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Update Installed CM 4228HD Good signals
This thread has 13 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Tuesday June 21, 2011 at 02:02
maryjane
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Hi,
Just an update I've installed a Channel Master 4228HD antenna on the roof.
Using my Sony Bravia tv.

I now get these channels in Bourget Ontario:
Digital 4.1-9.1-17.1-20.1-27.1

This early morning 6:00 am, I had pbs 18.1-18.2-18.3 but didn't last.
Is there a way to get these to stay?

I also get analogs 4 not so clear (no global 6) 8 not to clear 9-11 good 13 very good I now also get 14. And 24-30-32-(33-39 barely comes in) 34-40-43-60-65 some of these are the same as some of the digitals.4-9-65-60

I'm very happy with the results. It would be nice if I could also get some of the US channels to come in and stay.

Thanks again for your help hd fan.
Mary-jane
Post 2 made on Tuesday June 21, 2011 at 13:11
hd fan
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You are very welcome, I am glad we could help you. Just a comment for the future , rather than starting a new thread this post should be moved to your original thread so there is continuity. Please a moderator could do this.

You are not too far from Ottawa as I recall so maybe there is a sweet spot you can aim the antenna to so it gets reliably some of the US channels you want. It is a compromise option therefore do not expect to get all of them , just try maximizing the US ones while minimizing the Ottawa ones to an acceptable level. Any high gain antenna inherently has a narrow reception (or transmition depending on its use) beamwitdth therefore only a rotor will get you everything but I think to remember it was a 2 TV install, right?
OP | Post 3 made on Tuesday June 21, 2011 at 14:13
maryjane
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Hi hd fan,

That's what I was thinking trying the antenna in different spots to see if I can pull in more US channels.
At least then I'll know for sure if I should buy a rotor. Maybe I'll try this on the weekend.

No I'm not that far from Ottawa.

I only have 1 tv connected.

Mary-Jane
OP | Post 4 made on Tuesday June 21, 2011 at 14:44
maryjane
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I forgot to mention someone recommended this to me.

However a good quality ultra low noise antenna mounted pre-amp will be a must for 18.1 and the 4228 should be pointed directly at the tower.

What do you think would that help?

Mary-Jane
Post 5 made on Tuesday June 21, 2011 at 22:14
hd fan
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I would try first aiming the antenna towards PBS 18.1. Maybe a rotor is all you need since you only connect 1 tv.

You can also consider a FTA satellite system for PBS. They have their master signals in the clear (unencrypted) on AMC 21 at 125W on Ku Band. With a regular DVB-S HD satellite receiver and just a 90 cm Dish you get PBS HD (both East and West feeds), also in SD , PBS Create , V-me (in spanish) and PBS World plus other sporadic and temporary feed signals (like BBC news or NHK news) from PBS that pop up occasionally on the same satellite. If you get a sat receiver that is DVB-S2 (8PSK) capable then you also get PBS Montana, Lousiana PBS (LPBS) and Oaklahoma PBS (OETA), the last 2 with extra subchannels like PBS kids I think. These are all master signals with lots of bandwidth or, if you will, bitrate, therefore their picture quality is way better than what you get via OTA antenna and obvioulsly way better than cable or satellite. This signals are master distribution signals intended to be distributed to the PBS affiliates master control studios or to the digital ATSC TX towers but since PBS is public they do not encrypt them , they acctually encourage people to watch them as well and you can call them for tech info or help , check pbs.org for info. I know is off topic but it might interest you as well, lots of PBS there and different programming as well , for more info you can check www.lyngsat.com or The List at www.satelliteguys.us. I can recommend the CS 8100HD PVR satellite receiver since it can be had on ebay and the likes for less than 100 dollars nowadays. It is also a PVR so if you connect a USB hard drive you can pause/timeshift or record your favorite tv shows as well. It also has an ATSC tuner built in BTW. for 150 cad the opensat HD PVR is also a good choice since it has blind scan, call your local satellite dealer for more info. a 90 cm dish with LNB will cost you 70 cad roughly plus 100 cad to install it if you find a satellite installer that is willing to do it (this system is tougher to aim than a Bell or Shaw satellite system).
OP | Post 6 made on Wednesday June 22, 2011 at 00:30
maryjane
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Hi hd fan,
Yes I agree i'll try aiming at the tower first and see what happens.

I'll also try aiming it at the other directions and see if I get more channels maybe I would find out for sure that I only need a rotator.

BTW Thanks for the info on the satellites.

Much appreciated
Mary-Jane
Post 7 made on Wednesday June 22, 2011 at 11:41
Nueatit
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Agree with all that is said, however, I found out that no matter how close one is to the TV tower sites, a good pre-amp at the antenna works wonders since the UHF freq. have higher loss over the co-ax and the TV ATSC tuners need a good hefty rf signal.

I am using a medium gain unit (VHF & UHF) 18+ Db 10 miles north of CN Tower and pickinh up both VHF and UHF channels on a UHF antenna. This takes care of Chn 9 going back to their original assignment at the end of August.

Also, if in different directions and $ is not too much of an issue a rotor does help to tweek the signal at times.
OP | Post 8 made on Wednesday June 22, 2011 at 18:38
maryjane
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Hi Nueatit,

Thanks for the info.
What preamp are you using?

I was thinking of a Channel Master 7777 would this one be good for me?
Or should I get the 7778?

Here is my signal strength
My signal strength at the moment for 27.1 is at 55.
4.1 at 67
9.1 at 63
17.1 at 70
20.1 at 55

18.1 at 55-----------5:00 am this morning then it was gone again

Thanks
Mary-Jane
Post 9 made on Thursday June 23, 2011 at 14:19
Nueatit
Long Time Member
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149
My setup is uses a DCT Multimedia drop amp (indoor use only) with freq. bandwidth of 54 to 1004 Mhz. mounted indoors 30 feet away from TV and 50 feet away from attic mounted yagi antenna.

The CM 7778 has some what lower gain and two inputs, one for VHF and one for UHF antenna OR combined for one input only. Lots of options and based on your antenna setup. This one will less likely overload on any strongers signals.

Before going on the roof, you could always try the pre-amp indoors and see if it helps first.

Your 18.1 channel @55 reading sounds like a multi-path or reflection is interfering, rotor could clear that up. A tv ATSC tuner should still work at signal level of >30 if noise is low and no interference.

My thoughts.
OP | Post 10 made on Thursday June 23, 2011 at 15:16
maryjane
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Ok

Thanks Nueatit,
I'll try all the suggestions one at a time, And see If things get better.
At least I have more knowledge now since this is all new to me.
I'll keep you guys posted.

Thanks
Mary-Jane
Post 11 made on Monday June 27, 2011 at 21:53
dsideen
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I'm in South Frontenac township, near Sydenham. I'm fairly high up, and just installed a Crosfire 3671 Deep Fringe antenna on a 25 ft tower with rotor hoping to pick up Ottawa HDTV stations.
Unfortunately, the results weren't so good. I could get several US channels, including Fox, CBS, ABC and PBS reasonably well with my small, lower antenna. Slight improvement in these channels, especially when the weather isn't clear. And the Cdn analogue channels are clearer, but no Cdn digital signals at all. So I don't think I have any cabling problems.
According to google, I'm about 165KM from Camp Fortune where the CBC broadcast tower is, which is just about the limit.
Would an amplifier help? Is it possible that my TV isn't sensitive enough (it's only a few months old).
Maybe I should cut down some more trees!
Dan
Post 12 made on Tuesday June 28, 2011 at 17:07
hd fan
Long Time Member
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If the canadian channels are clearer (just snow) , no ghost, then a good low noise pre-amp is perfect for you. CM 7777 being the highest gain version at the same price tag of its brother the 7778. 165 km is far far away but still closer than the 90 nautical miles from havana to the southern most point in the lower Florida keys (over 200 km to Miami) yet analog TV signals from Miami and Ft Myers were received reliably everyday ( with sudden few seconds fading some days) with a 3 stage home made low noise pre-amp. Granted power levels from Ottawa stations are quite low compared to the american florida based signals but in any case you are getting something that can be improved (snowy analog, no ghost).

Trees in the path play a major factor and with any digital link , even trees close to the path in extreme hot weather also radiate a lot of thermal noise that could play a role, but you either cut them or increase the hight of the tower, no other solution there.

That antenna is rated for VHF , 100 miles, and UHF , 65 miles , and most channels will be in UHF in most markets, therefore you need a pre-amp since your target stations are above that.

Another important factor is the current power levels for those digital stations, they might be low now as it is the case in Toronto , but they will increase to normal levels in 2 months , therefore maybe waiting for the sea to settle after the storm would be a better idea althought a good pre-amp will always help in your case.

Newer TV should (although not necessarilly a true statement) have newer ATSC tuner with better capabilities when dealing with weak and problematic signals. It is not the TV tuner , it is the 165 km and low transmitter power combinations. Maybe you can find more info in regards of future final power levels for Ottawa.
OP | Post 13 made on Wednesday June 29, 2011 at 03:33
maryjane
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10
Hi dsideen,
If you go to www.tvfool.com and enter your address and height of your antenna it will give you the position of the towers you can then aim your antenna at those degrees.
Maybe your antenna just needs to be pointed differently to pickup those channels.

It will also give you the NM(dB) apparently by what I read anything -10 and lower will be tough to pick up.

I put a preamp on mine just inside at the tv to test and it did increase my signal strength will be putting it on the roof on the weekend.

Do you scan your tv every time you change your antenna position to see if you pickup more channels?

Hope you pickup more channels

Mary-Jane
OP | Post 14 made on Monday July 4, 2011 at 01:35
maryjane
Long Time Member
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Hi Guys,

Well I finally got my rotator installed a Channel Master 9521A and a CM-7777 preamplifier. Using a CM4228hd antenna approximately 24 ft high in Bourget Ontario.

[Link: tvfool.com]

Here are my final results which I'm very happy to be receiving:p

Canadian Channels:
4
4.1
8
9
9.1
11
13
14
17.1
20.1
24
27.1
30
32
34
39
40
43
60
65

For some strange reason I still don't get 66.1 which isn't a big deal. Maybe it's being blocked by a big Hydro tower that's in that direction.

US Channels always:
18.1
18.2
18.3
57.1
57.2
57.3

US Channels evening only:
28.1
28.2

I also got these channels one night tropo maybe? As they're not on my tv fool results. I was aiming at WWNY-DT that evening

50.1 WWTI-HD ABC
50.2 WWTI-DT2

Thanks Guys for all your help.
Mary-Jane


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