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OTA Antenna question  

post #1 of 19
11/22/04 at 10:58am
Thread Starter 
Hello, i am shopping around for a OTA antenna and STB receiver. I have decided to go with the LG DVD/HDTV receiver combo unit. But i need help with these antennas. I live about 40 miles from Columbus, GA which has several digital stations.
I plan on putting the antenna outdoors, mounted to the fireplace.
My budget would be 100 to 150 dollars.
Any ideas on what may work out best for me would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks ahead,
Bobby

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post #2 of 19
11/22/04 at 1:57pm
A lot of us are very happy with the Channel Master 4228
post #3 of 19
11/22/04 at 3:48pm
Also, check out the Columbus, GA thread in the HDTV Local OTA Reception Forum here.
post #4 of 19
11/23/04 at 4:41am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the help, the 4228 sounds good. I will check the threads today also.
Another question regarding the antenna, its location will be anywhere from 60 to 70 feet from the receiver. Do i need any special cable or amp because of this long run??

Thanks,
Bobby
post #5 of 19
11/23/04 at 5:22am
Ordinary RG6 will handle 70'.
post #6 of 19
11/23/04 at 7:54am
First go to antennaweb.org and plug in your address and other pertinent data. That will tell you what kind of digital stations are available, what operating frequency band, what distance and in which direction you will need to point your antenna. It will also indicate what size and type antenna you'll need. Once you have all that information you can go shopping.

A lot of folks recommend the CM-4228 but if you have any digital stations on VHF that won't help. I'm 25 miles out and getting all my locals (UHF) with a $23 yagi from Radio Shack. One more mounting tip....the higher the better.
post #7 of 19
11/23/04 at 9:02am
Quote:
Originally posted by Digitude
I'm 25 miles out and getting all my locals (UHF) with a $23 yagi from Radio Shack. One more mounting tip....the higher the better.
I am using the same $23 antenna I have no problems picking up Buffalo digitals over 60 miles away. And 1 Toronto channel is 32 miles away and broadcasting at .6 KW.
post #8 of 19
11/23/04 at 9:07am
Quote:
Originally posted by dsspredator
I am using the same $23 antenna I have no problems picking up Buffalo digitals over 60 miles away. And 1 Toronto channel is 32 miles away and broadcasting at .6 KW.
RS advertises 70 mile range. I thought that was a stretch....maybe not.
post #9 of 19
11/23/04 at 10:53am
Thread Starter 
I checked my zip(36854) with checkhd.com, it stated 5 d-tv stations within 40 miles. They are:
DTV Channels: Station, Network, City, Compass
Orientation, Distance, Frequency Assignment
Red - UHF 31.1 WSWS-DT UPN OPELIKA 202° 10.4 31
Blue - UHF 38.2 WLTZ-DT NBC COLUMBUS 146° 28.2 35
Blue - UHF 47.1 WTVM-DT ABC COLUMBUS 147° 39.4 47
Blue - UHF 52.2 WXTX-DT FOX COLUMBUS 145° 28.3 49
Violet - UHF 3.1 WRBL-DT CBS COLUMBUS 147° 39.4 15

The website states i need a large directional antenna w/preamp. Do you still think the channel master 4228 is a good choice?
post #10 of 19
11/23/04 at 1:06pm
The CM4228 is ideal for blue level stations. Add a low noise CM7777 preamp to help further.
post #11 of 19
11/23/04 at 1:09pm
Definitely get a CM7777 preamp. Also, I got a CM rotator and it helps to fine tune the channels if they don't come in good as ABC, NBC and FOX are very close together but CBS is in a different location so I can turn my antenna to face CBS when I am watching CBS. Very Cool and it helps a bunch.
post #12 of 19
11/24/04 at 4:50am
Thread Starter 
I thought I would pass this information on. Dennis Boswell was very helpful in responding to a email I sent him with questions on there stations HD broadcast. This is a copy of the email he sent.

Dear Bobby: We run 1080i all of the time. When we are in local we up-convert our NTSC signal. When NBC sends a true HD show we switch this signal to our DTV transmitter. We broadcast from our studio here on Buena Vista rd. 500ft. on the tower, with an ERP of 2.92kw. You should be able to pick us up on an outdoor uhf antenna. Our transmitter is down right now for maintenence it should be back up Wednesday afternoon.



Regards,

Dennis Boswell

C.E. WLTZ TV


I was wondering if 2.92kw was a strong signal, for someone about 40 miles from the tower??

Thanks agian.
post #13 of 19
11/24/04 at 7:54am
Thread Starter 
I received a email from another HD broadcasting station in columbus ga. Thought i would pass this on. Thanks to David Williams for this info.

WTVM currently broadcasts a High Definition signal. This signal is standard definition unconverted to the 720P format during most of the day. The programs that ABC sends that are true High Definition are passed on without conversion. Most of this programming occurs during prime time. ABC and the other networks continue to increase the amount of true HD programs each season.

WXTX currently does not broadcast High Definition however we have our equipment on order and expect to also either up convert standard definition programs and pass true HD programs by the end of the year.

David Williams
WTVM/WXTX
post #14 of 19
11/24/04 at 9:31pm
Digitude: are you saying the channel master 4228 will not pick up any of the higher vhf stations, even with a good signal? Anybody else with a 4228 weigh in on this issue? I am thinking about the 4228, but I have a couple of vhf high def stations I would like to get, one of them about 30 miles away that I could occasionally get with an indoor Radio Shack 1880. They are both in the upper part of the vhf range, and my understanding is that most outdoor uhf antennas will work for upper vhf signals.

So: does the CM4228 do upper vhf? I would rather get a 4 bay type antenna then a long vhf with a uhf corner on it, if possible.
post #15 of 19
11/24/04 at 11:38pm
UHF antennas like the CM4228 can usually pull in the higher VHF band (channels 7-13) from strong VHF stations. Unless they are weak stations you should be OK. Only the low VHF channels like channel 2 or 3 require a very long VHF antenna.
post #16 of 19
11/25/04 at 4:06pm
Quote:
Originally posted by bobbyd1616
... I was wondering if 2.92kw was a strong signal, for someone about 40 miles from the tower??
2.92 kW is pitifully weak. We have a 4kW UHF digital that I have trouble receiving @ 7mi from the transmitter (using a CM 7777 preamp and 4221 antenna).

UHF full power digital stations are usually in the hundreds of kW, and up to 1,000 kW. Don't expect to get that station reliably at 40 miles out.... :(
post #17 of 19
11/26/04 at 10:47am
One of better UHF antenna is Televes. It is built to last many years and it is quite handsome. It will bring in towers that are 50-60 miles from your house. A rotator and/or pre-amp may be needed depending on various conditions.
post #18 of 19
11/27/04 at 10:03am
I just got a hdtv reciever and used antennasdirect.com for my antenna. very happy with the knowledge, product, & price!
post #19 of 19
11/28/04 at 5:55am
Quote:
Originally posted by mangopony
One of better UHF antenna is Televes. It is built to last many years and it is quite handsome. It will bring in towers that are 50-60 miles from your house. A rotator and/or pre-amp may be needed depending on various conditions.
Stick with CM or Winegard, buy American, Telves isn't!
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