Hi All,

I've been following this thread for a while and have done some experimenting with how cheaply I could get OTA happening. I didn't have high expectations, but thought I would see what I could do without investing a lot. I have an LG 42" LCD TV with built in HD PVR.

So I made my own antenna (links can be found elsewhere in the forums). It is a db4 clone. Total cost of parts I didn't have: $5. I am using RG59 cable that is 50' in length, just running from the basement up to the second floor through the house. No amplification.

Our house faces almost perfectly south (Rossland/McQuay), so I clamped the antenna to the top of our upstairs railing (inside) pointing south and here is what I can get:

NBC-HD 2-01
NBC-HD 2-02
CBS-HD 4-01
CBC-HD 5-01
ABC-HD 7-01
CTV-HD 9-01
WNLO-HD 23-01
CBC French 25-01
FOX HD 29-01
FOX HD 29-02
PBS-HD 43-01
PBS-SD 43-02
PBS-SD 43-03 (Think Brite)
CITY HD 57-01

Singal level isn't super high and watchability ranges from heavy pixelation to a solid picture I can watch for hours without problems. Most channels are very solid even though the singal level is not that high. The most finicky channel is NBC. Weather is a factor as well, as on a sunny day I had much better levels that the next day which was very cloudy and snowing.

Changing to RG6 cable (still 50') gave me a boost of a notch or two on the signal meter. But nothing significant. I'll probably stick with RG59 for now unless I can find a place in Canada that doesn't charge WAY too much for RG6.

Adding a super cheap Philips 12 db pre-amp from WalMart ($25) gave me better signal on all channels and also pulled in:

WNYO-HD 49-01
WNYO-SD 49-02
SUN TV HD 66-01

All signals with the cheapy pre-amp are mid in the "Normal" range (or higher) except WNYO which is still at the top of "Low" and can pixelate quite a bit.

I am considering buying a real CM or Winegard pre-amp and calling it a day.

Total should be less than $100 for everything.

Now I just have to figure out if mouting this in the attic will produce worse results than from our staircase.

So it can be done and without spending too much.

RE: post #182

in oshawa i can pickup wivb/wgrz so i would say that your map is pretty close. i only get 5/9/25 from toronto on the side lobe, need to point right at toronto for citytv/suntv being in pickering you may get those on the side lobe as in your picture.

I'm in the process of getting all the necessary equipment to mount my 4221 to the roof of my house. Have a 20 foot ladder and that's enough to get up their. Located in Scarborough by Lawrence/Port Union so hopefully I can get the necessary channels. Thinking of purchasing a rotor or get a 4228 for buffalo and use 4221 for toronto. Guess I'm still doing my research. Also, what's the best way to combine both antennas?

A few months ago, i posted detailed instructions on how i combined 2 different antennas.
I'm not typing it all out again. Search my name in the tips and tricks thread.
Good Luck.

I'll probably stick with RG59 for now unless I can find a place in Canada that doesn't charge WAY too much for RG6.Check out Home Depot and Rona. Both have RG6 for pretty cheap. (they sell it per meter)

or 1/2 that price at wallmart

I'm new to this but have been researching OTA for past 2 weeks...I would like to receive Toronto and New York HD channels...

I live in the Kennedy and Lawrence area and would like to mount a 4228 on my chimney,direct without a mast....I would be running about 60 feet of RG6 . I want to stay away from a rotor and mast...

Would this be a effective setup if it is mounted facing south ,or would another antenna be more effective??? I was also thinking about a pre-amp....

also, I was thinking of those sattelite wall mount antennas,, whick work well in that format??? and where in Toronto can one buy antennas at a good price??

thanks

Not having much luck.

The house construction is not helping much. using the wood stove pipe to mount a mast. also mounting Sat. Dish on the same mast.

put up a CM4228 today. Earlier today received 8 ch: 2 American and 6 Cdn. then we changed the 4228 to try to get more channels.

now down to 5 ch

05-01
09-01
23-01
25-01
57-01

I expected so much more. I knew there was a chance to get poor to no recepetion of the US stations. but I expected that If I can get one channel from the tower I should get all channels from that same tower assuming reasonable close power output from all channels at the same tower.

oh well back at it on Monday.

I live in the Kennedy and Lawrence area and would like to mount a 4228 on my chimney,direct without a mast....I would be running about 60 feet of RG6 . I want to stay away from a rotor and mast...

if you don't have a mast, how would you aim it? and, your antenna will work better above the chimney. there are chimney mounts available.

Not having much luck.
put up a CM4228 today. Earlier today received 8 ch: 2 American and 6 Cdn. then we changed the 4228 to try to get more channels.

I'm in ajax. i couldn't get the t.o. & buffalo channels at the same time, so i have one antenna pointed in each direction and combined them together. the other solution is a rotor, but that wouldn't work for timed recording.
those who are north of toronto have no problem getting signals from both locations. sometimes you can compromise, by pointing the antenna in-between the 2 locations you need to recieve.
City & Sun are much, much lower power than CBC & CTV.
It has to do with different classes of licensing.

Finally got my antenna mounted on the roof.This thing is unblievable!!! I havn't even aimed it yet just tightened the bolts.No amp ,no rotor yet

WGRZ 83 miles 100%
WIVB 87 miles 100%
CBLT 43 miles 75%
WKBW 89 miles 93%
WNGS 89 miles 93%
WXXI 74 miles 60%
WNLO 64 miles 98%
WUTV 64 miles 74%
WNED 64 miles 97%

The reason WGRZ is stronger because I think I'm pointing at south Bufalo.Fox stations are 17deg to the east for me. I'm sure when I play around with it tomorrow I'll get fox better. As for WXXI it's coming off the side of me.I think because the south stations are so strong I'll try to get the highest signal from Fox and WGRZ will drop a bit but thats ok and CBLT will come in stronger too maybe city too.This antenna Rocks!!!

I'm running the Bev 9200.No guide though?Just says digital channel?WGRZ and WIVB have been 100% all night.I made my own antenna.I can't get over how good it works.Can't wait till tomorrow to try and tune Fox in.It's rock solid at 75 all night but I know I'm pointed at the south towers so I'll swing it 18deg to the east and see what happens. It's an 8 bay 4228 clone.

2 pics here:

http://s211.photobucket.com/albums/bb253/Frostman_photos/?action=view&current=Antenna1006.jpg

Good to hear, but those numbers you posted seem to indicate some tropo activity. It's highly irregular to have WGRZ stronger than other Buffalo channels. WXXI only appears during tropo activity (unless you happen to live down Kingston way). I had a similar problem when I installed my antenna. Because all the Buffalo signals were so strong, I initially turned the antenna more towards Toronto. Once the warm weather subsided, I had to re-aim the antenna.

are you still pulling in WXXI Rochester?

WGRZ 83 miles 100%
WIVB 87 miles 100%
CBLT 43 miles 75%
WKBW 89 miles 93%
WNGS 89 miles 93%
WXXI 74 miles 60%
WNLO 64 miles 98%
WUTV 64 miles 74%
WNED 64 miles 97%

Wow those signal strengths on a bell box are unreal. I have a 4228 in St Catharines and I only get 90 to 94% on WNLO and 70 to 74% on WGRZ on my 6100.

Today it has cleared up .So I did a scan,still havn't aimed the antenna yet.Got all Rochester stations and cw-w not sure on that one.All buffalo stations are 100% except fox 86%. Got WNYO too not sure where it is.Going to swing it to the east in a bit. 24 Digital station on fix location.I should get a rotor

Frostmen excellent results but you are going to need rotor to pick up the weaker Toronto stations.

Well I aimed my antenna directly at WUTV to get the best signal. Wgrz dropped down a bit so now those two channels are the same signal. I got a few TO station in the process.I can't believe I'm getting those Rochester channels when I'm pointed at Fox Buffalo.I don't like the Bev 9200 theres no guide info.SAMSUNG DTB-H260F would be nice

WGRZ x2
WIVB
CBLT
WKBW
WNGS
WROC
CFTO
WHEC x2
WXXXI x4
WUHF
WNLO
WUTV x2
WNED x3
WNYO x2
CITY

24 channels

ya i'm jealous the only one's your missing are CBC French and SUNTV

getting the rochester stations are a good backup to have if one of the Buffalo stations forgets to turn on the HD switch (happens frequently, especially on fox)

to TheDogFather,
I tiried to answer your PM about an OTA Install in Ajax, but your PM box is full. Send me a PM when you empty it.
Tom

Follow up to my post #187...

Original list with my home made db4 antenna setup, which is still in the upstairs bedroom:

NBC-HD 2-01
NBC-SD 2-02 Weather
CBS-HD 4-01
CBC-HD 5-01
ABC-HD 7-01
RTN-SD 7-02 RTN 11
CTV-HD 9-01
WNLO-HD 23-01
CBC French 25-01
FOX HD 29-01
FOX SD 29-02
PBS-HD 43-01
PBS-SD 43-02
PBS-SD 43-03 (Think Brite)
CITY HD 57-01
WNYO-HD 49-01
WNYO-SD 49-02
SUN TV HD 66-01

I can now add the following to stations I have received (although not all the time):

WXXI-HD 16-1 PBS Rochester
WXXI-SD 16-2 Q
WXXI-SD 16-3 Create
WXXI-SD 16-4
WUHF-HD 31-1 Fox Rochester
WROC-HD 8-1 CBS Rochester
WHAM-HD 13-1 ABC Rochester
WHEC-HD 10-1 NBC Rochester
WSTM-HD 3-1 NBC Syracuse
WSTM-SD 3-2 CW
WSTM-SD 3-3 Weather
WSTM-SD 3-4 The Tube

Today looks like good Tropospheric conditions in southern ontario so I will attempt to see if I can pull in some other stations from different places.

..