Nashville, TN - OTA - Page 11

Indeed. Ronnie and his wife are wonderful folk and we're kicking ourselves for not seeing you guys again in the last two years. Since you live closer now, maybe it'll be easier.

As far as the antenna goes, I'm debating on whether to use a 4228 or a directional yagi. I think a 4228 will likely be fine for you where you live but not for me. I'm still waiting to hear back on Jon J in this forum (who also lives in Bellevue) to find out which of his two antennas worked best for him at the end of the day. I'm thinking the Yagi was better, but I want confirmation before going to RatShack or Randolf and Rice.

4228 hands down except for WTVF's digital channel 56 which still completely eludes me probably because they are only running slightly over 400kw to save money. I've begged the GM at WTVF for a CBS waiver to be able to get WCBS on DirecTV but she blew me off.

The 4228 works great on WSMV's channel 10 digital signal.

Jon J, Where did you get your 4228 and how much did it run you? I already have a mast in my attic I can use.

EDIT: Nevermind. I just called Rip-off and Rice the their price is actually better than any place I found on-line! That is a first!

rf

Just talked to Gibson in engineering, he said that WB HD network programming should be working this week. They have everything in place there was just one thing left for him to do.

Yeah, I'm gonna need a mast. Well, at least R&R should carry that too. So Ronnie, care to make a road trip and work on at least one of them, maybe as early as this weekend? I'll probably try it in the attic at first (yeah Jon, I know....complete foolish optimism) but it will at least show me what I'm up against.

What are some good web sites or B&M stires to find 4228 or other HD antennas?

In Nashville, I'd probably just go downtown to Randolf and Rice.

Was it just me, or did anyone else have ABC disappear last night during lost? In the last 10-15 minutes, I could get a strong signal from ABC, but my Dish 811 wouldn't lock on it. By the time Alias started, it was working fine again.

I even reset my receiver to see if it was a problem, but it didn't solve anything. I had to just go back to the Dish ABC local channel.

Randolph and Rice has been my go-to electronics, cable, etc. supplier for over 30 years. Their counter people are generally knowledgeable and their return policy is the best in the business. Antenna doesn't work? Take it back for full refund and try another. Can't beat that.

Jon

I watched it OTA on WKRN-DT. No problems. Must have been your satellite system.

It probably was. The receiver had a new firmware upgrade a couple of days ago, but I hadn't seen that particular problem. What was strange was that I couldn't pick up either the main station or the subchannel. I could pick up all the other digital stations just fine.

I'm curious how you qualify to receive ABC HD via satellite since we are definitely NOT an O&O market?

jdm1....

I notice you are in Franklin. Are you using an indoor or outdoor antenna for ota, and if outdoor, how big did you have to put up? How high?

Thanks.

It's a Channel Master 4221 4-bay bow tie. It's an outdoor antenna, but mounted inside the attic of a 1-floor ranch house.

http://www.channelmaster.com/images/3021_4221.jpg

I also used a Channel Master mast-mounted preamp, the Spartan model 0064DSB. The Titan model 7777 is better.

I get all the Nashville UHF stations fine, plus WSMV-DT on VHF high band. Receiver is a DirecTV HD Tivo, model HR10-250. It receives both satellite and OTA broadcasts.

Who said I receive ABC-HD via satellite? The 811 integrates the OTA signals with the satellite signals, which is how I get my local digital stations.

Very timely post. Thanks.
"Summer Catch" is on now in HD on WB58

Woohoo! Way to go Sinclair. Now just get it on Comcast.

I'm finally glad to see WB in HD. It looks good but the Dolby Digital 5.1 doesn't sound quite right but maybe they'll get it worked out. Fox 17 hasn't been in HD tonight showing the O.C.

Yeah for WB! But why is FOX not in HD tonight?

I assume they have enough equipment for both stations, but it doesn't look like it right now.

WZTV also wasn't in HD on Tuesday night, for both Rebel Billionaire and House. Seems like they're having a problem - hope it gets fixed before the new 24 season on Sunday/Monday.

A WTVF engineer told me they have ordered the full power equipment now. I will try to get a time frame on when it might be up an running. It is a LOT OF MONEY to buy that for a frequency they will abandon as soon as they can (so I guess we can't blame them for not doing it sooner).

Dennis

Well, excuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuse me.

I never watch anything "live" except football, but when I watched "Lost" off the HD Tivo last night it was fine. I did have 2-3 hiccups but nothing bad. "Freckles" sure looks nice in HD

Dennis

Jim, I met Rick for lunch today and we both went to Randolph and Rice. I picked up the Channel Master 4221

( It is the little brother or 1/2 of the 4228 and ran me right at $25)

Rick Lives out in Bellevue so he purchased the 4228:


(I think it was right at $50)

Both of these are UHF only so they might not pick up WSMV-DT because it is VHF channel 10. The 4228 is reported to be able to pull the high end of VHF pretty good which include channel 10.

I am going to mount mine in my attic. I don't live to far from you in Oak Hill but I'm on the Nashville side of Harding so I do not have the hills you do. I'll let you know how the CM4221 works out for me. Also Randolph and Rice said if it does not work, just bring it back and try the 4228.


rf

Remember at UHF TV frequencies (about 450-800Mhz) RG-6 line losses per 100 feet can be 4.5db to 6db. A 50 ft run could easily cut your signal strength in half.

That's why mast-mounted preamps are often useful at UHF frequencies. Channel Master makes some good ones; the best is the model 7777.

If you have marginal signal strength and a cable run more than about 30 feet, consider a preamp before you change antennas.

That's good info to know. I should not have any problem with cable signal loss. My antenna will be mounted in my attic directly above my HT room. I'm guessing 15ft. max. for the RG-6 run.

Just talked to Gibson over at Fox again, he did not know that the Fox programming wasn't coming through in HD. He is working tonight and will keep an eye on what is wrong.

Also, he said that he has to make one adjustment to WB to correct lip-sync issues.

I got my 4221 from Randy and Rice as well, and it did not do a good job on Channel 4 HD. I have the CM mast mount amp (the 7777?) with the switchable separate/combined UHF/VHF so I made a Channel 4 HD antenna and flipped the internal switch on the amp to separate. I posted about it here someplace, but you can get the UHF bow tie antenna from Radio Schlock (the single tie that clips onto a VHF rod antenna) for $3-4. Turns out if you cut the loop on each side and bend it straight out it makes an almost perfect channel 10 dipole. I cable tied it on the short mast below the 4221 and it works just fine.

I am having some trouble with 17 and 5 now, so I may need to re-adjust my antenna. Last time I looked I either could not get 8 or it was not up digital (no HD content now, so I never check it). I may need to go higher with the pole, but it worked fine during the summer (with the leaves on the trees) so whodathunk it would work worse now?

Dennis

dwynne,

What part of town you are in? The whole reason I got the CM4221 is for 17 and the WB (Sinclair). I have limited access cable for my internet access and other local HD stations. I hope it works for me!


rf

Hermitage. The 4221 has less gain, but a broader "beam" than the 4228 and I need to cover a 70-80 degrees to get both 5/17 and 2/8 (4 is in the middle). If you need to pick up from just one direction (WB and 17 broadcast from the same location) then the 4228 or a Yagi might work better if the 4221 does not. At the local price, it is worth it to try the 4221.

Dennis