ON - City of Toronto Metro Area <OUTDOOR Antennas Only> - OTA

[bentoronto]

Yaamon was skilled and friendly and glad he did one of my installations nicely. But I think he no longer responds to inquiries. That's a sad loss to this forum crowd,

Anybody non-acrophobic who wants to step up to take his role???? You;d be doing a big service for many of us and making money too. I think the natural way to work with us OTA people is simply to bill by the quarter-hour, door to door. Say, $25/quarter-hour to make money or $20/quarter-hour as a public service. Fair way to work with uncertain installation challenges? Simple as that.

Ben

[bentoronto]

I took a great course from the Toronto school board in auto body repair - mostly welding techniques (don't ask why my Maserati 425 needed repairs).

I wonder if a person otherwise hesitant about climbing on their roof (or if their wife was horrified at the thought) could learn the skills?

Roofer school?
Acrobat school?

Ben

[vanhalen26]

Hi All. Here are two photos as requested last evening.

The antenna path (aimed SE away from CN tower but into trees):
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/albu...pictureid=5336

The antennta install:
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/albu...pictureid=5335

By the way ... looks like my guess about using rabbit ears to avoid an overpowered signal on cbc wasn't the greatest guess - as watching hockey on cbc right now for the last hour and it kept skipping every minute or two on rabbit ears and quite annoying to watch, while the last 30 minutes through the 8 bay and no problems at all. I think OTA watching will be an adventure from my location over the summer. Ah well.

[meridish]

Hi,

I am sorry for my noob question. I am wondering if tropo channels can be locked in Toronto area. Some times I do get ION. But not always.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...de656d618e6ef9

Thanks

Meridish

[stampeder]

Tropo channels are temporarily lockable, sometimes only for minutes, sometimes for a couple of days. They must never be counted as regular channels because they are undependable by their very definition. Due to their unusual patterns and odd incidence there are many who consider Tropo reception reporting (DXing) to be a sport.

Please check out the Tropo reception thread for your area for the latest reports and to read about past events.

[kooguy]

vanhalen26,

Based on your pictures, seems like the tree is very close to your antenna, about 20-30' distance, right?

Your current antenna height is too low especially with the tree in front of it. If you get a 10' mast, will that give your antenna enough height to clear the tree?

I have a row of trees about 40-50' tall in front of my antenna but at about 40' distance away. I'll have reception problem if my antenna is mounted like yours. So I get a 10' mast to ensure my antenna can clear the trees, and that solve the reception problem.

Suggestion for you:
1. A tripod mounting on the roof with a 10' mast.
2. A side mounting using 10' mast.

If possible, mount your antenna away from the trees so to increase the distance between antenna and the trees.

BTW, on second picture, what kind of material is used on the wall (bricks, cement etc)?

[gimpota]

Hello forum,

I've recently moved to a south facing building with the ability to mount an antenna onto a chimney.

I have an old CM4221HD (circa 2010) from my previous apartment that I can reuse, but with all these new antennas out (e.g. DB4e, C2V Complete, etc.), I'm not certain if I should keep it or upgrade.

I want to split the signal to 2-3 separate televisions, 1 will be 25ft away from the antenna, and the other TV will need a 60-70ft RG6 cable run that wraps around the building. I would assume I would need some type of amplication device?

My apologies for the basic questions..but your insight is greatly appreciated!

Here's my tvfool link:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...de658d3bf00fe0

Thanks in advance

[Blint]

Hi,

I have a question to those of you that have the Antennas Direct CPA19 pre-amp. The pre-amp works quite well for me, made a big difference out in Etobicoke to get Buffalo and all the Toronto channels but I've noticed the power supply is very hot. I read one other post from another customer that said his melted and antennas direct said this is due to incorrect cabling. Not too sure what that means.. if the cabling gets a signal how can it be incorrect? Too long a run and the resistance is too much?

Anyway, is anyone else noticing their power supply is hot? I can touch it, but it's beyond being warm.

I just happened to notice this while troubleshooting an issue that just came up. My CM7001 scans for channels, detects a signal but still doesn't mark it as a found channel... still trying to figure that problem out.

Thanks

[bentoronto]

As Kooguy says, a 10 foot mast can help a lot if trees are in the way. But the longer an unbraced mast is, the more it can sway and jiggle in the wind (esp if you also have an FM antenna up there).

Does anyone have data (or even trustworthy impressions) on how much of an issue that could be? Anybody find reception (old standard TV, HDTV, or FM) deteriorates when it is windy and their mast is movin' and shakin'?

I wonder if the longer wavelengths in the FM band make it less susceptible to wind?

Thanks.
Ben

[HWP]

vanhalen,

I think that mount is appropriate for the antenna you have now. I would not add a mast to that mount. I don't think it would last past the first big breeze. If you want to get a 10foot mast to put there for five minutes to test your results on a calm day, that would be good. But I don't think that mount can handle a 10 foot mast.

I think you need one of these things: a roof tripod, a tower, ...or a chainsaw.

[bentoronto]

Or a chimney mount if location is good. They start at around $12 and should be as solid as the chimney.

Some say the effluent is harmful - sooner or later - to the antenna. I'm not sure if modern furnaces are as bad as earlier ones.

The picture also looks like an eaves mount would work although maybe 10 feet is pushing it.

I don't know why the local dealers have only heavy iron masts. There are aluminum ones that stick together at 9 and 4.5 feet. Not as stiff as heavy steel but still plenty stiff. Saves maybe 10 lbs, guessing.

B.

[Bjorn416]

gimpota,
Have a look at post #1973 (page 132) of this thread for an indication of how the CM4221HD may perform for you. The member writing it is probably pretty close to where you are located. He also tested some other antennas – see his subsequent posts.

[Primavera]

Hi - is there anybody else no longer picking up 17.1 (PBS) in downtown Toronto?

Thanks.

[Primavera]

Hi - is there anybody else no longer picking up:
17.1 (PBS)
29.1 (fox)

in downtown Toronto? These used to be sure things for me (Bathurst/Dupont) but PBS is not coming in at all and Fox is really bad.)

Thanks.

[meridish]

Hi,

I am in Brampton,

I am getting 17.1, 17.2, 17.3 and Fox (29.1) without any problem. Lots of tropo going on these days. May be it is the culprit for loosing those channels for you.

Thanks