Q I have a tabletop Dynex HDTV and an RCA multidirectional digital flat amplified antenna. I get a beautiful picture that keeps breaking up completely. I live in an area where it is hard to tune over-the-air stations. Do you have any suggestions other than paying for TV?
A You seem to realize that your antenna isn't doing a good job locking in the signal. A large rooftop or outdoor antenna is always most effective, but this is not always practical.
I receive questions like yours often, so I will say it again: The Philips Silver Sensor is the absolute king of set-top antennas. I still have not found anything that can compete with the Silver Sensor's amazing performance. If you want to tune a digital TV signal with a small antenna, it offers your best chance.
I have a friend who lives 30 miles from the broadcast towers. He complained that since the DTV switchover he couldn't tune anything using a converter box and the small amplified antenna he bought in a big-box store.
I sent him home with my Silver Sensor. He texted later that night, "I pointed the Silver Sensor toward the towers and I get 16 stations, more than I ever did before, and the digital picture looks so much better. Now I love digital!"
The Philips Silver Sensor is notoriously hard to find in retail stores but Amazon.com has it in stock for less than $25. Look for Philips model number PHDTV1 or SDV2780.
Comcast HDTV update I recently answered a question about receiving free local HDTV broadcast stations via Comcast basic cable. I mentioned that I knew of subscribers who lost their free HDTV channels when they were switched from the coaxial cable to converter boxes. Given the many areas Comcast serves, I was unsure if this was a nationwide change and if it was still possible to receive unscrambled local HDTV with basic cable.
According to Robert Grove, a spokesman for Comcast Keystone Region, Comcast still broadcasts local HDTV stations on basic cable. If you have a recent HDTV with a built-in digital tuner, you will be able to receive the channels.
