Poll: Do you tune into OTA programming?
[Image courtesy of HMSTV]
Posts with tag antenna
[Image courtesy of HMSTV]
Antennas Direct taking preorders for ClearStream2 OTA antenna
Well in time for the analog shutoff, even for the test subjects in Wilmington, NC, Antennas Direct is rolling out its long-range UHF/VHF ClearStream2 antenna on June 30th. According to the linked press release, the company has started taking preorders for the C2. Based on the specs, this model could be a real life saver for many folks near the scary precipice that is the digital cliff -- a 50-mile range combined with a 70-degree swath, all from a 10 x 20-inch assembly. We spoke with a company rep who said there should be a "small batch" of these available as early as this week to those who place a pre-order for the $79 antenna.GSSI / Toptronics / Antennas Direct intro DA-001 indoor antenna
CEA gets official with smart antennas
DIY Gray-Hoverman antenna promises better OTA reception
[Via RetroThing]
Antennas Direct going small at NAB
We've already seen Antennas Direct sizing down its antennas while still promising wicked long range, and apparently, it's making the small initiative official at NAB. Aside from showcasing the aforementioned ClearStream2, the all new Lacrosse Micron DTV antenna will also be making its debut. Designed specifically to "target post 2009 DTV frequencies," the Micron -- hailed as "rabbit ears on steroids" -- boasts a 8.6 dBi maximum gain, is up to 98-percent efficient and arrives in a 10- x 10-inch Radome. Lastly, the firm is all set to "announce a partnership with the NAB to develop a new CEA909A-compliant Indoor Smart Antenna," but it seems we'll have to wait until April to find out more on that one.Sales of OTA antennas continue to surge, no one surprised
Early last month, we heard that the DTT receiver market was apt to blossom in the run-up to the US analog shutoff, and now we're seeing that OTA antenna sales are still booming after quite an increase late last year. According to Richard Schneider, President of Antennas Direct, its antenna sales "for the first two months of 2008 are up 125-percent over this time last year, a year that in itself that was up 60-percent over 2006." Granted, one company isn't a gauge for the entire industry, but this particular firm is certainly a mainstay in the sector. Still, it remains to be seen what will happen in the long haul -- particularly when you consider how many satellite subscribers will soon be receiving their locals via DISH / DirecTV when the duo's latest birds finally get launched -- but so long as cable providers keep jacking up those rates, we've all ideas the OTA market will remain quite healthy.NAB collaborates with CEA to make AntennaWeb more informative
Antennas Direct unveils ClearStream2 long-range OTA antenna
Just a few short months after Antennas Direct's president witnessed unprecedented sales of its OTA antennas, the firm is fleshing out its product line with the all new ClearStream series. The first device in said lineup will be the ClearStream2, which enables owners to pull in UHF / VHF signals some 55 miles away in a design that measures just 10- x 20-inches. Additionally, the company promises that "up to 98-percent of the available broadcast signal" will actually reach the incoming antenna cable compared to "just 10-percent" in most alternatives. Interestingly, we aren't told how much this unit will demand -- and we're left to imagine what it'll actually look like -- but availability is promised for next month, with mid-range and ultra long-range designs to follow shortly.Will the digital changeover make people put away the rabbit ears? Probably not
Anyone still watching TV solely via OTA broadcasts is probably not going to stop just because of the oncoming digital transition, at least according to new survey results. The Association of Public Television Stations surveyed 1,153 households and figures only 12% would switch to cable or satellite service, with about half purchasing a converter box or new digital TV to keep getting free TV. That makes sense, since anyone who hasn't gotten cable or satellite yet is probably not moved by the channels available, and with upgraded digital sound and picture quality, there's even less reason to switch. Still, we're not sold on the APTS president's statement that rabbit ears are poised for a big comeback as "wireless TV", new name or not, most viewers will go where the content is.
OTA antenna sales skyrocket, cable subscribers jump ship
One could certainly argue the actual link between OTA antenna sales going through the roof while some one million cable subscribers decided to ditch their service this year, but nevertheless, that's exactly what has happened. Richard Schneider, President of Antennas Direct, saw his Terrestrial Digital brand of antenna sales "triple" during the same time period in which the cable industry lost two-percent of its market share, and while there's a very real possibility some of those folks opted for fiber or satellite-based alternatives, we've no doubt that some just decided to make do with the crystal clear, uncompressed HD locals; furthermore, new satellite subscribers in areas without HD locals would be awfully tempted to pick up an OTA antenna to complement their service. Of course, teaching the HD illiterate how to install and use one is a whole 'nother matter.Terrestrial Digital antenna sales up 100% over last year
Terrestrial Digital is having a solid year. Just as their name implies, they make antennas and should credit their 100% comp to the magic of the ATSC signal. The digital stream riding on ATSCs signals produce crystal clear, snow-free picture. Now that the vast majority of broadcasters are at a 100%, the signals should be easy to pick up and maintain. Many people have found that their 1970-ish relic of an antenna even picks up most of 'em. Sure, Terrestrial Digital is just one manufacturer but we imagine that if they had a stellar year, so did other companies like Terk and Channel Master. If you happen to have an HDTV but don't have a high-def service provider for whatever reason, pick up an antenna and then check out this DIY guide to maximize your free HDTV picture.
Flat panel friendly OTA antenna - ANT188
File this one away in "If I would have thought of this, I wouldn't be working for the man anymore." Seriously. Hanging flat panels and antennas generally don't get along that well, but RCA as a nice and easy solution. Simply hang the little piece of plastic off the front of the flat panel and a pair of rabbit ears is going to stick out of the back. No word on the performance but we are going to step out on a limb here and say this isn't going to work as well as your Winegard roof-top, but it is going to work a tad better then the current pair of rabbit ears duct taped to the back of your flat panel. The ANT188 is going to carry a price of $14.99 when it hits shelves sometime in April.
Note: the other half of the press picture includes flat cables and a wall mount - nothing new.
Diamond Multimedia offers up HDTV100 portable USB TV tuner
Although these miniscule USB TV tuners have long been available overseas, we're thrilled to see Diamond Multimedia bringing the tiny OTA tuning love here to the States. The firm's HDTV100 sports an attractively small thumb drive-like enclosure, is powered entirely by USB, and features both ATSC and analog tuners within. Aside from supporting EPG, allowing you to schedule recordings and simultaneously playback a stored show while capturing another, it also comes with a "video capture dongle" to grab content from sources other than your trusty TV antenna. Best of all, Diamond's wee gem can be snapped up for just $99, which should give American travelers yearning for a little TV action while on the go little to frown upon.Ask HDBeat: What are some good HDTV antennas?
Jon R. is inquiring if we know of any good HDTV antennas. Well Jon, we do but let us get something straight first. An antenna is an antenna. Some can be geared more for the UHF band where most of the ATSC signals reside but if you are close enough to the broadcasting antenna, a coat hanger and tin-foil will work. Now that we have that out of the way, we have found that the Terk TV5 indoor antenna to be a reliable and inexpensive way to pick up ATSC signals. For outdoor antennas, you may want to try ether the Terk TV38 (I have installed this 12-foot beast on a 30 foot tower - fun) or Winegard's PR-8800, but before you run out and pick one of these up, read OTA HD Demystified and then OAT HUD Demystified: Redux. These posts will guide you through the choosing and installation of antennas if you want to pick ATSC signals. Have you had good luck with a particular antenna you feel confident recommending to Jon?
