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Antennas Direct DB2 Multi Directional HDTV Antenna | 
 enlarge | Brand: Antennas Direct
Category: CE
List Price: $49.99
Buy New: $28.35
You Save: $21.64 (43%)
New (32) Used (1) from $28.35
Rating:  176 reviews
Color: Chrome
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 5
Dimensions (in): 4 x 19 x 12
11.4 dB Gain, Strong performance across entire UHF band (Channels 14-69).
Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty
MPN: DB2
Model: DB2
UPC: 853748001026
EAN: 0853748001026
ASIN: B000EHUE7I
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Buy with confidence! | | • | Although the DB2 was originally designed for outdoor use, it has quickly become one of our most popu |
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Product Description
Although the DB2 was originally designed for outdoor use, it has quickly become one of the most popular indoor antennas due to its small size and extraordinary gain. The bowtie design provides strong gain across the entire UHF spectrum and it functions incredibly well in areas where a low profile antenna is required.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 171 more reviews...
 Solid From Two Perspectives October 10, 2008
Our residence is actually on farmland on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, at least thirty miles from the Baltimore stations and Annapolis (where the PBS station is located), and even further from Washington. After my wife bought a new digital TV (our first TV at this location) I decided to see if I could get any digital signals. I tried a rabbit ears from Radio Shack, and that did not work.
I read about the DB2 on the Web and decided to risk the thirty bucks on it. It came promptly from Amazon. I hooked it up to a coax cable I had connected to the new TV, ran it out the window, held it up in my hand, and, VOILA, my wife got the tuner to start reading the digital and analog channels. I plugged into the ground an iron pipe that was lying around (waiting for an Osprey nest to be built on it), connected the DB2 to it about seven feet off the ground, pointed it west, and it worked like a charm. I got the Maryland PBS station's analog and digital channels perfectly, and a majority of the Baltimore analog and digital channels.
The DB2 continued to work that way for a couple of months, until yesterday, when I ran into the local TV repairman. To make a long story short, he praised the antenna, said he had seen it before (though he did not sell it) and said that, for a couple of hours labor and a few parts, he could install it on a cupola on our house (which is like a barn) about 35 feet into the air. He did it, and at that location it works as clearly as cable TV. The only thing he added was a little amplifier where it connected to the coax (coax had been built into the house when it was built, though it had never been connected).
He also added three other interesting pieces of info (I assume they were correct). First, when the digital switchover occurs in early 2009, the power of most digital signals will be doubled. So if you get good reception with the DB2 now, it is only likely to get better then. Second, when the switchover occurs, the VHF frequencies will be surrendered by the stations (or at least no longer be broadcasting). Thus you should buy only a UHF antenna (like the DB2) now, as a VHF antenna will very soon be obsolete. Finally, he said in his experience the DB2 was a fine antenna and very little was gained from a larger version (such as the DB4).
Bottom line? I am one happy camper, and am about to go watch the Lehrer Newshour in clear, crisp, digital format...with no monthly fee for cable or satellite (instead sending my contribution in to the PBS station).
Great Antenna! October 9, 2008
Before this antenna I had an amplified RCA set-top antenna. I could pick up most local channels before and after connection of the digital converter box. I was always a little irritated that I had to adjust the direction when I would change the channel. I hooked the DB2 to my converter box as soon as I received it and put it in the same location as the old antenna, it was like night and day. I can not only receive all the regular channels but also 6 new channels I couldn't before! Best of all this antenna doesn't use any electricity, every little bit of conservation helps. I do still have to turn it if I want great reception for Omaha stations (60 miles away), but considering I have it on the first floor of our two-story house with plaster walls and are surrounded by other two-story houses, I would say that's not too bad. Very powerful antenna, would recommend it to anyone sick of paying for something that should be free or anyone looking for better HD signal since OTA broadcast isn't compressed like cable and dish(according to various websites).
 Antennas Direct DB2 October 6, 2008
I mounted the DB2 in the attic and it has an excellent reception with station 35-40 miles away.
Good Product October 3, 2008
I like this product. It works for me as intended. I went to www.antennaweb.org and entered all my information. It turns out that I am about 35 miles from the tranmitter(s) I want to get.
According to all the reviews and specs that I have been reading, I might be at the outer limits of the reception capability of this antenna. I decided to get it anyway since I don't want a huge monster of an antenna on my roof. Yes, I mounted it on my roof since I already have a grounded stand for my anemometer. I also figured that it would be a good idea to mount it outside since I need as strong a signal as possible. I do have a totally clear line of site from my house to the foothills.
I oriented the antenna on my roof pointing in the direction where the website said to. I also figured it was correct since that is where the transmitter is in the Denver area (Lookout Mountain). I ran the cable down existing conduit from the attic of my second floor all the way to the basement. Then I put it through a grounding connector (the stand on the roof is grounded already, and the coax coming down to the basement is still grounded to a ground inside the house). From the grounding connector in the basement I figured I should use a good quality amplifier since I was going to use an 8-way splitter in my home's wiring case. I hooked the cable from the amp. to the 8-way splitter in the panel and then connected all the cables that go the each receiver that I am using in the house. All together some runs have about 100 feet of good quality coax.
I was surprised to see that my Dish DVRs took the signal and found all my channels. Not only that, but about 1/3 of them are above 95% signal strength. Others are at a solid 65%. I have some that are low, but I did not need these local channels, they are the ones coming from Wyoming, the antenna is not even pointing in that direction.
In spite of being over 30 miles away from the transmitters, having a significant amount of coax cable running through the house and using an 8-way splitter (with a quality amp), I have great reception!
Also, Dish will not always transmit my local channels in HD, but the DVR will receive the local antenna channel in HD and record it. I am now going to call Dish and cancel my local channels since even the HD channels that come in quite nicely with Dish are still better with the antenna. I think that Dish is compressing the signal. This will save me about $5.00/month! WOW :-)
I also read that there was a quality issue with the connector on the antenna, but my antenna had a good quality connector that was solid.
Overall, this is a good deal. All my TVs are HDTVs and they are all DTVs. So I think that it is only logical to have it set up so that I can get local channels in case of problems with Dish in a storm or something. I recommend this antenna, if you install it correctly and you are not too far from the transmitter, you should do well.
Longmont, Colorado
 BEWARE! October 3, 2008
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
AntennasDirect is really pushing their new series Antenna before crunch time ends before change over..
Beware, I order the $129.00 long range antenna.Great shippping time..and Tracking info...
The problem is I received someone's problem. They Box had been open prior, just retaped. Missing screws and the flimsy contact board in connection box was broken at bolt head, not allowing for one half to transmit. It was obvious that the antenna had been put together and taken apart with bent sections and missing hardware. I decided to put it together, due to impatience of wanting to see what it could pull in.After hunting thru the garage for pieces and parts to put it together,I was able to get a few channels from one side..I then sent an email asking to purchase the board or a whole new Black box for connection. It has been almost four days and 7 emails, and still no response.Three calls have been made and they transfer you and then disconnect you..So beware, purchase at own risk, if you need answers or parts, they will not respond. Your best bet is ship it right back... Good Luck!
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