Reception Reports for the GTA

[audit13]

When my friend saw all the free high definition television channels I was getting with my outdoor rooftop antenna he asked me to help him achieve the same results at his house.

I just completed the install yesterday. It worked perfectly on the first try and looks great!

The set-up included a ChannelMaster 4221HD antenna, a little over 100ft of quality RG6 cable, Grounded properly, Split to Two TVs, with a Channel Master 7778 pre-amp. Antenna is on top of a two-story home, oustside, facing Buffalo. The total cost of all the materials was between $240 and $260....

I have the exact same setup and live in Bloor West Village. I've limited my channel selection to only US and Canadian HD stations.

I've noticed that I've been losing 4.1 lately but not 2.1. When I lose a station, it's usually 2.1.

I mounted my CM 4221HD to the side of my chimney using a j-pole.

[HWP]

Good news, Audit13!

WIVB CBS 4.1 has been having transmitter problems for about two weeks. They are doing repairs. They are transmitting from a temporary transmitter. Work is expected to be done shortly. In the meantime they are broadcasting at reduced power. Usually WIVB is a rock-solid station but for now it will be marginal for some.

Enjoy your OTA!

[Suave]

HWP - thank you very much for posting all the reception reports in the Toronto area - this should definitely encourage some to pick up an antenna

Also, thanks for posting the newly added channels!

[audit13]

Good news, Audit13!

WIVB CBS 4.1 has been having transmitter problems for about two weeks. They are doing repairs. They are transmitting from a temporary transmitter. Work is expected to be done shortly. In the meantime they are broadcasting at reduced power. Usually WIVB is a rock-solid station but for now it will be marginal for some.

Enjoy your OTA!

I'm consistently receiving 4.1, just like before. I guess the station has completed the necessary work

[jdunmall]

Hi all - thought I'd post a quick note to say that my HD antenna installation is complete and I am free from Bell! That is, free after I've finished paying them 30 days in advance. Grrr....

The picture quality is outstanding - it is so freshing to not see the ugly compression artifacts in the soft lighting scenes... the moving blotches are gone! I wanted Toy Story on CBC a bit as well. Stunning picture.

I am using the Nippon UDF80 (http://www.canadahifi.com/review97.php).

I mounted the antenna in the attic. In the end I found it brought in all of the stations I needed without the visual external distraction and the hassle of getting someone onto my steep roof. Mounted is a strong word... Borrowing from HWP's list, I bring in everything except ION. I can get ION by tweaking direction, but then I lose other stations.

Running the cable demonstrated that I'm a computer guy, not a handyman. By the time I was done I can cut a 3' x 3' hole through the plaster to fish the wire down. Good thing I can fix holes.

Here is what I get (thanks for the list HWP): [edit: intersection Runnymede & Bloor]

2.1 NBC
2.2 Universal Sports Network
2.3 Retro TV
4.1 CBS
5.1 CBC
7.1 ABC
9.1 CTV
11.1 CHCH
17.1 PBS High Definition
17.2 PBS Standard Definition
17.3 PBS Think Bright
19 TVOntario
23.1 The CW
25.1 French CBC
26.1 TCT SD
26.2 TCT HD
29.1 Fox
29.2 The Country Network (music video station)
36.1 CTS
41.1 Global
44.1 Omni 2
49.1 MyTV Buffalo
49.2 TheCoolTV (70s 80s 90s 2000s mixed genres music video station)
NO ---> 51.1 ION
NO ---> 51.2 qubo (24 hrs TV cartoons for kids Treehouse-TV-age and older)
NO ---> 51.3 ION Life (similar to HGTV)
57.1 CityTV
64.1 Omni 1
66.1 SunTV

[HWP]

If you have an old tower in your backyard, you should first make sure it is safe, and then consider bringing it back to life with a new antenna such as a Winegard HD7697P or HD7698P. Here are the thirty-seven channels that I get regularly:

2.1 NBC
2.2 Universal Sports Network
2.3 Retro TV
3.0 /A\ Channel - soon to be rebranded CTV2 and moving to digital HD on Aug 31 on channel 10.1 (rf10) from Barrie)
4.1 CBS
5.1 CBC
7.1 ABC
9.1 CTV
11.1 CHCH
15.0 Star Ray TV (low power analog pirate TV station only viewable in a very small area)
17.1 PBS HD
17.2 PBS SD
17.3 PBS Think Bright
19.0 TVOntario (Transitioning to digital HD on Aug 18, 2011 to channel 19.1 (rf19))
23.1 The CW
25.1 Radio-Canada
26.1 TCT SD
26.2 TCT HD
26.3 TCT Family
26.4 TCT La Fuente
29.1 Fox
29.2 The Country Network (music video station)
36.1 CTS
41.1 Global
44.1 Omni 2
49.1 MyTV Buffalo
49.2 TheCoolTV (music video station)
51.1 ION (Recently syndicated dramas eg Without a Trace, Ghost Whisperer)
51.2 qubo (24hr children's cartoon network)
51.3 ION Life (similar to HGTV)
57.1 CityTV
64.1 Omni 1
66.1 Sun News Network
67.1 WNGS
67.2 ThisTV (movie channel)
67.3 MeTV (old sitcoms - Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, Mary Tyler-Moore, Bob Newhart, MASH, Lucy, etc.)
67.4 Daystar

[Closin]

Seems like not many people has posted anything lately.
I live on Birchmount Road just north of Steeles ave in Markham Ontario.
I have an UDF 80 and a Antenna Direct DB4 mounted on the same mast on the roof.
The Nippon UDF 80 gave me more channels than the Antenna Direct DB4 .
NBC channel 2 do fade away from time to time on the DB4.
Just bought a preamp the Antenna Direct CPA19 for $59.00 at Solid Signal.
The CPA 19 is connected to the UDF 80 and the output is split to 2 TV ,one output goes to my Panasonic 50in plasma and the second output to my old Toshiba 29 inch tube TV through a digital to analogue converter in the basement.Signal are in the range of 80% to 100%
since I do not have Rogers cable and a PVR anymore ,I have been using my VCR for the odd taping and it work fine.I find the quality on the VCR so much better than before with cable.
The DB4 antenna is connected to my Flat panel Tv in the bedroom.
I receive a total of 24 channels with the Nippon UDF 80.
Those are the channels.2-1. 2-2 , 5-1, 7-1, 9-1, 17-1-2-3 , 19-1, 23-1, 25-1, 26-1-2-3-4, 29-1-2 , 36-1, 40-1, 41-1-2 , 47-1 , 49-1, and 57-1 .