| Brand: | Terk | ||
| Average Rating |
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Have you just bought a widescreen HDTV compatible TV? There are a few options on how to get any or good HDTV reception. Cable-TV and Satellite might be the best but the monthly rates are over $40 each month. HDTV is also available free over broadcast airwaves. This is an indoor antenna that’s designed to capture HDTV from the air. At no monthly cost to you anytime. The moon belongs to everyone and you can receive hundreds of HDTV channels (depending on your area) on your new ATSC TV. Instead of paying Cable-TV or Dish bills, you can spend money on things that make you happier. Terk HDTVa is an indoor TV antenna with a built-in amplifier for better reception. A high-gain amplifier increases reception range without the necessity of mounting an antenna outdoors. From the reliable antenna manufacturer, turn on your TV and enjoy what you see and hear. Provides access to no-cost HD programming Excellent for urban environments where space is at a premium and outdoor antenna installation isn’t possible Appealing design with small footprint Anyone can install HDTVa in minutes more info
Popularity: 1% [?]
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Works wonderful, a proper HD digital antenna
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
After trying other so-called HD and Digital antennas, finally ordered the Terk HDTVa antenna.
It just works, instantly I was able to get reception of several channels that were previously unavailable even though we are in a poor reception area.
With UHF and VHF it picks up digital channels…
A bit bulky, and it is not very stable due to it’s small area stand.
But it is a good price, and it works…
Works very well
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The Terk HDTVa was easy to setup without instructions, right out of the box. I pointed it at my area’s transmission antennas, based on the information provided at http://www.antennaweb.org, plugged the coax cable into the antenna’s power switch and plugged that into my TV’s antenna port. Then I plugged the antenna into the power socket, turned on the TV and scanned for channels. All my regular broadcast channels and a bunch of new ones came in nice and very clear.
The television transmission antennas in my area are only about 3 miles away and close together (only about 20 degrees apart according to http://www.antennaweb.org). After the switch from analog to digital this summer, some channels frequently dropped out or were completely lost. I purchased the Terk HDTVa based on it’s generally very good reviews and its ability to receive both VHF and UHF signals. I am very pleased with it’s easy set up and performance.
Out in the country.
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Since I have purchased this an antenna it has been great. I live out in the country so cable TV is out the Cable is 9 miles to short to make it to my house. I am not home enough to justify a dish so I have been struggling with antennas. Approximately 5 of them. The Terk got 4 more channels than any of the other ones and the reception is better on all of them. Great product.
The recpetion is overstated
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
This antenna is fair at best. I live in the southern suburbs of Chicao and when I looked online at the signal map I am well within the high signal zone. When I called in and asked why I couldn’t get channel 2 HDTV I was told there were building in the way. Since this is Chicago I would say there are lots of building in the way. If you want the signal sign up for cable, dish, or something better then this.
Not the antenna I needed
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This antenna arrived quickly and was packaged very well. I knew when I bought it that it might not have the range I needed to get all the over the air stations in my area but decided to give it a try. Set up was easy thanks to the clear instructions. The stations that were in the range of this antenna come in amazingly clear with excellent sound quality. Sadly this does not get all the stations I was hoping for so I will have to try another product. This is not a knock on the antenna. It works exactly as advertised. I was expecting it to do more than it was rated to do.
Better than nothing…
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
North San Jose,CA.
Says it gets 64 or so channels. Most of them are junk and several are duplicates. Maybe 10 decent channels, max. I was hoping to get the main network channels and it failed me there. FOX, CBS, The CW and PBS are almost perfect in 1080i. No signal for ABC or NBC, no matter what angles I use. There are a lot of Chinese, Korean and Spanish channels.
I checked all the websites that tell you what channels and angles to use, but there must be something blocking the ABC and NBC transmissions. It doesn’t even pick up a partial though the websites say that ABC and NBC are in my top 5 channels in signal strength. If I ever get an extension cable, I’ll try bringing the antenna right to the window and see if it makes a difference. There is distortion here and there, when I hear big trucks driving outside, the channels pixelate a bit sometimes.
If I can get an ABC and NBC signal, I’d bump my rating to a strong 4. The machine itself is fairly attractive, if the rabbit ears aren’t extended.
Allowed reception of digital broadcasts on VHF
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I live on an upper floor in a high-rise in downtown Cleveland. I bought the Terk HDTVa to receive two digital channels broadcast on VHF that I could not receive with the rabbit ears on my (very old) television. (I could receive the digital channels broadcast on UHF with the UHF loop that came with the TV.) I’m generally satisfied with the antenna because it allows me to (usually) receive the VHF channels.
The antenna does have what I consider a few deficiencies. I often have to reorient/reposition the antenna when I change channels. The amplifier can only be turned on or off; it’s impossible to select anything in-between. The amplifier’s behavior also seems a little odd. Turning it on or off seems to make little difference in reception. However, if the amplifier is removed and the antenna is connected directly to the television, the VHF stations can no longer be received.
Some facts that may be of interest: amplifier gain is about 11-12 dB; the amplifier has its own AC adapter and needs its own electrical outlet; the fully-extended telescoping antennas are each about 40″ long; the length that each telescoping antenna is actually extended can make a big difference in the reception of a station broadcasting on VHF.
Amazing Fringe Area Reception
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought the Terk HDTVa antenna for use in a fringe reception area in Maine while traveling. At first I couldn’t believe the fantastic reception, but quickly became used to receiving extra stations along with excellent digital quality. The best antenna of it’s type I’ve ever used.
If you live in Columbia, MD. This is good choice!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
After reading countless tips about HD Antenna, I headed local electronic store and bought several antenna. Clearly, this one was best for my location in Columbia, MD. Others were kind of grainy and this one was crystal clear! Fish bone works! Anyways, give this one a try if you live in my area! Good luck!
Huge? Yes. Pricey? Yes. Works? Sure!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Getting over-the-air HDTV reception is tricky for me. I live in a densely populated metropolis and there is a giant hill in the back of my house that serves as a reception buzzkill. So when I was shopping around for an antenna I had to ask a lot of questions. I learned that powered antennas worked best in my area. And of the powered antennas available locally, a salesperson recommended the Terk. But, wow, was it expensive! Thankfully Amazon had it in stock for much much less.
I’ve been using this antenna for a few weeks now and I’m impressed with the reception. It seems to work best when pointed generally in the direction of most TV stations’ broadcast towers (in my case, towards San Francisco). The picture and sound quality are great and I like the fact that it’s a powered antenna that can pick up signals through walls. I’m using it in a room near the back of my house.
The thing I don’t like about it is its size. The Terk needs SPACE. It’s worth noting that in addition to the front protruding antennae on the unit, there is a pair of old-fashioned rabbit ears in the rear that when fully telescoped make the Terk quadruple in size and appearance. Ironically, reception in my area improves dramatically with the rabbit ears up and out and hogging up space in the room.
Still, I’m giving it 4 stars. Amazon sells it for less than the retail stores and it works really well where I live. That’s good enough for me.
Big, Bulky, Subpar reception.
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
Bought this one based on the reviews, was in that gray area where I wasn’t happy, but wasn’t dissatisfied to send it back, wished I had.
Complaints:
1) Took forgetting to plug the amp in after a vacation to realize that the amp was actually causing interference that made the signal quality a little worse.
2a) 10 foot Rabbit ear wingspan: Pictures make it hard to tell accurately show what 10 feet of rabbit ears looks like.
2b) the 18 inch “Christmas tree” has to be pointed towards the source. The combined effect of A+B was a rather large assembly to hide inside an apartment.
3) Not user serviceable. I’m pretty sure there’s something loose in the base as signal quality has become spotty.
If you’re set on Terk, go for the unamped model and use the money you save towards the purchase of a better preamp. Even if the preamp that came with this model were to have worked, it looks very cheaply made. Save your money and buy a better preamp.
Replaced this unit with a Antennas Direct DB2 Multi Directional HDTV Antenna Looks like a 2 x 2 foot section of a shopping cart, but no rabbit ears, no christmas tree to point, it’s featherlight and can be hung or hidden much easier.
Doesn’t work for me
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I’ve bought this Antenna so I could receive two channels that are in VHF frequency. My former antenna was UHF only and it broke after my several tries to make it work for the VHF channels.
I saw the good reviews on this one and thought I’d give it a try but it just doesn’t work for me.
I don’t leave that far from the TV towers and the land is somewhat flat, but even so the VHF receiving is a challenge with this antenna.
I cannot find a positioning that would work for both channels… I can have one channel at 75% and the other will be at 50%…. even the slight change on the antenna positioning would make me loose signal.
If your problem is with the VHF channels, go try and find a better deal.
Oh, by the way, the amplification doesn’t do anything for me.. It doesn’t matter if the switch is on or off, signal level is always the same but you cannot unplug it from the wall, the signal will disappear even if the switch is off….
Good buy…..works well!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I’ve actually set mine up outside on the deck using an existing coax for a dish that had been run(even though it’s for indoors hehe) I have to say it’s worked great so far.
Good antenna, but not spectacular
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
After reading the reviews on this product, I thought that I would be picking up new channels that my rabbit ears could not, but that is not the case. I live on the second floor of an apartment building and most of the signals I receive come through the adjacent apartment from a tower ~2miles away. The channels from that tower I get just as well as I did with rabbit ears. But I do get a little better signal from a tower further away. Overall, a more consistent signal, but for someone who lives close to the broadcast tower, it is not really necessary to purchase an indoor antenna. Good quality product thus far, and fast shipping
Very good reception compare to others I have tried
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This antenna has very good reception but not excellent… But compare to others I have tried this is one of the all-around best. Must have for NYC area – I get over 40 channels except one that I really was hopping to have… I guess I can’t have every thing
I am cutting loose my cable and stick with this HD antenna and my HTPC for Hulu