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I also recommended the DB8e because it has the 4 bay bowtie reception panels that be aimed independently.
With a starting aim direction of both panels aim at about 106 degree magnetic compass direction , the panels can be separately aimed more in the directions of the 2 groups of Tv transmitters at 88 degree magnetic compass direction and 126 degree magnetic compass direction.
It is Testing of reception , to get as many channels as possible.
Also both panels can be aimed at one or the other groups of Tv stations at 88 and 126 degrees.
It is a Testing of reception to get as many channels as possible.
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Digital Broadcast Tv Tuners can develop - Digital Glitches - that are not cleared out with simple channel scans.
To clear the tuner do a Double Rescan.
http://www.wchastv.com/DoubleReScanAlert.pdf.
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As to the idea that a more powerful amplifier will , 'power through the trees and tree leaves' , this will most likely not happen.
The CM7778 will most likely provide all the the signal amplification that is required.
Over amplifying usually causes problems.
However the best way to find out if a stronger amplifier will help or not is to install the CM7777 and see.
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The antennas job is to receive the signal , bigger antennas receive more signal , smaller antennas receive less signal.
For the most part , a amplifier can not make up for the short comings of a small antenna.
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Tvfool is showing that CIII-DT is transmitted on 3 separate channels.
VHF low band channel 6 , UHF band channels 17 and 41.
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Directional antennas receive the best in the forward direction.
Directional antennas have , Forward Beam Width , so as the antenna is turned , as you have found , the less the reception will be the further off the forward direction direction of the antenna.
Directional antennas will also receive to a lesser degree at back angles and back of the directional antenna.
The least amount of reception is directly on the sides of a directional antenna.
As a Test of reception , you can aim the side of the antenna at Tv stations and see what happens to reception.
As a Test of reception , you can aim the back of the antenna and back angles of the antenna at Tv stations and watch what happens to reception.
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As to Tv antennas modifications.
Tv antennas that receive a Wide Range of Tv channels , multipul channels.
Are a compromise design and must be a compromise design.
As to the modifications of Kin Nist and Tom Ballister , modifications of the CM4228HD to improve UHF reception of some UHF channels.
The modifications also Decrease the reception ability of the VHF high band channel 7 thru 13.
An unmodified CM4228HD antenna has modest reception ability of the VHF high band channels 7 thru 13 that is a little better then a simple dipole antenna.