Channel Master 4228HD Long-Range Outdoor Rooftop HDTV Antenna
by PCT International, Inc.
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Category: CE
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: PCT International, Inc.Model: 4228HD
Product features:
- receives digital and analog UHF and high-band VHF TV signals
- 60 mile range for UHF
- 45 Mile range for VHF
- 75-ohm coax output
- Roof or Attic installations
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Channel Master 4228HD Long-Range Outdoor Rooftop HDTV Antenna
Customer Review: Good antenna, but could be better
Summary: 4 Stars
This antenna is good, but not without its faults. As others have said, there are a few questionable design choices that Channel Master made.
This is an 8-bay "bowtie" antenna. It's in the new style that looks very different from traditional TV antennas. Instead of being a flat horizontal "spiky triangle", these antennas stand vertical, and are a rectangle. There's a reflector grid in back, and the elements are in front, shaped like bowties. The reception is great, for UHF. Unfortunately, for VHF, this doesn't work as well. This antenna can pick up high VHF (Channels 7-13). It WILL NOT pick up any low VHF (Channels 2-6) stations at all.
With today's new digital TV stations, the displayed channel number can be DIFFERENT from the actual RF frequency number that it's being broadcast on! Even though the TV says "Channel 2", it probably isn't on VHF anymore. The only way to know is to look it up online, at a site such as "TV Fool dot com" or "Rabbit Ears dot info" or "Antenna Web dot org". (Sorry for the screwy spelling, but Amazon doesn't like putting direct links into reviews.)
Good:
High VHF. The reflector grid area, in the back of the antenna, is all one piece. This means that it's big enough to get the high VHF channels, Channels 7-13, without needing a separate VHF-only antenna. This is an important feature. A competing antenna, the Antennas Direct DB8, has the fatal flaw of having these grids split up into four sections. This means that it can't get high VHF, only UHF, so you'll have no VHF reception. This Channel Master antenna has no such problem. That's the reason I bought this antenna, instead of the DB8! The DB8 is built better, so it's a shame.
Directional. If you can aim it accurately, and keep it aimed, it's great. It is capable of picking up a distant tower that it's aimed at, while at the same time, still getting local stations that are nearby, even though they're not being aimed at. A rotator is not necessary, unless you need to target more than one distant tower.
Bad:
Connector placement. The balun box (the little black box that you connect the TV cable into) is very cheap, fragile, and the connector inside it easily breaks. Be very careful with it! It's too easy to overtighten it, and this will strip the connection and damage the antenna. Not only is the box very cheap, but it's placed in the wrong place. The reception is hurt, because this box isn't lined up properly. I don't know much about the details, but you can read about this major problem on other sites, just Google for "4288HD balun length". It's a nasty design flaw, one that Channel Master should have caught beforehand.
Mast gripper. A large antenna like this, is like a sail that blows in the wind! Channel Master's grips to the mast are not very solid. Even when tightening them as tight as they will go without stripping, it's still not a very strong grip. Even if the mast itself is mounted securely against rotation, it won't help, because this antenna will rotate itself around your mast. Antennas Direct uses a superior "gripper teeth" solution, that digs itself into your mast like a rabid dog and won't let go! Much better. It's a shame Channel Master can't also use "gripper teeth".
So, even though it has flaws, this is probably still one of the best antennas you can get. There isn't much work being invested into the design of TV antennas these days, unfortunately, as the market seems to be switching to satellite or cable.
Description of Channel Master 4228HD Long-Range Outdoor Rooftop HDTV Antenna
Channel Master's 4228HD antenna can receive digital and analog over-the-air TV signals in the UHF band and high VHF band. The 4228HD is optimized for "deep-fringe" reception of HDTV and receives digital and analog UHF and high-band VHF TV signals; range is 60 miles for UHF (ch. 14-69), 45 miles for VHF (ch. 7-13); 8-bay bowtie dipole design; 41"W x 5-1/2"D x 33"H.Digital Cameras & Photo Categories
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