Available Channels - Antenna Selection - Aylmer, QC

[clivek]

Hello,

I am a newbie and going to be cutting cable in the next month. I have been looking at the OTA channels available to me and want to know what the chances are I can pick up some of the distant US stations. The info I read seems to be mixed at best for 100mile+.
I am situated in one of the higher points in Aylmer, and it looks like I would have a completely unobstructed view to the south. (i.e no trees close by, all southern homes are lower, etc... that block to the south) as I can get about 35 feet above the existing ground level.
My TVfool report is below.
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d1ddad317c27cbb
My questions are this:
1) At 100 miles+, do I even try and get an antenna that can try to pick up these distant channels? percentage of getting a good signal??
2) If so - what antenna should I use? What other accesories should I get (amplifier, etc...)
3) Given that some of the local channels transmit directly from the north of me (camp fortune - 6 miles), am I going to have a problem with the close signals being too strong if I get some massive antenna to get the far away stations (100+ miles).
4) If the distance channels are too far away, then what is a good antenna to get for the local stuff (6 miles (north) and 19 miles (se))? Can I use one without a rotor (prefereable) to get both of these?

I am OK to get a big antenna if I have some reasonable chance to pick these distant channels up, but if not then would rather get a regular one that is not so big and bulky to install, visual, etc....

A lot of questions, any info would be greatly appreciated, looking forward to cutting my cable. Thansk in advance.

[teleview]

For your reception situation , 1 antenna will do it all.

A Channel Master CM4228HD UHF/VHF antenna will receive the local Canada Digital Tv stations/channels.

The local channels are -->Very Strong Signal Strength<-- and the CM4228HD UHF/VHF antenna will receive the local Digital Tv stations/channels at the front and back of the CM4228HD UHF/VHF antenna because the local Digital Tv stations/channels are Very Strong Signal Strength.

No preamplifier or distribution amplifier is required for reception of the local Digital Tv stations channels.

Aim the CM4228HD UHF/VHF antenna at about 150 degree magnetic compass direction.

Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.

A Tv antenna rotator is not required.
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For 1 Tv connected use No splitter.

For 2 Tv's connected use a simple common 2 way splitter.

For 3 Tv's connected use a simple common 3 way splitter.



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For reception of some USA Digital Tv stations/channels.

The Same<->Channel Master CM4228HD aimed the same direction at about 150 magnetic compass direction.

150 degree is a in between aim direction for reception of the USA Digital Tv station/channels.

As always , the starting antenna aim direction is the --> starting antenna aim direction.

The antenna aim direction can be adjusted to provide the best reception.

Most Digital Tv's have a signal strength meter and some Digital Tv's also have a signal quality meter.
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WNPI-DT Real UHF Digital channel 23 , PBS channels. Will most likely be reliably received.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WPBS-DT.

The next 2 Digital Tv stations/channels , may or may not be received reliably.

WCFE-DT Real UHF Digital channel 38 , PBS channels.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WCFE-TV.

WNYF-LD Real UHF Digital channel 18 , FOX and digital sub channel - WWNY , CBS.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WNYF-CD.

The Canada Digital Tv stations/channels are Very Strong Signal Strength , so a amplifier that has high resistance to being overloaded is required for reception of the USA Digital Tv stations/channels that are Very Weak Signal Strength.

Install a Winegard 'Boost' amplifier , LNA-100.

The LNA-100 is not weather/water resistant , so the LNA-100 is installed at a location that is out of the weather/water.

The LNA-100 is installed before the input side of the splitter.

The best practice is to install the amplifier closer to the antenna , to get the most and strongest signal from the antenna before any signal strength losses through long lengths of coax.

Reliable reception of the USA Digital Tv stations is the goal.

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As examples , here are some common antenna mounts.

http://www.ronard.com/909911.html. Use the 5 foot tripod antenna mount. ronard (911)

http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html. Use the #4560 eave antenna mount.

http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html.

Measure chimney. ronard (2212) , ronard (2218) , ronard (2224) .

http://www.ronard.com.

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Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. .

http://www.saveandreplay.com.

http://www.trentondistributors.com.

http://www.amazon.ca.

http://www.channelmasterstore.com.

http://www.winegarddirect.com.

http://www.amazon.com.

[clivek]

great info - thanks so much.

Basically, -9 db and -100 pwr is the practical limit for recieving the signal.

Is their any chance that I can fry my TV with a very high signal strength from the local (cdn) stations?

[teleview]

Yes , minus -9.0 ~ -10.0 NM(dB) and ~ minus -100 Pwr(dBm) are target figures/practical limits for reliable reception.

Some reception locations have reliable reception down to ~ minus -15 NM(dB).

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This fried tuner misinformation keeps popping up on the internet mis/information web sites.

The Tv tuner - Will Not be fried - by strong local Tv transmissions.

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When a tuner or amplifier receives more/stronger signal then the design parameters , then the circuit can not process the signal/s correctly.

The result is , some or all frequencies , Tv channels , are distorted.

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A antenna connected to a Tv and receiving Strong local Tv transmissions , the Tv tuner -> Will Not Be <- fried.

A antenna system amplifier -> Will Not Be <- fried.
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By both high signal and low signal strengths.

The signals can become distorted.

The result is bad reception.

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The only way to find out if those low signal strength USA digital Tv stations are reliably received.

Is install a antenna without a amplifier and see what happens.

And install a amplifier and see what happens.

The correct way to test for reception of the low signal strength Tv stations is to connect only 1 Tv for the test.

No splitters , splitters reduce signal strength each time a split takes place.

The correct way to test for reception is the simplest way.

Do not connect 50 tv's and a big honk'n amplifier and then wonder whats wrong.

[clivek]

Just cut the cord this weekend on the cable.

Purchased a cheap pancake type antenna and installed in the attic just to see how things worked. Of course it worked great - plug and play.

Now I need to try and get setup for the football season in the fall, and the US stations. My plan is to return the antenna I have now and replace with something else installed on the roof.

In the earlier post you suggested a CM-4228, I was wondering if there was an advantage going with something like a CM-3671 (or a CM-3679 a little more reasonable size) it is a monster but I have a good solid chimmney to mount it to so I would be able to do that if it gives me a better chance of the distant stations.

You had mentioned that with the CM-4228 I would probably still get all local with the antenna pointed toward US - is that correct for a CM-3671 type antennas as well?

Thanks,

[clivek]

Sorry forgot to add one, CM-5020.

So the comparison I am looking at is as follows:

CM-4228, CM-3671 / CM-3679, or CM-5020.

I also hear about the HD stacker by Denny. Any comments on this one?

[teleview]

The receivable USA , Digital Broadcast Tv stations/channels are.

WNPI-DT UHF Digital channel 23 , PBS , 79.6 miles.

WCFE-DT UHF Digital channel 38 , PBS , 107.6 miles.


WWNY-TV VHF high band channel 07 , CBS , 100.6 miles.

WNYF-LD UHF Digital channel 18 , FOX and digital sub channel WWNY-TV , CBS , 79.6 miles.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WNYF-CD.
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That makes all the channels UHF , because WWNY VHF channel 07 is also a digital sub channel on WNYF.

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The distances of the USA Digital Tv stations are far away , and , there also is the 2 Edge Path obstructions = hills and mountains.

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The CM4228HD UHF antenna is a panel type antenna.

A panel type , broadside , antenna with a reflector behind the bowtie receiving elements does a excellent job of receiving long distance Tv transmissions because the long distance Tv transmissions tend to move up and down and side to side over long distances.

The , up and down / side by side , stacked reception elements receive the wavering signal.

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All of the USA Tv stations are weak signal strength.

WNYF is the weakest. If<->notice that the word is If , not will be not , received reliably.

And you can choose to reach out for WWNY VHF channel 07 with a VHF antenna with a VHF high band channels 7 thru 13 antenna , then use a , Antenna Craft Y10-7-13 antenna aimed at about 190 degree magnetic compass direction the direction of channel 07.

(( There are currently no high gain broadside type/style VHF antennas and have not been for , many , many , many , years. ))

Here is how to aim antennas. http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.
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The CM4228HD and Y10-7-13 , antennas are connected together with a , UHF/VHF combiner/diplexer.

Model number , EU385CF-1s.

The CM4228HD antenna connectes to the UHF connection of the combiner.

The Y10-7-13 antenna connects to the VHF connection of the combiner.

The remaining connection of the combiner is connected to the amplifier.

Separate the CM4228HD and Y10-7-13 antennas by about 3 feet on the same mast.

The CM4228HD on top , the Y10-7-13 on the bottom.

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The CM3671 is a Big highly directional antenna , the construction quality is medium to low.

The CM3679 is a Big highly directional antenna, the construction quality is medium to low.

The CM5020's V shaped UHF reflectors is very small , the small V shaped UHF reflector does not provide as much gain as larger reflectors.

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My evaluation of the HD Slacker, is , the reception ability is about the the same as Winegard , HD7694P / 95P / 96P / antennas.

The HD Slacker has a phasing loop of wire in between the 2 antennas because the 2 antennas are too close together for phasing without the loop.

And the antenna looks like a up side down antenna.

The UHF antenna should be on top and the VHF antenna should be on the bottom.

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Use New coax and connectors and connection hardware outside.

To keep Weather/Water out of outside connections.

Use the coax that has the Compression type connectors , not the old type crimp type connectors.

And to make double sure that Weather/Water stays out of outside connections use coax seal. http://www.coaxseal.com

[clivek]

teleview - thanks so much for the info and help.

I see why the cm4228hd was your original choice.

I have ordered all the parts - will post back in about 2-3 wks when it is up and running.

thanks for all the help.