Antennas Direct DB4 Multi-Directional HDTV Antenna
by Antennas Direct
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List Price: Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Antennas Direct DB4 Multi-Directional HDTV Antenna
Customer Review: Worked great, easy
Summary: 5 Stars
We're in the east bay, CA - Dublin to be specific. Using an old powered indoor antenna we were getting around 14 channels. I hooked the DB4 up indoors just to see and got about the same number. However, when I mounted it where my old dish network dish was located about level with the top of the 1st story of the house it picked up 62 channels. I was aiming vaguely at Sutro tower in San Francisco but not using a compass or anything. About 40% of the channels are English language. A couple are audio only. They come in great. Well worth the price of the antenna.
Setting up the antenna takes about 5 minutes. Only very minor assembly required.
Customer Review: Could not be better
Summary: 5 Stars
I researched and tried, by trial and error, a number of different antenna configurations prior to buying the DB4. Interior multi-directionals, boosters, etc. all failed to receive good signals. I received 4 channels intermittently and maybe 8 on rare occasions.
I am anywhere from 20-50 miles from the broadcast stations in my area. After installing the antenna with a Motorola booster I now receive 17 channels (all free) and I am very happy with the way it worked out. I used my old dish antenna mount, installed new cable, and mounted the booster. In under an hour it was complete, sturdy, and functioning great.
Customer Review: Way better than the old, large antennas...in so many ways
Summary: 4 Stars
This is the most compact, efficient, antenna I've tried for television reception. The DB4 is not twice as good as the DB2 (at least not in East Texas where I live), but the 4 is noticeably better in signal strength. I'd recommend this for anyone wanting to have local HD TV without paying for it. The key is elevation on the antenna. As high as you can safely go.Customer Review: A marginal improvement
Summary: 4 Stars
I was using a DB-2 from the same manufacturer; I was getting a lot of general weather fade from it. Installing and aligning the DB-4 gave me perhaps 10% better signal as measured at the set, not enough to improve reliability of signal. Customer Review: Worked as Advertised
Summary: 5 Stars
I am so tired of cable companies charging extra for HD programming from local channels that are free off the air. I cancelled my Basic cable a few months after the Feb switch to digital Television last year and won't go back. TO start off, I have tried multiple antenna's in many diff positions. The Flat RCA antenna found at walmart for 19.95$ worked ok for 3-6 channels here in Parker, Co. When I bought my house, I went to wallyworld and picked up the Phillips outdoor blade type antenna, that improved the reception to about 15 channels of which I was only going to watch 5-6 as the rest where religious or hispanic channels that I don't watch. I had the Phillips MANT940 up on my roof for 3 months with acceptable results, but after I got a 2nd TV and split the signal I had signal degradation. If a car drove by I would lose picture on the major networks. SO I started looking for a replacement and came across the DB4.
As I read the reviews I was skeptical at first if it would work for me, on two televisions, specially since I ha spent more then 40$ on the Phillips and the other flat antenna. I went ahead and ordered it finally, it came in a rather LARGE box, one used for bicycles I think, but inside was a box 1/2 the size, what a waste of resources. But the antenna was actually small, about 2 1/2' x 1' and 4" thick. Took me all of 2 mins to assemble it. I plugged in a cheaper COAX and ran the cable to my larger TV and walked outside. TO my amazement after just laying it on my yard and the porch the TV was getting the same old signals without any loss when cars drove by.
I rescanned it and I was able to pick up 20 station, the old ones stronger than before. I proceeded to lay the antenna on the roof but not install it and results where no different, same strong signals but only 20 stations.
Well this is when I decided to remove the existing direct TV dish setup and cannibalize its wiring as it was more heavily shielded. I ran the new section of wiring from the antenna to the TV and I now picked up 40 stations vs 15 on the Phillips. The new cabling did the trick and made a dramatic difference.
I went out to Home Depot, picked up some new hardware, a new splitter and a 1" Gray Electric PVC pipe. I did not see the reason to buy a metal pole or even a coated one as cutting it would be a PIA. I secured the PVC to the side of the house, trimmed it to about 3' of which only 1 foot extended above the roof. Pulled of the existing SAT Coax outside, I ran them from the TV up to the existing SAT box from which I ran a splitter and up to the antenna on the roof. (I basically pulled all the old Coax out and ran new ones to wall plates). I was lucky that there had been several feet of Coax for me to work with. I used grounding blocks at the splitter and just before the cable entered the house.
I have two LCD Samsungs pulling in 40 stations now of which I can now watch 15 in HDTV in clarity that I never was able to get before. My signals come in at a min of 70% as I am running 50ft max from the antenna, and using a 3db amp at each TV. The amps came from my previous antenna experiments. I can turn the amps off, and signal loss is minimal that I don't even notice it. If I do decide to add another TV in the basement, I will be getting a CE labs 6001 booster at the SAT box which happens to be a nice weather proof box.
Bottom line, I am very Happy with this antenna, it is snowing now and picture quality remains the same. My brother in law has seen the clarity and can't believe I paid a one time price of 50$ + some hardware for my TV. I don't watch to much television, the major networks are just fine. He admitted to paying over 100$ for SAT Tv and he does not even watch it, guess what he is going to do now.
I am in Parker, CO in a single story Rancher, I did not want my antenna in the attic because I wanted the most out of it. It is small enough that you do not even see it, as its in the middle of the roof with a riser behind it. I am using new COAX, with a single splitter and very Satisfied with this product.