 41.1 so that it doesn't drop out. I've managed to lock on 2.1 once or twice with the antenna directly connected to the TV, but not with it connected to the tuner card in my MythTV box, which is its permanent target.

The amp made a big difference in getting the Buffalo stations, but CIII remains a bit difficult. I can get by without NBC or Global but probably not both.

Would switching to a 4228HD make things better or worse? Should I point a second 4221HD at Toronto, or get a 4228HD for Buffalo and use the existing 4221 for Toronto? Or will the 4221 hacks I've heard about put me over the top?

Any other suggestions welcome, of course.

Good catches so far. The hacks won't cost you anything so I would try that first; one is very simple- just remove the black covers in the middle of the bow-ties. If possible, try to go higher. The only benefit of the 4228HD is VHF hi capability and slightly better at low UHF than the 4221HD. Sometimes it takes some re-aiming and re-scanning to get the right position.

I'll admit, I'm a bit scared to move it, since I'm getting pretty decent results with it where it is and I don't want to screw it up.

I'm not sure why I have trouble with Global when the other Toronto stuff comes in ok.

I'll try removing the plastic bits off of the bowties and see how that goes.

Read up on the posts about the Stealth Hawk it might be the answer if you are thinking about a new antenna. You can read the complete thread or just start here.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=144918&page=14

This is an omnidirectional antenna with great results so it should pick up channels from both sides.

John

Hello:

I was wondering if anyone could help me figure out if an antenna is going to work for me, I live in a bungalow in Dundas, I currently have a CM4228 mounted in my attic, with this setup i am only getting 2-3 channels (CHCH and Crossroads) do you think mounting to my chimney about 25-30 feet above the ground will make a difference? here is my TV fool report


http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3dec125de2ae69d8

Since Dundas really is a "valley town" is OTA even feasible?

Thanks
Scott

I cycled through Dundas this past summer. My GPS indicated that I went through a 150m drop in elevation going into the valley down Highway 8.

Having said that, OTA is feasible in Dundas--you've already proved that with reception of several stations.

A rooftop installation would definitely improve your reception capabilities. Looking at your report, some Buffalo and Toronto stations are feasible. Even Global from Paris on channel 6 VHF.

I switched my ClearStream2 to CM4221HD and it improved my reception. Currently I get great reception on all of the Toronto channels except Rogers (CityTV and Omni).

The only channel that I have problems with is CTV. I know that it is a VHF signal and my 4221 is an UHF antenna. I read somewhere on Digital Forum that they might move their transmitter to Hamilton, so I assume that this would solve my problem. Is there anything that I could do to improve that signal? Any cheep antennas? I would be interested in any DIY VHF only antenna but I would need very clear and simple step-by-step instructions as I am not an electrician.

Just to remind you, it is an attic installation and below is my tv fool report
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d60b5a22c883e14

Any help will be greatly appreciated
Ralf

CTV (CFTO) Toronto is not moving to, nor establishing a transmitter in Hamilton. CTV2 has applied for a rebroadcast transmitter of CKVR (Barrie) in Hamilton.

I would check through the Antenna Research & Development (http://digitalhome.ca/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=186) sub-forum for information regarding DIY VHF antenna projects.

I have the CM4221HD, hacked it and I get CFTO even though it's a UHF antenna. Even though it's a UHF antenna it will pick up strong VHF. The hacks did improve my reception to catch CFTO and and a couple Buffalo stations even though my primary aim is Toronto. Highly recommend doing the hack as in both cases I've done it(for myself in Winona and my parents place in the north end of Hamilton) I was locking in stations I couldn't before the hack.

Thank you guys for the input. I'm leaving for vacation tomorrow, so I won't be able to do anything for a week, but hopefully I'll be able to read this forum.

Moniz, what hack did you do? Did you just remove the plastic caps or did you do something else? Is your antenna in the attic or is it on a mast?

Search CM4221HD hack on this forum or google search which will lead you to the the thread on the forum on how to do them. (sorry typing this on my iphone otherwise I'd link it). I did all three hacks; remove the plastic over the ties, flip the balun and cut down the reflectors. Noticed a huge improvement in pulling in more channels vs stock.

Its mounted on a J pipe on the back of my house about 20' up. Again this is based on location so your mileage may vary.

Thanks again Moniz. I'll try all three hacks. I found this thread before your reply. I doubt that I will get anything from the States but my goal is improving CTV signal. Anything else will be a bonus.