TERK FDTV2A Omni Directional Amplified Flat Digital HDTV Antenna (Black)
TERK FDTV2A flat amplified digital indoor TV antenna takes antenna design to the next level. Comes in acrylic gloss black with chrome accents to match today’s high quality digital flat panel displays. Patented reception technology in a multi-directional 360 degree design outperforms traditional antennas. Gives superior UHF and VHF reception while being optimized for HDTV reception. An ultra low noise amplifier with multiple filtering chip sets provides a clear amplified signal. This antenna exceeds the new CEA-2032-A Section 3.2.1 standard for amplification of digital signals. Multiple easy mounting options include wall mount, flat stand and vertical stand. Has 1 year limited warranty.
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Put aside your suspicions of the pulling power of an indoor antenna that doesn’t look like an antenna. The Terk FDTV2A is a powerhouse packed in a handsome, decorator-friendly package that has the Terk-proven capability to deliver plenty of local TV channels. Unlike the conventional antennas that sprout poles and branches of rods and create an eyesore while taking up a lot of space, this one is about the size of a sheet of stationery about a half-inch thick. It has a gloss black finish and can be hung on a wall or placed on a flat surface vertically or horizontally. One thin cable is for the power connection that amplifies the incoming signals and the other has a standard coax connector. It tunes itself, so the speak, and has full multi-directional capability. In my high-rise condo, placing the Terk next to a window and with a 15′ coax cable run, even though multiple buildings are in the direct path to the broadcast antennas four miles away, I was able to get nearly 20 channels (primary plus secondary) of non-cable programming.
First, I live in a suburban community approximately 14 miles SW of most of the TV transmitters in my region (according to [...]). So my review is probably best applicable to anyone who lives in a suburb outside a major city. If you don’t fit this category, then please take my review with a huge grain of salt.
(actually, everyone should take EVERY review of these TV antennas with a grain of salt)
So after the official switch to DTV, we continued to use an amplified rabbit ears with loop antenna…with horrible results. We would have to continually turn and extend/retract and kick and scream at the antenna just to try to get a decent picture from one channel. And when we wanted to change channels, the same chaos would ensue again. Finally, fed up with the loop antenna’s performance (and more importantly, someone broke one of the ears while adjusting!) I went to the local big box store. There were many non-amplified models available, but I felt that an amplified antenna was necessary for my home and chose this model simply as it was the cheapest amplified antenna available.
Set up is as easy as it gets. The cable to your TV/converter box is already attached at one end to the antenna, so you just plug in the other end to the amplifier, which in turn is plugged into the tv/converter box. If you want to attach the stand to make the antenna stand upright, then make sure to feed the cable first through the stand before attaching. The amplifier is powered by a small AC adapter, so you’ll need to plug that in too. There is no on/off switch or power adjuster for the amplification.
After the hookups, you’ll probably have to play around with the antenna to find just the right right spot and angle. Let me repeat that: the right spot AND angle. This was quite an event for me. It took me a good hour to find the perfect spot and angle to achieve close to perfect results. And I say close to perfect because with the final optimal placement, I can pull in all my local channels cleanly with the exception of one. My placement is a bit funky, I had to place it a little distance away from the tv next to the window. Also, I had to make sure the antenna cable sits on top of the antenna, sort of like a teeter-totter, in order to get the optimal results. Other than that one channel not coming in, I no longer have to fidget with the antenna anymore!
As for the amplification, in my case it made a huge difference! Without the amplifier plugged in, I probably picked up about 20% of the channels available..all with poor signals. The amplifier does help the antenna pick up most of the remaining channels while also enhancing the signals of the original channels.
Granted, I still cannot achieve 100% tv perfection that a monthly subscription to cable/satellite would give me, but investing a month’s worth of cable for ALMOST 100% perfection is worth it.