DBN - I'm using an amplified 4228 and like Bpag, I get Fox and TBN (a
religious channel) quite reliably from lower Lonsdale. I think
if you have a good line of sight south, you will get
KVOS-DT and KBCB-DT (shopping channel) and probably
Fox (KBCQ-DT) with its weather sub-channel and TBN (KTBW-DT)
with 5 subchannels (if you like religious programming). Unlike
bpag, I can also usually get KIRO-DT with its retro-network
subchannel, and I can get KONG-analogue. I also get
crystal clear reception of CITY-TV analogue and CHEK-TV
analogue from their transmitters on Salt Spring Island with
the 4228.

I purchased my CM-4228 from 4DTV as Stampeder recommends,
and found him extremely knowledgeable and helpful - as
others have already posted. I also suggest using
two antennas - one small amplified two-bay CM 4220
for the local channels on Mt Seymour -
CBC-DT, CTV-DT, Global-DT, A-Channel analogue, M-Channel
analogue, and SRC-French analogue and the CM-4228
for the more southerly broadcasters
(I also use an electronic A-B switch with remote to switch
between the two antennas, or you could use a
or a rotor). I get 100% reliable reception of 10 stations (including
the two Bellingham stations), and relatively reliable
reception of FOX, KIRO, and TBN - for a total of another
9 - or 19 in all - although the 5 religious channels aren't my cup of tea,
unless they are doing a historical or archeological broadcast.

I suspect you have higher elevation in Edgemont than I do,
and probably should get all the above stations. I can almost
get a lock on Kong-DT, and suspect it will be viewable after
the June 12 cutoff, since I can get the current analogue
station routinely. I also think that KING-DT may be viewable,
with it sports subchannel after the Digital cutoff date
on June 12. I'd be interested in your reception results once
you've installed your antenna.

Wow, thanks all for the prompt advice. Just got in touch with 4DTV, and since I'm really only interested in local channels initially, sounds like a CM-4221 would be OK. I probably won't set up for a month or so, but I'll let you know how things work out. Cheers.

I was out of town for 6 days, and was hoping that there would be increased signals from the SeaTac stations after the July 12 cutoff. I was wrong. I'm still getting Fox 13 and Kiro 7 with substations, especially when it's overcast, and King 5 occasionally when the atmosphere is exceptionally clear, but have lost Kong 16 analogue completely and am not getting the Kong 16 digital station at all. I wonder if there are plans by the SeaTac stations to increase signal strength down the road. Otherwise I will have to look into stacking two 4228's or building a double bay Gray-Hoverman.

Hi nukdoc...I'm curious how you're picking up Fox 13 since they've gone to vhf-hi 13? What antenna are you using?

I'm using an amplified 4228. I tend to lose the KCPQ channel 13 when weather
is clear, but get it reliably when it is overcast - which in Vancouver is most of the time. Same with Kiro 7.
The religious channels, KTBW (14) also are coming through reliably regardless of weather.

It seems if the SeaTac stations would boost their ERP back to the analogue levels, it would be possible for me to get most of them, but I have a clear line of sight to downtown Vancouver.

Any projected dates when these analog channels will make the conversion to digital? HD?

Also, any rumors if 12 (35.121) will start HD feeds?

I'm going to give my 4228 another try, but I'll probably need some additional equipment. Here is my problem: When the 4228 is pointed south, its directionallity prevents the Seymour signals from being picked up. The solution, in my mind, is to mix my 4228 (south-facing) to pick up Seattle with a 4220 (east-facing) to pick up Seymour.

If this is correct, then two antennas then need to be connected via a reverse splitter. Is this the ideal solution?

Yep, but mixing dissimilar antennas is really tricky so don't be surprised if it doesn't seem to make any sense at first:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showpost.php?p=675713&postcount=16

bpag, I have a similar setup that you propose but I can tell you that that I've had no luck combining 2 different antennas through a reversed splitter. I use a manual A/B switch which is a pain but it works. Hopefully you might have better results...please let us know.
Sometime I will try again to combine my antennas before and after preamps etc. but it's awkward because the 4221 pointing North is in the attic and the 4228s and YA-1713 pointing South are on the roof.

I used a Channel Master 9521 rotor and it works great. I had a problem sorta trying what you suggest. I wanted to point the old Radio Shack VU120 towards Victoria, and the CM4228 toward Vancouver using the CM 7777 pre-amp which has separate VHF/UHF inputs. Initially, just hooking up the 4228 worked perfectly. When I attached the 120 it knocked out the Vancouver signals. I contacted Channel Master regarding the problem which seemed to be new to them...hmmmm/haaaawwww! I finally figured it out on my own...the RS120 is VHF-UHF. As soon as I disabled the UHF portion (the bowtie) of the old antenna everything works the way it should.

By the way I strapped a pole via a chimney mount then mounted the rotor on the pole and put the 4228 antenna mast on the rotor.

Regarding the Channel Master mast. I searched the web and found them for about $11-20. When I got to checkout the shipping was like $175...so much for the bargain. I also noted that Ace Hardware in various parts of the country carried the Channel Master masts (5' and 10'). I called the store in Lynden (360-354-1506) and though they didn't carry them as a standard item they were willing to order them for me. I bought one of each and the bill was just under $50--thought you guys might like to know that bit of info.

As the other posters have noted...combining 2 antennas, as I found out, is tricky. The rotor is probably a better way to go. Also, the CM rotor can be programmed so you hit the channel # and the antenna finds the spot.

Bruce

Thanks for sharing your expeience in this matter. You have saved me time & money.

Another writer on this forum successfully uses the A-B switch as suggested by Jaygeetee, which is aclean and simple solution; however this leads to another obstacle: ATSC tuner programming. How do you scan on one antenna (switch position A) and then scan via the second antenna (switch position B) without overwriting the scanned channels on first antenna (switch position A). My Samsung TV is not amused.

The rotor approach by Levibluewa poses a similar challenge to the ATSC tuner memory. How did you overcome the channel scan overwiting o fthe TV? I like the sound of this solution, especially the discounts involved at my nearby US retailers.

Well, with my Sony tuner I'd rotate the antenna and select Add Digital Channels.

Hi All,

I'm using a CM4228HD, roof mounted, on a 10 ft mast from the Upper Lonsdale area. I am currently unamplified, but have a CM7777 on order. I have the antenna pointed due east.

I am able to receive everything I expect, with great signal strength and clarify, with the exception of Global in HD on 8.1 ( although I can get Global SD on channel 8 pretty well, with minor ghosting. )

I am wondering if the pre-amp will help me get this channel, or whether I'm facing another issue.

Thoughts?


Cheers,

Matt.

mattg do you have a line of sight to Mt. Seymour?

Have you tried entering 22.2 or 22.1 and see if anything shows up?

Thanks for the quickly reply!

My view towards Seymour is obstructed by some trees....I have tried repositioning the antenna slightly, but I don't seem to be able to lock on 8.1 / 22.1/2.

Thoughts?

Thanks for the suggestion. Yes, I've tried to manually enter in 8.1 and 22.1/2 on my Sony KDL-46Z4100.

Cheers,

Matt.

Matt,

You may have read in previous posts that I recently hooked up a 4228hd antenna, 7777 pre-amp, and a cm9521 rotor. 2.1,8.1 and 32.1 have signals from 72-89. I've noticed however that moving the antenna a minute amount does change the peak signal. Since all of the stations antennas are more or less grouped together I can't understand why one would be toast. Perhaps the 7777 will help and maybe a rotor as well.

Bruce

Hey Bruce,

The other thing I noticed with the CM4228HD antenna is that the distances between the ends of the boxties seems to vary between 5 and 5 1/2 inches. I actually had to do some bending of the antenna itself, as one side of it seemed to be out of whack from shipping.

In any case, it looks pretty straight now, but I am wondering whether I should ensure that all of the measurements are exact.

Hopefully I'll have the CM7777 in place next week, and that also improves things. I have around 70-90 feet of cable unamplified to my CM4228HD right now, so kind of on the outside range anyways.

Cheers,

Matt.

mattg, from your distance the design of the CM4228HD is pretty forgiving so those deviations would not account for the inability to get Global while you get the others. A quick alignment by eyesight like you did is sufficient.

Test with the preamp and let us know what happens. Is all that coax necessary, or can you cut some out?