tigerbangs prescription for deep fringe reception

Rick0725

I would purchase the FUNKE 1922 , cm7777, to start. . the FUNKE 1922 will out perform the vhf on the 8200P and is going to be less expensive.

then add the 91xg and rotor. the 91xg will out perform the uhf on the 8200p and you can angle the 91xg up some to improve signal.

fyi...I may replace my hd8200p with the vip 306 soon. I located a distributor west (Rochester, NY) of me that sells Wade and is quoting me a delivered price on Monday.

Once you get an HD picture the wife will most likely approve. The vhf antennas will not receive uhf there.

then you can sing the pussycat dolls song.

I know you like me...I know you do.

dont ya wish your antenna was hot like me...dont ya

I know that you want me its easy to see.

dont ya wish your antenna was hot like me...dont ya

DeerHunter

Jeezum Crow!!!! Ricks lost it!!!!

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In Need Of HDTV!!!!

tigerbangs

I was reading that post, and wanted some of whatever Rick was drinking, for sure!

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Real men don't use indoor antennas; neither do real women!

DeerHunter

Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirates life for me!!! Must be the Rum.

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In Need Of HDTV!!!!

JonsZX2SR

I took a level with bubble gauges up to the roof a couple of days ago and adjusted the tension on the guy wires to get the mast close to perfectly vertical then fussed with the antenna brackets to get it horizontal around full rotation.

Managed to lock and view 19-1 and 19-2 (36) from Adams, MA last night. Then as a bonus picked up 43-1 (42) WSAH-DT from the Bridgeport, CT area, although the shop at home channel isn't of interest. At least I finally answered the question whether the signal on 42 was WSAH-DT instead of WHDH-DT from Boston. I receive a snowy but viewable analog signal of WHDH (7) if I orient the antenna to minimize interference from WABC (7) from NYC, and can't get WSAH (43) at all. Oh darn, so I was hoping for WHDH-DT...

It will be interesting to see what happens when analog transmissions go dark and the DT transmissions shift to their assigned frequencies.

Next week I'll start searching the area to the east. I already get WHPX-DT 26.1 (34) WEDN-DT 53.1 (45) and WPXQ-DT 69.1 (17) and a snowy analog WLNE (6) from Bedford, MA. maybe I'll finally be able to locate WJAR-DT 10.1 (51) and WPRI-DT 12.1 (13)

...or maybe not. I'm interested in some of the antenna upgrades (CM-4228) discussed in these topics. Thanks for the info.

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Digital TV or bust...

electrictroy

electrictroy@yahoo.com - Lancaster is sandwiched between the Baltimore and Philadelphia DMs, and so that's why we get almost triple the stations of a normal market. Just off the top of my head, I get: 2, 5, 6, 8, 10,11,12,13,15,17,21,27,28,29,33,35,43,45,48,49,51 ,57,61,69.

So what's that? 25? Okay... 20+ channels.

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TV Band/whitespace Devices will block my Baltimore/Philly stations. No more channels 2,3,6,10,11,12,13,17,35,45,57,61,65

ama299

I'm ready to purchase the Channel Master rotor to spin the 4228, but I'm just wondering if I should get the rotor support bearing. Is it necessary? I live in an area where it does get windy, but not too often. If I do get the bearing is a 5ft mast still long enough?

Thanks in advance

DeerHunter

Personally, if I had to use a rotor w/ the 4228, I'd get the support bearing! It just makes it all the more stable seeing that the 4228 isn't exactly a light weight antenna. The 5ft mast should be ok as long as you don't have another antenna under the 4228.

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JonsZX2SR

From previous experience I found that if you take the side load off the rotor it will last a lot longer. A bonus is the bearing assembly has attachment points for guy wires. I have the bearing at the top of the stationary mast approx 5.5' above the roof (fixed mast is mounted on the side of the house, with a 1-story section off to the side) and the rotor is about 3 feet below the bearing, mounted on the fixed mast. A 10' section is mounted on the rotor and bearing.

Three guy wires (~120 deg apart) tension the bearing point. I am located at the top of a ridgeline and the assembly has proven quite stable in 60-70 mph winds.

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Digital TV or bust...

ama299

Thats pretty much what I thought the answer would be, just wanted to make sure I wasn't going to waste money on it. I'm hoping to be able to pick up fox 48 from LaCrosse, WI for the Packer games. It looks like my chance is pretty slim sense the station is low power, but they are suppose to be bumping that up someday.

Thanks for the help

JonsZX2SR

The setup I use is shown in the image. The bearing is stabilized with 3 guy wires that should be visible if you look closely. The antenna is mounted approximately 42 feet (12.8 m) above ground level.

The antenna is a CM 3018 with a modified UHF section with an Antennacraft preamplifier (10C212 ??) is mounted on the lower fixed pole.

The assembly has been stable with 60-70 mph wind gusts during storms.

Attached Images

Antenna05c.jpg (72.0 KB, 71 views)

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Digital TV or bust...

bozoweb

I live in West Hartford, CT.

I currently have a CM VHF/UHF antenna on a rotor. At 312 degrees I get all of the ATSC stations I want and never use the rotor.

I would like to switch to a CM 4228. My first question is, since I only need to be pointed in one direction, would I be better off chimney mounting the 4228, or just put it on the existing mast which is higher than the chimney.

My second question is to ask for the name of an OTA antenna installer in my area. I used to use Mr. Chapman of Manchester, but at 75, he has retired from the business.

Thanks very much.
Bob Whitehead

JonsZX2SR

I do my own installations and don't know of anyone in the Hartford, CT area I could recommend. I'll ask around and post info if anyone has a recommendation.

Without knowing what antenna you have I couldn't recommend whether you need a rotor. If you have the mount and rotor, I'd suggest keeping the rotor and add a 10 ft mast and bearing to stablize the mounting of the CM-4228. If you don't have one, I'd recommend a medium gain mast or attic mounted amplifier.

I found that to consistently receive the following sets of digital channels (3.1, 8.1, 18.1, 20.1, 30.1, 59.1, 61.1) and (22.1, 40.1, 57.1) I need two antenna positions, although many of them can be received in both positions in good weather. I don't have the exact direction, but one is southwest and the other northwest.

I also can lock 42.1 (WSAH-DT) and 19.1 (WCDC-DT) although my only real interest is 19.2 to check the Albany, NY weather.

A third southeast position is required to lock the (26.1, 53.1 and 69.1) channels. The primary channel is 53.1 (WEDY-DT, CPTV) when programming is different from 57.1 plus subchannels. Eventually when WEDH-DT begins digital transmissions on 24.1 (32) I won't need 53.1.

From a DX-TV only viewpoint, 43.1 (WSAH-DT) and 27.1 (29, WUNI-DT) are of interest. Eventually when NTSC transmissions go dark, I may try to see what else is within range.

I may be moving to West Hartford in a few years and high points just west of Mountain Road are on my list. I've often wondered what an antenna system on top of Hueblein Tower might be able to capture and may go up the parking area with a portable antenna, amplifier and tuner this summer.

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Digital TV or bust...

bozoweb

Unfortunately, I do not know the model number of the VHF/UHF antenna Mr. Chapman instaled years ago. He said it was a standard antenna for local stations, not to get New York or Boston

For UHF, it has a V formation with five cross pieces of moderate length above and below on the V, with a rod extending out, and 12 cross bars of short length.

Pointing to approx 325 degrees, I get the following HD stations at very strong signal:
30, 20, 61, 3, 18, 22, 40, and 57, or all networks.

I do not get 8 or 59 at that heading, but don't care as I can use 40 for ABC, and have no interest in 59.

A heading of around 250, gives you 8 and 59, but you lose 57 which is PBS

JonsZX2SR

This sounds like similar to a large antenna I removed and discarded. It was installed on my current house when I bought it in 1990. I am guessing your antenna dates from the mid-1970's to the early 1980's.

The alternating elements on the V-section are the VHF part of the antenna. A dipole near the front of the V- and the small elements on the front post are the UHF section.

The old style Yagi probably has a wider field of reception than the CM4228. 8.1 is on Ch. 10, 20.1 is on Ch. 12 and 22.1 is on Ch. 11 so you would need decent VHF-Hi reception. Also channels will be relocating, some to VHF-Hi in 2009 when the analog transmissions go away.

While I would expect the CM-4228 to get better UHF reception than the older antenna, I honestly cannot tell you if you are going to get the off-axis reception you need.

Why not just leave the antenna if you get satisfactory reception ?? You could add a new balun transformer (i'm guessing it has twin-lead) new coax cable and perhaps a +20 dB amplifier located in an attic ??

One concern is that vibration from wind loading eventually is going to cause the mast to corrode where it attaches to the rotor. If you don't want the rotor (and it may be dead by now) you could replace the upper mast at the same time you remove the rotor and old mast.

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Digital TV or bust...