Depends what they are going to do with it if you don't buy it and if you know the person or not. First I would try to see if you could just get it to try and see what your results are, but if they want you to pay first, $50 sounds reasonable, although obviously you may be able to get a better deal, especially if all they are going to do is dump it.

Okay they want $65 for everything which includes...

Deep Fringe VHF/UHF TV Antenna

* 108" Wide
* 183" Long
* Analog and Digital Channels 2 - 69
* Channel Master Antenna Rotor with Control Box
* Radio Shack Antenna PreAmplifier
* Chimney Mounting Hardware with 10' Mast

Obviously I wont be able to mount it on the roof because I dont have a mast and its like winter, so I plan to leave in the backyard pointing upwards and hope I can get FOX 29 in HDTV since I wanna see the World Series in HD.

And I'll probably disconnect it when it rains/lightning so I would take the chance at getting hit by lightning....

Now I'm not sure if its worth getting since I need to add onto the price...$65 is a little bit higher than I was wanting it for....

Should I go for it?

PS. I see no Balun connection on the antenna, but the woman says it was in the middle and I would need to connect the cable like in the middle???

http://kijiji.ebayimg.com/i22/04/k/000/7d/15/6c8e_20.JPG?set_id=1C4000

http://kijiji.ebayimg.com/i8/06/k/000/7d/15/6d05_20.JPG?set_id=1C4000

http://kijiji.ebayimg.com/i10/07/k/000/7d/15/6cbb_20.JPG?set_id=1C4000

BTW It was really light when I held it, would that be a factor in saying if its good or not, it kinda felt cheap?

the model and manufacturer of the antenna is unknown, they said the sticker has fallen off and goneI'm about 90% positive that your antenna is an older model of a Winegard 7010 except that yours has a lower support spar. Here are its performance specs: http://www.winegard.com/offair/antennas/hd7010.htm

Don't worry about the weight, it sounds about right from your description. For the antenna's connection it will either be a built-in balun with an F-type screw-on socket for direct coax connection or else it will be two wingnuts or screws on an insulated piece of material to which you attach a balun. Your bottom photo shows a chimney mount kit - once you've installed the antenna on the 10' mast you place it tight against the chimney and then put the metal bands around both, with one as high as possible (but not near the top edge!) and one as low as possible on the chimney. With the 2 ratchets you cinch the bands as tight as possible (see next sentence though).

If I were you I'd try the whole setup without a rotor first, setting the aim towards your favourite digital OTA stations before tightening the mounting bands all the way, and then running scans to see if you get the other stations that you want. Once you find the sweet spot for your stations, crank those mounting bands as tight as you can. If you don't think you're going to get all the stations you want, then maybe think about using the rotor.

When it comes time to prepare to put it up you should read through this threads and ask any questions there:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=29559

And here's the thread on proper grounding:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=62265

That antenna looks massive.(Imitating Crocodile Dundee) That's not an antenna. THIS is an antenna!:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showpost.php?p=207003&postcount=18 :D

Will this work inside a condo/apartment even its going thru glass/window?

What are the channels available in Mississauga area?

Thanks

Welcome here shippie - you live in one of the best places in Canada for OTA options. Your post has been merged into the thread covering Mississauga so the first thing you need to do is read through this thread to get the info you need. Most of it is in here.

What is your nearest major street corner in Mississauga?

Also click on these links I'm providing here to the lower right:

HWY10 & Rathburn

This might be a dumb question, but is there timeshift with OTA?

is there timeshift with OTA?No, not specifically like satellite and cable companies offer. The OTA stations are all in your local time zone.

What we sometimes get though is scheduling differences that mean a major show is on a Canadian channel at one time and on at a different time on a U.S. station.

Another option is to use a PVR that has more than one OTA tuner. My home built one has 2 ATSC digital OTA cards and one NTSC analogue OTA card.

I have a Aquos 46" 65U - I'm not sure how many tuner but it doesn't matter cause I would like to get the Sonicview 8000 for its PVR capability. I don't have balcony, any suggestion on which antenna?

Are TSN and or Sportnet available thru OTA?

Here is a link to my Antenna Chart, which shows you the best ones for everyones' situations - do not bother with anything else:

Are TSN and or Sportnet available thru OTA?

No, because those are specialty cable-sat channels. You would have to have Rogers or BEV to get them.

But you can get OTA HDTV sports via CFTO, CBC, Omni, CBS, ABC, NBC, and FOX. With the US OTA stations you would also get to see the American commercials (like the ones that were shown during the Super Bowl, which most Canadians didn't get to see with their Rogers and Bev subscriptions).

With the US OTA stations you would also get to see the American commercials (like the ones that were shown during the Super Bowl, which most Canadians didn't get to see with their Rogers and Bev subscriptions).
This is the main reason why I purchased my CM 4228. I am the guy with the big party every year and when the guys bring their girlfriends over it is the draw for them to actually sit in the room with us while we watch the big game. We want the action and they get to see the new 'it' commercials...

Here's my setup and results - 1st post!

Digiwav Ant-2084 mounted in the attic as high as possible facing SE.
Split at the antenna with two, 50 ft RG6 cables feeding two TVs.
Panasonic Viera Plasma 50" purchased Nov. 2007 from Future Shop.
Trutech LCD 19" purchased Sept. 2008 from Target.

Surprisingly the $250 Trutech picks up slightly more channels than the Panasonic.

Stations received on the Trutech:
2-1
2-2
4 fuzzy
4-1
5 fuzzy
5-1
7 fuzzy
7-1
7-2
9
9-1
11
17
17-1
17-2
17-3
18-1
19
23
23-1
25
25-1
26 fuzzy
29
36
41
43-8 blank
43-9 blank
44-1
47
48 fuzzy
49
52
55 fuzzy
57
57-1
61 fuzzy
65-2
66-1
69

I cannot receive the Fox digital stations or Omni 1 digital or CTS digital. If I move the antenna to the roof, do you think I'd pickup these channels?

Welcome here, cdhbayside. I've said it before, you folks in the area covered by this thread have the very best Digital OTA options of anyone in Canada! And just like me, most of you want more channels too! :D

To the upper right is the Search This Thread tool, and if you put in either Steeles or Mavis you'll find lots of fairly closeby folks and their own results. I personally never recommend attic mounts, but yours did very well so far. On the roof you would probably get the missing stations with the proper aiming.

Hi Stampeder,

Long time lurker here and thanks for all the hours of knowledgeable reading material you have provided me here!

I'm in the Derry and Mavis area in Mississauga, and about to purchase the CM4228 (non hd spec one which is new). I am wondering for mounting purposes, should I also pick up the 4221 to get all possible channels between Toronto and Buffalo? Thinking if one should be pointed to the CN tower and the other towards Buffalo? Trying to avoid having to put in a rotor.

Thanks!

Hi TorontoR and thanks for the kind words - this is our Canadian home for OTA. :)

For your situation you should stick with 2 of the CM4221s (or Delhi 4BT-1483s or other high quality 4-bay bowtie reflector) in tandem. People have had very good luck near you with ganging 2 of them, but they'll need to be at least 25" apart so that they don't cause mutual reception problems:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showpost.php?p=675713&postcount=16

Hi TorontoR,

I'm in the Derry and Mavis area in Mississauga, and about to purchase the CM4228 (non hd spec one which is new).

You’re about 11 km north of me and here is what I would recommend you do, based on your location and elavation Your about 100ft higher then me this should give you better reception and will help compensate for the extra 11 km extra distance.

Now assuming you don’t have any larger buildings trees etc. here is what I would recommend.

This is option I would prefer it is the simplest to setup and it works! Get a CM 4228 (you will need it to reach the farthest Buffalo stations) and "rotor". Assuming your mounting you antenna outdoors. (roof top)

You may need a preamp if your line length is long or distribution amplifier if you want to supply the signal to other TV’s etc.

If you want to go with two antennas ganged together (enjoy its benifts) get CM 4228 (Buffalo), CM 4221 (CN Tower) and a “rotor” you won’t regret it. But be warned ganging two antennas together can be a real challenge. If you have the time some experience with antennas that will be big plus and enjoy testing etc. This will work and it did for me. Or you might get lucky hit write off.

Read as many postings as you can as stampeder has suggested it will help you alot, good luck!

Oh yes, I almost forgot to mention the most important thing "think safe and work safe".

Have fun :)

Hi Biggy, I've got an unobstructed view (at least from the roof) of the CN tower and out over the lake. I picked up the 4221 literally minutes after I saw Stampeder's post. My cable run will be at most 35-40 feet to the roof, and the signal will be split between the second floor and the basement. My house is actually three stories high as my basement is above ground, the house is actually the tallest in the area when viewed from ground level which I hope is also an advantage. The dealer from whom I picked up the 4221 has their last shipment before the China made ones come in on Thursday. They still have a couple of the 4228's in stock and I don't mind spending another 110 bucks picking that up also along with a line amplifier . My brother in law was just over and will easily buy the 4221 from me if I go with the setup you just recommended. I'm greedy and I already want EVERY possible channel I can get (I am already having fun with the thought of the endless tweaking). I've got more room in my budget for this as I want to stop paying Rogers 75 bucks a month for a few compressed hd channels LOL.

Next order of business is to pick up the 4228 tomorrow and the channel master rotor along with the line amplifier. Any idea what I can expect from the 4228 on the fringes of Buffalo vs the 4221? Don't want to spend the money for a professional on the roof multiple times if I can avoid it.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide guys.

Sounds like you may have ideal conditions to receive it all the available stations. If you have decided to go with a rotor and 4228. You must rotate the antenna in the direction of the channels you want to receive, towards Buffalo, CN Tower or Hamilton. Since I am down a hill (kind of hole) North is not option for me. I had this setup (4228 and rotor) for two in half years work great and is relatively easy installation.

Then I started playing around with ganging two antennas. The major advantage of ganging two antennas pointed in different directions, you will be able to receive all the channels at once without turning the rotor, works like cable. (Great for PVR’s) You most likely are now asking yourself why do I need a rotor? Well it is for fine tuning the antenna array and it comes in very handy when you weather turns bad. You won’t have to call the tech out to redirect one of the antennas.

As for preamp I don’t have one and my line length is about 65ft from antenna to first TV.
Take your time try without preamp first you want to avoid any overloading and a 40ft you shouldn’t need it. There many other reasons to avoid preamp if you can (noise etc.) Better option is use “RG-11”, wish I had done it. (Less line losses).

Don't want to spend the money for a professional on the roof multiple times if I can avoid it.
If you go with dual antennas you will have to explain to the tech what you want to achieve it takes some time to setup. This is where your rotor will come in handy tuning the antennas for all the channels. (Not easy) boy it’s cold outside.

As for channels you should get 24 digital channels, plus analog channels. Do a search on the internet and find out the stations available to us. I am not sure if this forum permits me to posting of the site. I am sure Stampeder will be happy to direct you.

I have only touched on “how to gang antennas” there so much more. Each installation is different and present different challenges. Remember to “take your time” and “read as many postings as you can”. Many others have posted good results with 4221 and 4228 in our area.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?p=791414#post791414

HI TorontoR,

I am hesitant to jump in here and confuse things, so I'll try not to.... but unless I am misreading the posts, some of it is confusing the proper terminology and I'd like to help clear it up - because I have a 4228 and 4221 pointed in different directions here in Oakville.

Ganging antennas is NOT what you will be doing - by the strict definition of the term, you will be COMBINING or MERGING two antennas - pointed in different directions. GANGING would be using two antennas that are combined but pointing in the exact same direction. HDTVPrimer explains this in great detail.

IF we can agree on that, then the next discussion is about rotors. IF you are indeed combining as I define it above and you want a rotor for fine tuning, then you will need TWO rotors, as each antenna is aimed independently. Is this making sense so far?

In my case, I have the 4228 on its own mast, aimed at a split between grand Island and South Buffalo - thus picking up all Buffalo stations at the highest strength possible from my location.

The 4221 is on a separate mast, pointed directly at the CN tower. Both antennas are then 'combined' or 'merged' with equal length lines using a high quality splitter (in reverse) which then feeds another 4-way splitter that feeds 4 TVs in the house.

I use no preamp at all, as my cable run is only about 30 feet from antennas to distribution, meaning that a preamp overloads my TVs with too much signal and I lose channels. I HIGHLY doubt with properly aimed antennas that you will need a pre-amp. I would try without it first, and post your results here, before you spend the extra money.

Admittedly, I have a history here of advising against rotors in this type of configuration as it can be a real issue INSIDE the house. What I mean is, if a person on TV A wants to watch a different show than the person on TV B and it requires a rotor turn - who wins? (Usually not YOU)

However, if you have 2 rotors and ONLY use them once in a while to compensate for weather issues and fine tuning on those occasions - then it would likely not be an issue.

But, I have had my rotor-less setup for quite some time now in all kinds of weather and it has been 95% reliable for us. And to be honest, the issues I have seen the other 5% of the time have usually been commiserated here by others in the area - meaning it is not my setup to blame - but a far bigger atmospheric issue that even those with rotors can't compensate for.

I hope this helps and is not confusing. HDTVPrimer (google it) explains ganging vs combining in great detail and should help you understand my clarifications above.

Most importantly - keep us in the loop if you run in to issues and let us know how things are going!

Stu