Indoor DTV Antenna Reviews
What is the best DTV antenna for my house, apartment, or condo?
It’s one of the most common questions we receive here at tvconversionhelp.com and at our forum www.dtvusaforum.com. One of the most important factors in determining which type of antenna you’ll need for receiving dtv signals, is by figuring out how far TV broadcast towers are from your house or dwelling. Estimating this distance might be difficult to do on your own, but we’ve found a useful website that’ll calculate the distance for you (free). www.tvfool.com - Just click on the “Start Here” at tvfool and enter your zip code for detailed broadcast tower distance results from your location.
Indoor antennas
A good indoor antenna can receive digital television signals approximately 15-20 miles away from broadcast towers depending on your area topography. Your results may vary depending on objets like hills, mountains, or trees that can deflect signals from reaching your antenna.
On to the reviews…
Terk HDTVa Indoor Amplified High-Definition Antenna
Positive:
Easy Setup
UHF and VHF Elements (Recommended by most news channels for indoor reception)
Preassembled
Amplified and optimized to receive both UHF and VHF channels
High-gain antenna array can be oriented horizontally or vertically for optimum reception
Strong fit and finish
Negative:
Slightly directional design may require adjustment for some channels depending on location from broadcast towers
The bottom line:
One of the most visually appealing DTV antennas to hit the market this last year. #1 seller at Amazon for indoor antennas, and highly regaured at HDTV and DTV forums as the goto antenna for indoor digital television reception.
Product Description:
Product Dimensions: 5.4 pounds
Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
ASIN: B0007MXZB2
Item model number: HDTVA
Antennas Direct DB2 Multi Directional HDTV Antenna
Positive:
Easy setup!
Preassembled
11.4 dB Gain, Strong performance across entire UHF band (Channels 14-69)
Fit and finish is good
Negative:
Not the prettiest looking anenna on the market
The bottom line:
Performance designed antenna that may go the extra distance over the Terk HDTVa antenna with receiving digital signals. The author of this article uses this antenna, and has it situated behind the TV cabinet out of view from anyone in the living room.
Product Description:
Product Dimensions: 4 x 19 x 12 inches ; 5 pounds
Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
ASIN: B000EHUE7I
Item model number: DB2
Winegard SS-3000 Amplified Indoor UHF/VHF Antenna
Positive:
Easy Setup and minimal adjustment needed with mounting
Preassembled
Scatter Plane Technology To Receive Indoor Direct and Reflected Signals
Negative:
long profile design may not be suitable for placing this antenna on a small table or on top of an equipment cabinet
The bottom line:
This antenna is a close tie with the Antennas Direct DB2, but offers better VHF performance and may provide better performance across the UHF band too.
Product Description:
Product Dimensions: 27 x 4.5 x 5 inches ; 3.3 pounds
Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
ASIN: B001DFZ5II
Item model number: SS-3000
WINEGARD SS-3000 AMPLIFIED INDOOR U/V ANTENNAHIGH-PERFORMANCE INDOOR ANTENNA; SCATTER PLANE TECHNOLOGY TO RECEIVE INDOOR DIRECT and REFLECTED SIGNALS; PRECISION-MOUNTED ELECTRONICS FOR ULTRA EFFICIENT TRANSFER OF DIGITAL SIGNAL; COMPACT DESIGN FOR ANY HOME DCOR; RANGE UP TO 30 MILESZONE 1 (YELLOW/GREEN) ;
DTV postponed to June 12th, 2009
The digital transition has been postponed from February 17th, 2009 to June 12th, 2009 after the House voted to approve the delay this afternoon. President Barack Obama will need to sign the bill before the delay becomes official, but has said he will do so once it lands on his desk.
What you need to know about the DTV Delay:
All TV broadcasters now must stop broadcasting analog signals after 6-12-2009(Known as the digital transition) Broadcasters can choose to shut off their analog signals any time before 6-12-09. If your broadcaster decides to broadcast digital only signals and your analog TV does not have a converter box, you will not receive that specific station’s channel. Even though the DTV delay bill has been approved, expired coupon holders still cannot reapply to the dtv coupon program. There may be ammendments added to allow expired coupon holders to apply again, and as these details become available, we’ll update this post.
The delay may confuse some consumers due to a provision that allows for broadcasters to choose to transition to digital only signals ahead of the 6-12-09 date. TVConversionHelp recommends visiting your local television channel’s website for information as it becomes available on their plan to transition to DTV.
Second Vote set for DTV Delay on February 4th, 2009
The Senate has approved a second bill to delay the digital transition from Feb. 17th, 2009 to June 12th, 2009. Before becoming official, the House will only need a simple majority vote in favor of the bill to pass as opposed to the 2/3 majority vote needed for last weeks defeated bill.
With the delay expected to pass this go around, the Senate’s new bill has made some concessions to allow television stations the option to delay or proceed with the digital transition on Feb. 17th. Broadcasters have complained that a delay would force them to incur unnecessary costs by having to broadcast both analog and digital signals for almost 4 more months.
If the delay bill does pass, are television stations going to choose toshut off analog broadcasts anyway on Feb 17th, 2009?
ARSTechnica reported,
Republicans, however, argue that current FCC rules would still prevent many stations from transitioning ahead of the pack.
and the reasoning?
In a letter sent to the Federal Communications Commission today, Barton and Stearns also question whether the revised language will truly make the delay voluntary, suggesting that “because of interference concerns, most broadcast stations would not be allowed to transition under current FCC rules until around the time that all broadcast stations transition.”
DTV Delayed? No, says House of Reps
House Republicans have voted No on a bill that would have moved the digital television transition date originally scheduled for Feb. 17, 2009 to June 12, 2009.
The DTV Delay bill had been originally passed by the Senate on Tuesday, but needed two thirds majority votes from the House to receive approval. Voting outcome was 258 in favor and 168 against, having narrowly missed the two thirds approval mark.
According to the AP, opposing House Reps had voiced conceren about added costs involved for television broadcasters who have spent several years preparing for the February digital transition.
Other measures could be drafted to postpone the DTV Transition, but time is running out with less than a month left.
DTV Transition Delay, Almost…
Hot off the Reuters wire, the Senate passed a bill this afternoon (1-26-09) to delay the the transition to DTV until June 12th, 2009.
Earlier in January, President Barack Obama’s presidential transition team sent a letter to Congress asking for an extension because they felt that many Americans would not be ready by the originally scheduled February 17th, 2009 transition date.
Some news agencies are reporting that the transition delay has been appoved, but the measure will still need to clear House Representatives (could be approved by the end of this week) before the delay becomes official.
DTV deadline extension a bad idea?
The Obama administration is considering a postponement of the DTV transition, which is scheduled to occur on February 17, 2009. If the extension is granted, consumers would benefit, but at the expense of several public service agencies and corporations.
The FCC has provisioned parts of the analog broadcast spectrum for public safety communications (such as police, fire departments, and rescue squads), after the switch to digital television. These Government agencies are preparing to use the analog frequencies based on the Feb 17th, 2009 transition date. If an extension is granted, it would also force public safety agencies to postpone use of the “valuable analog specrtum“.
The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International, International Association of Chiefs of Police, International Association of Fire Chiefs and the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council) sent a joint letter (Jan. 9th), asking that the analog frequencies be allocated to public safety agencies and emergency responders inspite of an impending deadline extension. The letter was signed by the chiefs of each orgnization.
The FCC has already auctioned off billions of dollars worth of analog spectrum to mobile phone, wireless internet carriers, and Google to provide more advanced services.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin has voiced concerns that a delay would not only cost the U.S. Government more money, it would also delay telecom and internet corporations from utilizing the old analog frequencies.
-written by acwriter
Ref: http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6628361.html?desc=topstory
Affordable Handheld TVs with built-in DTV tuners
After the “on schedule” digital transition in Feb. 2009, almost all analog mobile TV sets will become little more than a electronic paper weight. Just how many handhelds? An approximate 8 million according to Consumer Electronics Association (2006 estimate), and not one converter box manufacture has produced a workable solution. One digital-to-anlog converter box maker, Winegard, has produced a dtv box which can be optionally powered by 6 D batteries, and run for an estimated 18 hours…but how do you connect it to a mobile TV with no inputs? Frustrating isn’t it, and yes, the author of this article owns an analog mobile TV.
Just recently, handheld TVs with built-in digital tuners have come to market, and are becoming affordable.
Haier HLT71 7-Inch Portable LCD TV
Positive:
7-inch portable LCD TV with ATSC/NTSC tuner, that WILL work after the 6/12/2009 Digital Transition
Selectable screen aspect ratio of 16:9 or 4:3
Audio/video jack and coaxial output; detachable antenna
rechargeable Li-polymer battery
Negative:
Some reviews have reported a battery life of approximtely 2 to 2 1/2 hours
The bottom line:
The HLT71 includes an AC power adapter, a car adapter, and the digital tuner seems to rate well with reception of DTV signals. At the current price point, the Haier HLT71 has been the current top seller at Amazon for mobile DTVs.
Product Description: Axion AXN-8701 7-Inch Widescreen Portable Handheld TV with Built-In Tuner
HAIER HLT71 7″ PORTABLE LCD TV7″ LCD TV; ELECTRONIC VOLUME CONTROL; SELECTABLE 4:3 OR 16:9 ASPECT RATIO; AUTO SEARCH; A/V STEREO INPUTS; CLOSED CAPTION ; INCLUDES REMOTE and RECHARGEABLE BATTERY; DIM: 5.6″H X 7.5″W X 1.1″D
Positive:
Built-in NTSC/ATSC tuner for both analog and digital channels - so it WILL work after the June 12, 2009 Digital Transition
7-Inch widescreen LCD portable handheld TV
A/V input for external audio/video sources
Rechargeable Lithium-Polymer battery
Negative:
Built-in antenna - Bunnyears style (Not always good for reception of DTV signals)
Battery cannot be charged while TV is plugged into car adapter
The bottom line:
The AXN-8701 has nice built-in features such as an A/V input for external audio/video sources (ie: video games, VCR, DVD, etc.). Light weight, compact, and a Rechargeable Lithium-Polymer battery makes this portable TV a good choice.
Product Description:
7″ widescreen LDC mobile TV with hi-resolution and hi-brightnessBuild in NTSC/ATSC tuner for both analog and digital channelsBrightness adjustableBuild-in antenna allows easy repositioning for receptionA/V input for external audio/video sourcesBuild-in speakerBuild-in rechargeable lithium-polymer batteryCard style remoter controlHeadphone jack and volume control
Tivax HiRez7 Portable 7-Inch Digital Widescreen LCD TV
Positive:
ATSC Tuner, that WILL work after the 6/12/2009 Digital Transition
7″ Widescreen LCD Digital TV
3-in-1 Card Reader!! I haven’t seen any other mobile DTV’s with this option yet.
Can use both antenna and cable
Includes two rechargeable Li-ion batteries up to 1.5-hour usage
Built in stereo speakers
Will work with alkaline batteres
Negative:
3.5 Stars out of 5 on Amazon reviews, but most of the bad reviews were because of the the Tivax HiRez7’s reception. As with all handheld DTV’s, you must use a good external antenna. This is especailly important if you’re in a rural area.
The bottom line:
One of the better looking mobile DTVs on the market, lots of options, definitely a unit wort considering.
Product Description:
7-Inch widescreen active matrix TFT screen
Integrated ATSC digital tuner for digital broadcast reception
External rod antenna provided for over-the-air signal reception
Audio/Video inputs for connection to external Audio/Video source
Audio output for connection to external audio systems
Built-in stereo speakers
Earphone output for private listening
Large capacity rechargeable Li-battery
USB Port & Card Slot for playing digital media file
Closed Caption and Parental Control supported
Card style full function remote control
Specifications:
Audio/Video Input
Audio Output
Earphone Output
Antenna Input
Mini USB
3-in-1 Card Reader
12V DC Input for AC-DC Adapter
Input Voltage for AC – DC Adapter: 90 ~ 240V
Power Consumption: Less than 15W
Unit Dimensions (W x H x D): 8.7″ x 5.1″ x 1.2″
Unit Weight: 1.3 lbs
President-elect Obama asks for Digital Transition delay
Digital Transition date in jeapordy?
A letter sent on Thursday to key lawmakers from the Obama-Biden presidential transition team has requested that the Digital Transition on Feb. 17th, 2009, “should be reconsidered and extended.” Several problems were cited with the TV converter box coupon program which included “inadequate funding” of government DTV education programs, and insufficient help for low income, rural, and elderly Americans.
The letter, signed by John Podesta, co-chair of the Obama-Biden transition team, also makes note of more than 1 million Americans currently on the waiting list for DTV Coupons due to inproper funding.