EV's Best Top Rated DTV Indoor UHF Antenna Review Test Round-Up Guide

[EscapeVelocity]

Welcome to EV's Indoor Antenna Round-Up!

The Ultimate Internet Guide to Indoor Antennas!



Some introductory thoughts.

THIS GUIDE IS A WORK IN PROGRESS

These antennas are listed in no particular order. This list of antennas are all recommended and better than average.

There is no one best indoor antenna. Environmental factors present a plethora of situations that no one antenna can be best for all of them. In fact, most times the best indoor antenna is an antenna placed outdoors or an outdoor antenna placed indoors. Some may need VHF Hi and UHF, others only UHF, after the Feb2009 shutdown of analog broadcasts. Antennas are a strange brew, sometimes it's more of an art than a science, and while these are generally well regarded antennas for indoor use, Your Mileage May Vary.

Remember, outdoor placement is much preferred if you can swing it. Even if you get some of these outdoor antennas that are small, flat, and aesthetic and unobtrusive enough to go inside, they will do better outside on a patio or outside a window especially if facing the broadcast tower cluster. Some even put large antennas in attics.

These are some of my personal favorites and I have personal experience with many of these antennas. Most are highly recommended antennas by others on the net and other AVSforum members in this thread; and in reviews and tests that I researched on the net

The other end of the equation is tuner ability, sensitivity and selectivity. ATSC tuners have dramatically improved over the last couple of years. If you are on the fringe of reception even using the best antenna setups, you may want to consider improving your tuner with a set top box tuner. Both SD Coupon Elligible Converter Boxes and HDTV Tuner Boxes exist. LG and Samsung make great HDTV tuner boxes. LG makes some of the best tuners, and their CECB the Zenith DTT901 currently has one of the most sensitive tuners for those looking to keep using their old CRT NTSC analog sets. You can research tuners and converter boxes in the same subforum that you are now located in AVSforum.

Please feel free to add your comments, suggestions, observations, corrections, experiences, questions, etc. They are most welcome.

I am not an expert or highly trained and experienced technician, just an amateur enthusiast. I do not portend to be anything else. There are many other people on this site that are much more knowledgable and experienced than I.

Special thanks to Seatacboy, golinux, fajitamosaic, Rick313, Rammitinski, and deltaguy, for their encoragement, enthusiasm, guidance and contributions.....and to KenH for making this thread a sticky.

I hope this will be useful to others.

Please let me know if you like it.

Best regards

EV



Newbies start here! Read this first!

Antennas and Digital Television

FCC Consumer Facts

Federal law requires that all full-power television broadcast stations stop broadcasting in analog format and broadcast only in digital format after February 17, 2009. Broadcast stations in all U.S. markets are currently broadcasting in both analog and digital. If you have one or more analog televisions that receive free over-the-air television programming with an outdoor antenna or "rabbit ears" on the TV, you will either need a digital television (a TV with a built in digital tuner) or an analog television connected to a "digital-to-analog converter box" (which converts digital signals to analog signals for viewing on your analog set) in order to continue to watch programming from full-power broadcast stations. This Fact Sheet provides information on antennas and on what is needed for good quality reception of digital broadcasts.

Try Using Your Existing Antenna First

First, it is important to know that if your television currently receives good quality reception on analog channels 2-51 with a broadcast antenna, it should be able to receive digital television (DTV) signals, including high definition television (HDTV) signals, with the same broadcast antenna. You do not need to purchase a "DTV antenna" or an "HDTV antenna" to receive DTV or HDTV signals. However, consumers should be aware that if they use a digital-to-analog converter box, they will still need to use an antenna to receive DTV signals.

Prior to making any changes to your current antenna or antenna system, you should check to see if it will receive the digital signals being broadcast in your area. Connect your existing antenna to either a digital television or a digital-to-analog converter box connected to an analog TV. Make sure your TV is set up to receive over-the-air broadcasts (as opposed to being connected to a paid provider such as a cable or satellite TV company). It may also be helpful to perform a "channel scan," in which your TV will automatically check to see which stations it can receive. In many cases, this is all you will need to do to watch digital television broadcasts.

For Help With Reception Problems

If you experience reception problems, the following information and tips may help to improve your reception for digital broadcasts.

During the transition to digital TV, many stations are temporarily operating at reduced power levels. If you are not receiving certain digital TV stations, this does not necessarily mean there is a problem with your antenna or receiver. Check with the TV station to find out whether they are planning changes that will improve reception.

When an analog TV signal is weak or receives interference, static, snow, and distortion will often appear on the screen, but you can watch the picture through the noise. Digital broadcasting will provide a clear picture even with a weak signal and in the presence of interference. However, if the digital signal falls below a certain minimum strength, the picture can suddenly disappear. This “cliff effect” means that if you typically watch analog TV stations that have a lot of static and distortion, you may have to adjust or upgrade your antenna system to get a reliably good signal for digital broadcasts.

TV reception can be affected by factors such as terrain, trees, buildings, the weather (rain, wind, humidity), and damaged/deteriorated equipment. Often digital reception can be improved just by changing the location of your current antenna. Moving it away from other objects and structures, or placing it higher can often improve reception.

Many antennas need to be oriented or aimed to get the best signal from the desired station. For indoor antennas, you may need to do this manually by trial and error. For outdoor antennas, a rotor that re-orients the antenna can improve performance, particularly when trying to receive stations that transmit from different locations.

Television stations broadcasting in digital use both the VHF band (channels 2-13) and UHF band (channels 14-51). Many indoor antennas use “rabbit ears” for the VHF band and a “loop” or “bow-tie” antenna for the UHF band. Make sure you are using an antenna that covers both the VHF and UHF bands and have connected it properly.

Simple indoor antennas, such as rabbit ears, provide minimal performance that may or may not be suitable for your location. If you are unable to obtain satisfactory reception with your current indoor antenna, you may wish to obtain an indoor antenna that includes features for better reception of UHF signals and/or an amplifier to boost the received signal (often referred to as an active indoor antenna).

Generally, an outdoor antenna will get better reception than an indoor antenna. If you already have an outdoor antenna and are getting good quality reception from VHF and UHF channels, your antenna should work fine for digital television.

The performance of outdoor antennas can degrade over time due to exposure to the weather. If you are having problems, check for loose or corroded wiring, broken antenna elements and that the antenna is pointed in the right direction.

Try to keep the length of wire between your antenna and digital receiver as short as possible for best reception.

You can use a single antenna to provide digital broadcasts to multiple TVs in your home. Remember, however, that each analog TV connected to your antenna will need its own digital-to-analog converter box to view digital broadcast programming.

"Splitters" that are used to connect a single antenna to multiple receivers reduce the amount of signal available to each receiver. If you are having problems, check to see whether reception is improved without the splitter. In some cases an "active" splitter that includes an amplifier can solve the problem.

If you are near a station's broadcast tower, reception of that station, as well as other stations, can be impeded by signal "overload". Consider using an "attenuator" or removing amplifiers to improve your reception.

If you decide to replace or upgrade your outdoor antenna, websites such as www.antennaweb.org and http://tvfool.com/ provide information on the locations of broadcast towers and the types of outdoor antennas appropriate for the stations you wish to receive. If you need assistance with upgrading your antenna system, check with a local antenna retailer or antenna installer.

http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messa...79/468153.html

Sage advice from KenH.

Originally Posted by Ken H

In general:
Outdoors is better than indoors.
Bigger is better than smaller.
Directional is better than omnidirectional.
Mounting higher is better than mounting lower.

Performance rankings.....based on EV's observations....Rough Guide....YMMV

These are rough guestimations, based on my personal observations. They have not been instrument tested yet. Just because something is at the top of the list, does not necessarily mean that it is the best antenna for you and your particular situation. You may be best served by an unamplified model or an omnidirectional model, and directional and amplified units tend to do better on net gain and distance measures. This list is also most certainly distorted by varying atmospheric conditions. I will address that by instrument testing these all on one day, so as to minimize human and atmospheric error.

Performance rankings so far.....based on EV's observations....Rough Guide....YMMV

THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS and is changed and updated regularly as new and better testing data becomes available

Channel Master 4220 with CM 7777 amp on roof
DB2 with CM 7777 amp on roof
RS 1880
RS 1892 UFO
Antennas Direct ClearStream2
Channel Master 4220 unamped indoors
DB2 unamped indoors
Winegard SS-3000
Petra SuperPower 32db (Cornet 645A)
Terk HDTVa
RS Double Bow Tie
Philips MANT940
RS DA-5200
GE Futura Outdoor
Philips MANT950
RCA ANT806
Classic Single Bow Tie
Philips Silver Sensor
Godar Model 1
Terk TV-3
Philips MANT510
RS 1634
My First Attempt at the Coat Hanger Antenna, Youtube Video Specifications unamped
GE Futura Indoor
Terk TV-55
RS 1874 Budget
Picture Frame Antenna
RCA ANT1500
Channel Master 4030
Samsung Axession TV DA1000/GE Contempo
RCA ANT108 (very similar to the RCA ANT110 and others)
RS 1868 Delta
Terk TV-2
RCA ANT1020
Terk TV-5
RS 1870
Jensen TV 931
Terk TV-1 without Loop
RS FM Dipole



EV's Favorites....so far

RS 1880
RS 1892 UFO
RS DA-5200
RS Double Bow Tie
RS Single Classic BowTie
RS 1874 Budget
Petra SuperPower 32db(Cornet 645A)
Godar Model 1
Antennas Direc DB2
Antennas Direct ClearStream2
Channel Master 4149
Winegard SS-3000
Terk HDTVa
Terk TV-3
Terk TV-2
Philips Silver Sensor
Philips MANT510
Philips MANT940
Philips MANT950
RCA ANT806
RCA ANT108 (ANT110)



Here is a chart designed by wwong incorporating the data that I collected in regards to antenna performance using a Zenith 901 Converter Box. Note the first 2 entries were tested on a seperate day, I was testing the Clearstream2 and used the DB2 as a control to help integrate the information into the above lists.




.

[EscapeVelocity]

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
. a. Tips for Reception
. b. Sage Advice
. c. Performance Rankings
. d. EV's Favorites

2. Table of Contents

3. Rabbit Ears and Loop Style Antennas
. a. Basic Rabbit Ears & Loop
. b. Radio Shack 15-1868
. c. Terk TV-1
. d. Channel Master 4000
. e. Philips MANT510
. f. Terk TV-3
. g. Petra SuperPower 32db
. h. Cornet 645A
. i. Radio Shack 15-1874
. j. Quantum FX ANT-102
. k. Lava A-463
. l. Philips SVD2750

4. Bow Tie Antennas
. a. Classic Single Bow Tie
. b. Channel Master 4149
. c. Terrestrial Digital DB2
. d. AntennasDirect Lacrosse
. e. Channel Master 4220
. f. Channel Master 4221
. g. Homemade Quad Bow Tie

5. Silver Sensor Style Antennas
. a. Antiference Silver Sensor
. b. Terk HDTVi and HDTVa
. c. Philips PHDTV3 Amplified Silver Sensor
. d. Channel Master 4040
. e. Godar Model 1
. f. Terk HDTVo
. g. Cornet ET-8DA

6. Miscellaneous Design Antennas
. a. Winegard SharpShooter SS-3000
. b. Terk HDTVlp
. c. Radio Shack 15-1892 "The UFO"
. d. Godar HD-3
. e. ClearStream C1C
. f. ClearStream2
. g. RCA ANT751
. h. Digitenna City
. i. Digitenna Metro
. j. Digitenna Suburban

7. Rectangular UHF Array Antennas
. a. Meritline "Artec" "Kingbox" Antenna
. b. AntennasDirect PF7 Picture Frame Antenna
. c. RCA ANT1500
. d. Radio Shack DA-5200
. e. Philips MANT940
. f. GE Futura Outdoor
. g. Monoprice Antenna
. h. HD 650 Antenna
. i. Winegard SquareShooter's
. j. Terk HDTVs

8. Stick Style Antennas
. a. Philips MANT950
. b. RCA ANT806
. c. Winegard Sensar III's

9. RV Style Antennas
. a. Radio Shack 15-1634
. b. Winegard MetroStar MS-2000

10. Miscellaneous Antennas under consideration for the list

11. The Dog House - Not Recommended

12. Indoor antenna Tests, Shootouts, and Review Websites
. a. HDTV Primer antenna gain chart and link
. b. HDTV Primer - Antenna Basics
. c. Digital Dude Video: Antenna Myths Dispelled!
. d. Consumer Reports TV FAQ
. e. HDTVexpert shootouts
. f. Indoor Antenna Test Results Reported at the NAB Broadcast Engineering Conference
. g. Kyes Antenna Site
. h. RabbitEars.info
. i. Other good sites for antenna reviews
. j. AVSForum links
. k. DIY Quickie Antenna Reflector

13. Oldies but Goldies...Discontinued but not Forgotten
. a. Radio Shack Double Bow Tie
. b. Radio Shack 15-1862
. c. Radio Shack 15-1880
. d. Samsung TV5.4 SAX
. e. Recoton Color Antenna

14. Working Ideas and My Antenna List
a. Ideas
b. My Antenna List

.

[EscapeVelocity]

Rabbit Ear and Loop Style Antennas



Basic Non-Amplified Rabbit Ears & Loop



Believe it or not, these are pretty darn good antennas. The Rabbit Ears give you good VHF performance, and the basic loop gives you good UHF. These outperform many fancy looking and more expensive Amplified RE & Loops. If you have a pair of these around, you should pull them out and give them a try. They may be all that you need. Indeed they may be the best solution.

Note that those close to the towers can overload their tuners with already strong signals that are then amplified. This wont hurt your tuner/TV(but you shouldnt keep abusing it), but they just wont work.

Some of the best currently available basic RE & Loops from mine and others experience and testing are the RCA ANT110 and the RCA ANT108. These are virtual clones and Ive seen these same units with other brand names on them as well. These are easy to find at major B&M retailers nationwide. The RCA ANT108 is pictured.

They have strong thick 5" loops and 39" telescoping rabbit ear dipoles that are sturdy and simple to adjust. On the downside, they have thinly shielded coax that is not detachable. However, they do perform and are dirt cheap.



Radio Shack 15-1868 Delta



The RS Delta has pleasing aesthetics and good user reviews. Plus fine tuning adjustment knob. Good performer for non amplified RE & Loops. This unit has detachable coax and telescoping rabbit ear dipoles that are adjustable in altitude and azimuth. If you dont like the utilitarian looks of the basic models above, this one works well also. Nice little antenna. VHF and UHF.

Delta design for a high-tech look.
Use the UHF/VHF/FM indoor antenna with 12-position fine-tuning control to dial in the clearest picture for each station. The unique delta design of this set-top antenna makes it an attractive addition to your viewing room. It has gold plating and 75-ohm VHF/UHF output. The internal loop UHF loop is 39" with black chrome and VHF dipoles. This antenna comes with a 6-ft 75-ohm coaxial cable with gold-plated connectors.

12-position fine-tuning control--no need to move base for best picture
Gold-plated "F" connector output for better signal and picture
Unique delta design makes it an attractive addition to your TV room

Terk TV-1 Rabbit Ears



Here is Terk's version of the non-amplified basic Rabbit Ears. It has good build quality and nice modern aesthetics, plus 44" VHF dipoles. It comes with a sepereate UHF loop which is not attachable as an integrated UHF/VHF antenna solution. Its made to attach to the back of an old TV and thusly isnt very useful. But it can be used in conjunction with a superior UHF only antenna as many are in this list. If you need to add a VHF Hi antenna after the Feb09 cutoff of analog signals, this is a good choice. In order to join 2 seperate UHF and VHF antennas, you need a VHF/UHF Combiner. Its worth the effort to use a Combiner and not just a basic Splitter for less signal loss and better signal filtering and handling. Channel Master and Winegard offer combiners but you can get the cheapies and they are still better than the basic splitter.

VHF: channels 2-13; UHF: channels 14-69
heavy-gauge 40" retractable VHF dipoles with safety tips
UHF loop antenna
300-ohm to 75-ohm matching transformer
height of base: 3-3/8"; height with dipoles: 12-1/2" - 42-1/2"D

An AVSforum member explains this setup.

Originally Posted by golinux

...... I am in a heavily wooded area (and in a hollow to boot) about 26 miles from the towers. My location has been described as a "worst case scenario".

I have been using a DB2 with a 22db amp in an indoor window for several years. Since there is a VHF station, I have rabbit ears and the DB2 hooked to a signal combiner before going to the amp. This setup picks up all the local stations in analog and also with the Zenith DTT900 converter box. On two of the weaker stations there is some minor dropout if the winds are heavy but nothing I can't live with.

Channel Master 4000 Rabbit Ears

Set top antenna
• 300 Ohm twin lead output
• Dual 40 in., 5-section retractable chrome dipoles with 90° tilt for fine tune adjustments

Philips MANT510



One of the best of the ubiquitous Amplified Rabbit Ears and Loop style set top antennas, which arent the best performers in general as distance antennas, but may suit your needs best. It doesnt have a loop per se, but a "UHF flat panel array." It is also amplified, 50db overkill(I'm skeptical of that figure), but adjustable and has nice 44" dipoles for VHF reception. Strangely it includes a 75ohm to 300ohm transformer/balun along with a nice guide booklet. Has a detachable coax interface, plus an Aux input with a switch so that you can choose between the antenna or another source. Doesnt have an FM trap, so can be used as an FM antenna as well. One thing to note, is that this is a directional antenna, loops are omni-directional or more precisely bi-directional....and is adjustable in altitude and azimuth. The build quality is good on these, the base is weighty and stable and it sits off of the surface. VHF and UHF.

If you are close to the towers, this highly amplified version may not be for you, although the amp is adjustable like most other amped RE & Loop combo antennas, you may want to try an unamplified version first. Overamplifying strong signals can overload the tuner and you might recieve no stations at all. Overloading will not damage the tuner though, it just wont work. When reading user reviews, often the ultra low scores are by people that get no signals because of this amplifier gain overloading business, unbeknownst to them.

In depth comparative reviews of this and other antennas can be found on the Big River MANT510 page.

50 dB amplification boosts weak signals, expanding your reception range and allowing you to receive more signals over a greater distance.

The highly efficient UHF flat panel array offers improved reception over conventional loop antennas. Due to the flat design, the antenna concentrates the signal for better reception.

44" dipoles adjust 360° with a 180° tilt to deliver the best possible reception.

Together with the adjustable amplification, low noise amplification ensures you of a great reception range and improves and maintains the quality of your signal.

Easy touch control with LED signal increases or decreases amplification strength. Also confirms amplification strength at a glance.

The weighted base stabilizes the antenna's position so you enjoy more positioning choices.
A/B switch - Built-in selector switch makes it easy to change between viewing sources.

Simple sleek, elegant design lines compliment today's new TVs.

http://www.consumer.philips.com/cons...nna+SDV2510-27

Terk TV-3 Amplified Rabbit Ears and Loop[/b]






Petra SuperPower 32db (Cornet 645A, others)



I really like these antennas. They are excellent performers and are the best of the amplified Rabbit Ears & Loop style antennas. They can be found at major online retailers for dirt cheap as well. The large 9" loop (which is also particularly thick) is the key. It shifts the meat of the gain curve down into the newly re-allocated UHF TV spectrum of Ch. 14 to 51....for superior performance over all others with smaller loops. The amplifier helps as well, if you need the extra umph. Also has Rabbit Ear VHF dipoles for adequate VHF reception. Amplified....UHF and VHF.




Radio Shack 15-1874 Budget RE&Loop



This is my new favorite unamplified RE&Loop. Its main claim to fame is that it has a larger 7.5" diameter loop which pushes the gain curve down into the heart of the newly squashed UHF Digital TV spectrum (really it could be even larger like the 9" loop on the Petra SuperPower above that is a very good performer). The RCA ANT108 and others like it have a 6.5" diameter loop. UHF and VHF. Highly Recommended.



Quantum FX ANT-102 Indoor



The Quantum FX ANT-102 performs on par with the legendary RS-1880. As you can see they are similarly sized and designed with amplified double loops plus telescoping articulating Rabbit Ear VHF dipoles. The Q FX ANT-102 includes a remotely controlled light duty rotor that works well....can be useful for people with multiple direction transmissions....however even if you dont need this feature, this antenna is one of the elite indoor antennas in current distributino (along with the Silver Sensor, and Terk HDTVa, RS 1892 UFO). Snap one of these up, youll be glad you did. Recommended. UHF and VHF.



Lava A-463



The Lava A-463 is also a good antenna similar to the lengendary RS 1880, with amplified double loops and telescoping articulating Rabbit Ear VHF dipoles. However it is smaller, as can be seen in the pic. The Lava A-463 is nearly as good as the RS 1880, beating everthing else in this category except the Q FX ANT-102. I think the Lava gives up something on the lower channels of the UHF band due to its diminuative size to both the ANT-102 and the RS 1880. However, this is not a bad antenna, and is better than any Amplified RE&Single Loop style antenna which is so common. Its just the Q FX ANT-102 is slightly more desirable. UHF and VHF.



Philips SDV2750

[EscapeVelocity]

Bow Tie Antennas


Radio Shack Classic Single Bow Tie Antenna



Believe it or not, this is a pretty darn good UHF antenna! It will beat most RE & Loops on UHF. And best of all, its dirt cheap. Can be found at Radio Shack and there version has plastic clips for securing the antenna to a Rabbit Ear dipole or wire. 13" long x 3 1/4" wide, bi-directional(omni). Give this one a try, for sure. You will need a 300ohm to 75ohm balun. UHF only.


Digitenna Indoor



Channel Master 4149 Double Bow Tie



This is a clone of the famous RS Double Bow Tie. It is an excellent performer. It is approximately 12" square x 3" deep. Its screen gives it nice directional forward gain on UHF. No VHF performance to speak of. The bows are fairly easy to bend so be careful. It has a twin lead to 300ohm spade cable...so you will need a matching transformer balun. However, you may be able to improve the performance of this one by removing the twinlead and adding the matching transformer balun directly to the feedlines. Another home improvement technique is extending the bowties with aluminum foil. UHF only.



Terrestrial Digital DB2 - Double Bow Tie (AntennasDirect, Eagle Aspen, and others)



Superior antenna for use indoors. Technically not an indoor antenna. This one is small enough and not too aesthetically unpleasing to do indoor duties in tough situations. Can also be mounted on small patios or outside windows for apartment dwellers. Not amplified, but an external can be added if necessary. Excellent performance among indoor antennas(better outside of course). Ive currently got this one on the roof with a Channel Master Titan 7777 amplifier and its holding its own against an xg91 that it temporarily replaced(yes I have serious tree and placement problems) 45 miles South of the towers. UHF only.

New for 2008! New Low-loss Design.

Although the DB2 was originally designed for outdoor use, it has quickly become one of our 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. In fact the DB2 was recently named "The highest performing indoor antenna" from HDTV Primer.

The Eagle Aspen version is virtually identical to the DB2 and can be found for a significantly lower price at major retailers online.

Some mounting ideas for the DB2...

Microphone Stand
Torchiere Lamp
Freestanding Coat & Hat Rack
Bath Towel Rack Mounted Sideways on the Wall
Hooks from the Ceiling Joist
Suction Cup Hooks on the Window
Hooks from the Top Window Frame
Extendable Shower Curtain Rod Mounted Vertically
LCD Computer Monitor Swing Arm Wall Mount
Paper Towel Holder - the kind with the wood dowel that stand vertical from a wood base.

Range: 1-30 Miles
Multi-directional (pulls in signals from many directions)
Achieves a high gain of up to 11.4 dB
Ideal for UHF channels 14-69
Great for indoor, outdoor, and attic use
Dimensions 12" H x 19" W x 4" Deep
Weight: 2.8 pounds
Lifetime Warranty

http://www.antennasdirect.com/DB2_Indoor_antenna.html

Antennas Direct Lacrosse



This is basically a DB2 with an "attractive" plastic housing which can be useful in Homeowners Association situations. Expect similar if slightly diminished from the plain DB2 performance. It comes in 2 flavors, amplified or unamplified. UHF Only.

Includes all you need: Lacrosse Antenna, 17dBamplifier, J Mount Bracket, Mounting Hardware, Quad-Shield Coax Cables.
Receive uncompressed, over-the-air HDTV signals from local affiliates.
Better HDTV picture than cable or satellite.
Range: Up to 40 Miles
Build to blend intot he design of your home.

Channel Master CM 4220 - Double Bow Tie



Similar to the DB2, expect similar excellent performance. The 4220 is probably a bit better than the DB2 because of its larger bows. Note however that the CM 4220 is quite a bit larger than the DB2, including depth, plus its a bit heavier than the DB2......making the DB2 perhaps more suited as an indoor antenna, since performance is similar. I replaced the DB2 on the roof(which replaced the xg91) and it performed admirably, perhaps a tad better than the DB2 on signal strength. The build quality of this unit is commendable. Galvanized steel whiskers, feedlines, and sub-mast, galvanized steel heavy duty powder coated reflector, and yellow chromated steel mounting hardware, plus a bit of plastic. UHF only.

Update: These USA made antennas have been discontinued and replaced with Chinese made HD series antennas (4220HD, 4221HD, etc). I recommend the Antennas Direct (Terrestrial Digital) DB series antennas (DB2, DB4, etc) over these new Chinese made Channel Master double bowties. Although they are made in China as well, the build quality is better on the DB series. The DB2 has nice thick aluminum whiskers and a superior quality reflector.

• Antenna measures 20 W x 17 H x 5 D
• Turning radius of 10 in.
• Free Balun Kit included with antenna
• Versatile mounting methods - Easily mounts to a univerasl antenna mast or to a standard satellite mount
• Powder coated components insures the antenna holds up under even the most extreme conditions
• Constructed of high quality galvanized steel
• Almost transparent design that wont obstruct your view
• Almost transparent design that wont obstruct your view
• Mount NOT included
• Powerful, but small - no bigger than most home satellite dishes

Channel Master CM 4221 - Quad Bow Tie



If you are really desperate, then you may consider the Channel Master 4221, quad bow tie as an indoor antenna. Prime candidate for an attic or closet install. Its the smallest, most compact with the least number of sharp protrusions of the commercially available quads. UHF only, but does give you some VHF Hi gain.

Tip: You can leave this one(or the CM 4220) in the box and use it like that. The cardboard seems to have little effect. This may be a better way to "mount" the antenna in a closet or elsewhere inside as you wont have protrusions that may snag items and provides protection for the antenna so that it wont be damaged accidentally. (Hat tip to unknown AVSforum poster)

Update: These USA made antennas have been discontinued and replaced with Chinese made HD series antennas (4220HD, 4221HD, etc). I recommend the Antennas Direct (Terrestrial Digital) DB series antennas (DB2, DB4, etc) over these new Chinese made Channel Master double bowties. Although they are made in China as well, the build quality is better on the DB series. The DB2 has nice thick aluminum whiskers and a superior quality reflector.

receives digital & analog UHF TV signals
range is 45 miles
reception "beam width" is 45 degrees
4-bay bowtie dipole design
20"W x 5-1/4"D x 36-1/4"H

Coat Hanger Quad Bow Tie



Or you can try to build your own. These are inexpensive to make from common materials, but are good to excellent performers depending on the skill of the maker. You can build one without a reflector to save space and mount them in out of the way places. Even add an amplifier to boost performance so you can shove it in the closet or mount it in an attic. UHF only.

The pic is of My First Attempt at a Homemade Coat Hanger Quad Bow Tie, Youtube Video Specifications. I knocked one of the whiskers out of position. It can be adjusted simply.

Youtube Video: Coat Hanger HDTV Antenna!

There is also an active topic discussing improvements and techniques here on the AVSforum.

How to build a UHF antenna...

Here is a video produced by AVSforum member jwwm_2, of the improved design of the 4 bay advanced and tested by AVSforum mclapp on the How to build a UHF antenna thread. This desian uses wider spacing and longer elements to increase gain in the heart of the newly shrunken TV UHF band spectrum, and also has gain on UHF High. Much improved version of the 4 bay bowtie. There is a great comparison between this design and the famous Youtube Coathanger Antenna right at the beginning.

A Better HDTV Antenna




.

[EscapeVelocity]

Silver Sensor Log Periodic Style Antennas

These style antennas are especially good at multipath or interfence rejection, because of there tight beamwidths aka very directional nature. Airport/airplane noise, multipath in big cities from buildings, etc.


Antiference Silver Sensor - Philips, Zenith, others



The famous original Silver Sensor. Lots of different brandings on this one. Looks more like a sculpture, but it works well, very directional though, not best if you are in the middle of several towers in different directions. May have to fuss with it too much for your liking. Also, it's a bit tippy. Still offers excellent performance for a small indoor antenna. Non Amped.....but you can add an amplifier and make this one even better. UHF only.

Addendum: The build quality of these is often criticized. Probably partially due to its propensity to tip over(instability), but also fit and finish.



Terk HDTVi and HDTVa



Terk here offers 2 good antennas which are Silver Sensor style log periodic antennas, but not exact clones. They are very good performers and highly directional. These offer the advantage of Rabbit Ears which are attached at the base of the unit, thus offering VHF reception. The rabbit ears have a limited range of motion because of the way they are attached to the base. The HDTVi version is un-amped, the HDTVa version contains an internal amplifier. The amped version give you more gain, and I think an unamped Rabbit Ears and Loop, would be more desireable in cases where the unamped version would more likely best fit. However the directionality of its UHF design can be useful where multi-path is a problem and amplification would overload the tuner, like big cities with lots of high rises. These units are a little tippy like the Silver Sensor but a little more stable as they have more mass in the base, but the base is not as wide and the rabbit ears complicates matters further. Like the original Silver Sensor, you may have to fuss with it too much for your liking, or it could be the perfect antenna to deal with multipath. VHF and UHF.



Philips PHDTV3 Amplified Silver Sensor





Channel Master 4040



Here is a Brand New version of the log periodic indoor antenna from Channel Master. It looks very promising. Highlights include long 110" cable and wall mounting option. UHF only.

Ill try to find out more ASAP.

The CM-4040 indoor UHF/HDTV antenna offers excellent indoor UHF/HDTV reception.
The antenna design allows for increased forward gain while minimizing interference
from the side and rear. The antenna can be wall mounted or placed on top of the TV set
or entertainment center.

Godar Model 1



The Made in USA, Godar Model 1 is a nice log periodic UHF antenna with VHF dipoles. Its not amplified. It performed well and also is good for FM reception. The log periodic elements are encased in a low profile black plastic housing which is very sturdy and stable. The VHF telescoping Rabbit Ears can be extended if you need VHF reception or tucked away behind the low profile body for UHF only. Really nice setup. UHF and VHF and FM.

Godar offers several antennas for VHF, UHF, and FM. They are especially known for their FM antennas. Check out their website here at godarusa.com.


Terk HDTVo

Dimensions:
width 39"
length (front to back housing bracket) 22"
depth (top to bottom of f-connector) 3.25"
Length of mast with bracket: 12”

Frequency range: VHF 40 MHz – 230 Mhz (channels 2-13)
UHF 470 MHz-862 Mhz (channels 14-69)
Gain: UHF 11 dB typical
VHF 12 dB typical
Insertion loss: -1 +/1 1dB max.

Weight: 7 lbs

Included in packaging:
- HDTVo antenna
- Power injector
- Mini-mast mounting bracket
- All associated mounting screws

Cornet ET-8DA




.

[EscapeVelocity]

Miscellaneous Design Antennas


Winegard Sharp Shooter SS-3000 and Terk HDTVlp(SS-3000 clone)




The Winegard Sharp Shooter 3000 is an excellent performing antenna. I really like this one with its pleasing wing style. Its fairly wide and is great with multipath thanks to it reflector screen which also helps with directionality and gain. This "scatter plane" reflector is removable for those who are better served by an omni directional antenna. This antenna seems to be pretty forgiving with placement as well. It has an integrated amplifier and and incorporates and FM Trap. VHF Hi performance is OK, VHF Lo is not so good. UHF is where it shines. One thing to note, it has a thin unshielded cable that is detachable which connects to the base of the unit. However, a thicker shielded cable does not fit in the notch in the plastic base which this cable exits...this probably however can be modified pretty easily. It works well at my location 45 miles out from the towers. VHF and UHF.

Winegard SS 3000 3000 Indoor UHF/VHF Antenna (SS-3000)


Winegards newest and best all-band indoor directional / bidirectional DTV/HDTV Antenna platform. Perfect for close range off-air reception in urban areas.


Winegard "Scatter-Plane" to reject digital multi-path
90 Day Warranty
Response throughout VHF/UHF bandpass
Receives and resonates indoor analog and outstanding DTV/HDTV signals up to 20 miles from the transmit source
Reception for apartment/condominium dweller to receive digital broadcasts where line-of-sight to the transmit source is blocked
Only 26.75 inches wide
Weighs only 1.5 pounds
Specifically designed to capture reflected off-air HDTV and DTV broadcasts signals
Integrates an ultra-low noise amplifier design with an ultra-low noise figure for a DTV/HDTV picture
Great antenna in urban areas where HDTV and DTV signals bounce off buildings

SS-3000

Mechanical

Width ............................................................ ........ 26.75"
Height ............................................................ ............. 5"
Depth ............................................................ ......... 4.25"
Antenna weight .................................................. 1.5 lbs.
Will ship UPS

Electrical

Bandpass .................................................. 54-806 MHz
Power requirements ......................... 150mA@12 VDC
Amplifier gain ........................... 7-10 dB ave. VHF/UHF
Amplifier noise figure ........... 1.0 dB or lower VHF/UHF

VHF Low Band (54-88 Mhz, CH 2-6)
Nonamplified element gain ................................ -15 dB
Ave. half power beam width ..................................... 87°
Ave. front to back ratio ......................................... 1.2 dB
VSWR........................................................ ......... 2.0- 2.1

VHF High Band (174-216 Mhz, CH 7-13)
Nonamplified element gain .................................. -5 dB
Ave. half power beam width ..................................... 70°
Ave. front to back ratio ....................................... 11.3 dB
VSWR........................................................ ......... 2.2- 2.3

UHF (470-806 Mhz, CH 14-69)
Nonamplified element gain ................................... 0 dB
Ave. half power beam width ..................................... 36°
Ave. front to back ratio ......................................... 7.5 dB
VSWR........................................................ ......... 2.2- 3.3

http://www.winegarddirect.com/ss-300...00_pattern.gif

Radio Shack 15-1892 with Remote - "The UFO"

aka "The Magic Mushroom," "The Starship Enterprise," and "The Frisbee"



This one, affectionately known as "The UFO," is a very interesting antenna. It gets great user reviews, and its performance is excellent. I really like this antenna. It is like a Smart Antenna but without the tuner interface, instead you operate it by remote control. Its automated, you can set it to move within its UFO disc, to adjust the antenna for individual stations that may be located in differing directions and also adjust the gain for each channel. Can be really handy for those whose broadcast towers are not all in one direction. Comes with a remote to tune the antenna from the chair, to preset channel positions. This one can be extremely useful for those who are in reach of more than one broadcast market. Has Rabbit Ears for VHF which are limited in range of motion by the UHF disc. This one has an FM Trap. Amplified. VHF and UHF.

Here is a link to my in depth review of the RS 1892 UFO's Features and Use on page 10 of this thread.

Tune in to a better picture.
This indoor antenna allows you to enjoy the best possible HDTV programming. Experience sharper HDTV picture quality with three amplifier gains (19dB, 15dB and 10dB), 330° rotation and 12 reception directions. The LCD displays the memory numbers, gain settings and direction for easy reference. The remote control works indoors or outdoors, up to 50 feet away.

3 amplifier gain levels
330° rotation and 12 reception directions
Remote control range of 50 feet, indoors and outdoors

What's in the box
Amplified antenna
Power adapter 12V 350mA
6 feet 75ohm coaxial cable with Gold-plated connector
CR2032 Li-ion battery x 1 (for RF remote control unit)
Remote
User's Guide

Godar HD-3



The Godar HD-3 is designed for Attic Install. An unsual design, it performed well, but was a bit finicky about placement. Check out the details at the Godar website here.



Antennas Direct ClearStream 1

The first in a series of compact, highly efficient antennas designed and optimized for 2009 frequencies associated with the DTV transition.

High gain, and compact design offer excellent gain and impedance matching across the whole post 2009 DTV spectrum. The Clearstream is vastly superior to the existing compact antennas for receiving DTV signals. Good directivity at all frequencies with a peak gain of 8 dB. Provides substantial performance gains over commonly available compact antennas.
Range: Up to 30 Miles
Gain of 8 dBi
Consistent gain through the entire DTV channel spectrum
Totally new engineering for post-2009 DTV frequencies
Great for indoor, outdoor and attic use
Dimensions 10”h x 10” w x 4.5” deep

Antennas Direct ClearStream2 (Terrestrial Digital)




RCA ANT751 (aka EZ HD)






Digitenna City



Digitenna Metro





Digitenna Suburban




.



.

[EscapeVelocity]

UHF Flat Panel Array Style Antennas



Meritline "Artec" "Kingbox" Antenna



This is a fantastic little UHF flat panel antenna. Expect similar performance to the Classic Single Bowtie above, pretty darn good on UHF. The panel is 8" long by 4" high. It comes with an adjustable mount which you can angle at 90 degrees and use the suction cup on the bottom to mount to a window. The antenna is sandwiched between 2 strong pieces of plastic film which is somewhat flexible but bounces back into shape. This antenna along with the Classic Double Bowtie and RCA ANT108 are great backpackable portable antenna solutions. UHF only. (might pick up some strong VHF in a pinch)


Antennas Direct PF7 - The Picture Frame Antenna



Ive seen this one ranked high for performance among set top indoor antennas in a UK test and elsewhere. This one performs better than most Rabbit Ear and Loops on UHF. Wife friendly. UHF only.

Here is one netizen's review of The Picture Frame Antenna.

I bought this with very low expectations for our 19" kitchen LCD television. We had been using a Terk HDTVa but that was too large and just did not work that well anywhere in our kitchen. (It works great now that we moved it in our home theater room) Enter the lowly HDtv Picture Frame Antenna. I put it on the wall facing the direction of my towers and presto, all the local stations tuned right in! It really works amazingly well.

One other important thing to note is that the included wooden frame is only average in quality. However, the antenna part of the frame (the back part) is completely removable and fits nicely into most 8x10 frames. So basically, you can customize it very easily to fit any room if the plain brown frame included does not match your style. I have mine in a wide silver and blue frame and it looks great.

Range: Up to 15 Miles
Gain of approximately 6.5 dB
Ideal for UHF channels 14-69
Cherry wood frame with glass photo cover
Landscape orientation with wall hanger or table mount
Includes 6ft 75 ohm RG6 coaxial cable fitted with F-Type connector
Dimensions: 9" high x 11" wide x 1" deep to hold an 8" x 10" photo.

RCA ANT1500 Digital Flat Panel Antenna




The RCA ANT1500 is better than most unamplified Rabbit Ear and Loops. It is a 10" square uhf panel that is 1/2" thick and is bi-directional in its gain pattern. Very sleek aesthetics. It has a permanently attached 6ft coax cable and a stainless steel bar that slides into the back to form a stand. There are also screw head mounts moulded and cut into the backside plastic as well as molded bumps to keep the unit off of the wall a bit when wall mounting. UHF and VHF.

New, patent pending technology
Omni directional design allows for multiple placement options
Optimized for HDTV reception with improved reception in both UHF and VHF bands.
Low Profile Design
Mounts on wall, lays flat or sits up right with included stand
Product in Inches (L x W x H): 11.0 x 0.5 x 10.0

Radio Shack DA-5200



People seem love this popular little amplified antenna from user reviews, and they should. Expect excellent performance from this surprising little gem. And it is small. It comes with a thoughtful array of accessories, including 12ft or so of coax, screws and wall anchors, and u bolts. It has a pretty good internal amplifier. The mounting system is dynamite. It's an single piece articulating arm made from quality materials, steel and ABS plastic, hefty for its size. The performance is what matters though, and this one performs. UHF only.

This low-profile outdoor HDTV antenna is small enough in size that it's perfect for apartments or other areas where space is limited. With its anti-UV coating and waterproof design this antenna will last for years.

The neat stuff
Amplifier gain of 17-23dB helps reception of weaker stations
Wall-mountable (installation kit included)
Can mount indoors in an attic, closet or other out of the way location


What's in the box
Low profile outdoor/indoor HDTV antenna
3m RG59U cable (F male to F male)
15cm RG59U cable (F male to F male)
Power adapter
Installation kit

Product Length 4.45 inches
Product Height 8.22 inches
Product Width 2.83 inches

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ab=custRatings

Philips MANT940



The Philips MANT940 antenna gets good user reviews and comes with a nice versatile solid mount, but a bit more complicated than the RS DA-5200 above, and a good assortment of accessories, like 20ft of coax cable, power injector. It is an amplified unit and offers very good performance. It offer some VHF Hi gain as well. UHF only.

Product Details:

Easiest and best solution for urban/surburban UHF DTV (Digital TV) reception. Perfect alternative to conventional outdoor antennas. Can be used indoors but designed for outdoor use(weather resistant).

Features:

•Built-in optimum gain amplifier, 18dB UHF, with low noise circuitry, under 3.5dB, for best possible DTV performance
•Efficient flat panel UHF array, up to 40 miles range
•Compact yet effective size, 5” X 10”
•Easily mounts on wall, mast or railing
•Can be used with rotor (optional – mast only)
•Ideal for RV or boat
• Includes 20’ cable, power injector, power supply, and flexible mounting kit.

GE Futura Outdoor

20dB Gain Amplification
Noise Eliminator Circuitry Filter
Noise Eliminator Circuitry Filter
Designed to Mount Horizontally or Vertically

Monoprice Antenna



Expect similar performace as the Philips MANT950 and Radio Shack DA-5200 above. This one has a similar gooseneck mount as the GE Futura Outdoor above.



HD 650 Antenna



Expect similar performace as the Philips MANT950 and Radio Shack DA-5200 above. Nice looking mount.



Winegard Square Shooter SS-1000(non amplified) and SS-2000(amplified) and Terk HDTVs(SS-2000 clone)

Winegard SS-1000 SquareShooter UHF Only Digital/Analog/HDTV Antenna System (SS-1000)

Winegard’s newest digital antenna. A true technological break-through and Innovations award winner. It’s the Best designed, Best-built, Best performing, Best looking, Easiest to install, Urban/metropolitan HDTV antenna available.


Comes with J-Type Mast and Mount.
Includes hardware to mount to standard DIRECTV / DishNetwork dish masts (U-bolts and nuts are included to attach to dish antenna mast)
Average beamwidth: 61°
Average VSWR across band: 1.3:1
Average Front to back: 13 db
Average antenna gain across band 470-806: 4.5 db
Maximum Width: 16 x 16 x 4
Box size: 24½ x 24 x 6½
Range for channels 14-69 0-20 mile average
Choose amplified model SS-2000 with built-in pre-amp when 25 miles from tower or further. Integrated 12dB gain amplifier across both UHF/VHF bands for better reception of digital HDTV channels.


Winegard’s newest digital antenna. A true technological break-through and Innovations award winner. It’s the Best designed, Best-built, Best performing, Best looking, Easiest to install, Urban/metropolitan HDTV antenna available. An absolutely unique antenna with unlimited installation options. Fast and easy installation, Requiring no assembly. Because of its revolutionary design, it offers multiple mounting solutions for the best digital TV reception up to 50 miles out. Can be easily mounted using familiar DBS satellite antenna hardware, on Walls, Fascias, Roofs, Railings, Over a Satellite Dish, In the attic, On patios, Almost any place an installer needs to place it.

The latest DTV set-top boxes show significant improvements in receiving DTV signals, particularly with respect to multipath echoes that can in some cases prevent successful reception. However, antenna characteristics are still an important part of the whole system. While difficult DTV reception can often be overcome using high gain and directional Yagi, logperiodic, or multi-element bow tie antennas, these tend to be expensive, large and suitable only for outdoors or attic mounting. There continues to be a need for small antennas optimized for DTV reception in urban environments, where signal strengths may be good but multipath is frequently a problem.

At the Consumer Electronics Show this year the Winegard Company introduced a compact antenna specifically for DTV reception in urban locations but with the ability to receive signals over longer distances. The SS-2000 is built on the same platform as the SS-1000 “SquareShooter™” which the design won a CES Innovations Award in the Design and Engineering Showcase. With the integrated 12 dB amplifier, the new SS-2000 is much better suited for digital HD OFF-AIR reception than the SS-1000 because of the confusion caused by the difference in the UHF/VHF gain in the non-amplified version (SS-1000). Winegard says that the SquareShooter utilizes non-traditional electromagnetic antenna design for superior performance and, at the same time, provides that new contemporary “look and feel” desired by DTV/HDTV consumers, and states that it will outperform all but the largest high-band VHF/UHF directional antenna systems.

Increased front-to-back ratio is obtained using a rear "scatter plane" to block signals from the back of the antenna. The good front-to-back ratio, absence of side lobes, and quite narrow acceptance angle should all contribute to excellent performance under multipath conditions. A key feature of the sinuous antenna is its equal sensitivity to signals of all polarizations – a technique suggested by others but not previously implemented in a consumer product. Field tests have shown that, as well as providing rejection of multipath echoes when receiving the main signal, the antenna allows reception in urban environments using a signal reflected from an adjacent building. The antenna has no internal preamplifier. However, Winegard has a new external preamp (HDP-269) for DTV with very uniform gain over the full band and excellent intermodulation performance, which is suggested for long feeder runs.

The SquareShooter antenna element is produced using conductive ink that is screen-printed onto a polycarbonate base. The element is housed in an enclosure size 16” x 16” x 4” suitable for indoor or outdoor use, with a wide range of mounting options.



http://www.winegarddirect.com/viewitem.asp?p=SS-2000

.

[EscapeVelocity]

Stick Style Antennas



Philips MANT950



This antenna and the RCA ANT806 along with the Terk TV-55 are reviewed on this page. VHF and UHF.

VHF amplification 18 dB and UHF amplification 15 dB
Channels 2-69
Dual element design for best possible reception, up to 40 miles
Weather resistant with paintable surface
20' Coaxial cable and mounting kit

RCA ANT806



This antenna along with the Philips MANT950 and the Terk TV-55 are reviewed on this page. UHF and VHF.

Ultra-low noise amplifier provides clear powerful reception
Optimized for HDTV reception
18dB power injection boosts UHF/VHF signals
Ultra-durable weatherproof housing

Winegard Sensar III GS-1100 and GS-2200

Winegard Sensar® III Digital Ready Antenna System GS-2200/GS-1100
Perfect for home use, Winegard Sensar III antennas are digital ready! These antennas are bidirectional (VHF), directional (UHF) and will provide excellent reception 0-50 miles from the broadcast source. The redesigned head updates the Sensar III appearance, and the embossed “rib” improves stability of the wing.

The attractive gray housing and elements will blend with any siding or roof when mounted. Both models, GS-1100 and GS-2200, fit on masts up to two inches in diameter. For mounting as off-air companion antenna to an 18 inch satellite dish, use Winegard’s universal home mount, DS-1111.

Model GS-2200 is an amplified antenna recommended for viewing areas 20 to 45 miles from television signal transmitter. This model features a built-in digital preamplifier with a gain of 15.5 dB average ideally suited for DTV/HDTV reception. It also includes a power supply, hardware and easy-to-install mast clamp assembly.

Model GS-1100 is a non-amplified antenna designed for reception in metropolitan areas up to 25 miles away from television signal transmitters.

Sensar III shown mounted with Winegard’s 18 inch home satellite dish, on our DS-1111 mount meeting all wind load requirements for DIRECTV® and DISH Network® . This mount is designed for use with most home satellite mounts. DS-1111 shown here.

Antenna Specifications

Antenna/bracket width .......... 6.25”
Antenna length .....................46.5”
Fixed FM trap .................... -15 dB
Impedance ........................ 75 ohm
Amplifier gain
VHF ......................... 15.5 dB avg.
UHF ......................... 15.5 dB avg.
Bandpass..................54 - 850 MHz
Power Requirement......................
Current Usage 60 ma @ +12 VDC
Average Noise.......................3 dB

Total Input .....VHF/UHF 200,000 μv
Output ...........75 ohm / 68 channel

Reception Range:

GS-2200 ................. 20 - 45 miles
GS-1100 ................... 10 - 25 miles

Ship weight .......................... 5 lbs.
Carton Dimensions .....49” x 7.5” x 4.25”
Ships UPS

Made in U.S.A.

http://www.winegarddirect.com/sensar...II-antenna.asp

[EscapeVelocity]

RV Style Antennas



Radio Shack 15-1634 Omni-Directional

The omnipresence antenna
This 21" diameter antenna for suburban/urban areas, along with RVs, trailers, and boats. The estimated range for the low-profile Omnidirectional Amplified TV Antenna is about 30-35 miles with good, open terrain. It's great for areas where TV stations are located in different directions, with its 360-degree reception there's no need for an antenna rotator.

Weather resistant
Built-in amp boosts signals 20dB
Ideal for areas where TV stations are located in different directions

Winegard MS-2000 MetroStar

MS-2000 MetroStar, for homes, apartments, mobile homes, condos, townhouses, offices; excellent VHF/UHF reception.

Receivers signals from all directions
Comes with 50 FT of 75 Ohm cable and a 6 FT TV coax cable
Perfect companion for DBS installations
Box size: 21¾ x 22¾ x 2¾
Home Owners Associate friendly

Omnidirectional for install-&-forget convenience; no rotator system needed, built-in preamplifier to boost signal strength—up to six times the received signal on VHF, nine times on UHF. Easy to install with hand tools on any antenna mast or light-duty antenna mount. Includes antenna, power supply, 50 75 ohm coaxl cable, 6 TV set cable, hardware, mounting bracket. Good companion for digital satellite systems.

Bandpass.............................................VHF-54 to 88, 170 to 216 MHz
............................................................ ....................UHF-470 to 810 MHz
FM Trap (fixed)................................Attenuates 88 to 108 MHZ, -15dB
Amplifier Gain.................................VHF-15.5 dB avg. UHF 19.5dB avg.
Impedence................................................... ..........75 ohm unbalanced
Response.................................................... .................... .25 per 6 MHz
VSWR........................................................ ..................... 1.8:1 maximum
Power Required..........................................117 VAC, 60 Hz, 4.3 watts
Weatherproof Housing........Engineered thermoplastic, 21-1/2" wide
Mounting Type................................................Round mast up to 2" OD

http://www.winegarddirect.com/images...lar_MS2000.gif

[EscapeVelocity]

On Deck - The Batter's Circle


Jensen TV-920




A Neutronics AN AV 891





Quantum FX ANT-104





Quantum FX ANT-105






MaxView OmniSat Omni UHF/VHF


.

[EscapeVelocity]

The Dog House

Not recommended by this author....

Jensen TV-931
Radio Shack 15-1870
Samsung Axession TV DA-1000
GE Contempo
GE Infinity
GE Futura Indoor

[EscapeVelocity]

Some very informative articles, reviews, tests, shootouts, and websites. I highly recommend checking these out.


Lots of great information on this website. The list of antennas below is hotlinked to pages which address each antenna individually with comments charts and graphs. The navigation on that site isnt the best, here is a link to the HDTV Primer home page which contains all kinds of HDTV information, antenna and otherwise.

HDTV Primer

Comparing some commercially available antennas

Net Gain for some common UHF antennas



A Channel Master 4228 8-Bay
B Channel Master 4221 4-Bay (3021)
C Channel Master 4248 Yagi/Corner-Reflector (3023)
D Televes DAT-75 Yagi/Corner-Reflector
E Winegard PR-8800 8-Bay
F Winegard PR-4400 4-Bay
G Channel Master 4242 VHF/UHF Combo
H Channel Master 3018 VHF/UHF Combo
I Zenith Silver Sensor indoor LPDA
J Small indoor loops
K Double-Bow
L AntennasDirect DB-2
M Winegard Square Shooter
N Winegard PR-9032 Yagi/Corner-Reflector
O Channel Master 3671B VHF/UHF Combo
P MegaWave Wideband Indoor Antenna
Q Winegard SharpShooter Indoor Directional Antenna
R AntennasDirect DB-4 4-Bay
S AntennasDirect DB-8 8-Bay
T AntennasDirect XG91 Yagi/Corner-Reflector

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

This one is a little less intimidating for newbies.

HDTV Primer - Antenna Basics

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

Here is Fox Charlotte's Digital Dude on HDTV antennas. Humorous and informative.

Digital Dude Video: Antenna Myths Dispelled!

Consumer Reports has a nice friendly guide to Televisioin Issues.

Consumer Reports TV FAQ

These three pages from the HDTVexpert contain shootouts of various models of indoor antennas. Testing equipment is used to ascertain relative performance. Very informative, check out his home page too, where he discusses Broadcast issues and Reviews equipment, such a Converter Boxes, Tuners, Antennas, and Signal Analyzers.

HDTVexpert

HEAVY METAL, PART 2

Comparisons of indoor antennas for VHF-UHF DTV reception

by Peter H. Putman, CTS

http://www.hdtvexpert.com/pages/antin.htm

HDTVexpert

WINEGARD’S SS-1000 SQUARE SHOOTER: A BETTER MOUSETRAP?

by Peter Putman, CTS, ISF

http://www.hdtvexpert.com/pages/squareshot.htm

HDTVexpert

Winegard SS-2000 Square Shooter TV Antenna

Peter Putman, CTS, ISF

http://www.hdtvexpert.com/pages/winegardss.htm

HEAVY METAL, PART I

VHF-UHF Antennas Compared for Outdoor DTV Reception

by Peter H. Putman, CTS

http://www.hdtvexpert.com/pages/antout.htm

Five (Antennas) To Get Ready

PETER PUTMAN, CTS

http://www.hdtvexpert.com/pages_c/Five_Antennas.html

This is the WALB News 10 report which includes information from the presentation at the Spring 2008 Broadcast Engineering Conference. I havent been able to get more data on this....but there is good stuff present in this WALB report non the less.

Consumer Indoor Antenna Test Results Reported at the NAB Broadcast Engineering Conference

The Kyes Antenna site is almost as informatioin loaded as the HDTVprimer site. Nice commentary on How to Get the Most out of Rabbit Ears, Common TV and FM Antenna Types, Amplifiers: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, and much more.

Kyes Antenna Website

RabbitEars.info

Other good sites for antenna reviews.

Amazon.com has quite a few reviews at their site under individual antenna headings.


HDTV Antenna Labs has a good review site with rankings as well.

http://www.hdtvantennalabs.com/indoor.php

This AVS subforum has city by city threads where locals discuss the local reception environment and issues, and is a good place to find what antennas, others in your area and situation have found success with. Find your area in the list and click....then read, search, join the discussion, and post questions.

AVSForum: Local HDTV Info and Reception

Here is the thread about rotors, antennas, boosters, amplifiers, splitters, attenuators, masts, towers, grouding blocks, and all kinds of antenna accessories. The first page has lots of good links to information on the web. Join the discussion and ask questions.

Antennas, rotators, boosters/preamps... for wide-band VHF/UHF

This is The Official AVS Antenna Topic! Join the discussion and ask questions. Lots of antenna gurus frequent this thread.

The Official AVS Antenna Topic!

DIY Quickie Antenna Reflector

If you are having trouble with your current antenna. You can give this homebrew solution a try. All you need is some cardboard and aluminum foil. Lets say you have a basic unamplified RE & Loop antenna....and you are struggling to bring in a couple of UHF stations. Cut out a piece of a sturdy coardboard box, the sturdier the better, apporximately 4" wider on all sides as the loop. Then wrap in aluminum foil. Now turn your loop so that one side is facing the towers you are trying to reach.....and position your new homebrew reflector screen about 4" behind the loop. Youve just made your bi-directional UHF loop into a directional antenna, increasing forward gain. Move the reflector screen forward and backwards from the 4" position until you find the sweet spot. Also this reflector can be used to shield your antenna from electrical noise and interference from other home devices like computers.

Here is a pic to help vizualize the reflector. This one is much larger than is necessary for the antenna in the picture.

[EscapeVelocity]

Oldies but Goldies...Discontinued but not Forgotten...



Radio Shack Double Bow Tie



This is the legendary RS Double Bow. Now discontinued. Some people mistake it for art! Great little antenna with reflector and feet for standing up. However its bows are a bit too small for the best UHF performance. The DB2 and CM4220 surpass it with their larger bow ties. Still an excellent performer....even better if you add an amplifier. UHF only.

EDIT: This one has made a reappearance as the Channel Master 4149, which is still available for sale, online.




Radio Shack 15-1862



This is the legendary RS 1862. Now discontinued. "The Holy Grail of Indoor Antennas." Amplified. UHF and VHF.




Radio Shack 15-1880



This is the legendary RS 1880. Now discontinued. This one was available after the 1862 was discontinued. Besides the silver accents and the green power on indicator light (previously red), the most important difference between the 2 is a slightly lower gain amplifier on this newer version. I have 2 of these. They are pretty reliable at 45 miles from the towers at my location. UHF and VHF.



Samsung TV5.4 SAX



Samsung made a quick entrance and exit in the TV antenna marketplace. It had a couple of models out. Not much info out on them, but this one looks promising as a Silver Sensor clone. Looks like the wider base will make them more stable, a thoughtful design improvement. Looks like they might be adjustable at the arm/base interface which would also be welcome. Has a Star Trek aesthetic look to it. UHF only.

Addendum: This one may have been discontinued and forgotten. LOL!





Recoton 350 UHF/VHF/FM Color Antenna



This one recieves COLOR transmissions! LOL!

.

[EscapeVelocity]

Working on these ideas

How to find a sweet spot
Antenna aiming and Rabbit Ear positioning
Paper Clip Antenna





My Antenna List

DB2
RS 1880
RS DA 5200
RS Classic Single Bow
RS UFO
RCA ANT108
RS Double Bow Tie
Channel Master 4220
Winegard HD-4400
FM Dipole
Terk TV-2
Petra SuperPower 32db
Channel Master 4221
RS 1874 Budget
AntennaCraft G1483 4 Bay Gray Hoverman
Antennas Direct ClearStream1 Convertible
GE Quantum
Philips 2750
Artec Special
GE Optima


Returned or Sold


Youtube 4 Bay
RCA ANT1020
Channel Master 4030
Terk TV-5
Terk TV-1
RCA ANT806
Philips MANT950
Philips MANT940
RCA ANT1500
Godar Model 1
Godar HD-3
Terk TV-3
GE Infinity
AntennasDirect PF7 Picture Frame Antenna
Antennas Direct Clearstream 2
RS 1634
Terk TV-55
GE Infinity
GE Futura Outdoor
RS 1868
Jensen TV-931
xg91
RS 1870
Winegard SS-3000
Terk HDTVa
Philips PHDTV1 Silver Sensor
Samsung Axession TV-DA1000/GE Contempo
Philips MANT510
GE Futura Indoor
Philips PHDTV3

[spokybob]

Originally Posted by EscapeVelocity

Winegard Sensar III GS-1100 and GS-2200

My DISH installer put the gs1100 on my roof. WHY?? The 622 is a digital only receiver. It failed many times to pick up my locals at only 21 miles. I compared it against my Youtube on the garage TV. No comparison. The gs- 1100 went out with the trash.
61231

[EscapeVelocity]

Thanks for the input spokybob.

Like all antennas, YMMV. Im sure that we will have many that disagree, clarify, and specify. At least Im hoping. I hope others share some of their favorites, too.

That being said.

My friend has one on his camper out on "the land," which is 45 miles from the towers and he gets good signals on analog. I dont know if its the GS-2200(amplified version) or the GS-1100, though. I was pretty impressed though.

But I do know that these are bipolar on vhf and highly directional on uhf as the charts show, perhaps the install was bad.

No doubt the Quad Bow Ties rock.

[deltaguy]

Those triple threat antennas like the MANT510, how do you aim 'em? Two dipoles plus a UHF loop has got to be a problem. 3x360. That Terk one...has anyone actually used that for both UHF and VHF at the same time? The status of the dipoles definitely influences UHF reception.

I recently drove several streets in the neighborhood in search of someone with a 4228 on the roof, but couldn't find one. I'll try again.

[Icedmocha]

Thanks for the review EV.

[EscapeVelocity]

Originally Posted by deltaguy

Those triple threat antennas like the MANT510, how do you aim 'em?

Like a classic Rabbit Ears and Loop.

That Terk one...has anyone actually used that for both UHF and VHF at the same time?

No.

[deltaguy]

I've been aiming, and re-aiming, a 510 for over a year and a half. It can do things the classic dipoles and bowtie can't. The uhf square can be pointed up or down for example. One of my latest crazy ideas was to point one of the dipoles down towards the patio hoping for a rebound. It helped.

I would have thought some folks would already have experience trying to get DTV via both vhf & uhf. In the bay area channel 12 is being used by San Jose's KNTV. It's too far away for me. I'll have a shot next year when 9 & 10 will be used in Sacto.

[EscapeVelocity]

All my digital channels are on UHF right now. Ive got PBS moving to VHF HI next year, channel 7.

Ive got a MANT510 on the way, to experiment with.

[EscapeVelocity]

Anybody have any experience with this one?

Jensen TV-931 Amplified VHF/UHF/FM Antenna

[Rammitinski]

No, but I've heard it's pretty good.

[EscapeVelocity]

I might get one and test it out with the half dozen others I have here.


edit: Do I note a touch of sarcasm in that post Rammitinski?

[EscapeVelocity]

Mostly finished, still some cleaning up to do and draft improvements.

Please let me know if you liked my review and found it useful.

[golinux]

Originally Posted by EscapeVelocity

Terrestrial Digital DB2 - Double Bow Tie (AntennasDirect and others)



Superior antenna for use indoors . . .

I agree. I am in a heavily wooded area (and in a hollow to boot) about 26 miles from the towers. My location has been described as a "worst case scenario".

I have been using a DB2 with a 22db amp in an indoor window for several years. Since there is a VHF station, I have rabbit ears and the DB2 hooked to a signal combiner before going to the amp. This setup picks up all the local stations in analog and also with the Zenith DTT900 converter box. On two of the weaker stations there is some minor dropout if the winds are heavy but nothing I can't live with.

[Rammitinski]

Originally Posted by EscapeVelocity

I might get one and test it out with the half dozen others I have here.


edit: Do I note a touch of sarcasm in that post Rammitinski?

No. I'm being 100% sincere. I believe there were some positive comments about it here a couple of years back.

[deltaguy]

3 x 360, that's 1080. I'm not making this stuff up. Any indoor antenna with dipoles and a UHF will have similar problems to the MANT 510. I like the Silver Sensor because it's only got one 360 to deal with, but it has to work. Sadly, I doubt my Silver Sensors will bring in channels 9 & 10 next year.

Another contribution to the art of aiming the triple threat antenna: unlike the classic dipole configuration, the left and right dipole need not be pointed in directions opposite to each other. The dipole towards the patio helped. Aiming the UHF first and the other dipole after towards the patio hurt reception.
Without patience, a lot of people will elect to dropkick. I'm not saying I won't eventually.

[fajitamosaic]

Wow, this is the thread I've been looking for. We just got a digital converter. I wish I could snag those old Radio Shack 15-1862 or 15-1880 models. I've heard so many GREAT things about them. Currently, we're just using an old junk rabbit ear / uhf loop combo. It works way better than the amplified RCA ANT1251 we borrowed from a neighbor (no wonder he wasn't using it).

We're still getting some stuttering on a couple stations with transmitters about 20 miles away though. I'd love to get an amplified antenna at a LOW cost that'll help shore those up.

Anyone have any pros / cons of the Philips MANT410 vs the MANT510 model? They're similarly priced at Wal-Mart. Does the oval vs. rectangle UHF antenna matter?

[fbov]

While I agree this is a very valuable thread (possible sticky?) I also have to say what spokybob's hinted at: you can do much better for less money making a simple bow-tie array like those described in the antenna making thread.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=798265

This thread starts with a basic UHF-high design, but quickly expands to some real interesting options. Most aren't very "pretty" until you see the signal they bring in, but they also have enough gain to work from a closet if you don't like them as wall decorations (mine's in the attic).
Frank