The reason I purchased a DB4 instead of a 4221HD (they are the same price here) is I hated the way the 4221HD (and 4228HD for that matter) were constructed. Note I am talking about construction integrity here, apparent quality of materials and assembly, not about electrical performance. The ChannelMasters, which I'm normally a big fan of, looked poorly asembled and as if they were jammed into the box.

I also queried some months ago that the DB4/8s shown on their site, the pictures on the boxes, and what was actually in the boxes, did not always match.

They need a better connection between their engineering and marketing departments. Normally that requires someone with a white flag...

Well, I purchased the DB8 because of the antenna charts which ranked as second to CM4228. Since you can't purchase a CM4228 anymore, this is the next best thing. But since the hacked CM4221HD outperform even the 2009 DB8, I think we need to change the chart if the chart is referring to the old DB8. I know I wasted my money because of this. Hopefully I can resell this and recoup some money back.

banger,

Your DB8 is new design for 2009. When you said, it does not outperform a hacked CM4221HD, what does it meant? Did you receive less channels/poor receptions comparing to equivalent CM4221HD on the same setup (TV, mount, cable run etc)?

Just can't imagine Antenna Direct will release a poor DB8 for 2009.

Both antennas are in the attic and in exact same position. No matter how much I played around with it, the hacked CM4221HD have on between 1-3% more signal for most channels on my Toshiba TV. 3% could mean the difference between getting/not getting some fringe channels.

The bowties on the DB8 is very small compares to the CM4221HD (after it's modified off course). I wonder if that have anything to do with it.

Both antennas are in the attic and in exact same position. No matter how much I played around with it, the hacked CM4221HD have on between 1-3% more signal for most channels on my Toshiba TV. 3% could mean the difference between getting/not getting some fringe channels.

The bowties on the DB8 is very small compares to the CM4221HD (after it's modified off course). I wonder if that have anything to do with it.
Having them in attic may not be the best place to compare them since these antennas are meant to be outdoor. Strange behavour always happen in attic for antennas. Maybe the DB8's reception is serious impacted in attic due to its technical design...

Any possibility that you can try them outdoor like at least 15' or higher above ground? Honestly, that DB8 looks very nice!

Well, the CM4221HD is quite satisfactory for me in the attic. I just thought I would get a bit stronger singal with a bigger antenna and eliminate the need of a pre-amp. But since, I'm splitting the signal anyway, I might as well get the pre-amp. Unfortunately, I cannot try the antennas outdoor as pointing it to Buffalo is basically right thru my neighour. Doing so would mean going to the roof. That is something I do not want to do at the moment as attic seems to be working out ok.

Well, if anybody want the DB8, I can unload for a bargain!

Unfortunately, I cannot try the antennas outdoor as pointing it to Buffalo is basically right thru my neighour.
??? But then, in the attic, arent you basically pointing it right thru your neighbour too ???

Yes, I'm pointing thru my attic and neighbour's roof which is probably alot better than thru neighbour's house if I have it lower. So if I have to do it outside, I would have to mount it on the roof.

Okay I don't see this as a good comparison between the new DB8 and a hacked CM4221HD then. :)

Do you have anything else we can help you with, banger, or are you satisfied with the hacked CM4221HD now for your OTA requirements?

I'm satisfied with my hacked CM4221HD. This might not be a total comparison as I didn't mount it outside but for attic comparison, the new DB8 does not outperform the modified CM4221HD.

PS. I'm not really asking for anything other than just sharing the results of my attic mount.

Hey banger - I'm seeing the same results with my DB8 attic install compared to my CM4228 clone. I don't think its the balun, since replacing it with a CM94444 balun yields the same results. BTW my DB8 looks identical to yours.

i have 2 myself,this one with the center baune is the older model.i think it,s the better one,because with the inverted splitter you always loose .5bd not to menton the loose of not having a singel line,i played with different lines and found that 1 line {dollar store rg6 cable} has better performance then 3 lines of quad shield rg6 cable all thing,s being =.got break-up,s,none with the singel rg6 line.hard to believe but true for me.longer bowtie,s are good for lower freq,s.this is still rated for 14-69the clones are 21-69.

clones are 21-69.

These are global x-bay designs [cloned for mass production in China]. Mass production makes them available for less bucks., but as we all soon re-learn life's lesson that "you only get what you pay for".

I can get a container load of db4's from China for about 2.50 each. The problem is that they are crap in our 7-51 channel environment and what would I ever do with 10,000 antennas :o