My brother made an antenna from Youtube instructions.Tell him that this is the place to get the very best DIY TV antenna instructions: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=119489

I've posted in the past about being unable to receive WNED, and for the most part, had given up on it. Recently I discovered that if I point my antenna to 315, I can receive WNED. There's an apartment building to my northwest and I'm guessing that I'm picking up the WNED signal bouncing of the building.

While reception is surpisingly good, it's not perfect. My question is this... I'm currently using a CM 4228 and am wondering if adding a second 4228 (ganging the two 4228's) would improve my reception of WNED.

I realize this is an unusual situation. Any information or advise anyone can offer is appreciated.

what will help your situation is waiting till sept.1 2011, when they shut down analog, your situation will get better.
There is a tornto area thread, i'm sure people in the rest of the country don't understand your problem with wned

Hi...
Thanks for responding. It's a CM4228, connected with 50ft RG6 cable to the TV (via ground). No splitters or pre-amp. Any thoughts?

Hi,

I have setup my antenna(4221HD) for the second time as I had my chimney replaced and I am having issues receiving a few channels. I am receiving all the buffalo channels fairly well except for ION but I don't think I will ever get that channel. My issue is with WIVB and CIII. I read in another thread that WIVB is fairly weak now as they are not transmitting in full power. Is this still the case? and CIII is so weak that I can't get enough of a signal for it to come in while losing WIVB in the process. I am using RG-6 and the cable run is about 80 feet. Is there anything that can be done and simply wait for WIVB to fix it's issue and then repoint?

I am also guessing that the Toronto stations are not using their high powered transmitters yet and if anything I should wait til they switch over.

Any ideas?

Here is my TV Fool report (http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d81a3081d0bd8e5)

jeffbeck,

As of now, don't read into your WIVB results. It appears that many are still not getting it in the northern part of Toronto.

CIII will probably resolve itself after the transition as most Canadian channels will increase power.

That being said, if you don't want to wait, you could consider a pre-amp. 80ft of RG6 is not a short run. You might be able to have it all before the transition. Channel Master, Winegard, Antennas Direct, Kitztech (web only).

ION rf23 WPXJ is -16.7 on my TVFool Report, but I get it reliably. Yours is a bit worse. Who knows, maybe it's out there for you if you perfect your set-up (height, good connectors, pre-amp, etc.).

Good luck!

Thanks for the tips HWP.

I am thinking about a Pre-amp but don't want to commit it if won't do anything at all or overload the power of the ones I do get reliably(if that makes any sense). Is there anything I should do in regards for aiming the antenna? Is it best to keep the antenna 100% vertical or does a little tilt help it out?

Thanks.

Depending on your set-up tipping your antenna up a bit might be tough. Try it. I have directed my 4228hd up toward the treeline at my cottage and the reception does improve. Maybe that would get you CIII Global. Don't worry about WIVB. If you had it before, you'll get it again. It's hard to know for sure about whether or not you'd get overload. I'd be willing to take the gamble and buy one as long as I had gotten good advice on which one might give you your best chance of avoiding overload. I can't help with that advice, but someone here might be able to help you.

Why not check out the pre-amp chart on Digital Home here: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=42426

Looking at the chart the ones that jumps out to me is the Winegard HDP-269 and the AP4700. You have to be concerned about overload from analog 5 and 9. Your antenna is not a VHF antenna so maybe that offsets the risk a bit.

I doubt I can tip up as the mast is in the lower position and will only be able to tip downwards. As for picking up ION, would it be safe to say that if I cannot get any signal from them while I am on my roof with my laptop scanning and pointing around I would not be able to get them with a pre-amp?

Agreed. If you're up there on your roof scanning on your computer and you don't sniff anything, you're right that the pre-amp probably won't help.

As long as there was no overload, a pre-amp would solidify your existing channels and perhaps get you Global CIII, though.

If you let us know your neighbourhood or the nearest intersection, perhaps another reader could tell us if (s)he is getting ION rf23 near you...

Thats why I thought about signal searching.

My Nearest Intersection is The Westway and Islington. Also updated it in my original post.

Area has a lot of tall trees which probably puts a damper on signals.

CIII Global (digital & analog) are strong transmitters. I receive both very well here in Kitchener. I suspect another variable is impacting your reception: too much signal or perhaps tuner sensitivity.

What are you using to tune the channels?

One issue I've seen is that some tuners have poor adjacent (or not-so-adjacent) channel rejection. The tuner is therefore overwhelmed in the presence of many strong signals (such as at your location). The problem will only get worse after transition, when CIII rachets their ERP up to 100kW from the current 3kW. Don't forget that you're using a high-gain UHF antenna (deep fringe) in a line-of-sight situation.

I would experiment with rabbit ears, as this should attenuate the CN tower channels enough to determine if this is indeed the problem.

I was at a friend's house last weekend at the Queensway and Royal York. He gets ION rf23 51.1 relatively well. He has a Channel Master 7778 pre-amp with no overload. No trouble with any of the Canadian stations.

CIII so far is broadcasting at 3kw on digital from the CN Tower. I'm not sure if that is considered particularly high power. Nonetheless if it is available to Jase88 in Kitchener on 41.1 rf65 then you ought to be having better luck from your rooftop eight miles away. Jase88 is right to advise to you consider your set-up for another reason why you're having trouble with that station even using your laptop while sitting on your roof.

I have read in other threads that some tv tuners on computers are more troublesome than TV tuners in TVs and converter boxes. Some who own both have complained that their Hauppauge gets less channels than their regular TV. Have you tried your antenna on a regular HDTV?

I am using a Samsung B series LCD as my main viewing source.


I received WIVB before quite successfully before their transmitter problems and they are between CFTO and WKBW on the RF scale.

I guess I will have to wait until WIVB fixes their problems and I can aim a little bit better towards the CN Tower.

On a side note, I just started picking up CHCH but I think this has to do with the weather. Any ideas?

Thanks for everyones help so far.

CHCH is a very achievable station from most places in the GTA especially if you're aiming toward it from your rooftop.

I am not pointing at it and I'm still receiving it. Does your friend on the queensway get it?

He has a rotor so he definitely gets it.

I get it too. I'm in East York (Pape & Danforth). My antennas are pointing at Buffalo (opposite direction). CHCH's and CITS's tower is directly behind the CN Tower from my place. I get CHCH without pointing at it.

TVFool shows CHCH in the green for me (indoor antenna).

Even on your TV Fool report CHCH doesn't look hard to get. Though antenna placement without a rotor might be a challenge for you. I like CHCH.

I get CHCH in North York too with an attic mounted CS2. It has a wide beam width, so I get it pointed at Buffalo. It took some fiddling to get it to be reliable, by my entire setup is designed to receive Buffalo (i.e., Hamilton is going through a lot more roofing material than Toronto/Buffalo signals are). So, it's quite a strong signal, IMHO, even though I'm only getting it at ~65% because I'm not pointed at it.

Schmerpy,

My theory for your WIVB problem is that you did not have your OTA set-up for long enough to really know how reliable WIVB was ever going to be for you.

It seems like you only had your 7778 pre-amp set-up for about a week or two before you started losing WIVB. That could have been a combination of both the tramistter repairs and the change in weather as fall progressed.

I haven't mentioned much about WIVB because I have not experienced any drop-outs whatsoever (I'm only a five minute drive from the shore of Lake Ontario - uphill).

It's starting to sound like WIVB is coming back for many who were having problems.

I wonder if it's time for you to consider putting a higher gain antenna in your attic since you seem to have tried everything else.

I live near Queen & Carlaw in Toronto, and have had an 8-bay clone antenna up on my roof since the spring of 2009. Through limited experimenting, I've realized that depending on which way I point the antenna I can get either all the Toronto or most of the Buffalo stations, but not both. Currently I'm aiming somewhere in the middle so I get all the Toronto stations except CityTV, but also pick up WNED (PBS) and WNLO (The CW) from Buffalo. I'd like to see what I can do to pick up all available digital OTA channels.

My TV Fool report (http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d81a33927a786bc) shows that there is about 90degrees difference between aiming straight at the CN Tower or aiming straight at Grand Island/Buffalo.

So, I'm thinking that given my location I have the option of using a rotor or using two antennas. I'd appreciate hearing what other people have done in similar circumstances, or thoughts on the best set up given my location.

Thanks!

BV