ON - Bowmanville, Peterborough, Trenton, Kawarthas - OTA

[Brightonian]

Don't fret... the reception this morning is exceptionally poor.
I'm struggling to pull in the Rochester UHFs.
Perhaps because it is so foggy.

[wilspin]

Nope not fog. My other antenna is fine. Something has failed.

[wilspin]

swapped out the dist. amp all is good now.

[cracklin]

Does anyone have any info on Omni directional TV antennas, ie: Channel Master 3000A. This is for a cottage application. It's appealing because it would eliminate the need for a rotor>
Cracklin

[ota_canuck]

This is a very interesting reception area and a great challenge to do without a very high gain directional antenna using a rotor.

Tvfool report for a general postal code for wilberforce ontario area K0J 1T0
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...7fcf9e5c2516d6

[keep in mind that tvfool does not take into account for trees, so antenna height to acheive a line of sight will be a critical factor]
___________________________

This is a very sparse location for reception. Almost all of your DigitlTV channels are east and only 0-12NM, so you'd be better with something very directional high gain and point east to get digital reception. The analog channels could be picked up with a separate full range UHF/VHF antenna pointing north.

I don't think you'll find a commercial omni antenna that would be high enough gain to cover all the bases in one aim.

You could try making a simple DYI Stealth Hawk multi-lobed antenna
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=123803

or a more complex DYI Super Stealth Hawk widebeam antenna
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=144918

Some of those Lo-VHF channels may be strong enough for the Stealth Hawk antennas to get enough signal strength.

[cracklin]

Further to my last post.
Wondering where the nearest CBC HD transmitter to Wilberforce, Ontario?
I know that CHEX Peterborough has a tower but is it Digital yet?
Thanks,
Cracklin

[stampeder]

Welcome here, cracklin, and please read the following thread so that you can quickly find the info you need that exists in abundance at this site:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=125161

[tvlurker]

Cracklin, please follow the instructions in the link stampeder posted and use TVFool's online maps feature to precisely position your cottage so TVFool can generate a reception for oyur location.

Most locations around Wilberforce have very poor recption. At best, you might get CTV digital from Peterborough (and soon Global from PEterborugh, and within four years perhaps something digital on Global from Denbigh.)

CHEX might convert to digital down the road sometime, but right now they assume most rural customers are receiving them via satellite.

[HWP]

Dark Lake is at 380m elevation. That is where Wilberforce is. There are no digital signals for CBC present. None are planned either. The contours for a future digital transmitter in Peterborough/Kawartha Lakes would not reach Wilberforce.

[matt996]

Hi all,

I'm building a "gold standard" GH10 (single bay) antenna for my attic.

I'm hoping that I can point it toward Buffalo and get those channels, and still pick up all the CN tower channels that would be about 50 degrees off axis. Or I could aim the antenna at some intermediate angle between Buffalo and Toronto. Basically I'm trying to do this with only one antenna as my attic is quite limited in terms of space... I was hoping to get a sanity check for this plan from those more knowledgeable than myself.... I'm located in Courtice, Ontario, and my TVfool is http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...b1a8d0f2516f24

My tuner will be a new-revision HDHomerun, and the cable run is only about 10 feet and no splitters.

Thanks for the great resource here,
Matt

(apologies-in-advance if I should be posting this somewhere else)

[stampeder]

You can get several previous Courtice reports by using the Search this Thread tool to the upper right next to Thread Tools and entering the term "Courtice". Hopefully everything aligns on one aiming point for you.

[Superstrech]

I'm also in Courtice so let me know how you make out. I built the DBGH and it's great for the long distance but very directional. I have mine on a tower but my 2 year old CM rotor died. I want to build another antenna in the fall.

[Dadden]

I bought a cottage on Buckhorn Lake with an existing antenna mounted on a mast at about 33 ft high. There is an existing Delhi Model 476 U/V amplifier. Last year, prior to the digital transition, I used to receive channels 3 CTV2, 5 CBLT, 12 CHEX, 18 TVO, 27 Global, 44 SRC and 54 CFTO.
Since the digital transition I have lost 3 CTV2 entirely and on many days I cannot receive 5.1 CBLT-DT. Channel 54 was replaced by 35.1 CFTO-DT which comes in very strong and clear. Channels 12, 18, 27 and 44 didn't change.
I have a rotor which i turn towards the south for 12, 18, 27 and 44 and towards the west/southwest for 5.1 and 35.1 (shows E on the rotor control).
I dont know what kind of anntenna I have. I have some pictures of the antenna but don't know how to attach them in this forum.

Here is my TVFool link:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...13495f9557b236

Can anyone give me some tips on how to increase my selection of channels?

Thanks.

[majortom]

if you know the antenna has been there a long time it may be worth inspecting the connections, balun, etc. Replace any suspect F-connections with newer type compression fittings that are available today.
Try replacing the outdoor balun with a newer outdoor balun. Button everything back up weatherproofing it, etc.

[Dadden]

Thanks Majortom.

As soon as I figure out what a balun is I will look into replacement.