Televes Dat Boss Combine LR evaluation: This can be a nice out of doors antenna
Knowledgeable’s Ranking
Execs
- Sturdy, delicate reception
- Constructed-in 5G filter
- Constructed-in amplifier and indoor distribution amp
Cons
- Massive bodily dimension
- Meeting could be complicated
Our Verdict
The Televes Dat Boss Combine LR (mannequin 149884) is the perfect out of doors TV antenna we’ve examined. It delivered a superb efficiency, pulling in sturdy alerts from native and distant TV towers. It’s an incredible alternative in areas with medium to low reception ranges.
The Televes Dat Boss Combine LR is nice out of doors TV antenna. It’s large, however its dimension is likely one of the causes its efficiency is so spectacular.
The antenna is designed to work on the high-VHF and UHF bands, that are these utilized by most main TV stations within the U.S. We examined mannequin quantity 149884, which doesn’t pull in low-VHF channels. In case you want low-VHF, select mannequin quantity 148383 as a substitute.
In case you’re uncertain of the channels in use the place you reside, take a look at the Rabbit Ears web site and search for your metropolis and the “Bodily Channel” quantity. This antenna will work with stations on channels 7 via 36. Bear in mind, the channel quantity introduced on air, “CBS 2,” for instance, is now not essentially the bodily channel in use, so verify the positioning.
This evaluation is a part of TechHive’s in-depth protection of the perfect TV antennas.
The writer mounted the Televes Dat Boss Combine LR to his rooftop for testing, strapping it to the house’s chimney for added stability.
Martyn Williams/Foundry
The UHF portion of the antenna is peaked for the brand new, smaller TV spectrum that’s been in use since some TV frequencies got to 5G wi-fi carriers in 2020. That design and a built-in 5G filter ought to present a great probability at filtering out any sturdy, native cellphone alerts that might hamper reception.
The antenna additionally has an powered amplifier, which additionally helps reception. Boosting alerts on the assortment level avoids the inevitable loss that happens when the sign travels via the coax cable to your lounge and may make the distinction between watchable and unwatchable stations. The amplifier is powered by an indoor unit that additionally doubles as a splitter with two outputs. You’ll have to plug the indoor unit into an AC outlet.
Testing the Televes Dat Boss Combine LR
To check the antenna, I first scanned broadcast TV stations utilizing my present antenna, a Channel Grasp CM-5018 put in with an amplifier. Nothing I’ve examined has overwhelmed this for reception, so it’s stayed on my home for the final six years.
After scanning and recording sign ranges, I took down the present antenna and put in the Televes Dat Boss Combine LR in the identical place. The outcomes had been instantly spectacular.
The antenna comes disassembled and it may be complicated to place collectively appropriately. Pay shut consideration to which bolts go the place.
Martyn Williams/Foundry
I stay within the Washington, D.C., tv market however an outside antenna pulls in lots of stations from the Baltimore market, which is about 40 miles away. Reception of all the main D.C. stations and among the Baltimore stations is dependable, however there are issues receiving some low-power D.C. stations in addition to among the Baltimore stations.
With the Dat Boss Combine LR antenna, plenty of these issues disappeared.
Most of the marginal alerts had been boosted to be secure and freed from image breakup, and it managed to select up two new stations. One is a neighborhood station that suffers from interference from a distant channel on the identical frequency however this antenna managed to kind out that mess and ship the native one.
The opposite alerts both stayed as sturdy as they had been or had been improved. That is equally vital, as a result of typically a big antenna can ship too a lot sign, leading to lack of image because of overload. That didn’t occur on this case.
The Televes Dat Boss Combine LR comes with a 5G filter to get rid of any interference from sturdy cellphone alerts.
Martyn Williams/Foundry
It seemed to be a bit of extra directional than my present antenna, which is one purpose it might need been extra profitable. The built-in amplifier additionally helps, however many of the heavy lifting was in all probability finished by the antenna’s design. It has a singular look with three UHF director bars extending out of its entrance. These focus reception to the world instantly in entrance of the antenna, and that helps enhance sensitivity.
As a result of reception can differ from day after day, I additionally performed an prolonged check over per week and didn’t encounter any points.
The Televes Dat Boss Combine LR is a large antenna
The antenna is available in a pretty big field and requires a while to assemble, however meeting is fairly simple. It may be achieved with a screwdriver and an included wrench; placing the entire thing collectively took about an hour. The directions are illustrated with few phrases, so you want to listen, significantly to the utilizing the proper bolts within the right locations.
Some items bolt collectively and others snap into place, and it’s not all the time solely clear how to do this. I spent a couple of minutes attempting to jam one of many reflectors into place earlier than realizing I had it the incorrect means round. It was easy when flipped.
This can be a high-quality antenna, and I’ve no worries about it staying on my roof via the winter.
Do you have to purchase the Televes Dat Boss Combine LR?
The Televes Dat Boss Combine LR is the perfect out of doors antenna now we have examined. The inclusion of a built-in amplifier and two-way distribution amplifier in the home makes it much more helpful. It’s going to work effectively in areas of medium to low sign energy, however it’s overkill for areas with sturdy alerts.
