ON - City of Toronto Metro Area <OUTDOOR Antennas Only> - OTA

[softball44]

Nice straightforward advice from both. Thank you. We all spend more time on our pc's than in front of the TV so WBBZ is not of great interest except for the rather infrequent baseball games. I think I saw all of their other shows 4 decades or so ago. But it's there so I'll have to try. I'll start as soon as I decide between the DB4e and the Winegard. Then I'll have to try the hdhomerun. The phone app looks like it might be rather useful. This should keep me occupied until I can convince the wife that we don't really need a backyard because C-band looks like fun!

Thank you again. I will report back my results as soon as obtained. I can say now, though, that I get most local stations with a $3 set top pointed at the window.

[HWP]

If you decide you want to try to get WBBZ then you need the Winegard YA1713 specifically for that channel only.

You will have to add it to the Antennas Direct DB4e UHF antenna that will be needed for all of the other channels.

So you will have either a DB4e for everything but WBBZ, or
A DB4e and a YA1713 for everything plus WBBZ

Good luck!

[softball44]

Ok, that makes it a stark choice. I'll go with the DB4e and play with that for awhile. I don't see enough in WBBZ's programming to justify two antennae as a complete novice. I'd rather spend the money on an HDHomerun to play with first. Thanks.

[HWP]

I agree with you Softball. You'll be happy with the DB4e and an HDHomeRun. I use my HDHomeRuns all the time.

[El Gran Chico]

Originally Posted by El Gran Chico

Conditions where good this morning to play a bit with my A-D C5. I was able to receive WHAM (Rochester RF 13) and WHEC (Rochester RF 10) but still not able to get WBBZ strong enough for a lock. Oddly at the same time I was only able to get 1 of the 3 Rochester UHF channels (WROC RF 45), so I guess the conditions were just good (and not great).

Looks like I will need great conditions (at least) to haul in WBBZ with a C5 mounted 16' AGL.

Update to post 2372 - I'm now getting WBBZ off and on with my C5 since I lowered it 2' (now 14' AGL). There were overhead Rogers/Bell wires in the signal path at the higher mount that may have caused enough interference to cause it not to lock.

I may try to move it to my other mast soon (about 22' AGL) to see how well that works (can't imagine it will be worse).

[HWP]

WBBZ

I'm starting to think that the reason why not many people report getting WBBZ in Toronto is because they are all using UHF antennas.

Those with VHF-high antennas at many various locations around the GTA are getting decent WBBZ reception - definitely in the summer.

And now that we have El Gran Chico's report of WBBZ success with a reasonable-sized Antennas Direct C5 antenna, perhaps more GTA people might make the effort to get WBBZ.

Go to TVFool.com and use TVFool's other less-famous option of viewing your home on a map and click on WBBZ to see if you're lucky enough to be in a pink or purple zone for WBBZ.

If so, it would seem you have a reasonable shot at WBBZ.

[Goldielover]

I get it occasionally with an Antennas Direct C2V on the balcony. Probably the main reason I don't get it more often is that I am west facing, which is not the best for a weak Buffalo station. If someone is high up with a south or south east facing C2V, they may have better luck with it. (I am on the tenth floor.)

[sonicwu]

Hello Everyone,

I'm really new to OTA and have never installed or used an OTA antenna before. I live in a house in the lawrence and yonge area and would like to install an outdoor antenna that will allow me to get some of the american channels like NBC, CBS, Fox, etc.

Here's my tv fool result:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...1349d93dd81e3a

What antenna should I be getting if I would like to install the antenna on my roof?

Should I be getting the CM 4221HD or CM 4228HD?

Thanks.

[BeckEller]

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...1349fd29ea855b

I've got a DB8 on the chimney, but I've recently added a mast on the rear eave of my house. My plan is to take the DB8 down at some point.
Anyhow, the new setup is a DB4e at about 35' up, a Winegard YA1713 at about 32' (on the same mast,) combined with a UVSJ and fed into a Winegard HDP269.

One of my problem stations was ION, I get it now with up to full bars (30 SNR) at times, but it does fluctuate.

WBBZ comes and goes. At times it is not there at all. At others, it registers a decent SNR in the 18db range but the picture and sound are garbled. And at times like this morning, it was registering about 24 db SNR, and holding fairly steadily there. Nice solid lock, in other words.

There are a fair number of trees surrounding the property, and at the height I'm at, they are doubtless making reception more difficult for me. Beyond the trees, to the south and east towards the lake, the landscape drops away as anyone who is familiar with the area will know.

Looking for suggestions on WBBZ. How can I make it more reliable?

And, since the DB4e now basically faces ION and is at about 90 degrees away from the CN Tower, my strength on WGRZ and CBC(!) have dropped quite a bit.

[m81m82]

Hi BeckEller,
I live close to you and my installation is a simple AD C2V (Clearstream 2 with VHF dipole) and I am not really surprised that your WBBZ reception is sporadic, even though you have got height, directionality and amplification. With a 2 edge signal and their low ERP, sometimes that sucker just isn't going to be there no matter what.

Since summer came, WBBZ has been one of my most watched channels (movies on This TV much better than reality dreck). However, I know that once the fall comes and the atmosphere thickens, I will be seeing it less and less. Based on your experience, however, I don't think I will be going to any great lengths to improve my reception.

[HWP]

Once the leaves fall WBBZ might improve a bit, who knows? That is the best antenna so if you remove what is blocking (leaves) maybe things will improve. I get WBBZ pretty well through the winter.

For ION, you probably don't need perfect aim. Try moving the UHF antenna back halfway to WGRZ. You probably will not lose ION. I very rarely (almost never) need to aim at ION directly to get it.

I know I'm a broken record. A rotator guarantees perfect aim every time and allows you to effortlessly find the "sweet spot" from the comfort of your easy chair.

Congrats on the excellent antenna set-up!!! I envy you!!

[BeckEller]

Thanks for your comments.
My other thought is swapping out the HDP 269 for a heavier pre-amp, like the CM 7778. Or alternatively adding a separate stronger pre-amp for the VHF. 2 pre-amps seems a bit much/over-complicated, though.

[majortom]

i wouldn't bother with a high gain Amp like CM7778, especially in Toronto.
If the WBBZ signal was there, it would come in.
Have you thought about getting a rotor and / or seperate masts for UHF & VHF to allow better azimuth control among the two bands?
You could also try filtering out the FM broadcast band by installing a filter between the yagi and VHF port of diplexer, to effectively kill the Strong local FM stations. that may help to clean up noise, etc. in VHF Hi.

There are definitely times when VHF just doesn't propagate very well at all. Here in Buffalo, I'd say VHF 9 & 11 are available about 85% to 90% of the time. So It's normal to expect much less from WBBZ in TO, given it's much lower rad center and the urban environment of TO.

[goforit]

You might want to also consider the AD CPA-19 Pre-amp. I'm less than 3 miles from the CHCH tower and have no overload issues- the weak Buffaloes (WBBZ/WNYO) have been rock solid ever since I installed the CPA-19 with a 91XG/C5 combo...

[BeckEller]

Thanks for the advice, I think I will try a stronger amp. I have easy access and too much time on my hands . I'm going to try the Winegard AP 8700 or similar.