Yaamon,

For my location I think I could stack a 4221 and a 4228. Can I just point them in opposite directions ?

Crispy

Crispy Iam not sure what will happen when you stack two antenna's as the angle is so wide apart is you are pointing at Toronto and Buffalo.

I never tired this before, sorry.

You may get better results if the antenna are not stacked and separated.

Remember if you are combining antenna's to make sure the cable from both antenna is the same length.

If I understand from looking on the map to get Grand Island and Buffalo for Nbc the angle maybe too wide as you are prettly close in distance between them.

I think its just a terminology problem here. A stacked configuration is 2 identical Bowtie Reflector antennas mounted one on top of the other in the exact same direction with the bottom of the higher antenna's mesh touching the top of the lower antenna's mesh, with the output feeding through identical baluns over identical lengths of cable into a combiner (and preamp since this is typically a deep fringe solution). When I say identical, I'm not kidding.

Yagis can be stacked too.

Crispy, you can mount them on the same mast in different directions but I would keep their mesh reflectors about 1/2 their length apart, so about 17 inches from the bottom of the higher one to the top of the lower one. Never mount them back to back or they will tend to cancel eachother out.

Like Yaamon has found out in the past, its a long process of trial and error to get the patterns to work together.

Yaamon,

For my location I think I could stack a 4221 and a 4228. Can I just point them in opposite directions ?

Crispy
From personal experience I would recommend against combining the antennas with that much angle between the two primary source locations.

I spent a few weeks trying to get this to work, with less of an angle than you are facing, and eventually gave up. I bought a Channel Master rotator and haven't looked back since.

Hmm,


Looks like a 4228 and a rotor may be the least of all evils afterall.

Problem is if you build a HTPC and set up recordings you will have to constantly make sure your rotor is facing the channels you want to record.

I am unaware of any software that will initiate a rotor for you.

Crispy

I've read somewhere that the CM9251A rotator set top box uses Pioneer's IR codes but I don't have proof of that. If its true, a person could use an IRBlaster to auto-rotate the antenna prior to a recording. For general viewing a Harmony remote can replicate the CM's remote control too.

I've read somewhere that the CM9251A rotator set top box uses Pioneer's IR codes

Per CM9251A User Guide:

"Use with supplied handheld unit or most universal handheld controllers configured as a Pioneer Cable Box (HH1) or Pioneer CD Player (HH2). Compatible with most DIRECTV and Dish universal handheld remotes. (Channel Master cannot guarantee universal handheld remote control compatibility)"

My Channel Master supplier is a member of DHC - Yaamon. You can PM him for any info you need. His store is in Markham, near Woodbine and Hwy 407. Yes, it is a bit of a drive from Oakville

Thanks HDTVOakville.

By the way I can also order in almost anything if someone needs something specific as we deal with a few distributors.

Wade, Winegard, & Delhi.

Since I have gotten great results with the channel master that is why I decide to stock them.

As of Dec 12 will be moving to 300 Steecase road West, Unit 20, Markham.

Yaamon, you should set up a web page with what antennas you sell... etc. Do Paypal orders online too.... people will buy for you! :)

HDTV101 great advise I was thinking of something like that. Definately will look into it after I move Dec 12th.

Something for me to do for the new year.

Misc I might even sell the Oppo 971 dvd player as they would open me as a dealer. :)

Thanks

I don't understand.

Why not since the 4228 is just two 4221 mounted on a bar at the factory; why not 2X 4221 facing opposing directions kinda like the Antenna Direct DB8?

Could one not do this the same as a 4228 and only hook a pre-amp to the one side if distance is an issue or am I missing the whole mathematical equation here :) ?

Crispy

...why not 2X 4221 facing opposing directions kinda like the Antenna Direct DB8?I think you're mistaken about the AD DB8 segments being in opposite directions:

http://www.antennasdirect.com/DB8_assembly.html

Also antennas mounted together in opposite directions need to be a significant distance apart and their respective nulls and lobes must be carefully superimposed (usually by trial and error) to prevent them from cancelling eachother out or at least knocking a big chunk of gain off eachother:

http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/16bay.html

Hmm,

Well my goal is to be able to attain a stationary set up that provides me with all of the available channels minus the rotor.

I will have to experiment with it come spring.

Any Antenna Direct antenna seems unattainable in Canada without selling my first born.

I will look into buying some Channelmaster stuff from Yaamon perhaps a 4228 and 4221 set up.

Crispy

Crispy:

I think we're in the same boat. I really want an HD PVR and that means a rotor is a bad thing. My location (east Oakville) is pretty much in a line between Hamilton and Toronto and the Buffalo stations are very nearly at right angles to them. (I'm only interested in digital OTA.) A few weeks ago, I spoke to some antenna installers but did not get any comfort that they knew what I wanted to do and that they could do it for me.

I'm torn between:

1) A simple omni-directional antenna up high. Given that I'm now getting some of the S. Buffalo signals (78 miles!) on rabbit ears in the basement, it looks plausible that a really simple antenna may be all I'd need.

2) Two antennas. One a pretty directional, longer range model aimed at Buffalo plus another that picks up both front and back giving me both Hamilton and Toronto. Donno what I'd do if any interesting stations start up in Barrie. Combining signals from two antennas seems to be a bit of a black art, though. Plus the cost and the hit to the house's curb appeal.

Craig

Well my goal is to be able to attain a stationary set up that provides me with all of the available channels minus the rotor.crispy I'm close to you in Fonthill and have installed a 4221, pointed to buffalo I get all the buffalo channels no problem when pointed to toronto I only get cbc no other channels I think it may have to with the fact we are on the back side of the niagara escarpment. Could you not combine your square shooter for buffalo and use one 4221 for Toronto

fonthill hdtv,

Actually I sold my Square Shooter. Yaamon had told me in PM my best bet was a 4221 for Buffal and a 4228 for Toronto.

Crispy

I only get cbc no other channels I think it may have to with the fact we are on the back side of the niagara escarpment.

Indeed, Fonthill is hilly and well treed and might be the reason you don't get much from Toronto. Confederation Heights isn't too far away from you but is closer to the escarpment edge. Bummer, even a 4228 might not do you any good.

Any chance of a tower? I have family in your area and they use a 20 footer.

stampeder,

I believe I am going to mount a tower in the spring as it is too cold now.

I may go with either a 20 or 30 footer and a 4228 for Toronto and maybe a 4221 for Buffalo but need to figure out how I am going to mount them without one interfering with the other.

Crispy