I'm hoping to get an HD feed of the Buffalo or Rochester NBC for the Superbowl. Any hope on getting this to work with a $30 value attic antenna from fortune computers and a high end signal amplifier?

I'd hate to have to watch the lame ass Canadian Superbowl commercials and Rogers ad-avails.

Any help appreciated.

thanks

sterney, not sure what type of antenna that would be but a 4 bay in your attic would give you best results for your setup.

If it's the same one I saw on the Fortune ad in the paper a couple days ago, it's a 4221 clone.
It's possible - you'll never know until you try :)
(I would say yes. I get NBC 99.9% of the time, but I have a 4228 and it's outside. I still think you have a good shot at it, however.)

If this helps anyone above (sterny / recneps)

I just replaced my eaglestar pro antenna (also sold as maxstar) which you can get at fortune on college with a CM4221HD.

No reception difference really. Locals come in a bit stronger, but NBC/WGRZ/2.1 is still only 2/3 bars (it is snowing in buffalo right now, could be why) and chunks very randomly but not very often. This is with the ratshack dropamp (15db gain, 3db noise figure at 25 feet from the antenna) though - without that amp, I still can't get NBC at all with either antenna.

I must say though, the build quality on the channel master is far superior, and is just way sturdier - less plastic.

Another update: Gave my neighbor the old eaglestar (the guy who was picking up channels amazingly with the silver sensor.

He's got almost all of them, city is a little flaky and chch is out as well is rochester.

But he has superior (almost full strength) power on the rest, whereas I only get 3-4 bars! I don't get it!

Facing the same direction (checked on a compass), no major obstacles, the only thing is his is pointed up a little bit. We didn't get chance to try much else, but it's pointed up at about 5 deg. His is 3 feet off the ground attached to a peice of patio furniture.

Same setup, WAY better results.

Anyone else point there's a few degrees up (tilt?). And if so how does one do that 10 feet up at the top of a pole?

My wiring is good, and only 25 feet... I don't get how his can be so much stronger on the same equipment I used!!!

Whatever ;)

Does he have the same tuner or tv as you, though?
Tuner type can make a HUGE difference in results.

I'm near Meadowvale and Lawrence, I picked up a refurbished RCA amplified indoor outdoor antenna for $39, just to see if I could pick anything up on my Pionneer plasma - possibly the super bowl in HD. I was told I could bring it back it I did not like it

I literally hooked it up and threw it out in the snow on the north side of my house, not having enough cable to reach the south side of the house or roof. I'm not going up on the roof with all that snow.

I'm getting 10 HD channels and am looking forward to putting it up on the roof and possibly purchase a better antenna. I'm not sure I would get any more channels in my area with a better antenna. Anyone else around this area getting more than 10? (for $39 ha!)

NeilT check out Post #268 ;)

Thanks - I read the first few pages and then skipped to the last few, the thread is a little long. I really appreciate all you have done here.

Neil

Geez I really feel like an idiot now I posted the same question and got the answers way back then (2007), I guess I should have bought the original 4280 when it was still made in North America eh?
I'll def. use your search tips in future!!

Actually the trick is to put the term "Lawrence" into the Search This Thread tool to the upper right in the blue navbar (rather than using the full site search) and then you can quickly zero in on what you need. ;)

recneps:

Well, I have a set top box, the Samsung DTB-H260F. Which came out in or around late 2007/early 2008.

He has a Samsung 46" LCD TV, brand new, the menus all look the same, so I thought *maybe* it's a similar tuner... but his tuner does do analog as well - so even though the menus and whatnot look the same, they are both pretty new and they are both samsung - it's possible that the chipsets are different.

I figured maybe, just maybe - they were the same. Don't know though. Thats the only thing that is different though.

Ahhh... that's it then... a brand new Sammy HDTV will have a Generation 6 ATSC chipset while your H260F has a Generation 5. Your tuner is still excellent, of course, but the newest chipsets are better. Of course one way to test if that is the issue is for you to take your tuner over to your neighbour's house and hook it up to his/her OTA gear to see for sure.

Facing the same direction (checked on a compass), no major obstacles, the only thing is his is pointed up a little bit. We didn't get chance to try much else, but it's pointed up at about 5 deg. His is 3 feet off the ground attached to a piece of patio furniture.
Hi MK,

I just read a few of your last postings brings back lots of good memories. :o A few years ago I used some patio furniture to support my antennas as well. I ran several tests before permanently mounting them I used a CM4228 and 4221 and came up with similar results.

Since the antenna is closer to the ground, when you apply a small tilt it you can see a greater overall effect in reception. (Ground level there is a lot more interference, buildings etc.)

Then I mounted the antenna on a 25ft pole from ground level I got better reception, then tried tilting it slightly, but I did not see as much signal gain as I saw at ground level, but did received all US channels. (CM4228).

Next I mounted the antenna up aprox. 35ft got much better reception. I was able received 25 DTV channels from where I am located. Later I mounted 4221 antenna on the same pole pointed towards CN tower with slight tilt to get over large trees it increased the signal strength of those channels.

As you can see there is limit to how much a tilting the antenna can help you. Higher you go less the effect is, (normally less interference) but if you have obstructions in front of you (like large tree etc.) it can help you even if you are high up.

Your best bet would be to have a CM4228 with a rotor and since you mounted the antenna at 25 ft level pretty short run, your distribution amplifier you have would work just fine. I won’t get into the pros and cons of having rotor, but with this combo it is relatively easy installation.

Anyone else point there's a few degrees up (tilt?). And if so how does one do that 10 feet up at the top of a pole?

As for tilting the antenna are several methods one of the simplest is manual adjustable boom (marked in degrees) which I have and of course I did it during summer.

I've got a Samsung DTB-260F I have read several reviews on it, I know several members have this tuner, seems like its very good tuner. I think it has 5 gen tuner not bad at all.

I know the Classic 4228 is no longer manufactured, but have look at this article posted by stampeder gives you lots of options. You’re located on the opposite side of the GTA you most likely have the ability to receive Rochester as well with right antenna.

CM's quoted gain figures converted to dBi for comparison

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=95467&page=7

Stampeder: Ok, newer tuner. That's what we figured last night after trying to determine in van what the difference was (mind you this was 10 beers in and a hole in his brick wall later for the cable run heh). I'll take mine over one day and try it out, but yeah, that's gotta be it.

Biggy: The tilt could also do it a bit, we'll test that and report back. No matter what we did we couldn't get city tv with that tilt to stay viewable... and I could get city tv with that same antenna duct taped to the inside of my window - so it must be the tilt which is helping him with WGRZ and the rest of his buffalo channels along with his better tuner, especially since he has a newer tuner and he's getting everything else with more power. The way that patio furniture is setup, it's hard to get the tilt off...

For now. I'm done. Very done. I get all the channels I could hope for, maybe not with the most amount of power, but they don't chunk often - if at all, so I am happy.

Until spring comes around ;)

Hurry up Willie tell us the forecast!

Thanks everyone for the advice and help! This has been a helluva trip, fun mind you.

M

No matter what we did we couldn't get city tv with that tilt to stay viewable

MK,

Remember one thing I was using the CM4228 to receive the US channels combining it with a 4221 to receive all the channels broadcast from CN tower. The 4228 is highly directional antenna and was not able to receive City Tv on its own from my location.

The 4221 polar pattern is much wider and you might be able to pickup City Tv some members have. If your having problems picking up City Tv, you could be on the fringe of the lobes. The only down fall is that 4221 it has trouble receiving the farthest distance US stations. Though I had read some members have had good luck the 4221 combined with a rotor.

A good tuner will go long way in locking onto signals you can actually pickup.

Hey Biggy: Not sure if I should PM you this or not... but I suppose your answer could be of benefit to scarberians in general!

So this morning, I turn on 2-1 - nothing. Although as the skies clear and time goes on it's starting to come in more and more.... so.... this adjustable boom you're talking about... where does one find something like this - and does it attach to the top of an antenna mast (I am aware of the 'j' mounts for things like satellites, but those attach to walls - not 1.5" masts)?

I could shim it with some metal to point it up a smidge, but something more adjustable or elegant might be nice.

Thanks!
Mike

I have got all Toronto stations all winter rock solid on a side lobe of my 4228 clone as I'm pointed at Fox and I'm 47 miles away from TO Stations,I'm curious in the summer how strong they will be If I put a rotor on :)

Summer reception is usually winter reception +20% (my rough, qualitative assessment turned quantitative :p)
The only "problem" is tropo effects - one day you might get everything with nice levels and the next there might be some DX-ing that interferes with your channels, giving you lower reception (or making you lose them completely)
The second is more rare than actually getting new channels you never had before, but it has certainly weakened some channels in the past.
Hopefully with the US switchover before then, there shouldn't be much problems.

Hey Biggy: Not sure if I should PM you this or not... but I suppose your answer could be of benefit to scarberians in general!Posting in these threads is a way of giving back to everyone for providing their own information. :)

just an update....bought a 10db pre amp from durham radio...picked up 3 more stations today,including wgrz,watched the superbowl,great game! cant wait for the nicer weather to see how it effects reception.thx for the advice stampeder,paid off very well.