Antennas Direct DB4 Multi-Directional HDTV Antenna
by Antennas Direct
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List Price: Our Price: $194.95 You Save: $155.04 (44%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Speakers See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Antennas Direct DB4 Multi-Directional HDTV Antenna
Customer Review: Works well for Raleigh area digital HDTV
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought my stepfather one of these for Father's Day and set it up at my parents' house yesterday. They are south of Garner, but still in Raleigh. After the digital switch, they lost reception of Univision & Ion, and they've always received blocky reception using a run-of-the-mill indoor antenna. With the DB4, my parents can watch Univision crisply and clearly, as well as receiving all of the other channels much better than before.
I have the antenna pointing approx. 230 degrees (or roughly southwest) to accommodate the Univision signal [check out antennaweb.org for compass directions]. This is just about the opposite direction from the major networks' signals, but they all receive perfectly except for channels 5.1 and 22.1, which have minor blockiness. This quality of reception is all from the ground floor (indoors) of a multi-story house, with trees and a hill in the way. I was unable to receive the UNC public television channels, and would likely need to purchase another antenna, a signal combiner, and mount the second antenna higher up in the house pointing toward the signal from Chapel Hill (which is coming from roughly the NW direction).
My technophile friend who advised me on this gift purchase recommended the DB8, but I chose this model, as it is still small enough to be a convenient indoor antenna. Perhaps the DB8 would have a better time at picking up the signal from UNC TV.
Customer Review: This is an excellent antenna.
Summary: 5 Stars
Mother-in-law in suburban Tampa doesn't have cable, and with the analog-TV sunset looming we knew she would be in trouble because with the old rabbit ears she was using, she hardly got any analog signals. The few she got were snowy. We got her a new HD LCD TV, and I bought the DB4 antenna to install in her attic.
It is important to know where the TV station broadcast sites are, because while this antenna is "multi-directional" it is still somewhat directional. There are sites on the web [...] that will guide you through locating the orientation of broadcast stations relative to your home. For the most part, broadcast stations are clustered together in one or two locations in a given area. Once we got that all squared away, and fired up the TV with the new antenna, it was evident that this was a big upgrade. 12-16 digital channels (main channels plus sub-channels) came in crystal clear, and the high def channels looked great.
I was impressed enough that I bought another one to install in my own house in suburban Boston, even though I have digital cable with high def. I have the antenna connected to the RF input on the TV, and digital cable box to an HDMI input, and so I can toggle between digital cable and digital over-the-air. This antenna works great - it can pull in over a dozen channels 30 miles from the stations in Florida (flat land), so I give it high marks.
Customer Review: DB4 Works
Summary: 3 Stars
I purchased the DB4 antenna because the digital signals in my area come from multiple directions (A-leg is at 304-degrees/33-miles, F-leg is at 144-degrees/13-miles). Unfortunately, this "multi-directional antenna does not have a wide enough spectrum to pick up all the channels in this spread. The documentation does not specify how wide the antenna' pick up spectrum is. This would be helpful information. I purchased a Radio Shack VU-90XR VHF/UHF/FM (directional) antenna to augment the DB4. With this combination, I am able to "consistently" pull-in the available analog/digital signals in this area.
I previously used DirecTV satellite service. I ditched it because like cable, they continued to increase their prices, which I no longer wish to pay (I ditched cable some time ago for the same reason). I am pleased with the quality of the "digital" picture I am receiving. The "analog" picture is still snowy and pretty much unwatchable (expected since the DB4 operates in the UHF spectrum).
The antenna is mounted outdoors in place of my satellite dish, and is connected to a Zenith DTT901 converter box and Sharp "analog" TV in my bedroom and a Philips DVDR3545V/37 and Toshiba "analog" TV in my living room. The picture on both TV's is exceptionally sharp (a little softer than a DVD picture), and far exceeds the analog picture.
Customer Review: Pretty good, but not strong enough for me
Summary: 3 Stars
Bought the DB4 based on positive reviews on amazon, and research into other competitive offerings. Price was excellent, product delivery excellent, the product itself was compact enough and not ugly. Used the antennaweb site to determine right antenna type and location to point antenna. First tried in attic, which worked pretty good. The stations that came in, looked amazing, HD much better quality than cable. However, too many patches out during sports was too much to take. So, did the difficult task of mounting on roof, signal strength was better, but still had pixelated images every once in awhile. I live 17 miles from the stations with mature trees all around, and got about 20 stations, but pixelating out was too much too take. I had the antenna split two 2 tvs, with one of them running 100 ft of cable, so that is definitely reducing the strength, but strength on key stations was still at 70-90% and still had occasional patch problems. Returned product after trying for 30 days. Going to try the $90 clearstream product that has long range capabilities, since my cabling, pole, etc is all set up to use. This project took considerablly more time than expected, so my advice is double any expectations you have on time to set it up. I think this product is likely fantastic for areas closer or with much less coaxial cable.Customer Review: NIce replacement for roof antenna
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this antenna from Amazon and received and installed it in my attic one week ago. Upon opening the package I was a bit surprised at its size - smaller than I was thinking it would be. I was also nicely surprised in that it came assembled. It fit through my attic opening quite easily. Installing the antenna was about as simple as can be. I got the compass readings for the broadcast antennas in the area, almost all within a couple of degrees of each other, and then pointed the antenna towards the center of these readings, tightened the two wings nuts on the c clamp around the J bar mount I also purchased and attached the antenna cable. That's it. The picture quality is better than I got with my roof antenna. I believe the wind blowing the roofing antenna caused the picture distortions I don't get with the DB4. Instructions that came with the antenna were very minimal but a flyer that also was provided notes that it is possible to experience up to 40 percent signal loss if mounted in the attic. Signal loss also will occur if a splitter is used to connect more than one television or if excessive cable length is required. I have two televisions hooked up, live about 32 miles from the antenna farm and have no problems with the antenna at all. I don't have a need for a signal booster. I am happy with this purchase.