I'm using a PC tuner card (internal, PCI). My TV has an ATSC tuner as well. It would be a hassle to try it because it is mounted on the wall and I'd have to remove it to get at the coax input. Regardless, I need to make it work with the PC tuner card, as I record everything and watch it later.

Tonight is really bad for reception (for me). I've got no WGRZ, WIVB, WNED, or WKBW, but WNLO, WUTV, WNYO are all solid. Weird.

The Buffalo stations tend to be more difficult to get when the weather turns cold.

I think if you throw in a pre-amp, that should put you over the hump. Not sure about Save and Replay, but a lot of places will let you try a pre-amp and return it if it doesn't work- so maybe try a CM 7778- little less power than the 7777, but should do you fine.

I'm using a PC tuner card (internal, PCI). My TV has an ATSC tuner as well. It would be a hassle to try it because it is mounted on the wall and I'd have to remove it to get at the coax input. Regardless, I need to make it work with the PC tuner card, as I record everything and watch it later.

Tonight is really bad for reception (for me). I've got no WGRZ, WIVB, WNED, or WKBW, but WNLO, WUTV, WNYO are all solid. Weird.
Could be an aiming issue.

cogitech: which tuner are you using? some of the earlier generations of ATSC tuners are not exactly fantastic at sorting out multi path and weak signals. I've tried both the hauppauge hvr-1600, hvr-1250 and Asus U3100 (usb) and the 1250 has been the best out of all of them.

goforit,

Could be an aiming and height issue. I think my next step is to get the antenna higher. The odd thing is that TVFOOL tells me that WNYO is supposed to be several db weaker in my area than WIVB or WKBW, but WNYO is always solid, no matter what. When I change the aiming to point closer to 148 degrees things don't improve much because then I am pointed straight into the tree I discussed earlier.

So, more height first, then maybe a lower-powered pre-amp. Pre-amps seem stupidly expensive though, IMO.

mogwai,

I have a Kworld PCI ATSC tuner card.

Cogitech, I use a 4228 (original) mounted about 40' high on a tower. I am not too far from you near Islington and Bloor. With the 4228 aimed south at approx 160 degrees I get (almost*) every station from Buffalo and Toronto without turning the rotor. This is a good thing, since the rotor freezes in the winter.

This is with NO amplifier, through a 2-way splitter, and about 75' of RG6 feeding 2 TVs with ATSC tuners.

* - I don't get Global 41-1. WNYO 49-1 can be iffy at times.

oh, which model? 110, 120?

PnnyPnchr,

Thanks for the details of your results. I beginning to suspect my tuner.

mogwai,

I'm about to take my PC apart to check what model it is. I suspect it is the 110, which is known to be a POS for weak signals and multipath issues.

I have 3 TVs and the LG tuner is the best.

It's a 120, actually.

do you have pci-express in your PC? a hvr-1250 oem can be had on the cheap from a variety of pc-vendors. if you dont the next best will be the Hvr-1600 or hvr-950q (usb)

Cogitech,

Buffalo and Rochester signals are coming strong today...I'll be surprise if you still don't get a lock of WKBW and WIVB. I point a crappy antenna (6' off the ground) toward my neighbor's house and get WKBW and WIVB no problem.

Just play with height first, no amp or anything to complicate things. I don't have much experience with PC tuner, any possibility to rule it out by using another TV tuner?

Let's keep all the PC ATSC tuner discussion in the HTPC Forum (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=31) where there are plenty of great threads on those items. If his tuner is the weak link he can read up on the best solutions in there.

We'll stick to optimizing cogitech's reception and other OTA gear here. :)

Yeah, if I decide on a new tuner, then I'll address that elsewhere (I do appreciate the advice, though, and will likely go for the 1250 if I decide I want to try a new tuner).

But for now, an update:

I was out with my wife, kids and mother today shopping for a new suit (sooo much fun :rolleyes: ).

Anyway, on the way home I said "mind if I stop into Home Depot?"

So I bought a 1-1/4" galvanized 10' pole, stuck the two antennas on (stacked, of course) and I now get WKBW solid and WIVB is border-line but good at about -3.6db to -4.6db in TS Viewer.

Progress. But not perfection. Yet.

Cogitech,

I'm glad that you have made progress...Seems the height does help to improve reception. Just work along that height option and let us know how it goes.

I still doubt that you need to stack 2x4221HD given your proximity to CN tower and Buffalo (sort of..).

Stampeder: sorry to take it OT... I should pay more attention around here. my bad.

cogitech: glad to hear the height helped out. It usually does. you might even be able to get that rock solid with a little bit more work on the stack (and not get another tuner) make sure you've got them at least 8" apart on the mast. Some folks seem to get better results with 16" or further, but it hurt mine.

If the antennas are exactly the same- no separation is needed, you can have them as close to each other as possible- thus both antennas will be as high as possible as well.

Kooguy,

I have loaded the Buffalo RF maps (.kmz files) into Google Earth and it is no surprise to me why I am having some difficulties with specific channels. I am in the light pink of some of these signals and even one or two streets north of me on the map gets nothing at all on some of those channels. Add the massive tree into the equation (which is taller than I thought and in direct line of the South Buffalo towers) and you end up with a fairly challenging situation.

BTW, I forgot to mention that the only way at all for me to get WIVB consistently was to tilt the mast back about 10-15 degrees. If it is plumb, I get nothing.

mogwai and goforit,

I currently have the antennas basically touching (black plastic end caps on centre beam of reflectors). I need to go back up to mount the mast more securely and tape all my coax connections, so I'll try moving them apart 8" and see if it makes any difference in my setup. Although, I hesitate to do so now that I have it "working".

As it is, WIVB was coming in at an amazing (for this location) +.4 dbm to -1.4 dbm at around 7:30am this morning and everything else is on the + side as well.