ON - Scarborough, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa - OTA - Page 74 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

recneps77 · 2010-04-20, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DdDave

castaban, not sure if you are still looking at this thread, but the reason this amp may not be helping may be due to the location of it in your setup and the type of amp. First of all, what's the noise margin on the amp? From what I remember when I looked at the Home Depot amps the noise was something like 5.5dB, which is pretty high. If you actually need signal amplification in your setup you would want a higher quality pre-amp or distribution amp.

Seconded.
Throw out the HD amp. Seriously. Lol.
Any amp you can find in HD/Rona/Lowes/etc is most likely crap.
I had an HD (RCA) one and switched it for a CM one and it's far better.

castaban · 2010-04-20, 02:24 PM

Hey, I am not gonna throw it out, I paid for it, it is being returned...

recneps77 · 2010-04-20, 09:47 PM

I didn't mean literally throw it out :P
Just, you're probably better off not using it at all..

byebye_cable · 2010-04-21, 08:24 PM

Curious what the forum consensus is on the best antenna for Buffalo channels.

Currently I have a 4221 (original) & get Batavia (ION) thru Buffalo. With the preamp, interruptions are very rare. From my house, that is a 28 degree swath.

I'm replacing the (separate) antenna I use for Toronto stations though - so I have the option of using the 4221 for Toronto and buying another for Buffalo.

For a 28 degree wide beam (ION & FOX on either side do require some good capturing) my antenna guy is advising that I would lose ION with a 4228.

Does anyone have any strong feelings either way here?

Tom.F.1 · 2010-04-21, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by byebye_cable

Curious what the forum consensus is on the best antenna for Buffalo channels.

Currently I have a 4221 (original) & get Batavia (ION) thru Buffalo. With the preamp, interruptions are very rare. From my house, that is a 28 degree swath.

I'm replacing the (separate) antenna I use for Toronto stations though - so I have the option of using the 4221 for Toronto and buying another for Buffalo.

For a 28 degree wide beam (ION & FOX on either side do require some good capturing) my antenna guy is advising that I would lose ION with a 4228.

Does anyone have any strong feelings either way here?

I don't know if you'll find a consensus, just lots of opinions.

I assume you've seen the antenna chart?
My favorite antenna is the DB-8. Wider pickup and more gain than the 4228HD and needs no modification. I've done a couple installs where the client replaces his 4221 with a DB-8 and he's amazed at the difference.

byebye_cable · 2010-04-22, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom.F.1

I don't know if you'll find a consensus, just lots of opinions.

I assume you've seen the antenna chart?
My favorite antenna is the DB-8. Wider pickup and more gain than the 4228HD and needs no modification. I've done a couple installs where the client replaces his 4221 with a DB-8 and he's amazed at the difference.

haha, yes, I know. Varied opinions are good though, and yes, I gazed long & hard at the antenna chart. Thanks for your feedback - you are a local professional & so I'm striking gold already here...

Hey, another q. Who here gets Rochester, and how. I believe two of the three stations are VHF, no?

twinz · 2010-04-22, 11:07 PM

I get rochester most evenings in the summer in Ajax, though WXXI is by far the most regular of the three I have received in the past. This is the first spring here though with the antenna setup, so I'll see how things go as the trees fill out again. So far this time of year has been really hit and miss, and depends highly on tropo activity. Winter is a complete writeoff for any of them. Even when I have fairly good reception, I have to use a rotor to point my 4221's right at Rochester to keep it locked except for the strongest tropo days.

Rob in Courtice · 2010-04-24, 08:54 AM

Hi all, I am located east side Oshawa, west side of Courtice, just past townline rd and Hwy 2. I have 2 CM4224's mounted on a 40ft tower. 1 towards Toronto and the other pointed at Buffalo. Untill a month or so ago I could get all the Toronto/Buffalo stations (18 or so). Now reception is more or less gone

At times toronto comes in for a bit, same with buffalo, most of the day/night the reception gone. Just to torment me, last week about 10pm all the channels were back (with the exception of 51, it is a long way away). Got up the next morning.....all gone again

. Had a tripod on the roof for 10 yrs then to celebrate 49 changing transmitters I had a tower put up (signal strength did improve) figured more height = good. Also though more height = harder to get at.
Anyway, my question is this related to the sun spot activity? Is reception generally bad at the moment? The set up worked solid for years.
Had the thought of getting cable, that's when I figured I needed help

Any ideas as to whats going on?

Thanks........Rob

rob50312 · 2010-04-24, 02:05 PM

Rob I assume your 2 antenna feeds are joined together,so if 1 develops problem it will effect both.Also combining always weakens the signals from each.Reception for me is always fine except for 51.1 which is weather dependent.

byebye_cable · 2010-04-27, 10:13 AM

Trouble with WNED last night. Anyone else have that, or do I have another problem?

Kinda disappointed, because I had just moved my preamp (Kitztech) under the antenna (4221) from it's old location behind my TV (and the wrong end of the cable).

The Kitztech is good, but it appears not to care what end of the cable (90') it's on.

tvlurker · 2010-04-27, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by byebye_cable

Trouble with WNED last night. Anyone else have that, or do I have another problem?

Kinda disappointed, because I had just moved my preamp (Kitztech) under the antenna (4221) from it's old location behind my TV (and the wrong end of the cable).

The Kitztech is good, but it appears not to care what end of the cable (90') it's on.

The problem with digital TV is that once you have a signal, you can't always see incremental improvements by changing technical paremeters.

Basically, if all the channels you receive are at least 20-25 dB above the noise floor, than you won't see the improvement that a Kiztech preamp would provide someone else whose signal environment is on the hairy edge. It just means that perhaps you odn't need such a good low-noise preamp (or maybe you only need it on the "worst" days. And perhaps last night was so bad even the Kiztech wouldn't help you.)

byebye_cable · 2010-05-02, 11:00 PM

I currently have a 4221 (the old one) preamp'd with a Kitztek & have occasional fallouts - PBS on one side an ION on the other, 28 degrees apart.

Is there a better option for a somewhat multidirectional antenna? I read the DB8 wold be a good option - the high gain of an 8-bay with a wide beam - but futher research indicated this might just be marketing & the db8 is actually quite directional, even more then CM's 8-bay, the 4228.

I was thinking one option would be to get the db8 & "bend it" somehow so each 4-bay is pointing in a slightly different direction - but perhaps I'm NUTS?

Tom.F.1 · 2010-05-03, 08:02 AM

I think i suggested this in another thread, I looked up your tvfool report.
NBC says -70 LOS, Ion says -102 2edge.
If you want Ion, get a xg91 and a rotor, or a switch.

byebye_cable · 2010-05-03, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom.F.1

I think i suggested this in another thread, I looked up your tvfool report.
NBC says -70 LOS, Ion says -102 2edge.
If you want Ion, get a xg91 and a rotor, or a switch.

Hey Tom, yes, you did mention the DB8.

We record all of our shows so a rotor is *not* an option - my htpc can't turn the rotor prior to recording the show.

What I'm looking for is the best multi-directional antenna out there, for 28 degrees of separation. My 4221 is very good, inturruptions on PBS or ION are actually quite rare, but I'm always looking for ways to improve.

ota_canuck · 2010-05-03, 11:34 AM

If your old 4221 can reach the distance, then a new 4221HD [hacked for a wider beamwidth] should work for you. Removing the plastic caps and flipping the balun phase line is the basic hack, but the down side of hacking the reflector width could cost some distance in some circumstances.

It would be a relatively cheap experimental expedition !

Being so close to the CN tower and CTV's BarberGreen broadcast locations, I presume that a hi-gain preamp is out of the question.

2010-04-24, 08:54 AM	#1103
Rob in Courtice Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 11	Reception in Courtice Hi all, I am located east side Oshawa, west side of Courtice, just past townline rd and Hwy 2. I have 2 CM4224's mounted on a 40ft tower. 1 towards Toronto and the other pointed at Buffalo. Untill a month or so ago I could get all the Toronto/Buffalo stations (18 or so). Now reception is more or less gone At times toronto comes in for a bit, same with buffalo, most of the day/night the reception gone. Just to torment me, last week about 10pm all the channels were back (with the exception of 51, it is a long way away). Got up the next morning.....all gone again . Had a tripod on the roof for 10 yrs then to celebrate 49 changing transmitters I had a tower put up (signal strength did improve) figured more height = good. Also though more height = harder to get at. Anyway, my question is this related to the sun spot activity? Is reception generally bad at the moment? The set up worked solid for years. Had the thought of getting cable, that's when I figured I needed help Any ideas as to whats going on? Thanks........Rob

2010-04-24, 02:05 PM	#1104
rob50312 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: derry + winston Mississauga Posts: 1,300	Rob I assume your 2 antenna feeds are joined together,so if 1 develops problem it will effect both.Also combining always weakens the signals from each.Reception for me is always fine except for 51.1 which is weather dependent. __________________ CM 4248 at Buffalo,XG43 at Toronto,M4 at Buffalo,CH 11 yagi at Ham.

2010-05-02, 11:00 PM	#1107
byebye_cable Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Posts: 434	28 degrees of separation - 4221 best option? I currently have a 4221 (the old one) preamp'd with a Kitztek & have occasional fallouts - PBS on one side an ION on the other, 28 degrees apart. Is there a better option for a somewhat multidirectional antenna? I read the DB8 wold be a good option - the high gain of an 8-bay with a wide beam - but futher research indicated this might just be marketing & the db8 is actually quite directional, even more then CM's 8-bay, the 4228. I was thinking one option would be to get the db8 & "bend it" somehow so each 4-bay is pointing in a slightly different direction - but perhaps I'm NUTS?

2010-05-03, 08:02 AM	#1108
Tom.F.1 Veteran Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ajax, Ontario Posts: 1,928	I think i suggested this in another thread, I looked up your tvfool report. NBC says -70 LOS, Ion says -102 2edge. If you want Ion, get a xg91 and a rotor, or a switch. __________________ Samsung TV, Pio-Elite AVR, OppoBD, Wharfedale Speakers, Kicker Subs. Bell EVu, DB-4e OTA:)

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2010-04-20, 02:24 PM	#1097
castaban Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Whitby, ON -- Rogers, SA 8300HD, Sony KDL-52W5100 LCD, Panasonic BD35, Panasonic SA-XR55 Posts: 313	Hey, I am not gonna throw it out, I paid for it, it is being returned...

2010-04-20, 09:47 PM	#1098
recneps77 Veteran Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Whitby Posts: 2,815	I didn't mean literally throw it out :P Just, you're probably better off not using it at all..

2010-04-21, 08:24 PM	#1099
byebye_cable Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Posts: 434	Curious what the forum consensus is on the best antenna for Buffalo channels. Currently I have a 4221 (original) & get Batavia (ION) thru Buffalo. With the preamp, interruptions are very rare. From my house, that is a 28 degree swath. I'm replacing the (separate) antenna I use for Toronto stations though - so I have the option of using the 4221 for Toronto and buying another for Buffalo. For a 28 degree wide beam (ION & FOX on either side do require some good capturing) my antenna guy is advising that I would lose ION with a 4228. Does anyone have any strong feelings either way here?

2010-04-22, 11:07 PM	#1102
twinz Rookie Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ajax Posts: 28	I get rochester most evenings in the summer in Ajax, though WXXI is by far the most regular of the three I have received in the past. This is the first spring here though with the antenna setup, so I'll see how things go as the trees fill out again. So far this time of year has been really hit and miss, and depends highly on tropo activity. Winter is a complete writeoff for any of them. Even when I have fairly good reception, I have to use a rotor to point my 4221's right at Rochester to keep it locked except for the strongest tropo days.

2010-04-27, 10:13 AM	#1105
byebye_cable Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Posts: 434	Trouble with WNED last night. Anyone else have that, or do I have another problem? Kinda disappointed, because I had just moved my preamp (Kitztech) under the antenna (4221) from it's old location behind my TV (and the wrong end of the cable). The Kitztech is good, but it appears not to care what end of the cable (90') it's on.

2010-05-03, 11:34 AM	#1110
ota_canuck Veteran Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Dunnville, Ontario on the Grand River, North shore Lake Erie Posts: 2,406	If your old 4221 can reach the distance, then a new 4221HD [hacked for a wider beamwidth] should work for you. Removing the plastic caps and flipping the balun phase line is the basic hack, but the down side of hacking the reflector width could cost some distance in some circumstances. It would be a relatively cheap experimental expedition ! Being so close to the CN tower and CTV's BarberGreen broadcast locations, I presume that a hi-gain preamp is out of the question.