Im surprised you would even think two seconds about this. Of course take it. Have you priced towers and shipping charges lately ??? :p:D

Cant you mount it closer ?

I will, and yes, I will have to mount it closer. I need to re-roof my garage first though. Hopefully the weather is good this weekend!

I never though of the obvious part of temporarily moving the antenna to the tower, I may try that, but I don't think it's in a good spot now, moving it behind my garage will be perfect. Just need the motivation.

Tom

Hey, Eddie G.

I live at North Service and Cawthra, a short walk away. So if the signal is able to fly over the tall trees in our neighbourhood, I'd be curious to find out how successful you've been. Keep us posted.:p

I gotta read the FAQ and find the right external tuner for the job. Many people are using the Samsung brand. I imagine most coupon-eligible tuners from the USA are marginal, but who knows.

I have an el-cheapo antenna that I want to try first, and then move up to a Channel Master brand depending upon the channel lineup I get.

--Brian

Mississauga, Cawthra/QEW; No receiver yet; just itchin' to scan for signals.

Just a note for anyone thinking of free OTA in a condo. I set up a DB2 on the floor leaning on the inside of the window, 23rd floor, directly facing SSW. The DB2 is connected to a Samsung DTB-H260F. Location near Square One with clear view of Lake Ontario. Reception is amazing.

I was able to get the following channels with 10 bars:
2-1,2
4-1
5-1
7-1,2,3
9-1
17-1,2,3
23-1
29-1,2
57-1
65-2
66-1

6 bars:
18-1
25-1

4 bars:
26-1

2 bars:
36-1

1-2 bars:
49-1,2

49-1 did require moving the antenna slightly to aim at Grand Island, otherwise the antenna aims more or less at CH tower. I should have turned towards Rochester but didn't see the point. With a more or less ideal location, you don't need much to get free OTA HD TV.

Either that or TV Fool is spitting out some questionable data.

In general, TVFool is not accurate for Canadian stations.
This is due to the fact that they use the FCC database for the broadcast parameters, and the Canadian data in that database is not populated in a fashion accurate for modeling the actual as-built transmitters.

RustyHD, those numbers are amazing. Of course, being 23 floors up in a condo sure doesn't hurt. :)

Are those numbers pretty much consistant for you? (Year round, all the time?)

I didn't expect reception to be that good either, but these are typical results in the afternoon. Once the sun sets, 49-1 comes in more reliably. I moved the antenna outside on the balcony and the results were the same. Couldn't leave it out there anyway, condo rules. For 49-1 you have to aim at Grand Island, 36-1 disappears and 18-1 weaker. Rest of the channels solid no matter what you do. I guess at the 23rd floor signals are much stronger, like a super high tower.

I imagine most coupon-eligible tuners from the USA are marginal, but who knows.On coupon-eligible tuners ....

Don't consider them if you are looking for something for HDTV, like attaching to an HD ready computer monitor, or an older HDTV without an ATSC tuner.

But if you are looking to tune in digital OTA on a standard tv, they work pretty well.

From your location, they may be better to tune in weaker signals like CITY than an older ATSC tuner.

Hi:

Live at Bloor/Cawthra in Mississauga. Currently have an antenna tower with 2 ancient antennas (no rotor). 1 of them (ChannelMaster UHF/VHF) is feeding an old analog TV. The other one looks to be a VHF only antenna (no UHF part in front). This one (due to current cableing) is feeding a PC running Windows Vista Media Centre and a ATSC tuner card. Reception now on this PC is surprisingly good (can get around 5-8 channels, some Buffalo, some Toronto).

My plan is to take down the VHF antenna and replace it with a Yagi (don't want a CM4228 due to wind load and already having a big VHF/UHF antenna up there).

don't want a CM4228 due to wind load and already having a big VHF/UHF antenna up thereIf your present mast/mount gear is flimsy then you'd need to worry. If it is solid, you won't have a problem with wind load. Co-locating a CM4228 with a big VHF yagi is very common and very stable. Putting the CM4228 at the top and the VHF yagi about 1 to 2 feet below it makes for a stable installation.

Started out with a cheap RCA outdoor amplified omnidirectional VHF/UHF antenna mounted inside my 2nd floor window, pointing southwards
Could pull in:

4-1 - 2 bars
5-1 - 10 bars
7-1,2,3 - 1 bar
9-1 - 10 bars
18-1 - 3 bars
25-1 - 10 bars
65-2 (Global, their remapping doesn't work on my Samsung H260-F) - 5 bars
66-1 - 4 bars

Decided to build a four-bay bowtie using coat hangers, a tin foil reflector and some wood. Ripped out the preamp out of my RCA antenna and put it on the antenna as well. Now, in the same location:

2-1 - 2 bars
4-1 - 5 bars
5-1 - 10 bars
7-1,2,3 - 6 bars
9-1 - 10 bars
17-1,2,3 - 5 bars
18-1 - 10 bars
23-1 - 8 bars
25-1 - 10 bars
36-1 - 3 bars
57-1 - 5 bars
65-2 - 8 bars
66-1 - 7 bars

I've played with the setup, and I can't get FOX for the life of me (14-1). Actually, FOX just randomly came in. I'm just missing My TV now. I think today may just be a good day for testing.

c0nfused, I'm near you and found a huge improvement in signal strength by installing the antenna in my attic. I get almost all the channels except for E! and CTS. I had to make a choice where to point the antenna and chose more towards T.O. than Hamilton.

Also, like you I started out with a bowtie and then upgraded to a SBGH and noticed more improvement in signal strength.

FWIW

I can't get FOX for the life of me (14-1). Actually, FOX just randomly came in.Fox is definitely one of the weaker stations here in Mississauga. Now that I have an 8-bay bowtie with pre-amp, mounted on top of my roof I can get it very clearly.

I can't get E! (CHCH) or CTS from Hamilton since my antenna is directed at Buffalo, not really a big loss.

I am going to give it a shot in my attic today. I will probably build an SBGH over the weekend. I'll let you know the results.

I'm just impressed at my reception, since I haven't even mounted my antenna outdoors.

I just redid my setup, adding another antenna and moving them both to the attic. The results are very impressive. I don't have to rev my antenna back and forth, and I'm getting FOX rock solid. Though once the signals merged, WGRZ and WNED just disappear, and I still have to figure that out. The other pain in the rear is CityTV. My family favors it over the others in about 80% of the cases, but their signal is S.U.C.K.S. I've never been able to pick it up without intermittent audio feed drop-offs.

Hi Name 777,

I have also modified my setup recently and have just moved my 4221 from indoors first floor to just bellow my 4228 outdoor pole. This combo of antennas along with a rotor work for me. Since you are in my neck of the woods I might be able to help you a little.

First off using Google Earth I placed a marker near your location you provide and I have been plotting signal strengths different locations using TV Fool from that I can make some recommendations. From what I can see you’re at least another 10KM north of me should have similar signal conditions, a little weaker.

I would recommend you get one 4228 (with rotor USA) and a 4221 (CN Tower) like me and mount them outdoor as high as possible. If your line length is longer then 75 ft I you might consider a preamp. (Compensate for line losses) This should help you pick up any of the weaker signals from US. I used a distribution amp to supply the signal for two TVs, but I wouldn’t mind to try one myself.

This combo should do the trick and you should be able receive all the channels. Of course you won’t get them all if you have large trees or obstructions around you or bad weather conditions.

Presently I have this combo running two TV’s via one combiner, splitter and one 10db distribution amp. One thing to keep in mind it does take some effort to combined two separated antennas pointed in different directions to work properly.

Since I have just install 4221 just under my 4228 (within an inch) I am surprised that I don’t get more interaction from each other. Many have recommend that you don’t place them more or less then a foot near each other? Am I just lucky??

I have been experimenting with adding and subtracting line lengths and even using variable gain amplifiers to see how the stations interact. I have been measuring signal strengths as leaves fill in and the direction I have to point the antenna. Anyone notice how the leaves, wind etc effect their reception.

Anyway I hope this helps you a little, but please remember that combining antennas can be a real challenge and doesn’t work for all. If you don't want the headaches just get a 4228 and rotor it works as well.

All the best!

Biggy

:p

Though once the signals merged, WGRZ and WNED just disappear, and I still have to figure that out.

If you connect 2 antennas together and the channels just seem to have disappeared then flip the 2 wires around at just one of the antennas ... also make sure the cable length from each antenna to the splitter/combiner is exactly the same length. The problem you're experiencing is due to the signal phasing or mixing of two identical signals that are 180 degrees out of phase where they cancel each other out giving you a sum on zero. Making the 2 cables the same length has to do with timing and preventing a shift in phase which will also cause you problems.

This might help... http://www.kyes.com/antenna/stacking.html

Thanks HDTV101, I'll sure try that. First I'm planning to kiss my Jagi good bye for another 4221 (wanted to buy it yesterday, but my car broke on the way to Nutech :( ).

Good morning all:

I'm relatively new to this OTA hobby, but here are my results thus far;

Set-up: CM 4221 - 25 ft up - mounted on roof w/ Delhi 604rc rotor feeding into a Pansat 9000HD receiver (plugged into terrestrial terminal) and hooked up to an RCA 40" (HD Ready, rear projection) tv... (note: I use my Pansat as the ATSC converter)...

Reception:
0-0 TV5 ??? (seems to be CTS programming)
2-1,2 NBC
4-1 CBS
5-1 CBC
7-1,2,3 ABC
9-1 CFTO
17-1,2,3 PBS
18-1 CHCH
23-1 WNLO
25-1 CBLFT
29-1,2 WUTV - FOX
36-1 CTS
44-1 OMNI1
57-1 CITY
64-1 OMNI2
65-1 GLOBAL
66-1 CKXT SUN

All channels coming in between 88% and most at 100% w/rotor fine-tuning...

The only issues I have are with ABC - I can only receive it when I point 30% from true north (bizarre, I must be getting a very wierd bounce?)...

Also I have not been able to scan WNYO (My TV), are there any suggestions on how to get it? Any advise would be appreciated...

Quick question, I have heard about a channel guide transmitted with the signal, mine is completely blank including US stations, is this normal?

All in all, I am very pleased with the results and the picture and sound quality of OTA HD is second to none...

Also, I would like to thank everyone at this sight, most of my research was done here before I did my set-up...

Thank you,

verdam

:D

Verdam;

1) There is program information and a bit of a scheduling info available. I have a built in tuner and they come up when I hit the appropriate button on the remote. It is probably a tuner function.

2) My set up is different than yours and I am further south. I am getting ABC fine but it is the most sensitive of the us networks. I have my south facing antenna about 10 degrees or so East from due South. My antennas are probably 35 feet off the ground but I am about 200 m from the lake so effectively lower than yours. WNYO is also good with this same setup.

3) 0-0 never heard of that before. Anyone else? Unfortunate to get the religious stuff 2X, need some OTS adult stuff to offset ;-)

What model Pansat are you using?

Thanks for the reply, I'm using the Pansat 9000HD unit, perhaps it's not equipped to recieve the OTA guide info...??? What channels do you get guide info on? And your right, we'd be better off with some adult content...

Thanks again,