The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Ever heard of this OTA device?

**Posted by haydenmatthews14** September 29, 2024 4:41 pm

It's called "WaveMax" and it is an indoor TV antenna that is supposed to pick up OTA channels from 470km away and maybe futher.
Here is some information about the device: Access 100+ TV Channels Without Paying a Dime and Bid Farewell to Cable Expenses

But however there is a video that claims that it does not even work. It is best to watch this video.
WaveMax Indoor TV Antenna Review - Does It Really Work?

**Posted by RadioAaron** September 29, 2024 4:59 pm

The secret lies in a regulation that cable companies worldwide would rather keep quiet. This regulation mandates that every cable provider must transmit an additional signal alongside the regular over-the-air signal. However, to comply with the law, cable companies transmit this signal at a low frequency, which conventional antennas struggle to capture—until now.

OK, sure.

Last edited by RadioAaron (September 29, 2024 4:59 pm)

**Posted by RadioActive** September 29, 2024 5:14 pm

**Posted by mace** September 29, 2024 8:46 pm

That 290 mile reception range is a huge red flag. With the curvature of the earth, the best you could expect to receive with an outdoor antenna is signals 75-85 miles away. An indoor antenna probably half that distance.

**Posted by Capricasix** September 30, 2024 8:07 am

mace wrote:
That 290 mile reception range is a huge red flag. With the curvature of the earth, the best you could expect to receive with an outdoor antenna is signals 75-85 miles away. An indoor antenna probably half that distance.

Heh. This reminds me of when my spouse went to Save and Replay in Mississauga to buy our rooftop antenna. He was looking at the bigger antennas and the salesperson asked if he was trying to pick up a signal from Algonquin Park 😄 In the end he settled for one that would get us channels from the GTA and Buffalo, and it’s served us well for over a decade now.

**Posted by RadioActive** September 30, 2024 8:11 am

Is that company still around? I think I bought an early OTA DVR off of them. It was only partially reliable, skipping recordings for no apparent reason, and I eventually replaced it with something else. But they were a good source of all things TV in their day.

**Posted by Capricasix** September 30, 2024 12:48 pm

I don’t know - we haven’t needed to go back there since we bought the antenna, as it’s still working very well.

**Posted by mace** September 30, 2024 2:45 pm

RadioActive wrote:
Is that company still around? I think I bought an early OTA DVR off of them. It was only partially reliable, skipping recordings for no apparent reason, and I eventually replaced it with something else. But they were a good source of all things TV in their day.

I think they are gone. I checked the business directory for 150 Britannia Rd. E. and they are no longer listed. When the company was located there, they had a good selection of outdoor antennas with a large supply of replacement parts and components. Staff was quite knowledgeable about OTA reception. There was always a television set operating to let potential customers know just how clear antenna reception can be.