That's great, kooguy! Your new RCA box has the latest Generation 6 ATSC chipset while your HDTVs probably have Generation 5.

I Wish RCA make one (HD to HD tuner) with HDMI output so I can have two tuners for my other HDTVs. :D

Winegard and Centronics make DTV boxes with HDMI:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=42186

But in your case I would not bother expecting to get Erie stations year round so I don't think the extra money would be wise.

That IS reeeally good reception if you're picking up Erie! from Ajax.
Like Stampeder said, don't expect that all the time. There are people in the DX thread getting Buffalo from London.

My 20 year old tower ota antenna motor broke down 2 years ago. Lucky it was stuck in in S/W. I got most of my channels except OMNI-2.

If I replace my new tv with digital,would it work with this antenna? (This antenna is UHF & VHF )

locktight, what is your location (city, nearest major street corner)?

When you go to buy a new HDTV make sure it has an ATSC tuner in it. Almost all of them do but check to make sure. If you are not ready to buy a new HDTV you can get a variety of Digital converter boxes that work excellently on older televisions. If your older TV is not performing well anymore then adding a digital box will only improve things slightly.

With a VHF/UHF combo antenna like yours you will get lots of digital stations. Hopefully you can get the rotor fixed so that you have more station options.

Here is the list of Toronto/Hamilton/Buffalo stations so that you can see which Digital channels are available:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=95753

And please read these links too:

Thanks for trying to answer but unfortunately,my fault not mentioning my location. My questions are all location related (sorry). If you are located in BC,I don't think u can give me the answer.

The 2 channels I lost are both local channels & I like to get a firm answer. WNED PBS is Buffalo,Michigan US channel that I believe it changed to digital by law & no analog signal while ABC,NBC,CBS I am still getting them either they still send out analog signal or they are UHF and not VHF.

When you say you don't get omni-2, you mean not at all, or it's just fuzzy?
If not at all, you won't receive it in digital. Maybe in 2011, but doubtful then too.
I'd recommend the upgrade to digital anyway, but you'll probably want to get that rotor fixed or replaced for best viewing.

Hi locktight, I live in Ajax, and i get all the Available channels in Digital, the only channel that is not digital in this area is TVO 19, and that's the only analog channel i have in my list.
I agree with stampeder, get the rotor fixed and get a digital tuner.

If you are located in BC,I don't think u can give me the answer. The 2 channels I lost are both local channels & I like to get a firm answer. I am located in Pickering, OntarioHee hee, I think I can actually be of a fair bit of help to you, locktight! :D But certainly you are right that people like Tom.F.1, recneps77 and others know your area like the backs of their hands. That's the big payoff about these threads covering all parts of Canada.

Thanks Stampeder & Tom for your help,appreciated, but to fix that rotor is going to cost me a fortune (possibly over $300 since it is a 30 foot tower.) I guess when the time comes that I have to replace my 10 year old TV,I then decide what to do. Hat off for both of you.

Locktight,

Not sure where is your location but I have this little 2 bay antenna mounted on my fence/gate entry and have great results...No rotor is required. Very handy antenna to demonstrate about HD over OTA to neighbours who walk in front of my house.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j242/kooguy_2006/sample3/DSCF1846.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j242/kooguy_2006/sample3/DSCF1850.jpg

Hello,

I'm new to the whole OTA concepts, and have been doing some searching on the web, I see many people have great success with building their own antenna and keeping it indoors.

What are your thoughts on that? Does it matter whether it's a store bought or home made?

Right now I'd like to keep the antenna indoors. (I have a new roof and was told if I mount anything on it, my warranty would be void, and I don't have any spot to put a tower)

Thanks

Generally, outdoor is your best bet.
Could you maybe do a wall-mount or put up a tower?
If not, the best indoor antenna is a 'silver sensor' style. The most widely available model is a PHDTV3, I believe.

You could also put up an outdoor antenna, like a GH (build-it-yourself, see the development forum) or a store-bought one inside somewhere.
Attic mounts are common with this manner.
Note that placing any antenna inside gives poorer reception than outside, which is almost always your best option.

Thanks for this forum for rookies and new members.

I would like to ditch cable and use OTA, but I don't know if I could receive signals where I live. About 10 years ago I considered changing from Rogers to, I think it was called, Look TV. The day they came to install it their tech. said it wouldn't work as they couldn't get a strong enough signal and there was no direct line of site from the roof of our house with the CN Tower, from our location.

Long story short, is the limitation that meant Look TV couldn't be installed still applicable to OTA?

I hope the above makes sense and thanks in advance for any replies.

You've actually explained something i've noticed a LOT of.. "dish" antennas that seem to be everywhere, but not pointed in the known direction of satellites

http://www.look.ca/images/antenna.jpg

I believe their system is on an entirely different frequency - the higher the frequency, the more you need a direct line of sight without obstruction (e.g. microwave links)
Lower frequency waves can pass through just about anything.

Look TV is going out of business so a lot of those folks will probably need to take those down. They are useless for OTA.

Might have to send some flyers round - "Did you know you can get 25 HD channels for free? Change that look dish to a UHF antenna!" ;)

Recnepps7 and Stampeder, thanks for your replies.

Just so I am understanding you, I take it then that the problems that meant Look TV signals couldn't be received, do not apply to receiving signals at my location?

Sorry to appear dense and asking for things to be spelled out.

I just received another bill today from Rogers and I've had enough.

Thanks again,

Stig

Stig, use the Search This Thread tool to the upper right beside Thread Tools and put in Finch as a search term so that you can compare with folks nearby. Try some other street names too. :)