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UHF Antennas & Such(LONG)

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In Reply to: RE: UHF Antennas posted by mnilan on February 05, 2010 at 05:56:54

When digital television started our main TV (40" Mitisubishi) was on cable, $85 @ month. We lost cable for a couple of days because of a problem somewhere on the cable between our home and the cable company. So I borrowed an older 4-bay bowtie UHF antenna and RCA DTA800B converter from my son which I had to return later. I had a few 2-bay bowtie antennas but reception with them was not very good in our living room with the RCA Converter. Although I am using a 2-bay sucessfully with a new 19" Digital LCD TV in another room. I decided to drop cable and save money. I researched and decided to buy a Channel Master CM7000 Converter Box. It Outperformed the RCA box, Better reception, plus Better picture (S-Video output) and Better Guide to what's on TV. Then I had to buy a new UHF (all our digital channels are on UHF) antenna. I researched the internet and bought a Antenna Systems DB8 8-bay thinking it would outperform the older 4-bay. Wrong, it did not perform as well, even though it was mounted in the same location. It had smaller elements than the older 4-bay. So then I ordered a Winegard HD8800 8-bay. It performed worse on all the channels than the DB8. While the 2 new antennas are both very good performers, it bothers me that the older antenna performed better. I'm using the DB8 right now but would like something better. Plus I have the HD8800 which I don't need.

Follow Ups:

RE: UHF Antennas & Such(LONG) - Rod H. 07:31:16 02/09/10 (1)
We live in a very bad reception area, with hills between the towers and our location. I bought a DB-4. Considering the hills, it works pretty fair. I wondered if I should have bought a DB-8, but it sounds like I wouldn't have gained anything based on your experiences.

Since I bought my DB-4, two other neighbors have bought the exact same unit, which I thought was pretty funny.
- DB4/DB8 - cyclone 08:43:08 02/09/10 (0)
  Well I would think that the DB8 would be better than the DB4 but the 4-bay that I used for a while was an older "Catwhisker" brand which has longer active wires on the front and a larger reflector assy on the rear and is no longer sold.
RE: UHF Antennas & Such(LONG) - Ben Van Dyk 10:58:43 02/05/10 (2)
I need to read up on the channel master.I would like to have a guide on free tv.is the guide free
mch dvd-a mch sacd & blu-ray concerts rule.
- Guide - cyclone 11:15:39 02/05/10 (1)
  The guide is free and it covers maybe up to a day's programming, I'm not sure though. The guide only covers the channel that the converter is on. For instance, if you are watching 9.1, you hit the guide button and it lists the programs on 9.1 and when you scan to each program listed, it lists the info for that program. By the way, the remote for the Channel Master only operates the converter, it will not operate the TV.
  - RE: Guide - Ben Van Dyk 12:15:37 02/05/10 (0)
    thanks I tried to find something on ebay for a digital tv guide for the free channels.did not find anything.I only get 20 channels so it would be nice to see whats on the screen.I was looking at channel master lot of different ones listed.
    mch dvd-a mch sacd & blu-ray concerts rule.

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