AVS › AVS Forum › HDTV › HDTV Technical › Eaton, OH: Is CM3671 the correct antenna for my needs?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Eaton, OH: Is CM3671 the correct antenna for my needs?

post #1 of 15
4/20/12 at 9:05pm
Thread Starter 
Stumbled onto your guy's forum while researching an antenna I was wanting to purchase. You seemed to be the right people to ask this question.
I found a CM3671 brand new in the box for $40 locally on craigslist. But now I am not so sure such a large VHF antenna is really what I need. The price is great though.
Can you tell me if it will serve my UHF needs effectively?
If I am reading the TV Fool report for my location correctly, it seems all of my channels are UHF.
I planned on also adding a pre-amp.
I put in 60 feet for my height. It will probably only end up 30 - 40 feet.

Reply
Reply

AVS Top Picks

post #2 of 15
4/20/12 at 9:58pm
Much of the size of the CM3671 is due to the fact that it can receive low-VHF channels (2-6), of which you have none. So that extra size and weight is useless to you. You'd be better off looking for an antenna designed for UHF, and maybe high-VHF (7-13).

Do you want the Dayton stations, or the Cincinnati stations, or both? If you just want Dayton, you don't need VHF at all. Even Cincinnati has only one VHF station (CBS 12).
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 15
4/21/12 at 12:17am
Thread Starter 
I want Cincinnati, Dayton, Muncie (I think) and was hoping with a good set up I might get Indianapolis.
With a set of amplified rabbit ears I already receive Dayton most days, Cincinnati on cloudy days occasionally PBS from Muncie and one time under strange weather conditions I got Bloomington Indiana.
Considering what I am already getting with the rabbit ears, I was hoping Indianapolis would be possible with a real antenna on a pole.

With what you was saying about 12 being the only low VHF station, I guess I was reading that TV Fool report correctly.
Looking at that report again, would all of those Indianapolis stations just be repeat programming of what I would be receiving from Dayton or Cincinnati? Would I actually be gaining any new programming?
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 15
4/21/12 at 12:31am
Thread Starter 
Would I be better off with a Channel Master 4228 and pre amp?
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 15
4/21/12 at 12:33am
Thread Starter 
Here is the Channel Master 4228. Was not allowed to put link in previous post.
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/ele/2890363484.html
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 15
4/21/12 at 12:34am
Thread Starter 
Any opinions on a Chinese WA-2608? I have seen these around, figure there has to be a catch to them.
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/ele/2919625420.html
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 15
4/21/12 at 5:03am
You don't need a 3671 as pointed out. Lot's of wasted aluminum that could be better used as beer containers.

The cheap Chinese crap imports are just that. Flimsy and short-lived.

Indianapolis is out of range except on tropo days. Forget it unless you want to experiment or play.

The 4228 and preamp aren't a very good choice either. The beamwidth of the 4228, a decent UHF antenna, is narrow and will probably force you into a rotor. You don't need a pre-amp for Dayton and Cincy. Using the wrong one would actually wreck your reception.

Okay, after having shot everything down, let's start over. If you're willing to accept the usage of a rotor, everything is straight-forward. If you don't want a rotor, it's gets a bit more dicey trying to get the gettable with a stationary setup.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 15
4/21/12 at 5:11am
Please put your location in the title of ALL antenna help threads. See my edit.
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 15
4/21/12 at 8:50am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ProjectSHO89 View Post

You don't need a 3671 as pointed out. Lot's of wasted aluminum that could be better used as beer containers.

The cheap Chinese crap imports are just that. Flimsy and short-lived.

Indianapolis is out of range except on tropo days. Forget it unless you want to experiment or play.

The 4228 and preamp aren't a very good choice either. The beamwidth of the 4228, a decent UHF antenna, is narrow and will probably force you into a rotor. You don't need a pre-amp for Dayton and Cincy. Using the wrong one would actually wreck your reception.

Okay, after having shot everything down, let's start over. If you're willing to accept the usage of a rotor, everything is straight-forward. If you don't want a rotor, it's gets a bit more dicey trying to get the gettable with a stationary setup.

Quote:
Originally Posted by DrDon View Post

Please put your location in the title of ALL antenna help threads. See my edit.

Thank you for the edit. Keep in mind I have an Eaton address but dont actually live in Eaton. I live closer to New Paris Ohio or Richmond Indiana along interstate 70 (Ohio counties are large); surrounded by open fields and flat ground. That is why I considered Indy an option for me; we used to point our antenna at it when I was a kid and be able to pick up WISH TV 8. But if the programming would just be a duplicate of a cincy or dayton station there would be no point.
I am not totally against a rotor. Everybody in this area uses one due to us living in an area right in between 3 major cities. What other model antennas would be an option for me that would not require a rotor?
I was suprised about not needing a pre amp. Seems to be standard equipment around here. So there would be no point in picking up this CM 7777 Titan 2?
http://dayton.craigslist.org/ele/2925020719.html
Thanks for all the input. Great site, am learning alot.
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 15
4/21/12 at 9:44am
Sometimes I think that on these forums we overplan or get too precise about ideal setups. Here's an analogy: if your neighbor was disposing of his dear, deceased relative's stuff, and said you could buy all the living room furniture for $100 (and, of course, you needed it), but it wasn't quite what you thought was perfect, would you buy it? Yes, the CM for $40 new has excess capacity for VHF-low, but if you don't mind the size for mounting reasons or something, buy it and use it. It has fine reception for your needs.
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 15
4/21/12 at 11:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jhoncho4x4 View Post

Thank you for the edit. Keep in mind I have an Eaton address but dont actually live in Eaton. I live closer to New Paris Ohio or Richmond Indiana along interstate 70 (Ohio counties are large); surrounded by open fields and flat ground. That is why I considered Indy an option for me;

Doesn't matter if the address you put in your TVfool results was your exact address. The results say Indy is not possible except on trop days. Now if you're into paying around with trop reception as some of us are then that's different but that's more a hobby for some of us than actually trying to watch TV.

Quote:


we used to point our antenna at it when I was a kid and be able to pick up WISH TV 8.

You can't really compare analog reception to digital.

Quote:


I am not totally against a rotor. Everybody in this area uses one due to us living in an area right in between 3 major cities. What other model antennas would be an option for me that would not require a rotor?
I was suprised about not needing a pre amp. Seems to be standard equipment around here.

The Dayton stations definitely don't need a pre-amp.

To get both without a rotor it seems your stations are between 102 degrees( true ) and 169 degrees( true ). Since Cincy stations are weaker you could try aiming say at 147 degrees. Then an pre-amp might be useful. Just a suggestion.
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 15
4/21/12 at 11:18am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by tyromark View Post

Sometimes I think that on these forums we overplan or get too precise about ideal setups. Here's an analogy: if your neighbor was disposing of his dear, deceased relative's stuff, and said you could buy all the living room furniture for $100 (and, of course, you needed it), but it wasn't quite what you thought was perfect, would you buy it? Yes, the CM for $40 new has excess capacity for VHF-low, but if you don't mind the size for mounting reasons or something, buy it and use it. It has fine reception for your needs.

Thanks for the input. I was thinking the same thing in the beginning.
These guys did make a good point about the difficulty of mounting that big thing (3671) though.
So if I could use an easier mounting 4228 for the same $ and it would do the same job, I might as well go that direction and save myself some work.
Now I just need to know for sure if it (4228) will suit my needs, if there is a different model that is much better suited that I don't realize exists and if I should use a pre amp.
I am going to initially set it up on a 30' pole attached 20' up to the top of my chimney and spin it by hand to determine if I would gain anything with a rotor. Then mount it to my tower.
I plan on picking up an antenna and accessories tomorrow or monday. I just still dont know for sure which one and what accesories.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 15
4/21/12 at 11:26am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by BCF68 View Post

Doesn't matter if the address you put in your TVfool results was your exact address. The results say Indy is not possible except on trop days. Now if you're into paying around with trop reception as some of us are then that's different but that's more a hobby for some of us than actually trying to watch TV.



You can't really compare analog reception to digital.



The Dayton stations definitely don't need a pre-amp.

To get both without a rotor it seems your stations are between 102 degrees( true ) and 169 degrees( true ). Since Cincy stations are weaker you could try aiming say at 147 degrees. Then an pre-amp might be useful. Just a suggestion.

I understand, was kind of thinking the same thing but was afraid to say it.
So the 4228 and 7777 would be a suitable combination to try that with? Is the 7777 too much pre amp and I would be better off with a cheapy $30 RCA pre amp from Menards?
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 15
4/21/12 at 11:36am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jhoncho4x4 View Post

I understand, was kind of thinking the same thing but was afraid to say it.
So the 4228 and 7777 would be a suitable combination to try that with? Is the 7777 too much pre amp and I would be better off with a cheapy $30 RCA pre amp from Menards?

Here is the RCA pre amp from Menards that mentioned. Model TVPRAMP1R
http://www.rcaaudiovideo.com/antenna/?sku=TVPRAMP1R

http://www.menards.com/main/electric...8.htm?tpt=5_en
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 15
4/21/12 at 3:52pm
A CM 4221HD aimed SouthEast, should get most all the channels to the Southeast on your TVFool report that are in green & yellow, down to and including WWRD. CBS channel 12 might be iffy, but you have another closer CBS affiliate at the top of the list.

You do not need a preamp. The preamp you mentioned, the 7777 may overload from your stronger signals at the top of the list.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: HDTV Technical

AVS Top Picks

AVS › AVS Forum › HDTV › HDTV Technical › Eaton, OH: Is CM3671 the correct antenna for my needs?