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026163 · 2006-12-12, 10:28 PM

ya actually i was finding that this morning the weather was affecting reception and making certain channels stronger than usual. you should be able to get a good idea of what you 'actually' get by checking your signals on a regular basis over the course of a week or two.

frubsen · 2007-01-02, 12:13 PM

well i caved and bought a cm4228 antenna, hopefully going to install it this afternoon or tomorrow, and i'll post back with the results

frubsen · 2007-01-03, 02:17 PM

well i installed it, and all i can say right now is that i am not impressed.

i am not even able to get all the channels i was able to get before with my ministate. i have to keep rotating the antenna to get them all. i have tried pointing the antenna towards Toronto and Buffalo and still the only digital channel I can pick up is CBC. CFTO has a little more strength but still not enough to display a picture. What am I doing wrong?

note: i do not have a preamp

frubsen · 2007-01-03, 05:31 PM

update: now i have CFTO-DT coming in at about 50-60% strength, so the picture is fairly stable with dropouts. CBLT-DT is around 85-90%, but those are the only 2 i can pull in

stampeder · 2007-01-03, 08:30 PM

I hope you weren't misunderstanding about multidirectional vs. directional antennas - judging from your comments I'm not sure what your expectations were. The Knowledge Base and FAQ deals with the different designs, and your old and new antennas are completely different in their reception patterns - the CM4228 needs to be aimed at the broadcast transmission sites and when it is properly aimed its performance is excellent.

As for why the CM4228 isn't performing to your satisfaction at this time, lets work on your setup together and see what people here can offer you for advice.

A preamp would be the first addition I'd make.

frubsen · 2007-01-03, 09:07 PM

i know its gonna take some time to get it working properly, i guess i was just frustrated at first cause it wasnt what i expected. now that i've played around with it a bit more, i can get ctv with some dropouts, which i suspect a preamp would fix.

i'm looking into getting a preamp, it looks the the cm7777 is my best option from what i read.

the thing i am perplexed about though, is when i point the antenna towards buffalo, i seemed to get less signal strength(which is basically 0 bar) for the buffalo stations then i do when i have it pointed towards toronto(usually 2-3 bar)

stampeder · 2007-01-03, 09:14 PM

I'm not sure why aiming towards Toronto gives you more Buffalo strength, but its good that its up on the roof because with a preamp we should see a good improvement. How high up is the antenna now?

frubsen · 2007-01-03, 09:24 PM

i'd say between 20-25ft

026163 · 2007-01-03, 10:08 PM

do u have any pics from your antennas point of view towards the general direction of Toronto and Buffalo respectively?

frubsen · 2007-01-03, 10:09 PM

i'll see if i can get some tomorrow, i'm also trying to get a higher pole for the antenna, so hopefully that will help as well

jbracing24 · 2007-01-03, 10:42 PM

Quote:

the thing i am perplexed about though, is when i point the antenna towards buffalo, i seemed to get less signal strength(which is basically 0 bar) for the buffalo stations then i do when i have it pointed towards toronto(usually 2-3 bar)

Don't be surprised. I get good Buffalo signal strength with a 4228 while aiming at Rochester. At your location, south of Waterloo, you might be experiencing the same kind of results.

Ahpuc · 2007-01-04, 09:10 PM

I am interested in setting up my TV to receive OTA HDTV. I am in eastern waterloo near Unversity and the Expressway. I have read this thread and it appears that a large antenna and a preamp would get me signal but I was wondering if it would be possible with something smaller.

I see that Frubsen was able to get a few channels with his ministate on his roof. Would it be possible to get Toronto channels with a silver surfer or another indoor antenna and a preamp? I was trying to look at the dB rating for the different antennas but I couldn't find any information on the approximate dB needed for any distance.

026163 · 2007-01-04, 11:00 PM

i just don't think you'll get anything with an indoor antenna in Waterloo. Once London or Kitchener gets their digitals up, an indoor antenna will work for those. But when your trying to pick up low power stations from 60 miles away, even the best indoor antenna just isn't going to get you anything (unless your house in on some giant hill will a direct line of sight to the CN Tower)

Also, preamps and indoor antennas don't really go together, you usually want the preamp with a high performance outdoor antenna.

mobitect · 2007-01-08, 07:29 AM

Does anyone know when the HD tower in Kitchener is planned to be operational?

Tom.F.1 · 2007-01-08, 01:41 PM

do you want a semi educated guessimate?

2011?

2007-01-04, 09:10 PM	#87
Ahpuc Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1	Eastern Waterloo near University and the Expressway I am interested in setting up my TV to receive OTA HDTV. I am in eastern waterloo near Unversity and the Expressway. I have read this thread and it appears that a large antenna and a preamp would get me signal but I was wondering if it would be possible with something smaller. I see that Frubsen was able to get a few channels with his ministate on his roof. Would it be possible to get Toronto channels with a silver surfer or another indoor antenna and a preamp? I was trying to look at the dB rating for the different antennas but I couldn't find any information on the approximate dB needed for any distance.

2007-01-08, 01:41 PM	#90
Tom.F.1 Veteran Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ajax, Ontario Posts: 1,928	do you want a semi educated guessimate? 2011? __________________ Samsung TV, Pio-Elite AVR, OppoBD, Wharfedale Speakers, Kicker Subs. Bell EVu, DB-4e OTA:)

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2006-12-12, 10:28 PM	#76
026163 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Downtown Vancouver Posts: 788	ya actually i was finding that this morning the weather was affecting reception and making certain channels stronger than usual. you should be able to get a good idea of what you 'actually' get by checking your signals on a regular basis over the course of a week or two.

2007-01-02, 12:13 PM	#77
frubsen Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Waterloo Posts: 109	well i caved and bought a cm4228 antenna, hopefully going to install it this afternoon or tomorrow, and i'll post back with the results

2007-01-03, 02:17 PM	#78
frubsen Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Waterloo Posts: 109	well i installed it, and all i can say right now is that i am not impressed. i am not even able to get all the channels i was able to get before with my ministate. i have to keep rotating the antenna to get them all. i have tried pointing the antenna towards Toronto and Buffalo and still the only digital channel I can pick up is CBC. CFTO has a little more strength but still not enough to display a picture. What am I doing wrong? note: i do not have a preamp

2007-01-03, 05:31 PM	#79
frubsen Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Waterloo Posts: 109	update: now i have CFTO-DT coming in at about 50-60% strength, so the picture is fairly stable with dropouts. CBLT-DT is around 85-90%, but those are the only 2 i can pull in

2007-01-03, 08:30 PM	#80
stampeder OTA Forum Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: North Delta, BC (96Av x 116St) Posts: 23,338	I hope you weren't misunderstanding about multidirectional vs. directional antennas - judging from your comments I'm not sure what your expectations were. The Knowledge Base and FAQ deals with the different designs, and your old and new antennas are completely different in their reception patterns - the CM4228 needs to be aimed at the broadcast transmission sites and when it is properly aimed its performance is excellent. As for why the CM4228 isn't performing to your satisfaction at this time, lets work on your setup together and see what people here can offer you for advice. A preamp would be the first addition I'd make.

2007-01-03, 09:07 PM	#81
frubsen Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Waterloo Posts: 109	i know its gonna take some time to get it working properly, i guess i was just frustrated at first cause it wasnt what i expected. now that i've played around with it a bit more, i can get ctv with some dropouts, which i suspect a preamp would fix. i'm looking into getting a preamp, it looks the the cm7777 is my best option from what i read. the thing i am perplexed about though, is when i point the antenna towards buffalo, i seemed to get less signal strength(which is basically 0 bar) for the buffalo stations then i do when i have it pointed towards toronto(usually 2-3 bar)

2007-01-03, 09:14 PM	#82
stampeder OTA Forum Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: North Delta, BC (96Av x 116St) Posts: 23,338	I'm not sure why aiming towards Toronto gives you more Buffalo strength, but its good that its up on the roof because with a preamp we should see a good improvement. How high up is the antenna now?

2007-01-03, 09:24 PM	#83
frubsen Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Waterloo Posts: 109	i'd say between 20-25ft

2007-01-03, 10:08 PM	#84
026163 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Downtown Vancouver Posts: 788	do u have any pics from your antennas point of view towards the general direction of Toronto and Buffalo respectively?

2007-01-03, 10:09 PM	#85
frubsen Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Waterloo Posts: 109	i'll see if i can get some tomorrow, i'm also trying to get a higher pole for the antenna, so hopefully that will help as well

2007-01-04, 11:00 PM	#88
026163 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Downtown Vancouver Posts: 788	i just don't think you'll get anything with an indoor antenna in Waterloo. Once London or Kitchener gets their digitals up, an indoor antenna will work for those. But when your trying to pick up low power stations from 60 miles away, even the best indoor antenna just isn't going to get you anything (unless your house in on some giant hill will a direct line of sight to the CN Tower) Also, preamps and indoor antennas don't really go together, you usually want the preamp with a high performance outdoor antenna.

2007-01-08, 07:29 AM	#89
mobitect Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1	Does anyone know when the HD tower in Kitchener is planned to be operational?