Hi, wondering if anyone out there from the Whitby/Oshawa, ON area has tried an over-the-air HDTV antenna and can comment on how many/which channels they were able to receive? How is the reception? Which antenna did you use? Did you have to use an outdoor, or was an indoor sufficient? Thanks for any feedback.

I think if you want to watch the US outlets with any reliability that will call for an outdoor antenna. For 19.90$ you can pick up a 4 bay reflector style of antenna on Mathieson Ave. Pick up some RG-6 coax cable while there and try it out. I don't know that a bigger and more expensive antenna will make a difference as to what you can view, but obviously a bigger antenna will work better. Given your location there is quite a difference in direction for the OTA signals you want to receiver. This is a case where a single 4 bay antenna helps (if you don't have a rotator).

What you can draw in with a specific antenna is a function of several things, one is how well tuned the antenna is, second is what direction the antenna is facing and how easily the antenna can get a signal. 

Most 4 bay antennas are pretty good, they have a fairly large surface area and a reflector that improves the signal. 

From Oshawa if you face the antenna at Toronto you should pick up the Toronto stations, but may not pick up Buffalo very well.  This can be solved by rotating the antenna to a different position.  If the antenna is accessable then this is easy, otherwise you need a rotor of some kind. 

The more stuff the signal needs to go through the less signal your going to get, if the station is to the South West and the TV is in the North East part of the house, your going to get less signal then if the antenna is in the South West corner of the house, or outside.  Generally the higher the antenna, the more signal you can get, this is why older TV antennas from the 1950's were generally on masts that were above the roof peak. 

Whitby may be a good candidate for one of these dual-four-bay antennas. There's one model where you can aim each of the two antennas in different directions. In your case you could aim one 167° toward Buffalo South and the other 231° toward CN tower, which should easily capture Hamilton at 221°.

I haven't used this model, but my experience tells me that this is a case where it should work better as there is close to 90° difference between the two antennas.

Does anyone have any knowledge of the antenna listed in this link?

[Link: sat-sales.com]

They come with a rotor and claim to have a 90 mile reception range.

I have seen then advertised in the various local free papers for $14.99

Hoooh boy. Built-in amplifier, built-in rotor, no real specifics, dirt cheap price? I'd be veeeery wary.

Do you remember those indoor rabbit ear 'satellite dishes' that sold for $20 by mail years back? I'd say this would fall under the same category: If it's too good to be true... That is unless anyone can attest that these actually DO work. I've only seen a couple (literally) in the St. Catharines area, and they are small!

And speaking of reception range: How can an antenna claim to get a signal from 90 miles away? If a station 90 miles away doesn't transmit a signal strong enough to reach 90 miles out (Global) you're not going to get it!

I am skeptical too...however I thought the price was so low that it might just be worth investigating on a lark.

I am new to the digital game as I just plunked down for a 46 inch Sharp Aquos and don't want to give Ted Rogers' estate any more of my cash for HD.

I can always use it as a fancy $14.99 coat hanger!

Here are the specs on this antenna. It is made under the brand name "Walito" from China.

Seems like a cheap gimmick to me too!

[Link: wanlitong.manufacturer.globalsources.com]

I saw those the other day for 15$Cdn. I'm of the opinions of others here, but I'm also thinking it would make a good UHF-SSB antenna for amateur use. :)

Antenna reception depends on where you are and what's in the way. I'm in Whitby. I live on the edge of a revine high up. Next to Cullen Gdns.

In short...I'm lucky...location, location, location.

I use a Phillips amplified antenna that I got a Wallmart...and there is nothing I don't get. Buffalo, Toronto...the works. 27 channels in all plus whatever is on Anologue. Most have excellent signals, though some come and go like WNYB, Ion and CTS, but I'm not into god, so I don't care. The Antenna is mounted on a shelf upstairs where I have one of my TVs. It feeds three other TVs in the house via splitters...etc.

Despite what I read here in the forums, I have never been able to improve on that stupid $40.00 antenna. I've tried CM, Turk...and a bunch more.

Make sure you use RG6 and if you spit it, use a high frequency splitter. Home Depot has them.

If you want to experiment, try it. Make sure it's as high as you can get it. If you don't get anything...take it back.

The key to good reception from what I have found is line of sight.

Oh...and do not buy one of those flat or non directional models. You must be able to turn it.

...and oh...I pay Bell $100.00 a month for their satellite and find myself looking at the uncompressed, crystal clear 1080i and unsubbed HDTV signals more often than not. The Superbowl commercials were great. Bell does not offer CHCH, OMNI WNLO or WNED in HDTV.

You're right about line of sight. It is the most important thing to try for. But to get line of sight you need height. Next if you are in the fringe area of the tv transmitter you need a high gain antenna (91XG) with a rotor. Keep the leadin (RG6) as short as possible, use a preamp and keep the number of spliters to a minimum. Using these rules I am able to receive digital transmissions from Toronto, Buffalo, Hamilton and Erie (and a few in between) from my location in Brantford. About 30 total including the sub channels.

Not everyone wants a 50' tower or an ugly antenna outside. (Talk to me wife) If you put up an antenna, you want to make sure it's going to work in your area. The indoor model is good to experiment with.

Hey, the tower's only 44 feet. And there's ONLY 3 antennas, 2 satellite dishes and a weather station mounted on it. :-)

There may be other options, for example, I've been thinking of mounting my antenna on the flat garage roof, housed inside a painted plywood box, the box would protect the antenna from the weather and have room inside for an amplifier, that would be cable powered, with the power unit inside the house.  It would run into a splitter that would allow the same antenna to operate the analog TV in the living room and the HDTV and VCR in the bedroom.