[horseflesh]

I live in Kirkland, which is east of Seattle. I am on a small hill, and with my Silver Sensor I get adequate reception of most of the local digital stations. I have two that are kind of marginal though... I get dropouts and freezes sometimes, and if the Silver Sensor gets looked at funny the reception really gets bad. To watch the Enterprise premiere in HD I had to sit very still on the couch, and I finessed the antenna by putting a drink coaster under one edge of the base. I hate monkeying with the antenna!


One of these marginal stations (UPN) is going to up its power soon, but our Fox affiliate will probably remain borderline. I'd like to get all my stations locked in really good, so I think I need some more gain.


Luckily the TV is on an exterior wall--and just on the other side is my second story deck, which faces the right direction, and my elevation is good. Because of this I could install an outdoor antenna relatively easily. All my transmitters are within about a 30-35 deg arc, which is also good.


The way I see it I have a few options... I would appreciate your thoughts.


1. Move the SS outside. It's not really made for it, but others have reported getting away with it. How much would this help? I'd just be getting rid of one wall -- it isn't looking through my whole house right now so it is probably already working pretty well.


2. Get a better antenna like the Square Shooter and hide it behind the TV. But the SqSh is expensive.


3. Get a better inexpensive antenna like the CM 4221 and put it outside.


4. Get a preamp for the Silver Sensor.


I'm not really sure which way to go next... Cheap and easy are obviously nice, but mounting a better antenna outside is not a huge job with the way my house is laid out. I could bolt a CM antenna to my deck railing or chiminey easily enough... but I haven't been able to find gain patterns for them so I am not even sure if they are what I need.


[Edit: Found the gain info! http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/comparing.html ]


Thanks!

 

[AcuraCL]

Here are some gain charts.

http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/comparing.html


I'd go for the 4221 on the deck next. If you have to do a long cable run, only then would it make sense to add the preamp.

 

[horseflesh]

Fortunately the cable run would be very short (as such things go). Maybe 15'.


Thanks!

 

[Joxer]

I'd recommend upgrading to a CM4221 in the back, I got considerably superior results compared to an indoor Silver Sensor.

 

[AcuraCL]

Agreed. Though actually, on those gain charts, I like the Winegard 4-bay ... much flatter across the UHF spectrum. Though it costs like twice as much. The 4221/3021 has to be one of the best values in antennas out there ....

 

[linetest]

Couldn't you just add an amp to the Silver Sensor?

 

[AcuraCL]

You could but that probably wouldn't help with dropouts and freezes. Remember this is a digital signal. If there are dropouts, it's because not all of the digital signal is being received, not that it isn't strong enough. So an antenna with more metal to gather more signal is likely to give him those two problem stations more than making a crummy signal louder.


Does that make sense?

 

[arxaw]

I vote for the CM4221, especially if the coax run is short and simple.
http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/4221.htm


.... about $33 shipped and on your doorstep in 3 days.

 

[horseflesh]

Thanks everyone!

 

[Mikef5]

I'm looking for an antenna to receive signals from San Francisco to San Jose Ca.

What would be a good antenna for that distance ??? Thanks.

 

[AcuraCL]

Mike you might get some better responses if you locate the SF/SJ thread in the Local Reception forum.


Most of us wouldn't know the area enough to make a good recommendation.


I know you have some hills and mountains out there, that can seriously affect reception.

 

[UMDMatt]

I ordered a 4221 from Solid Signal this morning, $32.44 shipped. It will be going in a second story attic. I'm about 10-13 miles from the towers (roughly 10 degree spread) and the terrain in SE Michigan is flat. I will report my results once I get my 34XS955.

 

[arxaw]

Mike,

Find your local thread here:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...hreadid=396845

 

[arxaw]

The CM 4221 should work well for you. It will usuallly pick up stations up to ~60° apart.


Aim it in the "middle" of the towers, according to the street level map of digital stations for your address at:
http://www.antennaweb.org

 

[Philip Hamm]

I have two 4221As connected to a mechanical switch and I love them!

 

[loadams]

Try a 10db amp with power injector from Radio Shack.


I have a SS, have a low power station 9 miles away. Without the amp, no signal at all, with the amp, 65% and no dropouts. If it doesn't work, take it back.


The 4221 is the next step, great antenna from what I've read.