ClearCast HDTV indoor antenna -- overhyped?

[ChrisW6ATV]

My brother called me this morning from Chicago and described a laughable full-page newspaper ad for this silly antenna. Apparently, the ad mentions things like "able to receive 953 programs even in rural areas" or similar ridiculous comments. Note the word PROGRAMS. Well, gee, even ONE channel will show 953 programs if you watch it long enough! In the small print it says "up to 56 CHANNELS in metropolitan areas. That would be about the number I get with my pair of 50-year old $2 rabbit ears.

Then, the ad went on with something like "only available to the following Chicago-area ZIP codes" and proceeded to list ALL of the codes in the whole area. That bunch of garbage must be intended to fool people into thinking these things are in "limited supply" or something. Even though the ad also claims this over-priced antenna was designed by someone who worked for NASA and/or other big-name technology places, it should be obvious that having a Ph.D. does not preclude someone from becoming, or working with, a shameless huckster.

[DavGoodlin]

Originally Posted by ChrisW6ATV

Even though the ad also claims this over-priced antenna was designed by someone who worked for NASA and/or other big-name technology places, it should be obvious that having a Ph.D. does not preclude someone from becoming, or working with, a shameless huckster.

This was similar to those little gray things that simply plugged in, had feet of ribbon twinlead and claimed to use you houses wiring as a big antenna - HA, it was a small ceramic disc capacitor connected to one of the plug blades, the other was a plastic dummy.

Then there are the little dish-shaped UHF antennas with rabbit ears sold at "dollar stores" in the 90's