I too have problem with CityTV for the past months.
I am using CM4221, used to get CityTV no problem. Now it is almost unwatchable. I checked the signal strength it appears to be same as before, just the picture is no longer solid.

After few attempts to get the best signal on all channels, this is what I am getting: 12 US channels and 5 Canadian.
2-1 NBC 6-7 bars (out of 10)
2-2 NBC Plus
4-1 CBS 3-4 bars
5-1 CBC 9 bars
7-1 ABC 5-6 bars
7-2
9-1 CTV 8 bars
17-1 PBS 6-7 bars
17-2
17-3
23-1 The CW 9 bars
29-1 Fox29 4-5 bars
29-2
44-1 OMNI2 9 bars
57-1 Citytv 8 bars
64-1 OMNI1 9 bars

Missing 65-1 (Global) and 66-1 (Sun TV) described as having Low Power.

Near Hwy 7 and 9th Line

Attic mount CM 4221 with CM 7777 pre-amp.

50m of RG6 (total of longest run)

Signal runs 30m to a 1->2 splitter with output to my MythTv PVR in the furnace room (4m RG6), and second output to another splitter to theatre room Olevia HDTV and second output (20m RG6 with some RG59) to upstairs Olevia HDTV.


Here is my digital OTA reception at present for both TV's and Myth PVR:

2-1 NBC WGRZ-HD
2-2 WEATHER WGRX-SD
4-1 CBS WIVB-HD
5-1 CBC CBLT-HD
7-1 ABC WKBW-HD
7-2 WNGS WNGS-SD
9-1 CTV CFTO-HD
17-1 PBS WNED-HD
17-2 PBS WNED-SD
17-3 THINK KIDS SD
23-1 CW WNLO-HD
25-1 CBC FR CBLFT-HD
29-1 FOX WUTV-HD
44-1 OMNI2 CJMT
49-1 MYTV WNYO-HD
57-1 CITY CHUM-HD
64-1 OMNI1 CFMT
65-2 GLOBAL CIII-HD
66-3 SUNTV CKXT-HD

Addtionally, the TV's can tune the following analog:

5 CBC CBLT-ANALOG
9 CTV CFTO-ANALOG
17 PBS WNED-ANALOG
19 TVO TVO-ANALOG
23 CW WNLO-ANALOG
25 CBC FR CBLFT-ANALOG
29 FOX WUTV-ANALOG
36 CITS ANALOG
41 GLOBAL CIII-ANALOG
47 OMNI1 CFMT-ANALOG
49 MYTV WNYO-ANALOG
51 ION WPXJ-ANALOG
52 SUNTV CKXT-ANALOG
57 CITY CHUM-ANALOG
69 OMNI2 CJMT-ANALOG


I have rarely seen Hamilton stations below, either analog or digital, mostly due to the fact that the 4221 is pointing to favor buffalo channels.

11 E! CHCH-ANALOG
15 SUNTV CKXT-ANALOG
18-1 E! CHCH-HD

The following buffalo stations very rarely come in:

26 TBN WNYB-ANALOG (RELIGION)
26-1 TBN WNYB (RELIGION)
36-1 CITS


The CM 4221 was first put next to my upstairs HDTV to confirm how many channels I could get before spending the effort on attic mount. Using a 2m cable run to the TV from the antenna, I received substantially the same as I do now with the attic mount and pre-amp. The only difference was that I could move the antenna to pick up 18-1 digital in Hamilton whereas the attic mount is fixed and aimed to buffalo, precluding this option.

When CKVR goes digital, I plan on reviewing my setup to see if I can pick it up using another antenna and combiner, as the movies and shows are significant addition to the existing channels I get.

Left Rogers cable, saving 100$ a month, 70 from canceling digital cable + rogers PVR and another 30$ by Rogers discounts to keep my internet and phone business (made it clear I was serious about leaving them altogether).

I will post on Linux HTPC thread on my PVR setup using MythTv. It is a truly amazing piece of software, and it has changed my viewing habits so I never watch live TV now as the commercial skip and other great time saving features mean no channel surfing.

Samsung LN-T3242H

Just off of New Westminster between Promenade Mall and Steeles, I just had Yaamon setup a pre-amp today on my CM 4228 and splitting the signal. The antenna is peaked for WIVB (2.1) which is mostly due to the Superbowl being on NBC this year (American commericals for my party). I will give a report on my DTB-H260F external reciever in a different post.

Digital
2.1, 2.2 - WGRZ - 10 bars
4.1 - WIVB - 0 Bars (was getting 5/6 earlier, but it has since dropped out... getting 5 now before I hit submit)
5.1 - CBLT - 12 Bars
7.1, 7.2 - WKBW - 0 Bars (was getting 6/7 earlier, it has dropped in and out 3 times in the last 30 minutes and as I type this it just came in with 3 bars and some skipping... getting 11 bars right before I hit submit)
9.1 - CFTO - 7 Bars
17.1, 17.2, 17.3 - WNED - 7 Bars
18.1 - CHCH - 2 Bars (had a dropout earlier in the day)
23.1 - WNLO - 10 Bars
25.1 - CBLFT - 9 Bars
26.1 - WNYB - 0 Bars (was getting 5 bars earlier)
29.1, 29.2 - WUTV - 7 Bars (have had a drop out while watching football :( )
36.1 - CTS - 5 Bars (just saw some pixlization)
44.1 - CJMT - 8 Bars
57.1 - CITY - 7 Bars
64.1 - CFMT - 10/11 Bars
65.2 - CICA - 7 Bars
66.1 - CKXT - 6 Bars


Analog
15.0 - WBNF-CA - some snow but watchable
16.0 - ???? - all snow
17.0 - WNED - A little bit of a shadow but watchable
19.0 - CICA - A bit of a shadow but watchable for sure
23.0 - WNLO - Some shadow but watchable
25.0 - CBLFT - Little shadows, watchable
26.0 - WNYB - Interference but no snow, watchable
28.0 - ???? - Sound for a quick second but all snow so far
29.0 - WUTV - Lots of colour all over the screen, not overly watchable
41.0 - CICA - Shadows, but watchable
47.0 - CFMT - A little shadow, but watchable
49.0 - WNYO - Some snow and shadows but still watchable if need be
51.0 - WPXJ - Rather strong signal, a little shadowing but watchable
52.0 - CKXT - A bit more shadowing on this channel
57.0 - CITY - Screen is not in sync and has shadows, but if had to be it was watchable
67.0 - ???? - Coming in and out but can't make out what it is right now
69.0 - CJMT - Screen is not in sync

My only question right now is that maybe I am overloading the tuner a bit because of how close the preamp is to this TV (where as the other reciever is a good 50 foot run) so it may be leading to these inconsistant reads and drop outs?

You could drop by The Source and pick up a couple of attenuators and try one and then both inline to see if they change your results. Which preamp did you use?

The pre-amp normally goes closer to the antenna to compensate for signal loss in the cable.

Also, there will be very small amounts of noise picked up the cable that are amplified if the pre-amp is closer to the TV. At or near the antenna, the pre-amp will overcome noise.

You could drop by The Source and pick up a couple of attenuators and try one and then both inline to see if they change your results. Which preamp did you use?
I actually have a bunch from a few years back that I got from Yammon when I thought I was having a similar issue. What we did then was disconnect the preamp and the channels that were dropping out suddenly became stable. It will have to be something I keep my eye on over the next week or so, since he has to come back to do some other cabling work around the house that he didn't have time for today.

alebowgm, last year I left you a few attenuators, try them and see if the signal becomes more stable.

Remember you can add them in series in increase the attenuation if needed. Add it right before the Samsung. Also remember by default the Samsung lcd has the lna amp on turn it off.

You don't need the lna amp on in the tv when you are using a preamp especially and you have a short cable run.

stampeder he has a 7775.

Hey,

Im thinking the storm that is over the lake right now may defenitly be playing a role in all of this, as it is different stations at different times coming in and out. I will keep my eye on it over the next few hours as the Tropo forecast from midnight-6am is nill so it should give me a more accurate reading as long as the storm passes by. Now that I got NBC Weather+ I can look at the rader there :)

Hi,

Newbie here. I'm just north of Bayview and Hwy 7. A few days ago, I started learning about OTA and cobbled together a clone from

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showpost.php?p=502262&postcount=76

completely out of tinfoil, tape and paperclips.

From my southernmost 2nd floor bedroom window, I can get the following:

WGRZ-HD
WGRZ-W+
WIVB-HD
CBLT-DT
WKBW-HD
WNGS
CFTO-HD
CHCH-DT (need to move the antenna a bit towards SW)
WNED-HD
WNED-SD
WNED-Th
WNLO-HD
CBLFT-D
CIII-DT
OMNI-2
City HD
OMNI-1
CKXT-DT
atsc-2
atsc-3
atsc-4

I can get a lock on FOX but the signal quality is at 3 bars on WinTV-HVR950 but the channel is not recognized and neither picture nor sound appear. There are two large maples and one large evergreen in my south neighbours' backyards which face the window I performed the tests from.
Would any/all of the following help with getting FOX?

1) Get a real CM4221 :)
2) Get a CM7777 preamp.

Eventually, I'm thinking of a wall-mounted CM4221 outside with a 60'-70' cablerun to my basement. Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks.

magneto4000, good job building that antenna, and if you are interested in the best DIY antenna you can build, read through the Gray Hoverman threads in the main OTA Forum. As for a CM4221, many people in your area do great with it as you can see in this thread.

For some reason last night was horrible for reception for myself in Markham:
CM4221 + ~ 45' mixed cabling + T451 receiver = CBC + CTV + OMNI 1 & 2 + CITY locked only

Missing: NBC (2.1), CBS (4.1), ABC (7.1), CHCH (18.1),CW (23.1), MYTv (49.1), Global (65.1), and SunTV (66.1)

FOX (29) and PBS (17) were present but would loose lock every few minutes.

Thought maybe it was due to interference due to DX but nothing was picked up on a rescan. Maybe tonight though :).

Didn't have time to post until now, but I had pretty much the EXACT same problem last night. Everything was totally gone out of Buffalo last night. I did get WKBW (7.1) when I checked it, but all of the other Buffalo stations as well as CHCH (18.1) disappeared.

Of course I can never get WNYW (49.1).

what's your set up again ?
edit: never mind - I looked ↑

CM 4228 with 7775 Preamp into (1) Samsung LN-T3242H Television and (2) Samsung DTB-H260F ATSC reciever, peaked for WIVB (NBC, 2.1)

I saw a similar issue in Richmond Hill with my diy cm4221 clone over the past two days as well. NBC and PBS would work really well and then just disappear (no lock or too many bit errors).

Same thing at Hwy 7 & McCowan.
For the last few nights I get just the Canadian channels or I can get the US channels but the signal comes and goes.
I use a CM4221 with >50feet cable. When I initially installed the antenna I was OK, I didn't see the need for a preamp. NBC was 6 bars out of 10 and now it disappears?

When these kinds of things are happening to your reception check the DX thread to see if there are any corresponsing atmospheric events going on - for instance as you guys were seeing strange reception in your area a DHCer in the Kawarthas was DXing stations from Ohio and Michigan!

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=26789

Hi everyone!

Despite all the no-nos that I have read, I have recently installed an RCA CANT117 bar antenna inside my attic with a 100ft run of RG6 to the basement. It is then connected to a 10db power injector which came with the antenna. It then goes to the main fl Sony Bravia TV via approximately 50 more feet of RG6.

BTW, the antenna is facing a cul-de-sac.

I receive the following:
2.1 @ 76%
2.2 @ 76%
4.1 @ 84%
5.1 @ 95%
7.1 @ 70%
7.2 @ 70%
9.1 @ 84%
17.1 @ 62%
17.2 @ 67%
17.3 @ 65%
18.1 @ 56%
23.1 @ 87%
25.1 @ 41%
44.1 @ 78%
57.1 @ 70%
64.1 @ 84%
65.2 @ 81%
66.1 @ 87%

So basically 18.1 and 25.1 were cutting in and out.
Next morning after the install, I lost 2.1 and 2.2
That evening, I lost more channels: 7.1, 7.2 9.1, 17.1, 17.2, 17.3
Next morning I gained back all channels except 2.1, 2.2, 18.1, and 25.1
Tonight I was receiving everything except 18.1 and 25.1

I read a lot of the threads in this forum and think that i should get a preamp. But I am so tempted in getting the 25db booster from Home Depot just to give it a try.
What does everyone else think?
Thanks!

valeoray, welcome here. I think you got eager to try OTA but freelanced a whole bunch of decisions, but now is the ideal time to let us correct some of the assumptions or guesses you've made. We do that in a nice way at this site, so nothing personal. :)
that long trip over coax from your antenna in the attic down to the basement and back up to the main floor is a terrible signal killer! You have got to rethink that asap! You need the coax to go from the attic directly to the TV with little or no extra length - is that possible for you to do?
get or build a real antenna. You said RCA CANT117 but its really a CANT711 that they sell at The Source. If you want to pull a wagon you need a horse, not a chicken. If you want great reception you need a verifiably great antenna, which unfortunately does not include the model you are using. For you I'm thinking CM4221, CM4228, or SBGH and your reception will improve hugely.
there is a thread in the main OTA Forum about all the kinds of signal amplifiers out there. If you can do what I recommended above in points 1 and 2 you probably might not even need any amplification, so don't go buying anything like that at this point. Unless and until you can replace the antenna or at least run the coax direct to the tv you would only be amplifying noise and not much original clean signal anyways.
the thread we're now in has many good success stories all around your location for you to follow. I hate to see anyone waste their time and money on systems that can so easily be made better.
We're here to help you and everyone else who wants the very best OTA reception.