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Old 15-Mar-2013, 8:43 PM   #1
Alan909
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"The New DB8e Antenna Question???"

Just wondering how many people have bought and tried the new DB8e antenna and what opinions do you have about...

1. Construction Quality?
2. Reception Tests compared to what type of antenna you replaced it with?
3. How does it work in "Extreme Fringe Areas" either distance, hills, or mountains...?

P.S. Extremely hard to find any reviews on this so hope this site will help...

P.S.S. http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...1dda1cc751877a
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Old 15-Mar-2013, 10:38 PM   #2
GroundUrMast
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A bit of discussion re. the DB8E: http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=13198

I own a DB4E, the build quality is quite solid. Without having the DB8E in hand, I'm inclined to expect performance in the same class as the 91XG, DB8, CM-4228, U8000, HD8800 and HD9095P. The specs suggest it should have the highest gain of all it's peers... the unanswered question is, 'what's the actual harness + combiner loss'. See notes 2 & 3 on page 1 of the manufacturer's published Technical Data Sheet.

Your TVFR is a good example supporting the axiom, 'Reliable reception starts with the selection of the antenna and it's location'. It's clear that you'll need to consider mounting higher if possible. Feel free to post TVFR's for higher antenna elevations... it would be interesting to see conditions at 30', 40', 50' & 60' even if you know you can't go that high.
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Old 15-Mar-2013, 11:29 PM   #3
Alan909
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I do get channels
12.1 NBC
35.1 CBS
24.1 ABC
26.1 IND
50 PBS
and barely 22(66)Fox not to often but that is my goal and possibly more from Buffalo...I am using the Winegard HD7084P combined with the MXU59 with an antenna combiner(2-3ft RG-6 patch cords) and radio shack preamp...RG-6 Coax..pointed at 291 mag. degrees...both antennas(15ft high) are on 2 seperate poles 8 ft apart strictly for test purposes...
Plan of attack is to buy the DB8e mainly for UHF combined with a Y10713 or YA1713 or simular antenna with the AP2870 VHF/UHF Dual Input PreAmp(don't want to fuss with A/B switch)...to eliminate the combiner loss...antennas will be stacked with a Ham Radio Rotor...If this setup works better, I can let my family use my other antennas...here are the reports as requested...
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...1ddad7780653b1
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...1ddaafeb4ed0e3
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...1dda5e15f99875
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...1ddaf250064cf8
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Old 16-Mar-2013, 8:04 AM   #4
GroundUrMast
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You are apparently in a hole or valley with a few hundred feet of ridge line or hill west of your location... getting the antenna high enough to at least start to get out of the shadow of that terrain is key to improved reception.

At 60' AGL your TVFR indicates there is some minor improvements, but not enough to expect dramatic improvement in total reception opportunity. What does 100', 200' and 300' look like? And if good conditions are found, would you in your wildest dreams consider a tower of that size?

Thinking of additional 'extreme measures', would you entertain the notion of a receiver at a hill top location connected via an internet link or long coax run?

Last edited by GroundUrMast; 16-Mar-2013 at 8:08 AM. Reason: extreme measures
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Old 16-Mar-2013, 11:09 AM   #5
Alan909
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I ran all the numbers for my TVFR from 1 ft to 100 and 300 ft.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...1ddafd2b1492e6
and
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...1ddacba01d3309
and
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...1ddaacad08922f

I agree a 60' tower would not make that much differance but the magic number is 300ft...no way in putting a tower of that size in this location...did consider of a hill top reciever with internet link but have to make arrangements with owner of land plus figuring out if financially worth it...to far for coax run, about 1/4 mile from hill top...PLUS, no internet what-so-ever on this road, only by satilite...only 5 homes on this dirt road about a mile long...
Considered in building my own antenna but the Gray Hoverman's does not seem to be enough gain for me...doing research in the Rhombic antenna's at the moment as I do have 5 acres of space to play with long as our cows don't mind, lol...I am hoping to build an antenna of over 20 to 30 db gain(if possible) if I can find the correct information...I have built antenna's before back in my Ham Radio days 25 years ago so I am no stranger in building a big project...
"Bottom line is, just for now to make the wife happy", I am considering either stacking a few or several 91xg's or trying the DB8e...I plan on facing both sides of the DB8e in the same direction at 291 degrees to see what happens...Want to use the best gain antenna's possible from commercially made companies before I start making my own...No, not interested in WADE antenna's...I am assuming the DB8e was not designed to use with a rotor but might try it anyhow to zero in on signal strength...
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Old 16-Mar-2013, 5:42 PM   #6
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Given the hilly terrain and your 5 acres, have you tried moving the marker of the Interactive TV Coverage Browser to various locations on your property to see if there are better locations for an antenna?
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Old 16-Mar-2013, 7:00 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GroundUrMast View Post
Given the hilly terrain and your 5 acres, have you tried moving the marker of the Interactive TV Coverage Browser to various locations on your property to see if there are better locations for an antenna?
No I have not and just how do you do that???
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Old 16-Mar-2013, 7:43 PM   #8
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Open the Interactive TV Maps tool. Enter your address, or at least your ZIP code. When the map loads, put the mouse cursor on the red 'balloon' marker, hold the left mouse button down while moving the balloon to the precise point on the map that you wish to investigate... let go the mouse button to drop the balloon at the desired point. In the upper right corner of the map there are four display options to choose from, the Satellite and Hybrid views are helpful when looking for exact locations on your property.
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Old 17-Mar-2013, 12:04 PM   #9
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Thanks for the info, great feature...No, that did not work out very well either as the 5 acres here is flat land and tried almost every location...From the look of things and my limited options, I should concentrate on getting channel 22(66) Fox that has about a -16.4 NM(db) as I do get channel 50, -10.3 NM(db) at %40(4 bars) steady signal with my currant set-up of antennas...I think the gain with both my antennas is about 13 to 14...
Think it's time to do some math to see what db gain I have now and what I will need to overcome the -16.4 NM(db) to receive at least %40 signal...From the look of things, does not look like the DB8e will work alone for Fox Channel...looks like 2 or more antennas is the only option???
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Old 17-Mar-2013, 1:52 PM   #10
teleview
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Here is a way to install a antenna Higher.

http://www.ronard.com/tree_adjust.html.

Here is a amplifier Booster that is high gain and Ultra Low Noise.

All electric/electronic circuits generate noise , noise has a masking effect on the Tv signal.
Reducing noise means more usable signal.

http://www.kitztech.com.

Use the , KT-200-COAX TV Antenna Booster Remote Power-Coax Fed.

This allows the flexibility to install the Booster Unit closer to the antenna or further away from the antenna.

I recommend use a Channel Master CM4228HD antenna in the tree.

The CM4228HD is high gain on UHF and is also designed to receive VHF.

I corrected the CM model number to CM4228HD.

_________________________

The branches of the - tree/s - must be cut away in a manner that branches can not whip around and beat on the antenna.

And the branches of the tree/s must be cut away in a manner that opens up a big clear path to the transmitters.

If possible the Antenna can installed in a tree that has no other close trees obstructing the view of the transmitters.



The HD7084P will not last long in a tree.

Last edited by teleview; 18-Mar-2013 at 5:31 AM.
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Old 18-Mar-2013, 12:28 AM   #11
Alan909
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Thanks for your input Teleview...Got me sold on the Kitztech PreAmps, definately going to order one, looks like worth every nickel...

I am assuming you meant the CM4228 and not the CM4428???...If so, why do you recommend the CM4228 over the DB8e as the DB8e has plenty more gain??? and it's not much larger in dimensions???...and do you think the CM4228 will bring in channel 22(66) Fox that reads -16NM(db) on my tvfr???

"Maybe I was doing my math wrong but was assuming to pick up a station -16NM(db) I needed at least a 16 dbi antenna..."

I have one direct line to one TV with no splitters and 25ft run
P.S. according to my tvfr, my NM(db) does not change much 60 ft and under, 1/2 to 1 NM(db) if lucky as I have considerd a tree or small tower...
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Old 18-Mar-2013, 3:14 AM   #12
teleview
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Yes it is the CM4228HD 8 bay UHF panel antenna.

The CM4228HD is fair to good at receiving the VHF high band channels of 7 thru 13.

Your location has WICU-TV channel 12 NBC.

_________________________________________

The DB8e is a New antenna and I do not know how well it does on the VHF high band channels.

However , Yes you can use the DB8e antenna.

You might need to add a VHF high band antenna such as a Winegard YA1713 antenna.

And a UVSJ to couple the 2 antenna , DB8e and YA1713 , together.

_________________________________________

Your reception situation is -->Experimental.<--

Your reception situation Requires more then extra effort to get the reception.

A -->Tall<-->Tree , the type and kind of tree that has 1 straight trunk that goes straight Up work the best for a tower to mount a antenna on.

A thicker diameter trunk is better , so that the upper part of the trunk does not sway so much in the wind.

_______________________________________________

Signal Strength 'In The Air' is way more important then any amplifier.

Getting a starting signal strength of -10 NM(dB) or better arriving at the antenna is a good starting place.

Will a tvfool radar plot antenna height of 100 to 125 feet do that at your location??

Looks like 1 of the posted antenna heights of 100 feet has a signal strength of , -6.5 NM(dB) , -6.5 is better the -10 NM(dB).

Thinking in Experimental terms.

And flexibility of thinking.

A straight tree can be used as a Test tower or a Permanent antenna tower.
If you have such trees , then the dollar amount to test or permanent mount antenna/s up high is a low dollar amount.

Falling out of a tree is Real Close To Zero Fun , so do not fall out of a tree.

___________

Here are more options for a permanent tower , Aluminum , Light Weight , Free Standing , No Guy Wires , Lay Over , Towers.

Do all antenna installation and aiming standing on the ground.

http://www.palcoelectronics.com/pe300.aspx.

____________________________

Here is a tall tripod for mounting on a roof , http://www.ronard.com/Tripods%200703/4712.html.

____________________________

Your reception situation is Experimental so all manner of antenna heights and antennas and a Ultra Low Noise Amplifier is your lot in life.

Last edited by teleview; 18-Mar-2013 at 5:46 AM.
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