I'm between Bentley and Thomas. Just got my DB8 installed about 3 ft above my eavestrough pointing mostly south. No preamp but connected to an 8 port dist amp. TV picked up 11 analog and 24 digital. For the main digital channels, my TV signal meter are as follows.


2.1 – 75
4.1 – 79
5.1 – 100
7.1 – 45
9.1 – 86
11.1 – 71
17.1 – 92
23.1 – 100
25.1 – 92
36.1 – 73
41.1 – 65
44.1 – 100
51.1 – 36 (flaky)
57.1 – 58
64.1 – 92
66.1 – 42

I don’t get 29.1 WUTV at all which is a bummer. I initially concentrated on getting 2.1 NBC and ignored Fox. Since I get the farther away US stations, I don't know if I can receive Fox from my location. Maybe a raise in elevation?

If you can give it some more height it is the best thing to try at this point. A cheap way to test is to go to a lumber store and buy a 12' or longer 2x2 and attach your antenna to it, then have an assistant hold it in place while you watch your TV's signal meter for changes. If the added height didn't help much then you're only out a few bucks. ;)

Also are all the ports on that 8-way distribution amp being used? If any are empty you should terminate them.

Yeah, I thought height may be my problem in not receiving 29. I initially didn't want to mount a tripod on the peak of my roof from other concerns. However if the height test works I may have to re-do. Some co-workers suggested I get a preamp however my problem isn't weak signal but no signal at all so I am doubtful how that'd help. What about changing from the directional DB8 to a hacked 4221?

Oh, the reason I am using an 8 port dist amp is I noticed it boosted across all the channels a few % in the signal meter. I've terminated all the unused ports already. The dist amp I had lying around and unused prior to this.

Try without the distro amp- just one line from the antenna to one TV. Amazing you are getting 51.

My setup:

Antennas Direct DB8 antenna about 35' above ground pointed at about 130 degrees
Antra AT-PAU18 pre-amp
RG6 cable run of ~70 feet
Media Center PC with
Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-2250
AverMedia AVerTVHD Duet

I just recently added the pre-amp - I'm not sure to what degree my improved reception is due to that or to the better weather which I've been reading about on these forums, but as of now I am getting:

2.1, 2.2, 2.3
4.1
5.1
7.1
9.1
11.1
17.1, 17.2, 17.3
23.1
25.1
26.1, 26.2, 26.3
29.1, 29.2
36.1
41.1
44.1
49.1, 49.2
51.1, 51.2, 51.3
57.1
64.1
66.1

Before adding in the pre-amp, I got 51 and 26 only sporadically (9.1 was also sometimes flaky). WGRZ was very solid though.

So the only thing that, according to my TVFool (http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d8d17b5b716431f) that I "should" be able to get which I don't (and that isn't redundant to the stations I already get) is WNGS, which I understand is operating at reduced power until after the transition. However, given they are in VHF on 7, I am wondering if I would need a VHF antenna to pull that in even then. Not sure if it is worth it for the content.

I suppose I might start to have trouble with some of the above channels that will be moving into VHF on August 31 - anyone have a crystal ball as to whether on that score I should add a VHF antenna and a combiner?

patrickjamesrei does your preamp support VHF-HI? There are several owners of that preamp in the following thread who could let you know if you don't have the documentation: Signal Amplifiers (Amps, Preamps, Distro Amps) - See Chart in Post #1 (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=42426)

You can electrically join the reflectors on the back of your DB-8 for better VHF-HI reception: Antennas Direct DB8 Hardware Hacks (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=124306), but you should read about the special challenges of WNGS in the following thread: WNGS 7 Buffalo - Reception in Canada? (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=139201)

Brampton (Hwy 410 / Bovaird)

Put my DB8 and ch7777 in the attic last night, had the cable ran down to the
basement to replace where Rogers used to come in and is now distributed to all
outlets in the house. No more stupid terminal box for each tv.

i'm very pleased with the results, being an attic install:

2.1, 2.2, 2.3
4.1
5.1
7.1
9.1
11.1
17.1, 17.2, 17.3
23.1
25.1
29.1, 29.2
36.1
41.1
44.1
49.1, 49.2
51.1, 51.2, 51.3 (pixelates - oh well, can't complain)
57.1
64.1
66.1

Thanks to the wealth of knowledge i was able to pickup from these forums and Grace from SaveAndReplay :)

Don't get too excited yet. Considering you have an attic install, you may lose a few of those channels when winter rolls around (signals are much stronger during warm weather). Of course, the other side is you can easily climb into the attic to re-aim the antenna. I learned this back in 2005 when as soon as the cold weather came, my antenna aim was off by 20 degrees (I initially tried to get the best CITY/NBC reception).

Mounted my DB8 on a 3' Tripod and 6' Fence Post mast with a clear view South. I currently have:

2.1, 2.2, 2.3
3 - analog with snowy. Great sound
4.1
5.1
7.1
9 - analog with minor ghosting. Great sound
11.1
13 - analog with snow. Great sound
17.1, 17.2, 17.3
19 - analog
23.1
25.1
26.1, 26.2, 26.3
29.1, 29.2
36.1
41 - analog with minor ghosting. Great sound.
47 - analog with minor ghosting. Sound ok
48 - black and white no sound
51.1, 51.2, 51.3
57 - black and white. Great sound
69 - analog with minor ghosting. Great sound


I omitted the analog channel for CHCH, CBC and CTS. Funny thing is that my magnavox tuner detects different channels than my Sony Bravia built in TV.

Curious as to how the antenna will react with rain and clouds this week.

Very happy so far

jfmcaninch, you don't mention 9.1, 41.1, 57.1 you should be
getting these. Unless you really want the 26 relgion channel, i would
sacrifice that channel and point the antenna a bit more east if you can
without blockage. Also i found the CH7777 preamp makes a big difference

Thanks arrow201,

I was toying with the idea of using a CM4221HD for Toronto, but I haven't played with minor direction tweaking yet which make sense to try first. I was thinking a preamp may help, but again I will try to adjust the DB8 positioning first.

With a lot of rain in the forecast, not sure when I will get on the roof again.

Thanks for your advice!

Stampeder, you are right - the pre-amp is only good above channel 14. I guess I'll need to get one that does VHF before some of those canadian channels go to transmission frequencies down there. I'm a bit leery of hacking my antenna, though - afraid I'll lose what I have. Thanks.

Understandable that you'd not want to mess with your good channels. :) If you ever want to test an easily reversible hack you could simply connect both reflector panels with several straight pieces of solid copper wire wrapped tightly around the metal of the grids to bridge the gap into a continuous reflector. If your good channels stay good and you now get the VHF-HI channels better you can then do a more permanent hack that uses the same metal as the reflectors.

DB8 Reflectors Before (split):

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

After (electrically joined):

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

Brampton (Hwy 410 / Bovaird)

Well i can see how this can turn into a hobby looking for the optimum
configuration to pull in stations at max strength :) A few posts back
shows my config with a DB 8 and CM7777 preamp in the attic, pulling
in quite a few stations. This weekend with the rain and fog still had
good results, though i lost the Buffalo VHF stations (2, 4, 7, and 29 pixelated) Saturday afternoon.

My question is the pros / cons in stacking another DB 8. Since my DB 8
is at the highest point in the attic, stacking would be below the existing one.
Using the digital strength from my Aquos. I get roughly 60% strength for the Toronto
stations and about 75 - 80 % for most of the Buffalo ones. Could anyone give
a rough estimate of how much of a % increase i might get with stacked DB 8s?

Thanks

Just to clarify: the Buffalo stations aren't VHF per se. They all transmit on UHF frequencies. They just keep the same (virtual) channel numbering as before.

arrow201 see the section of Post #17 in the OTA FAQ (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showpost.php?p=399617&postcount=17) about ATSC signal meters found in TVs. They are really only useful on your own system since they are not industy-standardized.

As for stacking DB-8's, see Post #16 in the OTA FAQ (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showpost.php?p=675713&postcount=16) for what to expect in open, free air. Stacking in an attic is very problematic and is like asking a world class swimmer to go out and set a new world record but with one arm tied behind his back. ;)

Just to clarify: the Buffalo stations aren't VHF per se. They all transmit on UHF frequencies. They just keep the same (virtual) channel numbering as before.
oh man, thanks mr weather and stampeder, i'm from the old analogue days and still catching up :P
You're correct, i shouldn't have said "VHF" for stations which are really in the UHF band

Well I tweaked my direction yesterday. I now receive 9.1 and all Buffalo channels that I should except 7.1, and ION.

I had a struggle to get all 29.1 WUTV, 41.1 Global and 57.1 CityTv.

If I rotated my DB8 to get a 19% signal (no pixelation) for Global and City Tv, I would lose 2.1,2.2,2.3, 29.1. The difference in rotation difference is only 3-5 degrees leeway.

I left the antenna so that I could get 29.1 and 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3. and pixelation for 41.1 and 57.1.

Last night I checked and due to the fog, I wasn't getting 41.1, 57.1 and 2.1,.2,.3 at all, but was good for 29.1 and all other Buffalo channels.

Would a preamp help boost the signal for those channels where signals are at minimum levels for a lock? Or should get a CM4221 just for Toronto? I am leaning towards a preamp. I really do not want to get a rotor unless I must.

jfmcaninch, i would go with a CM7777 preamp, really helped to pull in /
increase signal level for me (Bovaird / Hwy 410 area). Without the preamp,
2, 4, 7, 29, 41 and 57 we're pixelating, i now receive these stations solid.
Received some stations i never had before like 51 (though it's still flaky
for me). Now, can you get the preamp from a store with a return policy
incase it doesn't work for you ? :P

I stopped at Save and Replay and explained what was happening. She explained that CITY and Global are broadcasting with very low signal compared to our US counterparts and they would have to increase the power before September of this year. She asked me about the splitter I was using (just a Canadian Tire special non powered splitter. She recommended I try a CM3414 Distribution Amp as I would gain 8 db's. Figured would try this first and if not enough would go with the preamp. Hooked it up and Global is now at 32 and CITY is at 28 as well. I think I am ok for now. Will wait for next storm to see if I am good until September.

I will now try to turn the antenna closer to Buffalo to see if I can bump up WGRZ enough to lock.