Hi Everyone - trying to go OTA and save some money right now and get rid of cable. the major places in my area (toronto, canada) that sell good antennas and tuners do not allow returns. i therefore went to staples and bought the Hauppauge 950q and figured i would try that out to see what i get.
I live on the 10th floor in an apartment near the Don Valley Parkway and Lawrence Avenue East area (for those of you familiar with Toronto). My window faces east (maybe slightly north too). I have a balcony that is a decent size (19' long, 5.5' wide, and 7.5' tall). The problem with my location, based on my reading, is that I don't have a direct line of sight south (towards the CN tower and Buffalo) where the stations broadcast from. The south view of my balcony is blocked by a brick wall that sticks out about 20 feet and is another 3 floors higher than my floor.
I tried the 950q with the included antenna. I know that it isn't nearly as good as what you can get with a better antenna such as a 4221 channel master, but i figured it doesn't hurt to try. I put it on my balcony (had to attach it to a connector/splitter with a longer cable first so it could reach outside), and i would get between 0 and 4 channels, all analogue (no digital) and all pretty snowy.
I'm wondering for those of you out there that have tried or use the 950q and have gone to another antenna, does this bode poorly for my chances of getting a decent number of stations in with a better antenna? Or is it just basically a worthless antenna and therefore does not allow me to predict what I would get with a better outside antenna?
If I do go with another antenna (unfortunately I can't return it if it doesn't work for me) I was thinking something like the Antennas Direct DB4 Multi Directional HDTV Antenna as I would think I need a multi-directional antenna based on being blocked by the brick wall (hopefully it would fit on my balcony!).
Thanks,
Paul
I live on the 10th floor in an apartment near the Don Valley Parkway and Lawrence Avenue East area (for those of you familiar with Toronto). My window faces east (maybe slightly north too). I have a balcony that is a decent size (19' long, 5.5' wide, and 7.5' tall). The problem with my location, based on my reading, is that I don't have a direct line of sight south (towards the CN tower and Buffalo) where the stations broadcast from. The south view of my balcony is blocked by a brick wall that sticks out about 20 feet and is another 3 floors higher than my floor.
I tried the 950q with the included antenna. I know that it isn't nearly as good as what you can get with a better antenna such as a 4221 channel master, but i figured it doesn't hurt to try. I put it on my balcony (had to attach it to a connector/splitter with a longer cable first so it could reach outside), and i would get between 0 and 4 channels, all analogue (no digital) and all pretty snowy.
I'm wondering for those of you out there that have tried or use the 950q and have gone to another antenna, does this bode poorly for my chances of getting a decent number of stations in with a better antenna? Or is it just basically a worthless antenna and therefore does not allow me to predict what I would get with a better outside antenna?
If I do go with another antenna (unfortunately I can't return it if it doesn't work for me) I was thinking something like the Antennas Direct DB4 Multi Directional HDTV Antenna as I would think I need a multi-directional antenna based on being blocked by the brick wall (hopefully it would fit on my balcony!).
Thanks,
Paul
