Mohu Leaf HDTV antenna for $29.99

Wait, how can a cheap-looking, paper-thin piece of plastic do a better job pulling down TV signals than powered rabbit ears? No idea, but it does.
by Rick Broida |April 11, 2012 11:49 AM PDT

Remember when TV was free? All you needed was the airwaves to watch all your favorite network shows.

That's still true. In fact, with a decent antenna, you can tune in all your local stations in glorious high-def.

For many folks, that "decent antenna" has been the tough nut to crack. In my edge-of-suburbia neck of the woods, for example, I had to put a powered set of rabbit ears in my attic and run a cord through walls and floors to my TV -- hassle city.

Too bad I didn't know about the Leaf Indoor HDTV Antenna. I just tested one in my basement, where TV signals go to die, and it worked better than the powered attic antenna. More on the later.

For a limited time, you can get the Leaf Indoor HDTV Antenna for $35.99 shipped. And if you apply coupon code APRILFOOL at checkout, your price drops to $29.99. (That code is good until April 17.)

Read More: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33153_7-57412395-10391733/get-a-leaf-indoor-hdtv-antenna-for-$29.99/

Well Rick, amplified antennas add something called "noise" to the signal they receive, which can actually decreases digital reception. That means that an unamplified antenna such as the leaf can actually out perform an "amplified" antenna. Weak "clean" signals beat "noisy" amplified signals every time.

i really want to try the leaf but i'm worried that it's still going to be impeded by my location and the forested park that's between me and the city. has anyone used a leaf in a rural area?

If you were to post the URL for your TV Fool "radar plot" I could give you a better idea if it (or something else) would work for you.

I really don't recommend indoor antennas, especially over maybe 15 miles. For under $22 you can get a Eagle Aspen Dtv2Buhf (free prime shipping) or a DB2 for about the same price as the leaf - the DB2 is the antenna that the Leaf and WallTenna are based on. Both those work better, costs less, and can be mounted outside, or mounted on a block of wood and piece of PVC pipe for indoors use.

Of course, if you have any VHF channels, none of these antennas work great, but I have gotten good signal on my VHF 8 with the DB2, as long as the station is strong.

Originally Posted by dkreichen1968

If you were to post the URL for your TV Fool "radar plot" I could give you a better idea if it (or something else) would work for you.

thanks, but i'm not comfortable doing that.
but i did check it out again - i had previously but it's been a while - and it's still telling me there's only 11 channels anywhere near me. i can pick up 9 of them with an indoor antenna in one room on clear days, and a couple in each of the other rooms. i think the tvfool site probably doesn't include the information: "a heavily forested state park between this address and the broadcasters"
there's an old directional antenna on the house, i just haven't connected it to anything yet to see how it works. hadn't needed to - got my rokus and HTPC!
this would purely be an educational exercise

TVfool hides your personal data. In fact, if you use the The Map Tool it will only tell us the cities you're near. We can't help you without data. No it doesn't take in account trees, but 11 "channels" usually means at least 22. The Mohu isn't a magic antenna. It is a decent indoor antenna, but it doesn't work magic. I get 24 English language channels including all the major networks in HD (all local NFL games), THIS, The Cool TV, Me-TV, Antenna TV, Create, and MegaHertz Worldview. Local news in real time etc.

If you have a pic of the antenna, we can tell you if it may work.

Originally Posted by dkreichen1968

it will only tell us the cities you're near.

i appreciate the offer but i have a stalker problem
it's really not that important to me at this point. at some point i will hook up the aerial and see what happens. i'm interested in the leaf, but it seems like a poor choice for my location.
probably it's excellent for people in more densely populated areas

i appreciate the offer but i have a stalker problem

If you ever want to do it, there is the PM option. In the meantime, the fact that someone has previously installed an antenna there does bode well for your location. Since you've done the TV fool, all you really need to tell us is how far your transmitters are, and if there are any VHF channels.

I know you can get all you need with the Roku but for me, the antenna allows me to keep my bandwidth down, and gives me live and local content - caps and throttling suck, but I have to deal with it.

Originally Posted by Roku Guru

caps and throttling suck, but I have to deal with it.

muahahahahah! i wouldn't know about caps/throttling.
but i can see why the OTA channels would help minimize bandwidth

Or if anything, let us know how many miles you are from broadcast antennas. If you're under 15 miles, the Mohu Leaf might work.

Originally Posted by Aaron62

Or if anything, let us know how many miles you are from broadcast antennas. If you're under 15 miles, the Mohu Leaf might work.

a couple of channels are within 11 miles. the rest are 17-44 miles away.