Customer Reviews

RCA Indoor Amplified Tv Antenna

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

The ANT525 is the perfect OTA antenna for me. I had tried 3 others amplified antennas, including the highly rated Terk HDTVa, prior to buying this one and the ANT525 worked the best. I placed each antenna in the same location and the ANT525 increased my signal strength by 10-15 points over the other antennas. The ANT525 is very solid and stable. I'm using antenna for UHF only so I removed the VHF dipoles which really increased the aesthetics of the antenna.

I highly recommend the ANT525. I wish I would've started with this one and I would've saved a lot of time returning inferior antennas.

I have recently bought a new HDTV and, at a cable subscription cost of $60 per month just for the "extended" basic with no box, I wanted to see if I could get enough channels in over the air to satisfy me. I live halfway between Milwaukee and Chicago. I tried this RCA Indoor Amplified Antenna and received over 40 channels from the combined Milwaukee/Chicago area. With the exception of CBS that I get only from Milwaukee, I can get all the major networks and most local channels from both areas. My biggest concern was receiving PBS, but I receive that from both areas as well. I also tried the GE 24775 Quantum Indoor HDTV Antenna, as I really liked that design esthetically, but I received no Milwaukee channels with that antenna, which meant no CBS. So, that one had to go back.

Yes, you do have to play with this antenna a little, but no more than any other indoor antenna. The cord length was no problem for me as it fits on top of my TV (60 inch DLP). I am very satisfied with it, and will now save $700 a year in cable costs, which will pay for my TV in two years. I never would have considered this prior to my HD TV as channels would tend to come in snowy, but the new technology is great! My HDTV channels come in clearer over the air than over cable! (I suppose I could buy the digital box and the HDTV package, but then my bill would jump to somewhere between $80 and $100 per month)

It's difficult to write an objective review on an HDTV antenna because reception will depend on your location. However, I live in a house on the outskirts of town and I am able to receive all of the local network affiliates (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CW, PBS) with this antenna. It even picks up a weak signal from a FOX affiliate over 50 miles away!

I also tried the Terk HDTVa Indoor Amplified High-Definition Antenna for Off-Air HDTV Reception but found that it didn't perform as well as the RCA. It also took up more room, wasn't as stable (it was prone to tipping over) and was more expensive than the RCA.

I got two Terks, the 525 and the RCA 111 and tested all 4 for number of signals and for signal strength. The cheapest (111) came out head and shoulders above the rest. Not only did it receive 3 more channels than any other, but the signals were stronger. Plus, I save on electricity because I don't have to plug in the 111. I returned the 525 with a big grin on my face. $5 antenna and great signals from 25-30 miles!

I had a 12DollarUSD RCA ANT200B antenna that served me pretty well in the analog days. I had been amazed by the reception at a friend's home and bought one for myself.

Last October I finally purchased a Sony Bravia HDTV W-Series and decided it was time to get a signal source to match. So after umpteen years without, I signed up for Satellite. It was wonderful BUT EXPENSIVE. Providentially my kids bought me a ROKU box Roku Digital Video Player for Christmas together with a year's prepaid subscription to Netflix. With the 9DollarUSD a month Netflix subscription, I not only get two DVDs per week mailed to me from my selection of over 100,000 movies but USING THIS ROKU box I have INSTANT ACCESS over the internet to a pool of over 12,000 movies and TV shows. Granted you need high speed internet (I have 3Mbps) and granted that at busy times of the day the video served from Netflix is reduced in quality (if this happens, change the ROKU display setting from *HDTV* to *16:9 anamorphic* for a much better picture). BTW I pre-select the movies over the internet using my browser for both the mail queue and the instant queue.

Well, sir, having all these movies at my disposal for 9USD per month (when my current subscription ends) I decided that the WONDERFUL satellite service (with really wonderful DVR) wasn't worth it. But I did want access to local stations and needed a REALLY GOOD ANTENNA to give me signals WORTHY of HDTV.

I figured I would have to spend some money. I did some research and ordered Antennas Direct DB2 Multi Directional HDTV Antenna for 40USD. This antenna did not even match my cheapie RCA ANT200B. So I decided I had to spend even MORE money and ordered Winegard SS-2000 Squareshooter UHF-Only Amplified Antenna for 110USD. Better, but still not up to my 12USD ANT200B.

Well, sir, I finally got smart and decided that what I needed was the latest version of my ANT200B. RCA seems to sell antennas by several manufacturers. The ANT200B was/is made by Thomson. So I ordered this ANT525 also made by Thomson. JACKPOT!!!

In Miami, Florida I receive 34 digital channels (there are still a few analog channels operating as of today) of which about 10 are in Spanish (two of these also have some English programming). A couple of channels are weather only, one is almost all sports, and a the programming on a couple sometimes duplicate programming on another (sister) channel. Before the switchover, I also received over 20 analog channels - but the quality was not good - so this antenna seems more oriented toward digital reception. The reception on 28 of the 34 channels is fantastic while the other six (all Spanish) have varied reception depending on weather and time of day.

Before the June switchover, positioning the antenna to get the best reception in a FIXED position took a lot of work. However, I have to assume that the stations have upped the tranmission power on the digital channels since the switch because I not only receive more digital channels but there is much less problem in finding a good FIXED position.

Push in the extendables all the way since the antenna works better that way (extendables for analog?). You may find that if you then position the compressed extendables forward so that the ends (about an inch apart) appear to be at a similar position, or lower, to the thingy hanging in front of a satellite dish, it improves your reception - for whatever reason - have no idea why. This is just my experience before the switchover when I jockeyed for a good position. I also found that the antenna would work well with reflected signals.

To find out where the tranmitters in your area are RELATIVE TO YOU, go to antennaweb dot ORG, click on Choose Antenna (really type of antenna), and enter your address.

!!! THIS IS THE ONE, AMIGOS !!!

50 miles west of St.Louis and nearest towers. I get all local channels and couldn't be happier!

This is a solid product. Great reception with it good for me with the channels that have Football! I would have to agree about the short cord though I have a table close that I put the antenna on and it works fine for me. It would have gotten 5 stars with the cord length up more. I mean come on its regular TV what more can you ask for.

I received this product in a timely fashion and I am pleased w/ the performance of the antenna so far. Currently I am able to pull in TV stations within 100 miles of my apartment, which means I am able to pull in local Analog and HD channels from three cities. The powered amplifier certainly helps.

As the specification says 45gb gain is really works for me. Supplied cable is bit short but if you can manage it, go for it. LED indicator is bit bright. Very little noise. HD is great and works on my TV.

I switched from regular rabbit ears to this antenna today and now I get all of my regular TV channels perfectly. I also get NINE more channels that I didn't get before!! It's amazing.