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Like many other people, I grew tired of continually increasing rates for cable tv, especially when most of what I watch is on the major networks anyway. Having read recommendations here and elsewhere, this was supposed to be one of the better indoor antennas, so I gave it a shot.
A few qualifiers before I give my opinions, I live in an apartment, so outdoor antennas were a no-go. This item was tested and used in a big city (Columbus, OH). I've been using it for a few weeks. On to what you want to know:
The Good:
Picture Quality: The off-air reception picture is great, I get perfectly clear HD channels from ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX as well as each of their secondary non-HD channels. The image looks even better to me than the cable signal did and there are no side-bars or compression from the top and bottom; the picture fills the whole screen.
Reception: It really does matter where it is and what direction the antenna faces, but once you find a good location (mine isn't particularly close to a window) it works great. Occasionally, there is a weak signal and a channel breaks up a bit (it's only the network furthest from me), but a slight adjustment of antenna position cures that pretty easily.
The Not So Good:
As mentioned, you may have to deal with weak signals at times depending on your proximity to the broadcast tower, and if the signal is too weak there is no picture or sound. This is common to any antenna, though.
Ease of Assembly: I found the instructions that came with the antenna to be largely unhelpful. The figures were not all I needed to see and the written instructions weren't very helpful most of the way. Still, it's not that hard to put together, and you'll eventually figure it out (it only took me about a half-hour and that was with the confusion).
Space: It's about 2 feet long, so you do need to make sure you have some room to put it. That's not such a big deal, but it's a consideration worth noting.
Bottom Line
If you're content with major networks, don't want to pay for subscription television, and live near broadcast towers, then this antenna does a really nice job. It cost less than a single month's cable bill to buy and there is no recurring fee. Some assembly issues aside, the reception, picture quality and ease of setup on the tv made this antenna a great purchase. Just keep in mind that location will make a big difference in how effective it is.
UPDATE:
After checking online, there are several other television stations in the area that the antenna picks up well including 3 PBS stations and a few others. Don't trust your tv's initial channel search, see if there are any listings of off-air stations in your area; it may be surprising how many you really receive.
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Product information
| Product Dimensions | 8.25 x 28.5 x 10.75 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 8 pounds |
| Manufacturer | Winegard |
| ASIN | B001DFZ5II |
| Item model number | SS3000 |
| Customer Reviews |
3.8 out of 5 stars |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | Yes |
| Date First Available | September 1, 2004 |
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This Item  Winegard SS-3000 Amplified Indoor UHF/VHF Antenna | Recommendations  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | Currently unavailable. | $145.87 | $157.18 | $99.99 | $119.99 | $119.95 |
| Delivery | — | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 29 | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 29 | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 29 | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 29 | Get it May 30 - Jun 3 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Sold By | — | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Satellite Radio Superstore |
| number of channels | 20 | 30 | 36 | — | — | 1 |
| maximum range | 30 miles | 55 miles | 70 miles | 60 miles | 70 miles | — |
| impedance | — | — | 75 ohm | 75 ohm | 75 ohm | — |
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- Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2010
- Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2008
