Thanks for your report, Ndnile.

If you set your report to show "PENDING DIGITAL," then you will see that CBUT 43 shows up at -13.2 NM.

This gives me hope to receive your channels in the -15 NM range for my location report.

Can you get most/all of the major Seattle stations? KOMO, KING, KIRO, etc?

Also, can you get those Vancouver stations from -15 to -20 NM (channels 20, 33, 32 and 26)?

.. Though channel 33 is shared with ION-33 US, so I guess it's strange you have a better US signal than your BC counterpart. heh... I wish FCC and your CRCT would cooperate so as not to use the same RF physical channel.

Also, I wish your stations would like stronger ERPs... Look at KOMO at about 800kW of power, while many of your stations at 8 kW... Is BC/Can trying to save electricity? :)

This is roughly what I get:

I receive dtv channels

2, 6, 8, 12.1, 12.2,17, 21, 23, 24.1-3, 26, 27, 28, 29,32,42.1(seattle),51(seattle), 62(port townsend) pretty much all the time. (8 ,17,42,51, and 26 drop out a bit when the weather is rough)

occassionally get seattle stations when the weather is good
4,5,7,9,11,25,33,44,46 and there subs. only speratic though somewhat good in the summer. The best being 4, 42, 51 and 33 receive between about 30-80% of the time.

Wow, so you get channel 32 (about NM -15) and 26 sometimes (about NM -27). That's quite impressive. But you dont get ch 20 (CHNM)?

When you say "stacked " 91XGs, do you mean they point in the same direction or not? I heard if in the same direction you get 2.5 dB gain (about twice the signal strength).

I'll likely just get one 91XG (too complicated to stack / gang them).

Also, where did you order yours? I was thinking of getting it from either Solid Signal (total of $60 includes shipping) or Amazon ($70 includes free shipping).. $10 difference.. any recommendation? and thinking of getting that KitzTech KT-200 with NF of 0.4 dB.

32 comes in rock solid averaging 23db or so
26 comes in about 80% of the time
ch 20 (CHNM) I do get about 50% of the time but 29 is the same channel and it booms in at around 26-27db for me so I removed from the list.

The "stacked" 91XGs, one aimed at Vancouver and the other aimed at Seattle so I do not need a rotator any more, that was annoying having to aim at seattle and back again all the time.

monster cable splitter as joiner (great impediance matching -London Drugs $10)
2 pieces of 3 foot rg6 thats all it took to stack them.

Got xg91's from E-bay same with cm7777 pre-amp.

The KitzTech KT-200 with NF of 0.4 dB is great but I also have a vhf antenna for 9.1 and 11.1 and the cm7777 offered different input for both uhf and vhf
I actively use 3 antennas at once so it worked out better for me.

I also have cb filter, fm trap and high pass filter on the line for vhf noise.

I forgot to mention that is an attic install aswell, so I lose a bit getting through the roof, I am sure it would be better outside but I am in a townhouse that has stata rules about antennas on the roof. either way I get better reception than most people in the area so I am happy.

Oh, I see.. ch 29 is a local repeater for their main channel 20.. got it.. groovy.. I'd like to get that channel for its Ethnic shows. :-)

Also, so those 91XGs are NOT pointed in same direction, that means you'll lose 1-2 dB I believe.

... and this is an ATTIC install? But your posting shows 30 feet AGL, so I figured you're outside on the roof! So that's 30 feet AGL in the attic? That's amazing...

With so much going against you, 2EDGE, NMs in -15 range, in attic, antennas pointed in different directions... but two items in your favour... 91XGs (these are tops in most posts I have read) and a good amp (CM 7777)... so overall, you still get those channels!!

Just amazing!

This definitely gives me hope...

I am playing it safe and getting that KT-200 because I need ever signal dB gain I can get (so less noise is like more gain.heh)... I plan to get that KT-200 first, hook it to my current "Radio Shack" VU-190 and see if I get a signal blip on 22 and 43 (those show as NM -8dB or so).. hopefully I can get that, then order the 91XG with much higher gain....

... but chance... where your antenna is located... do you have a somewhat clear shot to Van and Sea stations? Or do you have trees/hills/mountains in their paths?

You are correct it is actually closer to 25ft in the attic. Having both pointed in different directions does lose some signal strength (1 - 3.5db) but for me as long as the signals are stabley above 15db I get no macroblocking thats all that really matters I can't tell the difference visually between an SNR of 15 and one that is 30 thats a purists issue. It is not clear line of sight to either location islands and hills to Vancouver and Seattle. But the 91xg really helps I have used lots of other antennas and there are only 2 others I would consider the 4228hd (which needs mods to work at peak performance) or the dbgh but that does not get 62 which is still being used for my situation.

Looks like you're pretty good at hooking up all this stuff... I wish you lived nearby so I could hire you to install on my roof/eave.. hehe. .I'm afraid of heights. :-()

Looking for some set-up information - any help will be much appreciated.

Located just off Tattersall and Maplewood on a south/southeast facing hill in Victoria. Line of sight to Rainier and I think Seattle. A set of rabbit ears/loop antenna on top of the kitchen cabinets (best reception in the house) on a clear day brings in channels 2, 4 (komo), 6, 8, 12, 17, 21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 32, 42 (I think), 51? (KUNS) and 62. Reception falls off in other parts of the house and on inclement days.

I want to set up an antenna array on the roof (25 feet up excluding mast, with a few trees around but no other obstructions) to improve reception consistency and to provide optimal reception to 2 or 3 televisions. I like the idea of having more than one antenna rather than a rotor, and besides with more than one TV the rotor option seems impractical. The xg91 and cm7777 seem to work well for a number of people and for ndnile who is close to where I am so I am leaning towards those two main components.

I have 3 specific questions (and am open to other advice if anyone cares to assist me).

1. I have been told (by the only antenna installer i've been able to find) that with 2 antennas on a single mast it is best to run two separate cables and use a switch at the TV because of signal "interference or overlap" (please excuse my faulty terminology) to get the best results. Is this correct or is there some other way to manage this problem? The dual cable/switch issue is not ideal, especially with more than one TV.

2. If I just install two HD antennas (for example the xg91) are there any stations that will fall outside of the bandwith range of this antenna? Would I need a different 3rd antenna to capture all available TV signals?

3. Does anyone know any antenna installers in Victoria? I've only managed to find one so far.

Cheers.

Re question 1, your installer is correct. Combining antennas can work, but it's more likely that the signal picked up by one antenna will add destructively with the signal from the second for some channels. If you picture the signals as vibrating strings, the trick is to get the peaks to arrive at the combiner together so they add. Running separate cables down to an A/B switch is always the most reliable way to go.

For your second question, please read the new members (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=125161) thread and provide us the link to your TVFool report.

The stacking that worked for me .... 2~91xg's on the same mast roughly 3 feet apart one aimed at about 20 degrees north (van & bellingham) the other at 130 degrees (seattle & port townsend), each has 3 foot run of rg6 that connect into moster cable splitter (london drugs- yates) then 2 foot lead that feeds into cm7777, on the antenna aimed at seattle I installed a (NF-470) notch filter because chan 22.1 (8) was getting interference from using both antennas (it solved that problem for me as that was the only channel I had the phasing issue on).

The critical things are that the antennas are the same, feed lines to the splitter are identical in length and that the antennas are spaced a few feet apart one above the other (I think... 0.68 wavelength of lowest channel).

The only 2 channels on vhf are 9 and 11 both of which I find only come in with good tropos might not be worth the time for them.

There are no really good installers in Victoria that I am aware of, there is a guy out in Sidney (Laturnus tv) but I would rather do it myself.

Hopefully this helps.

Cheers Frank

Stevetta - We're VERY close to each other. I'm on Maplewood just south of Tattersall. Blue and White Ford pickup in front / Black Volvo wagon in the driveway - drop by any time.

I hear there's an installer out in Sidney who was recommended to me by two separate reputable shops in town when I first started. I'll see if I can get his name again and message you privately.

I have an CM 4228HD, CM 7777 amp, and rotator. I'm very pleased with the performance. On my roof - I've got a view to the entrance of Puget Sound to the SE and barely a view to Mount Seymour to the NNE. I get a great number of channels. I'm looking to 'rerig' my mount so I can put on another CM 4228HD so I don't have to rotate / rescan each time.

Self-employment and an extended lack of contracts has meant being a little more frugal in my purchases of late. Of course the longer I wait - the crappier the weather gets.

Yours truly,
Fred.

You guys are lucky you live in one of the best areas in the city for reception, I am over by kings and shelbourne and the opening to Seattle is not as good for me.

Ndnile - If it's any consolation, I spend most of my time watching shows on the Canadian transmitters anyway. The major US network shows are all carried on the main Canadian transmitters and most of the ones that aren't are in Spanish, Korean, Mandarin, or the other religious channel.

Admittedly, QUBO (which is a US version of TreeHouse) keeps the children entertained. And... QUBO carries a number of the same Canadian children's shows as well.

So really - you aren't missing much.

Yours truly,
Fred.

Ya I still get 4,5,7,9,11,16,22,33,42,44,46,51 and there subchannels but I do not get them as reliably as you guys do, mainly in the summer except 42,51, and 62 they come in 99% of the time, and 4 about 50% of the time. With good tropos in the summer I have received 51 channels in all.

I just wish 33 qubo came in a bit better as my kid loves that channel. lol

QUBO 33? I'd trade that channel for your CKVU RF 33 instead. :-)

And your local newscasts are so much more interesting than bland "US" news. heh.

Dave Laudin
Ndnile
Pro gunner

Thank you all for your feedback. I'll let you know how I eventually make out.

Already get that channel as 27.1 in victoria so no need to get the van one.

Cheers Stevetta
keep us posted interested to see how you make out.