Antennas Direct® Enhanced Db8e Multidirectional Bowtie Uhf Antenna

After our cable TV bill went up by $25 due to our promotional offer expiring, and the company not willing to offer another one, I researched digital high definition TV antennas. The one that sounded the best to me based on my location was the Antennas Direct DB8e Extreme Range Multi-Directional Bowtie UHF Antenna. The best price I could find was by ordering it "ship to store" from Walmart. The antenna arrived in three days, which was sooner than the the website indicated. Assembly and install were easy. Had to buy a 10' piece of galvanized electrical conduit (for a mast), a couple of brackets and lag bolts, and a 50' coax cable all for another $23. Had it installed in a couple of hours and can pull in 41 digital high definition channels. Wish I had done this sooner.

Ok, here we go. Like I said, very satisfied with this antenna. The average distance to broadcast stations in my area was 35 miles (checked a few web sites for reception). Tried an indoor antenna boasting 40+ miles; it picked up 2 channels(same station,2 channels). Researched outdoor antennas, and found this one. Being that this is the first antenna I tried, it is hard to rate against others, but the value gets average due to others out there with similar designs/half the price. I picked this one though following the the saying "you get what you pay for". Ease of setup? Well, being a mechanic it was very easy for me, instructions were okay to follow, some may find it vague. So, performance? Since my stations were well within range of this antenna, and after using a compass to locate the direction of the stations. I took the easy way out and installed this on the post my Satellite dish was on. I did end up using a rotator due to the different locations to bring in the locale channels. This worked out fine though, my dish was set up on the porch roof and adding a mast section brought my antenna up another few feet(about 20-25ft total). Not enough to clear the house, but there is only one channel being blocked by the house, wasn't worried about getting "that one more channel". I do get all my local channels. Basically getting 13 different channels. I do get over 20 including a couple just over the 70 mile range. about a half dozen of these other channels depend on time of day/ weather/ or just getting lucky at pointing the antenna at the right direction. Probably could pick them up better raising the antenna, but these are duplicate network channels. So, if you stuck out this far with my review. You should realize I am satisfied. On another note. I have only had this up for about a month now, so the only durability I can pass on is that it has done fine with a few days of winds of 30+ MPH.

receiving 53 channels from as far as 65 miles away. Only small problem with assembly is two holes for the extenders not drilled large enough. Easily rectified.

Had an older version that I had modified to position each half a different direction to pick up signals 120 degrees apart. The older one started giving me problem where one of the two halves stopped providing signals. After getting the halves adjusted to the 120 degrees and positioning the antenna, rescanning showed 58 channels where before I had seen 46 with the amplifier. The cluster of stations is about 60 miles away for each location. Happy I no longer need the amplifier as that is an extra part that can stop working. The only negative is the box containing the antenna was no longer sealed, perhaps the staples pulled out during shipping. All parts were still there and assembly wasn't too long. Glad I got this one and would recommend it.

I was hoping to place this in my attic. I live in South West Florida where it's very flat, but the stations are 50 miles away. When I tried it in my attic I got zilch. Outside I got 30 stations. But since it's over the FCC's protected limit of 39" diagonally (this is 56") my HOA won't allow it. I had to take it back and I'm trying a Clear Stream C4. If you can place this outside, I'd say go for it.

I got this antenna because I have two stations that break up occasionally. It didn't resolve the issue but it did pick up more distant stations from various directions. That part was pretty impressive.

After reading the reviews, I thought "MAN!" this must be some real impressive unit, 70+ mile range. Upon installation it pulls in a signal, nothing special, I had an antenna that was 15 years old, broken, pathetic in appearance, and it received virtually same signal as this DB8e "Extreme Range." You can always believe the hype. Could have gotten the same quality signal from a lot less expensive unit.

Worked with this antenna for hours trying different configurations. Pointed the two arrays in the same direction and the different directions. Tried with and without a Channel Master amplifier. Reception never came close to previous antenna that cost half as much. Well constructed....it just doesn't work.

Received the unit, the box was open. Assembled and tested, no signal at all. reattached to old unit and signal returned. Called manufacturer and tried some suggestions with no results. Returned to Walmart got my money back less my shipping charges.

This antenna has a serious design weakness. The elements are riveted together through plastic insulator pieces. When I unpacked and set up the antenna, I noticed that about half of the bowtie pieces were loose and not making reliable contact with the conductors. The initial channel scans were not very impressive or consistent. After spending an hour drilling out the rivets and replacing them with adequately tightened screws and nuts, I received about twice as many channels. I'm still somewhat disappointed in the reception, but then I live in a mildly hilly wooded area.