CM-4228 Problems -- Can U Help?

[2x10]

I live in Apollo, PA approx 23 miles from downtown Pittsburgh.

I installed a CM 4228 on the roof of my 2 story house using 50 ft of RG6 cable mounted with a 10 ft mast. I pointed my antenna in every possible direction from 148 to 280 and I can only receive 4 channels with very minimum abstructions

1. Fox and ABC from Johnstown (analog) channel 8
2. Some Religious channel --- 29
3. CBS HD channel 25 at 75 strength at around 266

I tried with all I had to try and pick-up NBC and Fox which are very close to CBS and have not even gotten a glimmer of a signal.

I did purchase a 25db indoor amplier which did not help

Are there ways of tweeking the 4228 that I am unaware of.

Why Can I receive CBS with an awesome signal strength?

Any info would be greatly appreciated

Joe

 

[snaggerbob]

The 4228 is a uhf antenna. Are the stations you want uhf? Check with Antenna web.

 

[2x10]

All I really want is NBC and Fox -- I even called our local NBC station engineer and she didn't have an answer for me. She states that NBC is just a smidge to the left of CBS ---

I can get CBS rotating my antenna approx 30 degrees from 60 -75 strength but not an ounce of NBC or FOX

 

[Jim5506]

Add a CM 7777 preamplifier to your setup and it will help bring in the Pittsburgh stations.

From looking at antennaweb.org, there must be mountains between you and Pittsburgh - 23 miles needing a fringe antenna with ampifier.

 

[NightHawk]

I would agree with the mast mounted pre-amp. All your stations are at full power so you should have no problem with FOX 43 or NBC 48. Your ABC affiliate is in Altoona on 24

 

[2x10]

Thanks for the info guys ---- There are a few mountains in between, but it is just baffeling that I can get CBS so well and NBC is just down the street in downtown Pittsburgh and I don't need the Pre-amp for CBS!!!!!

Does anyone know if the antenna HAS to be exactly level with the chimney brackets and the roof or can the antenna be tilted higher in the sky????? This is all new to me!!!!!

 

[dougruss]

Could you Copy and Paste your Results from http://antennaweb.org so that we can figure exactly where/what your stations are?

* just enter your Zip Code at the above Link for the info.

 

[2x10]

WTAE 4 ABC PITTSBURGH PA 220° 23.4 4
blue - uhf WPCB 40 FMN GREENSBURG PA 230° 16.4 40
blue - uhf WCWB 22 WB PITTSBURGH PA 229° 11.8 22
violet - vhf KDKA 2 CBS PITTSBURGH PA 266° 23.9 2
violet - vhf WWCP 8 FOX JOHNSTOWN PA 149° 35.0 8
violet - vhf WPXI 11 NBC PITTSBURGH PA 261° 23.7 11
violet - uhf WKHU-CA 25 IND KITTANNING, ETC PA 21° 17.3 25
violet - uhf WNPA 19 UPN JEANNETTE PA 150° 34.6 19
violet - vhf WQED 13 PBS PITTSBURGH PA 256° 22.2 13
violet - uhf WQEX 16 HSN PITTSBURGH PA 256° 22.2 16
violet - vhf WJAC 6 NBC JOHNSTOWN PA 122° 34.1 6

 

[dougruss]

It was asked in one of the Post above.....are all your Stations in UHF ???

The answer is NO !!

With the results from anntennaweb that you posted, you'll notice that the channels your having trouble receiving are VHF. You won't get those with the antenna your using now. It is only a UHF antenna, as was also posted.

 

[charper1]

Here are a few good selections:

- - - -Brand - Model - Type - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Range V / U

Winegard PR 7010 VHF / UHF/Prostar 1000 (PR7010) 50 / 30 (see also PR7015, PR7032)

Winegard HD7080P VHF / UHF Antenna (HD7080P) 50 / 35 (see also HD7082P)

Channel Master CM 3678 Ultra Hi-Crossfire (CM3678) 60 / 60 (see also CM3679, CM3677)

Channel Master Advantage #3016, 3017, 3018, 3019

 

[2x10]

I do realize that the channels are VHF, buy why can I get channel 8 Fox from Johnstown & CBS HD channel 25 from Pittsburgh with great reception?

 

[Tower Guy]

I live in Apollo, PA approx 23 miles from downtown Pittsburgh.

Any info would be greatly appreciated

Joe

Hi Joe;

Some of the earlier VHF comments are wrong. Your antennaweb results do not show reception of any -DT stations at your location. If you move slightly west to a hill off of Reservoir Road, these are the digital results, all UHF.

* green - uhf WPCB-DT 50.1 FMN GREENSBURG PA 228° 16.0 50
* blue - uhf WPGH-DT 53.1 FOX PITTSBURGH PA 265° 22.6 43
* blue - uhf WPXI-DT 11.1 NBC PITTSBURGH PA 260° 23.1 48
* blue - uhf WTAE-DT 4.1 ABC PITTSBURGH PA 218° 23.1 51
* blue - uhf WQED-DT 13.1 PBS PITTSBURGH PA 255° 21.6 38
* blue - uhf KDKA-DT 2.1 CBS PITTSBURGH PA 266° 23.3 25
* violet - uhf WWCP-DT 8.1 FOX JOHNSTOWN PA 148° 35.4 29
* violet - uhf WCWB-DT 22.1 WB PITTSBURGH PA 265° 22.6 42
* violet - uhf WQEX-DT 16.1 HSN PITTSBURGH PA 255° 21.6 26
* violet - uhf WNPA-DT 49 UPN JEANNETTE PA TBD 255° 21.6 49

The fact that you can get KDKA indicates that your system is working better than antennaweb expects. So, what can you do to improve it even more? The preamp belongs at the back of the antenna, not indoors. If your preamp is an indoor only model, replace it. Next, try different antenna heights, both lower and higher. Yes, you can try tilting the antenna up toward the top of the hill. Good antenna placement information can be found at:

http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/siting.html

 

[2x10]

thanks for the info ----- much appreciated ---- I ordered the CM-7777....