Channel Master Flatenna -over the Air Hdtv Antenna Reviews
It'south well made, very inexpensive, and information technology picked up all major local TV stations in our tests.
AT A GLANCE
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Channel Primary Flatenna 35 (model No. CM-4001HDBW)
Only how good tin can a $10 Boob tube antenna really be? Amazon is flooded with cheap antennas from no-name brands that come up and go so quickly. But recently Channel Principal, a decades-quondam U.Southward.-based make-proper noun antenna maker, came out with 1 of its own.
The Flatenna is a thin TV antenna a little bigger than a sheet of U.S.-letter or A4 paper that is intended to be used indoors in areas that savor strong TV reception. Channel Master says information technology should work up to 35 miles from Tv transmitters, although that'southward merely a guide. Indoor reception is influenced by myriad things, including the position of the antenna, the walls of the house, surrounding trees and other buildings and even furniture in the room.
This review is part of TechHive's coverage of the all-time Boob tube antennas, where yous'll find reviews of competing products, plus a buyer's guide to the features you lot should consider when shopping.
With that said, I wanted to give information technology a try. The testing location was well-nigh ten miles from the main TV transmitters for Washington, D.C., so well within the stated range for the antenna.
Considering the price, the Flatenna surprised me with how substantial information technology felt. It's noticeably thicker than many of the other sparse, plastic antennas I've tested.
The antenna comes in a plastic wrapper, not a box, and with a sheet of instructions and some pasty foam pads for mounting. Yous'll need to supply your own coaxial cable to connect the antenna to your Television'due south tuner, but this shouldn't put yous off as coax is very inexpensive. ( Editor's annotation : At the time of publication, Aqueduct Main was offering a 12-foot black coaxial cable free with buy, but this is/was a limited-time bargain.)
Martyn Williams / IDG
The cablevision connectedness signal is the only office of the Flatenna 35 that isn't flat.
Operation
In TechHive's reception tests, the Flatenna was able to receive all local network-affiliated TV stations.
An automated scan of TV stations in the Washington, D.C., area resulted in viii Idiot box stations with a total of 39 channels. An boosted 4 stations from Baltimore were received, but too weakly for a pic. That's identical to our current acme-selection antenna, the Winegard Flatwave Amped antenna. Signal strengths were also comparable on both antennas.
A second version of the Flatenna, called the Flatenna+, bundles a Channel Master CM-7776 micro amplifier that provides a moderate 10dB of distension. That should be enough to bring in a handful of extra channels,justthat depends on reception conditions at your home. In our test location, the addition of the amplifier didn't pull in boosted channels.
The Aqueduct Master CM-7776 amplifier, ability inserter and antenna make upwards the Flatenna+ model, which costs $39 direct from Channel Master.
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Martyn Williams / IDG
The Channel Primary CM-7776 amplifier, power inserter and antenna make up the Flatenna+ model, which costs $39 direct from Channel Master.
In fact, it wasn't the amplifier but placement of the antenna that proved most effective at improving reception.
For all indoor antennas, you should chase around for a proficient place to mount the antenna on your wall. Always utilise a wall or window on the side of the house facing the local broadcast towers, and so motion it around on the wall to find the best spot. Unfortunately, this won't always be in the most aesthetically pleasing position, but it's one of the compromises you lot're making with an indoor antenna. We always recommend an outdoor antenna if possible.
With the Flatenna, I hung information technology on a wall and did a bones scan. One time I had a handful of stations, I pulled up the antenna level indicator on the TV'due south on-screen brandish and carefully hunted for a location with maximum bespeak forcefulness.
In my test, mounting the antenna in the window wasn't the best location, as I had causeless it would be. Information technology turned instead to be on the wall, a picayune to the side of the window. You'll need to find your own sweet spot.
Depending on where it works, this might hateful the antenna becomes a permanent item on display in your room. Information technology has a black and a white side, and so you tin choose the i that blends in with your wall the all-time, but it'southward never going to look bully. This is another compromise with using an indoor antenna.
Martyn Williams / IDG
Branding on the antenna is subtle enough that a Aqueduct Master logo won't hit you in the face every time you lot walk into the room.
Bottom line
The Aqueduct Main Flatenna tin't be shell for the price. It's well fabricated, performs well and comes from a make that can be trusted.
Simply before you buy, practise some research and brand sure it will piece of work where yous live. As mentioned above, indoor reception is a compromise. This antenna is recommended but for areas with stiff TV signals. To get an idea of what might piece of work where you alive, check TechHive'south guide to choosing a Tv antenna or check on a website such every bit Rabbit Ears or Antenna Web.
If you've done your research and nonetheless have issues, Channel Master has a U.South.-based customer-support team that can assist. This isn't the example with many of the other cheap antennas for sale online.
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Martyn Williams
Source: https://ipsnews.net/business/2020/06/10/channel-master-flatenna-35-review-a-great-indoor-antenna-at-an-even-better-price/