Hi everybody;

The idea of watching DTV for free, and not paying Rogers $700/year for a bunch of crappy channels that I never watch has intrigued me for a while now.

I live in a rented bungalow in Scarborough (near St. Clair and Warden Ave). Having studied many maps and finding my exact geographical location, I've determined that the stations I want to pick up are in one of two directions: Buffalo channels (approx. 100km; 140-150°, i.e. S/SE); and the CN Tower signals (11km; 220°, SW).

Almost all the houses near me are bungalows (not a high-rise in sight!). There's a fairly clear line of sight to the S/SE for Buffalo, and a couple of birch trees to the S/SW.

Unfortunately, I don't think my landlord would let me put up a tower, but a chimney mount is possible. I'm considering a CM4228/preamp aimed at Buffalo, and a CM4221 aimed at the CN Tower. Attic would be a last resort (4228 woudn't go anyway, unless I combined (2) 4221's up there).

Any suggestions on where to get a decent set-top box? I don't have an HDTV yet, but I'll bet even a down-converted HD picture would still beat Rogers PQ, even on my 9-year-old 27" Toshiba.

Hi leglamp,

The higher you can get the antenna, the better signal you'll recieve.

Tuners are really easy to buy online from a lot of U.S. retailers. Its so easy to buy, you don't even have to get up from the computer or go to a store.
I'd buy the new samsung if i were to buy a tuner these days.

I do just like you mention with a 4228 and a 4221 combined. Combining them in phase was tricky becuse of the different lenghths of the pick-up feeds. Usually works real good, I get dropouts on WGRZ with bad weather, usually fog or smog. But thats 86 miles from where i am in Ajax.
The rest of the Toronto/Buffalo stations come in just fine.

If you can swing it with your landlord, a mast higher than the chimney would work better.

Higher is always better.

Im at Kennedy and St.Clair. Last week end i put up my cm4228 and I can get all of Buffalo at 95-100 percent but city tv only around 80-90 with some drop outs. After trying to find a sweet spot with no luck I left it due South. This is on a 10 foot mast on my 2 1/2 story house with a good view South.

chuckydee with City having a strong signal strength like what you got you should not be getting any drop outs.

Are you using any kind of preamp or booster if so try and remove it or add a 3bd attenuator.

By the way great results with the 4228. :)

On city my signal is ok most of the time but it will drop to as low as 60 or so and below 75 I will get drop outs. No amp or other stuff in line just rg6 cable to my panny 42px75.
I thought city was a week signal? It would be nice to get a good signal on city as I like the movies. When I turned the cm4228 more to the west, city signal goes up but Buffalo ones drop right off. Got to have the U.S. netwoks.
It was late at night when I set it up so may be I will try again to peak the signals.

Will a 3bd attenuator help to lower the Buffalo signal to allow my tuner to bring in city?

I dont think you need the attenuator I would only recommend if you are using a preamp or booster and getting overload.

Try and repeak the antenna by moving just slightly more west.

Thanks Yaamon I will try that.

Hi Guys,

I'm trying to get into OTA HD with my HTPC. I picked up a Hauppauge HVR1600 and a cheap RCA amplified indoor antenna. I got zero reception.

I live in North Oshawa, near Taunton/Wilson.

Any suggestions as to what I can do to improve reception? I would prefer an indoor solution but I'm not totally against an attic or outdoor solution.

It seems like the CM4228 is the popular choice around here but I took a look at one today and it is quite big, also requires a very long pole mounted to my house. I would prefer to stay away from this and was hoping somebody can suggest something that works and is not such an eyesore.

All I really care about are the US based HD channels, if that helps at all.

Jungle Monkey, if a 4228 is too large then the next best choice would be a 4221 mounted outside pointed for Buffalo. If reception from Buffalo is bad maybe or you can try can swing it east towards Rochester.

If you optimized a 4221 for Buffalo you should be able to get decent reception but Toronto won’t be too good.

Try and keep the cable length shorter than 45’. From your location a attic install won’t give you good results for the US stations.

and is not such an eyesore
Careful now... some of us consider them works of art ;)

I agree with Yaamon, US will be hard to get reliably with an attic install.

From the north end of oshawa, i'd suggest the 4228 is your only option and put it on the highest pole you can afford.

In case i haven't said it enough, Height is the best thing you can do for better reception.

I just stumbled upon the Lacrosse antenna. I'm fine with the look of this antenna and Hugh has used it and it works good for him.

Would an antenna like this mounted to the side of my house work for my area?

I don't think the Lacrosse will do for you. Hugh is in a more optimal location for Buffalo signals than you are. The advice you've been given is what you need to do: a CM4228 outdoors and up high, or else a CM4221 or Delhi 4BT-1483 if you don't go the CM4228 route.

Also click on these links to get further info and to find the thread about Ontario OTA sales/installers:

I have just installed my cm4228 and have aimed it south to southwest in small increments... my questions are:

would a maple tree to the south on my lawn affect my reception?

what direction would be the best for Buffalo stations i.e. where would Grand Island be in degrees from the Lawrence and Birchmount area using my compass?

I have the cable block connected to ground but is it also important to ground the mast?

thanks

Take a look at this map - I would say about 170 degrees. I would say that Birchmount is sleightly left of Markham Rd which is the red line going through Markham. http://www.remotecentral.com/hdtv/toronto-buffalo-small.jpg

You might want to try farther East for the heck of it to see if you can pick up any of the Rochester channels. When I was first playing around with my antenna I was able to pick them up with the antenna sitting on a chair on my deck (I am at Markham & Kingston).

I have just installed my cm4228 and have aimed it south to southwest in small increments... my questions are:

would a maple tree to the south on my lawn affect my reception?

what direction would be the best for Buffalo stations i.e. where would Grand Island be in degrees from the Lawrence and Birchmount area using my compass?

I have the cable block connected to ground but is it also important to ground the mast?

thanks
Hi, If your Maple tree is as high as your antenna it will definately block signals. Leaves hold a lot of water, which blocks signals more than brick.

Yes, you need to ground the mast.

You might have to compromise buffalo a bit and point a bit more west to get good toronto signals.

scorcerer13
what direction would be the best for Buffalo stations i.e. where would Grand Island be in degrees from the Lawrence and Birchmount area using my compass?
please see post #8 in the OTA Forum Knowledge Base & FAQ (http://digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=41102).
Once you get the general heading you want, you will have to use trial and error to tweak your aim for best overall reception on all stations.

As Tom.F.1 mentioned you do need to ground your mast. See this thread for that:
OTA Antenna Grounding Info & Standards (http://digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=62265)

good luck :)

Im at Birchmount and St.Clair and have my 4228 pointed due South and pick up all Buffalo and City Tv. I have it mounted at about 40 feet pointed at an oak tree across the road. I also have a rotor but have not felt the nead to install it.

Well had VE antenna out to install my setup and they sent out 2 great guys, but very limited OTA experience. So far I not overly happy with the setup. Looks like I need to go up and do the tuning myself. I'm in Toronto by Port Union and Lawrence. I'm using a 4228 for buffalo and 4221 for Toronto. Both are combined and split to 2 receivers. Currently running 2 9200's for OTA HD. So far I'm getting the following channels after scanning:

2-1 - WGRZ-D - 74%
2-2 - WGRZ-S - 71%
4-1 - WIVB-H - 87%
5-1 - CBLT - 92%
7-1 - WKBW-H - 85%
7-2 - WNGS - 87%
9-1 - CFTO-H - 79%
23-1 - WNLO-H - 79%
29-1 - WUTV-H - 82%
29-2 - WUTV-S - 83%
43-1- WNED-H - 90%
43-2 - WNED-S- 91%
43-2 - WNED-T - 91%
49-1 - WYNO - H -60%
49-2 - WNYO-S - 60%
57-1 - CITYHD - 60%

So I have no global, sun tv or omni. I will try to take so pictures of the view from the roof. Any ideas how to improve the signal. For my bedroom, the run is about 30 feet and family room approximately 60 feet.

Any ideas how to improve the signal. For my bedroom, the run is about 30 feet and family room approximately 60 feet.
I had a problem combining the 2 different antennas, then i figured out i had to compensate in cable length for the difference in the feeds from the antennas, to get them 'in-phase'. Then i got more signal.
The other thing that helped, was reducing the angle between the 2 antennas, so that the side bands added together.