ClearStream 5 Hi-VHF Outdoor TV Antenna

Excellent signal on my hard to get 8 and 10 in testing. Even got in back bedroom. In yard even not high some signal but enough from channel 13 L.A. atsc3 at 90 miles. No sign of live on stations I don't need on channel 6 in atsc3. Jewelry. Nor any low vhf. None around here but unlikely channel 3 translator 30 miles, ch. 4 PBS at 60 miles , should not get, or 5 from L.A. 9-0 miles. Absolutely very little signal on UHF. Want to put up on pole. Weighs about 9 or 10 lbs. Not sure of which coax to use. rg6 or 11. 75 feet. Or which amp. Have a Smartkom amp never had much luck with. 3 inputs. Could use Antenna Direct antenna I bought long ago for San Diego. 35 miles, TJ 50 UPDATE: While install thought I was missing wingnuts. Should have put on outside. Used others I had. Hard to hold up. Weighs almost 10 lbs. Signal different around yard. Weather makes a difference.

For years I had been considering canceling cable TV and getting an outdoor antenna like in the good old days. Then one day, I was pushed over the edge by various issues I had with the cable company plus it was getting too pricey for me. So that is why I turned in my cable box and started using indoor antennas for my HDTV. For 18 months, I had been using two indoor antennas because I wasn't sure yet if the expense of a mast mounted outdoor antenna was needed. Depending on conditions, one would work better than the other one due to reception problems on some of the channels. It was a hassle, though, to switch out antennas as conditions warranted. Then I found the Antennas Direct products and reviews on Amazon and ordered the CLEARSTREAM5. I decided on this model because experience suggested that the VHF stations where giving me the most problems (PBS 9.1 and ABC 12.1) with my small indoor antennas. I also thought that it would be fine to install it inside the attic as other reviewers have done. After I got the CLEARSTREAM5, I put it in various locations around the living room to test reception. Signal levels were good, even on the floor. I decided that it would not have to go outside or in the attic. I had it installed in the garage which is next to the living room. (See my pics here on Amazon). The antenna is attached to the optional 75 Cm J-mount mast. The garage ceiling also needed a reinforcement 2 x 4 board that was put in the attic to bolt on the Cm J-mount mast. A 14' coax cable was sent through garage wall to the living room wall next to the TV. A very simple but elegant solution. Now the network VHF/UHF channels come in steady with no more reception problems. I also can receive low power stations (religious and shopping). Those are fuzzy but I don't watch them and unprogrammed them from the HDTV tuner. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: This antenna is directional and the front should be aimed towards broadcast towers. However, I found out that stations to the rear of the antenna come in just as good (ION 26.1 and MYTV 35.1). Spanish station (UNIVISION 17.1) is an anomaly because it comes in good even though the broadcast tower is 22 miles away and almost at the side position of my antenna and not even close to the front or back position. All station towers that are programmed into my tuner are 18 to 29 miles from my location. Some free cable TV content is available with Internet streaming. To get those programs, I use a PlayStation 3 and a notebook computer connected to the HDTV.

I bought this ClearStream 5 to replace an old fashioned multiple element periodic antenna that I had thrown up in my attic when I cut the cord a couple of years ago. The majority of our stations are 45 miles due west and we live in a the woods, so we had frequent drop outs, especially when it rained. I put this in the attic a few feet over from where the other antenna was and immediately go much better reception on our VHF channels. One channel went from 80% to 100% and another went from 60% to 80%. The UHF reception, however, was worse across the board. We lost two channels completely and several others dropped significantly in quality. The only UHF channel that was as good or better was the one channel that is significantly closer than the other towers (15 miles). This was pretty much as expected based on the description of the antenna. I also purchased a db8e, intending to use that for UHF and the ClearStream 5 for VHF, as several other reviewers had suggested. Unfortunately, the ClearStream 5 did not come with the UHF/VHF combiner that was mentioned in the product description, so I will need to order one before I can try this arrangement. I am hoping that this combination will give me improved reception across the board. I will update this review when I am able to complete the setup.

I had the antenna mounted below the roof line. So it was not exposed to much harsh weather. It did good at channels 20 miles away. It was mainly installed for local VHF channel since my high gain UHF did not receive it well. I could receive stations 42 miles from me somewhat. But, that was due to low mounting point. If it was on roof I am sure it would of got them great. It did its job for 5 years. But then signal dropped to nothing even on local channels. I checked cables ok. I pulled antenna down and disassembled. The connection to find signs of light water damage on circuit board. This antenna is designed for outdoor use. So seeing how unprotected the internals were was not great. I retouched solder points and contacts to antenna framework. Now the antenna seems to be back to it's old self. This antenna works great but has a major flaw long term due to poor protection of internals.

I should preface my review by stating I live relatively near the VHF towers in question, and I did not compare performance without the Clearstream5. What I can say, however, is that reception on the VHF stations is outstanding, the build of the product is solid, and installation was really not an issue (I ordered the J mount to accompany the Clearstream5). My installation is in the attic above the garage, and I don't have shingles (mine are some kind of plastic made to look like slate). Because of the single location of towers, I did not need to buy a rotation motor. So conditions are pretty ideal. That all being said, I am a full convert to the over the air stations, and for those who are thinking of doing so and have done the legwork on antennaweb-dot-org, I would highly recommend this product. But there are a lot of ins and outs -- from making sure your TV is set up to handle these kinds of signals, how comfortable you feel cutting and splicing coax (and if you have the tools to do so...I had to buy a set -- the Palladin 4910, which I would give TEN stars if I could), and the available stations, etc -- so cutting the cable or dish or whatever you use does take a bit of prep. But again, this antenna has served well, is light and easy to handle, and works as advertised.

My 3rd-floor apartment is about 40 miles from the Chicago transmitters. I was using a small amplified UHF/VHF antenna, which receives almost all the UHF channels but not the two VHF channels 2 and 7 (ABC and CBS), which carry a lot of interesting programs. I purchased this antenna based on the description and feedback, solely to add these VHF channels. The antenna comes simply, but well packaged, in a large flat box. Assembly is straightforward, and though it's not obvious from the instructions which way the reflector should face, the diagrams make this clear. Assembly took about ten leisurely minutes with a Phillip's screwdriver. I have not currently done anything more than to prop up the antenna on a table just inside the patio door, with some limited attention to direction and tilt. For initial testing I hooked it up to my existing amplifier in place of the UHF/VHF antenna, intending to incorporate it via the enclosed signal combiner later once I determined how well this antenna performs with the missing VHF signals. Channel 2 strength is around 4-5 bars on the Samsung TV's built-in signal strength indicator and quite adequate to watch. The occasional goods train, on the parallel (to the signal) tracks about a mile away, does sometimes interfere with the signal. The channel 7 signal is not strong enough to watch TV with my current poor setup. Initial results are very pleasing, though a lot more experimentation is called for, including testing without the amplifier. This will have to wait until I have more leisure time. Since I had disconnected my UHF-capable antenna to test this ostensibly VHF-only antenna, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it pulls in all the UHF signals that matter quite adequately and without any realignment. I am looking forward to adding a tripod and adjustable pole to allow the antenna to be raised and adjusted more easily. It does appear from my initial experience that this may be all the antenna I need for both UHF and VHF.

Just received the Clearstream 5 antenna. This is an Antennas Direct product (antennasdirect.com). I agree with the other reviewer here that the design of the RG-6 connection to the antenna is heavily flawed. I grew up in the TV business. I know what I'm talking about. The threaded connector is connected to a printed board inside the plastic housing. The printed board breaks very easily because of the wobble of the threaded connector. I called Antennas Direct, communicated with Martin Lamb and at their request I emailed them the picture that you see here. They refused to send me a replacement part. Yes, their antennas are great when they work, but if you have a problem, don't bother calling them.

Initially skeptical ("if it's too good to be true..."), I first tested this outdoors on a photo light stand and aimed it towards the transmitters on Mt. Wilson. Those transmitters are 25 miles northeast of my Los Angeles home, plus the direct line of sight is blocked by a large house across the street. Bingo! The HDTV's signal meter showed all bars max strength and I got stunning images of all OTA (over the air) stations--CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox, Korean soap operas and Mexican talk shows, local PBS, and even PBS from faraway Orange County. So I next tucked it into the attic and hooked it up to the TV with a 50' cable, thinking I'd lose some signal strength but willing to take the hit to keep from sticking it outside on a rooftop antenna pole. Didn't lose even a single bar! This was easy to put together, reasonably well constructed, and true value for the money. Can't recommend it enough! Two whiney complaints: (1) the cheap metal screws did not screw easily into the poorly tapped pole holes and so the Phillips slots can easily get stripped (2) the instructions don't mention which side of the antenna faces transmitters, but you quickly figure out it's the non-gridded side.

This is a replacement for my original C5 antenna which was damaged.

ok