CM4228 attic install (hanging on a nail, pointed to 170 deg using scotch tape), now with CM7778 Pre-amp. Split at "smart box" in basement and distributed to Vista HTPC in family room and LCD TV in bedroom.

I'm getting the following DTV channels:

WGRZ 2-1
WGRZ 2-1
WIVB 4-1
CBLT 5-1
WKBW 7-1
WNGS 7-2
WCSN 7-3
CFTO 9-1
WNLO 23-1
CBLF 25-1
WUTV 29-1
WUTV 29-2
WNED 43-1
WNED 43-2
WNED 43-3
WNYO 49-1 (although this one is pixelated fairly often)
WNYO 49-2
CITY 57-1 (seems to be a bit temperamental but generally good)

Thanks again to Yaamon for the antenna and pre-amp.

well i know i said i would change the position of my antenna and see the results but....so far nothing new!

in analog i got a new set of channels at decent reception such as MyTV 49 and CBS 4 is so-so (but not really the greatest)....

In digital, i got a h260f reciever and the main advantage i found was that it can remain stable even with very low signals....

I think its either the snowstorm over the weekend or my new wiring setup but my strength for everything went down a notch....

I put new 100 feet philips cable from antenna straight to my basement. In the basement i plugged it into a philips 12dB amp then that goes into a splitter which goes to a basement analog tv and upstairs 32 inch tv w/atsc tuner.

Analog looks amazing so the amp definately does some improvement but the reciever gets nothing new and sometimes loses channels like WNED.

I'm just hoping that the number one cause of all this is my antenna on a pole instead of on the roof OR i need to replace my cheap knock-off (DIGIWAVE HDTV 'Antenna' BLUE BOX, sold in alot of stores in the GTA) and get a proper CM 4228.

One thing i did for sure is make sure every wiring is RG6 now. Only 1 wire remains RG-59, which is the small adapter that came with the philips amp that i use from the amp -> the splitter. Could that be the reason?

Btw, my splitter is an old Canadian Tire brand which supports upto 900 MHZ yet it somehow performed better then the new PHILIPS 4-way that i bought which is upto 2400 MHZ....why?

Enough questions for now, i need some answers :D

With such a long length of coax from your antenna to your basement you need to put in a preamp up near the antenna rather than an amp down at the bottom. Even though the analogue signals appear to be better with the amp you have, the absence of the digitals shows that the long coax run is killing your signal strenght.

but when i read the other threads, i saw that putting a preamp would overload certain stations that are close to where i live. I'm sure that would be stations like CBC, CTV, etc although the US channels would improve....

When i put it on the roof, i might be able to use 50 feet but currently the "pole" setup needs 100 in order to make it 1 long wire....

I guess i could TRY a preamp and see the difference....anybody here sells preamps AND allows a return policy??

So far i got 9 Channels Digital! with my current setup (antenna on 10 foot pole)...lol

You're getting your information mixed up. Here's what you need to know: a length of coax that is 100 feet or so is a huge gobbler of signal strength. If your coax run was very short then yes you would most likely not need a preamp. With 100 feet of coax you definitely need one. Ok? :)

Alright but how about with 50 feet? Still yes?? You see i originally bought 50 so that eventually it will be fine when i put it on my roof. Then i saw 100 feet for sale at techdirect for 6.99 (including grounding!) so i got that for my temporary setup on my pole outside.

With 50, do you think i need a preamp??

Also, who here can supply a reasonably affordable and reasonably good quality preamp? i heard the wineguard one is alright but the channel master 7777 is too expensive!

So this is all about 100 feet wire? Interesting....

There are actually no stations "close" to where you live. I could see if you lived at Yonge and Eglinton (or south of there) that overloading may be an issue but I just can't see it happening given your cable runs down and back up. Plus you are up in Vaughn.

I buy from Yaamon - don't know if he has a return policy but you can always ask. I bought a CM7778 from him. Being on a budget is fine but you can't expect to get what others are receiving if you don't want to pay for it.

TurboTropic, how did you manage to get a 4228 into your attic.

Was it alot of work to fit it through a standard trap door? :rolleyes:

Very good results for a attic install. :D

I'm still thinking about what to do really....

I have a 32 Inch CRT so having the best resolution doesn't really make a difference right now....

Analog is looking great i must say though. MY-TV is totally watchable (meaning it has some snow but the sound is clear and color is there)
Now i get CBS also...and i'm getting hints of FOX 29

So with all that, i feel that my antenna could have more potential if i put it on my roof.

The Philips 12dB amp seems to give improved results for analog so like its all up in the air really....but i have a few key decisions to make before i go any further....

a) wait till spring or atleast some kind of non-snowstorm-weather and get the antenna on the roof. check the results.
b) buy a CM 7778 and try that with my current 'Digiwave' 4-Bay Antenna
c) try a CM 4228 on the roof.
d) try a CM 7778 with a CM 4228 (would yield best results) and compare how much more i'm getting with both.

then decide which is the best answer out of the 4 possibilities....

So for now, i'm enjoying the 15 analog and 9 digital but i guess i can't decide anything until the antenna gets on the roof.

I'll keep you guys posted, and thanks for the multitude of help!

Today, without doing anything at all.....i now get NBC 2.1, 2.2

Why? No idea....did they increase their station power?
did the weather just get better or something??

Definately gives hope of what kind of results to expect when i place it on the roof :)

It is only 2 bars (with occasional dropping to 1 bar) but the H260f seems to be sensitive enough to use such a weak signal and not drop often....

TurboTropic, how did you manage to get a 4228 into your attic.Oops, my bad...it's a 4221...the one you sold me!

Hi,

Am I correct in the assumption that if I have a southfacing apartment in a building (north end of Toronto), with clear line-of-sight south to CN Tower etc., I SHOULD be able to pick up some OTA HD channels with a good indoor antenna? (I know, the higher the better...)

Can anyone confirm this?

Thanks!

It depends if your indoor antenna can receive UHF channels. If so, then yes. Get a ZSS Clone and you'll be fine for CN Tower stations.

Quick question, it seems that most of the channels people are getting in the Vaughan area do not include the important ones?!
I mean, are you guys not getting any ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX (all in HD)? These are really the channels I am interested in getting OTA. If this is not possible from my location (Major Mackenzie & Islington), please let me know now so I can save myself the setup/installation time.

I Plan to use a Terk (indoor), 60 ft run of RG6 to the back of Pioneer Kuro (Kuro has a TV guide menu, built in SD/HD tuners etc.)

Thanks


Paul

well i can say that.....i live near Langstaff and Pine valley (or weston & highway 7....i'm in between)....

With an indoor antenna, the best you can get is probably The Canadian channels (maybe not suntv) and WNLO 23.1 and WNED 17.1, 17.2, 17.3

The chance of you getting any of the other big networks with an indoor is probably unlikely.

I currently have an outdoor antenna on a 10 foot pole and i currently get

*If i have not put anything in brackets, that means its always clear w/ 70%+

NBC - 2.1 2.2 (Whenever the weather is good)
CBS - 4.1 (Only got it once on a REALLY REALLY nice day)
CBC - 5.1
ABC - 7.1 7.2 7.3 (When weather is good & i get it more often then NBC)
CTV - 9.1
PBS - 17.1 17.2 17.3
TheCW - 23.1
RDI - 25.1
Global - 41.1 *currently in testing
CITY - 53.1
SUNTV - 66.1

In Total: 10 CLEAR Channels and 6 Occasional Channels.

When i put the antenna on the roof, i am sure it will make a HUGE difference however!

Paulo, I get all the US networks and all the Toronto area channels from Maple (Jane/Rutherford). I'm using an outdoor CM4228 on a 10ft pole.

He was referring to using a simple indoor Terk antenna....to which i cannot exactly say yes or no about if you will get the signals....

outdoor you'll get whatever you need without any problem...no worries.

Actually, now that I think about it, I have a friend in Aurora with an indoor antenna pointing to his Window and I remember him picking up PBSHD. Not sure about the other US networks. In any case, Aurora is much more to the north than we are so I'm sure Paulo would be able to pick up some stations from where he is with an indoor version. He just needs to make sure he is pointed in the right direction with a good unidirectional antenna.

Thanks guys for the responses, I don't really want to put up an outdoor antenna (not at this time anyway). I guess I'll just have to try the Terk in the attic and see what I can or cannot pick up.
PS. Is than cable run too long, ie do I need a booster of some sort or will I be OK.

Paul

Hello Conix,
I have not done my installation. Had to put the plans on hold after my wife had the baby.
However, I did call my builder about finding my conduit. They got the contractor to call me and talk me thru how to find it. It was against the wall, about 1m from the fuse box. It was a white PVC which stuck out of the basement ceiling by about 20cm. Now that I know where it is, I don't know how I missed it when I was looking by myself.
I'll probably run the wires (coax and Cat5e) in June, but won't put the antenna in until next spring. I'm on Couture Gardens so Leameadow is just down road!