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Thank you. I just saw the commercial for this and it's about 4:30 a.m. they prey on us sleep-deprived, trying to figure out how we're going to pay our next cable bill people too. I can barely afford cable, let alone Wi-Fi, and after seeing this, it looked like a good idea. Thank you, you kept me from wasting more money. God bless you.
I am glad that you put truth on here. My husband was going to order a antenna for our r.v. Now we already have an antenna on it but he thought Clear TV would give us more channels. You saved us money!
Thanks Tyler for stepping in between us and the scammers. I seen a old retired gentleman in Walmart buying that HD wonder antenna that you did a review on awhile back. I told him about your channel. He went on and bought the antenna. He will not get many years out of it here in Texas in our hot sun. Sad because another fifty dollars he could have got a good antenna. I am thinking that one was close to $50..00.
I agree with you 100% 2 years ago when I cut the cord I fell victim to those stupid antenna commercials......😡😡😡😡😡😡😡.......Started to use my brain and really research all the options and equipment in the market and after a lot of Trial-and-error now I have a full Channel Master system in my household and I couldn't be any happier 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗
I certainly appreciate somebody with intelligence finally posting a video about this, as I've been telling people in a roundabout way what you're saying. My mother has been using a rotary antenna that was put up in the late seventies in northern Michigan and it still picks up all the channels including the new ones. I believe these commercials should have disclaimers explaining this, why they don't pass some type of legal laws against misleading commercials is beyond me. Not to mention the small print being readable.
Indeed ! People have been putting up with constant propaganda from all MSM for decades. Lies, Deceit and videos like CBS did about putting employees at a hospital lined up in cars and filmed it saying they were all covid-19 people come to get tested that was a total lie and the sheeple bought into it and everyone is wearing a mask now thinking it protects them, (it doesn't) or ABC brodcast the Kentucky gun show saying it was a war at Turkey's boarder after POTUS pulled troupes out, That was a total lie and propaganda. Ever since TV has been out from the beginning TV shows use to be live and caught many slip ups. then someone invented a silence button when someone makes a mistake or uses a cuss word then can either bleep it out or cancel it out. Myself when I see commercials like this I usually research the product and read comments. Even comments sometimes on certain products are misleading because the manufacture will use it's own company people to write phony claims... Such as... EXAMPLE: th-cam.com/video/DyeTNHx8QY8/w-d-xo.html Fake doctors: th-cam.com/video/wbyfhGHX0Vg/w-d-xo.html Truth in Commercials: th-cam.com/video/bHhCP5ad-zM/w-d-xo.html
Great explanation, I try to explain this all the time, I am an armature radio operator, and antenna companies boast all kind of B.S. antennas don't know the difference what they pick up, hence the paper clip, good job!!!!!
Another great video Tyler. Now if there was only a way to get all first-time antenna buyers to watch this video before choosing to add an antenna to their cord-cutting experience. There is great promise for the future of broadcast television, but I fear that misleading ads and disappointed consumers will result in the failure of this valued technology in our tv future. I've reached out to the CTA who has been charged with pushing the next generation digital standard in America; now called NextGen TV to help in the fight against these misleading ads and packaging. I am still trying to figure out how to get to the FTC, who is basically set up to accept complaints just as you've described; a consumer who has experienced a specific wrong in the purchase of a product or service. Maybe I'll buy a 4K antenna; then I'll have a legitimate complaint.
Tyler, you are so spot on. Thanks for all your great and informative videos. You are definitely the Antenna MAN! And thanks for going after those scammers.
I saw this infomercial today and was floored how many bullshit claims the host maid and new someone must had addressed it and luckily you have keep up the good work.
Daddy was a radar tech in the airforce. He told me in the third grade all it takes is a piece of wire. He also told me about antenna length can tune " specificly
Great content. I mute commercials, especially those fake antenna. I did buy those Clear TV antennas and I was disappointed with the quality and when I moved I threw em away. What a waste. Thank you for telling the truth. It needs to be told.👍
Best video yet. The fantastic truth you spoke of, just kept me laughing. Again, great video. Years back, I purchased an indoor antenna that came with a built in amplifier, and then I added another 15db amplifier, and did so when some analog channels were still active. I selected the weakest analog channel and then watched the TV screen while moving the antenna location to the spot that reduced any picture noise to a minimum. This was much more sensitive than watching the digital channel signal strength bar display. This was a good thing because it helped me find a hot spot in my apartment where I could pick up over 50 channels. The hot spot is about 1 foot by 1 foot by 1 foot. Move the antenna out of that spot, and it drops down to about only 8 channels, thus these being only the local channels. All this is due to the surrounding buildings bouncing the RF signal to a specific focal point. Over the years I have only had to shift the antenna location mere inches, and this was due to some new buildings having been constructed near by. These days I still get about 45 channels. Not bad for an indoor antenna that is 13" by 13" in overall size. So here I am in Toronto Ontario, still picking up many channels from New York USA.
I am a retired 47-year broadcast engineer and I can assure you that having a special antenna for HD or 4K makes as little sense as buying "digital headphones" for an audio source.
I bought one of these "clear tv" antennas (not this particular one) at walmart once just to see how well it would work. Plugged directly into the back of the TV and I thought it might be a nice hidden antenna. Probably the worst antenna I have ever used, took it back to walmart the next day for refund.
I got mine for $7 on clearance, and I have a powered RCA signal amp I found at a Goodwill for $1 and with my Kworld USB ATSC TV Tuner TV Tuner and Video Capture card that's the model UB435-Q attached for my main computer in my home office that runs Manjaro Budgie Linux, and Kaffine for the TV tuner software, I pick up all the main channels in my area(one lower powered Christian station does not always do well) with at least 50% or better signal strength. In fact I'm using the setup now as I type this on my 2nd monitor to watch WWE Smackdown on Fox, but it should be noted I'm also about 10 -15mins from all but 2 of the towers one is in the opposite direction being PBS, and the other the lower power Christian station about 30 mins away. Having said all that with a normal setup you made the right choice in returning yours.
The guy in that commercial just screams “used car salesman” my brain shuts down the minute he opens his mouth. But like they say there’s a sucker born every minute, and They only need a small % of them to be hooked by lies in order to make a sale! It’s all about marketing. Expose em for what they are Tyler!! Good on ya💪🏻💪🏻
I think that you are absolutely correct! And the sad thing is that seems to be the state of affairs when it comes to the type of advertising found with broadcast TV today especially that phone on the digital sub channels such as me TV or others like it were these types of misleading fraudulent ads are ubiquitous. I guarantee any antenna installer worth their salt would come to the same conclusion as you have and as I have. Great work great channel rate content.
Great demos, Tyler. Keep fighting the good fight helping out the cordcutters. BTW, what brand of paperclip do you use....it's an HD paperclip, right? ;-) Also saw down below that somebody else (besides me) wants an FM antenna video as well.
Love your evaluation of the antennae movement out at sea. I wonder if the company would try to fight these negative findings?
5 ปีที่แล้ว +1
Mr. Antenna man , Could you please do a video on the various ways to install and mount a TV antenna on an apartment metal balcony railing ? Can you buy quick release C- clamps and can you make quick adjust height and pivoting adjustments ? Keep up the informative videos , you are a breath of fresh air on telling the truth on TV antennas !
That's the same antenna that came with my Samsung TV years ago...without the B.S. branding. It actually pulled in my locals (15 miles away), unless I walked in front of it, lol. Outside in good conditions, in a pinch, it will work. I hadn't tried OTA on my TV in a while, which has an internal tuner, so I thought what the heck. I ran a 2 foot coax out from the TV to a splitter and put in one of those sim cards pullers that fit cell phones in the hole. I pulled in 36 stations. It was a little sketchy on some of them, so I hung a metal coat hanger off of the sim puller. Rock solid. That's as cheap as it gets folks. With that said, I'm only 7-13 miles from their towers. A window was 6 feet across the room in the wrong direction.
3:50 I don't think "standard TV" == analog TV. It's a CRT, non-flatscreen TV. It might _imply_ an old analog TV but it does not mean it. There are old CRT ATSC digital TVs out there.
I'm gonna start my own Antenna company... "Magnetic Vortex Accumulator" people will love it. it is a paper clip in disguise. Add a little cosmic design, maybe a pic. of a Atom on a plastic sheath that holds the clip
Magnetic Vortex Accumulator??!! Forget the antenna, I'll pay for the words themselves. I'll just send my credit card with it's pin and you just take what you think it's worth ;)
I was using a set of rabbit ears from a 1976 tv since the beginning of HD broadcasts, just switched to something else recently since I moved to the edge of the city and reception got spotty
Excellent review I had just saw the commercial and I went right to TH-cam to find this particular listing you couldn’t of done a better job. I will not be buying this product. Thank you.
I wish I still had mine. Cable with NO premium channels costs me $150 per MONTH. And I live in a neighborhood community that only permits that provider. I thought monopoly was against the law...
I still have my "rabbit ear" antenna that I bought in early 2000s, long before the 2009 analog shutdown, that I can quickly connect as a backup in the event shtf and the internet goes and youtube tv is thus no longer available. Just plug my tv into my generator, connect the rabbit ears to the digital tuner input, let the tv scan for channels, boom! (Sorry for the edit)
Hey Tyler. I appreciate everything you do regarding making antenna videos. Is there a website that shows what US TV markets will be converting to ATSC 3.0?
You can't fool me. You got that paperclip from an old version of Microsoft Office. "Clippy" was his name. Since it came from a computer it makes it a digital paperclip. LOL!! Great job as usual. You look very frustrated that FTC is not taking any action. I gave up on them along time ago.
To be fair, the average person might expect an employee at Best-Buy or Walmart to answer technical questions that the employee does not know. So some of these advertisements are simply anticipating these situations (and all the confusion) by putting "NextGen TV Antenna!" or "HDTV digital TV Antenna!" or "4K HDTV Antenna" in big, colorful letters. But, yeah, many or even most companies and salesmen will take advantage of most people's ignorance and talk them into buying something that they do not need. Geek Squad is a GREAT example of dishonest and even abusive business practices. That's why we THANK YOU, Tyler, for making us more aware, informed, and educated than the average OTA TV person.
That baby antenna you have might be able to pick up uhf stations since it’s bigger than most cell phones which use many of the former frequencies and neighboring frequencies of uhf tv stations.
New subbie! Thank you SO much 😁 I saw the commercial and was about to get it but chose to look at reviews first...yours was the first one! I live on the highest floor (above the trees) of a highrise and I refuse to pay for any monthly subscriptions just to watch tv🤨Thanks to you I will find the right antenna ☺
I finally subscribed to your channel. What's also bad is how these commercials say "FREE OTA". Duh, OTA channels pretty mush has been free for several decades.
Good presentation Tyler!...keep the good work...people like me on a minimal budget really appreciate your honesty and your info on the subject...I feel like you got our backs...thank you Tyler!!!!😊
Thank you for this video. I definitely need a custom recommendation by an expert such as yourself. I've tried so called "indoor" antennas and they're all pretty much useless in my area.
Tyler how's it going you look like you're back to your old self. remember buddy we're here for you... whether it's financially... or just regular support... you've always helped out everybody here now will be time to repay you for your kindness...
I had a co worker today ask about the little antenna that plugs right in behind the tv and I told her it would probably work if you were right next to the towers and also she didn’t know the broadcast towers broadcast in HD, well most do in our area. She was surprised, she has Directv.
Thanks for exposing this. I know someone who bought one and had the results you would expect. I do watch very old(1950s) analog TVs using over the air antennas and converter boxes. Of course, I use better antennas and am only 30 miles from the broadcast station. The TVs are mostly B&W, but the show I watch most, Perry Mason, is also B&W(except for one episode). No 4k or HD here and none expected.
Even with my limited knowledge of antennas, I've always found that commercial laughable. You can tell just by looking at it it's a piece of junk. PT Barnum was right.
Glad to see you back on the offensive Tyler. I was worried about you for a minute there. Great explanation of the antenna marketed as a 4K HD, even works on a boat. I’ll buy your paper clip antenna when it becomes available in my area 😀
The “Money Back Guarantee” is also misleading. You have to pay an additional $7.99 for each antenna’s shipping and handling plus shipping costs to send it back so my guess is that this antenna cost less than $5 to make so no matter what, they’ll be making a profit. You’ll probably have at least $13 out of pocket for each antenna if you return it.
I am so glad you made this video. I see this commercial on my local tv and I think are people really that STUPID to buy an antenna like that. How is no one has complained and gotten this scam taken off the air. Its unreal. Its junk!
Back in the day, sellers used to offer a product that had a short length of twin lead and an ac plug. It was to "turn your entire house wiring into an giant tv antenna". I heard a few made people homeless after this caused a house fire now and again. People have been selling crap ever since there was advertising.
I remember seeing something similar in the back of a few magazines in the 80s and 90s.. It plugged into the wall and claimed to use the power lines outside as an antenna. Scary.
@@toddstewart9070 They've been around forever. My first view of them was from the early sixties. Inside they consisted mostly of a couple small ceramic capacitors. But these type of things go back a lot further. Back in the 20's and 30's, these things were around for use with radios. Buyer beware.
You are 100% correct, this is true of antennas in general, not just tv. An antenna only has 2 main functions and that is it. 1.) To receive a signal and/or 2.) Radiate or transmit a signal. That is it otherwise the antenna does not care about the type of signal being received/transmitted (i.e a.m, f.m, single or double sideband) nor the data being received/sent over the signal (i.e analog voice and/or video, digital voice and/or video, computer data including internet data, etc) all it cares about is either receiving and/or transmitting a signal. Only key factors to remember about antennas are primarily height, wavelength, gain and directionality. Any antenna works best when it is placed as high as possible (within legal limits of course), it is cut or "tuned" to at least 1/4 (one quarter) wavelength of the frequency (if being used on a specific frequency), or the "center frequency" of a band of frequencies (if being used for more than one frequency), it also works best for receiving/sending signals that are coming from and or being sent from the direction in which the antenna is currently pointed, and finally the antennas "gain" is the combination of the antennas direction and the wavelength of the antenna. (there are other factors involved, such as the electrical "impedence" of the antenna and the impedence of the receiving/transmitting equipment, to obtain a proper "match", the impedence of both your equipment and antenna system, including both the feedline or "coax", and the actual antenna itself should match as closely as possible to each other to minimize standing waves in the feedline, especially when transmitting, to maximize the efficiency of the antenna and to minimize the possibility of causing damage to the final output stage of your transmitter equipment. e.g, if say in this case of televisions, if your t.v or digital decoder box is 75 ohms then your antenna should also be 75 ohms or as close to 75 ohms as possible). Thus the gain of the antenna is maximized in the direction which the antenna is pointing and minimized in the opposite direction.
I love it. Tyler is getting all fired up again. Yep the truth hurts, in this case. It's not the product that is the problem, it's always the advertising. To put it simply, bs about a product is what makes you money, not honesty. Only buy the antennas that Tyler recommends. Read the video's description to find out more. He knows what he is talking about and everyone should listen.
I hate this commercial. Can't believe that people are still falling for it, otherwise they would be out of business. It's so laughable that they call the cable companies thieves when they're even worse, shameless!
So true about the misleading ads for HD and 4K reception, thank you Antenna Man. But another thing that bothers me is that when you watch the ad on TV it makes you think this device can get you the channels that only real cable TV gets you. It does not. You will not get ESPN or any non-broadcast channel. You can only get those channels with a cable TV subscription. Sadly, you cannot get HD or 4K or cable only channels with this device, and people fall for it.
Yes…. They show football games….which some are on OTA channels-but most are not…especially college.They are very creative in how they word it. You can watch sports, just likely not the game you want.
Up until recently got no channels via antenna, before Clear begun to get a few. Used the Clear antenna my relative had today and it's working better than the bigger antenna I've tried for past month.
I was told that digital converter boxes don't work on flat screen TV's.. That they come with them inside.. I've tried every antenna available and I'm using one now but my reception is horrible. Some day's I get a lot of channels n other day's none will come in well.. Thank you for this video.. If a converter box will work would you please let me know.. My tv is a 2006 Phillips.. 🤗
That was hilarious....if he hadn't of done that demonstration and someone told me that a mere paperclip could pick up a television station in a good reception area, I would have thought they were lying!
"...we're here in the Gulf of Mexico watching HD 4K yadda yadda...." Notice the fine print under the TV screen says "Simulated picture." This commercial is so bogus it could be considered a scam in itself.
Very true. Good advice. Back in the 1960's, I built a 4 bay UHF antenna, made out of aluminum foil cut to resonant triangles on a cardboard surface connected with wires on it to a center point and in those days, 300 ohm twin lead wire, before RG-6 is now used. It picked up UHF channels well, and being light in weight, I could move it around indoors. I built it based on a short article from a magazine called Popular Electronics. W2CH
Thanks for your video I have one of those antennas and I can get about 10 Channels with it but I'm about 30 minutes out of Fort Wayne it doesn't work all the time if it gets cloudy I don't get nothing. What we need to do is like we did in the 70s and 80s sue them for false advertisement after you buy one take some of that greedy money away from them.
+1. .. Great ATSC discussion. .. While shopping at Best Buy yesterday when asked if the store carried an ATSC 3.0 converter. "You know, an ATSC box allowing a very old Sharp flat-panel TV the ability to work with the current broadcast standard." .. The Best Buy clerk looked puzzled and then pointed the query to Color - HD- antenna's in a box. These are HD Color" .. I shit you not. Cheers, Vail, Colorado
I still remember back in 2009 when analog television broadcasting switched over to digital and all of the sudden companies were telling consumers that you needed a "digital antenna" to pick up digital signals. Total B.S. A friend of mine was bragging about this "top of the line" digital antenna he bought for $89. I took it apart and the only thing inside was wire looped around 3 times. Any antenna will pick up digital television channels. I live in San Francisco about 4 miles from Sutro Tower and I can pick up 58 channels with a paperclip.
My understanding is that, no matter what antenna one uses, location is key to reception quality; I get very good reception when the antenna (and digital converter box with a pvr) is placed as close to the window as possible.
Location has a lot to do with it but you need to make sure you're using an antenna designed for the frequencies in your area. This antenna is only good for UHF and has very little if any gain.
I purchased 2 antenna's and they work just as good as my $10 antenna from my local discount store. I don't recommend it and it is not worth the price. Thanks for your video concerns and information. I am reporting the to the BBB/Federal Trad e commission.
It's not bad for the price if you get it on markdown.you have to move it around so do not mount it!!! It works better than some pricer ones I used in the past because it's super easy to move around. Gets no vhf but the main one in my area is PBS from way far so Its a loss without outdoor.
What I think about this clear tv antenna is 1. it's a trash antenna 2. the makers of Clear TV need to do more research about antennas before even making a antenna especially if the antenna is going to do the Trash Low-Vhf, High-Vhf, the mobility wasted Uhf, or both Vhf & Uhf. 3. I don't recommend people falling for this antenna.
I fell prey to this kind of advertising, thank God for antenna man! I saw your TH-cam video on what these companies are doing and switched from my crappy square antenna to the channel master 5018 and have been happy ever since.
@@AntennaMan After seeing how well this antenna worked at my house, my brother, (who lives about six miles away), got one, and he's very happy with it too. Keep up the good work.
I have a question ... I have a two storey home, why is it that I can get more channels upstairs with an OTA Antenna than I can downstairs with the antenna pointing in the same direction?
I'm using my 40 years old VHF-UHF Yagi antenna with a matching transformer and I get 90% signal on VHF and 70-80 % on UHF and is connected to my TV. No need for another antenna.
As always, you do a fine job explaining the false scam tactics of antenna distributers... HOWEVER you SHOULD have tested the antenna BEFORE posting this "review". My wife and I are temporarily living in a first-floor apartment while our new home is being built. We are about 40 miles line-of-sight from the Portland, Oregon antenna cluster. I purchased a Clear TV antenna to test for reception. I picked 33 channels from the Portland cluster... most being decent reception. So... I then purchased a ClearStream 2MAX antenna, expecting to get better reception - if not more channels. I received the same 33 channels - with NO better reception than the Clear TV antenna. Of course, I returned the ClearStream 2MAX antenna. YES, their advertising is VERY deceptive, but, sometimes a "paper clip" is the best one can do. Just saying...
That little antenna in your hand looks very much like the one that came with my Phillips DTV/DVD unit. BTW, that stunt on the boat works, in part, because there are no buildings near you when you're on a boat, and most boats are not fast enough for the Doppler effect to cause a problem.
Paper clip for an antenna - We used to do this all the time when I was int he Navy Reserves. We would get a TV and VCR (it was that long ago) on Sundays to watch a Navy made news show, Navy News This Week, and watch it in the morning, and keep the TV/VCR for the afternoon, when we used the paper clip trick to pick up the game during football season.
The most obvious misleading claim is them saying you can ditch the cable or satellite to get network channels. While true you don't need those services for regularstations like ABC, NBC, FOX, etc., you DO need them to get cable and satellite stations!! They make it sounds as if you can get them without the cost to have cable or satellite.
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Thank you. I just saw the commercial for this and it's about 4:30 a.m. they prey on us sleep-deprived, trying to figure out how we're going to pay our next cable bill people too. I can barely afford cable, let alone Wi-Fi, and after seeing this, it looked like a good idea. Thank you, you kept me from wasting more money. God bless you.
If you have wifi why are you paying for cable? Especially all the free streaming you could do with wifi...
I am glad that you put truth on here. My husband was going to order a antenna for our r.v. Now we already have an antenna on it but he thought Clear TV would give us more channels. You saved us money!
Just saw the commercial a couple mins ago. Got so hyped for it until I found this video, and Im glad I actually found it. Keep up the good work bro.
Thanks Tyler for stepping in between us and the scammers. I seen a old retired gentleman in Walmart buying that HD wonder antenna that you did a review on awhile back. I told him about your channel. He went on and bought the antenna. He will not get many years out of it here in Texas in our hot sun. Sad because another fifty dollars he could have got a good antenna. I am thinking that one was close to $50..00.
you can't fix stupid either. people are sad.
@GooglyMcDoubleface I must concur, I've been trying to fix you for 2 years straight, ima hang it up, you're actually right for a change 😉
You're writing has basically not changed one bit in 3 years. 🙂 guess you can't improve perfect after all. 😊
I agree with you 100% 2 years ago when I cut the cord I fell victim to those stupid antenna commercials......😡😡😡😡😡😡😡.......Started to use my brain and really research all the options and equipment in the market and after a lot of Trial-and-error now I have a full Channel Master system in my household and I couldn't be any happier 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗
I certainly appreciate somebody with intelligence finally posting a video about this, as I've been telling people in a roundabout way what you're saying. My mother has been using a rotary antenna that was put up in the late seventies in northern Michigan and it still picks up all the channels including the new ones. I believe these commercials should have disclaimers explaining this, why they don't pass some type of legal laws against misleading commercials is beyond me. Not to mention the small print being readable.
You, sir, are doing a public service, especially for those who have little or no experience with antenna theory - thank you, and 73!
You are so right Tyler, there is no such thing as a specific antenna because it works with any antenna no matter what kind of TV Frequency is.
I love your content, man. We need more honest people like you.
Indeed ! People have been putting up with constant propaganda from all MSM for decades. Lies, Deceit and videos like CBS did about putting employees at a hospital lined up in cars and filmed it saying they were all covid-19 people come to get tested that was a total lie and the sheeple bought into it and everyone is wearing a mask now thinking it protects them, (it doesn't) or ABC brodcast the Kentucky gun show saying it was a war at Turkey's boarder after POTUS pulled troupes out, That was a total lie and propaganda. Ever since TV has been out from the beginning TV shows use to be live and caught many slip ups. then someone invented a silence button when someone makes a mistake or uses a cuss word then can either bleep it out or cancel it out.
Myself when I see commercials like this I usually research the product and read comments. Even comments sometimes on certain products are misleading because the manufacture will use it's own company people to write phony claims...
Such as... EXAMPLE: th-cam.com/video/DyeTNHx8QY8/w-d-xo.html
Fake doctors: th-cam.com/video/wbyfhGHX0Vg/w-d-xo.html
Truth in Commercials: th-cam.com/video/bHhCP5ad-zM/w-d-xo.html
They make it sound like you don't need cable TV anymore with this antenna.
Great explanation, I try to explain this all the time, I am an armature radio operator, and antenna companies boast all kind of B.S. antennas don't know the difference what they pick up, hence the paper clip, good job!!!!!
Another great video Tyler. Now if there was only a way to get all first-time antenna buyers to watch this video before choosing to add an antenna to their cord-cutting experience. There is great promise for the future of broadcast television, but I fear that misleading ads and disappointed consumers will result in the failure of this valued technology in our tv future. I've reached out to the CTA who has been charged with pushing the next generation digital standard in America; now called NextGen TV to help in the fight against these misleading ads and packaging. I am still trying to figure out how to get to the FTC, who is basically set up to accept complaints just as you've described; a consumer who has experienced a specific wrong in the purchase of a product or service. Maybe I'll buy a 4K antenna; then I'll have a legitimate complaint.
Tyler, you are so spot on. Thanks for all your great and informative videos. You are definitely the Antenna MAN! And thanks for going after those scammers.
I saw this infomercial today and was floored how many bullshit claims the host maid and new someone must had addressed it and luckily you have keep up the good work.
Thanks for pointing out the scammers. Keep up the good work!
Congratulations for telling everyone the truth and making sure that no one else should let them sell out.
I literally just bought this 💀
why did I have to see this now…
Daddy was a radar tech in the airforce. He told me in the third grade all it takes is a piece of wire. He also told me about antenna length can tune " specificly
In 1972 we had 2 conductor antenna leadin not shielded cable
Great content. I mute commercials, especially those fake antenna. I did buy those Clear TV antennas and I was disappointed with the quality and when I moved I threw em away. What a waste. Thank you for telling the truth. It needs to be told.👍
Best video yet. The fantastic truth you spoke of, just kept me laughing. Again, great video. Years back, I purchased an indoor antenna that came with a built in amplifier, and then I added another 15db amplifier, and did so when some analog channels were still active. I selected the weakest analog channel and then watched the TV screen while moving the antenna location to the spot that reduced any picture noise to a minimum. This was much more sensitive than watching the digital channel signal strength bar display. This was a good thing because it helped me find a hot spot in my apartment where I could pick up over 50 channels. The hot spot is about 1 foot by 1 foot by 1 foot. Move the antenna out of that spot, and it drops down to about only 8 channels, thus these being only the local channels. All this is due to the surrounding buildings bouncing the RF signal to a specific focal point. Over the years I have only had to shift the antenna location mere inches, and this was due to some new buildings having been constructed near by. These days I still get about 45 channels. Not bad for an indoor antenna that is 13" by 13" in overall size. So here I am in Toronto Ontario, still picking up many channels from New York USA.
Bravo to you Tyler! I thought the same thing when I saw the commercial for this junk antenna. Thank you for setting the record straight.
I am a retired 47-year broadcast engineer and I can assure you that having a special antenna for HD or 4K makes as little sense as buying "digital headphones" for an audio source.
Marketing strategy for the ignorant public. As an electronic engineer myself it made me think what a digital headphones was 😂😂😂
I bought one of these "clear tv" antennas (not this particular one) at walmart once just to see how well it would work. Plugged directly into the back of the TV and I thought it might be a nice hidden antenna. Probably the worst antenna I have ever used, took it back to walmart the next day for refund.
The choice to return it was "clear" at least. lol
I got mine for $7 on clearance, and I have a powered RCA signal amp I found at a Goodwill for $1 and with my Kworld USB ATSC TV Tuner TV Tuner and Video Capture card that's the model UB435-Q attached for my main computer in my home office that runs Manjaro Budgie Linux, and Kaffine for the TV tuner software, I pick up all the main channels in my area(one lower powered Christian station does not always do well) with at least 50% or better signal strength. In fact I'm using the setup now as I type this on my 2nd monitor to watch WWE Smackdown on Fox, but it should be noted I'm also about 10 -15mins from all but 2 of the towers one is in the opposite direction being PBS, and the other the lower power Christian station about 30 mins away.
Having said all that with a normal setup you made the right choice in returning yours.
Just Saw The Commercial, Figured This Wasn't All True. Glad I Saw Your Video, Thanks Tyler For The Information.
The guy in that commercial just screams “used car salesman” my brain shuts down the minute he opens his mouth. But like they say there’s a sucker born every minute, and They only need a small % of them to be hooked by lies in order to make a sale! It’s all about marketing. Expose em for what they are Tyler!! Good on ya💪🏻💪🏻
I've seen that commercial many times. Before I discovered Tyler's channel, I always thought that it was BS. I'm glad Tyler confirmed this for me.
I think that you are absolutely correct! And the sad thing is that seems to be the state of affairs when it comes to the type of advertising found with broadcast TV today especially that phone on the digital sub channels such as me TV or others like it were these types of misleading fraudulent ads are ubiquitous. I guarantee any antenna installer worth their salt would come to the same conclusion as you have and as I have. Great work great channel rate content.
Love the paper clip demo, thanks for all the straight talk Tyler.
Great demos, Tyler. Keep fighting the good fight helping out the cordcutters. BTW, what brand of paperclip do you use....it's an HD paperclip, right? ;-) Also saw down below that somebody else (besides me) wants an FM antenna video as well.
Love your evaluation of the antennae movement out at sea. I wonder if the company would try to fight these negative findings?
Mr. Antenna man , Could you please do a video on the various ways to install and mount a TV antenna on an apartment metal balcony railing ? Can you buy quick release C- clamps and can you make quick adjust height and pivoting adjustments ? Keep up the informative videos , you are a breath of fresh air on telling the truth on TV antennas !
Great information as always, keep it up. Don't forget that you have 62K subscribers on your side and appreciating your efforts.
That's the same antenna that came with my Samsung TV years ago...without the B.S. branding. It actually pulled in my locals (15 miles away), unless I walked in front of it, lol. Outside in good conditions, in a pinch, it will work.
I hadn't tried OTA on my TV in a while, which has an internal tuner, so I thought what the heck. I ran a 2 foot coax out from the TV to a splitter and put in one of those sim cards pullers that fit cell phones in the hole. I pulled in 36 stations. It was a little sketchy on some of them, so I hung a metal coat hanger off of the sim puller. Rock solid. That's as cheap as it gets folks. With that said, I'm only 7-13 miles from their towers. A window was 6 feet across the room in the wrong direction.
3:50 I don't think "standard TV" == analog TV. It's a CRT, non-flatscreen TV. It might _imply_ an old analog TV but it does not mean it. There are old CRT ATSC digital TVs out there.
I'm gonna start my own Antenna company...
"Magnetic Vortex Accumulator" people will love it.
it is a paper clip in disguise.
Add a little cosmic design, maybe a pic. of a Atom on a plastic sheath that holds the clip
Yes you are correct , the general population of Humans are idiots.
Evaluate what they are doing world wide , Idiots.
I'll stick with my Dick Smith Electronics co-tanger antenna: -
@@tactileslut I heard Dick Smith makes great designer co-tanger antennas. lol.
If you connect it to the new Rockwell "Retro Encabulator" it is guaranteed to pick up 4K signals: th-cam.com/video/RXJKdh1KZ0w/w-d-xo.html
Magnetic Vortex Accumulator??!! Forget the antenna, I'll pay for the words themselves. I'll just send my credit card with it's pin and you just take what you think it's worth ;)
When you can easily pick up 4K and 8K broadcasts with a black and white tv antenna from 1941 😂
2009, I was picking up all my locals w/ a 70's-era Radio Shack double-bowtie (when they all went UHF).
@@Madness832 In my area you can pick up 9 channels with a coat hanger.
You mean there’s special black and white tv antenna’s so you can pick up FREE black and white broadcasts? And it’s only $599.99?
I was using a set of rabbit ears from a 1976 tv since the beginning of HD broadcasts, just switched to something else recently since I moved to the edge of the city and reception got spotty
😂
Excellent review I had just saw the commercial and I went right to TH-cam to find this particular listing you couldn’t of done a better job. I will not be buying this product. Thank you.
My old Radio Shack rabbit ear antenna for 10 dollars still works like a charm.
I got one I’m my drawer for a backup if my big Channel master goes out
I wish I still had mine. Cable with NO premium channels costs me $150 per MONTH. And I live in a neighborhood community that only permits that provider. I thought monopoly was against the law...
I still have my "rabbit ear" antenna that I bought in early 2000s, long before the 2009 analog shutdown, that I can quickly connect as a backup in the event shtf and the internet goes and youtube tv is thus no longer available. Just plug my tv into my generator, connect the rabbit ears to the digital tuner input, let the tv scan for channels, boom! (Sorry for the edit)
Paper clip demonstration was savage af 👍🏻
Hey Tyler. I appreciate everything you do regarding making antenna videos. Is there a website that shows what US TV markets will be converting to ATSC 3.0?
Take a look at my video from CES 2020. There's a list of the markets in it.
Take a look at my video from CES 2020. There's a list of the markets in it.
You can't fool me. You got that paperclip from an old version of Microsoft Office. "Clippy" was his name. Since it came from a computer it makes it a digital paperclip. LOL!! Great job as usual. You look very frustrated that FTC is not taking any action. I gave up on them along time ago.
Love your style. Tell it like it is. Love the paperclip comparison.
Wow, I just saw the commercial on TV....just now. I immediately went to youtube to locate a review. Glad I found this one!
To be fair, the average person might expect an employee at Best-Buy or Walmart to answer technical questions that the employee does not know. So some of these advertisements are simply anticipating these situations (and all the confusion) by putting "NextGen TV Antenna!" or "HDTV digital TV Antenna!" or "4K HDTV Antenna" in big, colorful letters. But, yeah, many or even most companies and salesmen will take advantage of most people's ignorance and talk them into buying something that they do not need. Geek Squad is a GREAT example of dishonest and even abusive business practices. That's why we THANK YOU, Tyler, for making us more aware, informed, and educated than the average OTA TV person.
You are very unique,….a truth-teller and a person of moral excellence. Thank you many times over!
That baby antenna you have might be able to pick up uhf stations since it’s bigger than most cell phones which use many of the former frequencies and neighboring frequencies of uhf tv stations.
Tyler, all I know is I want to buy that magic HD paperclip from you! 🤩
That paperclip is actually a Portable Advanced Micro High Tech HD Antenna with broadcasting absorbing paint for a coating! It is 5000 dollars on sale!
@@zaz4667 -"Shut up and take my money."
@@tron3entertainment HAHAHA classic! Good one Tron3
New subbie! Thank you SO much 😁 I saw the commercial and was about to get it but chose to look at reviews first...yours was the first one! I live on the highest floor (above the trees) of a highrise and I refuse to pay for any monthly subscriptions just to watch tv🤨Thanks to you I will find the right antenna ☺
I finally subscribed to your channel. What's also bad is how these commercials say "FREE OTA". Duh, OTA channels pretty mush has been free for several decades.
Good presentation Tyler!...keep the good work...people like me on a minimal budget really appreciate your honesty and your info on the subject...I feel like you got our backs...thank you Tyler!!!!😊
Thank you for this video. I definitely need a custom recommendation by an expert such as yourself. I've tried so called "indoor" antennas and they're all pretty much useless in my area.
Visit the link below to sign up for on one: antennamanpa.com/antenna-recommendations.html
@@AntennaMan I certainly will!
Get cable.
I just watched this commercial and wanted to see if there was a review on it thank you
Tyler how's it going you look like you're back to your old self. remember buddy we're here for you... whether it's financially... or just regular support... you've always helped out everybody here now will be time to repay you for your kindness...
I had a co worker today ask about the little antenna that plugs right in behind the tv and I told her it would probably work if you were right next to the towers and also she didn’t know the broadcast towers broadcast in HD, well most do in our area. She was surprised, she has Directv.
Thanks for exposing this. I know someone who bought one and had the results you would expect. I do watch very old(1950s) analog TVs using over the air antennas and converter boxes. Of course, I use better antennas and am only 30 miles from the broadcast station. The TVs are mostly B&W, but the show I watch most, Perry Mason, is also B&W(except for one episode). No 4k or HD here and none expected.
Even with my limited knowledge of antennas, I've always found that commercial laughable. You can tell just by looking at it it's a piece of junk.
PT Barnum was right.
Glad to see you back on the offensive Tyler. I was worried about you for a minute there. Great explanation of the antenna marketed as a 4K HD, even works on a boat. I’ll buy your paper clip antenna when it becomes available in my area 😀
I might start selling 4K paperclips several subscribers have asked!
The “Money Back Guarantee” is also misleading. You have to pay an additional $7.99 for each antenna’s shipping and handling plus shipping costs to send it back so my guess is that this antenna cost less than $5 to make so no matter what, they’ll be making a profit. You’ll probably have at least $13 out of pocket for each antenna if you return it.
$5? It probably cost more to make the package than that piece of crap.
Thank you for keeping us up on the latest. 📺
I am so glad you made this video. I see this commercial on my local tv and I think are people really that STUPID to buy an antenna like that. How is no one has complained and gotten this scam taken off the air. Its unreal. Its junk!
Ha! I saw this ad on TV yesterday and the first thing I thought was "Oh, I hope Antenna Man reviews this!" And here it is!
lol busted!
I surfed on over for an honest opinion about a product, but I'm really happy about all the other antenna info. Very educational! Thanks!
Back in the day, sellers used to offer a product that had a short length of twin lead and an ac plug. It was to "turn your entire house wiring into an giant tv antenna". I heard a few made people homeless after this caused a house fire now and again.
People have been selling crap ever since there was advertising.
Yes they still have that antenna and I made a video on it. Check out livewave antenna
I remember seeing something similar in the back of a few magazines in the 80s and 90s.. It plugged into the wall and claimed to use the power lines outside as an antenna. Scary.
@@toddstewart9070 They've been around forever. My first view of them was from the early sixties. Inside they consisted mostly of a couple small ceramic capacitors.
But these type of things go back a lot further. Back in the 20's and 30's, these things were around for use with radios.
Buyer beware.
You are 100% correct, this is true of antennas in general, not just tv. An antenna only has 2 main functions and that is it. 1.) To receive a signal and/or 2.) Radiate or transmit a signal. That is it otherwise the antenna does not care about the type of signal being received/transmitted (i.e a.m, f.m, single or double sideband) nor the data being received/sent over the signal (i.e analog voice and/or video, digital voice and/or video, computer data including internet data, etc) all it cares about is either receiving and/or transmitting a signal. Only key factors to remember about antennas are primarily height, wavelength, gain and directionality. Any antenna works best when it is placed as high as possible (within legal limits of course), it is cut or "tuned" to at least 1/4 (one quarter) wavelength of the frequency (if being used on a specific frequency), or the "center frequency" of a band of frequencies (if being used for more than one frequency), it also works best for receiving/sending signals that are coming from and or being sent from the direction in which the antenna is currently pointed, and finally the antennas "gain" is the combination of the antennas direction and the wavelength of the antenna. (there are other factors involved, such as the electrical "impedence" of the antenna and the impedence of the receiving/transmitting equipment, to obtain a proper "match", the impedence of both your equipment and antenna system, including both the feedline or "coax", and the actual antenna itself should match as closely as possible to each other to minimize standing waves in the feedline, especially when transmitting, to maximize the efficiency of the antenna and to minimize the possibility of causing damage to the final output stage of your transmitter equipment. e.g, if say in this case of televisions, if your t.v or digital decoder box is 75 ohms then your antenna should also be 75 ohms or as close to 75 ohms as possible). Thus the gain of the antenna is maximized in the direction which the antenna is pointing and minimized in the opposite direction.
In general you should be suspicious of any product that can only get ad airtime at 5AM on Saturday mornings during reruns of The Beverly Hillbillies.
I love it. Tyler is getting all fired up again. Yep the truth hurts, in this case. It's not the product that is the problem, it's always the advertising.
To put it simply, bs about a product is what makes you money, not honesty. Only buy the antennas that Tyler recommends. Read the video's description to find out more. He knows what he is talking about and everyone should listen.
Very informative. Always glad to to see people stand up against lies, trickery and deceit. Thanks…
I knew it was a scam from the start. I feel bad for the old people who bought this.
New ppl bought it too lol
I hate this commercial. Can't believe that people are still falling for it, otherwise they would be out of business. It's so laughable that they call the cable companies thieves when they're even worse, shameless!
So true about the misleading ads for HD and 4K reception, thank you Antenna Man. But another thing that bothers me is that when you watch the ad on TV it makes you think this device can get you the channels that only real cable TV gets you. It does not. You will not get ESPN or any non-broadcast channel. You can only get those channels with a cable TV subscription. Sadly, you cannot get HD or 4K or cable only channels with this device, and people fall for it.
Thank you for reviewing this antenna. I saw the commercial and was curious about its strength.
Great help! My father is very interested in this Clear TV 4K HD antenna. Luckliy I told him don't buy it after watched your video.
Same clown in the ad selling those "Free TV Keys" a couple years back. Wish there was a law against these scams.
This company also cleverly words their commercials to make it seem like you are getting free cable tv channels.
Yes…. They show football games….which some are on OTA channels-but most are not…especially college.They are very creative in how they word it. You can watch sports, just likely not the game you want.
Up until recently got no channels via antenna, before Clear begun to get a few.
Used the Clear antenna my relative had today and it's working better than the bigger antenna I've tried for past month.
I was told that digital converter boxes don't work on flat screen TV's.. That they come with them inside.. I've tried every antenna available and I'm using one now but my reception is horrible. Some day's I get a lot of channels n other day's none will come in well.. Thank you for this video.. If a converter box will work would you please let me know.. My tv is a 2006 Phillips.. 🤗
Well said Tyler the Antenna Man - loved the paperclip demonstration!
That was hilarious....if he hadn't of done that demonstration and someone told me that a mere paperclip could pick up a television station in a good reception area, I would have thought they were lying!
Paper clips don’t work
@@thetvexplorer they do if you live a few miles from where the transmitters are located. That's not most people...bit for some it can work.
"...we're here in the Gulf of Mexico watching HD 4K yadda yadda...." Notice the fine print under the TV screen says "Simulated picture." This commercial is so bogus it could be considered a scam in itself.
Very true. Good advice.
Back in the 1960's, I built a 4 bay
UHF antenna, made out of aluminum
foil cut to resonant triangles on a
cardboard surface connected with
wires on it to a center point and
in those days, 300 ohm twin lead
wire, before RG-6 is now used.
It picked up UHF channels well,
and being light in weight, I could
move it around indoors.
I built it based on a short article
from a magazine called Popular
Electronics. W2CH
Thanks for your video I have one of those antennas and I can get about 10 Channels with it but I'm about 30 minutes out of Fort Wayne it doesn't work all the time if it gets cloudy I don't get nothing. What we need to do is like we did in the 70s and 80s sue them for false advertisement after you buy one take some of that greedy money away from them.
+1. .. Great ATSC discussion. .. While shopping at Best Buy yesterday when asked if the store carried an ATSC 3.0 converter. "You know, an ATSC box allowing a very old Sharp flat-panel TV the ability to work with the current broadcast standard." .. The Best Buy clerk looked puzzled and then pointed the query to Color - HD- antenna's in a box. These are HD Color" .. I shit you not.
Cheers, Vail, Colorado
I still remember back in 2009 when analog television broadcasting switched over to digital and all of the sudden companies were telling consumers that you needed a "digital antenna" to pick up digital signals. Total B.S. A friend of mine was bragging about this "top of the line" digital antenna he bought for $89. I took it apart and the only thing inside was wire looped around 3 times. Any antenna will pick up digital television channels. I live in San Francisco about 4 miles from Sutro Tower and I can pick up 58 channels with a paperclip.
Yes, antenna companies intentionally mislead consumers about "digital antennas" to get them to buy something they didn't need.
A 2ft length of copper wire connected to your TV antenna input will also pick up exactly the same number of 4K TV broadcasts. Exactly zero.
I have one of these antennas . I live in a rural on top of a hill 100 miles from the stations and I got all 23 channels in my area
My understanding is that, no matter what antenna one uses, location is key to reception quality; I get very good reception when the antenna (and digital converter box with a pvr) is placed as close to the window as possible.
Location has a lot to do with it but you need to make sure you're using an antenna designed for the frequencies in your area. This antenna is only good for UHF and has very little if any gain.
I wish they used helpful videos like this as ads on TH-cam thank you❤
I purchased 2 antenna's and they work just as good as my $10 antenna from my local discount store. I don't recommend it and it is not worth the price. Thanks for your video concerns and information. I am reporting the to the BBB/Federal Trad e commission.
It's not bad for the price if you get it on markdown.you have to move it around so do not mount it!!! It works better than some pricer ones I used in the past because it's super easy to move around. Gets no vhf but the main one in my area is PBS from way far so Its a loss without outdoor.
Thank you, your an awesome person and honest in these days of bs
I’m glad to see you back stronger and better then ever keep it up with the informal videos.
I've had to educate some in my family about this. My favorite is when they try and push back spouting the same stuff they heard on the commercial. :)
I like when you speak your mind. Keep it up.
What I think about this clear tv antenna is 1. it's a trash antenna 2. the makers of Clear TV need to do more research about antennas before even making a antenna especially if the antenna is going to do the Trash Low-Vhf, High-Vhf, the mobility wasted Uhf, or both Vhf & Uhf. 3. I don't recommend people falling for this antenna.
I fell prey to this kind of advertising, thank God for antenna man! I saw your TH-cam video on what these companies are doing and switched from my crappy square antenna to the channel master 5018 and have been happy ever since.
That is actually the antenna I'm using to set up for local installs. The UHF gain is average but the VHF gain is phenomenal
@@AntennaMan After seeing how well this antenna worked at my house, my brother, (who lives about six miles away), got one, and he's very happy with it too. Keep up the good work.
I have a question ... I have a two storey home, why is it that I can get more channels upstairs with an OTA Antenna than I can downstairs with the antenna pointing in the same direction?
The higher up the antenna there is less interference with the signals from the tv towers. Example, buildings, trees, hills.ect..
That's just rabbit ears. I don't trust them "As seen on tv" antennas, I'd rather go buy some cheap rabbit ears.
Seriously though look on Google diy antenna a piece of plank drywall screws and it will be all your want
I'm using my 40 years old VHF-UHF Yagi antenna with a matching transformer and I get 90% signal on VHF and 70-80 % on UHF and is connected to my TV. No need for another antenna.
I just saw the ad on tv and was just curious. Thanks for this
As always, you do a fine job explaining the false scam tactics of antenna distributers... HOWEVER you SHOULD have tested the antenna BEFORE posting this "review". My wife and I are temporarily living in a first-floor apartment while our new home is being built. We are about 40 miles line-of-sight from the Portland, Oregon antenna cluster. I purchased a Clear TV antenna to test for reception. I picked 33 channels from the Portland cluster... most being decent reception. So... I then purchased a ClearStream 2MAX antenna, expecting to get better reception - if not more channels. I received the same 33 channels - with NO better reception than the Clear TV antenna. Of course, I returned the ClearStream 2MAX antenna.
YES, their advertising is VERY deceptive, but, sometimes a "paper clip" is the best one can do. Just saying...
That little antenna in your hand looks very much like the one that came with my Phillips DTV/DVD unit.
BTW, that stunt on the boat works, in part, because there are no buildings near you when you're on a boat, and most boats are not fast enough for the Doppler effect to cause a problem.
Paper clip for an antenna - We used to do this all the time when I was int he Navy Reserves. We would get a TV and VCR (it was that long ago) on Sundays to watch a Navy made news show, Navy News This Week, and watch it in the morning, and keep the TV/VCR for the afternoon, when we used the paper clip trick to pick up the game during football season.
The most obvious misleading claim is them saying you can ditch the cable or satellite to get network channels. While true you don't need those services for regularstations like ABC, NBC, FOX, etc., you DO need them to get cable and satellite stations!! They make it sounds as if you can get them without the cost to have cable or satellite.