HDTV Reviews Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Hdtv Digital’

Apogee HDMI 3×1 Mini Switcher v1 3b Full HD 1080p 25m Amplified with External IR Receiver Remote Control

HDMI 3-Port Mini Switch HDTV Digital Video Switcher v1.3b – 25m Amplified w/ External IR Receiver with Remote Control, HDCP: HDMISWM (Gold-Plated, Retail)

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Exactly as advertised
For about $20, my expectations weren’t too high, but this product has done everything the description says it will do. There’s three HDMI inputs on the “front” and one output on the “back” (front and back distinctions are at your discretion). Simply hook up your devices and then connect to your upstream television or other video display device. The box takes care of switching back and forth or you can use the included 3-button remote to manually swap.

It all works perfectly. The device does take about 30 seconds to notice that my Xbox 360 has been shut down, but I don’t know if that’s the fault of the box or if the 360 doesn’t close off the HDMI port until the final moment.

5 Stars Works like a charm!
Very nice unit for a very reasonable price. Does the job as advertised. Small size is handy for those with an aversion to clutter.

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Philips PHDTV1 Silver Sensor UHF HDTV Digital Indoor TV Antenna

Enjoy sparkling high-definition programming without forking over monthly digital cable or satellite fees with this Philips indoor HDTV/UHF antenna. The device is specially designed to receive HD broadcast signals from the major free networks in all primary reception areas. If the affiliate broadcasts in HD, the PHDTV1 will receive it, provided the user also owns an HD-compatible television. The highly directional antenna features a high front-to-back ratio that helps reject unwanted signal corruption, ensuring that your picture comes in clear and true. This feature is especially valuable in dense urban areas with crowded broadcast airwaves, where reflected signals can interfere with HDTV transmission. The antenna also offers a flat front gain slope that balances the reception throughout the UHF frequencies. The result is a consistently high-resolution picture regardless of which channel you choose. The PHDTV1–which also connects to PCs anywhere datacasting is available–has been endorsed by several HDTV-testing committees.

User Ratings and Reviews

3 Stars digital TV antennas
for rabbit ears digital replacement, i am not particularly impressed with this product, and would welcome suggestions concerning better reception. it cuts in and out of most stations.

–brd

4 Stars Phillips digital antenaa
I purchased the Phillips Digital TV antenna for use with a portable digital tv set. It worked great. I then connected it to my Samsung 59″ set and that worked great as well. I have Direct TV and when a heavy rain storm is overhead, I lose my signal. I merely change to the TV input using the Phillips antenna and I can still receive local channels.

5 Stars Simple, Yet Effective
Bought the PHDTV1 for $20 from a local surplus store. I was initially looking at some other antennas, specifically the DB2, CM4220 and 4221.

I’m within a half mile to the two major towers in Toronto. Buffalo towers are 50 and 77-79 miles away but within 3 degrees of the one atop the CN Tower. I’m on the 19th floor of my building with no obstructions… quite lucky!

The assembly was quite simple as the PHDTV1 is a no frills unit – snap the small mast onto the base, insert the ’sensor’ into the mast and thread the coax. I have a run of 20 feet of cable to the TV, no amp needed.

I get 13 HD channels including WGRZ which is rather difficult for many OTA users to nail down. I get another 13 in SD.

This unit may not work as well for you if you are close to ground, can’t point the antenna DIRECTLY towards the broadcast towers or have physical obstructions in the line-of-sight.

I gave up paying $90 monthly for HD service from Rogers, and searched several internet sites and discussion boards before deciding on the Philips.

Best of luck with your search.

2 Stars DIDN’T DO MUCH
This is a very cheaply made product that only brought in a few channels and most of those were shopping channels. Oddly enough though it only brought in 3 network affiliate channels that kept blinking in and out it brought in an independent channel from an adjoining state perfectly clear. Perhaps it depends on where you live but I am up on a hill in the Boston suburbs and expected better reception with this.

2 Stars Not very good
I purchased the antenna for a digital TV recently purchased. I live in the immediate city limits and that should have been adequate. I scanned the stations and had an increase of those found. The trouble is that the antenna which is close to a window and as high as possible loses those signals quickly. I scanned the channels prior to our six oclock news and watch a local station on CBS, then at 6:30 we switch to abc, which has in the half hour lost enough of the signal that it is unwatchable.

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4 PORT CABLE TV HDTV DIGITAL AMPLIFIER INTERNET MODEM SIGNAL BOOSTER INTERNET AMP

This is a brand new, four (4) port cable television drop amplifier, just like the ones that your local cable company uses to correct their system’s shortcomings. This new model packs a powerful punch in a compact, easy-to-install package! By connecting these fantastic signal boosters to the drop cable coming in from the street, you can increase the signal strength entering your home by up a whopping +7 db per port! If you have multiple televisions or run a cable modem for your internet, this product is recommended. By having four ports come directly off of the amplifier, there is no need for additional splitters, which reduce signal strength. If you are tired of tv pictures that don’t seem as clear as they should be, dropped internet connections, or just desire a reliable amplifier to give continuous, steady signal to your home or business, this is for you!

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Works great
It was easy to setup. You need a spare coaxial cable. I’m using 3 of the 4 outputs. One of my TVs used to have many channels that would go in and out and now everything works great.

5 Stars Did exactly what I wanted it to do plus more!
After the digital transition, I wasn’t getting any reception at all with my rabbit ears. I decided to buy a new outdoor antenna, the Antennas Direct DB4, which is an excellent product that I also got from Amazon. Once I got it installed, however, I had about 50 ft of RG6 running from the antenna to the passive 4-way splitter and about 75 to 100 ft running to each of the two HDTVs. In a valley outside of Deliverance, WV, I was getting one channel, 5.1 + 5.2. I expected this and that’s all I could get before with analog. But every once and a while one of the TVs would start pixelating and losing audio. I knew it wasn’t the TV because both of them had done it. I decided that it must have been the splitter straining too much to get that signal through. To make a long story short, I installed this Amplifier where the splitter was and I not only do I have no problems with that channel, but I also receive signal from 2 additional channels, 10.1 + 10.2 and 12.1 + 12.2. I highly recommend this product.

5 Stars Works Great!
There are many signal amplifiers out there that do absolutely nothing. This one works very well, and I highly recommend it!! Don’t fall for the cheapies at Walmart!

In the area where I live, FOX came in pretty weak over the air, and I often experienced pixelation, especially on HD Broadcasts. Long cable runs inside the house, and the use of a 4 Way Splitter didn’t help the situation. I replaced the 4 Way Splitter with this unit, and my reception went from 69% to 80%. I have not had any problems with pixelation since then.

If you have any doubts, just try it, you won’t be disappointed.

5 Stars Great amplifier, and splitter! worth every penny!
I use this amp / splitter to split my cable connection in my bedroom (i only pay for internet service, and tv comes through when i connect to my tv ) without the amp i couldn’t split the lines because the signal would loose strength. I have it running to my cable modem, and two tv’s. It basically boosted the signal so good that i have crystal clear hd cable.

YOu must have a digital converter on your tv for this to work. Please test your line on your tv before you make any asumptions that you have cable tv off the line.

This item also doesn’t come with a coaxial cable to connect to the power adaptor, so you will need to purchase one. I would recommend you get the good quality r6 cable with 18awg wire. I got a few 3ft cables off ebay, for a great deal.

5 Stars New to drop amps
We have three cable boxes from Comcast. Strangely, the one closest to the cable inlet to the house could not get our NBC affiliate (and no tivo either) along with a crappy picture. Our HD channels would not show a menu. We replaced the box twice, no change. We tried several passive splitters, none worked. We ordered this drop amp splitter, installed very easily, now the signal strength is excellent. Labels on the device made it very clear how to hook it up. One thing not mentioned, you need an extra coax cable to attach the power supply (AC adapter). I recommend this amp if you have one or two locations that have bad reception.

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Sylvania LD195SSX 19 Inch Flat Panel LCD HDTV DVD Combo Black