Hi-VHF reception with Antennas Direct VHF Retrofit Kit??

[Canadianeh]

Good afternoon,

Would it be a fruitless effort to try using the AD VHF retrofit kit on a DB4e to attempt to receive the following two High-VHF channels:

Phys. Ch / ID
---------------
12 - CFCF
13 - WVNY

TV Fool report: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...d243ead23d645f

If it helps to know, I can receive 32 - WETK which is located on the same stick, reliably on a crappy 6" antenna that came with my Hauppauge 950Q. I also could receive 21 - CBMT (click Pending Applications to see on TVFool report) with the same antenna, which is located on the same tower as 12 CFCF. Both 12 and 13 are exactly 180 degrees off from each other.

If this is highly unlikely with VHF and my distances and NM, just be honest. I'd like to keep my antenna profiles down to a minimum, but strong enough to pick up the stations reliably.

My alternatives at this point is either the y5-7-13 or the DIY hourglass VHF loop.

Oh, lastly, does anyone know what the gain is using the AD VHF retrofit kit? I'd assume it's not very high :P

Thanks!

[tomfoolery]

Originally Posted by Canadianeh

Oh, lastly, does anyone know what the gain is using the AD VHF retrofit kit? I'd assume it's not very high :P

The data sheet for the C2V shows 3.1 dBi for VHF (216 MHz, the top of channel 13). The C2 (without the 'V') shows no gain down there, though I would think there is a little, at least, even though it's not intended for VHF. FWIW.

[ADTech]

The dipole is approximately unity gain (average) in the high-VHF band.

In theory, that should take you down to a noise margin of near 0. However, practice usually doesn't match theory, usually due to unconsidered factors like interference and higher noise floor in VHF.

The other thing to consider is that the TVFool NM numbers for 1- and 2-edge signals are highly variable as to their accuracy.

I'd try it, but I'd also keep my expectations tempered.

I've used it in a location where TVF said my NM was -1 on a VHF 8 channels, but I do have a few toys that help me overcome some common obstacles.

[Canadianeh]

Thanks, ADTech. I appreciate the feedback.

I may give it a shot - worst case, I'm out $20ish. I think it might work, seeing as the 6" stick antenna that came with the Hauppauge 950Q had no problem pulling in the majority of the higher powered UHF stations. I have a couple pre-amps lying around that I can test with, as well (an older CM-7777 and the RCA TVPRAMP1R), and have a few tuners I can juggle around with, since I use a MediaPortal-based DVR (Hauppauge 2250, 950Q, 1600, and a HDHomerun4). I am also somewhat interested in the ClearStream 5, but there is a little bit of a sticker shock with it's price