Does anyone make an controller which interfaces with the Smart Antenna
protocol and would automatically control my rotor for best reception
on a per-channel basis?

Basically I am looking to try and setup the antenna/rotor so that when I change the channel on the TV, the rotor can sense what channel I am requesting and rotate the antenna to the direction of the signal.

I searched on this and found the "smart antenna" but this does not seem to quite be the same as what I am thinking, I believe. (From what I understand the smart antenna electronically/automatically detects which way gets the best signal, I want to just have my directional antenna rotate to the direction I specify when I change a channel without having to do it myself on a separate rotor box).

There are a lot of rotors that with a STB will rotor based on the channel you select, below is an example, i have not used it or know anything about it, just an example. Is this what you are looking for?

http://www.summitsource.com/antenna-rotor-automatic-ir-remote-rotator-controlled-programmable-centronics-ar500xl-outdoor-for-local-tv-offair-television-signal-reception-part-ar500xl-p-5383.html

I like what you are looking for and I hope some company soon brings it to the market where I can find it too.
Until then this other rotor (follow link below) is the next best thing I have found. It is also the rotor my local antenna service prefers to use but, unfortunately they too reported it is back-ordered most places these days. When I buy one it will probably be this one even if I have to wait for it.

http://www.summitsource.com/ (http://www.summitsource.com/channel-master-9521-automatic-programmable-antenna-rotator-rotor-w-ir-remote-system-rotor-complete-9521-remote-with-ir-head-controller-outdoor-off-air-signal-finder-part-cm9521-p-6747.html)


Control Unit:
Compatible with Most Universal Remote Controls (including satellite)
69 Channel Programmable Memory
Non-Volatile Holds Locations in Memory During Power Failures
Automatic Synchronization for Accuracy
Direct Access via TV Channel Number or Digital Compass Location
Pinpoint Position Accuracy!!!!!!!!

Drive Unit:
One Piece Cast Aluminum Housing
Heavy-Duty Rotator Motor
Wind-Tested Brake Pads
Durable Powder-Coat Paint Finish
Precision-Cut Gear System
Built-In-Steel Thrust Bearings

There are a lot of rotors that with a STB will rotor based on the channel you select, below is an example, i have not used it or know anything about it, just an example. Is this what you are looking for?

http://www.summitsource.com/antenna-rotor-automatic-ir-remote-rotator-controlled-programmable-centronics-ar500xl-outdoor-for-local-tv-offair-television-signal-reception-part-ar500xl-p-5383.html

No, that is not what I am looking for because I would have to change the channel on my Digital STB and then match the channel on the rotor STB.

I am looking for something like an HD/Digital OTA STB that has outputs to "speak" to a rotor to tell it to turn to a certain direction so that as I flip through the channel it automatically turns without me having to grab another remote. Seems pretty basic to me and I would have thought this would be out, but I cannot find anything, I can only find the "smart antennas" which is not quite the same either (from what I can tell, it tries to "automatically" find the best direction to face to get best reception rather then you tell it to just face a certain direction, but I do not think the antennas on the smart antennas are as good as if you wanted to use a CM4221 or something similar).

I like what you are looking for and I hope some company soon brings it to the market where I can find it too.
Until then this other rotor (follow link below) is the next best thing I have found. It is also the rotor my local antenna service prefers to use but, unfortunately they too reported it is back-ordered most places these days. When I buy one it will probably be this one even if I have to wait for it.



I had seen that one, but from what I can tell you would still have to directly tune to the channel wouldn't you? (how would it know what channel you started at when you press channel up or channel down). You would have to do something like "59, enter"; "8, enter". While better than nothing I was hoping there was something that would let you surf the channels and it would adjust the antenna as necessary on certain stations. Do you know more about how the one you posted works? Does it work the way I described/think it does, or would it "surf" channels?

Ben,

Other than the limited "Smart Antenna," there is NO tuner/rotor combination that you're looking for.

IF one were available, I'd have purchased it, too!

The Smart Antenna is completely different than using a rotor and directional antenna.

A rotor and directional antenna will let you 100% optimise DTV reception for your location, and can be used with any DTV receiver.

A Smart Antenna is a fixed position unit, that uses electronics to select between different elements. The DTV receiver used must be Smart Antenna compatible. Indoor and one outdoor Smart Antennas are now available, with more soon available. Only a few DTV receiver converter boxes (CECB) and one HD capable DTV receiver that are Smart Antenna compatible are on the market at this time.

For more details, here is the AVS Smart Antenna topic: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1008952

Right now, Smart Antennas are a work in progress, while a rotor and directional antenna combo is mature technology, and the best available reception solution.

The Smart Antenna is completely different than using a rotor and directional antenna.

A rotor and directional antenna will let you 100% optimise DTV reception for your location, and can be used with any DTV receiver.

Basically what I was trying to get at... But there is NO ONE? that makes a receiver that can "talk" to a rotor... Hmmmm... If only I was an electrical engineer.

Does anyone make an controller which interfaces with the Smart Antenna
protocol and would automatically control my rotor for best reception
on a per-channel basis?

Basically I am looking to try and setup the antenna/rotor so that when I change the channel on the TV, the rotor can sense what channel I am requesting and rotate the antenna to the direction of the signal.

I searched on this and found the "smart antenna" but this does not seem to quite be the same as what I am thinking, I believe. (From what I understand the smart antenna electronically/automatically detects which way gets the best signal, I want to just have my directional antenna rotate to the direction I specify when I change a channel without having to do it myself on a separate rotor box).

The only way to accomplish your solution is to use a programmable remote with macro capability.

The remote macro would issue a string of IR (and/or RF) commands to first tell the rotor where to aim the antenna, and then tell the DTV receiver what channel to tune, all with the push of one button. If you have DTV stations located in opposite directions, you will need some degree of patience while the moves rotor the antenna.

I use a One For All URC-10820, available on line for less than $20, to do just that in my system.

In my area, almost all HDTV comes from only two directions. The near one doesn't need much of an antenna while the father city requires a 4 or 8 bay. IF I was a programmer, a small PIC microprocessor would be used to decode the Smart Antenna direction info, and use it to control a DISEqC switch between the two antennas. Problem solved in an optimal way.

Considering how long this approach has been used for Satellite TV to switch between LNB or dish rotor control, I'm surprised it wasn't incorporated into HDTV. :eek:

:)