DTV USA Forum        

Go Back DTV USA Forum > DTV | HDTV > DTV | HDTV Reception and Antenna Discussion

Welcome to DTVUSAForum.com
Current User Status: Guest
Please feel free to continue browsing our site as a guest
Registration is free
You may want to consider joining our community.
Why join DTVUSAForum.com?

Less advertising throughout
Post and participate in discussions
Network with other forum members
Free private messaging

join

 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 09-15-2009, 11:18 AM   #1 (permalink)
DTVUSA Rookie

No Avatar
 



Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
geaux is on the path to becoming an esteemed DTVUSAForum member
Points: 43, Level: 1 Points: 43, Level: 1 Points: 43, Level: 1
Activity: 1% Activity: 1% Activity: 1%
Default Antenna advice - CM4228 not working

Hello all, long time reader and first time poster. I have a CM4228 (not the new HD version, but the old one) mounted on a telescopic pole approximately 20 feet up. I can only receive the local NBC (and its two additional subchannels) and PBS (and its two additional subchannels). Here is my tvfool information:



There are several trees about 100 feet east of the antenna, and 200 feet north of it, and another 200 feet south of it. I do not have any preamp on the antenna, but the entire run of cable is RG6. Raising the antenna at its current location does not assist the reception, so perhaps I need to relocate it.

I am thinking about swapping out the CM4228 for a Winegard HD-8200U. I just don't know what to do. Any thoughts/advice would be tremendously appreciated.
View geaux's Photo Album geaux is offline  
Old 09-15-2009, 11:30 AM   #2 (permalink)
JayUser is a DTVUSAForum Moderator
Administrator
 
Jay's Avatar
 




Thanked 164 Times in 105 Posts
Jay is a splendid one to beholdJay is a splendid one to beholdJay is a splendid one to beholdJay is a splendid one to beholdJay is a splendid one to beholdJay is a splendid one to beholdJay is a splendid one to beholdJay is a splendid one to behold
Points: 17,952, Level: 85 Points: 17,952, Level: 85 Points: 17,952, Level: 85
Activity: 11% Activity: 11% Activity: 11%
Send a message via ICQ to Jay Send a message via MSN to Jay
Default

How many ft. of total cable are you using between the antenna and your TV, and what type is it? (RG-6?)

and welcome to the forum btw!
View Jay's Photo Album Jay is offline  
Old 09-15-2009, 11:37 AM   #3 (permalink)
DTVUSA Rookie

No Avatar
 



Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
geaux is on the path to becoming an esteemed DTVUSAForum member
Points: 43, Level: 1 Points: 43, Level: 1 Points: 43, Level: 1
Activity: 1% Activity: 1% Activity: 1%
Default

It's RG-6, and the run is a bit long - prob 50-75 feet if not a bit longer.

I get very inconsistent low 20's-30's at best for KVHP and KATC. The only channels I pick up are KPLC and KLTL. No other channels come in.

ETA - I have adjusted the height and turned the antenna toward the respective towers at different times, to no avail. Very frustrating.

Last edited by geaux; 09-15-2009 at 11:45 AM.
View geaux's Photo Album geaux is offline  
Old 09-15-2009, 11:46 AM   #4 (permalink)
Moderator

Webmaster of:
EV's Antenna Blog
 
EscapeVelocity's Avatar
 





Thanked 344 Times in 263 Posts
EscapeVelocity has much to be proud ofEscapeVelocity has much to be proud ofEscapeVelocity has much to be proud ofEscapeVelocity has much to be proud ofEscapeVelocity has much to be proud ofEscapeVelocity has much to be proud ofEscapeVelocity has much to be proud ofEscapeVelocity has much to be proud ofEscapeVelocity has much to be proud ofEscapeVelocity has much to be proud ofEscapeVelocity has much to be proud of
Points: 9,991, Level: 66 Points: 9,991, Level: 66 Points: 9,991, Level: 66
Activity: 33% Activity: 33% Activity: 33%
Default

You have a highly directional antenna, you need an omni directional antenna. You also need VHF High antnenna ability and bidirectionally.

I would try a Rabbit Ear and Loop Amplified. Like maybe the Radio Shack 1874 Budget up on the pole with a Winegard 269 amplifier.



Or the reflectorless 4 bay combined with VHF Dipoles (Rabbit Ears) using a UVSJ combiner. With an amplifier like the Winegard 269. (and possibly an FM Trap)



Can you post your FMFool as well?
View EscapeVelocity's Photo Album EscapeVelocity is offline  
Old 09-15-2009, 11:56 AM   #5 (permalink)
Moderator

Webmaster of:
EV's Antenna Blog
 
EscapeVelocity's Avatar
 





Thanked 344 Times in 263 Posts
EscapeVelocity has much to be proud ofEscapeVelocity has much to be proud ofEscapeVelocity has much to be proud ofEscapeVelocity has much to be proud ofEscapeVelocity has much to be proud ofEscapeVelocity has much to be proud ofEscapeVelocity has much to be proud ofEscapeVelocity has much to be proud ofEscapeVelocity has much to be proud ofEscapeVelocity has much to be proud ofEscapeVelocity has much to be proud of
Points: 9,991, Level: 66 Points: 9,991, Level: 66 Points: 9,991, Level: 66
Activity: 33% Activity: 33% Activity: 33%
Default

You could point a combo antenna (4228 is kindof comboish) at 60ish degrees and should be able to pick up everything in yellow and green at 38, 59, 89. An amp might help that particular antenna with the VHF High stuff.

If you are going to get pretty involved, then Id say go try for both directions with the above recommendations.

But you could also just go with a combo antenna that is much better on VHF and point it at 60ish degrees.
View EscapeVelocity's Photo Album EscapeVelocity is offline  
Old 09-15-2009, 12:26 PM   #6 (permalink)
Moderator
 
Don_M's Avatar
 





Thanked 320 Times in 202 Posts
Don_M has much to be proud ofDon_M has much to be proud ofDon_M has much to be proud ofDon_M has much to be proud ofDon_M has much to be proud ofDon_M has much to be proud ofDon_M has much to be proud ofDon_M has much to be proud ofDon_M has much to be proud ofDon_M has much to be proud ofDon_M has much to be proud of
Points: 3,196, Level: 34 Points: 3,196, Level: 34 Points: 3,196, Level: 34
Activity: 21% Activity: 21% Activity: 21%
Default

An undamaged, original 4228 mounted outdoors should be performing almost flawlessly all the way down to KADN Fox 15.1, and perhaps beyond. This sounds like it's happening in the downlead -- worn-out cable, a bad connector, or moisture that's basically short-circuited the antenna system at the coax transformer or elsewhere outdoors. Check everything carefully; if you see badly corroded metal anywhere in the cabling, that's a strong hint of moisture ingress. Replacing the cable and balun may well solve this problem inexpensively.

Given the length of that cable run, you'll probably benefit from a pre-amp. I'd recommend the high-input Winegard HDP-269 only. Other W/G and Channel Master pre-amps, good as they may be, could well overload on those three stations at the top of this list as all their signals are rather strong.

EDIT: If the cable needs replacing, be sure to seal all connections using Coax-Seal or equivalent, and protect the sealed connections with weather boots. That way, this won't happen again so quickly.

Last edited by Don_M; 09-15-2009 at 12:47 PM.
View Don_M's Photo Album Don_M is online now  
Old 09-15-2009, 01:54 PM   #7 (permalink)
DTVUSA Rookie

No Avatar
 



Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
geaux is on the path to becoming an esteemed DTVUSAForum member
Points: 43, Level: 1 Points: 43, Level: 1 Points: 43, Level: 1
Activity: 1% Activity: 1% Activity: 1%
Default

The antenna itself is only about a year old, as are the wires and all connections. (It was a new construction house.) I have changed the balun once to see if it was the problem and it was not. I'll check the connections this evening.

The antenna is perhaps not in the best condition though - it appears that the grill on the back has a slight curvature to it on one side, though the bowties are all seemingly intact and straight.

Any thoughts on switching to the Winegard HD-8200U?
View geaux's Photo Album geaux is offline  
Old 09-15-2009, 03:36 PM   #8 (permalink)
DTVUSA Member

No Avatar
 



Thanked 74 Times in 59 Posts
Eureka is a splendid one to beholdEureka is a splendid one to beholdEureka is a splendid one to beholdEureka is a splendid one to beholdEureka is a splendid one to behold
Points: 992, Level: 16 Points: 992, Level: 16 Points: 992, Level: 16
Activity: 28% Activity: 28% Activity: 28%
Default

The 4228 should work well in your situation.
+1 for everything Don M said.
View Eureka's Photo Album Eureka is offline  
Old 09-15-2009, 03:42 PM   #9 (permalink)
Moderator
 
Don_M's Avatar
 





Thanked 320 Times in 202 Posts
Don_M has much to be proud ofDon_M has much to be proud ofDon_M has much to be proud ofDon_M has much to be proud ofDon_M has much to be proud ofDon_M has much to be proud ofDon_M has much to be proud ofDon_M has much to be proud ofDon_M has much to be proud ofDon_M has much to be proud ofDon_M has much to be proud of
Points: 3,196, Level: 34 Points: 3,196, Level: 34 Points: 3,196, Level: 34
Activity: 21% Activity: 21% Activity: 21%
Default

Unless you want to use the antenna for FM as well as TV reception, you have no need for the big, bad 8200 since there are no TV stations to speak of on channels 2-6 in your area. Winegard's equivalent 7-69 model is the HD-7698P, but you don't need quite that much gain, either.

A "slight" bend in the reflector by itself wouldn't kill reception of all but your two strongest stations. As long as the bowties aren't touching the screen or the boom anywhere, and the balun is connected properly to both terminals, the antenna isn't the problem.

Let's start with the basics:

• You are using RG-6 coaxial cable, right? RG-59 coax can be used, but loses much more signal than RG-6. (The cable type should be stamped on the outer jacket in contrasting ink.) Any other type of wire is totally unsuitable for over-the-air reception.

• Perhaps the cable has a poorly attached F-connector somewhere, or maybe it sustained internal damage when it was installed. Coax can be damaged by yanking it hard through a hole, for example. Check for obvious signs of injury or stress. Permanent kinks, dents or bulges are bad news.

A Winegard HD-7696P would be more than sufficient with those signal strengths if you really want to swap out the 4228, but my hunch is that a new antenna won't resolve this issue. That 4228 iteration was a peerless antenna. It really sounds like it's either a short or broken conductor, faults that usually crop up in the downlead cable. If you're certain everything is in good working order, I'd install a pre-amp before putting up a different antenna. You may just need to overcome loss in the cable, and that would do the trick.
View Don_M's Photo Album Don_M is online now  
Old 09-15-2009, 05:56 PM   #10 (permalink)
DTVUSA Member

No Avatar
 



Thanked 74 Times in 59 Posts
Eureka is a splendid one to beholdEureka is a splendid one to beholdEureka is a splendid one to beholdEureka is a splendid one to beholdEureka is a splendid one to behold
Points: 992, Level: 16 Points: 992, Level: 16 Points: 992, Level: 16
Activity: 28% Activity: 28% Activity: 28%
Default

Also make sure none the feed lines connecting the bowties are physically touching together. This sometimes happens at the "crossover" points of the feedlines.
View Eureka's Photo Album Eureka is offline  
The Following User Says Thank You to Eureka For This Useful Post:
Don_M (09-16-2009)
Google Links

Tags
advice, antenna, cm4228, working


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Combining a UHF and VHF antenna w & w/o amps Piggie Articles 21 03-09-2010 03:59 AM
EV's Best Top Rated FM and HD Radio Antenna Guide & Reviews EscapeVelocity DTV | HDTV Reception and Antenna Discussion 210 02-07-2010 10:22 AM
FM Antenna - Which Polarization to Choose? Piggie DTV | HDTV Reception and Antenna Discussion 2 08-23-2009 06:40 PM
FM Stereo 1/2 Wave Dipole Indoor Antenna 88-108 MHz EscapeVelocity Antenna Auctions 0 08-09-2009 08:05 PM
digital tv reception Centervilledon DTV | HDTV Reception and Antenna Discussion 13 12-13-2008 09:47 AM

» Marketplace: Auctions Ending Soon
  RatingTitle, Username, & Date Views
INSIGNIA DIGITAL TO ANALOG CONVERTER BOX w/ Antenna
Today 05:16 PM
2
INSIGNIA DIGITAL TO ANALOG CONVERTER BOX w/ Antenna
Today 05:16 PM
1
Insignia ns-dxa1 converter box
Today 05:16 PM
2
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.1.0

All times are GMT -8. The time now is 06:45 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2010, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.3.0
© 2008, 2009

DTVUSAForum.com is a fan run website and is not affiliated with ABC | CBS | FOX | HBO | NBC or any other television corporation.