I purchased a TERK FM PRO 50 Indoor/Outdoor
antenna for a vintage Pioneer tuner (TX-9500) I recently purchased (and
adore). I thought it was time to invest in a really good FM antenna to
take advantage of the highly rated 5 gang tuner that is featured inside
the TX-9500.
http://www.fmtunerinfo.com/pioneer.html
Pioneer TX-9500 (1976, $400, rack
mount, schematic, alignment guide, schematic left, schematic middle, schematic
right) - The TX-9500 has 5 gangs and 4 filters and is roughly equivalent
in performance to a Kenwood KT-7500, but is built even more solidly and
we think it sounds great (although two contributors thought it was “bright”).
The TX-9500 has exactly the same RF front end as the TX-9100 and 9800,
with differences only in the IF and audio circuit areas. Our contributor
David Rich describes what's inside: “In the IF we have 4 ceramic filter
followed by 5 stages of bandpass limiting. The detector is based on a M5109PR
chip. I do not have any details on this device, but it sure looks to be
balanced. I have only the schematic of the full tuner. Maybe the full service
manual or the data sheet gives more details. A HA1156 IC does all the MPX
decoding. A HA1137 single chip IF amp and discriminator is used for the
signal-strength meter. It is connected before all the limiters so that
the meter does not saturate too quickly. In the Pioneer SX-1250 receiver,
which goes for big bucks on eBay, the HA1137 is the chip used in the main
signal path.” The TX-9500 uses discrete transistors in its output stage,
rather than op-amps. Unlike the TX-9500II, the TX-9500 has only one IF
bandwidth (i.e., no wide/narrow switch). Sale prices for the TX-9500 on
eBay are very inconsistent: as high as $250 or more or as low as $75-80
(and just $56 for an “as is” one in 5/04), but $125-185 seems to be the
most common range. TX-9500s with wooden cabinets are scarce and tend to
sell for higher prices. TX-9500s with the rare rack-mount shelf can sell
for as much as $300-400. [BF]
Well, the Terk FM PRO 50 arrived by UPS today
and I was totally disappointed with its performance. I was compelled to
do this webpage as a result of the level of deception I believe exists
pertaining to the "actual performance" of this product relative to Terk's
claims. In addition, I want to document how I was treated by TERK-AUDIOVOX
staff members when I later called to complain.
I did "A-B" comparison testing between
the Terk FM PRO 50 and the Philips Indoor VHF/UHF/FM/HDTV Antenna, MANT310.
The Philips won hands down when compared to the Terk FM PRO 50. Terk is
so stingy, they don't even provide you with a necessary 75 ohm RF cable,
compared to the Philips which does include a 4 foot, 75 ohm patch cord.
I did find the Terk antenna housing to be somewhat rugged, there were stainless
steel screws for mounting and the required horizontal positioning was not
all too difficult. I erected it on a support beam up in a second story
room, without an attic. The ceiling in that room is quite high. The
effective height of the Terk was at about 30 feet from the earth.
In side-by-side comparison testing I found
that the Terk's signal amplifier is inferior compared to the Philips which
boasts an awesome 32db of signal strength gain, compared to Terk's
11db
gain.
Terk's signal amplifier only has an on/off switch to control the
signal gain, compared to the Phillips MANT310 which has a potentiometer
style dial. The Philips potentiometer permits you to increase and decrease
signal amplification via minute smooth increments, (triming of the signal
amplifier) which is essential for pulling in hard to reach, fringe stations.
Also in the case of signal overload, the Philips potentiometer accurately
enables you to slightly decrease the level of amplification and yet
not lose gain altogether, such as when you have to turn off
the Terk's amplifier switch. I felt pretty foolish when I realized
that the Terk FM PRO-50
was just a glorified design. The Terk's
elements are fixed and cannot be moved, whereas the dipoles of the Philips
enable you to gather distant FM stations with ease by simply pointing them
in whatever direction you may choose that increases reception via the univeral
joints. I felt totally deceived when I could see that all the chatter I've
read about the "Terk line of antennas" was merely hype and that far
more efficient and cost effective alternatives such as the Philips
MANT310 were readily available at Walmart for $19.84
Compared
to the Terk FM PRO 50 at Crutchfield which has a suggested retail of $119.99
After some price comparisons on various websites,
I found the Terk FM PRO 50 for $71.95 plus shipping.
I called Terk's customer service department and
got a rash of excuses. The staff was technically ignorant of their own
product line and kept referring me to Terk tech support. I kept
talking: "Please send me a UPS call tag and send me a refund in mail
when you get it back." I spoke to "Jeff" first who foolishly
argued with me that I was "using a TV antenna" for my comparison. I tried
to explain to him that the Philips MANT310 is a VHF/UHF/FM unit
but he wasn't listening. Jeff was talking up a storm while I was trying
to explain "physics to an ape". Jeff eventually hung up on me. So much
for Terk's customer service. Anyone with sense knows when you can hear
other staff members (who are monitoring the call in the background) responding
to your every remark by shrieking across the room (at Jeff while he was
on the phone with me) "You don't have to take that from that guy!" and
the phone is then cradled in your ear; you realize you just parted with
the better part of a hundred bucks and may not get it back. It's a level
of abuse that makes you want to put up a website like this one to warn
others.
Following the conversation with Jeff I called
John Shalom, President of Audiovox, parent company of Terk. Shalom was
less than interested in my findings and relative product complaint.
I asked Mr. Shalom to stand behind his product line and issue me a UPS
call tag, pick up his "hyped up" Terk FM PRO 50 antenna and send me a refund
in the mail for the $78.30 . I got another telephone hung in my ear.
Hours later I got a call from Carl Peters, Terk's
Customer Support Manager. Peters was barely apologetic for Shalom's rudeness
and also failed to even get the logic that Terk should bear the brunt
of this return and take it on the chin that their
infamous
TERK
FM PRO 50 was beaten out by a Philips unit that is barely 20% the suggested
retail price of the Terk FM PRO-50. Peters also hung up on me when
I told him this site was going up.
Terk maintains poor customer service and a poorly
trained, unprofessional staff.
There are clearly no "product assurance" guarantees
at TERK Technologies.
In the course of things I became extremely disappointed
to also discover that Audiovox Corporation has purchased the license
to the Advent brand name. I have several pairs of Henry Kloss, original
Advent brand speakers. Any service on Advent speakers may be an issue now
that Audiovox Corporation controls the rights to that brand name.
SEE
BUSINESS WEEK ARTICLE
A
Site for Soreheads
Dealing with sites that
attack your corporate brand
http://www.marketingtoday.com/emarketing/0105/silver_lining.htm
DISCLAIMER
This
webpage is published as a public service to warn others of the business
practices of TERK TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION. This site is in no way affiliated,
connected with, or sponsored by TERK TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION or any of
its subsidiaries. All content and information on this page is opinion of
the Webmaster or the opinion of those referenced. This site is for educational
purposes. Copyrighted material has been used for non-commercial purposes
only. By accessing this site you agree to immediately contact
us to report any incorrect data or misrepresentations of facts. Links
to any other sites are for informational purposes only and should not be
considered an endorsement of the site.
http://www.terk.com/
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Use Provision of the Copyright Act
http://www.publiccitizen.org/IntFreeSpch/
Contact: webmasterreviews@yahoo.com
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