imclumzy:

Have a look at this thread:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=46264

WKBW was ordered to take WNGS (7.2) off the air. Apparently this is the purpose for the sub-channel.

Picked up a Channel Master 4221 from Yaamon last week. I installed it in my attic (connected to a Samsung 46" LCD LNS4696D)

DTV:
2.1 - WGRZ-HD - NBC - 1 bar - pixelated
2.2 - WGRZ-SD - NBC Weather - 1 bar - pixelated
4.1 - WIVB-HD - CBS - 0 bars
5.1 - CBLT-DT - CBC - 7 bars
7.1 - WKBW-HD - ABC - 2 bars - pixelated
7.2 - WNGS-HD - ABC - 2 bars - No picture
9.1 - CFTO-HD - CTV - 6 bars
23.1 - WNLO-HD - CW - 5 bars
25.1 - CBLFT - CBC French - 6 bars
29.1 - WUTV-HD - FOX - 1 bar - pixelated
29.2 - WUTV-SD - FOX - 1 bar
43.1 - WNED-HD - 5 bars
43.2 - WNED-SD - 5 bars
43.3 - WNED-Th - Thinkbright - 5 bars
49.1 - WNYO-HD - MyTV - 0 bars
49.2 - WNYO-SD - MyTV - 0 bars
57.1 - CITYHD - CityTV - 6 bars
66.1 - CKXT-DT - SunTV - 6 bars

Is there a way I can boost the signal strength? Would a preamp help in this situation? What can I do to pickup CBS? That's the one channel I want the most (for the Superbowl)...

Hi dfex, sure you dont want to put the antenna outside.

Iam not sure but the ice and snow on the roof might be affecting your signal.

I forgot what area are you in and what is the cable length that you are using.

imclumzy, WNGS on 7.2 is gone -- forced off by the FCC. They have to go on their own channel.

My readings are like yours -- quite good right now, but I'm afraid that when the leaves come out, they'll drop.

Yaamon - I'm at Woodbine & Major Mackenzie. I am using a 35ft cable run down to the basement, from there I have a 10db RCA amp that I bought at Home Depot for $20. Then I have another 40ft + 20ft (connected two cables together cause the 40ft cable I bought was too short) to my TV in the living room.

I prefer not to mount it outside but if I have no other choice I guess it is an option. Any idea if a preamp will help? I put the antenna in the attic BEFORE the snow/ice and the signal was the same so I don't think it's the snow.

dfex if your cable length is the 35' from antenna to the basement connected to the 10db booster then a preamp will not help.

Your cable run from antenna is short so no real signal loss there.

A preamp wont create a stronger signal than what the antenna receives. Just used to boost and compensate for signal loss through the cable and through splits.

I forgot the new Samsung tv's has a built in amp for the antenna signals. Try this go into the Samsung tv menu and see if the LNA amp is on. Using the two together might be creating a overload.

Turn if off and see if your signal strength increases ? If it does not then leave it on and then remove the indoor amp at the basement and test again.

As Yaamon suggests, get rid of the Home Depot amp.

Mounting an antenna indoors in the attic gives you about half of the possible signal available.

Yaamon, the LNA is turned on. I will disable it and see if it makes a difference. I will also try removing the indoor amp. If both of these fail then I will have to consider mounting it outside once the weather is better.

I'll update you guys tonight...

Dfex try putting the dist amp in the attic and make the lead from the antenna very short cable or use a male to male coupling for max signal as the attic really can cut your signal strength.Did you move around the antenna while you have someone measure the signal strength for the station you want.Moving the antenna 6 feet in an attic to find the strongest spot.

rob50312 good point about trying different spots in the attic.

dfex maybe you can set up the signal strength meter for Nbc and move around while pointing it in the 160-170' direction and see where will get you the strongest signal for those weak stations.

imclumzy, wow - those are great results all the way from Markham! I wouldn't have thought a 4221 would get that kind of range? Markham is well over the 45mile advertised limitation of the antenna. Almost makes me want to try my 4-bay in place of the 4228 I just installed.

Yup, the 4221 works well in Markham. That is what I'm using as well. Able to pick up Toronto stations on the side lobes and Rochester during DX from a fixed postion quite nicely.

Yaamon hits 1000 posts today!!! Congrats and thanks for all the help you've dished out.

cheers,
99gecko

I spent about 2 hours in the attic trying a bunch of different locations while my wife watched the signal strength change. I had a limited amount of cable length so I couldn't check every inch of the attic. I'll try extending the cable this weekend with a male/male end and see if I can get to some other points in the attic that I wasn't able to test the other day.

I disabled the LNA and it did not appear to make a difference. I also noticed that I have lost 29-1 and 29-2 (FOX HD & FOX SD). I can also test putting the amp in the attic but I won't be able to leave it there as I have no permanent power source up in the attic.

dfex:
I am in Richmond Hill Bayview/Maj. Mackenzie and using CM 4221 in attic and with 75 feet long cable. I am able to get almost all channels (49-1 exception) and just 4-1 sometimes pixelates. So I would guess your problem is either cable or your antenna is not high enough.

Vim: thanks for sharing your results. I could not reach the highest point in my attic because the cable I have is too short (35ft). Once I extend it with a male/male connector I'll be able to test the rest of the attic. I hope to do it this weekend. I'll post the results here.

dfex: I am not sure if it is an option, but I would suggest to take your TV to basement so you can test signal before extending your cable. I hope you are using good RG-6 (not RG-59) cable with good connectors.

Vim his two cable run should be good I made the cables with the connectors myself. I made sure none of the braided wire was touching the center.

Just if his other length of his 3rd cable where ever he got that from that he has to worry about.

I don't thinking bringing the TV down to the basement is an option. The cables Yaamon made appear to be very good. I'll ensure the additional cables I use for the next round of tests are RG-6 as well.

If I cannot get CBS (4-1) after these tests then I might have to go with a roof mount. Too bad the weather is so crappy now.

Around Christmas time, I get perfectly beautiful signal for FOX. PBS is usually good but on a cloud free day, it will be weakr. Strange. I am at the north end of Markham.