Hey thanks for the information. My wife and I were looking at our cable bill and we pay almost $52 bucks a month to watch tv and basicly watch just network channels. The trick will be finding out if it is possible to get myth working with OTA so we can still PVR our shows.

Rlongfield... My brother pvr's his stuff ota using his computer..
Too advanced for me.. HELL, I still make my kids get up and go to the TV to change the channel! LOL

rlongfield, you'll find tons of great info on MythTV in the HTPC Forum:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=31

and see the Antenna Chart and OTA FAQ for your best options:

Hi,
I am 40km north of Lindsay On, just outside of Coboconk. My elevation
is approx 900ft and my antenna is 35 ft off the ground. I am using a non-hacked channel master 4228hd with a winegaurd 8275 amp with approx 65 ft of rg6 cable. No rotor and aimed at 210 degrees ssw. I am using the tuner in my sony 52 lcd tv and here are my results:
2.1 wgrz
2.2 wgrz
2.3 wgrz
4.1 wivb
5.1 cblt cbc
7.1 wkbw
17.1 wned
17.2 wned
17.3 wned
23.1 wnlo
29.1 wutv
29.2 wutv
43.8 ????
43.9 ????
49.1 wnyo
49.2 wnyo
51.1 ion
51.2 qubo
51.3 ion life
51.4 worship
The 4228hd antenna also picks up 20 analog signals when aimed at 210 degrees ssw. I don't understand why Barrie ckvr is not coming in clear--can anybody tell me if I need an antenuater?? Barrie is approx 50km while the ctv Dunsfors tower is 19km away and the ctv analog is cystal clear while ckvr is crappy?? Is ckvr that strong a signal???
here is my tvfool info:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d507c2afdb9f519
cheers!!!:D

I don't understand why Barrie ckvr is not coming in clear

CKVR analog is on channel 3. A 4228HD is not too good on VHF-low band channel 3, especially since you only have 16 dB of noise margin. According tot he simulations over at hdtvprimer.com, an old 4228 was at least 24 dB down at channel 3. That means you'd need at least a noise margin of 24, and you'll probably have some ghosting, too.

rlongfield:
Here's the TVFool report you posted in a separate (now closed) thread:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d03fb2ee4c44563
GREEN and YELLOW stations shouldn't be a problem with most any decent VHF/UHF Antenna.

The challenge is going progressively deeper into the RED region, with FOX probably being your limit.

With several strong, nearby TV stations, overload desensitization must be controlled.
Try it first without a Preamp and (if you must) try a low-gain Preamp such as the HDP-269.
High gain Preamps, such as the CM7777 will overload, resulting in intermod distortion
products on top of the weak stations, preventing reception.

Most "hard to get" stations are on Ch25 and below, which is the "hard to get" Gain area
for many antennas:
http://www.hdtvprimer.com/antennas/comparing.html
http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/TemporaryPage.html

Hence for UHF, Winegard HD-8800 (aka PR-8800) would be a good choice.
If you want to try a DIY project, make sure it hasn't lost TOO much Gain
on the higher channels, e.g. Ch57 and Ch65.
And you'll need a Rotator.

W-G YA-1713 would be hard to beat for performance/cost for Hi-VHF, although you could
probably also use the Antennacraft Y-5-7-13 with slightly lower cost/performance.
Use a R-S 15-2586 VHF/UHF Combiner/Diplex with DC PASS on the UHF side for the Preamp.
There are some nearby FM stations, but only a few of them with significant power.
Fortunately (probably by design), their second order harmonics fall harmlessly on Ch10.
So an FM Trap does not appear to be needed.

Analog Ch2 and Ch6 are moving to digital Ch49 and Ch8 respectively, so won't
need Lo-VHF when they transition. Analog CJOJ Ch6 is strong enough it should
come in on the YA-1713 anyway....If you just have to have Analog Ch2 until they
fire up digital, you could use an inexpensive Combo VHF/UHF antenna instead of
the YA-1713....but stick with the HD-8800 for UHF. Here's Stampeder's selection chart:
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?p=975269

Dual, Triple or Quad Shielded RG-6 for downlead are all good, although only you
can determine whether there are nearby local sources of interference, such as
a Ham Radio guy, an airport or an industrial park, in which case use Quad.

Antenna MUST be adequately grounded with a spark-gap surge suppressor at
the cable entry point:
http://www.keohi.com/keohihdtv/hdreception/antenna_grounding.html
http://manuals.solidsignal.com/AntInstallGuide.pdf
http://www.mikeholt.com/mojonewsarchive/GB-HTML/HTML/GroundingSatelliteDishandLead-InCables~20020303.htm

Analog CJOJ Ch6 is strong enough it should
come in on the YA-1713 anyway....If you just have to have Analog Ch2 until they
fire up digital, you could use an inexpensive Combo VHF/UHF antenna instead of
the YA-1713....but stick with the HD-8800 for UHF.

And in the current view of the Canadian digital transition, there is no requirement for Global on channel 2 or CTV on channel 6 to light up digitally after they stop broadcasting in analog in August 2011. (The Kingston and Pembroke markets are not in the 'must broadcast digitally' list of the CRTC.)

Holl ands: Wow that is quite a lot of information, it's going to take some reading to figure out exactly what you are talking about and thank you for the links for more details, that is exactly what I was hoping for.

TVLurker Of course.... Typical for the Kingston area, I'm sure if CJOH doesn't light up in the Kingston Market they'll scream bloody murder again when Kingston advertisers buy ad time on WWNY again like they did back in the 80's.

but analog 54, cfto is crystal clear... I am thinking ckvr is overpowering my amp... It's more
of a sign wave on the screen than ghosting. All the other analog channels come in crystal clear except
for ckvr???
I have other antennas that I have tried and it's the same result. I can't knock the 4228hd because it
seems to pull in the most reliable digital for me in my fringe area. I haven't hacked out the 4228hd yet, I
think I will leave it because I really have no complaints so far....
I have also been able to receive a higher signal by tilting the 4228hd, toeing out the bottom of
the antenna made a difference for sure...
:)

And in the current view of the Canadian digital transition, there is no requirement for Global on channel 2 or CTV on channel 6 to light up digitally after they stop broadcasting in analog in August 2011. (The Kingston and Pembroke markets are not in the 'must broadcast digitally' list of the CRTC.)
And yet they want a new TV tax, but don't want to spend to keep those transmitters operational, here in the Belleville, Kingston, Brockville corridor. If that's their attitude, then I guess that they don't mind if I opt out of their taxing scheme on Starchoice. ;)

Hello Everyone,

I am new to OTA television and new to the forum, this is my first post.

I have a ANT7285 8-Bay UHF Multi directional HDTV antenna, mounted on a 20 footpole, against my backyard fence. I also have an Digital convertor box attached to my analog TV. I receive 21 channels, and I am very happy with the signal quaility. I however do not receive Global channel 41. I don't mean to be greedy, but the wife is bugging me about this because Global carries her soap opera.

These are the channels I get:

2-1 WGRZ-HD
2-2 WGRZ-VS
2-3 WGRZ-RT
4-1 WIVB-HD
5-1 CBLT-DT
7-1 WKBW-HD
9-1 CFTO-HD
17-1 WNED-HD
17-2 WNED-SD
17-3 WNED-TH
23-1 WNLO-HD
25-1 CBLFT-D
44-1 OMNI 2
49-1 WNYO-HD
49-2 WNYO-SD
51-1 ION
51-2 qube
51-3 IONLife
51-4 Worship
57-1 City HD
64-1 OMNI 1

Is there anything I can do to get the Global broadcast?

I don't mean to be greedy, but the wife is bugging me about this because Global carries her soap opera.Hi and welcome here, I don't do marriage counselling but my first advice is to solve this critical issue asap!!! :D

If you have a signal strength meter on your converter box here's a suggestion: tune into the weakest Buffalo channel and while watching the signal meter turn the antenna away in the direction of Toronto until the signal is almost lost, then turn it back just a bit. Check that all the Buffalo stations are still available and then see if the Toronto channels are all coming in more powerfully, with Global hopefully now visible.

If that doesn't work, you might need to consider a dedicated antenna for Toronto and another one for Buffalo, connected as in Post #16 of the OTA FAQ.

Thank you for the help, I did what you suggested but it did not work. It doesn't seem to matter how I aim the antenna, I cannot receive Global. Maybe I do not have enough height, but all the other stations come in fine.

Yep, you are a candidate for either a preamp or a dual antenna setup. Those seem to be common in this thread and in the thread for the Ajax-through-Oshawa areas, so you can see what other members have used for picking up all those stations.

Out of curiosity, did you try aiming right at the CN Tower and scanning to see if Global came in? This would establish if there is some sort of local problem with that channel, such as your antenna or weird interference.

larryjam: While I realize you don't have a rotor, you stand a good chance of getting Global from Peterborough which is on channel 27. I just did a quick TVFool for Bowmanville and Global on 27 is in the green. Although it also shows 41 as being as strong as 27. Odd.

I just re-read your list again, are you not getting 41 analog or 41 digital? If I am not mistaken, the digital signal for Global is weaker than nerd in gym class. I see you are using a digital box, they won't pickup the analogs. Your tv should be able to get 41 or 27 with no problems.

As a side not, I am not sure which soap you are looking for but Y&R is available on CBS at 12:30pm. I am building a OTA PVR so I can record it for my spouse.
The things we do...

Isn't the Global transmitter on 27 closer to Brighton, Ontario, as is CKWS on 66?

You could be right. 66 is in Brighton I know. 27 I am not sure, I always knew it as Peterborough but I think it is closer to Port Hope.

CIII-TV-27 is located south of Rice Lake between Harwood and Cobourg.
CKWS-TV-66 is located just west of Brighton.

I did an antenna install for my mom, at her house in Port Hope. I had done a TV fool report before doing the install. It listed CFTO-DT as the 3rd strongest (digital) station at her house with 22.9NM, with no co-channel or adjacent channel interference.

The stations above and below CFTO-DT in the list all come in fine. RF 40 shows a fuzzy analogue station though, with no sign of CFTO-DT. I figure that fuzzy analogue channel must be WBGT-LP out of Rochester. No CTV-HD.

I checked the FCC site & found that WAWW-LP also out of Rochester, has applied (end of Oct.) to have a previously granted CP regranted, and allow them to move to RF 20. They have been displaced from their former 38 by WKBW-DT. They say that they were approved back in '04 to move to 20, and that they already received CDN approval, so it doesn't need to be sought again.

CBLT was set to use 64, not 20, back in '04, and therefore wouldn't have rejected. I certainly hope this doesn't go ahead without I.C. being involved, or CBC-HD will be lost as well, to another Rochester LP.

CBLT was set to use 64, not 20, back in '04, and therefore wouldn't have rejected. I certainly hope this doesn't go ahead without I.C. being involved, or CBC-HD will be lost as well, to another Rochester LP.But they want to hold us up for extortion of more money from Cable/Satellite. If they get their cash, I predict that they still won't convert their repeaters to HD in 2011. Living in the Trenton/Belleville/Kingston corridor, we may never get any HD Canadian programming OTA.