Hi all,

I originally tried the Terk HDTVa inside my condo (Yonge and Eglinton, facing North/West), and only received one or two channels. Next I borrowed what looks to be a ChannelMaster 4221 antenna on my balcony and then got 20+ channels!

My question is this: the only way I could yield the most channels is to use the amplifier that came with the Terk HDTVa. I'd like to return the Terk, and would like to purchase a similar amplifier. Does anybody know where I can start to find an amplifier that I could buy? FYI without the amp, I get maybe 5 channels. My limited research suggests that the amp that comes with the Terk is a signal amp?

Thanks

Odds are you need a powerd pre-amp. The ongoing consensus here is that the CM7777 or CM7778 are the way to go. The Source has it on their online invintory but nothing in stock right now. There are other places to get it, including this sites sponsors.

Some also find that a distribution amp also helps their setup. Those can also be found at The Source, the sites sponsors, or basically any store that sells basic television needs. A-Z electronics up at Dufferin/Steeles has a vast array of distribution amps in stock.

The CM7777 is too strong a Toronto condo/apartment install. The CM7778 is the most I'd use in this situation.

Normally I would agree, BUT he is facing the wrong direction. From Yonge/Eg you want to point S.E. and he is looking N.W. so a 7777 may be needed.

I don't follow your logic here.

The purpose of a pre-amp is to overcome line loss between the antenna and the tuner. In a typical condo/apartment, this loss would be low. A CM7777 at that location, despite the facing direction, would still be overkill.

Thanks. I was lucky to find a small hole in my balcony door to fish a coax cable through, however had to crimp the ends myself as it wouldn't fit through the hole. Do you think it would work for me to use the CM7778 from inside my condo (there will be a minimum of 8 feet to get into the condo).

The CM7778 amp can be installed next to the antenna. You then use a power inserter inside to power the amp over the existing coax line. Therefore no need to run a separate power cable to the amp outside.

Great, thanks for your input guys. I will make my way to the store this wknd to find the CM7778 (and I guess I buy the power inserter seperately).

As a side-note, I don't understand UHF vs VHF. Since I am using a CM4221HD, does that mean I am not getting some channels on the VHF band? I seem to be getting strong signals on channels below 13 (for example 9.1 CTV is coming in strong).

I'd like to buy a new antenna and hopefully receive OMNI and CITY signals, which aren't coming through. Any suggestions? (my TVFool report: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d60b52e7b6c21fd)

Is there a recommended power inserter I should use?

caput:
The CM7778 and 7777 pre-amps will come with a power inserter.

I'd try to buy from some place that will be OK with you returning/exchanging the unit in case it does nothing for you.

As a side-note, I don't understand UHF vs VHF. Since I am using a CM4221HD, does that mean I am not getting some channels on the VHF band? I seem to be getting strong signals on channels below 13 (for example 9.1 CTV is coming in strong).
VHF is the band for channels 2-13, with 2-6 below the FM band and 7-13 above that band. UHF is the band for channels 14 and above. NOTE: the channel the station actually broadcasts on may be different than what is displayed by your TV. Consult the "real channel" column in your TVFool report to know which channels are in which band.

You need to care in order to know if you need the larger elements that are tuned for VHF in your antenna.

2 nights ago was one of the windiest nights ever since I went OTA 5 years ago (almost to the day! :cool: ). I'm not sure my antenna/mast went unscathed. I think it was slightly re-directed southwards - maybe only a couple of degrees. The result is that WNYO 49.1, .2 seems a bit stronger (usually I only get this in the rain, but it's been solid since), but I've totally lost Global on 41.1, The stations from First Canadian Place which were already weak are even weaker now (not worrying about those until they move to the CN Tower). Everything else is pretty much the same. Very odd that I get CBC, CTV, TVO, SRC very strongly still, but Global is too weak to lock. :o

Anyone else notice any difference in their results since Wednesday?

As a side-note, I don't understand UHF vs VHF. Since I am using a CM4221HD, does that mean I am not getting some channels on the VHF band? I seem to be getting strong signals on channels below 13 (for example 9.1 CTV is coming in strong).

The only VHF that most of us in the 416 can hopr to get are CTV 9.1 (which I see you get) and CHCH 11.1 (which some of us don't get). If you get those, you need not worry too much. To try for CKVR (RF 10) or WBBZ (RF 7) people have gone to great lengths and only a few have had any success.

I'd like to buy a new antenna and hopefully receive OMNI and CITY signals, which aren't coming through.

I'd highly recommend to wait a few weeks until they move to their new (better :D ) transmitter.

Agreed with DHCer El Gran Chico. If you do decide you want to try and get WBBZ, take a look at the posts of DHCer HWP, who seems to be the leader on getting a good signal of this station.

I get full bars on CFTO, CHCH, and CKVR but little luck with WBBZ, it's mainly tropo for me. Of course, a good VHF antenna helped.

I get full bars on CFTO, WBBZ if I aim directly, and CHCH if I aim.

So far, I have not even locked on to CKVR. When I aim at Barrie rf 10, the TV switches back and forth between "channel not available" to "program not available" which are two different levels of not getting reception. So I guess rf10 is present in the air, but my antenna isn't up to the task. And it makes me wonder if there is really any practical antenna solution for CTV2 for me. Doubt it.

Also with noting, when I aim at WPXJ (ION) it comes in always at almost full bars. Not one single dropout since getting the rotator. I'm confident it will stick around for me all year now.

WBBZ has far exceeded my expectations. Since getting the rotator it has been basically coming in soldly. But in the most recent couple of days I see that the reception is dropping down to just barely over minimum levels required for reception. I'm willing to bet that I'll have to say goodbye to WBBZ sometime in October or November and wait for its return in March or April. But we'll see.

I like my 7697, but if you're getting inspiration and antenna ideas from me, if I could do it again, I'd probably go for an Antennacraft HBU55 first, and then a Winegard hd7698p second, and then my antenna as a third choice.

I think the next time I blow money on my hobby will be on a Winegard 269 pre-amp. I'm curious to compare its performance with my current 7778.

Just finished experimenting with my 7778 pre amp that I exchanged few days ago.
These are my findings with 4 tv's:
-minimal signal strength improvement over my 3141 distributor amp
- still no Ion channels
-lost CHCH station
To get CHCH I had to change switch to separate and connect my DB8 antenna to VHF input , but then I lost most of UHF channels.
So the 7778 pre amp does not like combininig VHF and UHF signals , but I am pretty sure that it will work well with both UHF and VHF antennas and set to separate. Maybe next week I will try 7777 pre amp , if I can get my 7778 exchanged.

I have a feeling almost everyone here thinks a 7777 is the wrong way to go. You may have some obstacles, but your situation is not deep fringe by any means.

Consider a lower gain pre-amp if you really want to change.

I think that a lot of people underestimate performance of the distribution amplifier , that is why I am getting those resoults wit 7778 pre amp.
Propably the only way to go for me to get more than 27 solid channels would be getting something like HBU 55 ,except I am not sure if I want to put monster like this on my chimney , even though this antenna looks very impressive to me.Does anybody know where to get one of those in the GTA.

CKVR seems to be a no show in Toronto, although as soon as you cross into York Region north of Steeles it starts appearing. I get it at Full Bars at my location northeast of the city. If I compare all the stations I recieve on a Spectrum Analyzer, CFTO is by far the strongest. Remember Toronto begins to slope downward towards the lake which likely blocks CKVR in most of Toronto.