ON - Vaughan/Richmond Hill//Markham/North of 407 - OTA

[Yaamon]

Hi Jamieson, having the antenna in the attic and with a 100' of cable is easily -9 to 10+db signal loss.

Just using the 100 of rg6 6 you will encounter 5.75db loss so having a combination of in the attic and long cable run is the problem.

I installed a 4221 on the chimney of a customer on Sandale Rd where the Harveys and Main St is.

With a the Sony built in atsc from a Sony 42" lcd rear projection, the customer gets between 89-93% of all signals from Buffalo and Toronto. Cable run was about 35' and no preamp.

99gecko is right, Stouffville has great elevation.

[Jamieson]

Thank you for your suggestions everyone. Is there a general oppinion as to wether I should be using a preamp or not?

[SNH]

Tonight I did some experimenting with my new antenna installation. The 4228 has to be aimed VERY precisely, most likely because of my poor (and distant) location. Channel 2 was coming in good tonight, 4 out of 10 bars on the signal meter. 4 and 7 were weaker at only one bar but steady with no pixelation. The one thing I found very strange is the Grand Island stations. Ch 23 "blasts in" with 7 bars but 17,29, and 49 are not there at all even though the analog pictures are very good (17 almost snow free). In order to receive Buffalo I lose all the Toronto stations so I think I need a rotor and probably a CM 7777 amplifier. But I was wondering if I get the amp and aim the antenna mid way between Buffalo and Toronto, is it possible this would eliminate the need for the rotor?

[Yaamon]

SNH the preamp will help with any signal loss from long cable runs and splitting the signal.

Some times with the signal on the edge a preamp may help.

If you ahve to move your antenna a bit to get all from Buffalo and Toronto iam afraid that a rotor is what you will need.

[Diesel Fuel]

I live near alliston and have a large antenna which we have hooked up to a regular TV. I was considering getting an ATSC tuner or LCD with one built in if I could get some channels. Does anyone know if I could get Rogers sports net so I could see some Jays games or is that impossible for an OTA antenna?

[Tom.F.1]

Originally Posted by Diesel Fuel

anyone know if I could get Rogers sports net

No.
Sports net is a cable/Satellite only channel.

[Tom.F.1]

Originally Posted by SNH

...if I get the amp and aim the antenna mid way between Buffalo and Toronto, is it possible this would eliminate the need for the rotor?

I used 2 antennas combined to eliminate the need for a rotor.
When i had one pointed directly at Toronto and one direcetly at Buffalo, they didn't add together well. Then, I reduced the angle between them so I'm pointing just south of Toronto and just west of Buffalo. Now the 2 signals add together so that I get better reception on all stations than with just one antenna.
I tried a high gain ($100.00) preamp and although signal level was higher, reception was worse. All it did was raise the noise floor so the tuner had a harder time picking out channels. Free preamp for anyone who wants to climb up to get it!

[Diesel Fuel]

Originally Posted by Tom.F.1

No.
Sports net is a cable/Satellite only channel.

Thanks, aniy idea of what channels I might get? Were in a pretty large basin north east of Alliston. I can see planes circling pearson so there's not too many hills but I don't know if it's worth replacing the old antenna and rotor and if there is many HD channels I might consider a ATSC set top tuner (if I can find one) or an lcd with built in tuner.

[stampeder]

I don't remember anyone else from the Alliston area posting here before, but is your present antenna up on a tower? Which analogue channels do you get now and how is the quality of each of them? I take it you're getting Toronto and Barrie stations? How about Hamilton, Buffalo, or others?

[SNH]

Originally Posted by Tom.F.1

I used 2 antennas combined to eliminate the need for a rotor.

Interesting points in your post Tom. I'm trying to think about the most cost effective way to go...a second antenna or a good amp and a cheap rotor. Tonight I have left the antenna pointed at Buffalo and 2,4,7,23 are all quite strong (digital) and 17 and 49 are almost snow free (analog) with 29 analog with moderate amount of snow but watchable. Also I'm getting CBC digital from Toronto. So I'll leave it fixed there for now, giving me 5 digital channels to watch.

[x4mer]

Jamieson,

I'm a short distance north of main st. where success plaza is @ stouffer, just off millard.

I've had a 4221 in my attic since Jan '06, & I get all the digital T.O. & Buffalo stations rock solid. During the summer I sometimes get the Rochester stations too, without ever turning my antenna.

[sbobcat]

Hi, all
Channel master 4221. setup at second floor southfacing window.I got pretty good result.

I scan and got the following digital channel:
2-1*NBC
4-1*CBS
5-1 CBC
7-1*ABC
9-1 CTV
23-1*
25-1
29-1*Fox
29-2* FOX SD
33-1 *(Blank,good signal strech, no pic and aud)
43-1*
43-2 SD
43-3 SD
57-1 (City tv)

I have to adjust the angle to get them. Can't wait for a better weather to put it on the roof.

Vincent

[MachAbs]

Hi everyone... first post!

I did a lot of reading then decided on a CM 4221 attic install. I'm at Markham Rd. and Bur Oak (just north of 16th). Preamped with a Winegard AP-4700 and about 80' of RG6. All equipment purchased from Yaamon who was very helpful in the process.

Here's what I'm getting with no dropouts at all...

2-1,2 NBC - WGRZ
4-1 CBS - WIVB
5-1 CBC -CBLT
7-1 ABC - WKBW
9-1 CTV - CFTO
23-1 CW - WNLO
25-1 SRC - CBLFT
29-1,2 FOX - WUTV
43-1,2,3 PBS - WNED
57-1 CITY

I can get 49-1 WNYO on a perfect day, but still with some pixelating. 66-1 SUNTV I can get if I rotate the antenna but I lose NBC.

[Yaamon]

MachAbs those are very good results for a attic install, glad the preamp worked out well.

Great job.

[Jamieson]

It seems to me that most on this forum are posting better overall results with the CM4221 than the 4228...Is this really possible? Did I buy the wrong ant. by getting the 4228?