got some help from someone in another forum, so now i know how to get my signal strength meter. toronto stations are all high (as expected) ranging high 80's to high 90's (cfto is 99). wnlo and fox are 60-65% and wkbw (abc) shows 30-35%, but i'm not sure if that could be some kind of interference, or if that's where the signal is.

so do you think i should go for a preamp? and with something high like cfto at 99%, will this cause issues? as i don't want to wreck the tv if the signal is too powerful.

With super-strong WNLO at just 65% I'd say a preamp should help.

ok, we'll look into that, on another forum, someone suggested a winegard preamp as they are supposed to prevent overpowering. what do you think?

Sure that wasn't a Winegard sales rep? :-) Honestly I don't think there's much difference, however I know the CM preamps have a good rep, and they're easier to find in Canada.

not sure as i met him on another forum, but i'll see what my guy can get me that i got my antenna from. i'll let you know how it turns out and thanks for all your help.

Hey Jackson3, Sorry I am a bit late to this thread, but I too am located at Bayview and Sheppard, and I too am running a CM4228. However, I have the CM 7777 (the one that amps both UHF and VHF).
I am able to obtain every digital channel per Daniel's map except for channel 33 (NBC) (only 16% signal strength). CITY is a bit flakey given my trees in the backyard (75% signal strength). The anntenna is just above the roof line.
As for NTSC, I surprisingly receive the majority of the channels (even the VHF ones) but do suffer ghosting on some of them.

One thing that did help tune in 14 (Fox) was that I borrowed a GPS and using it, I turned the CM4228 to eastern Buffalo. I was able to get an additional 3db+ gain on the US channels, sacrificing some on 53 and 66. (Conversely, Buffalo was more southeast than i originally thought it was).

I am running both the SIR-351 and the Fusion3 Gold

Hope this helps.

may i ask exactly what compass reading you have your antenna aimed at? that might help me in the future and i think i will try a preamp like the cm 7777 at some point, but have to save up a little more before i buy that as with the hdtv and all the other little things associated with it have run me a bit much lately :)

I'll try getting a compass reading for you this weekend (if I can find my old compass!), but prior to that you may want to try the following: Aim the antenna directly towards Sheppard (assuming you live just north like me). Then gradually turn it left (east) and watch the signal level. If you have some help, you can turn the antenna slowly left, while someone watches the signal level. Don't expect miracles, but I was able to get an extra 3db+ which was just enough to bring in 14 and stabilize 39. Turning too far you get more, but you lose 53, so there is some balancing going on.
Of course those with a rotor must just be howling right now :-)

I picked up my CM7777 on ebay from someone in Niagara at a decent price. You may want to keep an eye out on ebay for deals.
As an FYI, if I unplug the CM7777 and connect directly, I only get 53, 66, 40, 20

i'm on the south side of sheppard just over the 401, so turning towards sheppard wouldn't help :)

i've tried rotating from west all the way east slowly checking the signal meter but still not able to get abc, best level was 35-38%.

i'll check out ebay and give the guy i got the antenna from a call and see what he sells the 7777 for as well. with me not having the 7777 right now i get - 14, 20, 24, 32, 40, 53 and 66. so hopefully when i do go for the 7777 i'll be able to get abc as football season is afterall only 2 mths away!!

so if you can let me know about the compass whenever that would be cool and i'll post again when i try the 7777.

Sorry for my delay to your question, but I finally got access again to my friend's GPS this weekend.
I am pointing 158 degrees.

Any updates on your luck with the 7777?