Without knowing what is inside the box, it is hard to say for sure. It does have a dipole for VHF-HI and my guess is it has some type of double loop inside the box for UHF. If so it might be an okay antenna, but nothing to write home about.
One thing for sure, the quoted "antenna gain" specs don't make any sense (most likely they are amplifier gain or some meaningless hybrid of antenna and amplifier gain). The NF spec isn't all that great.
A buddy in Markham put one up and gets 33 channels with most coming in at 89% and a lot at 100%.
If you enter "Eaglestar Pro 53-6165VA" into google or duckduckgo you can find lots of commercial links to that antenna online (please don't post commercial links here, folks) but does anyone actually have one that can be analyzed so that we can crack it open to get some factual testing and modeling done? If anyone finds Eagle Star's own product specification web page that'd be great!
I found some useful information about this type of Eaglestar "stealth" antenna in the following post from a few years ago comparing them to much more expensive but not great Nippon Antenna models:
I will comment further. This antenna does come with a cheap-looking amplifier. It connects at the back of a TV, and sends power out to the antenna.
I live in north Ajax, and I set this antenna up in my driveway, using a tripod, at a height of 5 feet.
It picked up every Buffalo channels and Toronto channel.
It did not pickup the three channels transmitted from Hamilton.
A few days later, I went to t friend's place in nearby Scarborough. He had an Antennas Direct DB4e antenna that wasn't working well for him. He is in a bungalow, and his antenna is on the chimney, at a height of approx 25 feet.
He would get Buffalo channels well when the antenna was pointed that way, but Toronto channels were sporadic.
Toronto channels came in fine when the antenna was aimed at Toronto, but Buffalo would crap out.
I put the Eaglestar on, and WOW, all the channels worked.
Even Ch. 11, 35, and 36 from Hamilton.
We used a digital rated 3-way splitter, and all 3 TV's worked without significant signal loss.
I am in Brampton. I just bought the Eaglestar Pro 53-6165VA. Out-of-box failure. Zero signal. I also plan to mount it at ground level on a 5-foot tall stand. I will return and swap at the store tomorrow. Standby for further results. I want to see how it compares with my little Monoprice "20 dB gain" amplified antenna.
There is a small red LED on it that will illuminate when plugged in.
The antenna will not pass any signal unless the Power Inserter is installed and plugged in.
Re: your 5 foot stand. This will work OK for Toronto signals. If you want reliable Buffalo channels, I would suggest installing it as high as possible.
Will they ship these to the USA? Also which model is passive? If I were to purchase one I would not need the pre amp since I live in a strong signal area.
46FD04: Yes, I powered the power inserter. 5 feet is as high as possible since I'm a ground-floor tenant without access to the roof of this detached house.
Here's an update. The store on Matheson Blvd E. in Mississauga held the antenna inside the store looking through their southeasterly-facing window (toward Buffalo) and proceeded to scan in about 15 stations with tonight's pouring rain coming down. Obviously, the antenna was not broken.
Now that I know the antenna is not broken, since I receive no channels outside at ground level looking northwest, I can only conclude this antenna is much more directional than my previous little Monoprice panel antenna which receives several locals (CBC, TVO, Global, etc.) even when it's sitting on my bed inside my room. When the rain stops, I will get a long cable and experimentally place the antenna looking to the southeastern direction to see what I can receive. But things aren't looking good since I likely cannot leave it there anyway.
Billiam: The antenna models with 'A' in the model numbers are equipped with amplifiers. I paid $50 for the amplified version. The no amplifier version was $5 less.
Just ordered one of the passive units from Expert Island. Will report back here how it works. Will be interested to see if any hacks can be done to improve the performance. Will know about that in the months ahead after I learn more about the concept of the design and build.
If he did not reinstall the 4221 or 4228 then this antenna is probably for real. Read on another board devoted to Canadian TV that people were actually replacing the 91 XG and DB 8 with this EagleStar antenna. The passive model at that.
The most important thing you did not mention in your first post was that you are facing northwest.
That is your problem.
If you are able to get permission, have an installer the mount the antenna on the roof facing Buffalo, you should pull in most of the channels without issues.
Roof installs using a 42" J-pole work great. Just be sure to have the installer water-proof the install by using pitch pads or Resisto Red Zone.
This antenna appears to be from Qiaohua, probably one of their AV-165 series. As well as the "Eagle Star" moniker, you can also find it under the name plate of "Marathon", "continu.us", "ANI-AV" and probably a few others.
If you remove the front cover, you'll find a dual (vertically stacked) cavity backed slot antenna for UHF along with basic dipoles for VHF.
Thanks ADTech, that's great info. It really is a shame to see people assuming that one of these would work well for everyone else just because their own experience turned out well.
Ah yes, Amazon Reviews, home of the "miracle" antenna of your dreams!
In the case of these Eaglestar Pro 53-6165VA antennas I have no doubt they are satisfactory for some people, but it makes no sense to go with one when there are proven, well understood, well tested, low-cost antennas on the market from reputable companies.
I will not be adding these Eaglestars to the Antenna Chart.
I just received mine and hooked it up a little while ago. I have the passive unit since I have some strong signals nearby.
This antenna, or at least the passive unit is for real. Works better than my Antennacraft HBU 22 on UHF. Both of my weakest UHF signals which are not terribly weak at this location registered signal gains with the Eaglestar. And every other signal on UHF has seen some improvement in signal strength. Both VHF signals are just as strong (pegged on the SS Meter) with this antenna as they were with the HBU 22.
I can't speak for the amp'd version but I would have to say in Canada, the passive model is going to be comparably priced with other entry level antennas from the major manufacturers and will yield equal or better results. I may try this with a pre amp at some point just to see what happens. But in its present state, it works just fine and is likely the equal to a antenna like the Antennacraft HBU 33 or the old Winegard 7695. Pretty good.
I'll take a closer look at it this weekend to see if that is possible. First I just wanted to throw it up in place of the other antenna to see how it works.
I will see if the plastic housing can be removed. Didn't check to see if it was one piece or two or more screwed together. Will definitely take photos and provide any measurements that you require if I can get it apart without destroying it. Otherwise, someone in Canada may be best off buying one and opening it up since they won't have to shell out $30 to have it shipped across the border.
Have already noted with the UHF signals it behaves like a log periodic. Basically 180 degrees from the tower I get decent signal quality. Seems to be a bit better at rejecting signals from the back.
Have also noted it picks up signals through the tree near my apartment better than the MXU 59, HBU 22 or Super G 1483 8 bay that I tried here. I have a ground floor studio with a patio out back. Have it mounted on a 6 foot mast which I can rotate. Previously my weakest UHF would only come in in one spot underneath the balcony of the upper apartment and placed up near the outside wall of the apartment. Must have picked up a reflection. The MXU 59 was less picky but still was more of a challenge to get this signal in reliably. The Eaglestar I have moved all over the back patio and it picks up this weaker UHF in every spot. This may indicate this antenna will work well in a multipath prone area. I definitely have that here.
Next weekend I am going to bring it to Cincinnati where I have a home. Trees and tall homes nearby and a high multipath prone area. Have some weak single digit NM and 2 edge UHF signals in Dayton that I can pick up from time to time with my MXU 59 and a RCA Pre amp. I am going to try the Eaglestar there to see how well it does with very strong signals nearby and also to see if I can get any of the Dayton stations reliably with or without the pre amp. Will also see if it overloads with the pre amp. Surprisingly the MXU 59 does not seem to despite the fact I have several towers only about 3 miles from the house.
After getting home from work I had a chance to mess around with this a bit more.
First, I did note that the screws holding the cover in place are covered by plastic covers. I was able to remove one and reinstall the cover in place. I do believe I can open this up and get a look inside. I have to work again tomorrow but I will be off work next weekend. I should have time to do it then after I return from Cincinnati. Hollands. Assuming I get this open, I will first get some photos taken and then we'll have to figure out how to send them to you. After that I can take measurements of the interior that you require.
No question this antenna is not that picky about placement. I was able to move it to several positions on the patio and it still received most of the signals that I can obtain here. I was most impressed with the fact that in a couple of places where I put it, it was able to receive the weakest signal of the bunch nearly as well as the MXU 59. It was also able to pick up a Ch. 46 which is about 50 miles south in three different spots on the patio. Neither the MXU 59 or HBU 22 could do that unless I had a pre amp hooked up. The MXU 59 could still get the station without a pre amp but only in one spot.
I'd venture a guess to say this is a medium gain antenna for UHF. Combine it with a pre amp and near fringe to fringe signals should come in. The acid test will be next weekend in Cincy. That environment is even more challenging with multipath obstructions than the present location.
It's for real. I just got back from the house in the Cincinnati area and after testing it for a while today, I have found this Eaglestar is better than I had hoped.
Paired with the RCA Pre amp I was able to receive some pretty weak signals from Dayton. What is shocking is that this antenna outperformed the MXU 59 with the RCA by a wide margin. I suspect this is due to the multi path environment with the trees and taller buildings surrounding the house.
With the MXU 59, Ch. 7 (real Ch. 41) from Dayton was coming in at around 17 db SNR on the TV's SSM. I need about 16 db or slightly less to get a lock with the Samsung that I am using there. I have a Sony that will lock at 14 db. Ch. 2 (real Ch. 50) was breaking up on the MXU 59 at around 15 db or so. Real Ch. 16 on the MXU 59 was also breaking up at about 15 to 16 db.
The Eaglestar? Gained at least 2 db in signal strength on Ch. 41. Ch. 50 was about 3 db stronger and a sure lock. Ch. 16 was also about 2 db stronger and a lock. Also picked up Ch. 22 WKEF which is now on real Ch. 18. That was a lock at about 18 db on the SNR meter. Could not get this on the MXU 59.
Also tried the Super G 1483 8 bay again. This actually worked better this time around since I moved it up a few inches which allowed me to pick up Ch. 50. Gain on every channel received with the Eaglestar but with this antenna was stronger except for Ch. 50 which seems to be about the same. Other than that, I saw a good 2 to 3 db more gain on the other 2 channels.
I am going to see about taking it apart now and get some photos posted. Hopefully this will be adequate to get a good model of the antenna. This easily will work well with some fringe signals on UHF. Not sure about the VHF side since I only have strong signals on VHF at the apartment in Indy and one in Cincy. At some point, I may try to buy a batter powered TV again and take a ride out to a rural area and see how well the VHF side works with this antenna.
I think this may be tough to model though since the VHF part of the antenna is two pieces of plastic presumably with elements inside which stick out of the side of the main body of the antenna. No way to open them up without breaking them apart. Don't want to do that.
But… I may be willing to buy a second one of these and have it shipped directly to Hollands with the idea he can pull it apart to see what makes it tick and get exact measurements. That would be contingent upon the unit being put back together and sent back to me in its original or modified form, if possible for superior reception.
Off to work on this thing now and we'll see what happens. With luck I will have some photos on here later tonight or on Sunday.
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