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Before I review this antenna I would like to point out that this package DOES NOT COME WITH MOUNTING HARDWARE!!! I found that out the hard way and am now waiting for the mounting hardware (75 Cm J-mount/mast) to be delivered separately. If you need the mounting hardware as well, then you can purchase it separately or purchase the antenna and hardware all in a single package (Antennas Direct Clearstream 2tm Long Range HDTV Antenna with Mount). While I wait for my mounting hardware I have this mounted in my backyard on a 6 foot ladder and the stream is still incredibly clear, even though there are houses and trees that should be blocking the signal.
Start by going to the antennaweb and/or antennapoint web sites to see if you are even in range of the towers. The Clearstream2 antenna is supposed to have about a 50 mile range, and I am around 7-8 miles from all of the towers in Austin, TX. If you are within 5 miles they say your signal may even be too strong and you have to purchase an additional item to correct for that. Not sure how legit that is, but my distance seems to be perfect.
Installation is a breeze and there is even a video tutorial on the antenna direct web site. The antenna has a single female coax connector on it for output, but this kit didn't include a cable so be sure you have an additional one. I run the coax cable to a 2-way splitter and each outgoing cable is attached to a TV in my house. It is also possible to run the coax cable into the cable box on the side of your house, assuming that you do not use cable for any other TV or internet. The boxes typically have an amplifier and a splitter that sends a bunch of cables into your attic and down to the jacks throughout your house. So if you don't have any incoming TV or internet via a cable provider then you can disconnect the input cable in your box and plug this antenna directly in that way. It was easier for me to install a splitter under my awning and run the cables along the outside of my house...your mileage may vary.
Once the antenna is hooked up to your TV(s) just change the input on the TV(s) to antenna and scan for channels. I am getting AT LEAST 85% signal strength for every channel, and most of them are 95-100%. I haven't tweaked the antenna at all after mounting it -- I just pointed it in what seemed to be the general direction that antennaweb and antennapoint suggested. Again, I'm getting this type of performance without even having the antenna mounted on the roof yet! After scanning and finding all of the channels (something like 15 digital and 3 analog in my case), I went through and manually configured my TVs to ignore all of the channels I didn't want. I currently get Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS, The CW, 3 different PBS channels, and a weather/traffic channel.
All of the channels look great -- just as good if not better than they did when I had Time Warner cable or AT&T U-verse. The cable/satellite companies sometimes compress feeds but the over-the-air HD broadcasts are all uncompressed so in theory they should actually be as good or better quality. One note: I have long complained about CBS having motion blur when watching sports. In my opinion it was particularly noticeable when I had TW cable, and less noticeable with U-verse. Unfortunately I still noticed it today while watching basketball. It must be the cameras that CBS uses or the way they stream their feed because it still happens even with this antenna. Basketball on ABC looked incredible, as usual.
I have no long term experience with this antenna but purchased this model because my neighbor has the exact same one. He has had it for over a year, mounted on his roof, and it's still working great. When I asked about how well it works in bad weather he said that he has never once had a problem, regardless of how stormy/rainy it was outside. After a few days of use in my own house I can only say that I have had absolutely zero problems so far.
If you're like me and don't watch much TV, or you don't watch many cable channels then I highly recommend this antenna. I do miss some of the DVR features such as pausing TV, scheduling recordings, and having an on-screen guide, so in the future I may look at building an HTPC system (running MythTV) and hooking this up for those features.
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Product information
| Product Dimensions | 9.13 x 11.75 x 20.06 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 3 pounds |
| Manufacturer | Antennas Direct, Inc. |
| ASIN | B0017O3UHI |
| Item model number | C2 |
| Customer Reviews |
4.3 out of 5 stars |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | April 10, 2008 |
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Discovered this when a botched order fell through . . .
I had to call the manufacturer to see if a vendor that I bought a DB8 from was real, since they hadn't shipped and it was way past due on delivery. Needless to say Amazon gave me a refund. While I spoke with a great lady in customer service at Antennas Direct I asked what should I use and she told me that they just released the C Series antennas that day. So I looked on Amazon and found a great deal. The vendor that I bought from shipped before I realized that I had purchased. Nice job. The antenna was very easy to assemble except for the clearance for the coax connection on the back of the "bow tie". Once installed I did not get the performance that I was told I would nor expected. It could be that I have a grove of trees to shoot through and I guess I have added issues because I have an in-house distribution system to 12 TV's with 4 internal channels and I think these antennas are basically thought of for one TV. That makes gain very important when matching to a distribution amplifier. So I called Antennas Direct and spoke with the same CSR and in the middle of our conversation the President of the company cut in. We talked tech for a bit and then he said he would send me a C4 (two C2's side by side) to try . . . that is now up and working very well. It looks very superior, is low profile and is doing well with Low & Hi VHF and naturally UHF. It's range is 7 (Hi VHF) up. That is what we need here in Denver since our ABC and NBC affiliates will be allowed by the FCC to go back to 7 and 9 below the channel 14 cutoff after the conversion. I reinstall the C4 in a different way every week to see where I can get the best reception, since HD is all or nothing. So far I have only tried three variations, but the first of just slapping it up with no precision or proper aiming was the best. So as of this moment, this antenna is covering all, including low band VHF, of our off-air needs, some channels a little grainy, but they will be gone soon. All the channels that we need or will need are coming in clean and clear (some UHF channels better than they ever have) and better when the conversion happens and all stations start broadcasting at full power or complete antenna relocation. The Antennas Direct C (Clearstream) Series is new and good technology. Get a C2 or C4! It'll do the job for you.
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- Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2011
