Terk HDTVa Indoor Amplified High Definition Antenna for Off Air HDTV Reception
May 11, 2009 by admin
Filed under Electronics
Terk HDTVa Indoor Amplified High Definition Antenna for Off Air HDTV Reception
Have you just bought a widescreen HDTV compatible TV? There are a few options on how to get any or good HDTV reception. Cable-TV and Satellite might be the best but the monthly rates are over $40 each month. HDTV is also available free over broadcast airwaves. This is an indoor antenna that’s designed to capture HDTV from normal VHF and UHF TV tuner frequencies. Provides access to no-cost HD programming Excellent for urban environments where space is at a premium and outdoor antenna installation isn’t possible Appealing design with small footprint Anyone can install HDTVa in minutes
User Ratings and Reviews
3 Stars Close but no cigar
This antenna was well made, but the track underneath the base wouldn’t hold the cord in and made the antenna wobbly. It did just okay at receiving programs, but not any better than my 10+ year old Jensen 930. I returned it after 12 days and got a full refund the next day after Amazon received it.
2 Stars HD clarity is awesome, but no better than $14 rabbit ears
I bought a new flatscreen and two friends told me about free HD channels. I didn’t really get what they were talking about, but one insisted that I specifically needed an HDTV antenna. The other claimed that it was all marketing and regular rabbit ears would do the trick. I’ll cut to the punchline, rabbit ears work exactly the same as this fancier, more expensive Terk HDTVa antenna.
Specifics:
* I live on Capital Hill in Seattle, WA
* I’ve a Panasonic 780p 42″ TV
* the TV scans for digital channels once the antenna is hooked up
* I tried the Terk HDTVa first, it worked great
* Next I tried the $14 Terk TV-1 passive TV antenna, it worked exactly the same
* I believe I get around 25 free digital channels – things like ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, religous channels, PBS, Hispanic channels — these are numbered like 4-1, 5-1, 9-1, 9-2, 9-3
If you don’t do the digital scan thing (it’s a setting in the menu of the TV) then you won’t see the glory of digital TV. It’s basically regular TV with a better-than-cable picture. And there are all sorts of extra channels out there (PBS has about 3 or 4 channels) of stuff you can’t see with regular TV. I don’t watch TV much, but it’s good for Thanksgiving football and for the days you have the flu and need to tune in and tune out. Mostly I was intrigued with whether the HDTV antenna stuff was marketing or truth. After this a/b test it appears to be pure marketing.
Added benefit – the HDTV antennas are techie looking. I suppose “cool” by some male standards but I personally love the simplicity of the rabbit ears, which are hidden behind the profile of my TV so you never see them. Oh – and no need for the funny looking round wire thingy they send with this unit. That’s for UHF and that is caveman stuff at this point.
I recommend you try:
Terk Technology TV-1 Passive Indoor TV Antenna
… or just hook up your current antenna, have your TV scan for digital channels (it’s got to be a new TV for this feature) and see what you get. Okay, I’ve spent way too much time thinking and typing about a TV signal I will rarely use. See you at the movies!
5 Stars Great product
I am loving this antenna! I had no idea my old analog set could produce such a great picture. With this antenna and my converter box, I no longer have any desire for cable or a new TV. What a great investment!
4 Stars Terk HDTVa antenna
Although the antenna did not work for my system (perhaps bad reception). I found the customer service with Buy.com very easy to work with. They refunded my money and supplied a shipping label for the return. I just the reception was better in my area for this product to work. Thanks again for the great customer service.
5 Stars Finally an antenna that works!
We live in the outskirts, 25-30 miles from the local towers. This is the 4th amplified indoor antenna I’ve tried and this one pulls in all the HD stations I want. There is only one that this one doesn’t pick up that my roof mount does get. I am very pleased with my purchase.
Samsung DTBH260F HDTV Terrestrial Receiver
December 21, 2008 by admin
Filed under Electronics
Samsung DTBH260F HDTV Terrestrial Receiver
Is your TV ready to receive digital TV broadcasts? If it was made before 2004, chances are it doesn’t have an ATSC digital tuner. That’s where this TV tuner comes in. Samsung brings you great flexibility for delivering FREE over-the-air digital television signals to a DTVready television or DTV-capable computer monitors. Award-winning Samsung technology easily tunes and decodes all 18 ATSC Table 3 broadcast formats. With the Samsung DTB-H260F, you can view HDTV and SDTV. You can listen to Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo or Dolby Digital 5.1 surround audio through your audio system (5.1 surround sound is encoded in ATSC HDTV broadcasts). Samsung solves output worries with a wide selection of output options including 1080i, 720p or 480p/i DTV formats, and connection options including HDMI – Component Video – Composite – Audio-Right/Left, Dolby Digital Optical. Attractive styling and affordable pricing make the Samsung DTB-H260F a perfect solution for upgrading your TV to receive DTV. High-gloss, stylish design Remote control Parent control Time zone setting Intuitive signal strength indicator Plug & play for easy setting Intuitive & iconic menu Advanced electronic program guide Mini guide with transparency Full guide with all information Channel info management Unit Dimensions – 10.64 x 1.58 x 7.88 / Weight – 3.3 lbs Note – Free HDTV broadcasts require this tuner and an extra HDTV antenna. Antenna is not included in the price of this tuner.
User Ratings and Reviews
1 Star Only good for HDMI TV inputs
I need to supplement the analog tuners in my DVRs. This unit is useless for anything that does not have a RGB or HDMI input. The sound quality using analog connections is awful, too. The unit produces a loud buzz on the audio channels that makes hearing any sounds practically impossible.
You cannot use this unit on an analog-only TV or a VCR or DVR with analog-only inputs. I tried every connection on the back of the box & could not get a picture through my recorder. The RGB component connection worked only on my TV, but I don’t need it there.
It also nearly fried my DVRs tuner using the antenna output. After I tried connecting it, the DVR would only receive channel 4 & I could not change the channel through either the remote or the unit’s control panel. I had to completely reset the unit & run factory setup again to get it working.
This turned out to be a very expensive fiasco for me.
The manual leaves out a lot of instructions on how to set the unit up and does not make a point of telling the consumer that it only works on the digital outputs even though the analog connections are available on the back of the set.
Anyone who needs a tuner for an older TV with analog inputs or who wants to use it for a VCR/DVR, don’t buy this.
A simple $40 to $80 converter box is more useful at 1/2 to 1/4 the price.
4 Stars Great HDTV Receiver with HDMI
I being using this product for a while now and I just love it. Has all the features you could want. Picture looks great channel info., clock etc. I only have two complaints that really are not that bad. It takes a while to power up, but if you leave on I guess no problem there and second if your favorite channel on intial scan was missed even if you enter manually it still doesnt recognized it. Love the organized and edit, I still dont regret buying it.
2 Stars Dissapointed…
EXPECTATION: A full featured TV tuner to be used with a HD monitor.
REALITY: A glorified DTV tuner, much like the $50 units offered with the exception of an HDMI, Toslink & RGB output.
PROS: It provides a quality video output.
CONS: Weak line level audio output performance, WIll not receive SD cable broadcast, Very slow startup, Only controlled from the remote, Weak menus for channel setup & very slow channel learning.
This product did not do what I expected nor does it preform well. In particular, the line level audio output is not very good at all. Compared to my Samsung LCD, the line level audio output to a known good audio system seems flat sounding.
The bigger disappointment is it does not include a SD receiver. I’d planned to use this tuner to connect my 42″ monitor to my local cable service for the basic cable services I receive. I was disappointed to find It will only receive the clear QAM channels Comcast offers (not very many here) and non of the standard broadcast provided by Comcast. The results is I really don’t receive much more than I would over the air locally and what I get through the cable does not include any programing info (thanks Comcast).
I also don’t like the idea of only being able to control it from the remote. with out the remote it becomes a paper weight and is rendered useless. The menus and channel setup is also very annoying. you can not add channels without first going through the very low learning of all the channels within range. (not a very good design that seems to run throughout the Samsung product line)
Lastly, it takes a while to boot up every time I turn it on. it’s a little anoying because it’s in a location that I can’t see the power light. Often times I end up hitting the power button on the remote several times not knowing if it’s booting up or not. Seems a little odd it takes up to 5 seconds before any audio or video output comes from it.
I plan to eventually use the Toslink output with the hopes of better audio performance. It’s an ok performer but not at all what I expected.
Although the selection of digital tuners are very small, If I knew what I know now, I don’t think I would have purchased this unit.
1 Star Died after a year of very little use.
Product worked okay until it just gave out after a little over a year. What a waste of money.
4 Stars So far so good
Having bought a Sony HD ready TV circa 2002 from Craigslist I wasn’t too surprised to find that it didn’t include an actual HD tuner. This little box does the trick, allowing me to use a set-top terrestrial antenna ($30 from Radioshack) to receive beautiful HD television on all 4 major networks, Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) as well as a few wierdo channels. It’s a breeze to setup, includes a component video cable, optical audio out for true surround sound with a receiver, and easy to follow instructions. Probably a bit overpriced, though it’s a pretty small market. The onscreen controls aren’t very well thought out and don’t provide as much customization as you might want, but the “Signal Strength” feature is great for helping to position your antenna.
Overall I’m very happy with this product.
Philips PHDTV1 Silver Sensor UHF HDTV Digital Indoor TV Antenna
December 21, 2008 by admin
Filed under Electronics
Philips PHDTV1 Silver Sensor UHF HDTV Digital Indoor TV Antenna
Whether in homes, factories, offices, airports, or on the street, it’s hard to imagine a place where Philips is absent. What Philips wants is to make your life and work easier – and more fun! And Philips continuously explores new ways to improve products and to offer innovative products to its consumers. Philips. “Let’s Make Things Better”.
User Ratings and Reviews
1 Star Poor antenna
I wanted an indoor antenna for my new HD TV so save the cost of cable. I hooked up the Philips PHDTV1 Indoor antenna to the ANT input and tried every location inside my 3rd floor apartment. I even got a long coaxial cable and tried it outside on my balcony, but still only a very fuzzy picture. I could get nothing resembling a watchable picture. I will let a friend try it and if it doesn’t work for them, I will have to return it.
4 Stars Pretty good performance where I live
This antenna, while rather cheap looking, works better where I live than the more expensive and nicer-looking RCA ANT1500. Because the signals cover a wide frequency range and come from different directions, no antenna is going to work best for everyone. You may get lucky on the first try, or you may need some trial and error.
5 Stars OK
It seems to me that receiving digital TV is more sensitive to direction than analogue reception.
I’m using this antenna at my side with a longer insulated cable. Then, when reception seems wanting, I have the antenna at my side to make critical adjustments.
2 Stars Will end up in the trash…
I’m unable to receive one major network (NBC) and only receive PBS 1 & 2 intermittently. I live near the center of a major metropolitan area and I’ve spent much time adjusting the direction of the antennae trying to receive better reception to no avail. I’ve ordered an Antennas Direct DB2 Multi Directional HDTV Antenna today and expect much better performance.
5 Stars Best TV-top antenna I’ve ever had
If this antenna doesn’t work well for you, then you’re just too far from the broadcasting sources for any TV-top antenna. The PHDTV1 (Silver Sensor) is certainly the best antenna for the money (around $20) and probably the best period. Seriously, if it doesn’t pull in lots of stations for you, then just get cable or satellite, ’cause game over, man, game over.
Antennas Direct DB8 Multi Directional HDTV Antenna
December 17, 2008 by admin
Filed under Electronics
Antennas Direct DB8 Multi Directional HDTV Antenna
Intended for people at great distances from the transmitters, the DB8 is a powerful multi-directional HD antenna. In fact, its 15.8dB gain make it one of the most powerful multi-directional antennas available.The bow tie design of the DB8 uses triangular elements instead of rods to greatly increase the bandwidth allowing it to cover the entire UHF band. Additionally, the mesh reflector of the bow tie is more efficient than a rod reflector, is lower in weight, and provides less wind resistance for greater performance and durability.This DB8 is the ideal antenna for use in locations that can pull long range signals from various directions and offers an attractive alternative to using a directional antenna mounted on a rotator.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Antenna
I am pleased with the antenna and it works well considering the great distance to the towers which is nearly 70 miles away. Several weaker stations do not pull in the signal as well. Overall I am pleased.
5 Stars Nice HD Antenna/Reasonable price
We we’re pleasantly surprised at the quality of this item. It installed quickly and works quite well.
4 Stars digital TV antenna review
I received the antenna really quickly. My only complaint….the instructions were pretty vague….didn’t even tell which side of the antenna was the “front”. Otherwise—once I “played” with it, I decided it works pretty well. Where I used to get 3 analog channels, now I get 14 digital ones.
Tom
5 Stars 4 different compass points!
We live approximately 50 miles from all of our transmitters and they are located at 4 different compass points, so we chose this antenna. Go to the Antennas Direct website for complete info on the specs of this antenna. It states it’s optimized for the DTV frequencies, also it has high VHF performance which is completely true, we know first hand! After first installing it at roof level, we weren’t that satisfied with the reception. We are in somewhat hilly terrain. We then procured a 15′ antenna pole, raised our antenna up and viola, we were able to pick up all the promised channels from 4 diff points without having to resort to a directional antenna with a rotor. IMPORTANT: We have an older t.v. set and a few channels were snowy. We thought we needed a booster or amp, but what we found out (after buying several and returning them) was that all we really needed was the digital converter box. Now all of our channels are crystal clear! We are now receiving channels our cable company doesn’t offer (like four different PBS channels) Try to go digital before getting an amp. Most all of the channels are already broadcasting in digital. Also, this antenna is picking up our vhf stations very well. We are getting channels 4, 9, 11, 16, 25 and 38. (from 55, 92, 172, 181 degress!) Welcome to the world of FREE t.v.! We went with the J.C.C. Electronics vendor because they had great feedback reports, and we were very happy with the super fast shipping!
5 Stars Antennas Direct DB8 Multi Directional HDTV Antenna
Antennas Direct DB8 Multi Directional HDTV Antenna
An excellent product choice for medium to long range (30-60+ miles) reception of quality HDtv signals. Relatively easy to assemble, good sensitivity to signal strength optomization and a good ‘Antennas Direct’ return policy and practice (pay return shipping only). Just the trick for the San Francisco Bay Area reception from Sunnyvale.
Antennas Direct DB2 Multi Directional HDTV Antenna
December 16, 2008 by admin
Filed under Electronics
Antennas Direct DB2 Multi Directional HDTV Antenna
Although the DB2 was originally designed for outdoor use, it has quickly become one of the most popular indoor antennas due to its small size and extraordinary gain. The bowtie design provides strong gain across the entire UHF spectrum and it functions incredibly well in areas where a low profile antenna is required.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Skeptic from MN
I originally had the digital converter box hooked up to an existing indoor tv antenna and had limited reception. After reading other reviews, opted to try the DB2 antenna. I hooked the DB2 directly into our exising cable-ready house system. I removed the indoor antenna, hooked up the digital converter to the existing coaxial system and got instant reception. The antenna is mounted on the deck. Needless to say, we have extra channels without having to buy cable or satellite. The cost was minimal and my family is impressed with the results.
5 Stars Best Indoor Antenna
This is the best indoor antenna I have found to date. Solidly outperforming my Silver Sensor and others that I have tried.
Here’s a quick tip… Grab yourself a Musicians Gear Low Profile Tripod Base Mic Stand from that Guitar place (roughly $10). Fully extend the mic stand and mount your DB2 on the top. Voila … you can now set your antenna on a bookshelf, entertainment center, top shelf of a closet, etc and easily turn it back and forth. Enjoy!
5 Stars Reception in my basement when no other antenna worked
This antenna has worked in my basement when no other antenna would. I live equally 30 miles between two major TV markets and I can pick-up stations from both cities in my basement. Ultimately, I moved this antenna outdoors and I receive 90-95% reception strength for the signals that I have pointed my antenna at and 70-80% reception stength from the signals that my attenna is not facing.
This is intended to be an ourdoor antenna but the size is small enough to hide behind a TV or entertainment console with little trouble.
I highly recommend this antenna!
5 Stars Excellent OTA HD Antenna
Had this attenna for about 6 months now and all I can say is that it works great. Best exterior HD attenna out there.
5 Stars this thing works!
I decided to switch over to digital. I was skeptical but I can now watch 20+ HDTV stations using this indoors in the corner on the floor behind the HDTV. You dont have to reposition it when you change channels like some highly directional antennas. My neighbor saw it and bought one and dropped cable. This is the 4th and final antenna for me.
