Need advice on antenna selection

Slick Nick · 05-30-2005, 11:54 PM

Hello HDTV fans,

I'm presently using a ChannelMaster 3021/4221 4-bay directional antenna for my HD reception. It works great except for a small problem. I can't receive all of my local HD stations without changing the direction the antenna faces. There is no one direction that I can set that will pull in all the stations. If I change the direction of the antenna, I may gain one or two stations but will lose some others in the process. The HD transmitters are about 10 miles away and their compass orientation from me ranges from 36 degrees to 41 degrees. I was thinking about changing the antenna to a multi directional one such as the DB2 from AntennasDirect.com. Would using a multi directional antenna such as that solve my problem? If not the DB2, can anyone recommend a multi-directional antenna that they've had success with? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.

audiopile · 05-31-2005, 12:44 AM

Might want to try a Winegard GS-1100. Have had very good luck with these out to 20-25 miles or so. Is there any chance you've got some buildings or terrain features that are inflicting a sort of venitian blind multipath problem on you? Antenna is installed outside - not under roof?

Blue_Tech · 05-31-2005, 04:32 AM

Well, your directional antenna seems to be working as designed.

The omni-directional will keep you from having to change directions, but your going to lose a fair amount of gain by doing so.

If I already had the directional antenna (like you), I think I would just keep it and deal with it for the sake of strong signal.

tigerbangs · 05-31-2005, 08:38 AM

You didn't mention if you have a rotator or not, but a Channel Master 9521a rotator will optimize your aiming for each individual station, and it is programmable and rmote controlled, so you can easily set it up to tune all the stations, and control it with a home theater remote control.

http://www.channelmaster.com

Slick Nick · 05-31-2005, 12:27 PM

Wow! Great advice from everyone. I just may keep the CM that I'm using and use the rotator that tigerbangs suggested. Thanks to all for your help. It's much appreciated.

Blue_Tech · 06-01-2005, 12:38 AM

Ah yes, my bad... I assumed you had a rotator. That would much alleviate your problems.

05-30-2005, 11:54 PM	#1
Slick Nick What is HD? Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 2	Need advice on antenna selection Hello HDTV fans, I'm presently using a ChannelMaster 3021/4221 4-bay directional antenna for my HD reception. It works great except for a small problem. I can't receive all of my local HD stations without changing the direction the antenna faces. There is no one direction that I can set that will pull in all the stations. If I change the direction of the antenna, I may gain one or two stations but will lose some others in the process. The HD transmitters are about 10 miles away and their compass orientation from me ranges from 36 degrees to 41 degrees. I was thinking about changing the antenna to a multi directional one such as the DB2 from AntennasDirect.com. Would using a multi directional antenna such as that solve my problem? If not the DB2, can anyone recommend a multi-directional antenna that they've had success with? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.

05-31-2005, 12:44 AM	#2
audiopile High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 146	Winegard GS-1100 Might want to try a Winegard GS-1100. Have had very good luck with these out to 20-25 miles or so. Is there any chance you've got some buildings or terrain features that are inflicting a sort of venitian blind multipath problem on you? Antenna is installed outside - not under roof?

05-31-2005, 04:32 AM	#3
Blue_Tech Who needs reality? Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 436	Well, your directional antenna seems to be working as designed. The omni-directional will keep you from having to change directions, but your going to lose a fair amount of gain by doing so. If I already had the directional antenna (like you), I think I would just keep it and deal with it for the sake of strong signal. __________________ Blue_Tech Sony KV32XBR400 Sony DVD Dream 5.1 system Sony PS2 DishNet 522 Dual Tuner DVR

05-31-2005, 08:38 AM	#4
tigerbangs Antenna Maven Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Springfield, MA Age: 54 Posts: 2,116	You didn't mention if you have a rotator or not, but a Channel Master 9521a rotator will optimize your aiming for each individual station, and it is programmable and rmote controlled, so you can easily set it up to tune all the stations, and control it with a home theater remote control. http://www.channelmaster.com __________________ Real men don't use indoor antennas; neither do real women!

06-01-2005, 12:38 AM	#6
Blue_Tech Who needs reality? Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 436	Ah yes, my bad... I assumed you had a rotator. That would much alleviate your problems. __________________ Blue_Tech Sony KV32XBR400 Sony DVD Dream 5.1 system Sony PS2 DishNet 522 Dual Tuner DVR

05-31-2005, 12:27 PM	#5
Slick Nick What is HD? Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 2	Wow! Great advice from everyone. I just may keep the CM that I'm using and use the rotator that tigerbangs suggested. Thanks to all for your help. It's much appreciated.