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Old 22-Aug-2011, 1:48 AM   #1
homey
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Reception Issue Cm-4221

Here is my tv fool report:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...9e74cdd5b98098

I currently have a CM-4221 pointed at Fort Wayne (about 30 miles away) while most stations are Ok 39.1 comes in about 60%. Some of the South Bend stations come in also in various strengths. What can I do to improve reception. Should I get a pre-amp? I currently have one coupling and about 35 feet of cable. I thought a CM-4228 may help but see its net gain is not much better for the higher channels. I can add an eave mount to my home which would get me about 25 feet height if that would help. I would be willing to upgrade also to a 91xg if that would solve the issue. It would be nice to get both South Bend and Fort Wayne but not a necessity. The problem is that my DTVPAL converter box picks up the weak stations at night and adds them to the EPG. When you go to watch them during the day they are gone!

Any help would be appreciated.
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Old 22-Aug-2011, 4:32 AM   #2
GroundUrMast
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I am always leery of coax that has been spliced or pieced together. If there is any chance that the connectors have been exposed to the weather, a factory assembled 50' coax is an inexpensive 'test tool' worth the money to verify a good link between the antenn and tuner.

A preamp could help, depending on the noise figure of the tuner in the DTVPAL. I'd suggest the Antennas Direct CPA-19 for it's resistance to overload and low noise figure.

While I can't pin-point your exact address, I can see from the path profile (click on the call sign of the TV station, WFWA, on your TV Fool report) that just a little increase in antenna mounting height may provide significant improvement in available signal.

If I were to go to some extreme, I might consider two antennas and two DTVPAL's... but before you go to such extremes, I can whole heatedly agree with trying your existing CM4221 mounted at 25' AGL.

Just for grins, can you post your TVFR based on an AGL of 25'? If you can consider a roof mount tripod and a 5' or 10' mast, a TVFR based on that antenna AGL would also be informative.
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Last edited by GroundUrMast; 22-Aug-2011 at 4:41 AM.
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Old 22-Aug-2011, 5:37 AM   #3
John Candle
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Tv Antennas and Reception

A very easy reception situation. I recommend a Antenna Craft U8000 aimed at 121 degree magnetic compass. Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html. The U8000 will require modification to receive 2 directions. Remove the reflector rods by drilling out the rivets that hold the metal clips that hold the reflector rods in place. Now the , >< , shaped metal reception elements will receive at the front of the antenna and back of the antenna. Here is a strong and sturdy eave mount , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , Here are places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.amazon.com , http://www.starkelectronic.com , http://www.3starinc.com. So that I can recommend the correct amplifier , how many Tv's are/will be connected??

Last edited by John Candle; 23-Mar-2012 at 6:49 PM.
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Old 22-Aug-2011, 5:44 AM   #4
John Candle
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Tv Antennas and Reception

I also recommend new RG-6U / RG-6 coax cable and a new matching transformer that connects the coax to the antenna.

Last edited by John Candle; 23-Mar-2012 at 6:50 PM.
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Old 22-Aug-2011, 5:53 AM   #5
John Candle
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Tv Antennas and Reception

YES the U8000 will receive the stations from both directions very well. So that I can recommend the correct amplifier , how many Tv's are/will be connected.
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Old 22-Aug-2011, 6:13 AM   #6
John Candle
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Tv Antennas and Reception

By Googling the Tv stations call signs like this , wcww tv , I found that wcww tv is The CW and This Tv , wbnd tv is ABC and Me TV , w38ea is Religion. Here are some but not all free tv guides , http://www.zap2it.com , http://television.aol.com , http://www.titantv.com , http://www.tvzap.com , http://tv.yahoo.com , http://tv.entertainment.excite.com . So that I can recommend the correct amplifier , how many Tv's are/will be connected??

Last edited by John Candle; 22-Aug-2011 at 7:58 AM.
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Old 22-Aug-2011, 10:43 AM   #7
homey
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http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...9e7434f9152c37

Right now only oine tv is hooked up. Someday may hook up a second but no big deal for now.
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Old 22-Aug-2011, 4:26 PM   #8
GroundUrMast
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Moving the antenna up to 25' AGL would significantly improve the signal strength. Currently, WFWA-PBS, real channel 40 arrives at a predicted NM of 17.9 dB. At 25' AGL that improves to 25.3 dB. An improvement of 7 and a half dB is worth the effort.

I would make mounting at 25' the number one priority.

You are on the edge regarding an amplifier. If money is tight, I would understand taking this one step at a time. Personally, I'd spring for a CPA-19 and be done with that part of the project.

I would hold off spending money on a new antenna, the added elevation will buy much more, I would replace the antenna as a last resort.
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Last edited by GroundUrMast; 22-Aug-2011 at 8:51 PM.
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Old 24-Aug-2011, 1:35 AM   #9
homey
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Thank you both for the replies. i am away for a training but will be buying 50 feet of coax and a mount to report my before and after readings!
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Old 24-Sep-2011, 4:02 PM   #10
homey
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I haven't been the the cottage much but do have news. I went to Menards and bought a 5' mast to add to the existing pole it was mounted on. I thought this would give me the same height as an eave mount. I wanted to make sure what type of reception I would get prior to mounting it permanently. I also bought an cheap RCA preamp (TVPRAMP) which Menards had also. Went from 60% to 80% plus on channel 39. I am closing cottage soon but will install the eave mount in the spring. Thank You for all the help!
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