[Tonino71]

Hello All;

I have been away for a while and recently got back into OTA.
I live in Bolton, Ontario and have always had a DB4E antenna with a Kitztech KT-200 pre amp...I have always had a consistent 35 to 40 channels based on weather.

Now I average 24 channels and sometimes up to 30..I find that i get the 51 series channels strong..but I am having tough times with 2.1,2.2,2.3,2.4,7.1,7.2,7.3,7.4,23.1,23.2 channels which I used to always have consistently before. I have tried another pre-amp (clearstream juice) and another few antennas (DB2E and Eaglestar pro and a cm4221) and all give me the same results.

Does this have something to do with the re-pack of u.s channels?/ I just got back into ota after years of subscribing to cable so this is odd to me. I have tried to re-aim and still I only get the mentioned channels intermitantly.

Can someone out there please give me some advice?

Thanks,

Tony

 

[rob50312]

Those are all South Buffalo stations.The only change is 23.1 and 4.1 moved from Grand Island changed frequency moved back too South tower area.No changes to 2.1 ,7.1 changed frequencies.All working same or better than before.

 

[rob50312]

Have you tried a 607MHZ 5G cell phone trap before thre preamp ?

 

[Tonino71]

Have you tried a 607MHZ 5G cell phone trap before thre preamp ?

I currently have a 4g/lte filter before the pre-amp..maybe I will try the 5g filter and see what happens...my mom is in mississauga at cawthra and burnhamthorpe and gets all of the channels no issues..something must be obstructing or interfering with the signals in Bolton. Are the buffalo towers in the same location?..I am using the tv fool reports.

 

[rob50312]

Use rabbitears signal search as TV Fool not up to date.Many new buildings blocking your line of site to South towers for 2,4,7,23..51 is a little more east.17,29,49.1 are from Grand Island which is much closer to GTA.1 filter.2 try rotating a little more west.

 

[rob50312]

Random rabbit ears check of South Bolton shows 2,4,7,23 as poor reception while 51 is fair.

 

[audioguy_on_ca]

I currently have a 4g/lte filter before the pre-amp..maybe I will try the 5g filter and see what happens...my mom is in mississauga at cawthra and burnhamthorpe and gets all of the channels no issues..something must be obstructing or interfering with the signals in Bolton. Are the buffalo towers in the same location?..I am using the tv fool reports.

The airport, Pearson…good ol’ YYZ


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[Tonino71]

so last night I re-aim a little more west..I inspected my lte filter, it is a philips (lte/5g filter , 5-608mhz)..I did a rescan and still no change.
This morning at 4am I did a rescan and got 42 channels (2.1,2.2,2.3,2.4,2.5,4.1,4.2,5.1,7.1,7.2,7.3,7.4,7.5,9.1,11.1,14.1,17.1,17.2,17.3,19.1,23.1,23.2,25.1,27.1,29.1,29.2,29.3,40.1,41.1,47.1,49.1,49.2,49.3,49.4,51.1,51.2,51.3,51.4,51.5,51.6,51.7,57.1)

Funny thing is 2.1 thru 2.5 and 7.1 thru 7.5 and 23.1,23.2 and 49-1 thru 49.4, which are the channels I have the most problems with are all over 90% signal and 100 % quality. I did a rescan every hour since 4 am and they are still there..Unless this is weather oriented I can't explain it...or maybe there is strong interference somewhere.

 

[rob50312]

I suspect you don't have line of site to South towers so weather will affect reception. Warmer weather usually will improve reception while fog over the Lake will weaken UHF signals.

 

[Tonino71]

I suspect you don't have line of site to South towers so weather will affect reception. Warmer weather usually will improve reception while fog over the Lake will weaken UHF signals.

yes..correct..no line of sight..so I guess that may be the issue...I am contemplating to try a directional antenna to see if it may make a difference. When I was on OTA up untill 2016 everything seemed to be more stable but I have been using multi directional antennas.

 

[Tonino71]

yes..correct..no line of sight..so I guess that may be the issue...I am contemplating to try a directional antenna to see if it may make a difference. When I was on OTA up untill 2016 everything seemed to be more stable but I have been using multi directional antennas.

now as of my last scan at 9:50 am, the problem channels are gone.signal strength down to 25% and signal quality at 0.

Do you think maybe I should try a directional antenna?/ Or just live with what I get?..It's odd for me because back in 2016 they were pretty stabile..according to rabbit ears I am pretty much wasting my time..any thoughts?

 

[rob50312]

Inspect cable end for corrosion.Try without filter.Water has been known to get into balan boxes on antenna direct antennas ?Check signal report with 10 foot increase in height.Best antenna would only give 3db more.

 

[Clique Of One]

Have you tried a 607MHZ 5G cell phone trap before thre preamp ?

I have a 5G filter between the preamp and antenna.
Is that what you meant, “before the preamp”?

 

[Tonino71]

yes...I have the 5g filter attached to the antenna before the pre-amp...currently I am using the eaglestar pro antenna as it seems to be giving me better results from my db4e and db2e.

 

[rob50312]

The db4e 4 bay should outperform the eaglestar 2 Bay slot antenna.Db4e would be more directional so aiming more critical.Bowties toward Buffalo.Are you using the same preamp for each ?Maybe overloading Kitz preamp with CN Tower stations.

 

[Tonino71]

right now I am using the clearstream juice pre amp, I will try again with the db4e..maybe I was not aiming properly..and I will try without the filter also.

 

[audioguy_on_ca]

Pay attention to the active runways/traffic pattern at YYZ to determine if their RF equipment (RADAR/Instrument Landing Systems) are interfering with TV. I’d guess it’s a different band altogether, but…


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[Tonino71]

So all weekend long I have been switching antennas and filters...the db2e gives the worst results...the db4e and the eaglestar pro are both giving me the same results, not one better then the other...the 2.1, 4.1, 7.1,23.1 series of channels appear in the early mornings and disappear thruout the day..I get about 30% signal and 0 signal quality when the disappear on both the eaglestar and db4e, db2e does not even pick them up...I have a friend comming over this week with a clearstream cv2 max and a cv4max that we will try and see if any of them will be better...so I will let you all know how I make out..My friend is actually upgrading to the 4 max and is offering me the cv2 max, but we will try both to see which one will be best for me.

 

[bigoranget]

I know geography has everything to do with OTA reception. I have a buddy that lives in Orillia and can consistently pickup almost all the Buffalo area stations. I believe he is using a televes antenna (not sure on the model). I know people in Hamilton and Stoney Creek that live just below the escarpment that can't get anything at all from Buffalo.

 

[rob50312]

I dont think you find one antenna much different than another.Do you have clear site line to horizon of Lake Ontario ?Can you mount antenna any higher up ?100 miles from those South towers.