Antennas Direct OTA Antennas & Gear

[RustyHD]

True enough. If there were digital channels to the West or North, a rotator would be required. On the 2 antennas, originally I had a DB2 pointed at the CN tower to improve the signal on CITY and SUN. On my last tweak of the position, I moved it over a foot and up a foot, I found the DB2 did nothing. So now just the LacrosseA to a distribution amp, then to tuners. Another note for Fox on 14-1 and CTV 40-1. These channels are very touchy with this antenna or my location. If I move the antenna up 4ft. the signal of all channels go up and Fox goes from 8 bars to gone and CTV 40-1 8 bars to 4? So, I figure best to leave alone. Anyone still have the pictures of the inside of the Lacrosse? I'm sure its pretty simple. I took apart a mini-state once (flying saucer) and found a couple of wires hot glued to a block of Styrofoam.

[videobruce]

I have had an experiance with their DB8 antenna last week.

I'm amazed that I haven't read anything about those circuit boards breaking from over tightening the F fittings. The female connector on each matching xformer is only soldered to the board. It is not attached to the cover as a regualr fitting would be with a VCR, DVD recorder etc.

[mog7546]

I have been testing my DB8 antenna since yesterday. Basically I pick up all the same stations I had previously without any pre-amp and/or rotor. It really works great compared to my older Radio Shack special. My only negative comment is that it is not "Multidirectional" as stated on Digital Television's website - I knew this already after reading up on this antenna ahead of time. I am surprised that this antenna picks up analog stations very well too. NEXT, I now need to invest in both a ROTOR and a PRE-AMP. There is no perfect direction to aim this antenna (increasing signal strength for one station by moving the antenna means loosing strength for another station). And a pre-amp should help me get the nearest FOX station (we infrequently pick up this digital in my area).

[videobruce]

My only negative comment is that it is not "Multidirectional" as stated on Digital Television's website

Where is a directional antenna stated to be "multidirectional"?

Preamps suffer from overload from nearby xmitters. Most are terrible in this regards. I perfer, for repeated accuracy, the ProBrand Int. ROTR100;
http://www.eagleaspen.com/products/products_1.php?id=90

It is the only model that uses DiSEqC communication between the rotor and control box which provides feedback as to rotor )(antenna) position. This is the same protocol that FTA (Free to Air) satellite dish motors use. All the others only 'guess' at where the antenna is and will guess wrong after a few times rocking the antenna back and forth. Price is only $20 or so more than a regular rotor setup.

[Grand Audio]

I have searched for info on this antenna. Didn't find anything. Has anyone researched the Clearstream 4 antenna? Is it any good? It's supposed to be good for 60 mile range. Really a strange looking antenna.

The reason I am asking is a friend of mine went to an antenna seminar yesterday at a local tv station and they were giving these antennas away. (to the first 100 people that showed up)

Is this another, "you get what you pay for" deal?

[Xauto]

For free It's a great antenna! There advertised at 14.8dBi. The c4 is two c2 side by side.

[300ohm]

Is this another, "you get what you pay for" deal?

For free, its a great deal, heh. The advertised specs do seem quite overstated. I have a model of it, but need more details of whats behind the plastic.

Basically, a single wide hoop gets about 3.5 dBi, which is better than the common loops that come with TV sets. Add 2.5 dBi for stacking it and add 2.5 dBi for the reflector. Thats a liberal 8.5 dBi for the C2. Add 2.5 dBi for stacking the C2 and you get 11 dBi for the C4.

As far as the 60 mile range claim, I can get some stations 60 miles away with the $3.99 Radio Shack Classic bowtie, heh.

[Grand Audio]

Thanks for the info. I had never heard of one before this morning. It is a C4. Will let my friend know he might have gotten lucky. He has the typical horizontal airplane looking antenna (don't know what kind it is) that does pretty good from where he is.

Will it compare to the 4228?

[300ohm]

Will it compare to the 4228?

Nope, not even to the 4221.

[Grand Audio]

Ok...that shot it being better than what he has to hades!

Any clue what the antenna I described is? Back is shaped like an arrow and the front looks sort of like a V turned flat like a whisker.

[stampeder]

Take a look at the pictures in Post #3 of the OTA FAQ - does it look like the Corner Reflector Yagi pictured there? ----------------->

[Grand Audio]

I thought I saw it somewhere.

VHF/FM/UHF Combination resembles it but with the horizontal elements shaped like an arrow.

So more than likely he would be better off with what he has rather than the C4?

[300ohm]

So more than likely he would be better off with what he has rather than the C4?

Well, that depends on a lot of things. A large corner reflector yagi with 9 or more directors on it would normally be better than the C4.

But it also depends on the state of disrepair of his present antenna, where its mounted and pointed, the state of the cable and connections etc. It wouldnt surprise me at all that if he puts up the new C4, and gets better results.

[Grand Audio]

I'll pass that info along to him. I think he is going to do some changing with his coax and splitters also.

Thank you all so much! This is absolutely the right forum for antenna information hands down. Been doing a lot of reading on the AVS forum and most of them don't have a clue...just like me..lol.

[markdd]

I've tried one of these at my mtn cottage near Boone, NC. Very challenging location to pick up anything. In dry weather I could get only two stations in digital when terrain is dry and antenna pointed 150 to 180 degrees away from stations (WXII from Winston-Salem and WCCB from Charlotte). Nothing when wet. With a Gen1_SBGH I could get only WXII. With jed GH10_rev2 about the same as the C4. Best so far is the Gen2_GH10_mid where I get WBTV (ch23), WXII (ch31), WCCB (ch 27), WSOC (ch 34) and WGHP (ch 35). Again only when it's dry. the place is at 3,000 ASL with big hills to the northwest rising 400 above toward the northwest. I'm guessing that's why I can't pick up any Tri-City stations to the Northwest but I'm getting these other stations when the antenna is pointing to the NW where I'm getting knife-edge reflections off the top of these hills? For what it's worth, see C4 spec sheet. http://www.antennasdirect.com/pdf/C4-sellsheet.pdf

Pic of my Gen2_GH10_mid: