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Topic:
Toronto & Buffalo HDTV reception...
This thread has 3494 replies. Displaying posts 1426 through 1440.
Post 1,426 made on Wednesday February 20, 2008 at 19:21
farlz00
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December 2007
5
OMG! Dan, THANK YOU! i have been trying for years to figure out the name of that show I grew up with and loved so much, fables of the green forest. now i just hope to find it somehow for my 2 daughters to enjoy! love the site, keep up the great work, hoping TVO comes online soon (althought my analog signal is pretty good).
OTA only
Post 1,427 made on Saturday February 23, 2008 at 02:20
Lone_Gunman
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1
Hi rifraf:

I think you are in the closest situation to mine in terms of distance. I am between Orangeville and Fergus. About 110 miles to WGR2 and 130 miles to WPXJ.

I do like to know how you make out with these stations in Buffalo. And what equipment you used.

I have a 30 feet TV tower out back with a broken antenna and siezed rotator. I am thinking of getting the Vinegard HD-8800, CM remote rotator, and some kind of preamp up by the antenna. Anybody have any idea whether the setup will work or not. With the broken setup, I can get WNED with fair signal.

The other concern I have is the 100+KPH snow storms I tend to get a few times a year. The yagi antenna have smaller horizontal surface have lasted about 25 years. The HD8800 have a much larger horizontal surface. If the wind is blow right at it. Think it will be a problem?

Thanks.
Post 1,428 made on Saturday February 23, 2008 at 08:53
PGB
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3
Hi,

I just downloaded the latest version of my software for my tuner in my computer and as a result was required to rescan. I ended up with Omni 1 and Omni 2. These are new to me.

Talk care and clear reception.

Paul
Post 1,429 made on Saturday February 23, 2008 at 11:58
NFASTRO
Long Time Member
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130
To PGB: I dont think it was the software that got you OMNI1 and 2. These stations have been off and on the air for over a year. I noticed that they started broadcasting Friday from Toronto. They are still in test mode and will probably shut off their transmitters by Monday.
Their planned live date is July 2008, at least thats the last we heard. However, they may ask for another extension. Unfortunately, there is great reluctance to broadcast OTA free HDTV especially when the cable operators can charge for it.
Post 1,430 made on Saturday February 23, 2008 at 12:54
editboy25
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February 2008
27
Hi, I'm in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I have a south-east facing view. I'm using the Winegard Square Shooter antenna for OTA HD reception.

Here is my problem. Back in September, I was getting NBC WGRZ HD (33.1/2.1) relatively well. Around December, The signal stopped, my antenna is not picking it up at all. Any ideas why this would happen? All other channels are rock solid for signal strength.
Located in the High Park area of Toronto, north facing view.
Post 1,431 made on Saturday February 23, 2008 at 13:43
ontariocraig
Long Time Member
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162
I had a similar problem a couple of years ago with WKBW - it just disappeared for no apparent reason, I checked cables, antenna, amps, connecters...everything. I had the benefit of another tuner, so I knew that they were broadcasting.

In the end, I unplugged the TV from the AC, I did a factory default reset and voila - it came back, and has been fine ever since.

Not saying thats your problem, but keep it in mind if all else fails. for reliable reception of WGRZ I've found I had to get my antenna nice and high up, for me raising/lowering it just 4' makes the difference between reliable reception and no reception at all - however your mileage may vary.


On February 23, 2008 at 12:54, editboy25 said...
Hi, I'm in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I have a south-east
facing view. I'm using the Winegard Square Shooter antenna
for OTA HD reception.

Here is my problem. Back in September, I was getting NBC
WGRZ HD (33.1/2.1) relatively well. Around December, The
signal stopped, my antenna is not picking it up at all.
Any ideas why this would happen? All other channels are
rock solid for signal strength.
Post 1,432 made on Saturday February 23, 2008 at 15:49
scottaswell
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29
On February 14, 2008 at 22:36, rocket65 said...
I realize that your post was years ago.. however myself
living in a condo in a fringe area I can't think of any
better antenna then a Ministate by Antennacraft.. being
uni-directional allows me to zone in on each frequency.
I even sent away for the IR kit.. which gives me freedom
from the cable it came with. b.t.w I reside in Waterloo
Ontario, Canada which is 110 miles from Buffalo and approximately
85 miles from Niagara Falls..

Hi, a new poster here and have a question regarding buying an antenna.
This is what I would like to be able to receive from the antenna, all of the buffalo signals as well as the rochester ones and if possible the towers out in london to the west to the towers up in owen sound in the northwest to possibly even the peterborough tower in the west.

I'm currently live in the northeast of metro toronto in scarborough in a two story house and I am now more interested in the Ministate from antennacraft available at radio shack after reading Rocket65's post. I have looked at the product on antennacrat's website and they claim it can receive signals upto 40 miles away. The greatest distance of the transmitters I would like to receive is about 117 miles.

I guess my question is being directed specifically towards rocket65 and if he has been able to pick up signals that far with his ministate. Of course other owners experiences of this particular antenna would be interesting to hear about.

I do admit i like it's great small design and it could be put up on the topshelf of the upstairs closet. Also have checked out the antenna direct model db8 and that is stated can receive signals from 70+ miles there have postings that depending where the person lives can receive signals from over a 100 miles away.

thanks
Got attitude? Then I know your wrong and you been allowed to get away with it
Post 1,433 made on Saturday February 23, 2008 at 18:59
ontariocraig
Long Time Member
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162
ya canna change the laws of physics. - admittedly I havent tried one of these things, but still, I'm very skeptical.

I live in Ajax, and only rarely on tropo days can I get the Rochester channels with my roofmounted DB8 - a far better antenna than the ministate from what I've read, however, I can RELIABLY recieve the Bufallo and Toronto channels. The Rochester channels are relatively low powered and directional.

I think the ministate is intended as more of a mobile antenna for camping, RVs, trailers, etc...

You may want to read the thread "HD Reciever" in which poster writes about the reception problems he has with the antenna he recommends. Having said that, he's out in Kitchener (though high up) - so he's quite a distance out - and probably impacted by the weather a lot at that distance too.

Last edited by ontariocraig on February 23, 2008 19:09.
Post 1,434 made on Saturday February 23, 2008 at 19:09
editboy25
Long Time Member
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February 2008
27
Has anyone noticed that since WKBW "officially" broadcasts WCSN 7.3 the quality of the picture has degraded. On my TV, in Toronto, The picture has become "jagged" (that's the best way I can describe it), with a lot of horizontal breakup.
Located in the High Park area of Toronto, north facing view.
Post 1,435 made on Saturday February 23, 2008 at 21:46
DJG
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August 2005
76
editboy25, i'm generally against stuffing on air transmitter with sub channels.WKBW is going extremely overboard so I e-mailed them few months back.Was asking to remove, at least, one sub channel (out of three).
It wasn't first time when i was concerned with their technical side.Wrote to them before and got prime time series issue resolved.Seems like they never respond to such mails, though.
Post 1,436 made on Sunday February 24, 2008 at 00:17
scottaswell
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February 2008
29
Thanks ontariocraig, appreciate your response. kind of a unique situation where i live. I was interested in the antenna because of its ability to be put out of sight out of mind LOL. Don't have much of a leg to stand on here LOL. The dragon keeps breathing fire down my neck. LOL. But to be honest if the antenna goes on sale i'll probably buy so i can get wet for the first time. Already had some fun building my first antenna out of carboard foil and some coat hanger where I live i still managed to pick up 6 digital and about 8 analog.
Got attitude? Then I know your wrong and you been allowed to get away with it
Post 1,437 made on Sunday February 24, 2008 at 23:36
rocket65
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February 2008
63
Hi I noticed your curiosity with respect to my Mini-State antenna from The Source (formerly under the Radio Shack banner. when it comes to my tv reception so much of it is hit and miss depending upon the time of year and weather conditions.. as I stated before I'm definitely in a fringe area. The reasons that I'm so ecstatic about my Mini-State are that it's so compact and fits easily in my window. it's unidirectional.. and I was able to get a wireless remote for it through the Antennacraft website. Ideally I would experience better reception outdoors. however the constraints of my condo don't allow me this freedom. from what ive read analog stations seem to be able to travel up to 40 miles and digital up to 45 miles reliably and seemingly after this threshold as the distance increases and the signal weakens more miss then hit. of all the digital stations presently available .. CBC HD always comes in reliably. I would say over all spring and summer especially night-time offers me a much greater selection. I was pretty impressed when I was scanning last-summer and ended up with the Rochester and Syracuse stations. One thing that has become very apparent is that VHF digital is much easier to pick up then UHF digital. here are the stations ive have recieved reliably at one time or another so far. WGRZ HD 2-1 WGRZ SD 2-2 (weather) WSTM 3-1 WSTQ 3-2 Tube 3-4 WIVB HD 4-1 CBLT HD 5-1 WKBW HD 7-1 WNGS SD 7-2 WCSN 7-3 WROC 8-1 CFTO HD 9-1 WSYR 9-2 WHEC HD 10-1 WHEC SD 10-2 WXXI HD 21-1 WXXIW 21-2 WXXIC 21-3 WXXITV 21-4 WNLO HD 23-1 WNYB 26-1 WNED HD 43-1 WNED SD 43-2 WNED TH 43-3 CITY HD 57-1 CKXT 66-1. I have found that the air masses play a critical factor seemingly if the sky is cloudless and shrouded by an arctic air mass reception is very minimal and on the flipside if the sky is cloudess and encompassed by a tropical air mass stations are plentiful. There also appears to be a correlation between day and night with reception overall better during the night-time.. or better on an overcast day as opposed to bright sunshine .. perhaps the sun creates intereference. One thing in your favor may be the fact that your elevation and line of sight of Buffalo and Toronto is far more exacting then mine. Kitchener-Waterloo is more in line with Erie Pennsyvania then Buffalo or Toronto. perhaps just for curiosity sake you could hook up a Mini-State place it on your 30 foot mast .. the unit itself comes with a 60 foot cable. however that being said the larger your elements the greater your signal pickup will be. I would never ever call myself an expert in this field .. I impart my information through trial and error and from what ive witnessed from my own situation.
Michael Robert Bennett
Post 1,438 made on Monday February 25, 2008 at 12:36
scottaswell
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Thanks for the input rocket65, The source (radio shack) guy recommended it saying it was a great antenna. I do like some of it's features including the internal rotor. And as I said in another thread I will pick it up when it's on sale and try it out. If I don't like it I can always return it.
Got attitude? Then I know your wrong and you been allowed to get away with it
Post 1,439 made on Monday February 25, 2008 at 23:54
rocket65
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Your very welcome I find this site incredibly informative and I too am always learning and picking up tips.
Michael Robert Bennett
Post 1,440 made on Tuesday February 26, 2008 at 22:29
editboy25
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rocket65, a quick question about the Mini State (and for anyone else who wants to answer). What do you think the reception would be like in Toronto? I'm in a south-east facing apartment, about 5 miles from Lake Ontario with great line of site. I'm using the Winegard SquareShooter and I get everything but WGRZ HD (NBC). Unfortunately, I don't have a balcony to mount an antenna. The SquareShooter actually works really well inside and it seems like the Mini State would as well.

Also, if anyone knows of an antenna that would work well for my situation, I would appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks for all the advice so far. What a great forum to stumble upon!
Located in the High Park area of Toronto, north facing view.
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