Ottawa Valley OTA reception

[Umphr]

Hi to all... I have tried to get my parents TV up and running on the new digital signals near Perth Ontario (50 mi SW of Ottawa). I changed their antenna from the old style UHF/VHF to a new Antenna Craft HDMS9100. The TV is an LG 16:9 style LCD but without the built in digital HD tuner (an optional set up through the Centronics ZAT502 HD box) will provide some very good quality picture for one or two stations. During my setup some stations came in very well but once the antenna was pointed in a different direction and returned to the earlier setting 'No Signal' would be on the screen. Presently the only channels viewable are CKWS and Global and without the ZAT502 in the loop they are co-axial cable quality, not as good as through the HDMI... Are these signals for the area not yet reliable? or is the digital signal so critical that you must have the antenna within 1-2 degrees of setting?

[John Candle]

As the other question askers do , Do This--> http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=4 , make and post a radar plot with the exact address and antenna height. How many tv's are/will be connected??

[Umphr]

Thank you John...hope this is what was recommended. There will only be the one LG hooked up. I replaced the cable to new RG6 as well. Here is a list of what was sometimes available... 4.1,9.1, 11.1, 13.1, 14.1, 25.1, 42.1, 60.1, 65.1. The most confusing thing was that a channel at one point would come through say at a rotor setting of 117 degrees, go find another station and when you came back to the first channel, 'No Signal' would be on the screen. I would wait plenty of time just in case it was building ? the signal. Thanks again for your thoughts...Richard

[John Candle]

As an example of the type and kind of radar plot and information go to the help with reception part of tvfool the same place where you posted your question. Go zeroegopaintball 's question post and click on the the link of the radar plot and you will see that the radar report can be worked with. You took a picture of your radar report and it's dead , can't do any thing with it.

[Umphr]

hello John... I hope this is what you require... thnx R

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d14f3fa46957476

[John Candle]

This recommendation is based on tvfool's current and pending applications included for digital only stations. I recommend a Winegard HD7084P antenna , http://www.canadapost.ca/shopper/search?keywords=hd7084p for the stations to the north east. Aim the antenna at about 60 degree magnetic compass. Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html. Here are places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.saveandreplay.com , http://www.trentondistributors.com , http://www.canadapost.ca/shopper. Here are more converter boxes , http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=380

[Umphr]

many thanks John... it looks like I will have to put the old antenna back up. Can a CM 4221HD ultra be added on the tower close to the larger winegard to pick up the HD if available? I will only get back there to do this in two weeks, I shall post the results.

[John Candle]

The HD7084P is VHF UHF antenna , the CM4221HD is not needed. There is No such antenna as a Hd antenna. An antenna is a antenna is a antenna is a antenna is a antenna is a antenna , antennas receive , analog , digital , high definition digital , all the same to a antenna , a antenna can not tell the difference. HD antennas were invented in marketing departments to sell more antennas. The 7084 and the CM4221 are same antennas as the HD7084 and CM4221HD.

[Dave Loudin]

There's no such thing as an "HD" antenna. You need an antenna that is sensitive to the channels in the air at your location. The TVFool report tells us what those channels are - they are listed in the "Real Channel" column. Note that you have digital broadcasts on channels 6, 9, and 13 in the VHF band, with the rest in the UHF band. That is why you need to reuse the old antenna, or use John's recommendation.

You should drop by the reception results sub-forum within the OTA Television forum at digitalhome.ca. Find the thread for your area and see what others have done.

[Umphr]

The old antenna is up and running again, pointed in same direction as before.... there are now more stations coming through...I think the problem initially was the stations were not up and running continuously with the changeover... thanks to all for their suggestions