Terk TV-3 Indoor Amplified Rabbit Ear TV Antenna, Video Switch

by Terk

Product Details

Data Sheet [242kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 9.8 x 5 inches ; 2.6 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000069EUZ
• Item model number: TV-3
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 10, 2002

Product Description

TV/media switch allows switching between broadcast TV and another video sourceVHF/UHF capability for reception of channels 2-69Non-skid silicon base for stabilityIncludes VHF/UHF band separator 75-300 ohm matching transformer and 3.8' cable

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rabbit ears on steroids - but see addenda on my latest indoor antenna!, February 25, 2007

By 

Ellie "Eilean Siar" (North Shore of Boston, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Terk TV-3 Indoor Amplified Rabbit Ear TV Antenna, Video Switch (Electronics)

Got a new HD TV? It has been said that 95% of americans can get five HD stations (unless you live in the mountains of Idaho, maybe). I get fifteen near Boston. So, this will help you out, but only if the transmitting antenna is within 20 to 30 miles (30 Km or so for you non-northamericans). A rabbit ears and the UHF loop will always help indoor reception. However, the built-in amplifier is a little on the anemic side, but it helps.

The good thing is that this doesn't cost much; if you don't think it is muscular enough, at least you haven't spent up towards $100 on it. HD TV at 720p and especially at 1080i is impressive! My favorite watching is golf games on the pro circuit - you feel you are there! You can literally see individual blades of grass!

So, this will give you a taste of what is possible. The sad truth of indoor TV antennas is that they don't transform lead into gold. You need a substantial outdoor, high antenna pointed in the right direction to get the gold standard in over the air reception.

If you didn't grow up in the heyday of TV, you may need to face the learning curve of jumping up occasionally to change the position or length of the antenna elements or strength of the amplification. It's so fifties! Enjoy!

ADDENDA:

I just got a somewhat more capable amplified indoor HDTV antenna from of all places, Radio Shack - their model 15-1892, which is a futuristic black disk with an internally rotatable antenna on a base with a 22db amplifier (which is a lot of amplification - on the order of 100 to 1000 times better than a plain rabbit ears) and a LED display and a few buttons. It has pulled in more HDTV stations than any other indoor antenna I have tried so far. It cost about $50 and is worth it, in my opinion.

I'm currently using these rabbit ears for my FM radio and it does a fine job - better with the rf amplifier turned off, actually. figure that

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 2010 Correction of earlier poor review - This thing is GREAT, March 20, 2007

By 

[Kill-Bot] (Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Terk TV-3 Indoor Amplified Rabbit Ear TV Antenna, Video Switch (Electronics)

I had forgotten that I reviewed this item over 3 years ago - but got a reminder email when Baterdene Sambalaibat commented on my original review. Thank you for setting me straight. I must admit that I've learned a lot about how these things work after I gave this antenna a poor rating. After moving from my original house-dense neighborhood (with lots of reflected signals), and spending some time to look up the relative compass direction of the transmission towers and adjusting this antenna properly, it really works great - much better than other antennas that I tried. It's much better than the outside-mount hi-def antenna that I tried a couple months ago, which I returned when it didn't measure up to this antenna. I'm between 30-40 miles away from the transmission towers, which are in two separate directions from my house, and pick up all of the local HD stations, which I couldn't do with a standard directional house antenna.

This thing is great. If it doesn't work well for you, it is probably user error. Apologies for my previous bad review, included below for reference:

I bought this after reading the positive reviews that I saw here, expecting to experience a dramatic improvement in reception over my shabby OLD rabbit ears. I was disappointed because this Terk didn't provide any improvement over what I had been using. I can't receive any stations clearly. Not even one - VHF or UHF! Even though this thing is right next to a 2nd-floor window and probably less than 15 miles from the transmitter. The power amplifier on this thing is a joke - it's nearly worthless. I have no idea how others are pulling in numerous hi-def stations as they claim to be.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pick up stations that other antennas struggle with..., February 7, 2007

By 

Erik J. Gosnell (CF, IA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Terk TV-3 Indoor Amplified Rabbit Ear TV Antenna, Video Switch (Electronics)

This antenna is awesome. Our cable company dropped one of our local stations, so I started putting antennas on tvs that I might want to watch that station on. I could not find an antenna that would work well on my living room tv. I read reviews, and decided to buy the Terk. Incredible. One thing I really like on this particular model, is the built-in video switch on the back of the unit. I can hook my cable into the antenna, and easily switch from cable to air. If I ever need another antenna, I'll buy nothing but Terk!