Considering the DB8
 

Hi, I've been doing a bunch of reading and right now the DB8 seems like the best antenna for me. Here's my tvfool report:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...d243b94cf24825

I hope to get a few of the stations south of me with low NM, in the neighbourhood of -8 to -2 dB. Dare to dream.

I like the DB8 for it's wide angle and high gain (for it's price and size). I have two questions.

1) Is it ridiculous to hope I will see stations with such low NM? The DB8 looks like it has around 12 dB of gain at ch 33, which shows -9 dB NM on my report.

2) Is the following link outdated? Not sure if the problems with the balun outlined here have been fixed.

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

Cheers,

c.

It is unlikely you will pick up KWPX since CKVU operates on the same channel in your back yard. Similarly, KWDK has an adjacent channel, also in your back yard.

The DB8 has what I consider to be a very narrow beamwidth and must be very accurately aimed when dealing with very weak signals.

Thanks very much for the reply, you make good sense. I hadn't noticed the co channel situation. Now my best choice looks like the C2V.

I figure I'll stop trying to get the far away stations to the south (from Seattle)...except for Fox, which shows around -3 dB NM on channel 13, so maybe the C2V would be able to get that. Wider beamwidth on the C2V as well. Any feedback or tips would be appreciated.

One last question. When I'm generating reports I'm getting a better NM value for ch 13 with a lower height setting. How come? Does this have to do with reflections or edging...or am I misunderstanding the negative NM values.

Here are the reports for reference:

At 10 ft, ch 13 shows -0.7 dB NM

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...d243a5ccaa1c83

At 25 ft, ch 13 shows -3.1

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...d2436b56a372e0

Thanks again, c.

The Seattle stations are almost 120 miles away over water. Expecting to receive them reliably 24/7/365 in Vancouver is not realistic unless you are prepared to incorporate extreme and extraordinary measures. Even then, perhaps, perhaps not.

VHF 13 might be receivable semi-reliably with perhaps a pair of 10-element high-VHF Yagi antennas in an array along with a carefully selected pre-amp. Your reception would still be at the mercy of the atmospheric propagation conditions over the Sound which will vary with the time of day, localized weather, and seasonal factors. I would not expect it to be seen, except very sporadically, by the unity gain dipole on the C2V. One factor not included in the TVFool calculations is the elevated noise floor in the VHF band, especially in urban and suburban locations, which usually requires more signal power so as to achieve the required SNR needed for digital reception.

My purpose isn't to dissuade you (I tend to be very conservative on my estimates) but to give you a realistic sense of what might be done with sufficient motivation and resources. There is an active forum over at digitalhome.ca that will address your local area. I'd suggest lurking there for a bit and then ask others in your area what they've done that has worked or not.

Thanks very much for the level headed direction, it's sincerely appreciated. I've found the forums on digitalhome.ca full of great info. Wish me luck! c.

FOX just bought KBCB and will be switching affiliations to FOX. You'll get that fine.