It’s no secret that cable TV is a luxury item that only gets more and more expensive every year. That is why many TV lovers cringed as networks switched from analog to digital media signals. It left many people that could not afford cable or did not want to pay its expensive price out in the cold. The good thing is there is a new solution to this age old problem. It’s a digital free TV key antenna called the ‘Clear TV Antenna’. Let’s take a closer look at this interesting device and see if it may be just what you need to start watching TV at an affordable price again.
What do all the clear TV reviews say? They talk of an affordable and easy to install product that is the future of inexpensive TV watching. We really feel this is a really great device for its small initial upfront cost.
Some Great Digital TV Benefits
Many people are not familiar with exactly how much digital TV can benefit them. If you are one of those people then you may be surprised just how convenient using Clear TV Key can be.
Take a look at some of the benefits these innovative TV watching devices can give you:
- Inexpensive alternative to cable
I don’t know about you but if I rent a pay-per-view show or two then my cable bill will usually run over $100 easily. The sad thing about that is I do not even watch TV all that much and that kind of money is tough for me to swallow because of that. The low price this sells for makes it a very interesting product to check out.
- Super easy to install
This device could not be easier to install. On most digital TV antennas the hook up to your TV takes less than 5 minutes. That is a far cry from how long it takes to put a satellite TV antenna on top of your home or to run and bury the line for cable TV. No holes to drill, furniture to be moved or cable lines to be run around your home.
- It’s very portable; take it any place you can take your TV
There is no way you could practically take your satellite TV or home cable connection on the road with you when you travel. That is not a problem for this interesting TV watching product. Anyplace you can take your TV and get power you can take the Clear TV Antenna with you. That means you can watch TV while tailgating at your favorite sporting event or not miss any of your favorite TV shows while you are on that monthly camping trip. You can even take it on your boat with you.
- Just a one-time expense; no contracts to sign or monthly fees
We like the fact that once you buy this device there is no more expense to watch TV. Most of us absolutely dread when we get our cable bill in the mail these days. Owning one of these devices is certainly a nice change from getting a cable or satellite TV bill in the mail. People who have raved about this device in Clear TV Key reviews say this is the thing they like best about this product.
- Not affected by storms as much as satellite
I remember watching my favorite team play basketball in the NCAA Championships a few years back on satellite TV. It was an exciting and nail biting game that was very close and went into overtime. It started raining hard and I lost my TV signal and never saw my team pull out a last second victory. I could not have been more disappointed. You don’t have that problem when you are using a free TV key.
How Do Digital Antennas Work?
Maybe you are wondering how digital TV antennas such as this one work. It is not that complicated a process. There are basically three things that a digital TV antenna does to produce a picture on your TV.
- Traps a broadcast signal
The first step in the process is the digital TV antenna picks up radio waves that are in the area. These usually come from broadcast towers that are located in the nearby area. These signals can be picked up by some digital TV devices as far as 100 miles away.
- Gathering the signal
Once the signal is received by the digital TV antenna and captured it has to be put together to form a signal that will make a picture on the TV screen. Think of this as making a meal where you have to put several ingredients in a pot to get the finished product.
- TV Picture
When the digital TV antenna is finished putting the radio signals together that were received in step 1, it must then transmit these to the TV screen itself. Once it does this a TV screen will play the program that was being broadcast.
In reality it’s of course more complicated than this. At least now you know roughly how a digital antenna works.
How Much Does The Clear TV Antenna Cost?
This product is certainly not very expensive in the scheme of things. This is especially true if you compare it to cable or satellite TV. That is part of the appeal of this product. It is also the reason that Clear TV has sold so many of them.
The most predominant price point we have seen on this product is $19.99. That coincidentally seems to be the going price of these products unless they come with long cables. So it really seems to be an affordable product.
Other Digital TV Antennas
There are other digital TV antennas in the market place besides the Clear TV Key. They all basically work the same but there are subtle differences in such things as the range they can pick up signals at and how they install. Here are 2 competing products of the Clear TV Key.
- DuaFire Digital Ultra-Thin Indoor HDTV Antenna
Our Rating: 
(4.1 / 5)
This product is actually a little less expensive than the Clear TV Key is. It is built a little differently than that model too. It features a cable that you plug into the back of the TV but the receiving unit is mobile instead of staying in one place like the Clear TV antenna does.
This device from DuaFire claims to be able to pick up broadcast signals from as far as 25 miles away. That is a pretty decent range.
- Wsky1080P Digital HDTV Antenna
Our Rating: 
(4.3 / 5)
This digital TV antenna from Wisky Products has a very long 50 mile range. That is slightly bigger than the range on the Clear TV key. Keep in mind these types of figures are based on a clear line of site from a broadcast tower.
It is also a digital antenna that can be moved around thanks to its generous 13 foot long cable. It is not stationary like the Clear TV Key antenna is.
Clear TV Key Review
We have briefly described to you how digital antenna systems work. Now we will get into more specifics about the Clear TV Key itself. That way it will be easier for you to judge if it’s a product you’re interested in. Here is a little bit more about this handy device.
Pros
- Very affordable
- No expensive cable bills
- Easy to set up, plug and play style
- Requires no additional cables or power source
- 35 mile effective range
- Comes with a satisfaction guarantee
- Optional extension wire
Cons
- Not as many channels as cable or satellite TV
- Rain won’t impact the signal but such things as buildings and trees will
- There has to be a broadcast radio signal nearby
Features
- Clear TV Key set up
The initial setup of this device could not be easier. In literally just a few minutes after opening the box you can have it working. All you do is plug it into the incoming cable port on the back of your television set.
- Effective range
The listed effective range on the Clear TV Key is around 35 miles. This means that it should be an effective digital TV antenna in both urban and suburban settings. It may not be so practical of a digital antenna option in secluded areas far from major cities. Of course this range can be shortened if the line of site from the broadcast tower is obstructed. That is the same with any digital antenna.
- Key component
This is very similar to what used to be known as rabbit ear antennas. The Clear TV Key is a little sturdier version with thicker antennas though. Once you plug the device in you simply pull the antennas out and adjust them to get the best reception.
- Number of Channels received
This is something that is entirely location dependent. You cannot pick up a broadcast channel with this device that does not have a broadcasting tower in the area. Theoretically you can pick up any channel that is broadcast in the area you are located in. That translates to being able to pick up 20 channels in an area where there are 20 channels being broadcast from towers.
- Where can it be used
This is yet another arbitrary question that depends on the situation for each individual. These units can basically be used any place you have a TV, power for the TV and a digital broadcast signal in the area. So it can be used anyplace you meet these three conditions.
Final Thoughts on The Clear TV Key
Some of you will probably think that this product is too good to be true. Ina way you are right because these devices are so broadcast signal dependent. However, when you do pick up a signal it does broadcast a very clear picture. These signals when received look as good as any satellite or cable TV signal.
How do we feel about this product? Well we certainly don’t see much risk with it for $19.99. This is even truer if you factor in the money back guarantee that comes with it. We certainly will consider giving this digital antenna device a try at our homes.
Read more related reviews: