TERK55 - An EXCEPTIONAL antenna

[authorpilot]

WHO NEEDS CABLE TV OR SATELLITE???

I did my research and, today, I bought the Terk55 VHF/UHF indoor/outdoor antenna. It is specfically made to receive HDTV signals, but also receives standard analog signals as well. The BEST thing about the antenna is that it is NOT UGLY. It is a composite, all-weahter, tubular construction. 2 inches high, 3 inches wide and about 4 feet long.

Today, I placed it along the roof line of my home. You would never know that I placed it there. It is consealed very, very well. No more ugly, metal "farm" antenna's (as I call them). I ran a coaxial cable from the Terk55 down my roof line, wedged it behind my vinyl siding and contected to my coaxial cable line protruding from the house.

My Toshiba 57HX81 HDTV now receives all major broadcasts CRYSTAL clear in analog format. It is the best reception I have ever had and probably the closest I can get to HDTV. What a small price to pay for EXCEPTIONAL reception, ease of installation, and having a consealed outdoor antenna.

Now I have to save up for an HDTV receiver, or wait for prices to fall, so I can enjoy HDTV.

CHECK THIS BABY OUT!!

The "TERK55"...........look it up on a search engine.

-Pete

[Ratman]

Terk 55 was NOT designed for HDTV. Someone fed you a line of excrement! It is nothing more than an amplified helical dipole.

Terks are overpriced and generally do not work as well as a $20 'real' antenna. (Do some searches here and other forums on Terk!) I tried one, and returned it the same day. It didn't do any better than 'rabbit ears'. And I'm only 20 miles from the towers!

I will agree that this antenna is pleasing to the eye as opposed to the normal antennas, but in order to save $150, I'd go with what has worked for the past 60 years!

And... not to quell your excitement, but don't proclaim success yet there Spanky! You still haven't tried to get digital (8VSB) signals yet! That's a whole different ballgame. For your sake, I hope it works out for you, but be forwarned, you could be disappointed.:eek:

[kevinw]

April Fools???

[Wooger]

I (Stupidly) bought a Terk47 on advice of a RS sale guy. The nice antenna (mentioned in another thread... the 1852 or something such) has been out of production for umpteen years, so he suggested the Terk47. Said it was exceptional.

It was complete BS.

Didn't fit my dish (dual LNB, it said on the box... but not MY dual LNB apparently), didn't pick up even the local HD signal (that I get 100% using a coathanger originally on the back of the receiver) for the nearby station once I wedged it on anyway... AND it was $50.00.

You bet your ass I am gonna get my money back for THAT one.

[authorpilot]

Let's get a couple of FACTS straight about my purchase before you all go flaming me about my TERK 55 purchase:

#1) I DID NOT pay $150.00 (RATMAN!), I paid $63.99. I think Amazon sells if for this price as well. In fact, here's the proof:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/electronics/B00005T3A9/104-2198840-7307169

#2) Here's someone's experience using it to receive HDTV:

"Couldn't get analog (NTSC) reception to come in very clear, but was able to get perfect HDTV reception after moving the antenna to different parts of the house (indoor). The higher up the better.

With HDTV you will either get perfect reception or no reception at all. When I first plugged it in, I was hoping it would be plug and play. But you really have to point the antenna perfectly or you won't get a picture. It took some adjusting, but it was definitely worth the time. The HDTV picture is breath-taking!

As long as you have a HDTV set-top receiver, HD-Ready TV, and live in/near an area broadcasting HDTV, then I can't find much fault in this antenna."

#3) Considering it took me less then 1 hour to install, it's a pretty darn good value: Pull it out of the box, Mount it with 2 screws, plug in a coax cable to end of it..........that's it......your done! For someone who doesn't want to screw around with mounting an antenna all weekend long, this is THE ONE in my OPINION.

#4) According to "reviews", Either you like it 100% or you hate it. So this baby is out there for ANYONE's opinion. I was just giving my 2 cents worth.

Enjoy.

[kevinw]

It is not you it is the fact that they advertise-

"Amplifier Precisely Calibrated for the Requirements of HDTV'
"Optimized for HDTV Reception"
"Reliable Transmission of High Definition Signals"

Except for the last statment, wich is only partially true-within 20 miles of tower the rest is advertising BS.

Like Wooger said under 20 miles and a coathanger will work.

As for the reviews -How about the negative. I promise you they outnumber the positive. You may not be so happy because most HD stations are UHF.

[kevinw]

Let me add 1 more thing after checking www.antennaweb.org ,all of the stations available in or near Eau Claire are spread out around the area meaning you will have to change the direction of the Antenna to get reception.

[Ratman]

Originally posted by authorpilot
Let's get a couple of FACTS straight about my purchase before you all go flaming me about my TERK 55 purchase:
Nobody FLAMED you Sport! I just provided my FACTS based on MY experience and can be substantiated by what I've read on other forums. So, cool your jets!

#1) I DID NOT pay $150.00 (RATMAN!), I paid $63.99. I think Amazon sells if for this price as well. In fact, here's the proof:
Well... I DID !! And it worked no better than an indoor antenna!
I'm happy you found one at a resonable price. Are you sure it's not a refurb?

#3) Considering it took me less then 1 hour to install,
My $20 antenna took an hour to install in my attic, including running the coax and wallplates.

#4) According to "reviews", Either you like it 100% or you hate it. So this baby is out there for ANYONE's opinion
That's not really a very technical statement! It should read, "it either works or it doesn't work!"
Please visit some other forums and search around for Terk and you will see that I am not alone. MANY people have been scammed by Terk products. AND... my opinion is that it is an overpriced POS.

Before you start spouting off about the quality and performance of Terk antennae, you first need to attempt receive and 'stay locked in' on an ATSC signal. Once you've done that, then you can proclaim that you are happy!

Truly, I hope it works for you and this type of nonsense can stop.

Enjoy!

[authorpilot]

We are all entitled to our own opinions, right? I like it, you don't. It's as simple as that. TIME TO MOVE ON, SON!!

When my neighbors ask what that is on my roof...I guess I can now say, "Oh, that's my POS. Do you like it?"
--------------------------------------------
Terk's TV55 Antenna

Recipient of a Consumer Electronics Association's Innovations 2001
award, Terk's TV55 indoor/outdoor antenna employs a slim,
single-piece design for a wide variety of unobtrusive mounting
options. Delivering clear reception of HDTV and Analog signals, it
can easily be mast-mounted, installed on a windowsill, under the
eaves of a roof, on an inside wall-even on an RV, mobile home or
marine application. The TV55 is highly suitable for the apartment
or condominium dweller, eliminating the handicap of building
materials from interfering with the signal.

Terk's TV55 Antenna
Terk Technologies Corp.
(631) 543-1900
www.terk.com

[authorpilot]

Kevinw,

Just a quick FYI. My Terk 55 is already installed and in a "fixed" position on my roof.

I get the following stations in CRYSTAL clear:

NBC 13 - appx. 12 miles away
ABC 18 - appx. 15 miles away
CBS 8 - La Crose, WI >50 miles away
FOX 48 - unknown location
PBS 28 - Menomonie, WI - 25 miles

just a bit fuzzy but still watchable:
WB network - Minneapolis, MN (>90 miles)
Channel 9 - St. Paul, MN (>90 miles)

I don't live on a hill either. he heh.

Thanks for your feedback guys. Both good and bad. It was fun!! THE TERK TV55 ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kevinw]

I was not questioning it's ability to pull in VHF-analog-let us know how things work when you try to pull in a digital station which are all UHF..

I am glad you like your TERK because you are the first to ever say good things in over a year of cruising different forums. appearence wise it is a good looking antenna,performance- like I said your the first.

Congratulations

[authorpilot]

Thank you Kevinw,

I'll update you, yes, when I start pulling in UHF HDTV signals. I'm looking forward to it myself.

And yes, I'll get good "antenna mileage" when the wind is blowing.

:D

C U L8TR

[Ratman]

Originally posted by authorpilot
I'll update you, yes, when I start pulling in UHF HDTV signals.


And let us know if you don't!

[Wooger]

Whoa, dude... I wasn't flaming. Life's too short... I was just pointing out an opposing viewpoint. I DID purchase it, after all... I just wasn't satisfied. It was the Terk42, btw... not 47.

I wish it HAD worked. It is a nicely designed... well, a nicely designed coathanger, basically. Supposedly amplified (I am assuming that it leeches power from the DSS the way the LNBs do, because there was no external power input other than hooking up the DSS feed as well).

And you have to admit you sound like Terk's saleperson of the year, with the whole 'positive propaganda campaign' attached to your posting. I am thinking, the way you set it up, you were trolling for flames and were just WAITING to snap at anyone who has an opposing viewpoint.

Sort of like if I were to end with something like... oh, lessee...

"Hope you get a nice fat commission for posting BS like that here"!!

See! It's EASY to bait! AND FUN!!! Hehe

[easy9]

i don't know you guys, i also have a terk 55 and i live about 45 miles away from the towers , and i have the ant on top of my window sill, i get all channels at 100%, every once in a while i will have to move the ant along the window sill, but that is only once a month or so, i like my terk-55 , just my 2 cents,
terk -55 with
pioneer elite pro 720hd
and hdtv hughes reciever,