I am in Hamilton and do not get any Buffalo stations, last night I got the CW with an 80% signal. Gone today. But maybe with my 75 ft. run of cable and my antenna in the attic if I get a preamp I might be able to pick up some buffalo and Grand Island stations.

John

Greetings!

I would like to hear from anyone in the Mississauga area regarding:

… The maximum number of (clear & stable) digital channels (Can & US [Link: remotecentral.com]) that they can receive “without rotating” their antenna. Specifically those individuals who have attempted to combined more than one antenna. As an example one antenna directed toward the US and other towards CN tower.

… Could you please include brief description of your setup. (Antennas, indoor, outdoor, line length, preamps, disturb-amps etc.). As well as any details of any problems that you have encountered or other information you would like to share.

Any comments would be appreciated, thanks!

P.S.

In fact it would be interesting hear from anyone who has tried combining antenna in any location and hear their story :-)

Combining multiple antennas aimed in different directions is generally not recommended, so I'm not sure you'll find that many people who have done it. Really best to just go with a rotor.

I'm combining two antennas, but they're the same model aimed in the same direction.

What is just me or did reception of Buffalo UHF (from the GTA) suck the bag last night? I was getting choppy, or no, reception on Ch 2,7,29,49 for a while. I meant to try it again this morning before heading out but didn't get the chance.

Hi Daniel,

Thanks for your response I agree with using a rotor is preferable.

Combining antenna's is not for (isn't easily accomplished) everyone especially if they are directed in different directions. But if you are successful of doing it, I am sure you can appreciate the benefits.

I just wanted hear from any members the Mississauga area or in fact any other areas who have successfully combined two antennas (in different directions). What their setups were, channels they were able to receive and any other information they wanted share.

Hi Donnyjaguar

I had not notice any problems with Ch 2,7,29,49 last night.

Biggy

Hey Biggy, If you're in Mississauga I'm thinking if you had a yagi or CM4221 pointed at Buffalo South you should get Grand Island and CN Twr/1st Cdn Plc at good signal strength. I can see that the added directionality of a CM4228 could cause problems. I'm using a wideband yagi myself. I get overload from Toronto even when pointed at Buffalo South. I solved that problem with a 7dB attenuator before I go into the preamp. It does work better than with the preamp removed altogether.

The conditions were just plain weird for me again last night. The kids took over the DTV to watch March of the Penguins so I was relegated to the old analogue portable. At 7pm all is good, by 7:30 WNED and WUTV had faded to unwatchable. Yet historically weaker ones like 49 and 36 were good. I swung the antenna around to north and picked up 67 out of Muskoka at normal strength thus ruling out an antenna problem. By 8:30 all the signal levels had slowly faded back to normal. Just refraction over the lake I'm guessing from my location.

DJ

Hello donnyjaguar,

A quick note, since installed my system I have gone all digital (DTV) and no longer try receive NTSC signals although I do know that 4228 can receive some of lower frequency VHF channels, I presently do not have a yagi.

Funny that you mention the 4221 I just installed one yesterday indoors, replacing the indoor silver sensor I was using. I am happy to report I am now receiving nice solid signals from all the CN Tower transmitters. As for my 4228 I found it’s doing a perfect job receiving the US channels, from where I am located. I require the sensitivity and the directivity of this antenna, and as a side benefit it helps eliminate co-channel interference from the channels received by the 4221.

Sounds like you have lots of fun with yagi :-( sorry I can’t be of much help you with that.

Biggy

Hi donnyjaguar,

Here is some information you might be interested in, yesterday evening during a period of heavy rain (9 PM) I started to notice channels 2.1 (33.1) 4.1 (39.1) 7.1 (38.1) 49.1 (34.2) signal strength begin to decrease and I was getting breakup on the video, the signal strength was jumping up and down.

I couldn’t sleep very well last night woke up at 4:00 AM there was a layer of heavy fog. I checked out the weather channel they were recording heavy fog across lake as well. I ran another check of all the channels 2.1 (33.1) 4.1 (39.1) 7.1 (38.1) 49.1 (34.2) were all weak video would drop in and out. Channel 29.1 (14.1) no video or audio. The fog seems to be a real UHF signal killer.

This morning overcast 9:00 am all channel up and returned to normal signal strength.

Looks the weather had a lot to play with the poor reception I was getting. The weather seems to have little effect on all the stations broadcasting from CN Tower and Hamilton. Since I am located down at the bottom of a hill I can’t receive any signals broadcasting from North of my location. I think if I was at top of the hill I might be able to receive signals from North of me as well as from Rochester, Syracuse area.

Next thing for me to watch out for is when the leaves on trees start to fill in :-(

Anyone else notice decrease or lost of signals last night as well?

Biggy

It was that way from south of the border, too. Analog 69 appeared to have been moved another 70 miles away, and CBC 20 was the only Canadian HD I could get last night - even 24 was just barely there. When I woke up early this morning, all were back (52,65,66), plus the "now you see them, now you don't" Hamilton 18 and 35. Why is Global back to 65-2 label rather than 41-1?
Tom in Albion, NY

Daniel,

I just querried the FCC Data base and WPXJ has asked to move their -DT operations to UHF channel # 23. The contour is also avaialble on the FCC website. Looks like it is time to update the chart.

Also, WNGS has a new filing with the FCC and they are going to be doing their -DT operation on VHF channel # 7. Again, something to querry the FCC DB for contour and also for updating the chart.

Yes reception numbers dropped off terribly. I'm on the Hamilton Mountain and it was a trick trying to find enough signal from any of the Buffalo stations.

I can't seem to get Fox 29.1 or 49.1 and now (pbs 43(17.) seems to have dissappeared from my universe also) at the best of time now I don't even seem to get a sniff at them. I can usually at least get 14 and 34 to register their 29.1 and 49.1 pseudo station monikers at all. Ant tips as to how to get these stations to come in from my locale or am I just not able to recieve them?

City Tv is coming great lately on the Hamilton Mountain. Did they pump up their signal? Their news in HD is pretty cool.

Hi Tom,

As you know Globle just recently fired up their transmitter I sure they are have some teething problems, once things settle down I am sure the get the right channel.

Update:

As of 11 am seem several US channels have started breakup again I am watching 2.2 weather channel (Breaking UP) looks like you guys are getting hit by lots of rain again. I checkout the google maps I can see fairly heavy rain in Buffalo region.

Fun thing PBS I am getting 94 percernt signal strenght.

Biggy

This could be interesting...
CKCO from Kitchener has their app in for DT 7 as well. Only at 5KW though.
Where WNGS is only at 15KW. both low power.
However, in time i could see this happening.
If CKCO uses DT 7 till the Canadian analog shut down, then move back
to 13, that would free up CH 7 for WNGS where their marketing agreement partner (WKBW) is
currently located in analog....
WBNG from Binghamton is showing active on DT 7, but they are much further east and likely out of
harm's way, CKCO's Baden transmitter is currently in fringe area of WBKW's TV 7 signal.

Just some thoughts.

Thanks for all the signal reports in the GTA. Definitely a case of "do not adjust your set" lately.

Biggy, try pointing your antenna at about 0° for Ch67 UHF analogue if you have a rotor on your CM4228. They've got a (surprisingly) good signal at my place and I'm definitely 300ft below, and south of, the moraine. I get Ch 7 from the same site. In fact, Ch7 analogue out of buffalo is a little noisy 'cuz of the Ch7 from up north. No issue here as its available on DTV anyway.

Could you expand on the reason not to use multiple antennas?

I am near Broadview Station in Toronto and am using Antennas Direct Terrestrial DB4 pointed to the CN Tower, DB8 aprox. 25 degrees south east of that and another DB8, another 25 degrees to the left of that. I am using 2 combiners and an signal amplifier.

I am receiving these digital station that with just one DB8 I was only able to receive only a fraction of these stations.

2.1; 2.2; 4.1; 5.1; 7.1; 7.2; 7.3; 9.1; 17.1; 17.2; 17.3; 23.1; 29.1; 29.2; 49.1; 49.2; 57.1; 65.1; 66.1