I'm sorry. You clearly took offense to my post and it wasn't meant that way. I tend to be far more direct in written correspondence as I'm staring at a sterile screen versus an empathetic human whose energy I can feed on.
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There is a difference in quaility between R/Shack and someone like Winegard, Channel Master, etc..
Yes, R/S makes good stuff.. But not all of it will meet all of your needs.. All antennas are NOT created equal.. Sure, in some cases it might just be a better anti corrosive, or stainless bolts instead of steel, but even those little things will play a part in the big picture :-)
Depends on what the "big picture" means, I suppose. Will it result in a better picture for your TV? No. Will it a bit more aesthetically pleasing? Maybe. Will it last longer? Depends far more on your environment, I suppose.
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R/S is not going to produce a rig on the same level of quality as a dedicated antenna company.. If for no other comparision than selection..
An unproven statement. Show me bad build quality in cheaper antennai (aside from Teak, which is mostly plastic...). While RF transmission theory can be a complicated and mathematically challenging task for the uninitiated, it isn't exactly new. Antenna theory on the level required for television broadcasts is a pretty basic course in most EE programs.
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R/S's only UHF rig is joke, made to look like a pro.. Big 40 inch boom sprouting bow-ties and aluminum rods all over the place.. But only "17" ACTIVE elements ! And then they have the nerve to give it a 75 mile range ??!! Give me a break..
Ever try it? If not, what evidence do you have for dismissing their claims? Certainly, it's going to be a best case scenario, but given good line of sight, no obstruction and a
sufficiently tall mounting they're claims may be accurate. Having never done any testing on that particular model, I don't think I'm qualified to dismiss them.
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As for the "Did I try a CHEAPER antenna", again, give me a break.. Dude, sorry, but you can't just go around buying one rig after the other, setting them all up, then trying to unsnap all the elements, but it back in a box and return it ? Anyone that has tried that once, knows what I'm talking about.. They don't break down without a lot of hassle, and more often than not, breaking at a joint or bending..
And yet you're willing to dismiss them all. You have zero evidence for your claims but you make statements as a matter of fact and then are surprised when called on it. Maybe I've just had too many science classes, but I tend to rely on proper evidence which is why I'm finding your post so questionable. You sound like the guys that rant and rave about $2k speaker wire. From an antenna theory perspective, there's nothing wrong with RadioShack's antennai.
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You apparently have a deep seated hate for the person the other side of the counter?
I'm disappointed in both of us that you were able to draw that conclusion.
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Yes, I do ask them for their help.. That's what they are there for.. But I do a lot digging on my own as well.. I ask more than just one person, at more than just one location.. I contacted Winegard directly.. I spoke with a number of antenna installation businesses.. What do you think, that I just walked in to "Wall Mart", and picked the prettyest looking one I could find ? Sheeesh..
No. It sounded, from your initial post, that you walked into a high end store and were sold on the concept by a good sales person as your initial post described you speaking to only one person, a sales person (I'm inherently distrusting of sales people being in marketing now), that seemed to know what he was talking about. I've met sales people that seemed to know what they were talking about as well, but I also knew they were full of crap.
If you did more research than that, my impression was mistaken. I'd like you to provide the evidence you found to support this claim here as I've never seen anything, including several classes on transmission lines, electromagnetism and communications that let me conclude many of the cheaper alternatives wouldn't function as fine antennai.
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Dude, I'm on the Axiom site because I own Axiom speakers.. Do you think I didn't do my research for those ?
I'm not sure of the point here other than to highlight that we both have exceptional taste in speakers.
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As for not knowing it was UHF, well excuuuuuuse me !! I didn't know you would be offended with the confession.. I offered the info for anyone else that might find it of interest.. (Or, in your eyes, lacking of knowledge ?)
I didn't mean it offensively. You clearly know enough about radio transmission to know the difference between VHF and UHF, or at least that a difference exists. I doubt 99% of the population in first world countries can claim the same. As such, I would have assumed you knew why they use UHF. I appologize for offending you.
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As to the Kimber comment, where did that come from ? What did I do to you ?
It was a joke, meant lightly. Those closest to me and I tease one another. I carry that to my communication with most people. On the internet, the inflection in such teasing is often lost, leaving the recipient feeling insulted. I didn't mean it that way.
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No, I use common 100 percent copper/oxygen free wire, bought at my local electronics store for a song and dance.. But don't think I didn't read all I could on the subject before I made the purchase.
Much of the same principles apply here...
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And guess what, I listened to a number of 'sales clerks' in the process.. Shame shame on me, eh ?
And how many of them were at high end stores that claimed expensive cables were essential? If you shopped around, I would assume quite a few, taking us back to where we started...
My point was that your original claim that Radio Shack's antennai were crap is totally wrong. They're perfectly fine antennai which will suffice for most people. If you spent $5k on your television, spending a bit more on your antenna is probably not a big deal and there are marginal gains to be had, so more power to you. It was the claim that everything else is worthless I objected to. There are plenty of people here, probably the majority, that would be perfectly happy with a cheaper Radio Shack antenna.
Regards,
Semi
