Header banner
Revain logoHome Page
Ivan Brown photo
1 Level
778 Review
46 Karma

Review on ANTOP HDTV Antenna: UHF/VHF Enhanced, Dual Output - Smart Boost System, Indoor/Outdoor TV Antenna with FM Amplifier, 4G Filter - Supports Multiple Playback Devices by Ivan Brown

Revainrating 5 out of 5

That's what I'm talking about! Updated rating.

I live in suburban New England about 25 miles from downtown. I went from 7-8 fuzzy channels with stuttering, barring two that didn't interest me at all, to about a hundred (and counting) crystal clear cable/non-terrestrial digital channels with no glitches. I think that's why you need an active antenna! It is temporarily installed in a partially concrete silo scenario. Located on the basement level next to a low north window, this unit barely rises above the windowsill as it sits on a concrete floor. Three-foot piles of snow are now piled up on the road. He has full power. I have excellent digital reception and can see what I'm missing even if I installed it in a hard-to-reach place. Every time I click on the smart guide, I am delighted and surprised. It should be noted that FM radio reception is solid and tested in this bad scenario. Every Smart TV should have one of these. You might want to know if the antenna itself appears larger live. I looked at the dimensions before buying and thought it's ok, I think just give me a performance, discreet, easy to install / move / place anywhere that works better (and not bad for a flat share looks). please. It is 24 inches high (with stand) and 36 inches wide (with side antennas). It's not a shoebox like I was thinking, more like a 3x magnification. However, it is flat, light and elegant as shown. I appreciate its "discreet-big Wi-Fi antenna tech aesthetic" for all the content it actually brings. Large conventional antennas with powerful splitter amplifiers can beat this performance, but for now I'm happy with this solution. For reference, this gives an odd number of about 14dB maximum, many splitter amps give a maximum of about 8dB. Mounting options allow it to hide on a roof, invisible to all but drones, birds, and overhead planes. UPDATE 3-8-2021: Power Booster needs a little physical help with "RG-6 plugging". The performance boost that the device delivers and the antenna itself are still great. The power amp has weak internal pins and one of them was changed and failed when the unit was moved to a permanent mount. The reason for this is that the coax connections just poke through the plastic and nothing attaches them to the chassis, putting stress on the already "pretty cheap base" pins in the PCB. The manufacturer quickly sent me a new one, which is great, but I highly recommend ordering a package of hex nuts and washers for the F-81 barrel fittings, you can find 100 of them for $10 right with this unit. Once bolted on, the RG-6 connectors provide a much stronger and more stable connection point, relieving internal points and transferring them to the housing (see image). Yes, it looks like they should be, but they aren't! They REALLY MUST be from the manufacturer! I still have 5 stars.

Pros
  • Accessories and supplies
Cons
  • boring packaging