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Get a Mohu Leaf Ultimate amplified indoor antenna for $49.99, shipped

Normally $80 to $90, this HDTV antenna can pull in signals from as far as 50 miles. Cable? Who needs cable?

Rick Broida Senior Editor
Rick Broida is the author of numerous books and thousands of reviews, features and blog posts. He writes CNET's popular Cheapskate blog and co-hosts Protocol 1: A Travelers Podcast (about the TV show Travelers). He lives in Michigan, where he previously owned two escape rooms (chronicled in the ebook "I Was a Middle-Aged Zombie").
Rick Broida
2 min read
Black on one side, white on the other, the Mohu Leaf Ultimate includes an amplifier that promises to pull in stations as far as 50 miles away.
Black on one side, white on the other, the Mohu Leaf Ultimate includes an amplifier that promises to pull in stations from as far as 50 miles away. Mohu

Cord-cutters of the world, unite! That pesky government everybody loves to complain about requires TV networks to broadcast high-def programming over the air absolutely free. All you need is a decent antenna so your TV can tune in those sweet, sweet signals.

Depending on how far out into the 'burbs you live (check AntennaWeb.org for info on station locations), that antenna might need a little help. While supplies last, DealFisher has the refurbished Mohu Leaf Ultimate amplified indoor HDTV antenna for $49.99, shipped. That's $40 off the regular price (for a new one) and the cheapest deal by far I've seen for this particular Leaf.

For those unfamiliar with it, the Leaf looks like little more than a cheap piece of plastic -- which, OK, it is. But as I noted when I wrote about its non-amplified cousin last year, that unassuming rectangle can accomplish a lot.

The Leaf Ultimate can accomplish even more: its inline amplifier promises to boost the range to 50 miles and can draw power from an included AC adapter or your TV's powered USB port (if it has one). It comes with a 16-foot coaxial cable so you have a bit more flexibility in placing the antenna.

Speaking of which, as I noted in my earlier coverage, the Mohu is not the most attractive addition to your living room, regardless of whether the black or white side is showing. With any luck you'll be able to find a fairly out-of-sight place to position it.

What's more, I do recommend checking out the user reviews over at Amazon (where it sells for around $80). Although a majority of buyers found the Leaf Ultimate a great product, it didn't work well for everyone. (Needless to say, TV signals are subject to all kinds of potential interference: distance, walls, and so on.) Thankfully, DealFisher offers a 30-day return policy.

If you've had any experience with this or one of the other Mohu Leafs (Leaves?), tell me about it in the comments.

One other thought: People often ask me if there's such a thing as a DVR for over-the-air TV. All you need is a spare PC running Windows 7, an inexpensive digital tuner, and an antenna. This covers the last part of that equation. Food for thought.

Bonus deal: Need a TV to go with that antenna? (I know, seems a little backward.) For a limited time, and while supplies last, TigerDirect has the Proscan PLCD4692A 46-inch LCD HDTV for $379.96, plus around $18 for shipping. It's an entry-level model, to be sure, with a 60Hz refresh rate, no apps or connectivity, and only three HDMI ports. On the other hand, it's new, not refurbished. It has glowing user reviews. And it's a 46-inch TV for under $400! Pretty amazing.

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