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Remageno · 2006-11-22, 10:07 AM

what was tropo like last night? I was playing with my ministate and picked up these:

D2-1 NBC
D2-2 Weather
D4-1 CBS
D4-2 Radar
D7-1 ABC HD
D7-2 ABC SD

but I Lost CBC-HD in the process of rescaning.

Tom.F.1 · 2006-11-22, 11:18 AM

That's good results for the distance. I'd guess that you'd get better results once you get that 4228, but still it's going to be very dependent on weather. You're on far side of the escarpment, so buffalo and toronto stations will come and go.
You might want to look into the threads on deepest fringe antennas, some people have stacked 2 or even 4, 4228 antennas, on heavy duty rotors, and even with inclination adjustments.

Remageno · 2006-11-22, 10:13 PM

I thought tropo was a summer thing? I'm still playing with my Mini-State and learning about my TV, picking up these right now:

D2-1 WGRZ-HD NBC (84-87%)
D2-2 Weather
D4-1 WIVB-HD CBS (52-64%)
D4-2 Radar
D7-1 WKBW-HD ABC (80-86%)
D7-2 WNSG-SD
D31-2 WNLO-HD CW (66-74%)

I've seen these too!!
D5-1 CBC-HD
D61-1 ????

frubsen · 2006-12-09, 05:40 PM

Using a WinTV-HVR 950 USB stick with a radioshack ministate antenna on my roof.
I'm in the west end of waterloo.
I get my normal analog channels

6-global
11-ch
13-ctv
19-tfo
28-tvo
36-cts
47-omni 1
56-cbc
57-city

I'm only able to pull in one digital channel
20 CBLT-DT 70-80%

when it scans through it finds more but the signal strength is only around 30%or so. what could I do other than buying a new antenna?

thanks

026163 · 2006-12-09, 06:27 PM

wait for the digitals to go higher power.

i guess you could try adding more height to your antenna, but from your location, your 60 miles away from the Toronto transmitters, and about 100 miles away from the Buffalo transmitters. A ministate antenna like that just isn't going to pick stuff up reliably. If you want anything from Buffalo, your going to need a new antenna.

frubsen · 2006-12-09, 08:11 PM

i was hoping i would at least get global hd and ctv hd, guess i'll have to wait till they go higher power.

026163 · 2006-12-10, 10:04 AM

^^ just a tip, never use the words 'global' and 'hd' in the same sentence when talking about OTA.

CTV would probably be one of the channels that you were getting some reading on but not enough to pull in a lock. If you wanted to get CTV, you could try:

- preamp
- shorten your cable run to as short as possible, upgrade to RG6 if necessary
- see if you can't add any height to your ministate antenna
- move your antenna to a different location (perhaps with better path to CN Tower)

you might be able to pull in CTV with the same antenna. Basically, CBC is at 40kW, CTV is at 17kW and the rest of the Toronto's are at around 2kW. The other you might have a chance at is the CW off grand island in Buffalo. They are running at 1000kW

stampeder · 2006-12-10, 02:57 PM

frubsen, sorry to say that unless you are ready and able to swap that antenna for a better one you are stuck with what you've got... I'm hesitant to recommend using a preamp with your present antenna - it might give the boost needed to lock onto more stations, but your UFO antenna is inherently subject to multipath interference and so preamping one of those often results in a real mess.

In your case I suggest my usual deep-to-deepest fringe UHF prescription:

Channel Master 4228 antenna with Channel Master 7777 or Winegard AP8275 preamp.

frubsen · 2006-12-10, 07:01 PM

hmm, was hoping to see what i could squeeze out of my ministate...not quite ready to buy a whole new antenna.

right now ctv hd, is coming in, on and off, the signal is hovering around 50% so it cuts in and out.

you said pre-amping is not a good idea with my antenna? just out of curiousity, what would happen? would it damage anything?

026163 · 2006-12-10, 09:16 PM

no it wouldn't damage anything, it's just that a preamp would amplify the bad signal just as much as it would amplify the good signal (with a ministate antenna like that) so the results good get better or worse. If you could find a way to purchase a preamp and take it back if you don't get the results your looking for, that would be the best plan. I wouldn't reccomend spending money on a preamp though if you can't take it back, it could easily be a wase of money, better putting it towards a new antenna.

frubsen · 2006-12-11, 11:13 AM

well the weather must have changed, now pulling in

20-1 CBLT-DT
24-1 CBLFT-D
38-1 WKBW-HD
38-2 WNGS-SD
39-1 WIVB-HD
39-2 Radar
40-1 CFTO-HD

frubsen · 2006-12-12, 11:47 AM

now pulling in

33-1 WGRZ-HD
33-2 WGRZ-SD
53-1 CITYHD

along with the others

240SX · 2006-12-12, 03:01 PM

How big is that antenna might I ask frusben... If only I was on the other side of my building, I think I could get a decent signal if you can get that kind of signal from the west of waterloo...

stampeder · 2006-12-12, 05:22 PM

He's using a Ministate UFO antenna, which is not at all suitable for deep fringe reception, which is what Kitchener-Waterloo requires for Buffalo stations. See post #218.

frubsen · 2006-12-12, 06:47 PM

The exact model is Ministate 5MS740, bought it back in 1995. it has a motor built in to change direction. either way the only signal i can pull in all the time is cbc hd, all the others are intermittant

2006-11-22, 10:07 AM	#61
Remageno Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Elora, ON Posts: 19	what was tropo like last night? I was playing with my ministate and picked up these: D2-1 NBC D2-2 Weather D4-1 CBS D4-2 Radar D7-1 ABC HD D7-2 ABC SD but I Lost CBC-HD in the process of rescaning. __________________ ELORA, ON, JVC LT-32x887, JVC RX-554VBK, JVC XV-N410B, JVC XL-MC334BK, DBGH, UHF Corner reflector, 10 meter tower.

2006-11-22, 11:18 AM	#62
Tom.F.1 Veteran Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ajax, Ontario Posts: 1,928	That's good results for the distance. I'd guess that you'd get better results once you get that 4228, but still it's going to be very dependent on weather. You're on far side of the escarpment, so buffalo and toronto stations will come and go. You might want to look into the threads on deepest fringe antennas, some people have stacked 2 or even 4, 4228 antennas, on heavy duty rotors, and even with inclination adjustments. __________________ Samsung TV, Pio-Elite AVR, OppoBD, Wharfedale Speakers, Kicker Subs. Bell EVu, DB-4e OTA:)

2006-11-22, 10:13 PM	#63
Remageno Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Elora, ON Posts: 19	I thought tropo was a summer thing? I'm still playing with my Mini-State and learning about my TV, picking up these right now: D2-1 WGRZ-HD NBC (84-87%) D2-2 Weather D4-1 WIVB-HD CBS (52-64%) D4-2 Radar D7-1 WKBW-HD ABC (80-86%) D7-2 WNSG-SD D31-2 WNLO-HD CW (66-74%) I've seen these too!! D5-1 CBC-HD D61-1 ???? __________________ ELORA, ON, JVC LT-32x887, JVC RX-554VBK, JVC XV-N410B, JVC XL-MC334BK, DBGH, UHF Corner reflector, 10 meter tower.

2006-12-09, 05:40 PM	#64
frubsen Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Waterloo Posts: 109	West end of Waterloo Using a WinTV-HVR 950 USB stick with a radioshack ministate antenna on my roof. I'm in the west end of waterloo. I get my normal analog channels 6-global 11-ch 13-ctv 19-tfo 28-tvo 36-cts 47-omni 1 56-cbc 57-city I'm only able to pull in one digital channel 20 CBLT-DT 70-80% when it scans through it finds more but the signal strength is only around 30%or so. what could I do other than buying a new antenna? thanks

2006-12-12, 03:01 PM	#73
240SX Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 100	How big is that antenna might I ask frusben... If only I was on the other side of my building, I think I could get a decent signal if you can get that kind of signal from the west of waterloo... __________________ Pioneer VSX-D515-S - Athena Micra 6's - BEV 4200 - PsTwo Slim

2006-12-09, 06:27 PM	#65
026163 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Downtown Vancouver Posts: 788	wait for the digitals to go higher power. i guess you could try adding more height to your antenna, but from your location, your 60 miles away from the Toronto transmitters, and about 100 miles away from the Buffalo transmitters. A ministate antenna like that just isn't going to pick stuff up reliably. If you want anything from Buffalo, your going to need a new antenna.

2006-12-09, 08:11 PM	#66
frubsen Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Waterloo Posts: 109	i was hoping i would at least get global hd and ctv hd, guess i'll have to wait till they go higher power.

2006-12-10, 10:04 AM	#67
026163 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Downtown Vancouver Posts: 788	^^ just a tip, never use the words 'global' and 'hd' in the same sentence when talking about OTA. CTV would probably be one of the channels that you were getting some reading on but not enough to pull in a lock. If you wanted to get CTV, you could try: - preamp - shorten your cable run to as short as possible, upgrade to RG6 if necessary - see if you can't add any height to your ministate antenna - move your antenna to a different location (perhaps with better path to CN Tower) you might be able to pull in CTV with the same antenna. Basically, CBC is at 40kW, CTV is at 17kW and the rest of the Toronto's are at around 2kW. The other you might have a chance at is the CW off grand island in Buffalo. They are running at 1000kW

2006-12-10, 02:57 PM	#68
stampeder OTA Forum Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: North Delta, BC (96Av x 116St) Posts: 23,338	frubsen, sorry to say that unless you are ready and able to swap that antenna for a better one you are stuck with what you've got... I'm hesitant to recommend using a preamp with your present antenna - it might give the boost needed to lock onto more stations, but your UFO antenna is inherently subject to multipath interference and so preamping one of those often results in a real mess. In your case I suggest my usual deep-to-deepest fringe UHF prescription: Channel Master 4228 antenna with Channel Master 7777 or Winegard AP8275 preamp.

2006-12-10, 07:01 PM	#69
frubsen Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Waterloo Posts: 109	hmm, was hoping to see what i could squeeze out of my ministate...not quite ready to buy a whole new antenna. right now ctv hd, is coming in, on and off, the signal is hovering around 50% so it cuts in and out. you said pre-amping is not a good idea with my antenna? just out of curiousity, what would happen? would it damage anything?

2006-12-10, 09:16 PM	#70
026163 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Downtown Vancouver Posts: 788	no it wouldn't damage anything, it's just that a preamp would amplify the bad signal just as much as it would amplify the good signal (with a ministate antenna like that) so the results good get better or worse. If you could find a way to purchase a preamp and take it back if you don't get the results your looking for, that would be the best plan. I wouldn't reccomend spending money on a preamp though if you can't take it back, it could easily be a wase of money, better putting it towards a new antenna.

2006-12-11, 11:13 AM	#71
frubsen Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Waterloo Posts: 109	well the weather must have changed, now pulling in 20-1 CBLT-DT 24-1 CBLFT-D 38-1 WKBW-HD 38-2 WNGS-SD 39-1 WIVB-HD 39-2 Radar 40-1 CFTO-HD

2006-12-12, 11:47 AM	#72
frubsen Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Waterloo Posts: 109	now pulling in 33-1 WGRZ-HD 33-2 WGRZ-SD 53-1 CITYHD along with the others

2006-12-12, 05:22 PM	#74
stampeder OTA Forum Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: North Delta, BC (96Av x 116St) Posts: 23,338	He's using a Ministate UFO antenna, which is not at all suitable for deep fringe reception, which is what Kitchener-Waterloo requires for Buffalo stations. See post #218.

2006-12-12, 06:47 PM	#75
frubsen Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Waterloo Posts: 109	The exact model is Ministate 5MS740, bought it back in 1995. it has a motor built in to change direction. either way the only signal i can pull in all the time is cbc hd, all the others are intermittant

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