ON - Belleville, Kingston, Smiths Falls, Brockville - OTA

[stanf]

rlongfield,

Where are you? 7-1 & 7-2 always come in loud and clear for me, even when my antenna (CM4242) is way off tune. The only exception is when there is heavy weather between me and their broadcast tower. However, I'm only about 60 km in a straight line from their tower with no terrain obstructions.

[brianinkingston]

I bought a ******** ANT-7288 and a ANT-1005 Signal Pre-Amplifier from Canada computers in Kingston.

Mounted it on my shed (12 feet up) and pointed one of the antennas at 130 degrees and the other at 175.

Here are the DTV channels I get:

7.1 CBS
7.2
16.1 PBS
16.2 PBS
16.3 PBS
28.1 FOX
50.1 ABC
50.1 CW

All of the above are in the 130 degree area of the compass. I should be getting a few in the 175 region so I'm upgrading my pre amp to a Winegard AP-8700 to see what I get.

If I don't get any more I'm going to mount it in the attic. I've done it before and got 5-6 more channels but they were pixilated.

Should get the new pre amp next week. I'll share the results once it is hooked up.

[rlongfield]

I'm just north of the airport. I got thinking about this last night and I'm wondering if there is a problem with my CM 7777 pre-amp. Ever since I put it on the channel has been flaky, perhaps I'm overloading the tuner for that channel?

I don't want to loose the cm 7777 as I seem to be getting wstm reliably now.

[brianinkingston]

@rlongfield - I too am just north of the airport.

From what I have read when I was researching a new pre-amp overload is always a possibility.

Here is a quote regarding the 7777 - "This TV antenna preamplifier works best for persons in weak signal areas and is subject to overdrive if used in areas with fairly strong signals. In stronger signal areas our medium gain preamplifier, the CM 7778 is a better choice."

I'm at 100 m plus coax so maybe it will not be a big risk for me as my db loss is significant. We'll see when the AP-8700 arrives.

Out of curiosity what compass bearing are you aimed at? 3.1 is further south than the Watertown area channels (130 ish).

[tlamothe]

rlongfield, you have a 4221 clone, I know from experience, it blows chunks on VHF. The CM7777 is going to make the noise worst and maybe CKWS is giving grief as well. I do have a VIP302SR (VHF only antenna) in my shed still in the box that you are welcome to borrow for testing. Actually I also have a channel 11 SJ that we could use to rip CKWS out your feed.

My fatherinlaw has a 4221 clone with a VIP302SR in Sydenham but a 7778 amp. Signal is never lower than 88% on WWNY.

[Brightonian]

rlongfield .... sometimes these tv and converter box tuners do strange things... you might want try a full rescan. Perhaps 7.1 isn't actually mapping to RF7.

[wilspin]

Originally Posted by tlamothe

rlongfield, you have a 4221 clone, I know from experience, it blows chunks on VHF. The CM7777 is going to make the noise worst and maybe CKWS is giving grief as well. I do have a VIP302SR (VHF only antenna) in my shed still in the box that you are welcome to borrow for testing. Actually I also have a channel 11 SJ that we could use to rip CKWS out your feed.

My fatherinlaw has a 4221 clone with a VIP302SR in Sydenham but a 7778 amp. Signal is never lower than 88% on WWNY.

Ok I know that blows chunks is not very good but rip out your feed?

[tlamothe]

rip out the feed is my slang for use a separator joiner to try and remove some signal of channel 11.

I picked up a some notch filters and separator joiners a while back. I have 2 channel 6 SJs, a channel 11 SJ and a channel 12 and channel 2 notch. The 2 notch can also be used to inject a signal as well.

I am waiting to see what CJOH does and hopefully they won't use 6 for digital but if they do, I'll be ready.

[rlongfield]

my knowledge is severely lacking I think. SJ's and notch filters? I know not of what you speak
Ch. 7 seems to have returned yesterday, so I'm not sure what is going on, it might be the aim of my antenna, I noticed it seemed a little off this morning when I looked at it. I'll have to play with my setup and see what I can figure out.

[wilspin]

Also called filters or traps. The restrict or block certain channels/ frequencies

[tlamothe]

rlongfield, think of it this way. A notch will turn down the signal strength of certain frequencies. Ever looked at the night sky with your porch light on and do the same with the light off? You see more stars with the light off, similar idea with a notch filter.

You can also get band filters. You may have heard of them, FM trap, UHF bandstop, etc are examples. Will block more than one frequency (or channel)

A separator joiner is great when you have a channel that you want to receive from a different direction. For example, you could have an antenna pointed at Syracuse then add a channel 26 SJ and an antenna pointed at Belleville to receive TVO. They are also sort of a notch filter.

[Bigbus]

Hey Guys I reading through all 16 pages prompted me to register and post up, I canceled my cable service about a year ago and have just been streaming content off the net but I really miss cbs watching letterman/ferguson before bed, I ran a tvfool search but im not sure how to read the results properly

Im in Brockville and I was wondering if you guys could have a look at what my chances are of getting a few channels and weather it would be worth investing into some ota equipment,

thanks in advance !

Dan.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...60b5306f047f33

[Bigbus]

Hey Guys, im from the Brockville area, have been without cable for about a year or so and ive been toying with the idea of an OTA setup, I ran a tvfool scan but not sure what to make of the results.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...60b5306f047f33

would it be worth spending some money on an ota setup ?

thanks.

Dan.

[mrvanwinkles]

Bigbus,

The TV Fool you ran, and showed us, looks Ok for CBS reception, 7.1 WWNY. It shows 1 edge, not LOS, not line of sight - so I am wondering what HEIGHT you entered into TV FOOL.

Also, some channels from Ottawa are showing 2 edge - so same question. What HEIGHT have you entered into TV fool?

What HEIGHT might you be able to have your antenna at? 2nd storey window? ROOF level ? Pole up above roof?

Higher will help more.

I think prospects are generally good for OTA in Brockville area - but depending on your specific location and situation, height of antenna, and equipment / setup.

member sssscary, Brockville, has good results - see post #222, with good setup - CM4228, CM7777 pre-amp and rotor (probably at some height outside).

member tlamoth, post #6, says his "Buddy" in Brockville with CM4228HD antenna, Titan pre-amp and rotor (probably at height outside) has good results.

( I believe those antennas are designed for UHF channels only - but might still have some VHF Hi reception. CBS 7.1 is on real channel 7 VHF Hi / not UHF so keep that in mind)

By good results - it looks like they're getting several OTA U.S. digital channels and some OTA Digitals from Ottawa too (!).

So good results seem quite possible from Brockville - esp. with a good outdoor setup at some height - and maybe a pre-amp and rotor to be able to point that good antenna in different directions.

For truely good reception you've gotta be able to get some HEIGHT to clear the surrounding nearby obstacles - houses, buildings, trees etc.

Do some simple experiments by hand first, with an inexpensive small portable antenna at your location - and see results for yourself. (ex Rabbit ears for VHF CBS ch 7 or UHF loop for real RF ch 14 and up).

Before spending any major money or effort - that will give you some idea what you might receive.

I think you might be surprised.

Give er a try.

[PrinceLH]

Should also be able to get the WWNY/WNYF repeater on RF18 and WNPI on RF23. He's very close to Ogdensburg, NY.