Can these channels from Rochester be picked up from Brampton?
13/59
31/28
10/58
21/16
8/45

What set-up is required?

Out here in Alax I can get Rochester. But I much prefer Buffalo.
Rochester news feeds are pretty weak.
It should be a lot easier to get Buffalo from Brampton.

If you do want to really, really, really get Rochester, you'd have to have lots of height, stack 2 4228's with a tilt. Thats called extreme deepest fringe.

I do not think anyone from Brampton can get reliable reception of Rochester digitals.You would need have your antenna 200 feet above the ground.Rochester towers are only 500 feet.All the Buffalo towers are atleast double the height.

Tom.F.1, anything good from Rochester? Meaning station shows.

rob50312, thanks for that. I don't think I'll try that then.

Network feeds from rochester are exactly the same as from buffalo.
Quality of local commercials is bad.
Local news from rochester is a joke, unless of course, you're local.
PBS has an extra subchannel. there used to be a music subchannel, but can't remember which one. don't usually watch subchannels.

Sounds to me then that Rochester stations from Brampton are "nice to get during tropo for the DXing thrills" and not really worth the effort to get them on a regular basis.

Ok - I've realized that I need help beyond what I can read or able to find on my own on this forum. I've just purchased a Samsung SIR-TS360 ATSC tuner and am looking to get a Channel Master 4228 antenna to mount on my roof.

I'm in the northwest end of Mississauga (401 & Winston Churchill).

A couple of questions:
1. Is the CM4228 my best bet for HD reception?
2. What other pieces of equipment do I need?
3. My wife will kill me if this thing looks ugly or if she has to work to hard to watch TV (i.e. rotator motor and separate remote) - how can I make this simple without sacrificing signal quality?
4. Confirmation that this will allow me to cancel cable - I hate paying Rogers for something I can get for free!

Thanks to anyone who can help!

Hello jraheb and WELCOME to the DHC Forums!

May I suggest that you read the following first (if you haven't already done so) as they may answer a few of your questions already:

+++>>> READ THIS BEFORE Posting In The OTA Forum !!! <<<+++ (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/anno....php?f=81&a=42)


And contained in that post, the link to the OTA Knowledge Base and FAQ:

OTA Forum Knowledge Base & FAQ (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=41102)


And, Downloadable PDF Decision Chart for OTA Antennas (Ver. 3.2) (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=37629)

Thanks,

I will have a look later in the week as I am swamped with work and night school until Thursday, thanks again and will post results later in the week.

TNT

That's quite a schedule... don't forget to get some rest and sleep too! :)

1. Is the CM4228 my best bet for HD reception?
2. What other pieces of equipment do I need?
3. My wife will kill me if this thing looks ugly or if she has to work to hard to watch TV (i.e. rotator motor and separate remote) - how can I make this simple without sacrificing signal quality?
4. Confirmation that this will allow me to cancel cable - I hate paying Rogers for something I can get for free!1. Yes. the 4228 is the best bet for a single antenna setup.
2. Mount for the antenna, RG6 cable, ground rod and ground wire, hardware.
3. Antennas are a thing of beauty. You might not need a rotor, depends on your exact location, but the north of missisauga is pretty good. Height is the key. Higher is better. Did i mention you need to get the antenna as high as possible?
4. If you watch only mainstrean network TV, and at the times they want you to watch, then you won't need cable. I can't live without speed channel, news, wife likes HGTV, Kids like cartoons, so I pay Bev 65 a month. I use OTA to get around the stupid bad simsubs. Oh ya, I also need the channle guide.

Good Luck.

I built a helical antenna (see Build It Yourself thread) that gave excellent reception, picking up CBC, CTV, 25.1, and Buffalos CW (23.1). Analog reception was perfect on all channels.

2. I then used a store bought el-cheapo chinese antenna from the satellite store on Matheson/Dixie in Mississauga. It was a loop yagi with preamplifier and rotator, for 29.99. This little thing picked up all the Buffalo channels (except NBC) even from the corner of my living room, on the ground floor.

Putting it in the attic gave me all the Buffalo channels, plus channel 69 (Sun TV from hamilton.)

So I didn't have to pay much, and got excellent results. It may be because I have a clear line of sight down to Buffalo, in a corridor between the houses (above their backyards), and my neighbourhood has a favourable slope in the same direction.

Ok Guys,

Had a look at the setup menu for audio but no fix for NBC 2-1 any suggestions would be appreciated.

TNTXTC

NBC 2.1 has a reputation for anomolous signal reception.
They broadcast at 480kw, which is OK-ish, but only from a tower height of 968'.

I'm thinking you will find audio appearing intermittantly. (what time of day do you watch, usually?) When you get that antenna up higher this spring, the reception should improve. However, 2.1 can be flaky, so don't expect it to be perfect, even with the increased antenna height.

Ok thx for the insight will be patient until spring but still open to other input from other members.

TNT

Hey TNTXTC, see the recent post in Burlington about the audio missing: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?p=513260, post # 248.

Some questions....(some where already answered by stampeder and peano when I first signed up ealier today, but some where not). I did read the FAQ, but didn't find some of the things I wanted answers for. So here I go...

Just wondering... how is the 4228 affected by the weather we've had lately up here in Brampton? Wouldn't the snow/slush/ice build up on the mesh screen effect the reception? If it does effect the reception alot, I might have to look into mounting the ant lower than I thought (side/back of the house instead of on the roof, which is fine by me), so I can use my grass clipper/blower to clean it off every now and then lol.... or I might look into using an indoor jobbie like the one from Radio Shack (if it works ok that is). I have a pretty clear view even on the side/back.

How's the CM4221 compared to the CM4228 in my particular area? The reason I ask is, it's a bit of $'s to get an ATSC STB, the ant, and the mounting harware needed. Add in the time I will need to hook everything up (which probbaly won't be until the spring due to all the snow in the backyard), and you can see why I'm a bit hessitant.

As for location... I have a pretty clear/good view towards the E and SE (but south is kinda obstucted, even from the roof). There are no building that I can see from my location, which should be a good thing right? I will probably want to go with just one ant without a rotator, and I would prefer (or I should say the wife would prefer) an ant that is small in size. From my understanding the CM's are not that small. I have read good reviews about both ant's, but I want to have the best reception without the need to get outside to move the thing. The last thing I really want to do is have to go outside to move it when there's a blizzard and the temp is -20 lol. As long as I get the basic HD channels from Toronto and Buffalo (and it's a small ant overall in size), I'll/we'll probably be happy with what we can get. (We mostly watched CSI, Prison Break, Star Trek, Heroes, and shows/channels like that before we moved from our old place). I don't have cable at the new house yet, so I was was seriously thinking of just going OTA since I don't watch much TV nowadays, but the TV I do watch (with rabbit ears... feel sorry for me yet? lol), I would love to see in HD.

Btw, would I still get the basic SD channels with these ant's? The reception of those channels? Peano is about 1->2 km's (if that) away from my location, but he didn't really give me too much info, other than the ant he would suggest using (the 4228), and to find an older DirecTV HD Receiver like the Hughes E86. (any other suggestions out there? I would like something more affordable). Just so you know, my HDTV didn't come with a built in ATSC tuner. : (

As for price, I noticed some places in Ontario selling the 4221 for $40 Can, and the 4228 for $108. Big difference in $'s if there isn't that much of an improvement. :( I want to keep everything a simple as possible (ie K.I.S.S.). And if I can spend under $200 for the tuner/ant/mounting (if that's possible... and I would do the mounting myself), I would be happy camper. ; )

Btw, I haven't bought anything yet, and I'm trying to read up an as many posts/threads as possible, it's kinda overwhelming. It's also kinda hard to find out about good reception results, especially when people in this section of the forum don't have their location filled in (in more detail that is). Example... Markham, Brampton, Oakville are all big coverage area's. Giving an intersection that's close by to you would give us "newbies" a better idea of what me might get when using the right combo of ant and tuner. (just a suggestion) ;)

Thanks in advance everyone,
John.

.. how is the 4228 affected by the weather we've had lately up here in Brampton? Wouldn't the snow/slush/ice build up on the mesh screen effect the reception?

I have had zero problems with snow and ice - no build-up.

I have a 4228 and it is also good in high winds - seems to let the wind pass.

You are in Brampton, I am located in St Catharines - I suggest the 4228 at your distance.

FYI

I have had zero problems with snow and ice - no build-up..... I am located in St Catharines

I know you guys got hit alot harder then us down here this week and a couple of weeks back, but I have seen some pretty covered up ant in my area over the past few days, and some of them looked like the 4228. That's why I asked. But if it did build up, how bad would the reception be? I can't help but wonder/think about this ahead of time, because if I placed it on the roof like I wanted to do, I won't be able to get up there to clean it if it does start to give me problems. The only other alternative I see would be to place it in the attic, which I would rather not do, but if i have to...

it is also good in high winds

That's good to know. I have seen what strong winds can to a big ant array, and it ain't pretty. :eek:

I would still like to go smaller if possible though. :(

Btw, does anyone out there in my area (or in the GTA, ok, anywhere lol) have a "cheap" HD STB lying around that they are not using? I wouldn't need all the bells and whistles of an expesive model... the basics would do me fine. (hey, doesn't hurt to ask does it?) ;)

Thanks. : )