Ask Denny TV Antenna Questions Begins Here
How do I know I can trust Denny's TV Antenna Source?
Question: Dear Denny's, in the past year I have purchased on line two TV antennas. Both didn't perform as advertised. One company did refund my money without issue the other did not. I like your website it has a huge amount of useful information. I'm interested in the Hd Stacker TV antenna. However, I'm gun shy and am afraid to pull the trigger. How do I know I can trust Denny's Antenna? Best Regards, Sherry K.
Response: Good question Sherry. I've been ripped off too. I think the best way to check out any business is at the Better Business Bureau. There you will find a rating of the business from A+ to F. The rating is important but I think just as important is the number of complaints a business has had. The BBB displays the total number of complaints a business has had over the past 3 years even if the complaint has been resolved. A business can maintain a good BBB rating by simply resolving the registered complaints. So look at the rating and the total number of complaints. Even if the business has a good rating they may have a lot of complaints. You can view our BBB rating here.
Hi Denny my name is Ron and I once worked at the BBB here in Texas. You're advice is spot on. Always check the business rating and the complaint report before you buy on line. In addition I suggest the consumer visit the BBB page "Computer, Internet, and Technology Tips". Also, if a business is not listed with the BBB that may also be a red flag and indicate the online business name is not a registered valid business name.
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How can I select my own TV antenna?
Denny, I'm interested in either your EZ HD or the HD Stacker. How do I know which antenna is best for me? I plan to install outside on the roof. There are four HDTV televisions connected. Is there a way I can know which TV antenna is best for my location. Thanx bruce
Hi Bruce, There is a good way you can do this yourself. We have a page at the link below that will guide you through the process of selecting a TV antenna. This page utilizes the FCC mapping system to determine reception conditions. Follow the steps suggested and it should be clear which antenna is best for the location.
Here's the link http://dennysantennaservice.com/top-hd-antenna-performance.html
Take Care, Denny
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Denny, I'm assuming everything comes with instructions. I'm not the most mechanical person.
Thanks for all your help!!! Mike
Hello Mike,
Everything does come with instructions. However, one of the advantages of doing business with us is the knowledgeable help we can provide. Unlike most online vendors we don't just sell TV antennas and equipment we know how to properly install everything we sell.
If you need assistance during the installation we can help.
Denny
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With few exception a TV antenna can be mounted outdoors. The 1996 Federal ruling trumps just about any local rules that may be in place. There are a few exception such as antenna height above roof line and Historic District neighborhoods. You can read the entire outdoor antenna placement FCC ruling here. Unfortunately most people aren't aware of the Federal rule and simply accept the local rule. In an attempt to get the word out USA Today published "Yes you can put up that TV antenna".
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Mast mounted TV antenna preamplifier troubleshooting.
Question: Denny - I've had your Stacker TV antenna on my roof for a few years now. The reception has been great until just recently. We have lost about half the channels we were getting on every TV in the house. I have a preamplifier from Radio Shack that is mast mounted below the antenna that feeds to the power supply and then to a 4 way signal splitter with home run lines to each TV. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Dan
Response: The likely cause is the preamplifier. The first thing I suggest is to unplug the preamplifier power supply from the electrical outlet. If the preamplifier is working the signals should degrade. If the reception remains the same when the amplifier is unplugged the preamplifier is likely not working. There are 3 reasons why a preamplifier fails to operate. Either the mast preamplifier or the power supply went bad or the coax cable connection between the mast preamplifier and power supply went bad.
The following steps will determine why a preamplifier isn't working.
Disconnect the coax cable coming from the mast preamplifier at the power supply/injector. In its place install a short length of coax cable. Plug the power supply into the electrical outlet. At the open end of the short cable you just installed use a volt meter to check for power on this cable. Place one probe of the meter onto the center copper wire of the cable and the other probe to the threaded connector fitting of the cable. If voltage isn't detected the power supply/injector is bad. If voltage is present reconnect the cable leading to the mast preamplifier back onto the power supply/injector. At the other end of this cable remove it from the mast mounted preamplifier. At this end of the cable at the preamplifier test for voltage in the same manner as you tested at the power supply. If voltage isn't present the coax cable is not carrying the operating voltage from the power supply/injector to the mast preamplifier. The solution is to look for a bad connection on this cable. If the connections all look good replace the cable. If voltage is present on the cable at the mast preamplifier and the preamplifier isn't working the preamplifier is likely bad.
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HD Stacker antenna gain
Ask your HD Stacker TV antenna question: I will be installing in a Deep Fringe area and have been considering the Channel Master CM-5020 TV antenna due to it's gain and published performance. I cannot find the specifications on the HD Stacker, so could you provide them so I can make a better informed decision?
Response: Hi Dan, Due to the various methods that can be used to test TV antenna gain and the exaggerated false claims made by some vendors we no longer publish antenna gain figures. We refuse to play this game. The truth is the only way to win is to falsify the data.
The benefit of the HD Stacker TV antenna is it performs as good or better than any VHF/UHF deep fringe antenna with a much smaller more stable design.
Ken Nist from HD Primer says it best. Quote "Antenna marketing is a racket in that the less honest you are, the more antennas you sell.(Nobody goes to court over a TV antenna).Gain figures published by antenna makers are mostly useless, except maybe for comparing antennas by the same maker". Source: http://www.hdtvprimer.com/antennas/comparing.html
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Ask Denny Continued On Page Two
