Terk HD-TVS Slim-Profile Outdoor HDTV Antenna

by Terk

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 22 x 16 x 6.5 inches ; 11.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 12 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0006N2PDQ
• Item model number: HD-TVS
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (76 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 14, 2004

Product Description

Vhf/Uhf Directional Outdoor Antenna With 20:1 Front-To-Back Ratio To Accommodate The Reception & Modulation Of Reflected Signals Average Gain Across Band 470-806 4.5 Db Vhf Freq Range: 2 13 Uhf Freq Range: 14 69 Cea Color: Red Includes Mounting Mast Foot & All Associated Mounting Screws Lightweight & Compact

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible reception, worth the expense., November 12, 2007

By 

Michael A. Owens "endymion_" (Miami, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Terk HD-TVS Slim-Profile Outdoor HDTV Antenna (Electronics)

I had previously purchased the Terk Amplified Indoor HDTV antenna, somehow believing the word "amplified" meant that I would have better reception. It worked well when you could get it arranged well, usually this meant getting it as near the ceiling as I could manage and pointing it out a window, which worked great . . . when you could hold it there. It would not pick up many channels without reorienting, at one point it was even used with a cable running to another room just to get better reception. After purchasing a new LG 42" HDTV for the living room, I knew I'd need something more capable.

I was immediately interested in the Terk HD-TVS Slim Profile antenna just for its looks--it literally looks like no other antenna I've seen. Still, I was of a mind to be cautious after the previous experience with a Terk product and kept looking. Most of the higher rated outdoor antennas I saw were from Terk, so I came back to look it over once more. Other more typical antennas cost a lot less, but with my location and yard, I really wanted to get something mounted on the house; the roof at my home was still in the process of being renovated, and I didn't want to mar the fresh work by mounting it there when it was done either, that meant that I would likely be mounting it high on an outer wall. Once I had decided that, I have to be honest that I had decided upon the HD-TVS just for its looks alone. I could only envision the larger, forked antennas as looking tacky on the side of my home.

When it arrived I decided to try a quick test by replacing the indoor amplified antenna that had required so much waving around. Just setting this thing on the floor of the bedroom, I immediately managed to tune every local channel. The antenna is actually very light, probably a lot lighter than you think. It is roughly the same size as a DirecTV dish but about half the weight. Like many other users here, I consulted antennaweb.org for a good location, and now the antenna sits just beside a chimney under an awning. It took a couple of additional tilts in order to lock in a strong signal on two stations which are at the same angle from my house, as a bit unexpectedly, when adjusting for one, the other dropped just under 50% strength, but as of this writing I'm pulling in every local station at excellent strength. My place is in a rural area with LOTS of trees so I had been concerned about this after reading another review here, but with local stations between 20.7 and 28.3 miles away I'm thrilled with the reception. Best of all I don't look like a kook with a short wave radio in my house. I may never notice when analogue stations get pulled from the air, just because the DTV signal is so excellent with this antenna, highly recommended.

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Know Its Limitations, October 9, 2007

By 

J. W. Mullen - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Terk HD-TVS Slim-Profile Outdoor HDTV Antenna (Electronics)

Like another who reviewed this product, I live in Chicago. All of the major networks and many indepents broadcast from one of the two tallest buildings in a city of many tall buildings. All but one of the digital transmissions in Chicago are UHF. The one exception, the CBS affiliate, WBBM, transmits in low-band VHF. I live approximately 8 miles from the two towers. I hooked my HDTV up to our 25+ years old outdoor antenna and recieved all the channels, most with 80-95% signal strength. CBS was the one exception. Its strength was down around 50 over the summer and recently we would lose it altogether. After much research, I decided to replace the old antenna with the TERK HDTs. When it arrived and I read the owners manual, I found one piece of information not on this or other websites that might have caused me to buy something else. This antenna is weakest in the low-band VHF range. suffice to say my sudden fear proved right. After must hassle in mounting the unit, I flipped on the TV and found that I was getting all the UHF signals just fine, but now instead of getting CBS some of the time, I was getting that station none of the time. I was better off with my 25+ old antenna and the money I spent on the TERK is a total waste.

52 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars High cost, but high performance (and a mounting bracket), November 25, 2006

By 

Matthew T. Weflen "Matthew Weflen" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Terk HD-TVS Slim-Profile Outdoor HDTV Antenna (Electronics)

I live in Chicago, and want to pull in OTA HD broadcasts. The first antenna I tried, a regular VHF/UHF indoor unit, pulled in a few of the channels, with some adjusting. But ABC was spotty, and I got no PBS or CBS. So I bought a Radio Shak Omnidirectional antenna, which brought in everything but CBS quite well.

Apparently, CBS is extremely problematic in Chicago because of its very low VHF frequency - and CBS doesn't care to change this for the, oh, 8 million viewers in the 'Chicagoland' area. I only live 5 miles away from their tower, and couldn't get squat. I can only imagine what suburban viewers have to go through.

Well, the Terk was my final try. It is identical as far as I can tell to the very well reviewed Wineguard 'Squareshooter.' In fact, it says "technology by Wineguard" on the box.

Indoors in my closet, and outdoors at my 2nd floor elevation, the Terk equalled the Radioshak. However, when I brought it up to the top floor of my outdoor balcony, it finally pulled in the elusive CBS signal at about 75-85% strength, which the Radioshak could not (enough for the signal to "lock" and come in crystal clear - OTA HD is an 'all or nothing' affair). All other channels come in at 95-100%. The Terk costs $20 more, but this ability to tune in low-band VHF makes up for it. Also, the included adjustable mounting bracket helps to add value.

So, to sum up: Screw You, CBS, for making something so obvious so difficult... Thanks Terk for putting out a relatively affordable solution which doesn't require climbing onto roofs and installing huge aerials. Recommended for people in tough urban areas - it worked for me.