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10 stars
This is the right HD antenna for me!
by FASST LN on March 1, 2007
Pros: I thought it small, attractive, easy assembly, great reception, and price.
Cons: Could fall over easily (tipsy)
Summary: Keep in mind that in purchasing the antenna my only hope was to get the major 4 channels in HD (ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox). I do not care about ...
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Summary: Keep in mind that in purchasing the antenna my only hope was to get the major 4 channels in HD (ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox). I do not care about analog channels because I have regular satellite that will bring those to me with a better picture than an antenna could deliver.
I bought the Terk antenna last night from Best Buy as well as the Philips Indoor HDTV Antenna (PHDTV1) from Circuit City. I wanted to watch ‘Lost’ on ABC in HD very badly and thus setup the Terk antenna first. I got a reception but it would come and go on occasion but I was amazed at the clarity of the picture for the 95% of the time I had a reception. Even if the signal is week, assuming you have a picture, it is very good (near perfect). It is not like an analog channel with which can be snowy or grainy. You either get the HD channel or you don’t. There is no in-between from my experience.
Hawaii has never looked so beautiful on my Sony SXRD 50A2000 1080p TV!! I read my TV owner’s manual and figured out how to determine what the signal strength was for each channel I was getting. Initially, when I was watching ‘Lost’, the auto-channel setup only found about 10 analog stations and 3 HD stations with the Terk installed. Once I began using the signal strength information to more precisely aim the antenna, I could get ABC with no problems or breaks in reception. It was awesome!! When the signal strength for a station drops below the 60% threshold, I generally loose the channel reception. ABC had been fluctuating around the mid-sixties when I watched ‘Lost’, but now it was steadily in the seventy percentile. I tried the automated-channel search again and it found a few more channels. I started fumbling with the Terk box and found another box inside. This contained the signal booster (the amplifier) that I had completely forgotten about. It works in tandem with the included coaxial cable so you don’t have to install it to use the antenna. I hooked that bad boy in and now all of my signal strengths increased by approximately 20 to 25 additional percentage points (ABC went from the seventies to a solid 98%!!!!). I was amazed and ran the auto channel setup again. This time it found about 12 HD channels and 24 analog channels!! I couldn’t believe the difference. Because the Philips model did not have the amplifier, I didn’t even bother setting it up and will return it soon. I plan on using some Velcro tape on the bottom of the Terk antenna to help secure it a bit more.
Financially, I bought the Terk from Best Buy for $69.99 but will return it ASAP. I’ve found it for sale on a few internet sites for under $30.
I know antennas are hit-or-miss, but if you want to try an indoor antenna, I strongly recommend this one!!
I’m very, very pleased.
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11 out of 11 users found this user opinion helpful.
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8 stars
Yes, it really works
by scottejenkins on November 30, 2006
Pros: Cost & Reception Quality
Cons: Small base makes it unstable, not mountable.
Summary: After reading a few reviews and determining that I did not want to mess with mounting a more expensive exterior antenna I purchased this on 11/29/06 from Best ...
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Summary: After reading a few reviews and determining that I did not want to mess with mounting a more expensive exterior antenna I purchased this on 11/29/06 from Best Buy.
Our local cable provider in Virginia Beach has not signed agreements with Fox, ABC and NBC so the price point seemed reasonable considering that I may not needs this by sometime next year….. I hope.
Setup took all of two minutes. It’s attached to my new Panasonic TH-42PX60U.
I live in a normal two-story neighborhood typical of this area and the farthest broadcast tower is 20 miles.
Once I determined the correct place to point it, it just worked. Fortunately I had room for it behind the plasma, as my wife was less than impressed with its looks in the living room (it's larger than you may think). I get every channel that I should get in this area.
If you have mounted your flat panel on the wall this unit may not be the best idea as it sticks out like a sore thumb, but if you have a place to hide it, and can get the reception it is ideal.
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4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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3 stars
Amplified... Overrated & tipsy
by stadt11 on January 24, 2007
Pros: Cool design
Cons: I wouldn't consider this "amplified" and it's very tipsy
Summary: Cool looking antenna, but didn't work for me (not saying that it wouldn't work for the rest of you). I had it sitting on top of my mantle ...
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Summary: Cool looking antenna, but didn't work for me (not saying that it wouldn't work for the rest of you). I had it sitting on top of my mantle and right away you could tell of the poor structure. The base is really narrow and the coax cable sticks-out of the base and doesn't stay put in the little channel under the base. This causes the unit to tip over. No matter how I had it sitting, it would always tip over because the coax cable would come out of its channel.
The signal would not come in very well for me, even though I had only 1 wall blocking it from the outside world, and I live 5 miles from the towers.
I purchased this after reading many good reviews, but after purchasing this from BestBuy, I determined this wasn't for me and I returned it for a set of $5 rabbit-ears (which by the way work better and get crystal-clear HD channels).
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5 out of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
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9 stars
Works well for digital content!
by gabewintner on January 8, 2008
Pros: Indoors, simply plug it in, stylish, and strong reception!
Cons: Somewhat bulky, regular channel reception is ... regular.
Summary: This has bunny ears for receiving regular TV, and for that it works probably as well as most bunny ears - maybe a bit better, even. But for digital tv ...
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Summary: This has bunny ears for receiving regular TV, and for that it works probably as well as most bunny ears - maybe a bit better, even. But for digital tv this is much stronger than I expected, and easy to aim at the broadcasting towers given its design. It has a cool design, though takes up a bit of air space - though note that the antenna may also be switched so that it's vertical (in line with its base) and not horizontally perpendicular to the base. It's true that the base could be a bit more stable, but I think that some sticky tape on the bottom of it is a simple solution and will help a lot to keep it on whatever surface you've got it. Recommended.
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2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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2 stars
I could not figure it out...seconds with older antenna.
by Rscme on July 30, 2009
Pros: None so far
Cons: Cost, stability, size
Summary: I purchased this more expensive antenna to pick up more stations, I thought. Well, it picked up 2. The old Phillips picked up 20+. I stood in my living room ...
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Summary: I purchased this more expensive antenna to pick up more stations, I thought. Well, it picked up 2. The old Phillips picked up 20+. I stood in my living room pointing, aiming, restanding the unit and once I might have signal, it falls over again. I fought this thing and humbly put the cheap Phillips back on and now just watch the 20+ stations I had before.
I probably would not have like the look even if it worked for me, it sticks out everywhere. It is not real practical.
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6 stars
Works for UHF only... Channel 14-69
by thskadow on June 15, 2009
Pros: Work about the same as a "bow tie" antenna that clips to your rabbit ears
Cons: Does not pick up VHF channels 2-13. After the digital transition stations move back to their original vhf channels
Summary: Half the antenna you will need.
Summary: Half the antenna you will need.
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9 stars
It works really great
by Larry Armstrong on September 28, 2008
Pros: Odd that anybody should have a problem with this antenna. We live in an apartment on the second floor and the antenna sits on one of my speakers. I get 22 channels. All are at least 30 miles away, Pittsburgh about 35 miles.
Cons: No cons as far as I'm concerned.
Summary: It works well, it's constructed well and it's worth the money.
Summary: It works well, it's constructed well and it's worth the money.
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1 stars
A WASTE OF MONEY!
by Harris Parkell on July 23, 2008
Pros: No good points
Cons: Was getting 3 channels prior to buying this; when I got this set up I only got one
Summary: Don't waste your money on this. I was getting 3 channels - Channel 3 was watchable most of the time, 6 was watchable occasionally and 10 was okay almost ...
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Summary: Don't waste your money on this. I was getting 3 channels - Channel 3 was watchable most of the time, 6 was watchable occasionally and 10 was okay almost all of the time. I bought this so I could get high def broadcasts out of Philadelphia. When I got it set up, I could only get one UHF channel - and that was filled with snow! Will I never learn to NOT buy things off the internet!
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