Yep, always check out the status threads before changing anything! :)

The CHCH signal is well received and appreciated.
Just for an experiment I tossed my 30 year old deep finge channel master
in a cedar bush on a short fence post in the back of my yard only 5 feet off the ground aimed at CHCH.
This reading is from an HDHomerun-Tech (grey) at the end of 50 feet of RG6, direct connection,
no amplifiers etc, so the dBmV reading should be pretty close to the real field strength.

ch=auto:18 lock=8vsb ss=54(-28dBmV) snq=73(23dB) seq=100 bps=19394080 pps=1815


If i took a picture of the antenna laying in the bushes, you would swear it would
not get a thing,
but i have no transport errors. Thanks for a great station.

More than half my channels are "No signal".

Worked fine when I got home today after work, but about 20 after I turned on the TV the follow channels went blank.
Last night same thing.

2.1
7.1
9.1
11.1
29.1
36.1
41.1
49.1
57.1

What's going on? Is anyone else having issues. It's not that cold. It's been worse. Like I said, the past two winters I never had a problem. In Brampton, near Heart Lake, also on a hill.
HELP!!!!

Just turned on TV and everything is back... but for how long?

im getting 14.4 country station is any one getting it too?
nothing on 14.1 or 14.2
Brampton: Chinguacousy and Williams Pkwy

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

i get:

2.1, 2.2, 2.3
4.1
5.1
7.1
9.1
11.1
14.4
17.1, 17.2, 17.3
19 no hd
23.1
25.1 french
26.1 sometimes
29.1
36.1
41.1
44.1
49.1 on and off
49.2
57.1
64.1
66.1

i put my antenna in the upstairs window inside, 4 bay antenna and small 12 db amp. no pre amp and split to 2 tvs

im getting 14.4 country station is any one getting it too?
nothing on 14.1 or 14.2

14.4 should re-map to 29.2 TCN is Fox's subchannel.
You might need to re-scan, depends on the tv. On my samsung, it just showed up. On my BellEVu, i had to manually add it.

ok thxs, ya its TCN

Blade without knowing your antenna details I can say that its at your end.It could be a bad or shorting connection in the cable or balun or water in it.If your using an amplifier overload could cause your problem.Also electrical noise from an appliance.Digital is much harder to diagnois because you cant see anything when lose lock.Try looking at analog 52 weak Sun tv when your problem occurs to see what you have and compare picture to when everything is working.

I finally mounted my antenna on the roof and here are the results using a mod (hack) CM4221HD and CM7000 PAL DVR. (I don't have a TV with ATSC tuner to do a comparison). I will post actual signal strength when I get some more time.

002-01
002-02
002-03
004-01
005-01
007-01
009-01
011-01
017-01
017-02
017-03
023-01
025-01
029-01
029-01
036-01
041-01
044-01
049-01
049-02
057-01
064-01
066-01

Yup that more or less sounds about right for this area.

I live in Port Credit, Mississauga. Do I need a rotator to receive both CN Tower & Buffalo signals? I intend to use CM4221HD mounted on chimney 25feet above ground?

Thanks

Henryc

loaded question!

Point the antenna toward Buffalo and maybe you'll get most Buffalo stations and some Toronto stations through the back of the antenna.

The answer to your question will mostly depend on whether you're going to accept whatever you happen to get or do you want it all?

A rotor is always an option for aiming a single directional antenna toward specific broadcast towers, so a rotor is a matter of preference more than an issue of need.

Read through this thread for your Port Credit reception area and then make a decision.

Hi,
I live in Port Credit , Mississauga. I would like to receive signals from Toronto & Buffalo, which is about 80 degrees apart. I intend to chimney mount CM4228HD.
Anyone has use this and how is the signals like? Is rotator required? Is it better to install two antenna instead of rotator as I am not handy enough?

Thanks

Henry

I picked up a DB8, CM 7777 preamp, CM 3418 distribution amp, and a j pipe.

I was thinking about picking up another antenna.
What are the advantages of hooking up two antennas?
What else would I need to get it hooked up?

I picked up a DB8, CM 7777 preamp, CM 3418 distribution amp, and a j pipe.

Wrong thread, but a DB8 is a bit big for a J pipe. You will need something a bit more sturdy. Also in most cases you don't want to use both a pre-amp and a distribution amp.

What are the advantages of hooking up two antennas?

That all depends on your situation. The DB8 only receives UHF (channels 14-69) so another antenna would be needed for VHF (channels 2-13). These could be combined with the CM-7777.

I should have did more research. I just went into a store and asked him what I need and he just told me to get these.

Hi all, My first post here. I'm about a km northwest of Cawthra/Lakeshore trees and buildings block my LOS both to Buffalo and CNT. I have a generic 4-bay bowtie in an upstairs room, (16 ft AGL) facing just west of Buffalo against a wall. (Sheathing/insulation/vinyl siding) a 1 ft RG6 from balun to a cheap Philips amp that states 12Db gain then 50 feet of RG6 that is about 35 ft longer than I need connected to a Centronics ATSC tuner. The extra 35 feet is laying in a crowsnest in the basement. With this setup I get about 12 channels on a good day this time of year, including: (Virtual)
5, 5, 7, 9, 11, 17, 23, 25, 29, 36, 44 (sometimes), 57 (sometimes), 64 (sometimes) most are at 80% quality/ 20-30 Strength.

If I turn it between CN/Buffalo I get 41 and 57 but loose 29 and 4

I added a second identical antenna vertically stacked and joined with equal length RG6 to a splitter. No gain..

Then I removed the baluns, joined the antennas with foam separated twinlead feeding into one of the baluns. This added 2 & 4 as well as improved quality and strength across the board.

Questions:
If I was to add another two antennas facing CNT and join in the same fashion, (300ohm twinlead feeding to one balun) would I be able to get Global and City at the same time as Buffalo?

Will a window let more signal through than drywall/sheathing/insulation/vinyl siding?

How much difference can I expect if I mount it on the roof? (26 ft AGL) roughly 10 ft higher than now.

How much difference can I expect if I mount these just outside under the eaves, a couple of inches from the wall, 2 facing CNT and 2 facing Buffalo?

How much difference can I expect if I replace the cheap Philips (Drop) amp with a 7777? (Even if that would require an attenuator to not make the strong stations overload the tuner)

Can I damage the tuner by overloading it?

Thanks for a great forum!

Welcome to OTA.
There are more qualified people on this forum to answer these questions, but I'll take a stab at it. I have a CH7777 amplifier and a Centronics set top ATSC tuner.
I'm located north of Brampton.


If I was to add another two antennas facing CNT and join in the same fashion, (300ohm twinlead feeding to one balun) would I be able to get Global and City at the same time as Buffalo?

I would spend my money on a quality Channel Master or Antennas Direct antenna
instead of ganging no-name brand antennas. There is a good antenna chart on this site made by Stampeder



Will a window let more signal through than drywall/sheathing/insulation/vinyl siding?

see below



How much difference can I expect if I mount it on the roof? (26 ft AGL)
roughly 10 ft higher than now.

It will help. Play around with the settings on tvfool dot com, for a better idea.


How much difference can I expect if I mount these just outside under the eaves,
a couple of inches from the wall, 2 facing CNT and 2 facing Buffalo?

Depends on if the wall is right behind the antenna or not. If your wall happens to face the direction of transmitter close to 90 degrees, then the wall will help as a reflector. Anything much beyond 90 degrees, then the wall can be harmful.
The eves (metal) will interfere if too close, try for roof mount if possible.


How much difference can I expect if I replace the cheap Philips (Drop) amp
with a 7777? (Even if that would require an attenuator to not make the strong stations overload the tuner)

IMO the CM7777 has too much power for local stations.
My Buffalo rig is an Antennas Direct DB8 with a CM7777 mounted behind the ant.
I'm certain if I aimed this set between buffalo and toronto it will overload the 7777 and put noise on the system, which will kill in my case probably CITY-TV, as well as other weak stations. This rig is aimed at Grand Island NY. I have a 2nd ant aimed at toronto, but combined down the line, not on the input of the 7777



Can I damage the tuner by overloading it?

I wouldn't worry about overloading the Centronics, as its an $80 box, but don't mess too much with amplifiers on the input of a $1500 flat panel. I started out with the same tuner, and now it drives my older sets. Its a good unit to experiment with.

I know this is a long thread, but its worth reading at least posts from years 2009
and 2010, there is a lot of good info here, for this area of the GTA.

Best of Luck.

I live in a condo, that faces north at Queen and Dixie in Brampton. Am I out of luck getting an antenna to work at all?

Hi,

I am in Mississauga, Ontario just one block north of Ninth line/Britannia (Osprey Blvd).

I am planning on getting two 4221HD antennas and putting them in my attic. They would be at opposite ends of the attic with one pointing towards the CN tower and other towards Buffalo. They would be close to 30ft from ground level and close to the underside of the roof. The roof has asphalt shingles.

Would the spacing be enough to avoid interference and also would this work:

Run cable from each antenna's balun and connect to a 2-1 joiner/splitter. The output would then go to my TV.

Total length of cable from antenna's to TV would be just less then 50ft.

I will be doing the 3 hacks before setting them up.

freeair: You may have success with your plan. You would obviously lose some gain (2-3dB) through combining two antennae not pointing in the same direction, and the obvious loss due to the roof.

If you experience difficulty with the Buffalo stations, I would recommend going with a separate feed for each antenna to the TV. You can then use an A/B switch at the TV to switch feeds. Save & Replay (Mississauga) sells a remote-controlled A/B switch for $49.99. Though a manual A/B sells for much less.