Help Needed in London, Ontario

[rabbit73]

From PM by Waaafles

QUOTE
I think this will be an easy one.

TVFool Report (http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d51345ed3384640)

I live in London, Ontario with my wife and two kids under three. We cut the cord over a year ago and mainly use XBMC and Netflix for streaming.

I’d like to get some basic channels like TVO back. My report indicates I am in close proximity (4 mi) to the channels I’d like to get, at 280°. My TV room window actually faces this direction with maybe one or two trees in the way.

Am I able to get by with an indoor antenna as the report suggests? Rabbit ears, or one that sticks on the window? Just not sure where to start.

Thanks for any advice you can provide.
END QUOTE

[rabbit73]

Welcome, Waaafles:

Thanks for the tvfool report.
I think this will be an easy one.I hope so, but there a few problems to be solved; you might have to do some experiments to get what you want.

CFPL, only 0.5 mi away, is extremely strong and might cause overload. The indoor antenna that you try, like one that sticks to the window, must not have an amplifier. The red highlight background for the -11.3 dBm signal power is an overload warning. You might even need an attenuator to make all signals weaker.

You also have some strong local FM signals that might interfere with TV reception.
http://www.fmfool.com/modeling/tmp/157bf1bdcf/Radar-FM.png

I have never seen FM signals that strong before.

CFPL-FM has a signal strength of +10.6 dBm.

This means that you will probably be limited to receiving 48, 20 ,14, and 18 that are 4.4 and 4.3 miles away.

You can insert a UVSJ (common and high ports) between the antenna and the TV which will block FM signals and VHF-High signals like CFPL on real channel 10. It might even be necessary to use two UVSJs in series because of your extremely strong FM transmitters less than 1 mile away.

Also you should ground the coax with a grounding block connected to the house electrical system ground. If you don't do that the very strong FM and CFPL signals can get directly into the TV cabinet and ruin your reception of the four channels you want from 4 miles away.

If you are able to get those four channels, there might be a way to add CFPL with a separate antenna, an attenuator, and a HLSJ, connected to the low port of the UVSJ.

[rabbit73]

If the flat antenna doesn't work, you can try an antenna that has a reflector which will make the antenna more directional to reject interference from multipath reflections. An Antennas Direct Clearstream 1:
https://www.antennasdirect.com/store/C1-Clearstream-Convertible-Medium-Range-Indoor-Outdoor-DTV-antenna.html

Two BestBuy stores in London list it in stock:

1.North London
2.Across From Masonville Place
3.1735 Richmond St., Unit 1
4.London, ON, N5X 3Y2
5.Phone: (519) 963-8494

1.London
2.Across from White Oaks Mall
3.1080 Wellington Rd.
4.London, ON, N6E 1M2
5.Phone: (519) 686-2160

The Antennas Direct C2V might also work, but it is more expensive and has more gain than needed for you.
https://www.antennasdirect.com/store/ClearStream-C2-VHF-Long-Range-Combo-Complete.html
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/antennas-direct-clearstream-2v-long-range-hdtv-antenna-black-silver/6847298.p?id=1218809260470

UVSJ
http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=uvsj
http://www.3starinc.com/pico-macom_uvsj_uhf_vhf_separator_combiner.html
http://mjsales.net/products/tru-spec-uvsj-uhf-vhf-band-separator-combiner?variant=1198505857

Please let us know the results of your tests.

[Tower Guy]

Take a look at the Terk HDTVi. You will need the HLSJ to eliminate FM interference.

[rabbit73]

Hi rabbit,

Before I jumped in and bought some gear, I wanted to try a homemade antenna to see what I could get. Then I could compare a purchased antenna to mine.

I made this (http://makezine.com/projects/digital-tv-coat-hanger-antenna/) one, and to my surprise I get both CFPL and CICO! Those are the two I was most interested in. CFPL for the adults, and CICO for the kids.

CFPL-DT CTV2 10 Crystal clear
CJMT-DT OMNI2 20 Not English
CITS-DT YesTV 14 When antenna on floor
CICO-DT TVO 18 Crystal clear
CKCO-TV CTV 42 Very fuzzy
OMNI1 69 Not English

I am very happy with this. Do you think I could pull more in by getting a UVSJ? I will look around for one, and will also try to attach the antenna outside the house for comparison.
It sounds like you are having fun doing antenna experiments.
Do you think I could pull more in by getting a UVSJ?I have no idea; you must try it yourself to find out.

[rabbit73]

My wife would like to watch the Oscars this weekend. It is carried by CTV (CKCO-TV) but is very fuzzy. Perhaps I will look into making an antenna to pick this one up.
CFPL is 55 dB stronger than CKCO. They are both VHF-High channels and in the same direction. CFPL-FM is 77.4 db stronger than CKCO, so an FM filter should be used in the antenna coax to make CFPL-FM weaker. Even at that, CFPL (TV) might overpower the CKCO signal, but why don't you try it.
http://www.fmfool.com/modeling/tmp/157bf1bdcf/Radar-FM.png

A custom bandstop filter by Tin Lee Electronics could make CFPL on real channel 10 a lot weaker and give a better chance to receive CKCO on real channel 13, but they are expensive.
http://www.tinlee.com/index.php

Years ago, Channel Master used to make a channel 13 antenna combiner called the Jointenna, but they are no longer available.
http://www.channelmaster.com/JOIN_TENNA_CM_0583_p/cm-0583.htm

There is a new company based in Slovakia, jan_jenca, that has been an eBay member since Jan 30, 2013. They make custom antenna combiners for a reasonable price. This is an example of a UHF combiner that they make; they can also make one for VHF:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Selective-combiner-for-2-antennas-Selective-channel-combiner-UHF-combiner-/121884348649?hash=item1c60df90e9:g:DGAAAOSw~bFWNinN

http://forum.tvfool.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=1908&d=1456696782

AVS thread on the topic:
http://www.avsforum.com/forum/25-hdtv-technical/1152566-great-jointenna-exchange-4.html

http://www.avsforum.com/forum/25-hdtv-technical/1152566-great-jointenna-exchange-5.html