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My previous antenna was a Power Antenna that plugs into an outlet and uses the house's wiring as an antenna. I live in the foothills west of Denver. It was getting most analog channels but only about half of them after the switch to digital. It's a difficult spot for off air reception. My neighbor said that he bought an indoor HDTV antenna and couldn't get a single channel. The RCA ANT1500 gets all of them. It is small, unobtrusive and doesn't require power.
I ordered this antenna based on the reviews that I read. UHF stations are the worst. The antenna seems to pull in most of the stations in my city (Toledo OH) but contrary to what the description says, you still must get up and go and turn the antenna for most stations. It does a decent job, but rainy days are a challenge to get any stations in. I have tried locating in different areas, high and low, near windows, etc. I would consider the Terk antenna next time.
The antenna is near an exterior wall, which helps with the reception. I am using the ANT1500 in Austin, TX and live about 4 miles from the TV transmitters. This antenna receives VHF as well as UHF. After a few minutes of experimentation with the antenna orientation, I was able to receive all 9 of the Austin digital TV stations. I have tried connecting it to a Sharp LCD TV, and a DIRECTV HR20 satellite set-top box, and it works well with both. The VHF reception is important in Austin in order to receive the Fox affiliate KTBC (digital channel 7.1).The antenna's white plastic enclosure is not very noticeable when near white walls, and it can also be hidden behind the TV or furniture. Unfortunately I was not able to mount it on the wall, as the signal strength was not as strong in that orientation.
I packed it back up an returned it to Walmart where I received a full refund. After playing with the antenna again, I rescanned and picked up the other channels with the exception of Ch 21. (the lone station in the other direction). I installed it in 2 minutes and hooked up her old antenna to it and did a scan. 21 (you would think that a station only 18 miles away should be captured at some point with this type of multidirectional antenna) but Ch.
So you will have to do some experimenting for best placement and reception. It will give the stations in yellow you are expected to receive with an indoor directional antenna (point and shoot type/rabbit ears type). Up to 3 weeks ago (around 6/12/09), she was able to pull in all of the above channels (some better than others) without moving around her 22 year old combination rabbit ears/UHF loop antenna (unknown brand or model) attached to her 22 year old 26 inch JVC TV set. That was my goal for the Digital transition--pull in the most channels for her without her having to move the antenna ever again.Well on 6/13/09, her life changed for the worse.
This is for my 82 year old mom who lives in Bayside, NY (Queens County) around 11 miles East of most of the Digital Transmitters of the TV stations (Ch. The important thing here was she was able to successfully view all the channels without ever getting up to adjust the antenna. 7, 11, 13) reverted back to VHF. Her TV is set up in the NW corner of the home on the first floor located on a busy street.
However, if you don't mind getting up and moving the antenna, your old rabbit ears should be fine. It's amazing that most of these antenna reviewers don't state how many miles away they are from the Digital Towers. They did not have the RCA ANT1500 in stock.I purchased the RCA ANT1500 [.]., installed it and rescanned. The RCA ANT1500 claims to be a multidirectional antenna (set it and forget it type). However, according to www.dtv.gov, that site claims that Ch.
Half of those 14 stations were under the magic 30% signal strength number and therefore, pixlated or did not tune in at all. 31 will be at full strength operation in August and Ch. 50 by October.Everbody's situation in different and you have to do your homework. 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 31, 50) she is interest in receiving. 50's clone station Ch. To my surprise, most of the channels came in.
To my surprise, 28 channels came in--still short of the 34 with the rabbit ears but double the number of the ANT1400 just by placing it on top of the TV. To my horror, only a total of 10 channels (instead of the 34) came in when I placed the Antenna on top of the TV only. Playing around by moving the Antenna one inch at a time, I finally found a position I could live with for the time being. I purchased an RCA DTA809 Digital to Analog converter box. However, even a change of one inch in placement can improve or worsen reception. My mom is a bit mad she can't get a few of her old stations but when I told her of the horror stories out there, she calmed down.Summary: I recommend the ANT1500 (although it should come with a longer, non-built in cable).
21). Damn, some don't even list what state let alone city they are in. It would have been a lot easier if the Government required all stations to go UHF--the original plan for Digital. Ch. Go to www.antennaweb.org and put your address or zip code in.
Stay away from the ANT1400. to come in at a solid signal strength of 30% or higher (which seems to be the magic number to get a solid signal without pixlations or unable to tune messages) at the same time without repositioning the antenna. Use your old antenna first--you may get lucky. No matter what I did and all the playing around with the antenna, I could not get all the stations (34 total channels including the subchannels like 7.1, 7.2 & 7.3, etc). She is also about 18 miles West of her favorite PBS station (Ch. 58 will be in operation to provide a stronger signal than Ch. Some basic background first.
31 & 50 come in weak. Some of the 34 channels are in a non-English language and are of no interest to her.I purchased the RCA ANT1400 [.]., installed it and rescanned. When the signal is strong enough, you get a clear crystal picture with digital. Good luck.
In my opinion, this renders their reviews absolutely useless as it DOES MATTER WHERE YOU ARE. Learn how to use the signal stength option on your converter box to improve the overall signal--each box is different but the same approach applies.For my mom's situation, the ANT1500 was much better than the ANT1400 hands down--no contest. Laying it flat (the higher the better) instead of standing it up or hanging it was better. 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 along with the subchannels come in clear. However, with a weak signal, your picture will break up or just go blank. Still no Ch. Most of the above stations are now UHF but 3 of them (Ch. Gone are the good old days of analog when with a weak signal you still got a slightly fuzzy or ghostly picture.
Moving it all over and finally resting it flat on top of the window box only picked up an additional 4 channels for a grand total of 14 channels. Moving it all over and finally resting it flat on top of the window box (about a foot below the ceiling with the built in 6 foot cable fully extended) picked up the missing channels plus one more for a grand total of 35 channels. Rule of thumb: You should be able to receive the same stations after 6/12/09 that you did before 6/12/09. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION & then POSITION, POSITION, POSITION.
I don't have cable and really was counting on this antenna to help me seet the digital format with the aide of a converter box. Some days you can see several stations. This antenna does not receive enough strong signals. It's very temperamental. Most days the stations received have distorted images and voices. I wouldn't recommend this brand.
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