Customer Reviews

RCA ANT1550 Large Multi-Directional Digital Flat Amplified Antenna (White)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I don't own this yet, but wanted to point out some info that the Amazon site is lacking. I got this info from a comparison of all the RCA antennas at [...].

ANT1450: Better Signal Strength
ANT1500: Excellent Signal Strength
ANT1550: Excellent Signal Strength PLUS has a REMOVABLE AMPLIFIER
ANT2000: Superior Signal Strength from SMART technology

The only difference in the ANT1500 and the ANT1550 is that the 1550 has a REMOVABLE AMPLIFIER. Might come in handy if you don't know which you need, or if you move from an open area to an area with high buildings. There is a price difference to consider.

For the AMT2000, you must have SMART capability on your TV or converter box or DVD to be able to use it. I have an Ethernet port on my DVD and called the company to see if that meant I could attach a SMART antenna to it and they said NO. Has to be a SMART enable ethernet port....

So, if I had SMART capabilities, I would certainly buy the AMT2000. If not, you just need to decide whether you need an AMPLIFIER or not. I have copied this info from [...]:
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What is an amplified antenna and how do I know if I need one?

An amplified antenna can improve a TV set's tuner performance, especially if the antenna is used indoors. Amplified antennas used in yellow color code areas should always be rated for use in these areas. This guarantees that the amplified antenna will not overload the signal. Building construction techniques can seriously reduce the amount of signal that reaches the interior of the building in a yellow color code area, making an amplifier a useful tool.

In dark green color code areas, amplified antennas are highly desirable in order to preserve as much of the received signal as possible, especially when distributing the signal to a VCR and a TV. Also, this can provide some useful compensation for signal loss caused by building construction and position in the building.

In outlying areas a large directional antenna should be used, but this requires amplifiers and rooftop mounting in the blue and violet color code areas.
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Also, FIRST, you should go to [...] and type in your address to see which color codes you are (simplified terms). Basically, the more yellow you see, the better reception with a regular antenna you'll have. As said in the text above, if you DO get an amplifier, and you are mostly yellows, then make sure the amplifier is rated for yellow use or it could overpower the signal.

Clear as mud? I now have to decide whether to get the amplified 1550 version for myself or the regular 1500. I tend to think long term (though how smart is that with technology?), and so even though I don't need the amplifier now, I may need it someday when I move...

First off, some background. I live less than 8 miles from most broadcasting towers in the Philadelphia area. My neighborhood consists of 3-story row homes and larger apartment buildings. This would seem ideal for a non-amplified antenna, and it should be. However, nobody in my proximity can hold a steady signal without an outdoor, roof-mounted antenna. This is not necessarily a knock on this product (although it is way, way, way overpriced for what is essentially cheap plastic housing which holds a thin copper sheet.)

This is the fourth indoor antenna I've used, and it still holds true that for where I am, this is no more effective than rabbit ears for HOLDING a signal. Now this did (just as all the others), pull in nearly 35 channels. Sounds good, right? All major channels are received at over 90% signal strength. Again, good, right? WRONG. The signals will hold steady for about 30-40 seconds, then drop to 4% or so for about 3 seconds, then hover at around 75% for a few more, then the cycle repeats.

Now, I figure that it's one of a number of possible issues, i.e. antenna placement, room location, amp on or off, digital tuner problem, etc. After an exhaustive experimentation process which included 4 different antennas and 3 different tv's and some digital boxes, it was the same in every room in the house. No matter what, a signal would not remain steady and watchable for more than a minute at a time, with or without the amp. So I go next door, and proceed to do the same thing. Guess what? Same result. Then I found out that a neighbor a few houses down has an antenna mounted on her roof, so I asked to see what the signal was like. And while the signal strength never eclipsed 80%, it was rock solid and fluctuation-free. Just to check, I plugged in this antenna, and experienced the same problem's at my place and next door.

I'm just writing this as a warning: depending on where you are, even if you're very close to broadcast towers in a major city, you may not be able to sustain a signal without a pricey roof-mounted antenna. Sad, really, but that's just how it seems to be. And a final word on this particular antenna, you can't just lay it flat an leave it alone, you have to tilt it awkwardly to get a signal most of the time, and it just flat-out costs too much for what it is. This is really no better than a cheapo $15 job, unless you live far away from the towers and need the amp. Beware, guys.

This product provides very little improvement over rabbit ears. If you want to pay the money for it because it looks better than rabbit ears then you might be happy with it. I was looking for improved performance and was somewhat disappointed. Keep in mind also that this unit is NOT omni-directional - there's a difference and you'll have to experiment with it's orientation. I get the same number of channels as before with improved signal strength on some channels and weaker strength on others (vs. the rabbit ears). Overall it IS better than rabbit ears; I just expected more for the money.

For over two years I've been using an RCA ANT-501 indoor, powered antenna, to tune in my local DTV channels. Everything was fine before February 2009, when all of those channels were UHF, but one of my channels switched to VHF and another is set to do so in June. With the RCA ANT-501, I had previously only had to use the UHF loop, but now I have to have the VHF "rabbit ears" connected and it has not been easy to find a position for them that maximizes the reception - I've lost 20% signal strength on that channel due to the frequency change. Broadcasters appear to love VHF, but indoor antennas are vastly superior at pulling in UHF channels.

I was hoping that these new RCA flat antennas would be better for getting in both UHF and VHF. It turned out not to be the case. The main issue is trying to find a position to where this ANT-1550 could get in all of my channels. I spent probably two solid hours doing nothing but positioning this antenna in every possible location and orientation it could stay in and I never could get in my five channels at levels as high as the ANT-501. Furthermore, one odd thing is that the problematic VHF channel actually barely came in when I had the ANT-1550 positioned to where the cord comes in from the bottom. For some bizarre reason, it would only tune in if I had it "upside down" to where the cord pulled from the top.

We bought the amplified antenna to replace an unamplified UHF/VHF antenna hoping that the multi-directional design would eliminate the need to get up and down to adjust the rabbit ears when changing stations. Although it is not perfect (some stations still come in better with the antenna in different locations in the room), it is a decent antenna and we get more stations with the amplified than with the unamplified antenna. (We live in a ground level suburban apartment 12-15 miles from the broadcast towers).

The amplifier is not perfect. We originally had it plugged into a power strip with the TV, DVD player, Wii, Wii charger, and converter box, but found that reception improved significantly when we unplugged the Wii remote charger station. I'm not sure if it is the amplifier or remote charger that is the real source of the interference, but as long as they aren't on the same power strip, it isn't a problem for us.

My house has more TV's than I have outputs from my satellite dish system, so I needed an antenna solution for reception for one of my TV's. On the advice of a friend who has the RCA 1500,I decided on the amplified RCA 1550. Set up was simple and the amount of digital stations I pick up increased 2-fold! (outlying Los Angeles location ) I'm very satisfied, and would definitely recommend this antenna.

I bought this unit after thoroughly researching the competing products. I bought it to strengthen signal reception after the transition to digital broadcasts. Also, I was concerned to get an indoor antenna that would rescue me from the interference of trees.
Contrary to many reviewers that simply say "lay it on a counter or table," I say that you should elevate it and have it sit upon an elevated shelf. Even then, you might have to test it by moving it to different locations and testing the reception of various stations.
Overall, I would rate this product highly. I used to own TERK antenna boosters. I had a sequence of two of those; I doubted how much the buttons and adjustments had any effect. By contrast, this 1550 antenna has boosted signals to steady clarity and has given me stations that I never had before, such as a PBS station 20 miles away.

Very nice antenna. I live in a rural area with plenty of trees between me and the broadcast antennas. This antenna allows me to pick up stations around 30 miles away. Digital stations 100 miles away can not be received.

Although it is multi-directional I found that moving the antenna around and turning it in various directions altered the reception signal strength. Hanging the antenna in a window facing the direction of the broadcasters allows me to get a 7-8 out 10 signal strength for digital stations 30 miles away.

I read all the reviews about this not being so great, but bought it anyway. Honestly, it doesn't work better than rabbit ears. For me (I live in Brooklyn) it's a little worse. Obviously would help to have a more directional antenna (I tried moving this around, but it didn't help).

But I'm going to keep it. It looks way better than the rabbit ears, plus I don't feel like dealing with the hassle of returning it.

Not having much space for an antenna for my new 15" flat screen tv, I purchased a smaller version of this antenna. I couldn't get a signal half the time or the signal kept going out. So I returned it to the retailer, went to Amazon.com and purchased the larger size which, according to RCA, was much better. It wasn't. I still keep losing the signal and programs keep going in and out. I wanted an antenna that I wouldn't have to keep adjusting for a better picture which is why I thought a 360 degree state of the art antenna such as this one would be the key. Some days it's fine and the next day the signal keeps going out. I've tried moving it to different positions and reprogramming it to no avail.