ON - Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph, Cambridge, Bruce Peninsula

[LS1Zedder]

Thanks Jase88. How directional is a dipole style VHF antenna? I have the C2V pointing due east right now and am getting CFTO and CHCH (as well as CKCO). Will I have to rotate it to reliably get 10.1 from London or are they omni directional?

Thanks again.

[Jase88]

There are certainly directional characteristics to a simple dipole antenna. Though you'll always receive strong local stations regardless of antenna orientation.

Also possible that the simple dipole doesn't have enough gain for London, or it's signal path is obstructed by nearby land/buildings...but you could try moving the dipole to test....

[Jase88]

Soon I'll be testing a DB8e on a rooftop in south Kitchener. My thinking is that one half of the antenna could be pointed at Hamilton, and the other between Paris and Woodstock. This might be the perfect solution for Kitchener and area, given the separation in direction of these three transmission points.

I'll report back my findings....

[keonwade]

After looking for a cheaper alternative for my TV viewing pleasure and plenty of research I finally decided to cancel my cable. A couple of weeks ago I contracted a company called Tech Unbound to erect an antenna and re-cable the lines to two different TV rooms in my house.

I am located in Waterloo close to Weber/Union intersection. Using a Channel Master 4228HD antenna with a CM-7778 pre-amp I am able to pick up the following channels consistently;

5-1 CBLT
9-1 CFTO
13-1 CKCO
19-1 TVO
25-1 CBLF (french CBC)
28-1 TVO (again)
36-1 CITS
40-1 CJMT (Omni)
41-1 Global HD
41-2 Global (analogue I believe)

47-1 (another Omni channel) and 57-1 CityTV are two channels that seem to come and go throughout the day. I find between 8pm and 9 pm they become a lot more reliable for the rest of the evening.

Closer to midnight I have re-scanned my channels and am able to occasionally get the following Buffalo stations;

7-1 WKBW
17-1 WNED
17-2 WNED (analogue I believe)
17-3 WNED (PBS)
23-1 WNLO (the most consistent transmission from Buffalo in the evening)
43-7 ?? (a public radio station playing mostly classical selections)
51-1 ION
51-2 qubo (children's station)
51-3 IONLife
51-4 ShopTV (shopping channel)

I was quite surprised at the quality of the picture I am getting. I watch plenty of hockey and golf and I have remind myself once in a while that I am not paying through the nose for some sports package. Also the info regarding the program you are watching and what's upcoming is a bonus.

Thanks to those who have posted tips and info regarding switching to OTA TV, it made my decision to do so that much more easier and informed.

[LS1Zedder]

So I picked up an old dual input CM-7777 from Sunny Direct and replaced the new CM-7778 in the attic. I had previously been having issues with 47.1 and 57.1 from the CN Tower. I would occasionaly get them in the morning or late at night only. Now I get them all the time. The new preamp has made all the other channels I get more solid as well. I rotated my C2V dipole 180 degrees so it is now pointing to the South. I still get 9.1 and 11.1 strong off the back side and obviously 13.1 as well. On the day I did this I was also getting 10.1 out of London but have since lost that one. My house is at the bottom of a hill to the south so getting it might be tough. Right now I am getting all the channels I think I can reasonalby expect from the set up I have with the exception of CTV2. I have been uable to get 35.1 out of Hamilton and had limited success with 10.1. I may try bulding the DIY VHF loop antenna and trying it without a reflector to see if the added gain gets me 10.1 reliably. Other than, barring any changes I think I am done and am quite satisfied with it. I dont need any US channels since I can get pretty much any content I want via Hulu, Netflix and streaming internet sites. I may have a CM-7778 to sell as well if all goes well.

[Frankzappa]

First post.

Today I was debating just scraping basic cable as most of what I watch is downloaded or available online (that goodness for firstrowsports.com). I hadn't even thought about trying out an antenna as I don't have one so I googled and saw some dude had made an antenna out of a couple of beer can halves.

Fast forward 10 minutes later and I was able to pick up an astonishing array of stations via beer can halves mounted on a broomstick leaning against my window (inside) facing south south east (Kitchener 15 stories up).

WGRZ 2.1
WGRZ 2.2
WIVB 4.1
CBLT 5.1
CIII 6.1
WKBW 7.1
CFTO 9.1
CHCH 11.1
WNED 17.1
WNED 17.2
WNED 17.3
TVO 19.1
WNLO 23.1
CBLFT 25.1
WNYB 26.1
WNYB 26.2
WNYB 26.3
WNYB 26.4
TVO 28.1
CITY 31.1
CHCJ 35.1
CITS 36.1
CJMT 40.1
CIII41.1
CIII 41.2
CFMT 47.1
CITY 57.1

My question is why can't I get the local Kitchener station CKCO 13.1?

Another question, would I be best to buy an antenna to get even more US stations?

[Frankzappa]

OK, rescanned during the day and results were VERY different.

All the Buffalo channels disappeared as did CJMT, CFMT and CHCJ.

I have read up on the tropo propagation etc and am still wondering how much better my results would be if I had a real antenna vs 2 beer can halves taped to the end of a broomstick.

Is there anyone in KW facing Buffalo that gets these all day without dropouts?

[Frankzappa]

More follow up.

All the lost channels came back during the day when I added a Lasagne tin tray behind my beer cans.

I'm wondering how many more stations I can expect to get by adding a amplified antenna (apartment balcony suitable). Any suggestions?