Best Reviewed
TV Antennas
- Best basic TV antenna RadioShack Budget TV Antenna *Est. $13
- Best indoor television antenna Terk HDTVa *Est. $45
- Best indoor TV antenna for weaker UHF signals Antennas Direct DB2 *Est. $35
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Best indoor television antenna
- Good range
- UHF and VHF reception
- Less susceptible to UHF multipath interference
- Relatively attractive
- Top-heavy, can tip over
- May require repositioning for different channels
The Terk HDTVa combines a log-periodic UHF antenna, rabbit ears VHF antenna and a 12-decibel (dB) integrated signal amplifier into one highly effective indoor antenna package. The reception range is excellent for an indoor antenna -- up to 45 miles. The log-periodic UHF antenna is highly directional and less prone to problems caused by reflected signals (multipath interference), which causes ghosts when watching analog TV but can make watching digital signals impossible in some circumstances. However, it also means that you could constantly need to reposition the antenna for best results if you have channels with transmitters in different directions from your home. Many say the swept-back design of the antenna is relatively good looking; however, it is also a bit top-heavy and prone to tipping over. If you live closer to the antenna transmitters, say within 15 miles, a less powerful but significantly less expensive antenna such as the RadioShack Budget TV Antenna (*Est. $13) can be an excellent alternative. If you need to pick up weaker UHF (but not VHF) stations, the Antennas Direct DB2 (*Est. $35) bears strong consideration.
There are lots of places to learn about the Terk HDTVa indoor TV antenna. It is touched upon in the antenna comparisons at HDTVPrimer.com and evaluated in EV's Indoor Antenna Round-Up at AVSForum.com. Over 1,200 user reviews can be found at both HDTVAntennaLabs.com and Amazon.com.
| Terk HDTVa Indoor Amplified High-Definition Antenna for Off-Air HDTV Reception | |
(1,616 reviews) In Stock. Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping |
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Our Sources
Ken Nist notes that the Terk HDTVa uses the same design as the original Silver Sensor antenna (now discontinued) but adds rabbit ears for VHF reception. He says the Silver Sensor design is popular and "has high gain with minimal visual impact." He notes the directionality can help with multipath problems, though it could be better still in that regard.
Review: The Silver Sensor, Ken Nist, Jan. 24, 2007
2. AVSForum.com
The Terk HDTVa and similar log-periodic indoor antennas get a bit of discussion here. Round-up author "EscapeVelocity" notes that the Terk HDTVa and its unamplified version, the Terk HDTVi (*Est. $30), are good performers and highly directional, which can help if multipath interference is a problem but might force some to "fuss with it" more than they might like. Tipping is a concern, but less so than in the original Silver Sensor, which used the same design minus the rabbit ears for VHF reception.
Review: EV's Indoor Antenna Round-Up, Contributors to AVSForum.com
Over 1,200 owners have posted reviews of the Terk HDTVa here. The overall score of 3.8 out of 5 stars isn't overly impressive at first glance, but it makes the HDTVa one of the higher-rated antennas here for indoor use, at least among those indoor antennas that get enough feedback to be truly helpful.
Review: Terk HDTVa HDTV Antenna Reviews, Contributors to HDTVAntennaLabs.com
4. Amazon.com
Just over 1,300 users grant the Terk HDTVa a rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars. Some reviews are incredibly detailed, including comparisons with other indoor TV antennas; some are just a sentence or two. Many users are either completely or mostly satisfied but others say that the antenna didn't work at their location, or that other antennas provided better results.
Review: Terk HDTVa Indoor Amplified High-Definition Antenna, Contributors to Amazon.com
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