[hTrag428]

The whole idea behind OTA (OK, maybe not the whole idea, but a good part of it) is to save money over cable bills. If I have to pay for a high-speed internet connection (and presumably, rent) at a satellite location, it kind of defeats the purpose. I'd be much further ahead subscribing to HD cable. And, yes, I can certainly see the difference between HD OTA and HD cable, but not enough to justify the cost of one over the other.

Incidentally, this all got started because my cable company stopped transmitting clear QAM and encrypted everything. That made it no longer possible to record any of my favourite shows in HD (or digital SD). But then, 6 months later, that wasn't enough for them, and they informed us that we will need to purchase a box for every TV &/or tuner connected to the system. The boxes run between $100 (SD) & $200 (HD) to purchase, for a setup cost of between $2500 & $5500; a setup that would still not allow any recording of HD. This money, I thought, would be far better put toward an OTA system.

To start getting into HomeRuns &/or SlingBoxes, I would need to add/upgrade computers as well. (Not so much with the HomeRun, but with about 15 computers in the house, not one has either the minimum hardware or software requirements (let alone both) for the SlingBox.)

So, I think I am going to try adding antennae. I don't want to second-guess my professional installer (and haven't had the chance for a subsequent consultation), but maybe an XG91 pointed at 108°, halfway between 23 at 103° and 49 at 113°, could get me a better signal on those two. Then I can point a YA1713 or Y10713 at 127° to pick up 7. The latter will likely give me 11 & 13, and possibly even 9. And I'll add a small 4 bay pointed toward the CN Tower (42°) to get those, if needed.

I am sure that mixing the three or four incoming lines will not cost another $2000, but even if it does, I'm still ahead of the game.

I certainly do intend to add a couple of HomeRuns at some point, but that'll be easy once everything else is settled.

I don't know why the Buffalo stations (other than 23) would require extreme measures, as they all came in fine all these years when everything was analogue. (I'm going back now several years when I lived at home with the folks.) I also do not know why there would be co-channel interference between CIII & WBBZ, as there never was between CIII and WKBW in the analogue days.

Again, I feel like I'm coming across all negative, when I don't really feel that way at all. I am most appreciative of all the experience here on the forum as I learn all about this stuff.

Just as an aside, we used to get 57 analogue channels from my parents' house (including 13 on the 12 VHF channels), so that gives you an idea as to our experience with co-channels and adjacent-channels. My parents never subscribed to cable until long after I left the nest (and not until TSN picked up the Ti-Cats).

Thanks again. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Brian