WBNF-CD is now broadcasting on CH15 with 3 sub-channels, same feed as WNYB and is coming in strong here in Stouffville. It is also mapping as WNYB but on CH15, strange.

That remapping is one method for a low-power station that serves as a fill-in for a full-power station or extends the coverage of another low-power station. The other method is to use the same major virtual channel but a unique subchannel. Remember that the "call signs" that are displayed by your tuner are really just labels and not official identifications.

Hey Guys,

First off thanks for all the help with this!

So I bought a used 30' old school antenna ($60) - it came with a big old channel master antenna. Based on the info I got here (Thanks HWP) I bought a Preamp (Channel Master 7777) and a rotor (more on that later). Instead of spending $200 on a new antenna I decided to try the old one - it's in good shape and 100% all there.

Last night after I got the antenna up I set up a small TV I use for video editing (19" Viewsonic) up outside - I don't have the wiring finished to the inside of the house. So I plugged everything in, pointed the antenna in the general direction of where I think the CN Tower should be and switched the TV on, I set it to program channels.

It found 23 channels just pointed in that direction alone!!! Of course some are redundant like HD and SD versions of the same channel but I am getting a bunch of Buffalo channels - I will write them all down and post them when I get everything finished. The ones I can remember (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, PBS, MyTV *I think*, COOL TV, CIII) and of course TVO, CBC, CTV, CTV2 off the back (no need to turn the rotor) CITY TV. Fox did need a bit of turning to 240ish to make it 100% as well as CHCH.

I will provide a detailed list in a few days when I have the TV's all hooked up. Now - yesterday evening was mint in terms of weather. So well see what weather will do.

Hopefully some of this info will help!

If you are thinking about doing this and can live without speciality channels - it's not hard. You will have to spend some time however reading and asking questions but it's not at all impossible.

That's excellent, Skydiveguy. You brought an old tower and antenna back to life.

You can always buy a new approx-$5 Channel Master Outdoor Balun to update an old antenna as long as it is still holding together.

Would you mind re-posting your TV Fool report when you give us your next reception update and tell us about the rotator?

Hello all,

A great big thank you to all who have been contributing to this forum. I have been researching OTA for several months now and decided to take the plunge a few weeks ago. I have a few large trees south facing but otherwise appear to have a clear view to the south. I am just north of Elgin Mills between Bathurst and Yonge.

TV Fool Report here (http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3dec12249b276178).

So far results seem pretty good. I would appreciate any feedback in terms if either improving some of the results such as NBC 2-1,2 or picking up channels I may not be getting.

The antenna is mounted on a 5ft pole inserted and tapped into a j-pole near the peak of my roof. It doesnt quite sway in the wind but will move relatively easily when I shake it. Im not sure if this is affecting the reception at all...I have been thinking of replacing the j-pole with a sloped tripod mount.

2-1,2 NBC - 40-60% - inconsistent
4-1 CBS - 90-93 - very good
5-1 CBC - 100 - excellent (as expected)
7-1 ABC - 89-91 - very good
9-1 CTV - 95-100 - very good
11-1 CHCH - 69-72 - usually good but does cut out occassionally
17-1,2,3 PBS - 92-96 - very good
19-1 TVO - 96-100 - excellent
23-1 CW - 89-91 - very good
25-1 CBC (french) - excellent
26-1,2,3,4 WNYB - 40-45 - do not get, locked on once only
29-1,2 FOX - 89-94 - very good
36-1 CITS - 87-93 - usually very good
41-1 GTN 92-98 - very good
47-1 OMNI 100 - excellent
57-1 CITY 94-100 - very good
66-1 SUN 97-100 - excellent
69-1 OMNI2 - 98-100 - excellent

Thanks for reviewing and I look forward to any comments you may have.

Snowbird72

Welcome to the forum.

Could you tell us what type of antenna you have? Do you have a pre-amp?

SunTV has been gone since Nov 1.

Sorry about that...antenna is a DB8. I have a preamp installed at my breaker panel where the cable is split. Theres roughly 50' of cable from the antenna to the preamp and approx 35' to the one tv that is currently hooked up.

What kind of preamp do you have?

Sound like you're getting some pretty good results! Congrats and welcome to OTA!

If you're willing to do it, the tripod sounds like an excellent idea. An eight-bay on a satellite mount would be out of my comfort zone. I'd be sleeping with one eye open, but I have not heard of any accidents with that set-up.

Plus, if you add the tripod, then you'll have the option of almost any antenna setup combination your mind can imagine. Rotators and Pre-amps and combo antennas become an option.

If you prefer your current DB8 setup with pre-amp at ground level, then hopefully you can perfect WGRZ with some re-aiming. And consider rf26 a bonus it it still comes in.

Good luck!

Thanks HWP.

The preamp is a pct-ma2-4p multimedia drop amplifier. i have to say, due to time limitations I had someone do the install for me and I didnt specify a preamp...I have not heard of this one before.

I here what youre saying about the tripod...its certainly on my radar. The jpole was a quick fix because the original tripod location wasnt acceptable for me or my wife. i have since thought of a solution using the sloped version tripod which would put it farther to the back of the house. now i just need some time to go up and change it over.

Does reception get affected if the antenna is moving, even if only a little bit?

The distribution aplifier that was installed for you was a quality one. PCT is the company that owns the Channel Master brand. So when someone orders a 4-way Channel Master distribution amplifier, (s)he gets what you have.

It's a fine distribution amplifier. I prefer pre-amps, but there are other members here that are satisfied with using distribution amps - especially if you never want to go up on your roof ever again (in case your pre-amp dies).

The problem is, if you're getting unsatisfactory reception (you are on WGRZ), you have no way of really knowing if a pre-amp would be just better enough to get you locked-on to your last weak channel. A mast-mounted pre-amp might be all you need.

If you go with a pre-amp, then you'll want to remove the distribution amp and swap it with a quality non-powered four-way splitter (Channel Master 3414).

In my experience, wind swaying the pole does not noticeably affect reception. Maybe more back in the analog days, but for digital I have not noticed any difference.

Update time,

Sorry all - it's been a busy week.

Reception Results:


2-1,2 NBC - 80-100% - good - need to use rotor to make it perfect.
3-1 CKVR - 100% off backside *no need to turn rotor*
4-1 CBS - 70-80%
5-1 CBC - 100%
7-1 ABC - 80%
9-1 CTV - 100%
11-1 CHCH - 75-80% - Rotor again
17-1,2,3 PBS - 95% - very good
19-1 TVO - 100% - excellent
23-1 CW - 90% - very good
25-1 CBC 90% - excellent
29-1,2 FOX - 70% (Rotor) - sketchy
36-1 CITS - 90%
47-1 OMNI 100% - excellent
57-1 CITY 100% - very good
69-1 OMNI2 - 100% - excellent

There could be more out there - and as I have time I will play with it. Time to 'cut the cable' with Netflix I am set!

Now my rotor issue - I bought the Eagle Aspen (no stock anywhere on the CM rotor) and a CM 7777 - hooked it all up - put my antenna up etc and blamo don't you know it - they are not compatible. So I climb up my antenna and change the wiring and run a separate COAX for the rotor - not a huge pain but it would be nice if the store selling this stuff let you know ahead of time. Besides there is no place for a 200lb man on the very top of my antenna. At least I know the mounts I welded up worked!

I do have a question however - I bought a distrubution amp (Channel Master 4-Way Distribution Amplifier with 8 DB Gain) - with the 7777 should I just be using a regular splitter?

HWP as requested - TV FOOL (http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3dec12fc77c38c53)


*Edited to add* - I am using US Netflix here in Canada - you can PM me for details (or google it) it's much better than the CDN version I can also surf sites like ABC.com and FOX etc..

The distribution aplifier that was installed for you was a quality one. PCT is the company that owns the Channel Master brand. So when someone orders a 4-way Channel Master distribution amplifier, (s)he gets what you have.

It's a fine distribution amplifier. I prefer pre-amps, but there are other members here that are satisfied with using distribution amps - especially if you never want to go up on your roof ever again (in case your pre-amp dies).

The problem is, if you're getting unsatisfactory reception (you are on WGRZ), you have no way of really knowing if a pre-amp would be just better enough to get you locked-on to your last weak channel. A mast-mounted pre-amp might be all you need.

If you go with a pre-amp, then you'll want to remove the distribution amp and swap it with a quality non-powered four-way splitter (Channel Master 3414).

In my experience, wind swaying the pole does not noticeably affect reception. Maybe more back in the analog days, but for digital I have not noticed any difference.
Glad to hear that about the distribution amplifier. I had no idea it was essentially CM. I'll do some more research on the +/-'s of indoor vs outdoor and report back at some point. I really dont want to run four cables from the antenna to the panel inside. Thx again.

Edit: I think I misunderstood. For clarification, the pre-amp would be installed at the antenna, then split at the panel. I would however need to run a seperate RG6 to power the preamp. Correct?

skydive

It would be interesting to know wher you live cross streets or general location if you would ammend your ptrofile that would assist. I can not get Barrie or Hamilton and I am in Thornhill and I have a good rotor.

thanks

I am in Tottenham - not Thornhill - way further than Thornhill!!

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=L0G+1W0+cedar+kitchn&hl=en&sll=43.709579,-79.107056&sspn=1.693488,3.273926&vpsrc=0&hq=L0G+1W0+cedar+kitchn&t=h&z=9&iwloc=A

Jeff

Skydiveguy - great results way up there!! You're doing nearly as well as I do at Yonge & Finch with my attic setup.

The obvious one you're missing is Global Toronto 41-1. You should get it.

A distribution amp really shouldn't be needed with a pre-amp. Try removing it.

Sorry! I get both 41-1 and 41-2 CIII. Missed that one!

Thanks

With my lousy basement mounted antenna, today, after months, I finally received CITY clear and strong. None of the other Rogers/Omni stations yet, but this makes me hopeful!

Turns out it's not good tropo conditions, but rather, CITY TV (RF 44) and OMNI 1 (RF 47) have both likely made the move to the CN tower. How is your reception on OMNI1 now?

Hi guys, great forum!

I've spent a few days reading through all of the info here, and I must say I'm a little overwhelmed!

I'm new to OTA and wondering if anyone here can recommend an antenna/setup for my situation:

I'm in Thornhill, living on the 3rd floor of an apartment building. My balcony faces south, but I have quite a few large maple trees approximately 30 feet in front of my balcony, blocking my line of sight south towards the CN tower. There are also a few apartment buildings about 400 meters south.

I have an older hdtv ready TV with no atsc tuner, so I have obtained a Winegard rc-1010 tuner. (should arrive this week or next)

Here is my TV fool report:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3dec126b7258dd76

I would like to get all the local channels as well as the Buffalo stations.

Can any recommend an antenna?

Thanks!

I'm liking the DB8 style antennas. They can be had for around $50 and do a decent job. They don't do well on VHF but channel 9 comes in fine in Aurora with my 8 bay in the bedroom (behind drywall and aluminum siding with a spruce tree 20 feet in front of the house).

US is iffy... 23-1 is good but the others are very sporadic.

If I had the antenna in the attic, the US stations would probably be more consistent.

Being up higher and further south, you should be good (assuming you actually are higher - not in a valley).

You'll probably want to point a towards your weakest US site and have Toronto being pulled in from the side since the T.O. Signals are plenty strong enough to hit you.