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Customer Ratings & Reviews

Customer reviews

Rating 3.6 out of 5 stars with 30 reviews

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67%
would recommend
to a friend

Customers are saying

Customers are positive about the ClearStream TV Digital Tuner's ease of use and WiFi capabilities, with many praising the straightforward setup and reliable wireless connection. They also appreciate the number of channels it can receive. However, customers are negative about the picture quality, citing issues such as occasional sound and picture discrepancies and instances of freezing. The streaming quality to apps was also a point of concern for some users.

This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.

The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 1 Showing 1-20 of 30 reviews
  • Rated 1 out of 5 stars

    errrrrrr!!!!

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Pros: - App is pretty simply and bare bones, if you like simple then this is good. - Once you get it setup, it's pretty snappy - Has grid guide although isn't not all that useable (see below) Cons: - Setup is a pain...FWIW, I'm a long time TV tuner user and originally started with a Ceton card. Then I moved onto the HDHomeRun and Tablo boxes. Conceptually this should have been the easiest to setup but had connection issues, channel scan talk forever and picked up nothing, and I had to reset multiple times (and I'm not even sure if it really reseted or not). After multiple attempts and rescans it finally worked. - It seems you need to run setup on each device...I had initially set it up on my iPad...then tried it on my iPad which it asked for another channel scan. I haven't bothered to test with Apple TV or Nvidia Shield since they are in different rooms and the app doesn't find the tuner. - I'm not sure but I think there's a typo in the reset instructions. Steps 1 and 3 both say to plug in the ClearStream, I believe 1 should say unplug? - Haven't tried on Roku yet, but I do not see a Roku Channel yet on the Channel store. - Guide data is very basic...a number of channels are missing guide data and it doesn't seem to go past the first 24 hrs. No guide images or channel logos. I'm guessing they're pulling the guide from the stream itself. - Slightly annoyed this does not support PC streaming...in the living room I mainly use a projector connected to an HTPC/server. - It gets pretty hot but I guess that expected since it has a transcoder - Doesn't seem to be a way to change how the device transcodes or even turn it off. - Price - after shipping and tax you're looking at over $140 for a single tuner stick. Pricier and less features than competitors Looks to be a re-badged Geniatech tuner...which explains the price since Elgato tuners were pretty pricey. If it was dual tuner with PC streaming and DVR capabilities for under $99 it would be more compelling. In fairness and to the ClearStream's defense, I knew this was a single tuner and didn't support DVR so I can't hold it against it. Once you get it to connect the app is pretty snappy and works as it should. If you're simply looking to get OTA TV to your mobile devices within the home then this is for you. If you're a power user and plan to DVR you're probably better off with an HDHomeRun or Tablo.

    No, I would not recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Wifi
    Cons mentioned:
    Picture quality

    Rated 2 out of 5 stars

    Good in Theory - Short on Practice

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    This is a brilliant idea, taking digital antenna output and transmitting it onto your WiFi where you have a streaming application to view the channels on your smart tv or mobile device. Only problems is this product is still early into development. I didn't find it ready for prime time. Scanning for channels initially can take a long time (40+ minutes), and the process can lock up and need to be restarted. Clearstream wants you to have this device within 20 ft of your router, but even then you get inconsistent results. I found that sound and picture sometimes deviated, and you seemed to have to scan for channels on each streaming device you used. While you can only have 1 concurrent stream, you can choose to utilize this from multiple devices. Would be wise to hold up on purchase, wait another year, and try the product once it has evolved to at least a 2.0 version. Maybe by then you can do additional concurrent streams and wired LAN connectivity will be available. That's what I decided to do.

    No, I would not recommend this to a friend
    • Brand response from Antennas Direct Expert
      Posted .

      Thank you, we love the idea as well, that is why we brought it to market. We continue to update the software to be more user friendly. With the latest update to our app, we have now made it possible to record live TV. You can even take your recorded shows with you anywhere, using your smartphone or tablet, no internet required to watch recorded shows. Scanning for channels should only take 7 to 10 minutes, so we feel there was a Wi-Fi issue during setup. We hope you will try scanning channels again, keeping the ClearStream TV and the streaming device you are using within 20 ft. of your router during the initial channel scan. And great news, we are in working on storing the channels right on the ClearStream TV in the initial channel scan process, so you won’t have to scan for channels on every streaming device. Also, there is a way to watch live TV on multiple devices using a signal splitter ($3.00 online) with your current antenna setup directly to your TV. This means you can watch one channel using the free ClearStream TV app on your smartphone, tablet or streaming media device while watching another channel on your TV, just as you would normally. Every installation is different, so we suggest you call our Connection Crew (toll-free in the U.S.A.) or chat with us online to provide advice on your installation. Antennasdirect

  • Pros mentioned:
    Channel count

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Decent

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Setup failed first attempt, but worked on second attempt. Product may lag or just not work at all if wifi signal strength isn't strong. Took a while to find optimum spot but now I have everything working properly. I get 51 channels with an outdoor antenna. Downside is this only works with one device at a time. Upside is it works.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Best Antenna on the market

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Really does pick up signals 70 miles away. Love the free HD

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 1 out of 5 stars

    Why?

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Unless you frequently move your living room around, I cannot see a good reason for this product. It can only stream to one tv at a time, and it takes forever to load and buffer. Also, make sure it is well ventilated. This stick gets hot. I mean uncomfortably hot. Overall, do not buy at this price because you can get similar and multi-television supported devices for much less money.

    No, I would not recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Ease of use

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Nice unit, after setup

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The unit is pretty cool once you get it setup. I didn't catch in the installation that I needed to be within twenty feet of my wifi router. Once I did this the installation went great and the unit worked great with my iPad. It works just like a TV and has a program guide. I wish there was a way to split screen my iPad for when I need to use another app. I can see a lot of potential with this. I am thinking new features will roll out with this app.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    connect your antenna to the wifi

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    It works as expected. Wished it had an Ethernet connection, as I think it would work better without buffering.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Useful Device

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The tuner is the best way to cut the cord and watch network TV from your antenna on your portable devices. It also works well to watch on your TV using a Roku as the interface. I strongly recommend connecting to your home network using 802.11n 5.0 gHz to get the needed bandwidth. The device is new so I found it a little quirky to hook up but the staff at Antennas Direct were extremely helpful in getting me set up. We worked together to overcome some challenges and they should be able to make it easier and quicker for users to connect to FiOS routers and access points. Overall, a very useful tool to cord cutters.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Wifi

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Worked fine

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    This item seemed to do the job in terms of getting local channels to my TV over Wifi, unfortunately the best place for my antenna ended up being right next to my TV, so I didn't need it.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 2 out of 5 stars

    Meh

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. I ended up returning it.

    No, I would not recommend this to a friend
    • Brand response from Antennas Direct Expert
      Posted .

      We are here to help 7 days a week! Please contact our support team to help with your reception issues. We can offer tips to help you receive the signal reception in your area. You can reach us either by phone toll-free in the USA at 1-877-825-5572 or chat with us online at antennasdirect.com. Thanks for your time! Antennasdirect

  • Rated 2 out of 5 stars

    Not for multiple tvs at once

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I bought this so that i could use one antenna on all the firetvs in my home. I could access it using the clearstream app, but I had to run a channel scan on each device one at a time. Some would pick up 39 channels while some would maybe pick up 15. Plus i was hoping to be able to watch on multiple devices at once, but i was wrong. It can only do one device at a time. Last thing i will mention is that the streaming quality seemed less than compared to having the antenna directly connected to the tv.

    No, I would not recommend this to a friend
    • Brand response from Antennas Direct Expert
      Posted .

      You can watch on multiple devices, using a splitter with your antenna setup. We are here to help 7 days a week! Please contact our support team and get advice on how to install your antenna with a splitter. We can also offer tips to help you receive the signal reception in your area. You can reach us either by phone toll-free in the USA at 1-877-825-5572 or chat with us online at antennasdirect.com. Thanks for your time! Antennasdirect

  • Pros mentioned:
    Ease of use

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Easy to use

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Set up was easy and quick. Gives me great flexibility to watch live TV on my iphone/ipad. Exactly what I wanted!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Ease of use

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Amazing antenna

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    This thing is great. I set it up on my iphone without any problems. Now I can sit on the deck and watch TV on my phone!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Channel count

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    It def beats cable!

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I receive around 60 channels Good buy cable tv. Why pay for cable when you can receive it for free?

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Ease of use, Wifi

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Nice way to watch broadcast TV on mobile.

    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I've had the ClearStream TV for a few weeks now, and I've used it several times. Setting up the device is relatively quick and simple (connect to its WiFi hotspot), scanning for channels takes a few minutes, and then you're all set. I actually discovered a few local channels that I didn't know about before, so that was a nice surprise. It also downloads a bit of the guide information to tell you what's on each channel. I was impressed that the ClearStream connected to my home's 5G network. Not many devices like this do that. The ClearStream is primarily intended for mobile devices like phones and tablets. It doesn't appear to host a desktop web page for laptop/PC viewing, and I didn't find an app for it on our Samsung TV. That's completely fine though, because we really did buy it for TV on our mobile devices, and that's exactly what it does. There is an app in the Apple store, and in Google Play, and I've used both. I haven't been able to get my iPhone to show ClearStream through our ChromeCast, but it did work quite nicely on my AppleTV. Similarly, my Android tablet didn't do AirPlay, but it easily mirrored on ChromeCast. This is to be expected, and isn't a limitation of the ClearStream app as much as it's a reflection of how Apple and Google coexist in the smartTV world. I don't have a FireStick or a Roku, so I can't comment on how those work other than the fact that the manufacturer's website mentions a Roku integration that sounds like it has more features than the others... If I ever get one, I'll report back on how it works and whether it's noticeably different or not. Overall, I'm very pleased with the ClearStream TV. I've noticed one or two issues that I'll contact the company about (having to re-scan channels each time you setup a new mobile device, and the setup instructions not mentioning the wifi hotspot) but those don't effect how well it's worked for me since then. I did reboot it once when I couldn't see any channels on my phone, but it was working on Android, so I couldn't say one way or the other whether the reboot fixed the ClearStream itself or the cache on my phone... The convenience of watching TV without having to be stuck in front of a set has definitely been nice. I've also thought about how it'll be nice to watch the weather from the basement during storms, to listen for the end of commercial breaks during the game, and a few other niche applications like that. It's been easy enough to use that I'm thinking about buying one for my parents. We've definitely been putting some miles on ours, and I'm sure they would too. It's been a good purchase and I'm glad that we have ours.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Works on phone and Chromecast

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Streams live TV to my phone and Chromecast. A little tinkering with set-up and it's running fine, no tinkering after it's set.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 1 out of 5 stars

    Horrible Product.

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I really wanted this item to work but I ended up taking it back after trying to make it work consistently. It would sometimes work and I'd be abe to watch shows but most of the time it just wouldn't work as advertised. It would always disconnect from my wifi and trying to get it to reconnect wouldn't work most times either. Very frustrating.

    No, I would not recommend this to a friend
    • Brand response from Antennas Direct Expert
      Posted .

      We are here to help 7 days a week! Please contact our support team to help with your WiFi issues. We can offer tips to help you receive the signal reception in your home with ClearStream TV. You can reach us either by phone toll-free in the USA at 1-877-825-5572 or chat with us online at antennasdirect.com. Thanks for your time! Antennasdirect

  • Rated 2 out of 5 stars

    Fail

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    This thing failed in the first week, stopped connecting and locked up.... poor.

    No, I would not recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Great product

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Very clear, very useful for on the go viewing of your favorite basic cable channels.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 1 out of 5 stars

    Not so good

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I don't know if it was the software or hardware. But mine kept crashing

    No, I would not recommend this to a friend
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