Tom,

Thanks for explaining that. It's very interesting. I wish I could've tried re-aiming the antenna toward Buffalo and/or Toronto during this channel-dropping event, but what you're saying makes sense. So two antennas might still only be a partial solution though, right? I mean it is normal to lose some Buffalo stations during poor weather over the lake isn't it?

The funny thing in all of this for me is that I don't really watch TV, except for shows I watch online via computer! I set up the antenna which I have really enjoyed doing, especially trying to perfect the channel lineup! But I did it mostly so we could cancel Rogers and yet allow my kids to watch PBS & TVO and my wife to watch her shows in the evening. I catch a few minutes of Late Nite Poker on 2.1 every other night or so, but that's about it.

.. yet allow my kids to watch PBS & TVO and my wife to watch her shows in the evening.There is a kids channel called Qubo available from Buffalo at 51.1 as well.

edit - correct channel number from 55 to 51

Thanks, Wayne. Yes, I'm aware of Qubo 51.2, but don't care for its programming as much. TVO and PBS are geared to my kids' ages. And I don't get Qubo most of the time. Part of the compromise of aiming to get both Buffalo and Toronto is that I don't get the more westerly NY stations, like Batavia's ION 51.1 (51.2 Qubo) or some of the weaker Tor/Ham stations like 15.1 and 66.1. Oh well.

I have the same issue - my antenna is in my attic and I can get all of the Buffalo stations but only CBC from Toronto. I may move the antenna outside to the roof at some point to improve reception. But I don't really care about that right now although it would be nice to get CTV for the Olympics - but this is part of my HTPC connection and I do have two cable HD tuners as well so this just gives me the added flexibility of being able to record three HD shows at once, assuming one is OTA.

I just mentioned Qubo in case you hadn't heard of it because I just found it recently - but my kids are quite young.

Hi All. Basically curious what good channels I'm missing. I'd like to buy a pre-amp to support this new addicting hobby, but I'm wondering what WORTHWHILE additional channels I could realistically pull in consistently in our area (if I did buy one).

Basically I get Canadian signals in analog & American in HD; :p

Buffalo > CM4221 > Digital Tuner
2.1 WGRZ
2.2
2.3 RTN
4.1 WIVB
7.1 WKBW
17.1 WNED
17.2
17.3
23.1 WNLO
29.2 WUTV
49.2 WNYO
51.1 WPXJ
51.2 QUBO
51.3 ION

CN Tower > Crossfire Antenna > Analog Tuner
11 CHCH CHCH
5 CBC CBC
9 CFTO CTV
19 CICA TVO
41 CIII Global
47 CFMT OMNI1
52 CKXT SunTV
57 CITY CityTV
69 CJMT OMNI News

If you want Canadian in HD, what do you get now? Anything?
If you're content with analog, the only US one I see missing is 26.1/.2
But unless you want religious programming, you're not missing much.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm happy to get my Canadian content in analog for now :) because my HTPC has one digital tuner & two analog tuners (limitation of MCE2005).

Very curious what other stations (other then the ones I've listed above) folks in our area may reliably pull in when using a pre-amp. :cool:

You're doing great without one.
You have every channel except for 26.1/26.2 TCT (Buf)
and 35 CTS (Ham)
oh, and 3 A (Barrie), but that's in a completely other direction :p

I actually DO get 26.1/26.2 but deleted them as they seemed only to have faith-based programming. CTS is also faith-based based on wiki (let me know if I'm off base). :D

The Barrie station WOULD be nice, but I'm guessing it would required a dedicated antenna and that's alot for 3A CKVR... :rolleyes:

In lieu of other ideas - I tried to pull in the digital VHF Rochester stations by pointing my old Crossfire VHF antenna but couldn't get a lock. That's without the preamp. Would love to know if anyone else gets these. The stations in Erie are also alluring...

Also did some analysis based with TVFool & can up with these analog possibilities;

12 CHEX
22 CHEX
6 CJOH
28 WDTB
58 WFHW
13 CKCO (has NFL on Sundays!)
3 CKVR (covered above)

Curious if anyone gets those, or the Rochester (or even Erie) stations.

I mean it is normal to lose some Buffalo stations during poor weather over the lake isn't it?I lose Buffalo channels only in Really bad weather. NBC drops out occasionally with fog/mist over the lake, but very rarely. Much better than last year before the US analog shutdown.
I never lose Toronto stations, even with torrential rain!

Also did some analysis based with TVFool & can up with these analog possibilities;

12 CHEX
22 CHEX
6 CJOH
28 WDTB
58 WFHW
13 CKCO (has NFL on Sundays!)
3 CKVR (covered above)

Curious if anyone gets those, or the Rochester (or even Erie) stations.
I figured, but mentioned since they weren't in the list ;)

CHEX is not worth having unless you live in whitby/oshawa. (22 is oshawa, 12 is probably impossible, it's peterborough)
It's essentially CBC with local news to our area (and peterborough for 12).
(like, over 50% of their programming is CBC)

okay, I made up the 50%, but a lot of it is identical.

The other channels.. don't know. I'm guessing they're similar - localized repeaters of specific stations.

Also did some analysis based with TVFool & can up with these analog possibilities;

12 CHEX
22 CHEX
6 CJOH
28 WDTB
58 WFHW
13 CKCO (has NFL on Sundays!)
3 CKVR (covered above)

WFHW has been silent for years as far as I know. Their last renewal application to the FCC was back in '99. They've never had a digital assignment. I don't know why the station still shows up in FCC searches, as other Buffalo stations no longer broadcasting in analog have been removed.

I get 22 up here in Stouffville. You would likely have to face an antenna due east to get it form your location. It's not worth picking up, at the cost of your current stations though, IMO.

Hello :)

I'd like to buy a preamp & am leaning towards a ChannelMaster. Wonder if the 7777 or 7778 is appropriate for my CM4221 POINTED AT BUFFALO (not pointed at the local stations). Basically I get all the stations (except Rochester) already, but there are rare drops I'd like to reduce.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d7d52ecfc927be5

Also wondering what is a reasonable price to pay. I'd like to buy it at my local TV antenna dealer & don't mind paying a bit of a premium in return for the good service I get - however - not TO MUCH of a premium :p

Edit: Cable run is 100' of RG6. Currently no splits, but I'd like to have the option in the future.

byebye,

A 7777 or 7778 is almost guaranteed to overload in your environment, even though off-axis to your locals.

An HDP-269 from Winegard or a CPA19 Antennas Direct would be better choices due to high input overload resistance. There are a couple of others with this characteristic that might be usable but I can't recall them this morning.

I disagree with the guy who said you'd get overload. I've installed 7777 & 4221 at Coxwell and danforth area and it works great. with a splitter to 2 tv's.
Point the antenna directly at WGRZ. all the toronto stations will com in on the side.

I've installed 7777 & 4221 at Coxwell and danforth area and it works great. with a splitter to 2 tv's.
Point the antenna directly at WGRZ. all the toronto stations will com in on the side.

So Tom would you recommend the 7777 or the 7778 for me? (Birchmount/Danforth, tv fool link above)

I'm up by the university. I have a two story house and mounted a 4221HD in my attic (well, not exactly mounted - I actually have it wedged between two boards from one of the roof trusses. It aims straight south.

With this (very lazy) setup, and an 18db preamp I picked up at Durham Radio, I get everything (CBS, PBS, CBC, ABC, NBC, FOX, CITY, SUN, CW, MYTV).

The only channels I have trouble with are the 51.x channels, which sit around the 5% signal level according to my television. I have a three year old daughter so getting QUBO would be great. Anybody in Durham area get Qubo reliably?

Still pretty astonished at my results considering the half-arsed way I have it setup - but at this point, I'm wondering if there would be any benefit to putting it up on my roof (and the ensuining hassle involved with roof mounting in the winter!).

Thoughts?

The only channels I have trouble with are the 51.x channels, which sit around the 5% signal level according to my television. I have a three year old daughter so getting QUBO would be great. Anybody in Durham area get Qubo reliably?I am in the exact same situation, except I live in Scarberia. A 4221 leaning on roof trusses in the attic. I am really considering moving my antenna outdoors since it should allow for reliable reception of Qubo - mounting the antenna on your roof has to improve your reception for marginal stations. It might also allow you to pick up Rochester stations but that is unlikely to be of much benefit since that will just duplicate what you already get.

mir it sounds like you should leave it be for the winter, but in the springtime when trees get leafy and atmospheric effects start to have more impact on reception you should definitely put it up on the roof.

51's iffy in the wintertime.
In the summer it came in pretty much all the time. But now that things have cooled off (in both temp and atmospheric activity), more often than not, it's not coming in. (I'm not aiming specifically to get it though.. I'm talking off the side when aimed for buf/tor)

As stampeder said, wait for springtime and see what happens. Outdoors is always best, though. ;)
At least by the school you've got some elevation on your side.