Customer Reviews

Terk HDTVLP Indoor TV and HDTV Antenna

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I purchased the Winegard Sharpshooter antenna as a somewhat-last-resort for digital TV reception. I had tried a number of amplified antennas, and most of them did virtually nothing or were spotty at best.

In every case, a roof-mounted antenna will always be superior. So if an indoor one (like this one) doesn't cut it, it's hard to blame the antenna. Basically, it's purely a matter of trial and error.

I live about 15 miles from the tower. In my case, this single tower holds the transmitters for nearly all the stations in my area, so having to re-adjust the antenna depending on the station isn't a problem.

With other antennas, I was experiencing pretty severe multipath, which really kills digital TV reception, even in strong signal areas. I experimented with different designs, placement, amplification, etc. The Winegard grabbed and locked EVERY signal, whereas the others usually picked up only half of them.

For those who had problems with this antenna, please consider a few things:

1. If you're inside a building with a lot of concrete, aluminum siding, lots of steel, or directly behind any structure with these things, there's NOTHING you can do--an indoor antenna simply won't work. Ditto if you're in a valley or face directly into a hill. Remember: This whole thing depends on LINE of SIGHT to the transmitter, AND the elimination of multipath interferene (which is the signal bouncing off different objects and arriving at the receiver at slightly different times.)

2. While most HD digital broadcasts are UHF, there are a fair number in the VHF frequency range. (In my case, a station that broadcasts its ANALOG frequency on UHF Channel 47, broadcasts its DIGITAL signal on VHF 11.) So check the stations in your area... you MAY need an antenna that can do BOTH UHF and VHF.

3. Stations vary quite a bit in their output power. Some won't lock on at 10 miles, others are perfect at 35 miles.

Winegard has been around a heck of a long time, and if their products don't work, you can be assured that others won't be significantly better.

I had tried 2 or 3 Terk antennas that claimed to work for receiving HDTV signal, but none of them work for me, I have to adjust the angle and direction for the antenna to make it work. Finally I got this one, and this antenna work, I don't need to adjust the antenna anymore, and I can receive almost all of the local channels, CBS, ABC, FOX....

But I find out it look the same as the new model from Winegard, I think they are the same thing, even the box of the TERK HDTVLP have mentioned about Winegard technology.

I initially purchased the Terk HDTVa antenna, and couldn't pick up a darn thing (see my review under that product). However, with this HDTVLP antenna, it's night and day. I now receive 20 stations from both Baltimore and DC broadcasts (over 50 miles away!) It did take me a number of trials to position the antenna so that I could receive all 20 stations at the same time, but I think I'm finally successful. For me, the Terk HDTVLP worked much better than the Terk HDTVa, like night and day!

I live in a ground floor apartment, I could not afford cable TV, This ant. pulls in all of the local stations, one of the stations is a little spotty, but the other ones come in good, I did notice on the box that the distance to the broacast antennas are important, If you are more than 30 miles from a broadcast ant, this item would not work, The following chart is off the Terk HDTVLP box, Channels 14-69 Up to 30 miles from ant,Channels 7-13 Up to 25 miles, Channels 2-6 Up to 15 miles.

I have the Wineguard version(same unit), and after trying 4 or 5 other $50 to $100 indoor antennas, which I returned, this one is the best. But still misses several channels in urban use, and I bought this online, so I am stuck with it.
(Note that it works perfectly 20 miles further out, in the suburbs!)

I live in the suburbs and I must say. This antenna works awsome. When I got it home, I hooked it up, plugged it in, and turned my new Samsung 30" Slimfit in and set it for auto search. I picked up WAY more than I thought I would. Then for HA HA'S I put it in the Attic and ran a length of RG6 cable to the T.V. The farthest station I pick up Digitaly is 43.1 miles away. I am able to pick up PBS, UPN, NBC, FOX, ABC. The only reason I am unable to pick up CBS digitaly, is because they are not broadcasting full power, but that's just a matter of time. I have Directv now and I am going to cancell my local stations and save myself 5 bucks a month. Thank's Terk!

best antenna I've used. I have a huge flying wing one up in the attic (like 6 feet wide), it didn't work well. I've tried the little triangular HDTV antennas (the $20-$30 ones), they didn't work well. This though, it gets all our HDTV channels in with great clarity and it's smaller than it looks too.

SDTV reception is spotty, but who cares?

I had a Terk indoor/outdoor antenna installed previously. It pulled in most of the available HD channels, but not all of them. I put it in my attic and got the same performance. I set this one up in my living room and it pulls in all of them. And the closer it is to a window the better it works. It's an eye soar sitting here though. I want to see how it works in the attic, but haven't gotten around to getting up there in the summer heat. Since it pulls in signals through windows I don't know if it will work well behind a roof. It's too unsightly in the living room, so if it doesn't work in a hidden spot, I won't continue to use it.

This antenna may work for some people, but for me it was another regrettable purchase. The assembly is fairly easy, but the results proved a letdown. I bought the Terk in hopes it would work perfectly with the Samsung DTB-H260F set top box I am using to bring in free OTA digital and HD stations. But I tried two different positions with the Terk and its 10db amp was only able to bring in three or four local DT stations at best. Analog reception proved even worse. When I took off the Terk and replaced it with a coventionally-designed, less expensive indoor antenna with a 45db amp in those same positions, the difference in performance was amazing...I could get between 12 and 15 DT channels. In conclusion, my advice is to avoid the hype about unusual antenna design and go for maximum decibel amplification. It's that extra power that made the difference for me. Sorry Terk...

The antenna pictured is made by Winegard (model number SS-3000) that is normally sold everywhere on the internet for substantially less. So you are paying a lot more for the same antenna with a TERK name on it, it appears.