Quote:
Originally Posted by teleview
The DB4e is designed to receive the UHF band channels 14 thru 51.
The DB4e Is Not Designed to receive the VHF high band channels.
|
The one on my roof is consistently receiving a 2Edge VHF 8 and 10 from 20 miles out, 90 degrees off axis. ADTech also indicated they saw similar behavior in field tests, just not something they are going to advertise. Yes, everyone's mileage may vary, but as I noted, failing that, a $20 add on (all necessary cables and joiner included) will resolve it. Even with that, you still come out cheaper than the Winegard. All of Cheeva's reasonable VHF channels are LOS and have enough power to be pulled with the dipole if not the base DB4e.
Even after accounting for the dBd/dBi normalization between the 6P and DB4e, the UHF gain between the two is comparable. The DB4e, however, has a much wider beam, which is well-suited to his Southern spread.
Something you're not considering is the practical aspect of getting it and keeping it installed. You're sending Cheeva up a ladder and onto the roof with a 10 pound, 10 foot long package with the Winegard versus a 4 pound, 3 foot long package with the DB4e (not to mention that when extended the Winegard is like a giant spiny crustacean). Maybe you can handle the Winegard on the roof with your eyes closed, but it's a pretty good guess that people posting for help in this forum are not going to be all that adept wielding that kind of object on the ladder or roof.
Likewise, once it's on the mast, you've got more than twice the weight on the end of the pole, and much of that weight is away from the center of the mast instead of directly on the mast like a bay antenna. Again, an experienced installer can compensate for the mass and wind loading, but that's not who's asking questions here.
I've done both the Winegard and DB4e. For my money, the DB4e is cheaper, just as effective, and much easier to install. It also wins aesthetically; most people don't even notice it on the roof. As an added bonus, birds won't perch on the DB4e and make a mess of my roof, either.