Is it a single channel UHF antenna?

At any rate, what you'd probably want is a good yagi-style UHF antenna. I should note that you may not be completely done with VHF - there are going to be several channels in Buffalo/Toronto on high-VHF in a few years.

I'm not sure if you need a preamp in your location (how far out of Niagara falls?), or if it might make things worse since Grand Island is going to be pretty strong. Perhaps some folks from the area can expand on that.

For a rotor I recommend the Channel Master CM-9521-A with remote control.

I took a holiday at Bissell's in Fonthill/Pelham which is not to far from your area at all.
I packed up a $30 Chinese built outdoor antenna (4 bay UHF) with it's matching
cheap preamp, (also about $30). a 7" portable DVD player with video input, and a
tiny set top DTV tuner for a regular tv.
in my spare time away from the pool... I set the antenna against a tree on the
ground and i picked up CW and FOX from grand island and the 3 big ones from south
buffalo no problem. I also moved the antenna around and grabbed CBC from toronto.
Now, Fonthill has pretty good elevation. but you should be able to get something
there, i would think.

I'm not saying go cheap... but saying you should be getting something there.

As Daniel said,
At any rate, what you'd probably want is a good yagi-style UHF antenna. I should note that you may not be completely done with VHF - there are going to be several channels in Buffalo/Toronto on high-VHF in a few years

FCC shows applications in for Kitchener's CKCO 13 for channel 7 DT low power
and another app showed up not long ago for channel 13 DT at 12kW erp.
Hamilton's CHCH 11 and 18.1 DT  has an app for 11 DT at 6kW erp.
CFTO has an app in to claim channel 9 as digital too.
lots of potential for high VHF in the next few years.

my $0.02



(I loved the use of channel 2's weather radar to watch the HEAVY storm roll in
and be aware of it long be for it got to us. :)

Thanks Daniel. I just checked online and I can get that rotor locally. They have sure come a long way from the ones we used to use. I can even use it with my Harmony.

The VHF antenna is huge, but it's pretty old. A couple of the elements have come off over the last few years. They are the longest elements, so maybe I won't replace that. Those are low end channels from what I am told. My friend told me that the UHF was a channel 57. I think that I may replace it. It's fairly cheap and I am going to have to pay someone to put up the rotor, so I might as well do it while I am there.

I'm going to go and check out some stuff this afternoon and I will ask at the store about the preamp. I have a place to start now. I really hate walking into a store and not knowing anything about what I need.

I'll let you know how it all worked out once I get everything installed. Thanks for your help.

You're right, I'm not far from Fonthill. I'm in the Thorold South/Allanburg area, but no one knows where that is. At least, not until the bridge came down on the ship in the Welland Canal and we were all over the news. That's not far from my house.

The elevation in this area is good for reception. The biggest problem has always been all of the radio towers up here. Years ago, I started to get 105.7 FM blasting through the TV. I called them and the engineer actually gave me a new FM filter.

I love CHCH Hamilton. Without them, we wouldn't get any local news at all. Unfortunately, they may shut down because they are losing money. I didn't even know that CKCO in Kitchener was still around. They always were very low power. We didn't have cable at home when I was growing up and it always came in really fuzzy or not at all. I can remember picking up CFTO with a coat hanger in one apt, lol. My friends called me a geek...

As I told Daniel, I am going to look into the Yagi style antenna. Might as well. If I'm not happy with what I have, I'm going to have to pay someone to come out again. For the price, I'll get a new one.

That pool at Bissell's is awesome, isn't it?

Thanks for your help and I will let everyone know how it worked out for me.

I know where Thorold South and Allanburg are. I told a co-worker what to do to get digital with their antenna and they're in Port Robinson. They can't believe the reception they're getting.

Since you're on the escarpment you might have no problen getting Erie. I'm down in St. Catharines and we never get the Erie stations.


Recent news on Wikipedia: Looks like an ownership change at WNGS could have them go from channel 7 to 28 (if) and when they go digital.

Good article in the Buffalo News today penned by TV critic Alan Pergament about the recent happenings at WNGS. Here is a link to the story.. .

[Link: buffalonews.com]

Interesting article... and a sad state of affairs for WNGS' future.

Update on my problem losing CIII CJMT CFMT CKXT WGRZ and WKBW during the rain and the day after a storm. I replaced the transformer on my antenna because it was full of water. As I shook the think out in my kitchen sink more water came out.

As I said I have replaced the transformer and put a new end on my coax (It's nice to have a brother who's a cable guy) All my channels are back.

I would have never suspected that.

keaster2000,

Happy to hear you resolve your problem, but could you please give us a few more details regarding you water fill transformer.

What was the make of your transformer? Was it one of the CM outdoor transformer?

How old was the transformer and did you find a cracks in the transformer or did the water enter via the leads or F connector?

I have heard that some of the new plastic CM transformers (made in China) were cracking?

Thanks!

Hey Biggy:

It was most likely a cheap transformer that came with a Permacolor indoor/outdoor amp I bought on ebay. The amp worked too good--I couldn't get Channel 2 at night, so I removed the outdoor pre ampand left the short piece of cable and used a barrel connector to the line that went down the tower.

My brother said that moisture was probably getting into the connection since it was in a vertical position and that I would probably solve my problem there.

The barrel connection was fine; I figured in case the transformer was cracked I would replace it with a slightly better one. When I disconnected the co-ax from the transformer, water dripped out.

I figure that it must have been a cheap transformer--that wasn't even up there a year, and it wasn't racked. The wires in what you could call the "twin lead" part were the thin copper wires with "Y" connectors clamped on each end for you to connect to the antenna. On the new transformer it is a solid wire that you just wind around each screw.

During the wind yesterday afternoon and the thunderstorm last night I was watching 2-2 with a consistant signal around 69-75% No signal loss on any of the other channels. But Global (41-1) for me is only 66% Whereas WUTV and WNYO are strong at 85%

So it's been on the news quite a few times in the past couple of weeks: CTV and Global are again asking for "Fee for Carriage" from cable and satellite companies; they've been shot down twice by the CRTC. They're doing it in the U.S. (WIVB got their way a few months ago), but what does this mean if you're watching OTA? You can't charge me--actually they already are--they're called COMMERCIALS!

what does this mean if you're watching OTA?

It means you are even less relevant to them since they make no money of you. It's hard enough now to speak to someone about transmission problems, PSIP problems, etc. I figure it's going to get worse from here.

I imagine they'll start asking to reduce ERP in a couple years since "almost no one watches OTA anymore" they'll say.

Yeah, Ivan "Fecal-matter" of CTV is borderline disrespecting the CRTC, and his news soundbites are only fueling arrogant, ignoramus comments from the public who stupidly think the CRTC is useless and broadcasters should have free reign in a chaotic broadcast system.
I don't understand what they (broadcasters) hope to accomplish. If there were no more CRTC regulations whatsoever (I swear that's what they really want) then they'd all cancel ALL their Canadian programming, import everything from the U.S., and slowly realize that Canadians don't need 'stations' up here that run exactly the same programming available from U.S. stations!! Actually, I suppose the Canadian broadcasters want their beloved simsubbing, much like Quebec separatists want to keep Canadian currency, so we can all watch 100% American TV with Canadian commercials! Guffaw!! "Tonight on the local Buffalo news...................... [bzzt] brought to you by Canadian Tire"
The broadcasters talk like they're screwed if they don't make drastic changes. Pfff, maybe if they quit consolidating they'd have more money in the bank. CTV bought out the 'A' stations and now claims they have to shut down two or three of them -- yeah, right. Oldest trick in the book. Buy out the competition, wait until most people forgot about it, then cry poor and shut 'em down.

I Couldn't have said it any better myself

Put all electronic components in a plastic jar and invert it and tie to the mast. Instant waterproofing.