If you are a cord-cutter, free-to-air channels can be a great way to escape the high cable and satellite TV bills. The only catch is that you need to connect your TV or set-top box to an antenna to receive and watch the free channels.
The Magic TV Stick Antenna is one of the several TV antennas available on the market. It comes with several claims, including HDTV support, a stable signal, and long-range reception.
But does the antenna really work in the real world, and is it worth buying? Well, let’s find out in the review below.
Compact design
The Magic Stick TV antenna features a small, compact design. It measures 5.12 inches tall and features a mounting base 2.44 inches in diameter.
The compact design makes the antenna highly portable. Therefore, you can use it at home, on RVs and boats, when camping, in dorm rooms, or on the go with a handheld portable TV.
Magnetic mounting base with long coaxial cable
The Magic Stick TV antenna comes with a magnetic mounting base and a 16-foot-long coaxial cable. These two features are handy because they offer more antenna placement options, allowing you to choose the best spot for maximum signal reception.
You can place the antenna on your TV stand, windowsill, or any magnetic surface, such as your TV mounting bracket, curtain rods, steel doors, or metallic shelves.
The magnetic base also comes with an iron mounting disk that you can drill into any surface, such as a wall or even the ceiling. This gives you more placement options where you are likely to find a stronger signal.
The Magic Stick TV antenna claims to have a “patented magnetic base” that delivers strong signals. However, there is no evidence that the magnetic base functions in any way other than as a convenient and flexible mounting option for the antenna.
The base, though, could improve signal reception by providing a stable mount, thus preventing signal fluctuations caused by movement.
Additionally, the iron mounting disk and any metallic surface the antenna is attached to could reflect TV signals towards the antenna, slightly improving reception.
Omnidirectional reception
The Magic Stick TV antenna is omnidirectional, offering 360-degree signal reception.
Therefore, you don’t need to aim the antenna in any direction when mounting it. However, you can mount the antenna horizontally or vertically to see which orientation provides better signal reception.
Decent signal reception
According to customer reviews, the Magic Stick antenna performs decently at picking up free-to-air channels.
Another test and review shared on YouTube shows the antenna picking up free-to-air local channels with signal strengths of around 48%-58%, which is decent enough for clear pictures.
However, there are a few things to note with the signal reception. Firstly, the quality of the signals will depend on your location and how well you have placed the antenna.
You are likely to pick up more channels with stronger, clearer signals if you are in an urban area or near a TV broadcast tower. Additionally, you should mount the antenna as high as possible to improve reception.
Is the Magic Stick TV antenna worth it?
The Magic Stick TV antenna goes for $17.99 on Amazon, making it relatively affordable. It can also offer you several free-to-air channels, especially if you are in an area with strong TV signals.
It also features a plug-and-play design that requires no installation, making the antenna very easy to use. Additionally, it offers several flexible and convenient mounting options.
However, since it is a passive antenna (not amplified), it will only pick up available TV signals. Therefore, it won’t do much good if you are in an area with poor TV signals.
Additionally, the small size and passive nature of the antenna make it prone to signal fluctuations caused by bad weather or interference from furniture, electronic gadgets, and other items.
The antenna also comes with misleading packaging information, such as the claim that it supports 4K resolution.
Currently, most free-to-air channels broadcast in 720p and 1080i. Furthermore, the resolution you receive is not determined by the antenna, but by the broadcasters’ original signal quality, signal strength, and the quality of your TV or set-top box tuner.
All in all, the Magic Stick TV antenna can be worth it if you are looking for something affordable to give you some free extra channels.
However, you should not expect much from it if your location has weak signals. In such a case, you are better off choosing a high-quality, amplified indoor antenna or a good outdoor antenna.