Customer Reviews

Terk Technology TV-1 Passive Indoor TV Antenna

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I honestly didn't think this antenna would work as well as it does. I bought it hoping I'd be able to watch local broadcast channels with only a few lines, instead of full-screen snow, and it actually gives me picture clarity equal to what I got with cable. The UHF antenna is supposed to plug directly into your tv (I think this assumes your tv was made a long time ago), which wasn't an option with my set, but it turns out I don't need it anyway; channels in the 50s and 60s come in just as well as lower ones. It's also a pretty small unit with a sort of retro 50s design, so it's not an eyesore. Great antenna, especially for the price!

I bought this antenna two years ago and used it to watch local stations on my tube TV. I recently upgrade to a 40' flat screen HDTV and got a satellite dish. I have many HD channels now, but my local stations are only broadcast in standard definition. I was very disappointed about that and decided to hook up this antenna to my HDTV, and surprise, I get my local stations in HD over the air now, and the signal is just as good (I would almost say better) as any of the HD channels I get with my satellite dish! I didn't even know this antenna worked with HD signals...

I was happily surprised by the quality of the picture I got with this little antenna. I tried others, but none came close to this one. I was going to give it four stars because you have to get up and move the antenna when you change channels, but my laziness shouldn't penalize this fine product.

I don't watch much TV and, therefore, couldn't justify the price of getting cable, so I decided to give this antenna a try. The antenna brings in channels that are crystal clear, and I don't even need to adjust the "rabbit ears" for every channel. The extra long "rabbit ears" work wonders, and another great thing is that it comes with an attachment that allows the antenna to be connected to a TV's cable jack. All in all, this is an awesome antenna and I recommend it to everyone who is looking to ditch their cable company.

I live in a difficult reception area nestled among hills in Oakland, CA. This area has proved difficult for Cell, FM radio, and especially HDTV because a reflected signal is the best we can get. I purchased the Terk TV-1 based on other user reviews. Since it looks much like antennas that are supplied with standard TVs, my expectations were hopeful but not high for use on my Olevia 27inch HDTV. Much to my surprise, this antenna out-performed all the others I've tried, including the much more expensive Philips High Performance Amplified Indoor Uhf/Vhf/Fm/HDTV Antenna for my application. The Terk TV-1 is not perfect, since I still get recurring 'no signal available' messages appearing briefly on a black screen during certain times and conditions. But I often get perfect reception for hours on end, and on most available stations.

This is the 4th antenna I have tried, including a Channel Master 4221 that I mounted on a mast that could be rotated and raised or lowered. But my location just wouldn't allow an antenna orientation that worked. I also tried an RCA indoor with lots of knobs and rotating items, but it was among the worst for my application.

So I'm sticking with my Terk TV-1. Not perfect, but gets the job done.

It's true, this works as well as the $37 dollar Terk HDTVa antenna. My review from that product page ...

I bought a new flatscreen and two friends told me about free HD channels. I didn't really get what they were talking about, but one insisted that I specifically needed an HDTV antenna. The other claimed that it was all marketing and regular rabbit ears would do the trick. I'll cut to the punchline, rabbit ears work exactly the same as this fancier, more expensive Terk HDTVa antenna.

Specifics:
* I live on Capital Hill in Seattle, WA
* I've a Panasonic 780p 42" TV
* the TV scans for digital channels once the antenna is hooked up
* I tried the Terk HDTVa first, it worked great
* Next I tried the $14 Terk TV-1 passive TV antenna, it worked easil as great
* I believe I get around 25 free digital channels - things like ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, religous channels, PBS, Hispanic channels -- these are numbered like 4-1, 5-1, 9-1, 9-2, 9-3

If you don't do the digital scan thing (it's a setting in the menu of the TV) then you won't see the glory of digital TV. It's basically regular TV with a better-than-cable picture. And there are all sorts of extra channels out there (PBS has about 3 or 4 channels) of stuff you can't see with regular TV. I actually don't watch TV at all, but it's good for Thanksgiving football I suppose. Mostly I was intrigued with whether the HDTV antenna stuff was marketing or truth. After this a/b test it appears to be pure marketing.

Added benefit - the HDTV antennas are techie looking. I suppose "cool" by some male standards but I personally love the simplicity of the rabbit ears, which are hidden behind the profile of my TV so you never see them.

... or just hook up your current antenna, have your TV scan for digital channels (it's got to be a new TV for this feature, I'm told) and see what you get. Okay, I've spent way too much time thinking and typing about a TV signal I will rarely use. See you at the movies!

When I purchased this product I thought the UHF loop would connect somewhere on the "rabbit ear" base and be combined into one signal. I was apparently wrong. I was surprised to open the box and see that I needed to have UHF terminals on my TV to connect the loop antenna. I wasn't too impressed. I'll be returning the product for one that actually combines the UHF and VHF signals as most of the broadcast spectrum used in my area is in the UHF range.

I heard alot of good things about this antenna but it is just OK. Nothing great. I get a few channels but usually have to readjust the antenna for clarity.

I bought this unit with the intent to improve the picture quality of the analog set in my garage. The location is surrounded by cinderblocks and metal wall studs, and must be placed near the master circuit breaker panel. There are hills to the east and north that block signals from Orlando.

I found some improvement in VHS reception out of Orlando, but dramatic gains in the UHF, and surprising picture quality improvement in both bands out of Tampa.

For me, the cheap price is a good upgrade to my old rabbit ears, so I give it a full 5 stars!

I hardly watched TV anymore, but still wanted to watch the local news stations - my cable company's "low-ball" option was 80+ channels that I didn't even want with a price tag that kept going up.

I have a VERY old TV - but it still works - my indoor antenna gives me the three channels that I would consider watching AND no more money for the cable company.

I would definitely recommend this antenna to anyone that feels the same way about their cable company. This antenna is one of the best things I have bought for my home.