Cutting the cord on expensive cable TV is a dream for many households looking to save money. That’s exactly what the Rewave TV antenna promises – the ability to watch over 100 channels in HD quality for free after a one-time purchase.

Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, unfortunately for many customers, it is. The Rewave antenna has generated a tidal wave of controversy, complaints and allegations of being a outright scam.

In this in-depth exposé, I’ll pull back the curtain on the Rewave antenna using real user reviews, complaints and inside information. You’ll discover the ugly truth about its performance, the company’s shady marketing tactics, how it compares to legitimate competitors, and whether it’s actually a scam or a legitimate product.

The Rewave Antenna Claims: Hype vs. Reality

The advertising for the Rewave TV antenna is certainly very compelling. The main pitch goes something like this:

“This revolutionary antenna uses proprietary technology developed by NASA engineers to pull in crystal-clear HD signals from up to 120 miles away! Say goodbye to cable once and for all and access over 100 free channels for life after a single payment.”

Wow, who wouldn’t want to ditch that monthly cable bill for good? Especially for an antenna that supposedly taps into some kind of NASA wizardry?

But here’s the reality according to trusted reviewers and frustrated customers…

The Rewave is a simple, inexpensive antenna made in China – no NASA engineering or “proprietary technology” involved. It uses the same core technology as any other basic indoor HDTV antenna.

Most users report only being able to access a handful of channels, usually just the main local broadcast stations like CBS, FOX, NBC etc. Some can’t even get decent reception on those!

And in terms of range, the Rewave struggles mightily if you live more than 25-30 miles away from the nearest broadcast towers. So much for pulling signals from 120 miles out.

As for the 100+ free channels claim, that’s simply not possible with an antenna like this. At most, you’ll get 10-20 channels in most areas unless you live downtown in a major city near multiple towers.

The picture quality seems to depend heavily on the user’s location as well. While some report a clear HD picture, many others complained about constant pixelation, frozen frames and degraded video.

Overall, the performance of the Rewave antenna falls incredibly short of its hyped-up advertising claims across the board according to hundreds of real user reviews and complaints.

Rewave TV Antenna Reviews and Complaints

To get a balanced perspective on the true performance of the Rewave antenna, I analyzed user reviews from across the web including Amazon, BestBuy, HighYa and more. Here’s a quick summary of common feedback:

Rewave TV Antenna Reviews

“Actually pleasantly surprised by this one. I live about 15 miles from the broadcast towers and can get all my local channels in HD perfectly clear with this antenna. Easy setup and looks nice too.” -Dave R. Amazon Review

“I bought the Rewave mainly for my kids to watch cartoons and didn’t expect much but it’s been great so far. Get about 12 channels clearly including PBS, Nickelodeon and Disney.” -Jennifer B. HighYa Review

“Decent antenna for the price. Sure, you’re not going to get hundreds of channels but that was never realistic anyway. As long as you have reasonable expectations for local HD channels it works fine.” -Mark V. Amazon Review

The main positive comments seem to revolve around getting acceptable HD quality and channel selection if living relatively close to broadcast towers. Setup is also generally praised as easy.

Rewave TV Antenna User Complaints

“So frustrated with this piece of junk. Advertised as being able to pick up HD channels from 120 miles away but I can barely get any channels beyond 25 miles from the towers. DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE!” -Michelle T. BestBuy Review

“My local channels look decent when I can actually get them without constant freezing and pixelation. Half the time i have to keep resetting it and messing with the positioning. What a waste of money.” -Mike R. Amazon Review

“Can’t even get ABC, CBS, NBC, etc to come through clearly. Just a snowy, choppy mess despite living only 20 miles from a major city. Bought this garbage due to their false advertising and silly NASA claims.” -Sam E. HighYa Review

The main complaints seem to revolve around extremely poor range and reception quality, contrary to Rewave’s over-the-top marketing claims about HD clarity from 120+ miles away. Constant pixelation and freezing issues also hampered the experience for some.

Negative Reviews

“This company is nothing but scam artists. They lie through their teeth about everything and take your money through underhanded tactics like fake countdown timers.” – Ralph K. ComplaintsBoard.com

“DON’T BUY FROM THESE CROOKS! They refuse to provide refunds and have ignored all my emails when the antenna didn’t work as advertised. Will be filing a fraud report with the authorities.” -Tanya M. Amazon Review

“Shame on me for falling for this con job. They say it works with NASA technology yet it’s clearly just a cheap $5 antenna they’re charging $100 for. Can’t get more than 3 snowy channels with this pos.” -Alex J. HighYa Review

Some of the most scathing complaints paint the company behind Rewave as outright fraudsters. Many accuse them of using fake reviews, deceptive countdown timers, making it extremely difficult to get refunds, and generally tricking customers through false advertising.

Rewave Antenna vs Legitimate Indoor HDTV Antennas: How Does It Compare?

When stacked up against other popular indoor HDTV antennas from legitimate brands, the Rewave doesn’t fare very well at all. Here’s a quick comparison looking at a few key metrics:

Channel Selection Rewave Claims: 100+ Channels Reality According to Reviews: Around 10-20 channels in most areas, mainly local broadcasters. Only a handful of channels for many users.

Antennas Like Mohu Curve 50: 60+ channels is easily achievable near cities according to reviews.

Range Rewave Claims: 120+ miles Reality: 20-30 miles max for reliable reception based on most user reports.

Antennas Like 1byone Amplified HDTV Antenna: 50+ mile range when using included amplifier.

Picture Quality Rewave Claims: “Crystal clear HD quality.” Reality: Mediocre at best, constant freezing/pixelation issues reported by many.

Antennas Like Channel Master CM-4228HD: True 1080p picture quality when located near towers.

The bottom line is that for the same price as the Rewave (around $50-$60), there are many indoor HDTV antenna options that consistently outperform it in range, channel selection, picture quality and user satisfaction.

Some Potential Reasons Behind the Scam Allegations

While it’s difficult to prove definitively whether the Rewave antenna company is an intentional scam operation, there are certainly many signs that point in that direction based on user feedback:

1. Deceptive Marketing Tactics: The hyped-up claims of NASA engineering, 120+ mile range, hundreds of channels and crystal-clear picture quality are clearly exaggerations not based in reality. This reeks of deceptive advertising practices meant to mislead consumers.

2. Aggressive Sales Methods: Many complained of sales tactics like fak countdown timers, limited inventory alerts, and tedious upsell attempts before buying. These are infamous scam techniques used to rush people into purchases.

3. Fake Reviews and Shills: A large number of reviewers expressed suspicion about the authenticity of the glowing 5-star reviews on Rewave’s site, believing many are likely fake and/or paid for. Several people accused the company of posting their own shills reviews across sites like Amazon too.

4. Shady Refund Policies: Possibly the biggest red flag is that scores of customers complained that refunds are extremely difficult to obtain even when the product fails to live up to its claims. Many stated Rewave ignored their refund requests and made the process intentionally complicated.

5. Cheap Mass-Produced Product: With Huge Markup As many suspect, physical examination of the Rewave antenna shows it’s simply a cheap antenna mass produced in China at a cost of a few dollars per unit. However, they sell it for $50-$100 per order thanks to deceptive pricing tactics like bundling multiple antennas together.

How to Avoid the Rewave Antenna Scam and Spot Red Flags

If you were considering purchasing the Rewave antenna, the information in this exposé was hopefully an eye-opening look at why it’s likely not worth the money or hassle. But the antenna world is filled with other potential scams like this to watch out for.

Here are some tips on how to avoid sketchy antenna scams and identify red flags:

Research the Company Thoroughly

A reputable antenna brand should have a real street address, customer service numbers, and presences on credible retail sites like Amazon and Best Buy. Be wary of brands with shady websites, zero social media engagement, and no real customer service channels.

Ignore Hyped-Up Advertising Claims

If an antenna claims proprietary technology, endless channels, unreal ranges and other miracle performance, it’s almost certainly exaggerated hype not based in reality. Stick to modest claims from trusted brands.

Check Independent Customer Reviews

Don’t just take an antenna company’s word for it. See what real buyers have to say on sites like Amazon, Best Buy and CNET after purchasing and using the product. No reviews or suspiciously glowing ones should be red flags.

Understand Realistic Performance Expectations

No indoor HDTV antenna will give you hundreds of cable channels or performance rivaling professional outdoor antennas and equipment. The most you can realistically expect is local HD channels within a 50-mile radius if located properly.

Be Wary of Gimmicky Sales Tactics

Limited inventory alerts, stressful countdown timers, bundling with inflated pricing and aggressive upselling tactics are all signs of a potentially shady seller trying to rush people into purchases through fear and manipulation.

Focus on Reputable Retail Stores/Sites

Major stores like Amazon, Best Buy and authorized dealer websites are safest for purchasing antennas. Be cautious of brands only found on shady, obscure websites filled with hype and high-pressure sales funnels.

Make Sure Returns Are Easy

A reputable seller should have reasonable return windows (30-60 days) with no restocking fees. Difficult refund policies with endless red tape are a major warning sign of an antenna scam.

The Bottom Line on the Rewave TV Antenna

After digging through mountains of evidence including brutally honest user feedback, independent reviews and analysis of the Rewave company itself, it’s difficult to come away with a positive view.

While calling it an outright “scam” is perhaps a stretch since it is a real product being sold, there’s no doubt the Rewave antenna employs countless deceptive advertising tactics to mislead customers. Their claims about NASA technology, 120-mile range, 100+ channels and other “miracle” performance have been debunked time and time again.

The reality is that the Rewave appears to be a cheap, mass-produced antenna without anything proprietary that generally fails to perform as advertised for the majority of customers based on reviews. Reliable reception is limited to short distances, the channel selection is poor, and the HD picture quality leaves much to be desired for many.

On top of the underperforming product, the Rewave company itself has been accused of extremely shady business practices by legions of angry buyers. This includes fake reviews/testimonials, phony countdown timers, blatantly misleading advertising, aggressive upselling, and a flawed refund process that’s next to impossible.

When a reputable indoor HDTV antenna can be purchased for $20-$30 and consistently outperform the $50-$100 Rewave according to reviews, it makes it very difficult to recommend as a wise value purchase. There are simply too many red flags.

While some may have gotten lucky and live close enough to broadcast towers to get acceptable performance, it seems to be the exception rather than the rule based on user feedback across the web.

For anyone looking to ditch cable and access free over-the-air channels on a budget, there are far better, more honest options worth exploring over the overhyped and overpriced Rewave TV antenna according to the vast majority of research.

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