Antenna selection advise

[sharky]

I am going to be located at L6H5N3, in Oakville, Ontario Canada. http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapp ... e81e25c829

I am looking to, of course, get as many channels as possible, but don't need to get repeated channels from different areas (if that makes sense - i.e. one NBC is fine, I don't need to pick it up from different places).

I would prefer to use an attic mount, but would go with a roof mount if you think it is required for something.

Here is my specific question / help I need. I am going to be connecting my antennas into a HD Homerun box as a digial tuner and then into a software based PVR system (SageTV). What this allows me to do is specify specific antennas to be used with separate tuners for different channels if I need to. So for example I can plug one anetenna into one HD Homerun box to receive one grouping of channels, and a completely different antenna into a 2nd HD Homerun box for a different grouping of channels, and then use the software to choose which tuner to use to select the channel. This is more expensive the more antennas and tuners I need so limiting it to the minimum required is nice.

Recommendations on antennas, mounting locations and pre-amp please :> I plan on putting the HD Homerun boxes as close to the antennas as possible (as long as it is indoors with power) to limit the cable runs.

Thanks

[tigerbangs]

Thanks for the TVFool.com report: you certainly have enough TV to choose from! I do have a couple of questions for you, though: Canada still has many analog TV stations operating, most of which do not yet have a digital counterpart;how important are the analog channels to you? In Toronto, the major stations like CBC, CTV, CITY, SUN TV, CHCH et al, have digital transmitters, so, if that's enough for you, we can manage. It sounds as if the major Buffalo stations are also important to you, as well, since they duplicate much of the programming that you'll see on Canadian TV without the Sim-Sub brand of Canadian terror...LOL. It sounds as if a rotator won't work for you, since you plan to record multiple sources. Multiple antennas aimed at different cities are often problematic, so we need to clearly define what you'd really like to see and record.

[sharky]

Thanks TigerBangs - your are definitely an important asset in this world of digital conversion, I haven't found anyone else on the internet with the same level of advise as you :>

I did some looking at my report and the only channels that I could see that were analogue without a digital replacement were:
CICA-TV (19), CKCO-TV (13) and then it starts to get further and further away with WBNF-CA, CKVR-TV, CICO-TV (with these last two in totally different directions!). Truthfully, I don't want to design this for analogue so if I don't pick them up I am not going to care! In addition, I am planning on using a HD Homerun box as a tuner, which ONLY has 2 digital tuners, so I won't be able to pick up analgue sources - so NO.

Buffalo is very important, particualarly for the reasons you mention, as well as with a PVR they seem to be much better at keeping to published times - I try not to record on a Canadian station as the timeing is always a few minutes off.

If I can point at Buffalo and the CN tower that would be great, or if my signals are strong enough point something directional at Buffalo and then do a omnidirectional for the rest?

I did use a indoor antenna in the past and did pick up the Buffalo stations pretty good - it is basically a straight shoot accross lake Ontario so the signals come over very well!

If there is a major advantage of not combining the antennas, but using separate tuners for separate sources let me know, as that is an option (albeit more expensive!). The use of a HD Homerun makes this possible.

Thanks again for all your help

[tigerbangs]

There are significant issues with combining broadband antennas, which can result in assorted reception problems: likewise, omnidirectional antennas can be a problem with multipath in many areas. I know that the area that you live in is fairly flat, but buildings and other man-made structures can play havoc with signals. My BEST recommendation is to use a single antenna and an antenna rotator, but that may not fit in with your TIVO plans. I would probably go with a Winegard HD-7082 P or a Channel Master Crossfire 3679, and use a good antenna rotator like the Channel M
aster 9521a

[sharky]

Ya the rotor thing is out based on the use of the system. We found we never actually watch live tv after creating a PVR system.

I do have the option of pulling in separate stations on separate tuners. Could you recommend something with maybe two speparate configurations that pull in a bulk of the channels? If I point one directional antenna one way and one another, and don't combine them (as if I am watching two different tvs!) can I get a good bulk of my channels with with right antennas - or do I put up one directional (at Buffalo) and one omnidirecational (to pick up my more local channels) and then pick off each antenna which channels I receive better.

Would you still recommend the Winegard HD-7082 P or a Channel Master Crossfire 3679 if I told you that I wasn't putting up a rotor and would try it to see what I could get. I am looking for a directional antenna that isn't too directional :> Which is "less" directional, getting a CM-3679 or a CM-4228 (seems like a very different design). If I purchase a pair of CM-4228's , point one at 65 degrees and one at 140 degrees, feed them into separate tuners (don't combine the signals) I think I could get a bulk of the channels. I would loose CIII and WNYB.

Also, if I get this right, I have no digital channels below 7, and only WNGS below 14 - so for me a HD-7082P or a HD-7696P really won't make a difference - is there a difference if all you need is 7 and above?

You see my problem - it would be easier if they just distributed all the tv from one source :> (for free).

Thanks again - I am learning more every time I open up my browser :>

[tigerbangs]

My thinking about the HD-7082P was that you still have some low-band analog VHF channels, from Toronto and Barrie: as long as you deal with them in digital, you should be fine with the HD-7696P