Antennas DirectClearStream 5 Hi-VHF Outdoor TV Antenna, Multi-Directional, 65+ Mile Range, 4K 8K UHD, NEXTGEN TV – w/All-Weather Adjustable Hardware

For years I had been considering canceling cable TV and getting an outdoor antenna like in the good old days. Then one day, I was pushed over the edge by various issues I had with the cable company plus it was getting too pricey for me. So that is why I turned in my cable box and started using indoor antennas for my HDTV.For 18 months, I had been using two indoor antennas because I wasn't sure yet if the expense of a mast mounted outdoor antenna was needed. Depending on conditions, one would work better than the other one due to reception problems on some of the channels. It was a hassle, though, to switch out antennas as conditions warranted.Then I found the Antennas Direct products and reviews on Amazon and ordered the CLEARSTREAM5. I decided on this model because experience suggested that the VHF stations where giving me the most problems (PBS 9.1 and ABC 12.1) with my small indoor antennas. I also thought that it would be fine to install it inside the attic as other reviewers have done.After I got the CLEARSTREAM5, I put it in various locations around the living room to test reception. Signal levels were good, even on the floor. I decided that it would not have to go outside or in the attic. I had it installed in the garage which is next to the living room. (See my pics here on Amazon). The antenna is attached to the optional 75 Cm J-mount mast. The garage ceiling also needed a reinforcement 2 x 4 board that was put in the attic to bolt on the Cm J-mount mast. A 14' coax cable was sent through garage wall to the living room wall next to the TV. A very simple but elegant solution.Now the network VHF/UHF channels come in steady with no more reception problems. I also can receive low power stations (religious and shopping). Those are fuzzy but I don't watch them and unprogrammed them from the HDTV tuner.ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:This antenna is directional and the front should be aimed towards broadcast towers. However, I found out that stations to the rear of the antenna come in just as good (ION 26.1 and MYTV 35.1). Spanish station (UNIVISION 17.1) is an anomaly because it comes in good even though the broadcast tower is 22 miles away and almost at the side position of my antenna and not even close to the front or back position. All station towers that are programmed into my tuner are 18 to 29 miles from my location.Some free cable TV content is available with Internet streaming. To get those programs, I use a PlayStation 3 and a notebook computer connected to the HDTV.

We cut the cord almost two years ago converting to a HTPC for running Windows 7 Media Center for DVR functions. We are roughly 20 miles north of Cincinnati, OH and were unable to get any channels with traditional indoor antennas. When we cut the cord I installed a Antennas Direct DB4 mounted outside along with a Motorolla BDA-S4 signal amplifier. We were able to get all the OTA channels we were interested in but channel 12 (CBS), the once VHF channel in the city, has always been hit or miss - ok with our Samsung TV's tuner, but really poor cutting in and out with the HTPC HD Homerun tuner (sensitivity must not be as good) . I didn't realize it at the time but the Antennas Direct is a UHF antenna.Fast forward to a year ago when we purchased a treadmill. The VHF signal with the UHF DB4 was so weak that any time the treadmill was running channel 12 would drop out completely. I finally had enough and ordered the C5 for our VHF needs. Antenna did just what we needed it to do. Our one local VHF channel comes in without an issue and we can now run on the treadmill and enjoy our CBS shows at the same time.Pros-Antenna does exactly what it is designed to do, receive VHF.-comes complete with VHF/UHF combiner-seems well builtCons-rather deep (big) Hard to tell from the pictures but hte antenna is about 8 inches deep. Not a huge issue but it isn't as svelte as it it appears in photos.-rather expensive for what it is; for us I was in ~$120 by the time we bought the anntenna, J-Mount and coax cable. All for one VHF Channel.Overall a good product that does exactly what it is supposed to do.

VHS is weak in our area. Two major networks here are in VHS, and VHS reception would fail with the dual figure 8 UHF and the straight line VHS antenna combo from Antennas Direct. I took a shot and went with this VHS unit. It eliminated the fails and pixelization when fog would block the VHS tower. What surprised me is this VHS antenna also gets the UHF channels solidly, so I was able to eliminate the dual figure 8 antenna. I already had the large 40" mast and the rig works flawlessly. We cut the $200 a month cable company. So over the air tv is now free, with all three major networks coming in fine.We also have always had $50 a month internet which provides service for our smart phones and computers, and it allows tv streaming. So Netflix is about $15, Motortrend is $5, and Peacock is $5. So tv is $25 a month now, saving us a whopping $175 a month! So the seeming high cost of the antenna is a relatively nothing, and it is only a one time fee, not monthly.

This is a replacement for my original C5 antenna which was damaged.

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