Not sure or even remember what the remote control is supposed to do or it would have been 5 stars. I got it tied into my homes existing coaxial cables and seems to work fine. No paper directions, they want you to scan something to download directions, which I did not do

The antenna is quite good - not too large, and provides good reception. Assembly instructions are barely in English, and the diagrams are tiny, but assembly is fairly straightforward. The rotator feature is very difficult to use in practice: The single button rotates one direction on first press, *sometimes* opposite direction on next press. Since the only way to tell where the antenna is pointing is by looking at it, you'll need two people to make adjustments - one to watch the antenna outside, and one to press the button. It comes with a "remote" but you have to be near the indoor box, pointing the remote at the box for it to work, which is no more useful than pressing the button on the box itself. While you may get useful feedback by watching signal strength on your TV in order to adjust antenna position, fine-tuning direction is difficult when you never know which direction the antenna will rotate next. Plus, signal strength is a function of many variables (weather, tree movement in wind, etc) of which antenna direction is only one factor. Best advice: get a map of transmitter locations relative to your location, then use a compass to rotate the antenna (with your button-pressing assistant) to the desired compass heading. On the plus side, though, at least the antenna CAN BE rotated other than by manually turning it while it's mounted way above ground level.

I have been very pleased with the reception/range of this antenna and maybe somewhat surprised by it. The assembly of the antenna itself was very straight forward and simple. Mounting for me was very easy since I was replacing an antenna that had been broken up for years. Installed this ~3 months ago with no issues, not even minor. The direction works although for me unless a storm changes the alignment, I have no need for frequently adjusting the rotation.

Assembly and installation go well, assuming you are used to garbled language in instructions. The coaxial cable attachment comes with a boot to cover the junction with the antenna base that you will never be able to properly place or seal, without a heat gun. Especially on a roof. For me, I have the choice of taking the antenna down, or taking a heat gun up. I will choose the latter, because I will remove the coax from the box which is white, (saving that for in the house), and run black coax on the exterior. I need a heat gun anyway, for other projects. But for you, maybe the cable being white and only 40 ft is not an issue and you have no other need for a heat gun. Assemble the antenna in the comfortable indoors, then attach the included coaxial cable to the motor platform, do not over-tighten. Then you need to slide the black boot on the cable all the way up to the motor platform/base. Once all the way up, you are to notice that little metal ring down at the bottom of the boot and that it has a tiny arch in it. You take ordinary pliers and squish that arch to provide a better seal. In the make-believe world where you can push the boot up to the motor platform without first adding heat. Nearly impossible. But indoors, maybe you have a blow dryer, or can borrow one from a neighbor. Then you can gently soften the plastic boot and slide it up, past the metal connector then let it cool. And shrink. That's how you install a boot and you won't get any of that from the instructions.

The 40 feet of coax that comes in the box will reach my TV and rotation control box from the roof ridge, but only reach on a direct, ugly, path, for me. Obviously, I need more length. I can't just use the goodly amount of coax I have lying about, I suspect. The coax for this unit almost certainly has a separate conductor in it that actuates the motor. Not certain about that yet. Seems likely that I will have to purchase more of the same, in a color that can be tucked away in the shadows, not blaring white.

As to use and functionality I am perfectly pleased. But that's because I am able to stand in the back yard, just far enough from the house to see the roof ridge, then walk to a window where I have a line of sight to the indoor motor-control-box from the remote. Make an adjustment, step back out, and see if I'm close. Once you are close, you can adjust from indoors, right is clockwise, left counter. All of this helps say, I don't know how this would work in a more urban setting/upper floors, etc., it's not as if you can surf channels. From indoors, you have little idea as to which direction the antenna is directed.

It helps to go back to the beginning, for me. The last time I lived in a rural area with urban clusters in several different directions was in the 1960s. They had the same system available, with the rotating antenna base, but it was controlled from a small unit that sat on top of those giant TV sets. When you installed the antenna, you turned the dial on the control box to North, when the antenna was pointed North and tightened the antenna down. Then, based upon where the pointer was on control box dial, you knew where the antenna was pointed. Other, more elegant solutions occur to me, but I only expect to stay in this house for two years, so I want a cheap and quick fix; especially as I have two of these units at opposite ends of the house. For a quick solution, I'm going to find two, cheap cameras I can mount on the roof, to access from pleasantly indoors. I would recommend this for the list of Frequently Bought Together items when you add this to your Cart.

As to whether the included coax can be augmented by ordinary coax to add length, I have no idea, yet. It's not a TV emergency. I'll try ordinary exterior coax first, make my own boot, and do that when I install the cameras. If the ordinary coax won't work, I'll see about getting something that will work and, if it's possible, update this review.

I live in a very rural area. This antenna definitely brought the channels in better than the other box store antenna
did. The only problem we had with it is the motor would stick sometimes and not rotate. This could be a big issue if it is mounted to a house/building and no access to a pole to rotate it manually. A hit on the pole jars is enough to unlock it. I almost returned it since initially it wouldn't move at all. Also, most others have a red light LED on the top of the antenna unit to let you know the system is on. This one does not but does not change anything. Works really well otherwise