HDTV Antenna Downtown Toronto

Esco! · Apr 10, 2008

I bought an HDTV antenna to receive free over the air HD channels downtown Toronto
but it doesnt work too well.
I only get one channel (CBC) and it doesnt even come through clearly.

The antenna I bought was a cheapy: http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=100412&navAction=jump&navCount=1&id=prod1182020

I'm on the 14th floor of a condo building with no balcony surrounded by other highrises.
I can see the top of the CN tower from my window, however.

Is there anything I can do to get HD channels by antenna????
Do I need a stronger antenna????

Any help is appreciated

jwmorrice · Apr 10, 2008

I gotta say that your situation is a sad one. I live up in North Toronto, just have a little doodad on my computer, and I can get more over-the-air HD stations than you!!

Feel better now?

jwm

Esco! said:
I bought an HDTV antenna to receive free over the air HD channels downtown Toronto
but it doesnt work too well.
I only get one channel (CBC) and it doesnt even come through clearly.

The antenna I bought was a cheapy: http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=100412&navAction=jump&navCount=1&id=prod1182020

I'm on the 14th floor of a condo building with no balcony surrounded by other highrises.
I can see the top of the CN tower from my window, however.

Is there anything I can do to get HD channels by antenna????
Do I need a stronger antenna????

Any help is appreciated

Esco! · Apr 10, 2008

jwmorrice said:
I gotta say that your situation is a sad one. I live up in North Toronto, just have a little doodad on my computer, and I can get more over-the-air HD stations than you!!

Feel better now?

jwm

Are you saying cause of my location I'm basically f__cked????

jwmorrice · Apr 10, 2008

Esco! said:
Are you saying cause of my location I'm basically f__cked????

Nope. Your situation seems all 'round better than mine and yet... Guess I'm just saying you're fucked and I can't help you.

jwm

Esco! · Apr 10, 2008

jwmorrice said:
Nope. Your situation seems all 'round better than mine and yet... Guess I'm just saying you're fucked and I can't help you.
jwm

You useless twit

Tangwhich · Apr 10, 2008

Esco! said:
I bought an HDTV antenna to receive free over the air HD channels downtown Toronto
but it doesnt work too well.
I only get one channel (CBC) and it doesnt even come through clearly.

The antenna I bought was a cheapy: http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=100412&navAction=jump&navCount=1&id=prod1182020

I'm on the 14th floor of a condo building with no balcony surrounded by other highrises.
I can see the top of the CN tower from my window, however.

Is there anything I can do to get HD channels by antenna????
Do I need a stronger antenna????

Any help is appreciated

When you say not coming in clearly, what do you mean? It's fuzzy, or it breaks up into blocks often?
If it's fuzzy, then you're not receiving digital, you're getting analog.
I've been using OTA digital for quite about 2 years now and have done a great deal of experimenting with it.
First, that antenna you got blows. I had one and returned it when I first started out.
Believe it or not, the best antennas are home made. Check out the hand drawn specs on this page:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/ota/superantenna/index.htm

I've tried a few different designs and this one has proven to be the best of them for me. WIth a piece of wood, a transformer/baun (you can get them for about $3) and a $0.99 t-bar ceiling rod from Rona, you can have an antenna that's better than anything you can buy. Plonk it on your balcony and there's no reason you shouldn't be able to get around a dozen stations

lawyerman · Apr 10, 2008

Tangwhich said:
Plonk it on your balcony

Helpful information. Only Esco stated that he does not have a balcony.

Sincerely
Lawyerman

Esco! · Apr 10, 2008

Lawyerman is right but thanx anyways Tang

I embarked on a new strategy, I bought the Plextor mini HDTV receiver for my computer. So now I can receive HD channels over the air on my PC

Then I hook up my video card on my PC with HD cables to my TV
And then hopefully I'll get HDTV on my television

*keeps fingers and toes crossed*

Esco! · Apr 10, 2008

Ha ha, I got it to work
I only get 4 channels though

CBC English
CBC French
CTV
and SUNTV

But thats OK, not bad to start off with

Tangwhich · Apr 10, 2008

lawyerman said:
Helpful information. Only Esco stated that he does not have a balcony.

Oops.. I misread his posting!

Ok Esco,

Try a silver Sensor or the equivilant Terk indoor antenna. They are the best indoor antennas by far and they are more attractive than most of them..

Tangwhich · Apr 10, 2008

If you have space behind your TV to hide a larger, uglier antenna, you can try this:

http://uhfhdtvantenna.blogspot.com/

Try it without the backing and rest it up against the wall.

There's a video of a guy making one on youtube also, with slightly different measurements:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWQhlmJTMzw

Also, make sure your cable it RG6, not RG59.. particularly if it's a longer piece..

emvee · Apr 10, 2008

Esco! said:
Ha ha, I got it to work
I only get 4 channels though

CBC English
CBC French
CTV
and SUNTV

But thats OK, not bad to start off with

I'm surprised you can't get CITY on 53-1 (mapped to 57-1). You should be able to see Global's test pattern on 65-1 (mapped to 41-1) - it should be up almost any day now. Omni 1 and 2 (64-1 and 44-1) should be up by July.

Unless you have a clear line of sight to the lake, the Buffalo channels might be out of reach for you.

Esco! · Apr 11, 2008

emvee said:
I'm surprised you can't get CITY on 53-1 (mapped to 57-1). You should be able to see Global's test pattern on 65-1 (mapped to 41-1) - it should be up almost any day now. Omni 1 and 2 (64-1 and 44-1) should be up by July.

I did another scan and now its picked up a 5th one, CITYTV-HD

I'm gonna get a bigger antenna, that should fix the problem

MuffDiver · Apr 11, 2008

Your probably getting screwed by all the shit the Rogers Centre emits, if you are near there.

I can't even use my car remote near there.

emvee · Apr 11, 2008

More channels coming next week

Esco! said:
I did another scan and now its picked up a 5th one, CITYTV-HD

I'm gonna get a bigger antenna, that should fix the problem

Just announced... Global and CHCH (also known as E!) will be up next Friday.

http://newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2008/10/c3782.html

Canwest Broadcasting launches three new high definition transmitters in major Canadian markets
TORONTO, April 10 /CNW/ - Canwest Broadcasting announced today it will
launch three new digital transmitters in Ontario and B.C. on April 18. Global
Ontario, Global BC and E! Ontario will broadcast their programming in High
Definition (HD) as of this date. Television service providers within the
footprint of each transmitter will carry these services and provide
simultaneous substitution of the US HD signals.
Over 25 primetime hits from House to The Office, from Brothers and
Sisters to Bones, from Rules of Engagement to How I Met Your Mother, plus
event television including PGA Golf and Wimbledon, will be broadcast in
glorious HD in these major markets. This timely HD development follows smartly
on the heels of ET Canada's milestone as the first domestic daily
entertainment show broadcast in HD.
"The digital transmitters are launching just as new episodes of our
viewer favourites return to the networks. We are offering our viewers the best
programming via the best quality broadcast signals," said Barbara Williams,
Executive Vice President, Content, Canwest Broadcasting.
Global Television and E! are Canwest Broadcasting networks.

Esco! · Apr 11, 2008

emvee said:
Just announced... Global and CHCH (also known as E!) will be up next Friday.

http://newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2008/10/c3782.html

Canwest Broadcasting launches three new high definition transmitters in major Canadian markets
TORONTO, April 10 /CNW/ - Canwest Broadcasting announced today it will
launch three new digital transmitters in Ontario and B.C. on April 18. Global
Ontario, Global BC and E! Ontario will broadcast their programming in High
Definition (HD) as of this date. Television service providers within the
footprint of each transmitter will carry these services and provide
simultaneous substitution of the US HD signals.
Over 25 primetime hits from House to The Office, from Brothers and
Sisters to Bones, from Rules of Engagement to How I Met Your Mother, plus
event television including PGA Golf and Wimbledon, will be broadcast in
glorious HD in these major markets. This timely HD development follows smartly
on the heels of ET Canada's milestone as the first domestic daily
entertainment show broadcast in HD.
"The digital transmitters are launching just as new episodes of our
viewer favourites return to the networks. We are offering our viewers the best
programming via the best quality broadcast signals," said Barbara Williams,
Executive Vice President, Content, Canwest Broadcasting.
Global Television and E! are Canwest Broadcasting networks.

They say, with a half-decent antenna you should be able to get 10 to 15 channels.

I'm like so working on it!!

Tangwhich · Apr 11, 2008

I was in the Queensway/427 Tiger Direct today. They have the Terk indoor antenna for a little under $50.. in my experience, it was the best of any I tried.

Esco! · Apr 12, 2008

Tangwhich said:
I was in the Queensway/427 Tiger Direct today. They have the Terk indoor antenna for a little under $50.. in my experience, it was the best of any I tried.

Which of these 2 is the best???

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2430415&CatId=2767

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2430409&CatId=2767

Is the antenna that sells for $170 gonna get better reception than that $60 one???

And can I get Rochester HDTV channels from downtown Toronto???

Tangwhich · Apr 13, 2008

I've not seen or tried the first one. If I were to pay $170, I would expect miracles!
The second one is essentially a mini version of the one I linked instructions to to build yourself for less than $5.
Both of these are outdoor antennas.
The indoor one I saw is not listed on the tiger direct site, but you can see a pic of it here: (they had lots on stock)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31P1YhOe2KL._AA280_.jpg

Note, the two extendable antennas at the back are VHF and are not needed for HDTV in this area.

As for Rochester, I very much doubt it. It wouldn't matter if you can get the Buffalo stations anyways. It's the same programming except for things like local news.

Esco! · Apr 13, 2008

Tangwhich said:
As for Rochester, I very much doubt it. It wouldn't matter if you can get the Buffalo stations anyways. It's the same programming except for things like local news.

You mean it wouldnt matter if you can get the Rochester stations, right??!!
I assume Rochester and Buffalo stations are similar

Anywho, I'm gonna buy 3 different antenna's and then I'll keep the best one and return
the other 2 for a refund
I'll post a little review on which antenna worked the best

HDTV Antenna Downtown Toronto

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