Sorry, I didn't mean to imply stacking 8-bay antennas - I meant 2 stacked 4-bays = 8 bays in total. Now that you mention it though, someone quite near my house has two OVERLAPPING stacked 4228's & appears to be trying to split the difference between Buffalo & the CN tower.:)

Still it's actually outside Buffalo. Try aiming more towards Buffalo.

Their signal is directional east-west (picture a figure 8-like contour), so perhaps direct-aiming isn't the best thing for ION. Someone in Mississauga has reported good luck pulling ION most of the time that way.


I didn't realize ION transmitted in a figure 8 pattern. Their tvfool google earth map looks bizarre - I have the smallest little bit of purple on my house :). I'll post it here if I can figure it out tomorrow.

Does anyone know where to get 6 gauge copper wire in Toronto?

Lots of people have looked, and all you will be able to find is stranded. The closest people could find was 8ga aluminum ground wire from Durham radio, discussed in this thread (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=109033), posts 14-21.

I got 8ga copper when I was down in the states where it's available at Home Depot. I also saw 6ga, but it may have been at Lowes.

Keep in mind that the most troublesome Buffalo-area station for everyone in the Golden Horseshoe has always been ION. Generally it seems that our members have to take heroic measures to get it to consistently hold a lock, if that's even possible in the first place. An "ION Special" (a dedicated, high performance antenna like a DBGH or 91XG) might be the best effort.

ION has never been a problem for me here in the Stouffville area. Even in the winter, the signal dropped to 2 bars but it consistently worked without issues. WNYO is also at maximum 10 bars summer and winter. Its my strongest station on my signal analyzer since it moved back to RF 49. WNYB is the only station out of Buffalo I cannot get consistently.

I think the trick for ION for people east of Toronto is 2 ganged antennae. If you try and use a single antenna to split the difference between Buffalo and Toronto then ION is too far off to the east. You need to have one antenna for Toronto and a second one pointing to Buffalo, or even halfway between Buffalo at Batavia.

byebye-cable,

Looking for 6 guage copper? Try metal supermarket, very good price.

My XG91 has consistent reception but only if temperature don't go below 5 degree or very bad weather...

Since DHCer, 'thenewdc' has consistent reception for ION including winter from his location, I think it is possible to get ION all year round provided we can figure out what antenna (or stacking) to be used.

We will need antenna gurus like Mclapp or 300ohm to help us out - high gain GH or M4/M8...

It depends where you are. If you're in the eastern parts of GTA, or have good elevation such as areas like Stouffville or Markham (with the Oak Ridges Moraine), then ION is very much possible. Preferably one would need both.

Unfortunately for us out west, or at lower elevations near the lake, it is very difficult, if not impossible to net this station without some good propogation or tropo.

I was considering building a 20+ dB gain curtain quad to bag it, but again, the amount of work needed (not to mention how heavy that antenna would be, you'd still need elevation), simply does not justify it. I can get ION around 50-60% of the year.

Hopefully they will move their tower closer to Buffalo, but unfortunately I can't see that happening anytime soon.

I get ION with a homemade SBGH mounted in my attic with a pre-amp at the feed. I'm aiming directly towards ION, and all the Buffalo's come in strong as well with the exception of WNYB. All the Buffalo's max out to full bars for me at my location.

Hopefully they will move their tower closer to Buffalo, but unfortunately I can't see that happening anytime soon.

It's in their benefit to stay where they are. Being in Batavia, running the figure 8 pattern they're running, gives them both Rochester & Buffalo all to themselves. If they were in Buffalo, there would likely be someone else with ION affiliation in Rochester. It's a perfect setup for a station that's a member of a fledgling network, as it increases their commercial viability.

byebye-cable,

Looking for 6 guage copper? Try metal supermarket, very good price.

Where in the heck would I find a metal supermarket?

A friend of mine works for hydro - another angle I am thinking..

Opps - nevermind. It's appropriately located at 45 Ironside :p Crescent, Unit 12.

I will advise if I find it.

Also keep in mind that ION didn't show up in tvfool for Stouffville location.

That must have been over 120 miles between Batavia and Stouffville and the fact that DHCer, 'thenewdc' is able to get it with a SBGH in attic, that's very impressive!

In fact his report actually get me thinking not to give up just because tvfool said that ION is at 2Edge or 1Edge for my location.

ION has a maximum ERP of 455KW, I think consistent reception is a possibility provided we have the right antenna.

I think what helps me getting ION consistently in Stouffville is my elevation and I have no obstructions other than my attic roof. Stouffville is quite a bit higher than those of you near the Lake. Also, from my location to their transmitter site is not 120 miles, its 95 miles.

I am using a Channel Master 7777 preamp with a regular 4 way splitter and I am getting fairly decent signal (around 45% strength Buffalo and about 60% Toronto) wondering if I should take out the splitter and get a Channel Master distribution amplifier? Can I use both a preamp and a distribution amp? has anyone tried this? I am pointed 200 degrees and have not tried maximizing for WGRZ...


Steve Ostiguy
Ajax, ON

SmartyPants,

Are you on North or South of 401?

Ajax is great location to receive Buffalo/Toronto/Hamilton channels provided your antenna has the height and LOS. A single CM4221 is all you need and should be able to max (80-100%) on all channels.

My suggestion is aim your antenna for maximum gain on all channels first then use a distribution amp for 4 Tvs.

If you have close by towers- possible overload risk, pre-amp is not good, distro amp better. If no concerns with overload, pre-amp is better than distro amp- higher gain, and you are amping closer to the antenna. It might also be an aiming issue or height- possible obstruction.

I am using a Channel Master 7777 preamp with a regular 4 way splitter and I am getting fairly decent signal (around 45% strength Buffalo and about 60% Toronto) wondering if I should take out the splitter and get a Channel Master distribution amplifier? Can I use both a preamp and a distribution amp? has anyone tried this? I am pointed 200 degrees and have not tried maximizing for WGRZ...


Steve Ostiguy
Ajax, ON
Hi Steve, No, A distribution amp will not work with a pre-amp, especially a 7777.
You didn't say what antenna you have, but usually you can get tor/buf/ham with one antenna and a 7777, IF YOU HAVE A CLEAR VEIW. IMHO, a 7777 and 4 way splitter is just as good or better than a 4 way dist amp.
I would start buy pointing directly at WGRZ, then check signal on the week Toronto stations, City & Global. If you don't get them reliably, (doesn't need strong signals, only reliable), then pan (adjust) more west untill you get them. Hopefully, you don't need to go so far west that you loose the majors from buffalo.
Good Luck!

byebye-cable,

Looking for 6 guage copper? Try metal supermarket, very good price.

They don't have it either.

Hey All,

I've been lurking on the forum for some time now as I contemplated the move from Bell Sat to OTA. Today we finally got our antenna (an ANT7287 from Durham Radio) up an running.

After plugging the feed into my ancient Radio Shack four way distribution amplifier I found myself getting every channel I expected. Even ION came in at around 63% based on my soon to be returned Bell dual tuner PVR.

CHCH is a little week and intermittent, but I think a slight twist to the east on that arm of the antenna should help.

Just wondering if anyone has some advice in general. I have no idea if conditions were ideal this evening, and I'm just benefiting from that circumstance.

Looking forward to feedback and interacting with everyone.

Dileas