LavaElectronics HD-2605 UHF/VHF HDTV Antenna with Remote Control

I needed an antenna for the RV, I live North of Dallas about 50miles near Lake Texoma. So I began my search. I realize that all antennas are not created equal so I began my usual forum search. I like to read on the internet about products I want to buy and read reviews from customers. This antenna had mostly positive reviews however some were very negative. But, after much reading and debate with myself I decided to take a chance on this antenna. Most of the negative reviews said the antenna was cheap and flemsy, not made well. Before even receiving the antenna I sorta took those comments with a grain of salt because in my experience I've never seen an antenna that was not made of very light material and easy to bend or damage. So antennas in and of themselves are naturally light weight and easy to break. Its the nature of antennas to be made of easily bending material, so I was ready for what I received. Amazon sent the item just as described and in a timely manner. Assembly was vague and the instructions lacked some but I was able to figure it out, not hard at all. Yes, the antenna looked very space age and futuristic but looked just like the photo. Some of the antenna arms I guess you'd call them flemsy, made of light material which I new would be like every other antenna I'd experienced. But tough enough to not break when bending. I mounted the antenna, plugged it up and nothing! No channels. So I moved it around trying to pick up different satalite towers, still nothing. So I went to a local electronics store and purchased an amplifier that plugs between the antenna and the tv, I started picking up channels, the amp cost me twenty bucks, and now I have thirty three channels clear as a bell. I was amazed. Sometimes when I move the antenna around some I can get even more channels. The antenna works and seems to work well. My advice to anyone trying to find an antenna that works, this one does work. Yes some of its parts are flemsy but no more than any other antenna you buy. It's the nature of antennas. You might have to buy an amplifier to make it work but that's with any antenna. Its less about the antenna and more about interference and distance, hills in the way, that type of problem. Get a good amplifier and you improve your channel reception. So to summarize, this antenna is okay to buy, if channels can be picked up by antenna, this one will pick them up. Good Luck

So far (after less than a week), I am very happy with this antenna. At a height of about 13 feet above ground level, it receives about 100 channels, even though the transmitters are about 44 miles away and there a lots of hills between there and my house. I received the "Ultra" model with the "new" G3 control box, including surge suppression, adjustable gain control, and a long cable, which I did not measure, but it is probably 40 feet long, as advertised on the [...] web page. I believe this antenna from Amazon is exactly the same as they sell on that web site, but they were temporarily out of stock and charged about $10 more than Amazon. Contrary to other reviews, I cannot find anything wrong with the provided cable, and it's about the perfect length for my situation.There is a design flaw, however, that customers should be aware of. This morning I was very surprised to find that the antenna was pointing about 180 degrees from where it was aimed when I went to bed. It turns out that my wife had been using the remote for the Sony Blue-ray disc player after I went to bed, and she noticed that the Sony remote turned on the red light on the antenna control box, indicating that the rotor was turning. So now I keep the little antenna remote in front of the control box, which I hope will block any other remotes from accidentally rotating the antenna.

I've rated this OTA Antenna at 4 stars and this is why. After installing 12 of these antennas in our local area (St. Augustine, Fl) I found they do receive stations very well from Jacksonville, FL where the TV Station Towers are from 30 to 45 miles distance. I personnaly have been using this antenna for about a year and I'm pleased with the results. In fact I consistently receive the ION channel coming from Brunswick, GA - about 90 miles distance.Listed here are the major problems I've found and the solutions:1: Not all TV tuners are made the same. Some have better sensitivity then others. So far I've found the Sanyo to be the worst for OTA (Over The Air) reception. The best TVs for OTA were the LG and the Viseo. The LG and Viseo tuners seem to have greater sensitivity then other models. Also, Sony and Hitachi perform very well. It's interesting to note that the LG tuners are made by Zenith in the US and shipped to Mexico where they assemble the TVs.2: On three of the installations I've completed reception seemed to be sub par and at first I was unable to determine why. Recently I found that the RG6 cable supplied with the Lava Antenna is poorly made. The ground connection can cause loss of signal strength. When I replaced the cable with quality RG6 a dramatic change took place. On most TVS there is a Signal strength meter to determine signal quality. This can usaually be found, on most TVS, in the Setup Menu. With the better cable the signal strength increased from 50-60 to 90-100 or max. Wow, what a difference.3: Mounting and positioning the Antenna is also very important. Make sure there are no obstructions between the antenna and the TV Tower i.e. Trees, buildings. FCC regs allow you to mount the antenna, at a maximum, 12 feet above your roof (I'm currently using a 40" pole roof mount).Go to Rabbitears.info for compass heading from your location and use a compass to point your antenna towards the TV towers you wish to receive.4. In locations where you are receiving signals but they are week I suggest you add a Pre-Amp (Blonder Tongue), available from Amazon for about $12.00. Be sure to connect the pre-Amp last in line and directly to the TV set.In conclusion it appears the Lava HD-2605 UHF/VHF HDTV Antenna with Remote Controlantenna performs very well when used with quality RG6 cable. You can't get better performance for this price. Also, once installed you can say goodbye to Cable/Satellite bills forever.