Hi Sundamalum,
Sounds like we have the exact same setup, mine is pointing SSE. I use the 3414 distribution amp as well with the 4228HD. Reception this weekend has been bad for 4.1. You are correct, nights seem to be much better. How long is the cable between your antenna and the distribution amp? Mine is 100' and I believe it is too long.

Cheers,

Jeremy

Hey guys, just an up-date on my reception...... I was mentioning before that my only problem was with 29.1 FOX, well, I went to Save&replay and picked up a channel master 3412 distribution amp splitter. This fixed the problem completely it has been 2 weeks and 29.1 has been solid since. I also found that my Pioneer signal levels are up 15-20% over all on all channels this is the set that is 50-60' away from the antenna.

Hope this helps someone else.

PS. Sundamalum, like Jeremy stated above 4.1 was also problematic for me this weekend.

Paul

Hi Paulo,
Congrats on the reception increase! How long is your cable to you dist amp? Does the 60' you mention include the run to the TV? How long is the run to the TV from the pre-amp?

Cheers,

Jeremy

Hi Jeremy, take a look at post #1279, it tells you about my set -up....but in short here it is.

OK! set up:
- I am @ around the Major Mackenzie/Islington area (Vaughan):
- Antenna placed in the Attic Aprox 35-40 feet from ground level.
- Antenna feeds 2 TVs - TV1 Panasonic in Master bedroom & TV2 KURO in Living Room.
- I ran 16' of RG6 directly from Antenna to TV1 in Master Bedroom (2nd flr) .
- Just before connecting to TV1 cable is split. From splitter, cable runs 1' to (TV1bedrom) & from splitter it runs another 50-60' to (TV2 Living room).
- Pointed south East as best as I could (no compass) 1st try!!

Paul

I keep my antenna aimed Southeast at ION and everything else from Buffalo is 100% except WNYB, even WXXI Rochester is quite consistent for me during the summer at 1 bar.

I use the 3414 distribution amp as well with the 4228HD. Reception this weekend has been bad for 4.1. You are correct, nights seem to be much better. How long is the cable between your antenna and the distribution amp? Mine is 100' and I believe it is too long.

Cheers,

Jeremy
Jeremy,
You have a fair amount of attenuation at 100'. Amplifying attenuated signal is not helping you much. See this post (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showpost.php?p=1129484&postcount=354)which shows attentuation / 100'. At rf channel 40 you are down over 5dB of signal strength. A preamp might serve you better, or alternatively, move the distro closer to the antenna.

cheers.

Hi,
I installed a 7777 preamp on the roof. Got rid of the distribution amp. Signal has improved for all channels, and not 51 ION is comning in as well! Thanks to all the people who replied!!


Cheers,

Jeremy

Using 'coathanger' design results are as follows:
Wood 2x4, old hangers, twin lead ripped out of my VHF antenna, 100 Ft RG-6. I placed this indoor, in my attic as high as it could go, 45 degree gable in front of it unfortunately.

2-2 WGRZ-US (eve, early morning)
3 (eve, early morning)
4-1 WIVB-HD
5-1 CBC
7-1 WKBW-HD
9-1 CFTO-HD
11-1 CHC-DT
23-1 WNLO-HD
24 WGRZ-HD (eve, early morning)
25 WGRZ-RT (eve, early morning)
25-1 SRC
41-1 CIII-DT
44-1 OMNI 2
51-1 WPXJ (eve, early morning)
51-2 WJPX-J qubo (eve, early morning)
51-3 WPXJ ION life (eve, early morning)
57-1 CityTV HD
64-1 OMNI 1 HD
66-1 XKXT-DT
----
19 channels!

Working on SBGH but working slowly SBGH (GH6r2). Anyone try this experiment in my area and get different results?

Congrats elmsley on the DiY antenna,
I actually moved my antenna this weekend up another 3' as far UP as I could go inside my attic.
I too had a gable/2by4 (6") in front of one side of my 4 bow-ties (DB8) antenna. This made a huge difference for me. All the signals, on the lowest signal channels I was getting before, jumped up 15-20% on my TV's signal meters.
If I were you I would try to reposition it (if possible) as not to have any abstacles directly in front of the bow-ties.

Paul

Tonight getting a new station. Cool TV on 49.2. Always nice to get more stations!! Hopefully CKVR (A Channel Barrie) will get its act together soon and start broadcasting as well.

I finally got the SBGH build up. I'm using plans from jedsoft . I decided to forego the pvc as it was a bit complex getting all the necessary parts. I decided to use an eight foot (2'x4') wood mast. Using a 1'x1' shim on either side, I was able to distance the front and back elements the necessary 75 mm. Combined it with my 4-bay (both pointed in the same direction) which didn't seem to make any difference (loss/gain of channels). This is an attic installation, roughly 25' up.

2-2 WGRZ_US
3 WNYO-HD
4-1 WIVB-HD
5-1 CBC
7-1 WKBW-HD
9-1 CFTO-HD
11-1 CHCH-DT -x
17-1 WNED-HD
17-2 WNED-SD
17-3 WNED-TH
23-1 WNLO-HD
24-WGRZ-HD
25 WGRZ-RT
25-1 SRC
29-1 WUTV-HD
41-1 CIII-DT -x
44-1 OMNI 2
49-2 Cool TV
51-1 WPXJ -x
51-2 WPXJ qubo -x
51-3 WPXJ ION Life -x
57-1 CityTV HD -x
64-1 OMNI 1 HD
66-1 CKXT-DT -x

x - Received previously with different configurations, weather, not receiving now.

In general all the buffalo stations come in maybe 80% of the time, and if it's HD it's trickier for it to hold an image due to content. I'm surprised that I can receive 29-1 (fox) yet I cannot get 44-1/57-1/66-1 (Global, CityTV, Sun TV). I thought the GH doesn't need as much precision position, but maybe I am wrong. Should I keep tinkering? I really want to just set up with the most channels without a rotor for now and after next year when other digital stations come in (eg. TVO).

Hey guys I have looked at what people are getting around the langstaff area and just wondered if a 8 bay is what i need or will a 4 do me enough?

Hey superwell, I have just put an 8 bay (DB8) in my attic and I am getting excellent reception all around, see all my posts...... I guess it depends on where you are installing it, outdoors/inside(attic). If you have a good LOS to the towers from your location I would get the 8 bay, for the extra $ it may save you a lot of headaches down the road.

Paul

sweet thanks for the reply. I am mounting it outside on the side of the house which points south. I'll be mounting it on my old sat. pole.....since I am not using those right now. I think the pole is 15 feet up...

Hi all,

I am new to this forum. I placed my antenna next to a south-facing window in a second-floor bedroom. The antenna is a 8-bay "foldable" antenna. Instead of using the antenna flat (180 degree), I bent slightly (about 160 degree) so that I could pick up the majority of the channels in Canada and U.S.

I use DTV 5000 Tuner box (with HDMI output) which I am quite happy with. My tester monitor (a PC monitor without sound, connected via a HDMI-to-DVI cable) is located in the same room. [My main TV is quite faraway but a $9 RCA VH-121 amplifier solved the issue of signal loss due to long RG-6 cable length - from 2nd floor to basement "hub" and then back to main floor. There is a DropAmp Distribution Amp previously installed by Shaw in the basement hub.]

I pick up all the Canadian DTV/ATSC signals from CN Tower at 100% signal quality, about 60% signal strength as displayed by the Tuner. At this signal quality and signal strength, there is no blocky square or dropped frame even in severe weather. Since my antenna is not aimed at Hamilton, I don't get channel 11 or 36. If I aim my antenna to Hamilton's direction, I would pick up channel 11/18 CHCH and channel 36/35 Crossroad.

On the U.S. side, it picks up PBS, CW, Fox, CBS, My TV, NBC, ABC and any related sub-channels. The signal is just as solid as the Canadian ones. [Signal Strength 45%, Signal Quality 100%]

During the summer (July and August), it would pick up WPXJ (51/23 - ION, qubo) on a good weather day in the morning and late evening at signal strength of 30 but signal quality of 100. On these days, about 3 - 4 days a week, the TV would also pick up the two Hamilton stations, channel 26 TCT in Jamestown, US; WNGS channel 67/7 in US as well. At these occasions, the Signal Strength was around 30%, Signal Quality 80-100%]. Of course, I did not touch a thing at the antenna or any of its connection.

Since mid-September, WPXJ (channel 51/23) - ION has been missing in action. I am not sure if this is related to the cooling weather - the fall season. The signal strength is about 20% and at times 0% but the signal quality is mostly at 0-5%. Of course, there is no picture or no sound. Just a message box saying "No/weak signal" on the screen even with my tester monitor. This set up has minimal cable length: Antenna -> Tuner -> PC Monitor. Everything is in the same room.

I want to know if other users in the same area have the same issues or not. Do you know what is the cause? Is it possible that I was receiving 1-edge or 2-edge or tropo signal all along. If you are still receiving a steady signal for ION, what is your setup like or what would you suggest me to modify?

Should I move my antenna to the attic but I think the current location seems to have a better aim because of the shape of my attic? Do I need to put the antenna on to the roof? Or should I just forget about this frequency that offers 3 sub-channels with interesting TV programmes?

Thank you for your help in advance!

Beginner_

Anyone else have issues with Global 41-1 (actual 65-1) and SunTV 66-1 (actual 66-1)? I'm wondering if these are allocated high frequencies and supposed to be moved down so by next year same time, I shouldn't have a problem. I.e. if it will be better this time next year, I can live without them and without climbing back up in the attic.

Also anyone have a link to what all the new channels should be transmitting at after the 2011 transition?

Hi elmsley,

From my location (see post#1306), I need to aim my antenna carefully (height, direction, "bent my antenna into a 160 degree angle") to pick up Global 41-1 (actual 65-1) and SunTV 66-1 (actual 66-1). Even if the antenna is off by 1 centimeter here or there OR if the "bent" is off a 5 -10 degree, the signal quality would drop substantially (even to the point of no reception).

Of course, I could leave the antenna "unbent" and aim it to West of CN tower to pick up all the Canadian stations; however, I would lose my reception to some U.S. station such as NBC, My TV, etc.

From my location, the signal strength of most U.S. TV stations are in general stronger than 41-1 or 66-1. I do get a signal quality of 100% for almost all of them (U.S. & Canada). Of course, the strongest signal strength at my location are CBC, CBC French and OMNI1&2. I am just really surprised about signal strength of the U.S. stations and their transmission power since they are much further away than CN tower.

Hope this helps.

Are you able to get 51-1 (ION, qubo) now with your new setup?

Picking up an indoor antenna for my Mom who's moving into a Senior's complex in Stouffville (L4A 1L2). Apt faces north, so options are limited.

Any hope with the ZSS with VHF elements/Terk clone? Amplified or unamplified?

with my experience with the HDTVa yeah you should. The amp has to be plugged in and you decided to turn it on or not. (at least I think that is what I read) The manual is here. http://www.voxxsupport.com/images/User%20Manuals%20-%20FAQ's/HDTVa-OM.pdf

With my current setup, I no longer get the 51-1, 51-2, 51-3 channel set with either antenna I have in the attic. It's been awhile since I saw it working but they were not as valuable programming as others for me. I don't have a rotor set up, so I'm hoping it will serve me fine after next year without having to re-adjust.