Winegard FlatWave Amped Indoor HDTV Antenna (FL-5500A)

Though I'm only 16-17 miles from the antenna farm I went with this model. So glad I did. Using it inside with the walls, and after refining the position in 1/2" incremental moves, I'm pulling 100% signal strength for the channels I really wanted, and over 90 for almost every other channel I cared about. Trying it with out the power (for amplification) proved I made the right choice in this one over the non-amplified one. This and the DISH OTA USB for Hopper (3) have made me VERY happy!

Pulls in quite a number of surrounding stations and does it well. Unfortunately, as is the nature of such things, optimizing the signal for one or several stations may reduce the signal strength and reliability of others. Such is the case with this antenna as it's rather directional when hung up. Laying it flat might allow signals from several directions to be received better but seems to reduce overall signal strength received. So, its effectiveness is reliant on placement, local terrain, and direction of wanted signals. Like another review, placed in a window, facing a number of transmitters 25 miles away did not improve performance. In our situation, placing it further into the room, hung high on a wall gave us the best results but not for every signal we have.

Great little antenna! Picks up all the stations in a 50+ mile radius. I does, however need to be rotated to receive the more distant stations. I made a rotatable stand with PVC.

We are looking to cut the cable when we move to a condo later this year. I bought this antenna for urban use and it easily receives 14 channels at ground level from 2 towers about 10 and 15 miles away. I tried it at our lake place which is on the fringe from Ottawa and norther New York towers. I simply hung it loosely from the curtain rod, aimed sort of at Ottawa, 54 miles away, through the trees and received 7 very strong channels from a tower 54 miles away. I will use my directional Antnnas Direct Db4e to pick up the New York State towers over 70 miles away. Excellent antenna.

Tried it at my house first, hung in window through wooden slats. Black side had to face out. Did very well, competes with a larger antennae in my attic. Real reason bought was to help my 90 yr old Mom. The area she is in has WEAK signals (per internet info). This antennae did not perform well against glass OR walls. But at about 3-4 inches from a wall (hung from ceiling) it gave 20% higher signal and flunctuated only 2-3%. I went back & forth several times with each antennae to be sure. The previous OUTSIDE antennae signal was swinging 13-15% causing lots of freezeups. I know the installation video shows placing it on glass OR walls, but for my application that was not resulting in good performance.