ON - Vaughan/Richmond Hill//Markham/North of 407 - OTA - Page 104 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

KevinB · 2011-09-26, 10:15 AM

I'm just a few blocks away from you at Bayview and Elgin Mills. I have a basement apartment, and I built a 4-bay Koch fractal out of some old lamp wire. It's mounted on the cover of an old cardboard box with a piece of aluminum foil taped to the back as a reflector.

It hangs by my kitchen window. I mistakenly thought, because I'm east of Yonge and the CN Tower is west of it, I should point it W of S. However, when I actually looked at a map, I realized that I had to orient it E of S, I also tilted it upwards a few degrees.

I get CBLT, CFTO, TVO, and Global just fine. Other stations come and go, although I'm hoping that when the Omni group goes back up on the tower, I'll be able to get them as well.

I'm sure you can't be lower than me, and I don't know if you have south facing window or not (I don't), but if I can get them with my home-made rig, you should be able to get them as well. (Certain weather conditions do sometimes temporarily interfere with reception, but Global and CFTO are pretty constant.)

One thing I learned from my electrical engineering courses is 90% of the problems are in the connections. Have you checked your co-ax? Is it kinked anywhere? I found once that by just unscrewing the connector from the back of the TV and than reattaching it, a bunch of channels came back!

I wouldn't be out spending big bucks on new equipment until you've tried these simple fixes.

Hope this helps.

Pinza · 2011-09-28, 09:46 AM

If I were getting CKCO as an Analog Channel via an Antenna and now wanted to pick up the Digital Channel, 13.1, would it really be as simple as adding a Digital Set Top Box on the Coax and connecting the STB to the TV.?

billpaidJr · 2011-09-28, 09:52 AM

that's all I did. My tv had a built in tuner...made my own antenna with some wire and instructions from this forum..hooked it up and scan.

Its the only channel I get though lol

ScaryBob · 2011-09-28, 09:57 AM

That depends on antenna and location. Posting your TVFool report is a good start when asking for reception advice. The OTA reception thread for you location is also a good place to either look for other peoples' experiences or ask questions about reception.

atw58 · 2011-09-28, 05:07 PM

Greetings from Sandalwood & Kennedy area,

I have clear site from our attic and roof to CN Tower and Buffalo. Initionally a 4 bay CM in the attic could pull in pretty much all the local channels. Now channels 9-1, 11-1, 25-1, 57-1, 66-1 have "signal level too low"/disappeared. Installed a mast type antenna (similar to cell phone antenna) on the roof and carefully pointed. The same occurs with this setup.

Does anyone from the vacinity experienced the same or is it me.

italy · 2011-09-28, 09:05 PM

Just a FYI... at Major Mack and Keele with a CM4221HD in the attic CTV was Good but CHCH was flaky even if pointed right at Hamilton...

Build me a folded dipole antenna and with it in the attic pointed at Hamilton I now get CHCH as good as the 4221 when pointed at Toronto was getting CTV and still get CTV just as good (ie. with antenna pointed at Hamilton I get both CTV and CHCH in the upper 80% on a bell 9200 receiver).

My current setup is the 4221 pointed at TO/Buffalo and the VHF folded dipole pointed at Hamilton. Both are fed into a CM preamp with separate VHF/UHF inputs.
The folded dipole basically is a 56Inch peace of wire folded into a oval shape (I wrapped it around a 1/2 inch wood strip and added a 4:1 balun... cost=$1.50
_______________________________
|____________,balun,_____________| 56inches is for 200MHZ peak (CHCH)

theskydiveguy · 2011-09-30, 08:59 AM

I live here:

http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=brown+s...h&z=16&vpsrc=0

I don't want to go out and drop a bunch of money - so I was wondering what you all thought about reception, will I need a rotor? Here are my TV Fool results:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...60b5738e4617a5

I can mount it on my roof which will be approx. 30' off the ground with no real trees in the way? Thanks for all the help in advance!

Paulo · 2011-09-30, 01:22 PM

Does anyone know if CTV2 ia available OTA to us here in Vaughan. If so what is the digital & virtual channel numbers.

Paul

chinadog · 2011-09-30, 03:37 PM

Paulo

CTV TWO is VHF 10 and virtual channel 3.1. The transmitter is in Barrie. You will need a reasonably good VHF antenna to get it. I have an extra Antenna Craft y5 713 that could do the trick for you.

PS I don't know tha rules of this forum regarding buying selling

KevinB · 2011-09-30, 06:15 PM

Does anyone know when they will move back to the tower from FCP? Will it be at midnight tonight, or sometime next week?

thx

Jase88 · 2011-09-30, 06:48 PM

My understanding is that the move to the CN Tower was to be "sometime in October", and not necessarily right away.

HWP · 2011-09-30, 10:54 PM

You likely have two issues:

1) You need to re-scan. Not just an "add-scan" but a total rescan of your system. On Sept 1, most of Toronto's channels moved to different real channels. A total system channel re-scan will solve some of your problems.

2) First, do step one above. Then you might find yourself still missing CFTO and CHCH and CKVR. That might be because your attic-mounted cm4221hd UHF-only antenna may not have what it takes to pull in VHF CFTO and VHF CHCH and VHF CKVR. You may need to add an attic mounted Antennas Direct C5 antenna to get CTV, CTV2 (Barrie), and CHCH back. Alternatively, you could consider an Antennacraft y5-7-13 in your attic.

Note the high-vhf antennas that have been recommended to you by name. Specifically the Antennas Direct C5 or Antennacraft y5-7-13. Either of these could be used in combination with your cm4221hd combined using a Channel Master 7777 pre-amp in your attic.

The antenna you mounted on your roof sounds like it might be insufficient. Add a pre-amp. If the antenna is already amplified and you're still having trouble, you probably need to change antennas to the set-up I suggested.

Good luck.

alebowgm · 2011-10-01, 12:27 AM

theskydiveguy, as long as you don't want the Hamilton, Barrie, Kitchener or eventually Oshawa and Peterborough stations, you probably don't need a rotor if you want Toronto and Buffalo stations. Traditionally, a UHF only antenna in a CM4221 or CM4228 (HD or original) would do the trick, but now CFTO is on VHF 9 and while it works for some, it doesn't work with others. DHC'er HWP has had good results with the Winegard HD7697P + Channel Master 7778 preamp. Also, many are now going the Antennacraft route and seeing positive results as well.

atw58 · 2011-10-01, 06:53 AM

HWP, many thanks for the two splendid ideas.

My assumption was once broadcasters turn to digital only maybe new channels will appear instead of being moved around. Will let you know how this turns out.

BTW I was talking to a Shaw satellite installer yesterday and he uses the same 2 antennas and had problems pulling in the US channels instead of the mostly Canadian ones I am missing.

Lobo · 2011-10-02, 09:52 AM

So after a month of the transition to digital, I'm wondering how people in this thread are making out? Any pros or cons? I think the one issue is that some of us have lost those VHF stations like CTV and CHCH. I'm sort of confused because my 4221HD is working fine with those two stations.

I was thinking of getting a DB8 and was wondering if this antenna would not be able to pick up CTV/CHCH. It's an UHF only one but so is my 4221HD and it's picking them up fine. Strange....

Anyways, just wondering how those with a 4228HD/DB8 are doing?

Lobo

2011-09-26, 10:15 AM	#1546
KevinB Rookie Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Richmond Hill, Elgin Mills at Bayview Posts: 19	To Quickcurrent I'm just a few blocks away from you at Bayview and Elgin Mills. I have a basement apartment, and I built a 4-bay Koch fractal out of some old lamp wire. It's mounted on the cover of an old cardboard box with a piece of aluminum foil taped to the back as a reflector. It hangs by my kitchen window. I mistakenly thought, because I'm east of Yonge and the CN Tower is west of it, I should point it W of S. However, when I actually looked at a map, I realized that I had to orient it E of S, I also tilted it upwards a few degrees. I get CBLT, CFTO, TVO, and Global just fine. Other stations come and go, although I'm hoping that when the Omni group goes back up on the tower, I'll be able to get them as well. I'm sure you can't be lower than me, and I don't know if you have south facing window or not (I don't), but if I can get them with my home-made rig, you should be able to get them as well. (Certain weather conditions do sometimes temporarily interfere with reception, but Global and CFTO are pretty constant.) One thing I learned from my electrical engineering courses is 90% of the problems are in the connections. Have you checked your co-ax? Is it kinked anywhere? I found once that by just unscrewing the connector from the back of the TV and than reattaching it, a bunch of channels came back! I wouldn't be out spending big bucks on new equipment until you've tried these simple fixes. Hope this helps.

2011-09-28, 09:46 AM	#1547
Pinza Veteran Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: GTA Posts: 8,582	CKCO Kitchener on 13.1 If I were getting CKCO as an Analog Channel via an Antenna and now wanted to pick up the Digital Channel, 13.1, would it really be as simple as adding a Digital Set Top Box on the Coax and connecting the STB to the TV.?

2011-09-28, 09:57 AM	#1549
ScaryBob Veteran Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: The Dandelion City Posts: 7,133	That depends on antenna and location. Posting your TVFool report is a good start when asking for reception advice. The OTA reception thread for you location is also a good place to either look for other peoples' experiences or ask questions about reception. __________________ At 20 I had a good mind. At 40 I had money. At 60 I've lost my mind and my money. Oh, to be 20 again. --Scary

2011-09-28, 05:07 PM	#1550
atw58 Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3	Channel Loss in Brampton Greetings from Sandalwood & Kennedy area, I have clear site from our attic and roof to CN Tower and Buffalo. Initionally a 4 bay CM in the attic could pull in pretty much all the local channels. Now channels 9-1, 11-1, 25-1, 57-1, 66-1 have "signal level too low"/disappeared. Installed a mast type antenna (similar to cell phone antenna) on the roof and carefully pointed. The same occurs with this setup. Does anyone from the vacinity experienced the same or is it me. Last edited by atw58; 2011-09-28 at 05:17 PM. Reason: adding image

2011-09-28, 09:05 PM	#1551
italy Rookie Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 3	CHCH in Maple Just a FYI... at Major Mack and Keele with a CM4221HD in the attic CTV was Good but CHCH was flaky even if pointed right at Hamilton... Build me a folded dipole antenna and with it in the attic pointed at Hamilton I now get CHCH as good as the 4221 when pointed at Toronto was getting CTV and still get CTV just as good (ie. with antenna pointed at Hamilton I get both CTV and CHCH in the upper 80% on a bell 9200 receiver). My current setup is the 4221 pointed at TO/Buffalo and the VHF folded dipole pointed at Hamilton. Both are fed into a CM preamp with separate VHF/UHF inputs. The folded dipole basically is a 56Inch peace of wire folded into a oval shape (I wrapped it around a 1/2 inch wood strip and added a 4:1 balun... cost=$1.50 _______________________________ \|____________,balun,_____________\| 56inches is for 200MHZ peak (CHCH)

2011-09-28, 09:52 AM	#1548
billpaidJr Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 299	that's all I did. My tv had a built in tuner...made my own antenna with some wire and instructions from this forum..hooked it up and scan. Its the only channel I get though lol

2011-09-30, 08:59 AM	#1552
theskydiveguy Rookie Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 7	HELP! I live here: http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=brown+s...h&z=16&vpsrc=0 I don't want to go out and drop a bunch of money - so I was wondering what you all thought about reception, will I need a rotor? Here are my TV Fool results: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...60b5738e4617a5 I can mount it on my roof which will be approx. 30' off the ground with no real trees in the way? Thanks for all the help in advance!

2011-09-30, 01:22 PM	#1553
Paulo Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kleinburg, Ontario Posts: 610	Does anyone know if CTV2 ia available OTA to us here in Vaughan. If so what is the digital & virtual channel numbers. Paul __________________ Pioneer Kuro 60", Integra DHC 80.3, Parasound Halo A51, Oppo 93, ELAC FS247's, Velodyne SPLR1000.

2011-09-30, 03:37 PM	#1554
chinadog Join Date: May 2011 Location: Bradford, 6th Line and West Park Ave Posts: 72	CTV TWO Paulo CTV TWO is VHF 10 and virtual channel 3.1. The transmitter is in Barrie. You will need a reasonably good VHF antenna to get it. I have an extra Antenna Craft y5 713 that could do the trick for you. PS I don't know tha rules of this forum regarding buying selling

2011-09-30, 06:15 PM	#1555
KevinB Rookie Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Richmond Hill, Elgin Mills at Bayview Posts: 19	OMNI back on CN Tower tonight? Does anyone know when they will move back to the tower from FCP? Will it be at midnight tonight, or sometime next week? thx

2011-09-30, 06:48 PM	#1556
Jase88 Moderator Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kitchener, ON Posts: 4,109	My understanding is that the move to the CN Tower was to be "sometime in October", and not necessarily right away. __________________ DMX 68' tower, HyGain HAM 5 rotator, Antennas Direct 91-XG & C5, Channel Master 7777 preamp, Siemens surge protection Last edited by Jase88; 2011-09-30 at 06:48 PM. Reason: Correct spelling

2011-09-30, 10:54 PM	#1557
HWP Join Date: May 2010 Location: Toronto, East York (Greenwood & Mortimer) Posts: 1,143	You likely have two issues: 1) You need to re-scan. Not just an "add-scan" but a total rescan of your system. On Sept 1, most of Toronto's channels moved to different real channels. A total system channel re-scan will solve some of your problems. 2) First, do step one above. Then you might find yourself still missing CFTO and CHCH and CKVR. That might be because your attic-mounted cm4221hd UHF-only antenna may not have what it takes to pull in VHF CFTO and VHF CHCH and VHF CKVR. You may need to add an attic mounted Antennas Direct C5 antenna to get CTV, CTV2 (Barrie), and CHCH back. Alternatively, you could consider an Antennacraft y5-7-13 in your attic. Note the high-vhf antennas that have been recommended to you by name. Specifically the Antennas Direct C5 or Antennacraft y5-7-13. Either of these could be used in combination with your cm4221hd combined using a Channel Master 7777 pre-amp in your attic. The antenna you mounted on your roof sounds like it might be insufficient. Add a pre-amp. If the antenna is already amplified and you're still having trouble, you probably need to change antennas to the set-up I suggested. Good luck. __________________ OTA, HD7697P, CM7778, Rotator, CM3218, TiVo, HDHomeRun Apple TV, Netflix, Teksavvy, Unblock-us, Wind, MagicJack

2011-10-01, 12:27 AM	#1558
alebowgm Veteran Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,920	theskydiveguy, as long as you don't want the Hamilton, Barrie, Kitchener or eventually Oshawa and Peterborough stations, you probably don't need a rotor if you want Toronto and Buffalo stations. Traditionally, a UHF only antenna in a CM4221 or CM4228 (HD or original) would do the trick, but now CFTO is on VHF 9 and while it works for some, it doesn't work with others. DHC'er HWP has had good results with the Winegard HD7697P + Channel Master 7778 preamp. Also, many are now going the Antennacraft route and seeing positive results as well. __________________ Windsor:CM4228+4220HD to 1.Samsung LNT3242H+2.AccessHD DTA1080D [RCA DTA800+CM7775+DTB-H260F in storage] GTA:LN40B750

2011-10-01, 06:53 AM	#1559
atw58 Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3	HWP, many thanks for the two splendid ideas. My assumption was once broadcasters turn to digital only maybe new channels will appear instead of being moved around. Will let you know how this turns out. BTW I was talking to a Shaw satellite installer yesterday and he uses the same 2 antennas and had problems pulling in the US channels instead of the mostly Canadian ones I am missing.

2011-10-02, 09:52 AM	#1560
Lobo Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Woodbridge, ON Posts: 292	So after a month of the transition to digital, I'm wondering how people in this thread are making out? Any pros or cons? I think the one issue is that some of us have lost those VHF stations like CTV and CHCH. I'm sort of confused because my 4221HD is working fine with those two stations. I was thinking of getting a DB8 and was wondering if this antenna would not be able to pick up CTV/CHCH. It's an UHF only one but so is my 4221HD and it's picking them up fine. Strange.... Anyways, just wondering how those with a 4228HD/DB8 are doing? Lobo

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