Got a Zenith Silver Sensor on eBay from user warepark.

Took bidding on 2 auctions to get one. Oddly enough I ended up paying less on the second auction than when I got outbid on the first auction.

Received the Zenith Silver Sensor I won off of eBay today, hooked it up to see how many channels I could pick up. Detected 18 channels (most are SD).

Decided to change the orientation of the antenna, so I pulled on the antenna to get it out of the base.

I ended up with the antenna in my hand and the coaxial connector still in the base :mad:

I've never worked with coax cable (other than plugging it in), but I assume that I need to reconnect one of the wires to the centre and the other connects to the "outside" of the coax connector?

I was able to solder one of the wires back together and I get great rececption for CBC-HD. Radio-Canada breaks up quite a lot, so I guess the connection may still not be right.

Will take it apart on the weekend and see if I can make it any better, or maybe go to the electronics store and pick up a new female f-port and see if that will work better.

I am fairly new to the ATSC community.. and I have some questions for all you experts. :)

Can someone tell me the difference between the two? They look identical but seems like most users like the Zenith better.
Is there any difference? If so, which one is better for indoor directional UHF?

Hi rogerchoi and welcome here - I've put your post into the Zenith Silver Sensor (& Clones) thread because the Phillips SS is a clone of the ZSS. They perform essentially equally in UHF reception. All you need to do is go for the best $$$ deal you can find. :)

The only time you see a physical difference between an authentic ZSS and the many clones out there is if the particular model of ZSS clone also includes telescopic, hinged VHF rabbit ear elements on the sides so that you can get UHF and VHF channels with it. Some clones also have an amplifier built in.

Please read through this thread for great info on this antenna type.

I've moved your other questions into the GTA Indoors thread.

I'm considering the amplified ZSS.

It's not the amplification I need as much as the rabbit ears for VHF (occasionally). TVO, etc.

Hopefully the reception in uhf is just as good as the un-amplified version? I've seen it discussed here but no direct comparisons were made that I could find. Any thoughts?

Predicting how amplification will affect indoor antennas is almost impossible, so my advice is that you make sure you can return either one of them for a full refund so that you can compare them one-on-one for best reception.

The amplified version is by Phillips but is advertised as a "silver sensor" despite the fact that it is the solid surface, UFO looking triangular thingy. The un-amplified silver sensor is indeed a Zenith clone and looks like what you expect.

Yes, the differences apart from the amplification and VHF rabbit ears are cosmetic, even in Philips' own product line.

Philips HDTV1 (standard Zenith Silver Sensor clone):

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B0007XDI54.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_SS50_.jpg

Philips HDTV3 (ZSS clone with amplifier and VHF rabbit ears):

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000B58VNM.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_SS50_V46695539_.jpg

I bought the PHDTV3 from dell, it got here amazingly fast.
Ordered it sunday night, processed within the hour, shipped out monday, and got it today at noon.

Apparently the phdtv3 is the same as phdtv1 (the conventional SS look), they just covered the section and made it a base.
I'm getting good results indoors (especially since my window faces west, and im aiming it south)

The phdtv3 is uhf and vhf (and amplifier, but i don't think its really necessary)
with free shipping from dell. (fast too).

I also went to walmart, etc. no luck, just cheap ones.
XS cargo - had the RCA ant1250, but i heard bad things about that.
Princess Auto - no longer has the one listed earlier in their catalogue (and nothing in store, just an "Antenna" that can clip onto a satellite dish)

Just a reminder, folks, that the Rules of the Forum do not allow retail pricing discussions in this forum. Consult the Rules to find the correct forums for that. :)

I just saw the Zenith Silver Sensor antenna in stock (about 4 of them) at Cambridge Surplus (in Cambridge, Ontario). Nobody buys them out here because they are useless this far out.

Anybody here live in the Kitchener/Cambridge area and picking up OTA HD ? If so, what gear do you use?

See the Kitchener thread in the Reception Results Forum for your answer - this is strictly about the antennas here. :)

I don't have an un-amplified SS to compare it too, but the Phillips amplified SS clone is certainly an improvement over the old rabbit ears+uhf coil antenna.

We're getting way more Buffalo channels when pointed in that direction. And then even though the CN Tower is off by 90 degrees, there's good reception of the Canadian channels, although no new ones, just CBC, CTV, CITY & SUN. Also City-TV seems stronger (no drop outs and pixelation), and we can always rotate it to point back to the CN tower if we need even more signal strength.

All in all I would say this is a good choice for those who want the VHF rabbit ears even if they don't need the amplification.

its definitely a great choice.
I only had a horrible like 4" antenna that came with my tuner card, and i could only get MAYBE ctv and WNLO (seems to be THE strongest signal from buffalo for me...)
Once i got the phdtv3 I can pick up every channel available to me thats digital.
Only problem is NBC might drop out later on in the evenings or if its raining, but I hear that's because its hard to get anyways.
I pick up toronto stations perfect, even though my antenna is aimed at like 80 degrees away from it (mostly S, a little bit west)
So it is directional, good for picking up buffalo stations from southern ontario, and also strong enough with side receptions to pick up toronto stations.
(Granted, some days the toronto reception is a bit skippy for me, but then I just nudge the antenna like 10 degrees more towards T.O. and its perfect.

i have been across the city looking for the zss......active surplus.....bloor street electric shops....even college st. computer stores.....give me a heads up toronto people...i am ready to buy one....

im using the RCA amplified .......i get toronto stations very well....but buffalo is not happening.....

thanks

Sayal carries the TERK, but I bought one and tried it out but it was worst than
the antenna that came with my OnairGT, I took it back but you may have better luck.

Dell carries the Phillips, but I haven't one since returning will cost me shipping.

thanks i will try Sayal....does anyone actually sell the Zenith? or only the clones....

thanks

There is no essential difference between the authentic ZSS and the name-brand clones (Philips, Terk, Dell, etc.)

Just stumbled on the Zenith the other day in Laval in a store called something like Village du Valeur in the mall where SAAQ is hosted (the other end of the mall). They sell it for $20. After trying it, I still can't receive any OTA channels as I live on the west island. But this ZSS makes the non-HD channels super clear: can't imagine how much clearer the HDs will be. Unfortunately could never find a combiner to incorporate the VHF though there are plenty of splitters.