Kingdarb, I'll have to second the previous comment. Although it's a perfectly good outdoor antenna, I'm running a squareshooter in my attic in Whitby and it works fine but I think you may be a bit too far away to get the same results as me even outdoors. I'm in a perfect location near the lake with an unobstructed view to both Buffalo and T.O. You should have lots of height in your location however. Later in the summer or early fall I should have a second SS-2000 on hand if you want to hold off and try it out then.

Cool thanks for the information.

Takeaim: I am going to be moving to a place in a development just south of taunton. If you head down harmony from taunton the development is the first one to the right (or west). The development is about nine years old. Not sure if they are great gulf homes or not.

Also, if you are in the same area, what kind of antenna are you using and do you get decent results with it?

Thanks again!

Use the Search This Thread tool to the upper right beside Thread Tools and put in "Harmony", or "Taunton", or other local street names as search terms to see results already posted from near where you live so that you can compare. :) The more reports you read, the better for your decision-making.

If it's not on the Antenna Chart I would not buy it, and even if it is (as the Square Shooter is) you need to read what others in your area have used successfully to make sure you buy wisely for the local conditions. See the links in my signature.

Do you guys find that sometimes even with a PERFECT setup that in the summer some of the Buffalo channels will got from 100% to 10% in a blink of an eye and stay gone for 2,5,10 or 20 minutes? What can cause this?

I have a CM4228 + CM7777 Preamp + 40 Foot tower that normally pulls in 90% on Buffalo, 100% on most Toronto and brings in ION all the time.

just hate the occasional drops!

Anyone else get this? Any idea?

Kingdarb - I live in that development and get every single channel available with a CM4228 with CM7777 pre-amp. Great location!

(i am just off Beatrice and Elderberry)

WZ1 Yup its been that way lately. I think it’s weather and lake temp related.

Hey all...

Although I've been a member here on these forums for years, I am new to OTA.

I decided to cancel cable over the summer this year, and I thought I should check out OTA and see how well it worked where I live. A friend of mine told me about an article in Popular Mechanics about building your own antenna, so I spent $20 and a couple hours and put it together. (http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/how-to/tv/build-your-own-digital-tv-antenna)

To my surprise, it worked. It worked really well. I get all the major US networks, PBS, City, CTV, etc, and everything comes in good if I point the antenna in the right direction.

This led me to more research, which led me here.

Here is my TV Fool report... http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d03d9bfa71b802c

Since my wife was doing some cross border shopping, I jumped right in and had her pick me up a TiVo Premiere HD DVR.

Now, I am looking for a more permanent proper antenna setup. My original thoughts were to purchase a recommended antenna (from the PDF) or build the GH, and put it up in my attic. I had my home wired for Cable/Satellite when it was built, every room has 2 RG6 lines run to it, so I have a decent cable network in place for distribution if I decide to. I thought the attic would be easier, and I wouldn't have to worry about grounding/lightning.

After reading the FAQ (and some of my testing with my little prototype), it seems like I really should setup the antenna outside for best results.

So - Recommendations? I'm a bit confused which antenna on the chart I should be looking at. I'm planning on picking one up at Saveandreplay.com if possible, so I'd like it to be something they carry. For now, just connecting to my one TV with the TiVo is all I need, but in the future I will want to expand to my other two TV's. I have two Samsung LCD TV's in the bedrooms that both have ATSC tuners, and a Pioneer Elite Monitor in the Theater downstairs(no tuners).

Thanks in advance for any help!

Paul

if you want to try an attic install it is possible, just you will lose alot of your signal and thus may require an amp to boost the signal back up (assuming you didn't lose all the signal). then if that doesn't work you could tackle an outdoor.

regardless if you are in the attic or not, you should at least still ground the line as static could build up in the line and be dispersed to your electronic equipment.

I wouldn't have thought about grounding an attic antenna, but if I were to do so would it make sense to ground it by attaching a grounding line to one of the stink stacks? Mine are not plastic.

ground should be into the ground. usually to a water pipe or something. assuming you have the attic rg6 line running to the basement, run the ground line off of that to the pipe and then into your split for the rest of the house etc.

So, on the way home from work today, I stopped at Save And Replay, and bought a DB8, as recommended by the decision chart.

I was excited to start testing. I figured that I would see some improvement over the DIY I had put together (mentioned above, from a popular mechanics article).

I got everything setup.. and.. it wasn't really that much of an improvement. 3-5% signal strength, and it still needed to be aimed at Toronto vs Buffalo to get a few of the Toronto OTAs.

One channel, FOX 29, actually comes in stronger with my DIY.

So - looking at the DB8, I can see that the DIY is essentially a similar sized bowtie type setup, but a single set of 4 instead of the DB8 having 8 total, side by side, tied together.

This has my mind spinning. Could I build another DIY and tie it together in a similar fashion and see gains or would they be negligible?

Also, How can I setup one antenna pointing at Buffalo with another pointing at Toronto? (My TV Fool is above)

Any more suggestions would be awesome.

Thanks!

The 8 significantly changes the reception pattern vs having 4

e.g. I have a 4228 (8 bay)

http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/cm4228az.gif

vs a 4221 (4 bay)

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/picture.php?albumid=85&pictureid=639

So by switching from 8 to 4, you're narrowing your beam, but it gets stronger in the general forward direction.

I use the 4228 to aim at far away buffalo and receive toronto in one of the weaker side lobes (as it's closer and in theory stronger because of that).
I suggest you aim due south and see what happens :)

'77 is correct . Even if you build another 4bay and team them like the DB8, the same narrowing will occur. Maybe stacked one on top of other will work better?

Hey All,

First post after reading & lurking quite a bit the last little while. I just moved into a house & it's getting time to get this Antenna up.
Here's where I am at with what I have read. My decision should be between the 4221HD & 4228HD. anyone in this area of Ajax have any experience with these?
It will be mounted outside; I do have access to a tower, & chimney to mount the antenna. (I would prefer not to have to install the tower, I have to take it down from someone else’s house...just rather avoid the extra work) I will if I have to though...
I expect to get decent results, however one thing I would like to hear from someone is their experience with either of these antenna's and how high they are mounted and their reception of FOX, I am a huge baseball fan, & this is a must have.
The other things I would appreciate any info on are prepping for future upgrade paths... I am not averse to adding another antenna down the road, what should I do during this installation (add larger mounting pole etc.) to avoid extra costs, & hassles later?
Appreciate anything you have to offer, thanks in advance.

regardless if you are in the attic or not, you should at least still ground the line as static could build up in the line and be dispersed to your electronic equipment.

I've had an attic install for the last 4+ years using everything from ampified rabbitears to a mini-state(outside now) and currently an amplified 4bay and an amplified SBGH Gen1. I've never had a problem with static buildup.

I even have a 150ft horizontal loop shortwave antenna that's not grounded either.

From a code point of view I wouldn't think it would have to be grounded since it's not outside. However i'm not an an expert on regulations.

Bulldogge16

I have 4221, 4228 and a XG91...

If I'm not mistaken, your area has good LOS. I pass by that area very often.

- CM4221 is all you need for our area for Buff/Hamilton/Toronto.
- Get a 10' (1.5" diameter) EMC pipe from home depot, chimney mount hardware, RG6 cables.
- Mount your antenna on the highest location on your roof, I mount mine next to the peak of the roof. This ensure my antennas have maximum height above all my neighbor's roof.
- get a dist amp (CM3410) if you wish to connect more than one TVs. I usually also go with one antenna+dist amp for two TVs.

If you are huge baseball fan, then you will have to get a very good VHF antenna- that is to get WNGS 67 (RF 7) from Buffalo that broadcast's Yankee games, and yes they do broadcast Yankee/Bluejay games.

Post your TVFool to see the signal strength of WNGS for your location.

Given the proximity to the lake and TO, the wide angle reception of 4221 will probably do you best. (point at buffalo, TO should be easy as secondary)
Provided you get a mast up above the roof. The land is pretty flat out to the lake, so you're going to need the leg up on that one.
Unless your roof happens to be a bit higher than others due to slightly hilly terrain.
Chimney mount is fine, but you may also want to go above the chimney with a mast (ensure the chimney can support it)

I'm also hoping you're nowhere near the apartments near Harwood, as those could seriously block TO signals.

4221 is all U need 20 + reliable channels just point south west.

Thanks guys,

kooguy, will that pipe & length support another antenna down the road?

recneps77, I had not even thought about those buildings. I can't see them from where I am, however if I think about LOS to the CN tower it may pass right through those apartment buildings. They are on somewhat lower elevation from my place, let's hope that helps. I will climb up on my roof and have a look this weekend.

Here is my report. http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d03d9f5d9f0799f