Today, many sofa shops sell not only various mattresses, massagers, but even television antennas. There is nothing surprising in this; digital television is an essential need of every person, so if you make a budget offer, many consumers will be happy to pay for it.
Unfortunately, scammers often profit from this. In particular, the Aerial 2100 antenna has been actively promoted lately, which in theory will solve all the problems associated with setting up digital television broadcasting for a modest amount.
Is this equipment really the key to free TV? Will everyone be able to save on purchasing additional equipment and subscription fees? Now we will answer these questions in the most accessible and reasoned way possible, so that no one else has any doubts.
The essence of the proposal
The manufacturer markets its product as a “miracle antenna”, because users will be able to set up a clear image, regardless of the connected TV. As a result, over 100 channels will be available for viewing.
The absence of a subscription fee and the need to purchase additional equipment is a kind of cherry on the cake. Receivers, satellite dishes – you don’t need all this. Just order this antenna and enjoy high-quality television broadcasting with an abundant number of available channels.
The manufacturer doesn't stop there. After all, in order to force a potential buyer to act, additional motives will be required. The best argument for purchasing the Aerial 2100 is turning off terrestrial television. Therefore, the decision must be made here and now, without postponing it.
As a result, the buyer gets the feeling that the antenna in question is the only available way to watch TV channels at the lowest price. It’s not surprising, because buying and connecting 1 antenna is much easier than setting up satellite TV broadcasting.
There is some truth in all this, the process of eliminating terrestrial television has already begun, and the transition to a digital format is actively underway. However, if initially the government of the Russian Federation planned to implement this plan during 2021, today more and more often other dates are mentioned - 2021.
However, even if all regions of Russia are disconnected from terrestrial TV, this does not mean that your TV will be transformed into a pile of useless chips. You shouldn’t fall for such offers; there are truly proven solutions - cable, satellite, Internet TV. After all, modern TVs are equipped with a built-in T2 receiver; you just need to connect a cable to it.
What they say in advertising
The advertising used to promote this new Japanese antenna will describe its advantages in all colors. The user is guaranteed:
- reception of digital television in the range of 300 channels;
- availability of both domestic and foreign broadcasts;
- receiving satellite TV without purchasing special antennas and receivers;
- consistently excellent picture and sound quality anywhere in the country;
- compatible with all types of TVs;
- easy connection without special settings.
You can list for a long time the advantages that this Japanese TV antenna has based on the results of studying advertising texts. Custom reviews for this product are no less colorful. Some users write how great everything works and how many channels they received.
Real possibilities of Aerial 2100
If the consumer is already hooked, has read the offer on the manufacturer’s website or in a TV store, then with a high degree of probability he will pay money for this antenna. Why not? Buyers are offered a truly relevant solution to pressing problems for reasonable money.
In fact, you shouldn’t believe advertising so sincerely. First you need to study in detail the specifics of the issue. Otherwise, the money will simply be thrown away.
Initially, you are offered to purchase an antenna for only 98 rubles, why not buy it? However, during the ordering process the situation becomes clear, this is only a bonus price for the second antenna. Already here you should be overcome by doubts, why do I need two antennas?
Let’s assume you didn’t notice this trick or deliberately ignored it. It is possible that you have decided to sell the second antenna to your acquaintances, friends, or through a free bulletin board. In the end, it is possible that you have 2-3 TVs in your house, so there will definitely be work for a second antenna. All this is actually not particularly important, because the essence of deception is completely different.
When placing an order, you will be notified through the operator that two antennas have been sent, the package includes plugs and remote controls. In addition, the manager will assure the buyer that the Aerial 2100 has the most powerful signal both in the city center and on the outskirts. As a result, you will pay about 2000-3000 rubles, depending on the cost of shipping the equipment.
It is possible that you will not find any of the promised remote controls in the kit. They will simply send you the most ordinary indoor antennas, the so-called “slingshots”.
Where can I buy a Japanese antenna?
The miraculous Japanese antenna is usually sold online. The sales site is a typical one-page, hastily made resource on which the visitor is lured by all means to order such a device.
Such sites always look like a resource for deceiving people. They never contain any information about the store, at least a tax identification number and legal address, and there are also no clearly defined properties of Japanese antennas. Only loud slogans are used, like: “The Japanese antenna allows you to find more than 200 digital channels and replaces the satellite dish.”
After the peculiar success of online scammers, regulars of offline sales of goods also joined in the sale. Counters filled with boxes of these Japanese antennas can be found at various radio markets, where the main clients of the scammers are pensioners who have little understanding of the differences between digital signals and the technical details of various devices.
Also, scammers, similar to sellers of “super-vacuum cleaners” and “gas-saving devices,” periodically go to apartments and try to sell such antennas to lonely pensioners, quickly loading them with information, trying to impress the person, and quickly extract money from him for a cheap Chinese analog antenna.
Technical details
What attracts a potential buyer most of all is the huge number of available channels - more than 100. In fact, this is an outright deception that emphasizes the technical illiteracy of the manufacturers of the Aerial 2100 antenna. However, this does not relieve the buyer of responsibility; you need to understand what exactly you are paying money for.
There is also some truth in the legend created by the manufacturers. The fact is that partly digital television can really be called free. On the territory of the Russian Federation, the free package includes only 20 TV channels, there is no talk of any 100.
There are exceptions. For example, in Moscow you can tune in about 30 TV channels. However, remember that this is the maximum, that is, you absolutely cannot watch 100 channels for free.
If you contact the manufacturer with additional questions, for example, how the antenna allows you to connect more than 100 channels, then they will tell you absolute nonsense. The most common legend is that the signal is received from cell towers.
The second technical subtlety is the design of the Aerial 2100. This is an ordinary indoor antenna. The UHF antenna (decimeter range) is capable of receiving a digital signal qualitatively; in our case, we have a meter range. That is, it can function correctly solely as an element of collective reception.
The third caveat is that not every receiver is capable of receiving a digital signal. Do not believe that this antenna is ideal for plasma TVs.
To receive a digital signal, you need a receiver with a DVB-T2 tuner. Naturally, when plasmas were created, they were not equipped with such receivers, since this standard did not exist. Built-in tuners are found only in modern TV models.
To connect plasma to digital television, you need to use a special set-top box, which can be purchased separately. Naturally, antenna sellers will absolutely not tell you about this.
Technical characteristics of the Japanese antenna for digital TV
The manufacturer assures of an almost unlimited digital signal reception radius, increased several times. The antenna can also “catch” about 200 different channels, including the satellite range, and is also suitable for absolutely any TV and does not require additional equipment when connecting - just insert the antenna into the appropriate connector on the TV.
| Characteristic | Parameter |
| Antenna type | According to the manufacturer, digital |
| Number of received channels | 200 or more |
| Television standard | DVB-T2, DVB-S |
| Compatible Devices | Any TV |
| Price | 99 rubles during the promotion period, 2,500 always |
Antenna appearance
As already mentioned, this is an ordinary indoor meter antenna, it is not made of very high quality. They sell it as a Japanese unit, but in fact it is created in China. The body is made of cheap plastic. The screws are not tightened completely, which is why characteristic creaking noises are heard.
Based on this, we can absolutely say that this is not an innovative invention from Japanese engineers; rather, it is another Chinese gadget of dubious effectiveness.
Antenna cost
Fraudulent sites for selling Japanese antennas are offering a 95% discount and a unique price of 99 rubles for a limited time. Naturally, the timer is programmed until the end of the promotion and is updated immediately after the end.
After filling out the application, in the form of a left telephone number, after some time the manager will call and regretfully say that the promotional item has ended and only another one remains, at full price. In this case, the cost will increase to 2500 rubles.
In order not to let a potential victim of fraud off the hook, an experienced manager will begin to offer to purchase such a device, constantly using fictitious facts and comparing it with more expensive satellite television sets.
Some sellers even periodically inflate the cost of a Japanese antenna to three to four thousand rubles. At the same time, they never use online payment, and if the client offers to immediately make a payment using his bank card or e-wallet, the manager will say that this is impossible and their company only works on cash on delivery, supposedly so that the buyer can check the goods before payment and not be deceived.
Such a scheme is necessary to prevent a lawsuit, because to accept online payments you will have to either use your own details, which will almost instantly reveal the identity of the fraudster, or someone else’s, which is also illegal and can lead to real criminal punishment.
Japanese antenna - scam or not
Usually people make a purchase in a state of mild passion, when experienced scammers “fill up” with fictitious facts and put pressure on the benefits of the purchase.
In order to prove that innovative Japanese antennas for digital television are a hoax, you should understand the arguments for purchasing the device and the myths about this antenna.
| Myth | In fact |
| Japanese antennas allow you to catch a digital signal at any distance from the TV tower | Active antennas for receiving digital signals actually have a larger radius than simple analog ones. But as you move further away from the TV tower, an increasingly powerful amplifier is needed. No modern antenna can provide an unlimited signal reception range, so this fact is a lie. |
| Japanese antennas can be connected to absolutely any TV | Obviously this is a lie. To play digital terrestrial broadcasting, you need a TV tuner that supports the DVB-T2 standard. Many owners of old TVs have purchased the appropriate set-top boxes, which make it possible to enjoy good quality pictures. There are also TVs with a built-in digital tuner. Typically these are devices manufactured in 2015 or younger, when the standard began to be actively implemented throughout the world. A Japanese antenna will indeed fit a modern LCD TV, however, at best it will show an analog signal, and then only if there is appropriate broadcasting in the region. . |
| The Japanese antenna allows you to catch more than 200 TV channels, including satellite broadcasting | For anyone who has ever set up a TV through the settings menu, it is obvious that this is a lie. Russian digital broadcasting includes 2 multiplexes with 10 channels each. At the moment, 2 more additional packages are being tested in Moscow and Moscow Region, which may become publicly available next year. At the same time, not a single digital antenna can provide satellite signal reception. These are completely different television standards and arguments in the spirit: “Innovative development of Japanese scientists” should not be taken seriously. It can be assumed that a universal antenna has indeed appeared for use with digital broadcasting and satellite television. In any case, encrypted channel packages cannot be viewed. |
| Why is the antenna “Japanese” | Many people of older generations experienced a period of time when Japanese goods were always associated with quality. Japanese cars, Japanese tape recorders and televisions - all this inspires confidence. Therefore, this strategy was chosen to psychologically influence potential buyers. |
