[CodeEcks]

I put up my antenna this weekend and I have great signal.

CBS looks unbelievable so far I have only watched HD on

CBS, ABC, NBC. Here is my question to you...Both ABC and

NBC don't look as good as CBS does. do I need to do some

antenna adjustments or is it impossible to get all of them

perfect. Also, I tried using a preamp and the signal looked

a little worst on CBS..I didn't try the preamp on ABC or NBC

any ideas? thoughts?


here are the stations in case you are wondering

WXIA-DT 10 NBC 227°

WGCL-DT 19 CBS 233°

WTBS-DT 20 TBS 233°

WATL-DT 25 WB 233°

WAGA-DT 27 FOX 231°

WSB-DT 39 ABC 230°

 

[DP1]

Quote:

Originally posted by CodeEcks I put up my antenna this weekend and I have great signal. CBS looks unbelievable so far I have only watched HD on CBS, ABC, NBC. Here is my question to you...Both ABC and NBC don't look as good as CBS does.

I think that first of all you're going to have to define "dont look as good". Does that mean because you're having dropouts and such or because the picture quality itself just seems to vary?


If it's the latter it doesnt necessarily have anything to do with pre-amps or signal strengths or anything else other than the fact that the picture quality of HDTV can vary greatly from program to program. Certainly not everything you watch will have the looking through a window effect. Most sitcoms and dramas wont have that effect, but sports or nature shows will. Thats due to the difference between film based HD and video based HD.


For example, if you watched some HD football on CBS on Saturday or Sunday you might have said WOW! And then by the same token if you'd have watched say Alias in HD on ABC last night you might have said.. Hmmm this doesnt "look like" HD to me.

 

[ClarkeR]

With Digital TV you either lock on the signal or you don't. If you receive all the stations you expect, consistantly without dropouts, then there is nothing more you can/or need to do to your antenna system. Issues of picture quality may be STB/TV related, but usually it is just a matter of what is actually being transmitted by the station.

 

[CodeEcks]

DP1 it is funny you mention those examples because those are exactly the things I was looking at CBS sunday football and Alias on ABC. Alias looked grainy. and the football game looked out of this world. by don't look as good I mean picture quality, I had a couple of dropouts when watching Alias I don't know if that is normal or not.


Another question I have...does anyone know if Mitsubishi has an OTA signal strength meter? if it does I don't see it, All I have to go by is judging by the way the picture looks.


I actually called Mitsubishi and according to them their RPTV's don't which I find hard to believe.

 

[Cruzer]

CBS Football = 1080i Video.

ABC drama = 780p Film.

The source (video - vs- film) the Standard (1080i - vs 720p) your TV (720p -vs- 1080i) and the conversion (TV or STB) all influence how different those two programs would look.

You can't fight it - just lay back and enjoy it.

 

[jcrash]

Mind saying which antenna you are using?

 

[CodeEcks]

Channel Master 4228

 

[CodeEcks]

Given the degree readings above where should I aim my antenna?

maybe 230 degrees?????

 

[Dolfo]

Clarke is correct - with HD STB, if you are getting a picture, it is the best picture you're gonna get and is what is being broadcast. Moving the antenna isn't going to improve the picture, though could improve dropouts if you're getting those. It isn't like the old analog OTA antennae where, if the picture sucks, you can just tweak the antenna a little and it might get better. Digital is either on or off with no gradient between the two.

 

[gmshoemaker]

Quote:

Originally posted by CodeEcks Given the degree readings above where should I aim my antenna? maybe 230 degrees?????

A 7 degree spread. Wow! I wish.


As others have said, you have it "locked on" or you "have drop outs". The variance in picture quality is not antenna related.


The CM4228 isn't that directional. Try 230 degrees. If you still get dropouts on one or more channels, try the amplifier and see what that does for you. If you still have drop outs, you might try pointing it at the channel with drop outs (w and w/o the amp).


Pretty cool, you are getting Channel 10 on a UHF antenna. I get Channel 8 on my CM4228.


Gary

 

[arxaw]

It's not unusual to get highband VHF (channels 7-13) with a 4228 or 4221 bowtie UHF antenna.

 

[John Mason]

Besides quality differences between HD programming, keep in mind that some digital stations may not be transmitting full HDTV, only upconverted 1080i or 720p, or even upconverted 480i (Fox stations). Other than Fox (not HDTV), they haven't acquired all the needed hardware yet. Upconverted signals usually originate in the 480-line format and can be stretched, optically zoomed, and otherwise manipulated to simulate HDTV. -- John